#I hate to say it but if dragons roar then technically they shouldn’t also be able to purr

[skyward-floored]

C-can I make a request…? (Please feel free to ignore if you’d rather not!)

HDW parent-child comfort? Maybe Volga gets a chance to comfort Link, or Impa can comfort him? Idk girl I’m just starving for comfort and warm fuzzy vibes and cuddles lol

Yes you may! (though I will say requests are closed so nobody send me more thanks <3)

It took me a while to contrive a situation where Impa would feel comfortable snuggling but I think I made it work! You’ll have to forgive me for the angst there ended up being, but there is comfort and cuddles I promise 😂

——————————————————————————————————

It’s not a dangerous wound.

Head wounds always bleed a lot, and almost always look worse than they are, so there’s no need for her to panic.

Yet despite how many times Impa tells herself these words, she can’t seem to banish the dread in her gut at the memory of seeing Link get slammed to the ground by an aeralfos’s shield, and not get up even after it had been killed by another soldier.

She shouts his name as he goes down, but the battle is a mess, and Impa is stuck in a fight of her own and can’t immediately get to Link. She manages a glimpse of him through the hordes, blood all over his face, and her heart stops as she fights even more viciously.

By the time she finally forces her way past the monsters in her path, Link is already being carried out of battle by a handful of medics. Impa wants to stop right there and follow them and demand to know if he’s okay, but they’re at a crucial point in the battle, and leaving now would be disastrous.

They wouldn’t be carrying him off if he wasn’t alive, he’s alive, calm down, she berates herself, but for some reason her hands won’t stop shaking.

The moment Cia’s monsters retreat and the men raise up a cheer, Impa makes a beeline for the medical tent, ignoring the questions lobbed at her by various army personnel. Link has certainly been injured before, but there’d been so much blood on him...

The medics are expecting someone to come looking for Link apparently, and the moment she steps inside the medical tent, she’s whisked off to a more private corner, curtains blocking the area from both the sounds and sights of anyone walking by.

And immediately sees Link lying silently on a bed, nearly as pale as the bandage around his head.

Impa exhales as she goes to his side, and watches his chest go up and down for a moment. The blood has been cleaned from his face at least, but he’s unnaturally still, and pale.

But he’s breathing.

“How is he?” Impa asks, and the medic beside Link hums.

“He has a concussion along with the laceration the shield left, but we’ve stopped the bleeding. He woke up enough to handle a potion about fifteen minutes ago,” she reports. “He’ll likely be disoriented for a while while the potion works through him. He may need another at a later point, but overall, he should be fine with some rest,” the medic smiles. Impa nods, still trying to ease the fear constricting her.

See, he’s fine, they said he’ll be fine, he just needs rest. He’s fine.

Link’s chest goes slowly up and down again, and Impa swallows.

“I’ve got some other patients to check up on, I’ll leave you to visit,” the medic says, seeming to sense her presence isn’t wanted, and she slips out from the curtain, leaving Impa alone with her son.

It’s rather quiet with her gone.

Impa exhales again, and looks at Link, pale and quiet, seeming unusually small under the thin blanket that he’s tucked under. There’s still blood matted in his hair, and Impa hesitates, then reaches forward, gently teasing some of it out.

It falls almost dust-like onto his pillow, and she brushes it off, intent on not thinking about how close Link came to dying and how she couldn’t do a thing to help him.

She can still see hear his cry as he’d fallen to the ground.

“Mmngh...”

“Link?” Impa asks immediately, leaning over him as his face twitches.

It takes him a minute, but he blearily opens his eyes, pupils unevenly sized as he blinks up at her. The sight of his blues, even dazed as they are, eases the fear in her chest somewhat, and she swallows as he stares.

“‘mpa?” he slurs, and she nods, unable to stop her exhale. He’s fine, see, he’s awake, relax. “Wh’...?”

“You were injured, Link. You got hit rather hard in the head with a large metal shield,” Impa explains slowly. Link scrunches up his face like he’s trying to remember such an event happening. “You’re currently in the medics tent.”

Link slowly blinks at her, not a whit of comprehension in his gaze.

“...shield?”

“Yes, a shield hit you. Hard.”

The memory of blood flashes in Impa’s vision again, and she very pointedly ignores it as Link’s eyes scrunch in confusion.

“Where’s... m’ shield?” he mumbles.

“It’s with your other gear, Link. It’s safe.”

"Oh..." he trails off, and slowly blinks. "...Wh' happen?"

Impa sighs. The medic had said he’d be disoriented. "You were injured, Link. You're resting in the medical tent."

He hums in reply, and slowly rolls his head to the side so he can look at her more easily, eyes trailing hazily across her face. The unsure, almost guarded look that’s been on his face whenever he’s looked at her lately is completely absent, nothing but open trust and bleary confusion.

It’s... almost more painful, in a way.

Impa swallows, and sits on the stool that’s been left beside his bed, Link’s eyes flickering at the noise. He stares at her again, and blinks, a little frown pulling at his cheeks.

“Don’t cry,” he murmurs.

“...Link, I’m not crying,” Impa replies slowly, and Link stretches a hand in the vague direction of her face, obviously rather uncoordinated.

“Eyes’r red,” he says worriedly, and somehow manages to land a hand on her cheek. “Looks like... if you’re cryin’.”

Impa can’t help letting out a soft chuckle as he clumsily tries to wipe away an imaginary tear, and she gently pulls Link’s hand off her cheek, setting it back at his side. “I haven’t been crying, Link. My eyes are naturally this color.”

Link squints at her, face disbelieving, then he frowns.

“I want red eyes,” he says in a sad voice, and Impa brushes his hair away from where it had fallen in his eyes.

“Blue eyes are just as nice as red,” she says patiently, gently picking some more of the blood from his hair. She's talked to her share of concussed people, but concussed Link is... especially curious to speak with. “I’ve always liked blue, actually.”

“Oh... okay. I guess blue... 'r nice."

Link leans into her touch, and Impa holds her hand there longer than she would have otherwise, his eyes slipping closed again. He doesn’t speak for a minute, and Impa almost thinks he’s fallen asleep when he softly grunts.

“I don’t feel good,” he mumbles. “C'n you fix it?”

The way his voice wavers makes something squeeze in her chest. “I’m afraid not. The red potion should help fix you up soon Link, but it’s going to take a little while. You’ll just have to be patient.”

“Head hurts... ‘n stomach.”

“You have a concussion, that’s not surprising,” Impa sighs. “But the red potion should help with that. They’ll both fade, you’ll be all right.”

“Left,” he mumbles, and Impa raises a confused eyebrow. “‘M left-handed. Not right.”

Impa breathes a soft chuckle. “That you are. My apologies.”

Link goes quiet again, and Impa watches him, his face slightly pinched in discomfort. She’s unable to stop herself from studying his face as the silence stretches between them, idly picking out the features he shares with her and his father.

He’s got Volga’s hair, though it’s paler then his, a hint of his Sheikah blood coming through. His nose is hers, as is the overall shape of his face, but his eyes are solely how Volga’s used to be, blue and bright.

Looking at him, you'd never guess he had such unusual blood.

Link must feel her gaze on him, as he opens his eyes and looks at her again. His eyes are eyes half lidded, but focused on her face, and a frown appears on his lips as pain suddenly ripples across his expression. His forehead crinkles, discomfort suddenly more obvious as he shifts in his bed, and Impa leans forward, looking at him with worry.

“Link?”

He squeezes his eyes shut, then opens them again, looking at her with a truly miserable expression.

“...Hurts,” he whispers.

And maybe it’s the time of voice he uses, maybe it’s the mixture of tears and dizziness in his eyes, or the fact that he just looks so young and small and hurt lying there, but Impa abruptly gives in to the side of herself begging to do something other then just sit here.

He likely won't remember any of this tomorrow anyway.

She stands up from her stool as Link lets out a soft groan, and sits herself on the bed, gently sliding him over so she can sit beside him. Her plan was to merely provide comfort by sitting there, but Link almost immediately latches onto her, curling himself halfway on her lap.

Impa can’t really breathe for a few seconds as her son nestles up to her, face still pained, but more relaxed then before. She watches him as he tries to get settled, but he seems to be having trouble finding a comfortable position for his head.

So Impa throws her remaining caution to the wind, and does something she hasn’t done since Link was a baby.

She slowly, carefully, slides him up, shifting him around so his head is resting on her shoulder. Then she begins to gently pet his hair, her fingers trembling a little.

Link goes still, then relaxes, the pain easing on his face.

“There you go...” she says quietly, still slowly running a hand through his hair. She’s careful to avoid the bandages, making sure her fingers only card through hair, and Link about melts under her touch.

A soft sigh escapes him, and Impa swallows, the fact that this is the first time she’s held Link since he was tiny not lost on her.

She quickly blinks back the sting in her eyes.

A sound almost like purring suddenly vibrates from Link’s throat, soft and faint, just loud enough that Impa can hear it. She blinks at him in surprise, but Link doesn’t notice, well on his way to falling asleep.

Impa keeps petting his hair as he dozes against her, the little rumbly noises still coming from his throat. He nuzzles up to her a little more, and Impa pulls his blanket up around his shoulders, holding him just a bit tighter as he finally drifts off.

It's unlikely he'll have any memory of this occurring, Impa quietly soothing him as he falls asleep in her arms.

But that's okay.

Holding him again after so long, gently teasing the last bits of blood from his hair, his head resting under her chin as he softly rumbles... it's enough.

She closes her eyes, and Link sighs again, fully asleep.

It's enough.

[kerra-and-company]

14 from the angst/fluff prompts! -Knight of the Thorn

Heya! Thanks so much for the prompt! :D @knight-of-the-thorn Have this thing that got way longer than I expected! (Fic continues below the cut!)

14: “I can’t do this on my own.”

Warnings: self-deprecation, emotional denial, a semi-unreliable narrator in places, spoilers for HoT

i. 1323 AE, somewhere in Maguuma

“Hey, Nish!” Rel called.

Xe stopped and turned. “Yes?”

“One of my lute strings snapped,” he said, holding up the offending instrument, “and I need to restring it. Could you help me?”

An utterly transparent request. Rel’s fingers were nimble, made to stitch wounds together and weave patterns with his magic. He would have no problem restringing his lute. He wanted xyr presence, not xyr help.

But xe was exhausted. Xyr Mother’s concern pressed in on xyr mind, and the Itzel near Rel looked at xem with too-wide eyes, and it was too much. Xe would break, and that couldn’t happen. Xe had to be strong.

“I need to sleep, Rel. If you are still having trouble in the morning, I’ll help you then.”

Nisha headed towards xyr hut on the village outskirts, pretending xe couldn’t feel xyr brother’s gaze burning into xyr back.

ii. 1325 AE, headquarters of the Durmand Priory

Rel had left, on his way to Caledon. Nisha had let him go because xe had to.

But xe felt like xe was balancing on the lip of a deep well without him. Xe could fall at any moment, and xe might never be able to climb out.

Xe was so distracted by trying not to cry that xe nearly missed the asura just inside the Prior entrance. Xe skirted around her, but xe brushed just a little too close to her fiery hair and leapt back with a quiet “Ow!”

The Archon spun around, dropping her stack of books on the floor. “Oh, by the Alchemy! I’m sorry, Nisha, I didn’t notice you—are you—”

“I am fine, Archon, but thank you,” xe said, unable to keep a tremor from xyr voice and cursing xemself for it.

She was about to bend down to pick up the books, but she paused and narrowed her eyes. “No, you’re not.”

“I am…uninjured,” Nisha rephrased. Xyr voice was steady this time. Xe was thankful for it.

The asura’s eyes narrowed further. It made Nisha feel far too seen, and xe barely resisted the urge to lash out. But she stayed silent for a moment, simply retrieving the novels from the ground and standing up again. Then she snapped her fingers, the sound muffled by her gloves.

“Nisha. Every time I reshelve these books, I have to get on a stepladder. I hate stepladders, and you need something to do. Come help me.”

“You don’t need me, Archon.” Politely dismissive.

“No, I don’t. But I could use your help,” she said. Her eyes were bright. “And I, in fact, want your help.”

Nisha wasn’t sure what to think or say. A small part of xyr mind whispered, Maybe this is okay. Maybe it’s all right to let her help you. She wants to help you. She’s not upset—

“As long as we don’t make small talk,” Nisha blurted out.

The Archon grinned. “Fine with me.”

Shelving was surprisingly straightforward—xe was certainly tall enough to make it easy. At the end of it, the Archon asked Nisha to call her Cio.

Xe agreed.

iii. 1326 AE, a hut in the Wayfarer Hills

Nisha felt like xe’d been through one of the clothes ringers humans used. Xe sat on the bed next to Kerra, who had tear tracks on both cheeks and a bandage on her side. Felix was curled up on the floor to their left, truly calm for the first time since Nisha had arrived.

“I can’t do this on my own, you know,” Kerra whispered, the faintest shadow of a smile curving her lips upward. “Will you stay with me?”

“I just found you,” Nisha said, quiet but firm. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Kerra smiled in earnest, then. “Good. Because you can’t do this alone, either.”

“I beg your pardon?” Nisha said, eyebrows raising as if xe hadn’t just had an emotional outburst capable of leveling a small village.

“Neither of us are okay. And we have other people—other friends, our siblings—but…” Her glow flared for a moment. “I’ll help you, when you need it, and you’ll help me when I need it. That’s the deal.”

“I wasn’t aware we were making a deal.” Nisha was struck with a completely unexpected urge to laugh.

Kerra’s head bobbed, and her eyes met Nisha’s. “We are.” A flicker of amusement. “You know, you really shouldn’t question your Commander—”

“You are aware that I’m not technically part of the Pact, right?” Nisha interrupted.

It was barely even a joke, but Kerra burst into slightly broken (but still genuine) laughter, the calm after the storm. It must have pulled at her stitches, but she didn’t seem to care.

It took Nisha a few seconds to realize xe was absolutely beaming, and it took xem another thirty to even consider stopping.

iv. 1328 AE, the middle of Tangled Depths

It was one moment. One second. But Mordremoth roared, and Nisha stumbled.

OBEY.

NO, xe roared back, silently. MY head, mine, my own, get OUT! I will not submit; I will NOT let you kill me like you killed my mother—

A hand on xyr shoulder, fingers squeezing, and xe’s eyes snapped open to see Canach standing in front of xem. Nisha distantly wondered how he’d even reached xyr shoulder; he was so much shorter than xem.

Then xe realized that xe was on xyr knees in the dirt.

“Nisha?”

He was afraid for xem, and Nisha hated it. But at the same time, he was there. He was there in front of xem, and he was trying to help. It was too close and too far and too much and not enough.

Xe forced xemself to raise xyr head and meet his gaze. Behind him, xe could see Marjory’s outline, fidgeting just slightly in a way that reminded Nisha of her girlfriend, Kasmeer.

“I’m still me. I apologize for scaring you, both of you. I was…caught off guard.”

“You are not the only one who can hear Mordremoth’s voice, you know,” Canach said, voice as dry as the Silverwastes. His face was impassive, but his eyebrows were furrowed.

“I was not trying to lie,” Nisha replied. “I really am okay.” Xe searched his expression, looking for clues. If there were any, xe couldn’t read them. “Are you?”

Some of the cockiness came back, and he smirked, but it was tense. “I assure you that I am also still myself.”

“You’d better be,” xe said, and then hesitated. “And tell me if you’re not. Please.”

He just nodded, and xe noticed his hand was still on xyr shoulder.

And then Kerra came stumbling out of the jungle. A very ruffled Felix followed in her footsteps.

Nisha was on xyr feet in under a second, as was Canach.

“Ran into some trouble,” the Commander said, relief and terror in her voice.

“Out there, or in here?” Canach asked, gesturing to his head.

“Both,” Kerra replied, eyes shadowed. “And you?”

“We did, too,” Nisha said, strong and clear. “But we’ll be all right.”

Marjory said something about a sylvari code that she didn’t understand, but Nisha was much more focused on a strange feeling in the back of xyr mind, spurred on by Kerra’s half-smile and Canach’s steadfast presence at xyr side.

In this jungle, full of danger and bad memories and an Elder Dragon, xe somehow felt safe.

v. 1328 AE, the Pact base camp in Dragon’s Stand

Nisha stood next to Kerra as the Commander strapped her dagger to her side. “I want to check with you one more time. Are you certain you want me to lead the assault on the Mouth?”

“Nish, you’ve fought for these soldiers since we reached Maguuma,” Kerra said, twisting slightly to fasten the buckle on her belt. “They know you helped defeat Zhaitan and Scarlet, and they know you personally. You’re not from an individual Order, so this isn’t favoritism. You’re the logical choice.” She grinned, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Besides, you’re trusting me to keep your brother safe. I trust you with this.”

“Do you think they’ll be comfortable with having sylvari head both arms of this operation?”

The Commander’s grin stretched just a little wider than it should have, and she slid her bow into its holder on her back. “They’ll have to be.”

Nisha took a deep breath and settled xyr shoulders. “All right, then.”

The two of them left the tent and emerged into the crowd. Kerra went to join her strike team—Rytlock, Braham, Caithe, Canach, and Rel. Nisha met the gazes of xyr friends and xyr brother and thought with all xyr being, If any of you die, I’m going to kill you.

Kerra, who could pick up the emotional gist of that message, let out a snort that she barely managed to turn into a cough and nodded. Canach and Rel nodded too, the first with an odd set to his mouth and the latter with a distant but determined look in his eyes. Braham stared back with a specific type of steadiness xe recognized, Rytlock didn’t stare at all, and Caithe’s eyes slipped away from xyrs.

Xe inhaled and exhaled quietly one more time, and xe climbed atop a stack of crates. Xe’d never been one for speeches, but xe’d thought this one through, rewritten it three times, and practiced it over and over again. Xe knew what to say.

“Defenders of Tyria!” Nisha shouted, and the camp went utterly silent. The soldiers’ focus was entirely on xem, and xe focused on a tree just over their heads. You can do this.

“When the Pact fleet flew over Maguuma, Mordremoth brought it down—brought us down. We lost leaders, allies, and friends.”

“But we are still alive. We are not beaten. We live, we breathe, and we fight!”

The Pact let out a noise somewhere between a cheer and a scream, and Nisha gestured to Kerra, whose eyes were wide.

“Our Commander goes to defeat Mordremoth’s mind. We must defeat its body.” Xe glanced over the crowd now, meeting the eyes of each sylvari amongst them. “The dragon is a dangerous enemy. But I tell you this—we are not afraid! We will never kneel!”

Nisha unsheathed xyr sword and thrust it into the air. “TO VICTORY!”

“TO VICTORY!” the Pact roared in return, waving daggers and rifles and maces above their heads. Nisha jumped off the crates as the soldiers dispersed to their lieutenants and made xyr way to the Commander’s side.

“Time for both of us to go, I think,” xe said.

Kerra shook her head as if to clear it. “Yes, it is. Is everyone ready?”

“Yes, Commander,” came the chorus, and “Yes, Kerra,” said Rel.

“Are you ready, Nisha?” Kerra asked, turning to xem.

“Yes,” Nisha said, slightly surprised to find it to be true. “I know I can’t do this alone.” Xe smiled.

“Luckily, I am anything but.”

[lovelylogans]

the worst in me

NARISSA: Ah, all this nauseating talk of true love's kiss, it really does bring out the worst in me. You know I've been thinking, if I'm going to remain Queen, I'm gonna need some sort of story when I go back. Hmm... What if a giant vicious beast showed up, and killed everyone? And poor defenseless Queen Narissa, she just couldn't save them! Let's begin with the girl who started it all, shall we?! ROBERT: Over my dead body. NARISSA: Alright. I'm flexible. 

-enchanted, 2007

ao3 | read my other fics | coffee?

warnings: remus, maybe unsympathetic thomas?, confusion/bitterness, self doubt/hatred, mentions of animal cruelty

pairings: none

words: 1,548

notes: so, this is for the 13 days of halloween prompt over at @sanderssidescelebrations​! today’s prompt is dragon witch! this is my first time writing the garbage man, so i hope i did him justice! also i better not see any remrom in the comments/tags!

R—No, no, it’s Roman now, Roman Roman Roman—tightens his fingers around the hilt of his sword, his free one into a fist. His hands shouldn’t be shaking. They shouldn’t. 

He’s done this a hundred thousand million times before. The Imagination is still his realm, still his place, despite the fact that...

Well. Despite the fact that he didn’t feel like him very much, anymore.

But a jaunt into the Imagination could change that. He’ll run around, save some people, feel more like him again. Or, well. The him he’s supposed to be now. Right? Because he’s supposed to be the good part, isn’t he? He’s supposed to be all damsels and dragons and danger, outwitting the enemy and saving the day. That’s him. That’s Roman.

...Right?

He doesn’t know. He should know, but he doesn’t. Since The Split (it’s warranted capitals, in his mind, and he wonders if they’ve kept enough similarities that it’s warranted the same in his mind, too) Roman’s felt... off. Confused. He finds himself shying away from things he’d have fully enthused about before—now he hates things he’d liked, and he likes things he’d hated, and everything is upside-down and inside-out and it’s like his whole existence has been thrown into a maze in a fun-house full of distorted mirrors, and he can’t get out of it, but he’s trying.

So. Imagination. Damsels. Dragon-slaying. Dashing sword-fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise—but is that his thing now, or his? Is disguising himself good or bad? Is sword-fighting good or bad? Who’s got what?

Like he said—he’s trying.

He follows his lines, even if everything’s changed around him—some of his usual subjects have vanished, replaced by new ones, scrubbed clean, and they act like that’s the way it’s always been, so he does too. The whole thing is straight out of a storybook—a (new) page comes to his palace, tells him of a fair maiden who’s been abducted by a (new) dragon witch, in an (old) crumbling tower that’s been the set of a fair few dramatic reenactments before. So he gets on his (new) horse, which doesn’t stink of the stables like his old horse, Phillipe, did, doesn’t have the pretty, burnished copper coat Phillipe did, but rather this one is pure white and only tarnished by streaks of gold in its mane. He isn’t sure what to name it. Caspian? Gwendolyn? Something very fairytale and innocent and pure?

He gets on his unnamed horse. He examines his (new) sword in its (old) scabbard. He rides through the forest.

Some things have changed and he has no idea why—the flora and fauna swap between familiar and alien—and some things have changed and he knows only too well why they might have changed. But he doesn’t want to question it. He’s supposed to be the good one now. If he questions the status quo now, maybe there’ll be a new new one, who knows how to smile and wink just so and is always kind and gallant and never screws up and never comes up with nicknames that sound mean.

Maybe he’ll be called Romeo, or something equally saccharine. 

Roman snorts, and then immediately shies away from the thought, like some bolt of lightning will come to strike him down, strike him in two—or would it be three, then? Because if the bad one is already taken and the good one isn’t good enough anymore, what’ll happen to that one? Will he just be thrown aside? Like a toy that’s lost all entertainment value, replaced by something newer and shinier?

He’ll try harder. He will. He’ll be the best, most perfect, most fairytale prince that ever walked the earth. He won’t ever, ever find out.

“Sorry,” he tells the too-blue sky above him, as if anyone is listening.

And maybe someone is—because he can hear a scream, and a distant, furious roar.

The dragon witch. Roman’s heartbeat starts to thunder and finally, finally,��the fight, the rescue, that’s his favorite part, he’ll go out there and he won’t be able to think about being good or bad or right or wrong, he’ll only think about parries and ripostes and lunges, and he digs his heels into the horse’s side with a “HYAH!” and goes galloping further into the depth of these recognized-foreign woods, to the tower, to the climax of the story—

The (new) dragon witch is clutching to the tower, gouging out stones with its massive claws, sending dust and debris scattering upon the ground like snowfall. It roars, again—it has black scales, with almost sickly-green accents, two wings flapping, and massive, curving teeth that would surely gouge Roman right through, if he stepped wrong of them.

Well. It’s certainly a foreboding villain, for his first solo fray back into the imagination, but he mustn’t let any misgivings halt him—he urges the horse forward, and bellows up at the witch, “Unhand her, villain!”

Strangely, the dragon seems to frown at him, and he calls down, voice cartoonishly villainous, “What happened to Phillipe?”

Roman falters, as the horse cants in place. He knows that voice. It’s a new voice, but he knows it, knows it as it’d been the first thing he’d heard after the split.

“Is that... you?” He calls uncertainly.

The dragon seems to shudder, before abruptly, it’s shrinking, downsizing and downsizing and changing until it’s in the shape of a man—a familiar man, wearing black and an almost-sickly green, a demented grin, and a mustache. He’s got bags under his eyes that Roman can see, even from here, ones like Anxiety’s got, and he feels a traitorous spark of concern.

And, for an alarming moment, Roman is jealous. Why did he get the kickass transformation powers—into a dragon?! That’s so cool!

Or at least, that’s what he would have thought before The Split—now, his brain is tossing up example after example of villains transforming into animals—Ursula into Vanessa, Jafar into a genie, Maleficent into a dragon—it’s a sign of evil. It’s a sign of something Bad, and he’s supposed to be the Good One. But half his brain is still stuck on Before, while half of it is stuck on After, and he doesn’t know which thought is his, and he doesn’t know what he believes now, and—

“Did you send Phillipe to the glue factory?”

Roman recoils from the very thought—he’d spent days grooming Phillipe’s fur, feeding him apples and carrots and cubes of sugar, he’d loved Phillipe—and the other him laughs.

Or—no. The other Roman? The other twin? The other side? Is he technically his own side, now? If they were both Creativity, then what—

His confusion gets abruptly set to the side when there’s another, terrified scream within the tower. Roman shakes his head, hard, as if he’ll be able to dislodge this whole crisis of personality like he’s erasing an etch-a-sketch, and solidifies his grip on his sword’s handle, not quite bringing it out of the scabbard yet. 

“Unhand her, foul beast!”

He blows a raspberry, swinging frightfully from the side of the tower, only held by his boot, lodged between where a brick had been dislodged and his grip on one of the (new) spires—he could fall, and what would happen then? 

Is he supposed to care? The death of a villain would be a good thing now, wouldn’t it? But then if that was what was meant to happen, then why bother to keep them split in the first place, why not just divulge the bad, keep the good? Is it bad that he’s thinking about this? Murder is bad, it’s definitely bad, he shouldn’t be thinking about it, but—

“Boooorrrr-iiiiing. C’mon, give me an insult with some pep to it, aren’t you supposed to be Creativity now?!”

Roman grits his teeth, and snaps before he can even think of stopping himself, “Aren’t you supposed to be the scary one, Ja-nefarious?!”

For a moment, Roman thinks he’s gotten him, but that’s before that demented grin widens and that worrying crazed look in his eyes shines brighter.

“I said an insult, not a compliment!” He preens, and Roman scowls.

“What, you can do better?” He says scornfully.

“Well, duh,” he says, and then, gleefully, “You’re boring now—Roman, isn’t it?”

Roman forces his hackles not to rise.

“I mean, think about it,” he wheedles. “Which of us is more useful—the one who comes up with the original ideas, the unorthodox ones, or the one who comes up with the same—“ He flicks a dismissive hand, nose wrinkling. “White horse, sword, save-the-girl kind of story, over and over and over again?”

Roman feels an angry flush take over his cheeks. “Unorthodox doesn’t have to mean murder.”

“Why not?” He said, and he sounded genuinely curious—like a small child asking why the sky’s blue, not posing the question of if murder’s genuinely punishable or not. “Which one will make more of an impact—if I drop this sweet, innocent damsel from the tower, or you saving her?”

“Don’t you dare,” Roman snarls, and the other one—Remus—bares his still-animalistically-curved teeth in a grin.

“Watch me.”

With a wild yell, Roman unsheathes his sword, and charges.

(He wonders if it makes him bad that a fight and seeing his brother him is the first thing that’s made him feel semi-normal since The Split.)

[bave-de-crapaud]

Forbidden

PART FOUR - FINAL PART

Sirius x reader Post-azkaban Sirius Lives Word count: 7900+

Warnings: swearing, smut, 18+ NSFW Disclaimer: all characters are assumed 18+

A/N: WOWEE! Apologies if you were expecting a ‘quick’ read. I loved writing this and workplace romances gahhh! as always feedback is most welcome. I hope you enjoy my loves. xx

A workplace romance cannot possibly go awry, can it?

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The next few weeks followed a similar pattern for you and Sirius. You both acted polite and professionally towards each other at work, saving all your pent up frustration for the evenings.  

It was glorious. Sirius was not as disciplined as you at keeping his hands to himself. He was often stealing kisses behind closed doors, letting his fingers brush across your arms, waist, arse, whatever he could reach as he passed you in the corridor even circling your thighs with his thumb under the table as you were seated next to each other in a meeting.  

You were fairly ‘harsh’ on him regarding these indiscretions, saving his punishments for the evening by teasing him relentlessly and holding out until you literally had him on his knees begging.  

You had a sneaking suspicion that he quietly enjoyed this due to the fact these ‘punishments’ did not stop him pushing boundaries at work.  

~~~  

Things at work weren’t all rosy however. Antheia was getting suspicious. You never had time after work anymore and she was closing in to the fact you must be dating someone. She was also complaining that Sirius always seemed to choose you to to come to first for questions, issues, PR briefs even though you had requested he do the opposite.  

You almost told her countless times, always faltering at the final moment. It had gone too far and nothing you thought could soften the blow that you were sleeping with Sirius.  

Truth be told you weren’t only sleeping with him, you had been on dinner dates, weekend activities and spent a few Saturday nights getting to know his friends.  

However hiding the truth from Antheia was eating you up. It all came to a head one evening at your flat. The guilt had turned to anger at yourself and with no one to take your anger out on you turned to the nearest person: Sirius.  

It was a stupid argument, the catalyst: his toothbrush. You found it in your bathroom and realised he must have brought it intending to leave it here.  

Filled with mixed emotions of longing and turmoil at what was essentially turning into a forbidden relationship you picked a fight, did your best at pushing him away suggesting things were moving too fast and you think you should slow down and see other people, Antheia being the subtext of that argument. It was an avalanche of irrationality. It started small but the more you got going the bigger your argument became until you couldn’t see what you were saying or what it meant – you were blind to your pain and just wanted it out.  

“What do you mean?” Sirius had sat up, stiff backed and turned white.  

“I don’t know!” You huffed out. “I mean you are still free to see other people, this can’t last whatever it is – we are just work colleagues after all.” You could see that had stung him.  

“Just work colleagues? If this is about the toothbrush I can remove it?”

“No it’s not about the stupid toothbrush!” You were in full flight now – tears streaming down your cheeks, he tried to reach you but you shook him off.  

“This fucking hurts Sirius.”

“What does, I don’t understand?”

“You, me, us! We are not supposed to be together!”

“What, why?

You were shaking with sobs now. You couldn’t tell him why - the karma of hiding this from your friend had finally turned up and it was a big one. Anguished and thinking of Antheia you yelled, “I wasn’t supposed to be with you, I have ruined everything!”

Blanching and swallowing  hard Sirius scrapped together the only conclusion that made sense to him, “Is there someone else?”

Technically there was: Antheia but not in the way he was thinking however you nodded sadly not registering that colossal mistake.  

“Right.” He said his lips tight.  

Waiting for a berating you deserved you closed your eyes. Instead Sirius got up walked out the front door slamming it shut. You heard the roar of his motorbike as he sped off into the night.  

~~~  

You didn’t sleep a lot over the next few weeks, and from the looks Antheia gave you across the board room table each morning, your heavy concealer was not doing anything to dampen the dark circles under your eyes.

It was killing you to stay away from him and stomach this hurt but part of you knew that this is what you deserved for getting into a forbidden situation.  

To dilute the pain you focused on work , turning up early after not enough sleep and staying late. Your boss was delighted but stopped by your desk more than necessary for ‘a quick chat’ you knew she had noticed your change in demeanour  and was checking up on you. This would have made you smile if you weren’t so numb.  

“Y/N?” She cautiously approached your desk. You looked up and saw her eyes, a maternal concern in them. “Not that I’m not grateful for all the long hours you are putting in but I seem to be missing some reports for the Auror office?”

“Oh.” You stumbled. “Those are with Antheia, I gave her the briefs I had in exchange for finishing the budgeting quarter.”

“Got it, but now that you have finished the budget could you please help Perenna with the Auror briefs? They have been piling up this week.”

Oh shit.  

“Yes sure, happy to.” You gave her an exhausted smile.  

You stood up. Ok. It’s ok you can do this. Yes you have probably, definitely, irreparably broken any kind of friendship, camaraderie, or rapport with Sirius but you had to put work first. You couldn’t very well get a new job, could you? Or could you? No! No, don’t be dramatic.  

You were brought out of your inner monologue by Antheia calling your name, “Y/N! Guess what?!”

“Shoot.” Feigning interest you turned to her.  

“I’m going out for drinks with Sirius tonight!” She looked ecstatic.  

Your stomach dropped to the floor and you were barely able to squeak out an “Oh…ok you are… that’s…great…”

She shook your shoulder too excited to see the blood draining from your face.  

“Yes I took the bull by the horns and asked him.”

“Oh you did? I thought you wanted to play it coy?” You needed to sit down soon.  

“I did but if I don’t go for it I will never have the chance, he’s cutting his contract short – just heard it from Moody this morning.”

Ok you really needed to sit down.  

“He’s what??” Feeling the room spin now.

Oh no no no no no was this because of you?

~Yes of course stupid! What else would it be?~  

Your conscience was really not holding back.

“Yeah Moody tried to talk him out of it, has asked him to take the weekend to think it over.” She gave you a soft smile and moved over to her desk.  

Before you could control it, your legs were walking you towards the elevator and your fingers were pushing the buttons directing the lift to Sirius’ floor.  

The Sirius you know wouldn’t give up so easily but then again, he did have a dramatic streak. You had only found that out during one of the weekends you met his friends and a tipsy Remus Lupin had told you what he was like when he lost any kind of card game. Wanting to see this for yourself, the next day you suggested a game of poker and boy the man could pout!

His office door was open and he was sitting at his desk reading a memo. You knocked and he looked up. His expression was unreadable – he didn’t invite you in let alone utter a greeting so you hesitantly entered, moving tentatively towards his desk.  

“I heard you are leaving.” Breaking the silence you stood before him willing him to speak.  

He nodded so quickly, if you had blinked you would have missed it.  

“I hope that is not because of me, Sirius?”

He said nothing and continued to stare at you.  

“Because if it is, I think I need to tell you something…” oh how to even begin. You stared at the floor and when he didn’t tell you to leave you took that as a sign to continue.  

“I am so sorry if I disappointed you…no I know I did – you don’t deserve it – I definitely do….and being with you had been the best months of my life. You really, you made me… no make me…” you collected yourself clearing your throat to stop your cracking voice and corrected yourself.

“You make me…” Argh, you closed your eyes hating the words for making you stumble.  

“But I shouldn’t have…it wasn’t right – not you!” You hastily added. “You were so right but it was killing me.”

“Because you are seeing someone else, I get it.” Sirius had finally spoken and his voice was soft and clear.  

“What? No!” You so desperately wanted him to understand but for all the wrong you had felt you had done to Antheia you couldn’t and wouldn’t break at least one promise to her by telling Sirius she likes him.  

“I’m not seeing anyone else.”

He looked genuinely very confused at this point. “But you said there was someone else?” Sirius’ voice was rushed now, he had stood up behind his desk and looked at you intently, eyebrows furrowed. God he was sexy when he was stern.  

“There is but not in the way you are thinking.” You ran your hands through your hair in frustration. Why? WHY! You should have told Antheia all along and save yourself, but mainly him, from this torture.  

“Y/N, I’m not here to play games, are you or are you not seeing someone?” Sirius had moved round his desk towards you.  

“No…but I” But you never finished your sentence. A piercing alarm went off signalling an emergency situation and all Aurors needed to move and be briefed.  

Sirius gave you one last look before shaking his head and saying: “I can’t, I’ve got to go.”

Holding back tears you nodded swallowing a sob.  

~~~  

“AH FUCK IT!” Antheia was fuming when you returned to your office.  

“Typical! I finally get a date with Sirius and suddenly a dragon gets loose in Shoreditch dragging all the Aurors away!” If you weren’t so upset you would have laughed at her enraged face.  

“A dragon? Surely that’s Magi-Creatures department?” You questioned.  

“It is but the Aurors have to go check for foul play.”

“How do you know this anyway?” You asked her.  

Strangely, Antheia blushed before answering. “Melvin told me, he just sent a message – he was there before dealing with a mishap – apparently that’s how the dragon got out.”

“What’s going on with you two?”

“Well nothing, we have caught up a few times and I guess we talk a lot…he’s nice.”

You looked at her, “then why do you want to go out with Sirius, sounds like you have a dreamboat already?”

She looked down at her desk and shrugged. “ I don’t know, I’ve lusted over Sirius since Christmas I guess, before I met Melvin, I didn’t really think about it.”

You sighed smiling at her, “Well, lucky you having two men to choose from.”

Antheia frowned at you. “Aren’t you dating someone?”

“No, no one.” You responded sadly.  

“You’ve been MIA of late, I thought you were seeing someone?”

You just smiled weakly at her,  turning back to your desk and said over your shoulder: “Don’t worry, you’ll still have your date – I’ll take care of any PR situation for today.” Godric, it was the least you could do you thought to yourself.  

~~~  

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Mmfph.” You rolled over in your sleep.  

BANG! BANG! BANG!

It was getting louder. You rubbed your eyes and looked at the clock: 1230am

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Someone was knocking, none too gently, on your front door.

“I’m coming! I’m COMING ahhh.” You yelled as you fumbled around in the dark looking for clothes. Since you and Sirius had started to sleep in the nude, you continued to do so liking how the sheets felt over your skin.  

Stubbing your toe twice and hitting your head on the bed post you managed to pull on an over-sized shirt of sorts as you made your way downstairs to the front door.  

It had occurred to you that the bagging could be from burglars or bad wizards but what kind of thieves or nefarious characters announce themselves before they rob you? Curiosity got the better of you and rubbing your sore head you opened the door to see Sirius, clearly drunk, leaning against the doorway, his hand steadying him.  

Seeing you he moved his hand to your shoulder shifting you aside as he stumbled into your flat.

“Wherrriss he?” He slurred.

“Where is who?” Fuck he was drunk.  

“Your ‘fancy man!’” He said the words ‘fancy man’ in a high pitched Victorian accent before hiccuping twice.  

“Sirius What?” You held your hands out to try and steady him but he pushed you away and made to move upstairs.  

“I wanna word.”

“Sirius, there is no one here!”

“Yiss theris look! You’re even wearing hisss SHIRT!” He yelled the last word while making a swiping gesture at the air in front of you and stumbling back into the banister then trying to find the start of the staircase.  

“Oh Merlin…” You palmed your face, trying to reason with a drunk person was a nightmare you best just follow him and try to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself.  

“C’mere!” Sirius was climbing the stairs two at a time looking like a baby gazelle. If you weren’t so shocked at his sudden appearance you would have found the sight of Sirius Black casing your flat, pissed as a fart, looking for a mystery man rather funny.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date with Antheia?” You called out after him following his route into the bathroom.  

“Don’t change the subject!” Sirius called back, looking around finding the bathroom empty and moving towards your bedroom. He burst through the door and yelled ‘Expelliarmus!’ at your bed.  

Turning on the light you folded your arms leaning against the door while you waited for his eyes to adjust to the brightness. “When you have finished disarming my bed, can you please sit down? I’m worried you are going to fall over and hurt yourself..or worse, break something of mine…”

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” He deadpanned “there is s’mone here, you’re wearing hisss shirt. Wherisss ‘he?’” Sirius sat, unceremoniously, on your bed looking up at you.  

“Ok first of all, you and I are the only ones here, this is YOUR shirt – you must have left it here, and ‘he’ is nowhere because he doesn’t exist.” You paused looking at Sirius’ softening expression. “I meant what I said, I am not and have not been seeing anyone else but you.”

Sirius screwed up his face like the act of thinking was painful.  

“But then why did you break up with me?”  

As soon as he said that you realised that clearly, whatever it was between you and Sirius was more important to him than you originally thought.  

“It hurt, it hurt so fucking much Y/N!”

You sat next to him and rubbed his back. You were just starting to understand that you had kept the wrong secret and not told the correct one. Taking a deep breath you turned his face towards you and said: “I didn’t do it because I wanted to Sirius, I did it because I am a terrible friend.”

Seeing him open his mouth to query you, you pressed on, “Antheia Sirius, Antheia! She has gone on about how much she likes you basically since you arrived. I was supposed to help her date you, instead…” you swallowed. “Instead I fell for you and dated you myself.” Looking down you clasped your hands together. “I couldn’t take it anymore- things were starting to get serious and I panicked. The guilt flooded in and I felt so wretched. I’m so sorry for hurting you – I understand if you never want to see me again but please don’t leave work, you are so good at what you do and you have made it better for all of us. If it’s that bad I’ll ask to move departments.” You looked at him frantically, willing him to understand.  

Sirius’ face had not changed from that of shocked confusion since you had started talking. Now you had stopped and looked at him he opened his mouth to speak.

“Y/N?”

“Yes Sirius.”

“Y/N…I” he lifted his hand to reach for you, then dropped it adding “Y/N I think I need to lie down.”

You sighed helping him on the bed. You removed his shoes and placed your duvet over him. Turning off the light you climbed in beside him and closed your eyes. It had felt good to let all that had eaten you up out. Wondering foolishly if adding the part about falling for Sirius was a mistake, you listened to Sirius’ drunken snores, doubting if he would remember anything in the morning.

~~~  

When you woke the memory of last night and Sirius’ visit came crashing down. You turned over quietly so as not to wake him only to find the other side of the bed empty. On further inspection he was not in the bathroom nor in any other room of the flat. No note, just emptiness that the lack of his presence caused.  

You wandered aimlessly around you flat for the next hour –  too early to get ready for work and too late to go back to sleep.  

You wondered what Sirius was thinking; was he embarrassed about his outburst or just disgusted at finding himself in your bed? Did he remember anything? Not paying attention to how you were dressing yourself you half heartedly made an effort to finally get ready for work not distinguishing clothing items as you dragged them over your body. You were focusing on what you had to do – finish the confessions of last night and tell Antheia.

~~~  

“Antheia, can I have a word please?”

She looked up at you as you stood in front of her desk. “Yes sure…are you ok?”

“Just come with me.” You turned and led her towards the supply closet at the end of the hallway. Opening the door you gestured for her to follow you.  

“Y/N I repeat, are you ok? I’m only asking this because you look like you haven’t slept in eight years, you’ve just lead me to the stationery closet and you are wearing two shirts.”

“Ah shit.” You replied noticing she was right – two items of the same piece of clothing was becoming a trend for you.  

“I got dressed in the dark, there are no meeting rooms free, no I’m not ok and I don’t want anyone to overhear us.” You pinched your nose between your fingers and took a deep breath.

“Antheia, I have been seeing Sirius, it started a few months ago when we went home together after the Christmas party. I tried not to get involved but I did and I couldn’t tell you.”

Antheia lifted her eyebrows her mouth opening slightly.

You bulldozed on wanting to get the confession out of you like spitting poison, not stopping to let her speak. You told her everything right down to the part where you expected her to disown you and how truly awful you feel. “I fought against it since you told me you were interested and I was doing well until well that night then it sort of snowballed. I’m so sorry – for what it’s worth, I haven’t ever felt this bad.”

Antheia considered you for a moment. “I know.”

“You..What?” You spluttered, appalled.

“I mean, I figured. The way he looks at you and last night, our ‘date’” She signed quotation marks with her hands as you rushed, “oh my gosh yes, you had a date – listen I won’t stand in the way -I hope you can be happy and have fun…” She silenced you, waving her hands in front of your face in a ‘shushing’ gesture.

“As I was saying our ‘date’ he mainly talked about you. It was clear he is into you…if not love.”

“I’m so sorry Antheia, I ruined your date, I know you were looking forward to this.” You started to silently cry. Antheia’s face softened and she placed a hand on your shoulder.  

“Y/N, you had every right to like him but you should have told me, I went on about him and now I feel a fool.” She shook her head. “If you had told me I could have figured out sooner that the spark wasn’t there between Sirius and I…maybe I could have perused other interests.” Her eyes glazed over at this point until you sniffed bringing her back to the reality of you both standing quite close in a small store cupboard at work.

“It’s ok.” She looked at your tear stained face, “I will get over this but I may be a little annoyed for a while – you really should have just told me.” You nodded dropping your head.

“Is there anything else? I have a coffee date ahhh meeting with Melvin.” She corrected herself and blushed quickly opening the door and stepping back into the hallway.

You knew Antheia, she didn’t hold grudges but you could tell she was disappointed in you – that stung far more and you had half hoped for an angry outburst.  

Wiping your face, you brushed the front of your two shirts smoothing them out as an act of collecting yourself to head back to work.

Antheia turned back to you and caught your wrist. “For what it’s worth I think you should see Sirius, he really likes you. Drinks a bit though?” She hummed curiously before striding off.  

~~~  

“He’s not here.” Moody abruptly told you when you found Sirius’ office empty, moving to Moody’s to ask where he was.  

“Well right, I did work that part out Madeye. Judging by his empty office. When will he be in?” You smiled sweetly and a little dangerously at Moody subtly telling him not to fuck with you today. Moody eyed you for a brief second then said, “he won’t be, called in sick.” Before swiftly turning away leaving you confused and slightly panicked alone on the second floor corridor.

Your mind worked in overdrive: -no no no he can’t leave this is your fault -did Moody say he was leaving though or just not in today -he has until Monday to decide -has he decided already and written his job off? -no he is hungover, remember -but he can take a draught for that -what if he’s mortally injured? -then he wouldn’t be calling in sick would he? -well then why…?  

Your whole body sagged as the awful and most likely reason zinged through your brain: he just doesn’t want to see you.

The day moved on so slowly it was almost If the clock was in slow motion. You had performed all of your assignments, tripping through meetings, breaks, and tasks on auto pilot. All with one confused dilemma bouncing around your head: You needed to see Sirius, but you were sure he didn’t want to see you.  

By the time the clock finally hit 5pm you were out of the office like a shot, dodging colleagues and questions of Friday night pints as you raced out the door and onto the street. Too bad if Sirius didn’t want to see you, you wanted to explain how much he meant to you and how idiotic you had been so at least he didn’t leave his contract thinking you were someone you were not. Hopefully he would hear you out.

You had decided to call round to his house and ask to see him knowing that if Sirius refused to come to the door, Remus who was staying with him as he did once every month, would.

Remus indeed answered the door, appearing with a pallid complexion causing you to wince at his obvious illness. “Hi Remus, how are you? You look….well…” you trailed off.  

He smiled kindly, “nice to see you, Y/N what can I do for you?”

“I’ve come to speak with Sirius, May I?” You pointed inside; wordlessly asking entry to the house.

“I’m afraid he’s not here.” Remus looked at you with a strange expression, was it pity? You looked away before it could fully form on his face not wanting to break down in front of him.

Oh. So he didn’t want to speak with you.  

You dropped your head for the second time that day, nodding slowly and turning to leave. Before you had taken a step, Remus added “he mentioned something about visiting a haunt from last night.” Remus winked at your hopeful expression. You replied a quick thanks before rushing off.  

Which bar was Sirius at last night? Antheia had asked him so perhaps she had suggested the bar? You knew of three favourite watering holes of hers and set off to the first as fast as you could.

After several hours of aparating to every possible establishment Antheia could have taken him too last night with no luck you trudged slowly home. It was dark, cold, and you were near starving having not eaten all day.

Shoulders drooping slowly with no energy to apparate inside your flat you dragged your feet around the corner of your street and headed towards home.

As you lifted your head, nearing your house, street lamps illuminating only a few metres in front of you, you saw a figure sitting on your stoop watching you.

Hand on your wand you drew nearer, eyes adjusting to the sight you stopped and your breathing hitched.

There, sitting patiently in his black leather jacket was Sirius Black.

“Hullo Y/N.” Your legs had moved of their own accord again, you stood before him taking in his features as he stood drawing up his full height: his dark wavy hair, grey penetrating eyes, stubble rough on his sharp jaw, chest hair peeking out from his shirt which was undone quite low for an autumn night. Tight jeans shaping his athletic legs…realising you were literally looking him up and down you blushed, forming words of hopefully a greeting, “Sirius…I..I’ve been looking all over for you. Remus said you were…” his smile took you off guard, “I know, he sent me a message – he’s too cryptic sometimes he knew I was here.” He continued to look at you waiting for you to speak.

You had spent the entire day overrun with things you wanted to tell Sirius but at the moment he stood before you, everything shed from your mind and you continued to stare at his beautiful form.

Finally mustering some sort of cognitive control you muttered, “you weren’t at work today?”

“Ah yeah.” He ran his hands through his hair looking bashful. “I wasn’t feeling great and Remus had a bit of a bad night, I wasn’t there for him and he needed some help. He actually ended up helping me.”  

“Oh.” You replied eloquently.  

You both stared at each other again.

Sirius broke the silence, “what did you want to tell me?”

What you were going to say to Sirius was to explain again now he was sober, why you behaved that way you did that night. At best you hoped for Sirius to know how wonderful he is and how much he deserved. At worst, well that didn’t bear thinking about, but now him looking at you intently with his beautiful face captured in the moonlight, lips drawing you in you could only stare at him in awe. However a thought had just occurred to you: “why are you here?”

“You went looking for me everywhere to ask me why am I here?” He looked slightly amused at your confused expression.

“No I wanted to tell you, to explain to you that…well…I need you to know that…I love you.”

His eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline as he opened his mouth in shock.

“No, wait, what?!” You were scrambling.  

What the actual fuck! After hours of going over everything you wanted to say to him you went with: I love you???

Your brain was smoking, you love him? Well sure you admire him, he’s kind and clever and funny, the best shag you’ve ever had but love him? Well of course you only want to see him happy but that’s normal right? And ultimately he has made you the happiest you’d been in a long time and you couldn’t picture your future without a Sirius figure popping up…ahhh. Yep love. Great.  

“You love me?” Sirius whispered.  

Bloody heck, timing Y/N! “Yeah about that, look can we go inside please and I’ll explain?” You didn’t give him a chance to answer, and swiftly moved past him opening your front door and crossing the threshold before he had even turned around.  

You decided to stand in the kitchen fumbling with cups and a kettle.

“Y/N” Sirius called softly moving slowly towards you,

“Tea?” Not looking at him you switched the kettle on and searched for tea bags in your kitchen cupboards.

“Y/N.” He was right behind you now. You dropped your hands and let him steer your shoulders, turning you round to face him.

You stole a glance at him. He was looking at you so tenderly, a look that held compassion and kindness deep in his gaze. He opened his mouth to speak but you deftly pressed a finger to his lips halting his speech.

“Don’t.” You couldn’t take the rejection right now. Not before he knew how sorry you were for this whole mess. “Don’t speak, I know.”

“You know?” He muffled onto your finger. The vibration of his voice and friction on your skin from his stubble opened a flood gate in your nether regions which were obviously not picking up the severity of this situation.  

“I know you don’t feel the same. You can’t possibly! I have caused too much turmoil already.” You took a deep breath.

“You told me last night I hurt you and I am so sorry for that. I didn’t think you would be hurt and I certainly never assumed you would want to leave your job. I have admired you from a far ever since we met. I never imagined that you could possibly have any interest in me so I kept my feelings hidden. By the time you did, Antheia had talked my ear off about you and you were essentially forbidden, but I kept going because I started falling for you. I fell hard and when I thought about the future everything exploded, I didn’t want to start a relationship lying to you or my friend…it felt wrong and I thought the only way was to end it but you have left a gaping whole in my life and it hurts every time I move…I mean” You screwed up your eyes in pain. You didn’t want to guilt him into loving you. “…no I It doesn’t matter how I feel argh all I want you to know is that you are the most amazing, loving, incredible man, you changed my life and I will always be so grateful to have known you.” Exhaling with the effort it took to try and coerce your feelings into any semblance of meaning.

Sirius had not looked away during your admittance and he didn’t now. The seconds ticking as the silence grew was palpable.

You allowed yourself to search his eyes and found a multitude of emotions swirling: fear, surprise, lust, surety.

You had dropped your hand from his lips during your speech and in an absent-minded way lain it against his chest.

“You want me to go?” It was a question, he asked as he cupped your hand in his own holding it in place, not letting it move from his chest.

“No! No Sirius not at all, unless you want to?” He shook his head.

“I came here to apologise for my behaviour last night.” He paused looking at you. “I thought about apologising this morning but I couldn’t bear facing you so I left as soon as the dawn appeared.”

“Sirius do you remember what we talked about”

“I do.”

“So you are aware that there isn’t  and never was another man, just you…and I guess Antheia who I was referring to.”

“Yes. I am sorry for barging in. I don’t know what came over me.” He gave a side smile at this.  

“It’s fine, I deserved it.”

“You really believe that don’t you?” He asked concerned.

You didn’t reply, just nodded tears forming in your eyes.

“Ok, come with me.” Sirius took your hand and rushed out the door.

“Sirius, where are we going?”

“Last night I accepted a date with Antheia but I was not on my best behaviour…I drank too much as you soon found out.” You smiled at this remembering him attempting to climb your stairs.

“I was still upset with you and wanted to drown my sorrows. It wasn’t fair on Antheia but I don’t think she really cared.”

“What do you mean?”

“Apparate us to Antheia’s house and I’ll tell you.”

“What?”

“Come on.” He nudged you playfully. “I don’t know the address so hurry up!”

Nothing but the twinkle in his eye could have convinced you – it was addicting and right now you would do just about anything to keep it sparkling.

Appearing with a pop on Antheia’s doorstep you watched Sirius walk towards the door and knock loudly.

There was movement inside and some scrambling before Antheia opened her door looking startled. “Y/N! Sirius! Ah how can I help?”

“Y/N here still feels compelled to get you and I together even though I told her our date didn’t go well.”

What the fuck was Sirius saying?

Antheia laughed and replied “Y/N I told you today that it’s fine, I’m a big girl, you can stop punishing yourself over this if you are.” You shook your head sadly and she continued.  “You are not a bad person just be open about it – and be honest with your feelings and your friends. You know for a communications executive you aren’t very good at communicating!” She laughed at you opening and closing your mouth at this jab.  

“But you’re…” your thought had died in your mind as you became distracted at movement inside Antheia’s flat. “…you’re not alone?” Looking at Antheia fully you just realised she was wearing little clothing, a mere tee shirt over bare legs on a cool April evening.  

Antheia rolled her eyes and opened the door wider to reveal another scantily clad person.  “Melvin!” You yelled in surprise.  

“Hi Y/N, Sirius.” blushing red, Melvin moved out of sight and you looked back at Antheia.

“Yes Y/N my date didn’t go well with Sirius because I actually didn’t have feelings for him, I like Melvin – it took for our date for me to realise that and now, we’ll I don’t intend to hold back.”

Sirius chuckled and winked at Antheia.

“Ok Y/N, Sirius it’s been lovely but I have to go now, I’m…busy.”

Laughing at your perplexed face she added: “I can see this is going to take some time. We’ll talk about it Monday morning Y/N – you’re buying the coffee Ok?”

You nodded eagerly as Antheia returned Sirius’ wink and gave you a genuine smile before closing the door.

You turned to Sirius, “you knew Melvin was there? How?”  

Sirius chuckled again, grabbing your arm and disapparating you back to your living room. “Lucky guess- last night I mentioned I had seen her with Melvin a few times, she blushed so red I almost asked her if she was choking! It only took a bit of prodding from there for her to start realising her feelings for him are real and for me just a self made ideal. She seemed excited at the prospect of telling him this the next day: today.”

He looked at you intently.

“You see that’s what has happened on all of my dates after Azkaban. Everyone was expecting the idea of the me they made up in their head, no one took the time to see the reality inside and couldn’t understand when they didn’t feel the spark.” He paused and ran his finger down your cheek. “It was different with you, you see me the real me and still stick around. That’s why I decided not to give up on you even when I thought you were with someone else.”

“What are you saying Sirius?” Feeling lighter that you had in months, hope lifted its head in your mind and created flickering waves of shocks rooting you in place unable to look away from him.

“I’m saying I think I love you too, or at the very least am truly. Madly. Deeply. Falling for you.” He punctuated each word with a kiss on your cheek, neck, and jawline as he removed your coat.

Eyelids threatening to flutter shut in divine bliss and happiness at his words, it took great effort to keep them open to smile at him, cheekily saying,” I think those are song lyrics, Sirius!”

“Bugger.” He breathed. “Here I was thinking that was so smooth.” He had taken your waist in his hands and dropped more kisses on your collarbone and shoulder. You tilted your head allowing him more access as the kisses turned to licks and bites.  

Your response to his words was a loving, slow moan and he smiled into your neck uttering, “I’ll just have to prove how smooth I am in another way.”

He ran his hand down your stomach and moved it under your shirts faltering only for a split second as he noticed the double layer then shaking it from his mind. Softly stroking your abdomen, he undid your pants and inched his hand lower and lower until it came into contact with your clit. Hearing your sharp intake of breath, he circled the sensitive bead with his thumb as he pressed his middle finger against your perineum sliding it forward into you and back.  

“Fuck Sirius!” You gasped. How did he hit the right buttons every time? He quickened his pace biting your neck in the process then licking the spot he bit.  

“Godric Y/N, how are you so wet for me?” He moaned into your neck.  

Feeling alive at his touch you purred, “Oh Sirius, trust me it is never dry when you are around.”

He growled removing his hand picking  you up and placing you on the kitchen table as he feverishly devoured your mouth. Hungry, panting kisses, tongues swirling while his hands worked quickly taking off every piece of clothing in sight; yours and his.  

He gripped you to him like you were his life raft and he was a drowning man, lost at sea.

Your hands ran all over him, tracing his pectorals, his muscled biceps, scars and lines as you explored him dropping your hands down to feel his erection; hard as a rock and already dripping with desire.

He let out a sharp hiss as you took him in your hand and began to massage slowly along his shaft.

“Two can play that game, Y/N.” He growled looking at you before reaching down and resuming his touch on your clit, adding a long finger inside you and curling it at just the right angle. “God you are beautiful.” He was one had holding your waist, the other quickly bringing you to the brink. He twitched every now and then as your hand on his cock was revving him up in the most incredibly way.

You noticed he was holding himself back. You had had enough experience with Sirius to tell. He was teasing you, torturing you slowly. He had twice now got you to the edge of orgasm only to stop his movements on your clit to pause and kiss you or flick your nipples with his tongue. The third time he did this you caught a mysterious glint in his eye and he couldn’t quite suppress a tell tale smirk. He was ruining you and enjoying every second of it. A sweet, excruciating punishment perhaps for time spent apart.

You loved it when he did this. When he took control, he was a natural dominant and you were only too happy to play subservient, especially when his role sent you to heaven and back often three times a night.

But tonight, you decided, was the night to turn this arrangement on its head.

“Stop!” You cried.

Sirius let go of your nipple from between his teeth, looking up at you with concern.

“Y/N is everything alright?”

“No Sirius! But it will be if you follow me.” The dominant tone in your voice got his attention but before he could say anything you took his hand, placed it firmly on your arse and squeezed it forcing him to grip you painfully. Merlin, it felt good.

“I want you to stop teasing me or I will make this very very hard for you.” You firmly gripped his cock as you said this and it throbbed beautifully.

“What do you want me to do?” Sirius’ voice came out as a rasp and looking into his eyes you could see the pupils dilate until his eyes were almost black with desire.

“I want you to take me right here, right now. I want to feel you deep inside me as I know only you can go. I want to rock against you as you fill me up taking every inch of me with you and I want you to come inside me as you scream my name.”

If there was any grey left  in his eyes it was gone now, they had blown dark with incredible desire. Sirius had always relished being loved by women but never had someone nearly made him come with just words. He so rarely was not in control during sex and the fact that you were reducing him to a dripping, shaking mess was thrilling.

Giving him a helpful nudge you guided him by his cock closer to you, tilting your hips upwards. His actions were instant; the hand gripping your arse pulled you to the edge of the table and your folds to the tip of his cock which was aching.

Leaning up to lick his earlobe you whispered: “now fuck me, Sirius.”

He slammed into you, gripping both you and the table for resistance.

“Oh fuck!”

You loved the exquisite feeling of Sirius being inside you, the way he pumped in and out, touching you everywhere and completely satisfying you.

When he wasn’t kissing you sloppily he was panting in your ear telling you how tight you were, how good you felt, and how much he missed you.

“I missed you too Sirius, oh Godric you feel good!” You clenched your walls around him as he thrust, rocking back matching his rhythm. “Yes keep doing that, right there!” He was hitting a spot that was building inside of you. Growing stronger and stronger, higher and higher until…

“OH FUCK! SIRIUS!” You came, sparks flashing in front of you as you clung to him experiencing a climax that wasn’t stopping. “Oh God, Sirius it’s still going…” knowing how your pleasure turns him on and that this might push him over the edge too, you kept talking, your words barely distinguishable amongst a nonsense of moans until he heard you say: “please come for me Sirius, I love it when you come.” Hearing your voice seductively encouraging him mixed with the motions of your body, and your mouth on his neck threw him over the edge. He gripped your body, causing what you were sure would be delicious marks on your skin.  He couldn’t hold you close enough when he stilled inside you yelling your name as he came.

He was still coming seconds later when you clenched, tightening your walls around his cock causing him to jolt, groan, and bite your neck as the last spurts of his come stopped.

He stayed there, biting and kissing your neck, hands still clutching you as he rocked slightly inside of you before pulling out.

Panting heavily, not trusting your legs to hold you up, you stayed seated on the table. Sirius had his head resting on your shoulder, arms propping  him up either side of you as he shook away the spots dancing in front of his eyes.

Breathing slowly coming back he looked up at you, your glistening forehead, chest rising and falling with every pant, you looked like a dream.

“Y/N, that was…Oh wow…it was…”

“Fuck!” You exhaled.

“Yes!” He laughed, straightening up and only wobbling slightly.

He took your hand and you jumped off the table as he pulled you to him. Holding you tightly and kissing your head.

You were both still standing like that several minutes later and would have continued to do so had your leg not started to cramp.

Breaking apart and rubbing your thigh you announced: “I need tea, Sirius tea?”

“Sure.” He walked slowly around the room picking up various items of clothing until he found his jeans and shirt popping them on.

Excusing yourself to the bathroom you returned in new underwear and a tee shirt to find him splayed out on your couch, two teas on the coffee table, hot and steaming.

Looking at the strip of abdomen visible as his shirt rode up and following that to the obvious bulge in his pants you licked your lips. God! You had just had sex, mind blowing sex and here you were still longing for the man.

He noticed and smirked, “like what you see Y/N?”

“You know it.” You winked at him, grabbing a tea and situating yourself half on his lap and half on the couch. “If you lose the pants and shirt I could possibly be persuaded to letting you stay the night!”

He laughed, sat up and placed his arms around you kissing you deeply before looking at you and clearing his throat.

“I meant what I said Y/N, I am falling for you,  if I haven’t already. It wasn’t said to make you feel better, I really meant it.”

You stroked his hair. “I know and I meant what I said, I love you. It feels good to say how I feel so I’m not taking it back. Hmmm…” You sipped your tea, contemplating, “being open when you are scared of the reaction is actually quite liberating.”  

“Mmmm you should do it more!” Sirius teased you.

“Well Ok then…” you also cleared your throat: “Sirius, that was the best sex of my life and I would quite like it to happen again and again for the foreseeable future as well as seeing you, but first…” there was a knock at the door. “Excellent timing, first we need to eat so I ordered us some food.”

A huge grin broke out on Sirius’ face as he watched you get up and make your way to the door, “Oh Merlin Y/N, if I didn’t love you before this would do it!”

You laughed as you opened the door and accepted the order, not noticing you were still in your underwear and giving the delivery man an indecent view.

You were so happy however that even if you had noticed, you wouldn’t have cared.

---

Tag list: @evyiione @belladonnarey @virgilwrites @emmamass24 @sirius-lysad @riddikuluslypotter @mylovelykelsifer @sly-vixen-up2nogood @ashkuuuu

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️👑🐲 DMODT 58 start... kiddies, sex is not the way to run away from

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️👑🐲 DMODT 58 update

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway. From there, things grew hazy for Levi. Days would pass in a blink of an eye, Levi finding himself waking to find he recognised nothing around him, or even worse, he'd wake to find himself in Eren's arms, only for the illusion to shatter as the omega cruelly abused him. Voicing his inner most thoughts as he blamed him for leaving. The horses he'd taken with him found their deaths at his hands, one night he'd tethered them, then when he'd come too again, he'd found them slaughtered by his claws, his body bathed in blood. The money he'd taken was lost from his pockets as his clothes grew tattered, little more than cloth hanging off his weather beaten form. Winter made all that more rough with no sanity to remind him to seek shelter and food. The voices in his head now smothered out his own, Levi soon forgetting he could speak anything other than grunts and growls, moments of clarity disappearing entirely. The voices and the hallucinations had robbed him of all he was. He didn't know where reality ended and the dreams began, and the onset of total madness hit too fast for him to end his own life, as he'd planned. On a snowy winter's night, Levi found himself at the banks of a large lake. The snow drifted and floated down from the heavens, seeping in through the holes in his boots, Levi's body already in the starting stages of hypothermia. Perhaps because of this, he'd been granted a moment of clarity, lonely beyond words as he stared up at the overcast sky. He knew he was dying. His body couldn't withstand the cold any further, nor the months of neglect and feeding on whatever was close and available, without always positive results. If he had one last wish, it was to see Eren one last time. To tell him how much he'd loved him, and to thank him for loving him in return. On the remnants of his shirt, the brooch his love had gifted him hung heavily, only remaining due to the fact it was pinned there. With clumsy fingers, Levi removed the brooch. It's golden shine filled with dirt, Eren's scale a dark blob in the centre, while the diamonds held no glint of shine. This was the last thing he had of his mate. The last thing he could hold onto to prove Eren was his. The bite on his neck forgotten by tired mind. Standing beneath the clouds, Levi took a deep breath. He didn't want Eren to see what came next. He didn't want any part of his omega to see him die like a stray dog. Tears rolled down his face, betraying his own thoughts. With a feral kind of yell, the brooch was thrown into the black inky water, a small plop before it disappeared from his sight. Levi then clutching his hands to his chest as he sank down into the snow, his pain vocalised in screaming sobs. All he wanted was Eren. Eren was soft and warm. He was hope and the future. He was sweet and pure. He felt shame and pain for taking a life. He'd felt the pain of others as his own, and wanted to protect everyone from the monsters of the world... though labelled one himself. By some miracle he made it through the night, blacking out then waking to find himself naked, his soaked clothes hung over rocks in the cave he found himself in. Most confusingly was the fact that Eren's brooch back in his hands. He'd hoped to die. He'd thought he would, curled in the snow, but there he was. Warm, and starving, Levi curled up closer to the fire, falling back to sleep from sheer exhaustion. This was the first time Levi met Obsydin in his mind. Dressed in fine clothes, and standing in a royal hall, Levi thought he'd finally gone off the edge. Asleep while awake had become his natural state, yet he knew he was dreaming, despite how real it all felt. He had to be dreaming, he was looking at a wilder version of himself. He didn't know what was happening, and he didn't want to know. If this was dream, the dream he died in, he was choosing how he died. Using the hooked clawed of his right middle finger, Levi tore at his left wrist. He was done. If he woke up again, he had no idea what came next, or when he'd be licid enough for this "You fool!" The other him rushed to his side. It was surprising how fast he grew woozy. With one arm wrapped around his waist, and his free hand holding Levi's wrist, the other him prevented his fall. Levi's torn arm slowly stitching back together, the sight to repulsive for him to watch "You fool. You're lucky Eren left you that scale" It was a stupid question, but Levi didn't know what else to ask "What are you?" "I think you mean who. I'm showing you myself in the form Eren preferred, though I must say, he is much easier on the eyes than you. I've been trying to connect with you for months, your mind is breaking from the weight of my presence inside of you" Snorting something dangerously close to a laugh, Levi didn't know why he wanted to laugh given the situation "No shit" Huffing, Obsydin let go. Levi dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Glaring up at the dragon, the alpha's face was otherwise expressionless "I did not ask for it to be this way. I did not know the burden would consume you, or that we would be parted from him due to it" "What the hell else was I going to do? Stay around and kill him?" "I had hoped to act sooner, but when you left Eren, you left the part of his soul that still had hold of me. The last stop guard to protect you from losing yourself completely. Separated from him, you were quick to succumb to the madness within" Moving to draw himself into a more comfortable position, Levi held his healing arm to his chest "If you've been here the whole time, why didn't you act sooner? Why didn't you show yourself?" "I couldn't. Please listen, as I'm tired of repeating myself. Last night you tried to retrieve his brooch, you would have died then had I not taken hold of your body. Your weakened state allowed me to infect your mind further. Using your body, I drew my sword, spilling your blood upon my bone and scale in the hopes of forming a new bond" A new bond? He didn't even want the old bond, let alone this bond "Why the fuck didn't you let me just die? It's better for him. Do you think he wants to see me again? After what I did to him? You know how stubborn Eren is. You know how many times his heart has been broken. You know how fragile he is. And you know because you've tortured him yourself. You broke his mind, and took away his ability to bear children. No. He doesn't want either of us near him, and I don't want to live like this" "Even when I can return you to sanity?" Dragons were arseholes. He knew he'd said it before, but they most certainly were complete and total, shitty, arseholes "Right. Sure. You return me to my mind, take my body, then kill Erwin. That's what you've wanted all along" "I will not deny that would please me to see the Smith dead, yet... Watching Eren has reminded me there is more to life than a thirst for blood" "So you've fallen in love with my omega? Is that it? You want to get home so you can fuck him?" "You humans and your "fucking". When he betrayed me, I wanted him to hurt. Then, I grew curious watching him. I thought he'd be a selfish human, given how he pleaded for you. I thought he'd cry out over how he gave part of his soul, yet he did not seek out attention for his pain. I grew further curious until you worsened. The times in which you lost control, I am sorry for. I am a Dreamseer. The times your mind wandered or slipped, allowed my powers to manifest, and my desire to kill the Smith... Well. Yes. He was only spared an immediate death because of Eren, so I wished to know why he of that bastard's bloodline deserved not to die, even with the appalling manner in which he treated Eren. I once had a mate. Who was strong and beautiful. Who wanted the world on a silver platter and I would have gifted them anything and everything. My madness tainted them. A madness of the mind I did not know has manifested there. When they were taken and slain, I, like you, lost control of myself. My desire to seek revenge against the world combined with my illness... Never mind. I speak too much. You asked why am I doing this? I do it for Eren who'd birth a dead clutch and adopt a stranger's child as his own in a heartbeat, because I wish to see what becomes of him" Levi gaped. He actually gaped like an idiot. Though, it was really just him sitting there staring with his lips slightly parted, attempting to process the words he was hearing "I assure you..." "Just. Stop. Ok. I need a moment. You're in love with my mate?" "I..." "You're..." "Levi" "No. Eren is my omega... was my omega... You ruined everything for us. We spent a year apart while he trained his dragon magic. We were to be wed... He gave up everything to support me... and you now decide you love him?!" Obsydin stalked away from him, seating himself on the king's throne "I offer you this, for the sake of Eren, I will lessen the infection upon your mind, and in return, we shall return to Eren" "And how do I know you won't let the madness consume me once we return? That you won't hurt him the moment I'm gone" "You don't. And stop holding dragons to your own human standards. I may be a monster, but no one goes to war without reason. My mate was my world. Our children were born from our love. My mate was taken from me and I was never able to see them again. I make a vow on my children's lives that I will return you to Eren's side, if you do what I need you to do, when I ask you do it" "Can't you just take my body over?" "I could, but right now, it's so pathetically weak that it has no reason to exist, outside of housing our shared consciousnesses. You either make this deal, or you die knowing you broke Eren's heart and left him in the hands of the Smith" He knew he broke Eren's heart. He didn't need fucking reminding. Obsydin's words were getting stuck in his head, an almost funny thought given that this whole exchange was in his head. He was hopelessly crazy, this plan probably a product of his desire to return home. He'd probably be dead soon enough anyway "What do I need to do?" Jumping back up from the throne, the smile on Obsydin's lips was creepy as fuck, forcing him to make a mental note not to smile so widely. It was strange to say the least, setting eyes upon himself, given that the image of himself that he'd always carried, in no real way was translated into human form "Excellent. I take this word to be binding. When you wake, you must burn the last of the scales that encased the sword, and draw the blade. With fresh blood and Eren's scale, you must place them upon my own scale. I will need his magic to awaken my sword" Magic. He'd never fucking understand magic. He wasn't sure the people who used the stupid thing did either "Awaken you sword?" "You had but a taste of my power. A single drop of tainted blood. When you draw the blade, I shall use Eren's magic to remove the... more damaged parts of us. You shouldn't feel a thing" Obsydin was a liar. He'd woken, and with nothing left to lose, he'd done as he'd said. As the scales burned, fever set in. Each blackening and shrivelling scale that crackled on the fire made it worse. It felt as if the flames themselves were burning in his blood. For days he drifted in and out of a fevered state, collapsed by the lake to pathetically lap at the foul tasting water each time he woke. Obsydin had sent him to the lakes edge, the voice now in the back of his mind, rather than before him like they'd been in the dream castle. It didn't matter if he didn't eat immediately. What mattered was breaking the fever and keeping his fluids up. When the process had passed, the sword had become truly his. Following Obsydin's directions, he'd taken the blade in his hand. It no longer felt heavy and clunky, instead more like an extension of his own body... but that didn't mean he could hold it for long at all. He'd lost a great deal of muscle and strength. If not for his natural alpha endowments, Eren's scale, Obsydin's meddling and access to water, he would be dead. Yet, barely functional, Obsydin's first instruction was that they set out for Eldia. The dragon really not thinking through the finer details. Levi was human. He couldn't fly. It wasn't a case of growing a magical set of winds and flapping off into the horizon. He only had two legs and a heartbeat. First came trapping and killing game. Then came strength and stamina training. Once he could go longer than five minutes without feeling as if he'd run a marathon, they'd set out for Eldia. As time moved forward, it became almost natural to voice his replies to Obsydin allowed. It was, after all, a conversation between two beings. They just happened to both be relying on the same body... A body that relied on Obsydin's sword for so much. Not only was the blade ridiculously sharp, it never seemed to blunt or dull. It cut through its prey with all deftness of the most seasoned wolf, tearing the life from the animal before it'd even had a chance to run. It was like no other sword he'd ever held, and gave him the feeling that the inanimate object was trying to assist in the hunt and kill. Obsydin said nothing of it. Nor would be speak of his mate again, no matter how many times Levi pried or pushed. Even Eren was a topic that Obsydin would no longer talk about. He was stuck with the world's second worst conversationalist for a partner with him being the first.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️🐲🐲👑 DMODT 58 - still going...

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Shoots self. Who's idea was it that Levi needed his back story explained

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway. From there, things grew hazy for Levi. Days would pass in a blink of an eye, Levi finding himself waking to find he recognised nothing around him, or even worse, he'd wake to find himself in Eren's arms, only for the illusion to shatter as the omega cruelly abused him. Voicing his inner most thoughts as he blamed him for leaving. The horses he'd taken with him found their deaths at his hands, one night he'd tethered them, then when he'd come too again, he'd found them slaughtered by his claws, his body bathed in blood. The money he'd taken was lost from his pockets as his clothes grew tattered, little more than cloth hanging off his weather beaten form. Winter made all that more rough with no sanity to remind him to seek shelter and food. The voices in his head now smothered out his own, Levi soon forgetting he could speak anything other than grunts and growls, moments of clarity disappearing entirely. The voices and the hallucinations had robbed him of all he was. He didn't know where reality ended and the dreams began, and the onset of total madness hit too fast for him to end his own life, as he'd planned. On a snowy winter's night, Levi found himself at the banks of a large lake. The snow drifted and floated down from the heavens, seeping in through the holes in his boots, Levi's body already in the starting stages of hypothermia. Perhaps because of this, he'd been granted a moment of clarity, lonely beyond words as he stared up at the overcast sky. He knew he was dying. His body couldn't withstand the cold any further, nor the months of neglect and feeding on whatever was close and available, without always positive results. If he had one last wish, it was to see Eren one last time. To tell him how much he'd loved him, and to thank him for loving him in return. On the remnants of his shirt, the brooch his love had gifted him hung heavily, only remaining due to the fact it was pinned there. With clumsy fingers, Levi removed the brooch. It's golden shine filled with dirt, Eren's scale a dark blob in the centre, while the diamonds held no glint of shine. This was the last thing he had of his mate. The last thing he could hold onto to prove Eren was his. The bite on his neck forgotten by tired mind. Standing beneath the clouds, Levi took a deep breath. He didn't want Eren to see what came next. He didn't want any part of his omega to see him die like a stray dog. Tears rolled down his face, betraying his own thoughts. With a feral kind of yell, the brooch was thrown into the black inky water, a small plop before it disappeared from his sight. Levi then clutching his hands to his chest as he sank down into the snow, his pain vocalised in screaming sobs. All he wanted was Eren. Eren was soft and warm. He was hope and the future. He was sweet and pure. He felt shame and pain for taking a life. He'd felt the pain of others as his own, and wanted to protect everyone from the monsters of the world... though labelled one himself. By some miracle he made it through the night, blacking out then waking to find himself naked, his soaked clothes hung over rocks in the cave he found himself in. Most confusingly was the fact that Eren's brooch back in his hands. He'd hoped to die. He'd thought he would, curled in the snow, but there he was. Warm, and starving, Levi curled up closer to the fire, falling back to sleep from sheer exhaustion. This was the first time Levi met Obsydin in his mind. Dressed in fine clothes, and standing in a royal hall, Levi thought he'd finally gone off the edge. Asleep while awake had become his natural state, yet he knew he was dreaming, despite how real it all felt. He had to be dreaming, he was looking at a wilder version of himself. He didn't know what was happening, and he didn't want to know. If this was dream, the dream he died in, he was choosing how he died. Using his clawed fingers, Levi tore at his wrists. He was done. If he woke up again, he had no idea what came next.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️👑🐲🐲 DMODT- 58... had to stop here or it was gonna be like 15 million words

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway. From there, things grew hazy for Levi. Days would pass in a blink of an eye, Levi finding himself waking to find he recognised nothing around him, or even worse, he'd wake to find himself in Eren's arms, only for the illusion to shatter as the omega cruelly abused him. Voicing his inner most thoughts as he blamed him for leaving. The horses he'd taken with him found their deaths at his hands, one night he'd tethered them, then when he'd come too again, he'd found them slaughtered by his claws, his body bathed in blood. The money he'd taken was lost from his pockets as his clothes grew tattered, little more than cloth hanging off his weather beaten form. Winter made all that more rough with no sanity to remind him to seek shelter and food. The voices in his head now smothered out his own, Levi soon forgetting he could speak anything other than grunts and growls, moments of clarity disappearing entirely. The voices and the hallucinations had robbed him of all he was. He didn't know where reality ended and the dreams began, and the onset of total madness hit too fast for him to end his own life, as he'd planned. On a snowy winter's night, Levi found himself at the banks of a large lake. The snow drifted and floated down from the heavens, seeping in through the holes in his boots, Levi's body already in the starting stages of hypothermia. Perhaps because of this, he'd been granted a moment of clarity, lonely beyond words as he stared up at the overcast sky. He knew he was dying. His body couldn't withstand the cold any further, nor the months of neglect and feeding on whatever was close and available, without always positive results. If he had one last wish, it was to see Eren one last time. To tell him how much he'd loved him, and to thank him for loving him in return. On the remnants of his shirt, the brooch his love had gifted him hung heavily, only remaining due to the fact it was pinned there. With clumsy fingers, Levi removed the brooch. It's golden shine filled with dirt, Eren's scale a dark blob in the centre, while the diamonds held no glint of shine. This was the last thing he had of his mate. The last thing he could hold onto to prove Eren was his. The bite on his neck forgotten by tired mind. Standing beneath the clouds, Levi took a deep breath. He didn't want Eren to see what came next. He didn't want any part of his omega to see him die like a stray dog. Tears rolled down his face, betraying his own thoughts. With a feral kind of yell, the brooch was thrown into the black inky water, a small plop before it disappeared from his sight. Levi then clutching his hands to his chest as he sank down into the snow, his pain vocalised in screaming sobs. All he wanted was Eren. Eren was soft and warm. He was hope and the future. He was sweet and pure. He felt shame and pain for taking a life. He'd felt the pain of others as his own, and wanted to protect everyone from the monsters of the world... though labelled one himself. By some miracle he made it through the night, blacking out then waking to find himself naked, his soaked clothes hung over rocks in the cave he found himself in. Most confusingly was the fact that Eren's brooch back in his hands. He'd hoped to die. He'd thought he would, curled in the snow, but there he was. Warm, and starving, Levi curled up closer to the fire, falling back to sleep from sheer exhaustion. This was the first time Levi met Obsydin in his mind. Dressed in fine clothes, and standing in a royal hall, Levi thought he'd finally gone off the edge. Asleep while awake had become his natural state, yet he knew he was dreaming, despite how real it all felt. He had to be dreaming, he was looking at a wilder version of himself. He didn't know what was happening, and he didn't want to know. If this was dream, the dream he died in, he was choosing how he died. Using the hooked clawed of his right middle finger, Levi tore at his left wrist. He was done. If he woke up again, he had no idea what came next, or when he'd be licid enough for this "You fool!" The other him rushed to his side. It was surprising how fast he grew woozy. With one arm wrapped around his waist, and his free hand holding Levi's wrist, the other him prevented his fall. Levi's torn arm slowly stitching back together, the sight to repulsive for him to watch "You fool. You're lucky Eren left you that scale" It was a stupid question, but Levi didn't know what else to ask "What are you?" "I think you mean who. I'm showing you myself in the form Eren preferred, though I must say, he is much easier on the eyes than you. I've been trying to connect with you for months, your mind is breaking from the weight of my presence inside of you" Snorting something dangerously close to a laugh, Levi didn't know why he wanted to laugh given the situation "No shit" Huffing, Obsydin let go. Levi dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Glaring up at the dragon, the alpha's face was otherwise expressionless "I did not ask for it to be this way. I did not know the burden would consume you, or that we would be parted from him due to it" "What the hell else was I going to do? Stay around and kill him?" "I had hoped to act sooner, but when you left Eren, you left the part of his soul that still had hold of me. The last stop guard to protect you from losing yourself completely. Separated from him, you were quick to succumb to the madness within" Moving to draw himself into a more comfortable position, Levi held his healing arm to his chest "If you've been here the whole time, why didn't you act sooner? Why didn't you show yourself?" "I couldn't. Please listen, as I'm tired of repeating myself. Last night you tried to retrieve his brooch, you would have died then had I not taken hold of your body. Your weakened state allowed me to infect your mind further. Using your body, I drew my sword, spilling your blood upon my bone and scale in the hopes of forming a new bond" A new bond? He didn't even want the old bond, let alone this bond "Why the fuck didn't you let me just die? It's better for him. Do you think he wants to see me again? After what I did to him? You know how stubborn Eren is. You know how many times his heart has been broken. You know how fragile he is. And you know because you've tortured him yourself. You broke his mind, and took away his ability to bear children. No. He doesn't want either of us near him, and I don't want to live like this" "Even when I can return you to sanity?" Dragons were arseholes. He knew he'd said it before, but they most certainly were complete and total, shitty, arseholes "Right. Sure. You return me to my mind, take my body, then kill Erwin. That's what you've wanted all along" "I will not deny that would please me to see the Smith dead, yet... Watching Eren has reminded me there is more to life than a thirst for blood" "So you've fallen in love with my omega? Is that it? You want to get home so you can fuck him?" "You humans and your "fucking". When he betrayed me, I wanted him to hurt. Then, I grew curious watching him. I thought he'd be a selfish human, given how he pleaded for you. I thought he'd cry out over how he gave part of his soul, yet he did not seek out attention for his pain. I grew further curious until you worsened. The times in which you lost control, I am sorry for. I am a Dreamseer. The times your mind wandered or slipped, allowed my powers to manifest, and my desire to kill the Smith... Well. Yes. He was only spared an immediate death because of Eren, so I wished to know why he of that bastard's bloodline deserved not to die, even with the appalling manner in which he treated Eren. I once had a mate. Who was strong and beautiful. Who wanted the world on a silver platter and I would have gifted them anything and everything. My madness tainted them. A madness of the mind I did not know has manifested there. When they were taken and slain, I, like you, lost control of myself. My desire to seek revenge against the world combined with my illness... Never mind. I speak too much. You asked why am I doing this? I do it for Eren who'd birth a dead clutch and adopt a stranger's child as his own in a heartbeat, because I wish to see what becomes of him" Levi gaped. He actually gaped like an idiot. Though, it was really just him sitting there staring with his lips slightly parted, attempting to process the words he was hearing "I assure you..." "Just. Stop. Ok. I need a moment. You're in love with my mate?" "I..." "You're..." "Levi" "No. Eren is my omega... was my omega... You ruined everything for us. We spent a year apart while he trained his dragon magic. We were to be wed... He gave up everything to support me... and you now decide you love him?!" Obsydin stalked away from him, seating himself on the king's throne "I offer you this, for the sake of Eren, I will lessen the infection upon your mind, and in return, we shall return to Eren" "And how do I know you won't let the madness consume me once we return? That you won't hurt him the moment I'm gone" "You don't. And stop holding dragons to your own human standards. I may be a monster, but no one goes to war without reason. My mate was my world. Our children were born from our love. My mate was taken from me and I was never able to see them again. I make a vow on my children's lives that I will return you to Eren's side, if you do what I need you to do, when I ask you do it" "Can't you just take my body over?" "I could, but right now, it's so pathetically weak that it has no reason to exist, outside of housing our shared consciousnesses. You either make this deal, or you die knowing you broke Eren's heart and left him in the hands of the Smith" He knew he broke Eren's heart. He didn't need fucking reminding. Obsydin's words were getting stuck in his head, an almost funny thought given that this whole exchange was in his head. He was hopelessly crazy, this plan probably a product of his desire to return home. He'd probably be dead soon enough anyway "What do I need to do?" Jumping back up from the throne, the smile on Obsydin's lips was creepy as fuck, forcing him to make a mental note not to smile so widely. It was strange to say the least, setting eyes upon himself, given that the image of himself that he'd always carried, in no real way was translated into human form "Excellent. I take this word to be binding. When you wake, you must burn the last of the scales that encased the sword, and draw the blade. With fresh blood and Eren's scale, you must place them upon my own scale. I will need his magic to awaken my sword" Magic. He'd never fucking understand magic. He wasn't sure the people who used the stupid thing did either "Awaken you sword?" "You had but a taste of my power. A single drop of tainted blood. When you draw the blade, I shall use Eren's magic to remove the... more damaged parts of us. You shouldn't feel a thing" Obsydin was a liar. He'd woken, and with nothing left to lose, he'd done as he'd said. As the scales burned, fever set in. Each blackening and shrivelling scale that crackled on the fire made it worse. It felt as if the flames themselves were burning in his blood. For days he drifted in and out of a fevered state, collapsed by the lake to pathetically lap at the foul tasting water each time he woke. Obsydin had sent him to the lakes edge, the voice now in the back of his mind, rather than before him like they'd been in the dream castle. It didn't matter if he didn't eat immediately. What mattered was breaking the fever and keeping his fluids up. When the process had passed, the sword had become truly his. Following Obsydin's directions, he'd taken the blade in his hand. It no longer felt heavy and clunky, instead more like an extension of his own body... but that didn't mean he could hold it for long at all. He'd lost a great deal of muscle and strength. If not for his natural alpha endowments, Eren's scale, Obsydin's meddling and access to water, he would be dead. Yet, barely functional, Obsydin's first instruction was that they set out for Eldia. The dragon really not thinking through the finer details. Levi was human. He couldn't fly. It wasn't a case of growing a magical set of winds and flapping off into the horizon. He only had two legs and a heartbeat. First came trapping and killing game. Then came strength and stamina training. Once he could go longer than five minutes without feeling as if he'd run a marathon, they'd set out for Eldia. As time moved forward, it became almost natural to voice his replies to Obsydin allowed. It was, after all, a conversation between two beings. They just happened to both be relying on the same body... A body that relied on Obsydin's sword for so much. Not only was the blade ridiculously sharp, it never seemed to blunt or dull. It cut through its prey with all deftness of the most seasoned wolf, tearing the life from the animal before it'd even had a chance to run. It was like no other sword he'd ever held, and gave him the feeling that the inanimate object was trying to assist in the hunt and kill. Obsydin said nothing of it. Nor would be speak of his mate again, no matter how many times Levi pried or pushed. Even Eren was a topic that Obsydin would no longer talk about. He was stuck with the world's second worst conversationalist for a partner with him being the first. * In his arms, Eren let out a soft sob. Given his omega's previous strong stance on not crying unless something was terribly wrong, it'd been alarming to watch Eren fall apart continually, and to know he couldn't simply blame it all on pregnancy hormones. Yes, Eren was still the strongest person he knew, but he'd hurt so deeply that everything he'd ever tried to suppress was now slamming into him with the force of a rampaging bull "Eren?" Shaking his head, the omega tried to hide his face further against Levi's neck, which was impossible given the angle they were already laying in thanks to Eren's swollen belly "It's ok" "It's not ok" He'd expected that "I'm here now. We can..." "You didn't want to be here! So many nights passed where I couldn't sleep because I thought you were dead or bleeding out somewhere, and now I find you willingly tried to kill yourself. Do you know what the makes me feel? I feel like I fucking failed you. I don't get why my magic acted as your limiter. I don't get what Obsydin said. I'm just a stupid omega who doesn't get any of it, other than how much it fucking hurts to hear you say you wanted to die. That you were happy to die... When Zeke fucked me the first time... I wanted to die... I wanted to rip my skin off and bleed out every bit of me he'd contaminated. But I didn't... and you... you were happy to leave me not knowing... leave our baby never knowing their father... you selfish arsehole" "Eren, I was insane" "Insanity is no excuse! I... don't want you to leave me alone like that..." His poor omega was beyond upset. Eren's whole body trembled as his distress scent flowed thickly. Maybe he shouldn't have told Eren how Obsydin had made a deal with him, and simply declared that one moment he woke up no longer losing his mind with no idea how it'd happened "I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do, and I was so fucking exhausted. I..." "I know! That makes it worse! I could have been there with you! I should have looked after you better!" "It's not your job to look after me" "We're supposed to look after each other, we're mates... we're mates with a stupid bond where we don't feel each other like we should... I should have..." "Eren, no. You looked after me. You came after me when I slept walked, you put yourself in danger to follow after me, and I know I hurt you. I hate that. And I hate that Luca was witness to that all" Eren let out a miserable wail "I want Luca!" It took everything Levi had to hold his snort in at the sudden and abrupt wail "Do you want me to find him?" "He can hear me... He could hear me in the dungeon" Levi frowned "If he could hear you, why weren't you found earlier" "They said they'd gut him and string him up... I want my baby boy... he probably doesn't even want me anymore. He prefers Armin..." "No he doesn't. You're his mother and he loves you" "But he's been with Armin... Ar..." "Eren, no. I've seen Luca with both of you, and that's not the case. He stays with Armin because he thinks that's what he's supposed to do, where as, he wants to be with you. With his mother. You said Luca can hear you, shall I open the door?" "He can break through them now" Heaven help them if Luca was to grow mad or upset. He wanted to call Luca his son, but until he and Eren had figured out all of this, he felt he didn't have the right. He'd shown such a horrible side to Luca, and it was only by bonding fully with Obsydin that he'd stabilised... at least for now. He still wasn't sure he understood Obsydin in any way, shape, or form, but he did trust that Eren had the power to intervene if something happened. Kissing the omega on the top of his head, Levi slipped from Eren's hold as he moved to crack the door slightly. Turning back to Eren, he mentally groaned at the mouth watering sight in front him. Eren had rolled onto his back, the robe having fallen completely open to expose his lover's pregnant form in all it's beauty. He'd missed so much of Eren's pregnancy that he selfishly wished their child would wait longer to be born, just so he could pamper Eren with love and affection... and fuck him sensless. Mostly... fully... His alpha wanted to completely wreck him. Having not moved for a moment Eren caught him staring, rushing to his body "Wait..." "It's embarrassing" Walking over to the bed, Levi crawled up the bed, gently parting Eren's legs as he came to sit just in front of him. His hands moving along Eren's soft thighs as the omega scowled at him "This isn't embarrassing. This is you, pregnant with our child. How could think to find that embarrassing? I find it beautiful" "It's always beautiful with you..." "I told you before, I'm a simple man. You are the definition of beautiful, and I will tell you that every single day of the rest of your life" "I still haven't forgiven you" "I know. I don't deserve easy forgiveness. I still think there is much we should talk about" Lazily sliding his hands up to Eren's stomach, the omega wiggled with a whine "Don't..." "Don't touch you? I can feel our baby moving" "I called Luca..." "I know. I'm not doing anything" Eren bit his lip as he looked away, groaning in frustration as he did. His mate had just been balling his eyes out, and now he was growing hard beneath Levi's hands. Adorable. Eren was fucking adorable "Did you want me to do something? I can think of something that will have you coming..." Their moment was interrupted by a loud knock on the door as it swung open. Eren's eyes widened as he jerked back, trying to cover his body in a rush, while Levi rose to throw himself in front of his vulnerable mate. Things were about to get a whole lot shittier for the pair of them.