#I have such a hard time believing I’m worth all the trouble

[quarterlifekitty]

I just read the baby trapping HC’s… what if it was the reverse? reader baby trapping THEM

I think that depends entirely upon how cleverly you went about it! I’m gonna answer this with the assumption that they match your freak on the matter lmao

cw: dubcon, baby trapping

And as a preamble: it’s literally so easy for you. For any of them. Because quite honestly if they’re hard, and you say you’re on birth control, they’re gonna believe you. And really, most of them probably would’ve just assumed you were if you let them hit it raw. But we’re gonna say you lied about being on the pill for this ask.

Gaz is such a sweet guy. He’s literally just like “I’m happy if you’re happy, love” when you tell him the news. These things happen, and he has no reason not to believe you, right? What does it matter as long as you’re both happy?

Soap has his suspicions about it. But again, it’s not like he was really pressing you for reassurance that it was safe when he came inside you— when he gets like that, the dog in him takes over and there’s no stopping him. And maybe he’s not sure initially, to be honest, but then he thinks about a little bundle that has the same eyes as you, and he just can’t bring himself to be upset. Even if you are a liar.

Ghost, regardless of how he feels on the news, is going to investigate. He can’t help himself. Fucker is nosy. And you would’ve known this! So you’ve got it all set up for him to find. Water glass on your nightstand, the drawer just slightly ajar— not even enough to see inside, but enough to make him curious. He opens, sees the round of pills, and the timing all checks out. All taken right up until recently— when you tested positive. And you’re not careless to leave them in the trash. They were flushed. And from before that— you have drawer in the kitchen where you often shove the stray contents of your handbag. And there are receipts. A few months worth, from the pharmacy, with exactly what you bought. If you have a menstrual/symptom calendar app on your phone, it’s all logged. There are notifications in your reminder app telling you to refill your prescription. A number in your contacts that matches up with the doctor listed on the prescription. It’s the fact that it’s too neat that tips him off. Every piece of evidence he could’ve ever asked for is there, and that’s how he knows it isn’t natural. And it makes him smile. It’s touching— how much care you put into securing him in your life forever. Kid’ll be a terror, with the two of you as the parents. Too capable.

Price had a feeling in his gut when you told him you were on the pill. He thought about pulling out just to see how far you’d take things. In the end, finishing inside of you was like calling your bluff to him. He’d be fine with waiting a month or two to see if he was right. In the meantime, he’ll be looking at paint swatches for the nursery.

König is not looking a gift horse in the mouth. But if he does find out, he’s actually grateful. Saved him the trouble of asking you to have his baby, which was just one of a few questions wracking his nerves when it came to you. And this provides him the perfect opportunity to ask you to marry him! Doesn’t have to torture himself with sussing out your ring size, the kind you’d want, waiting for just the right moment. He asks you when you tell him you’re pregnant— it’s like everything is coming together. It’s a fairy tale ending for him!

Nikolai confronts you when you tell him that you’re pregnant. There’s a sly smile on his face. He teases a bit. Isn’t that just so strange? That you’d be unlucky enough for that tiny little chance of it failing was enough. And he has a way of making you squirm, of prodding you until you tell him what he wants. You can’t help but smile when he smiles, feeling a little giddy. He makes it seem all light and cute— so you do spill the truth. And he’ll pick you up and spin you as he laughs. His malyshka is so naughty, isn’t she? Lying to him like that, like he wouldn’t find out. Like wouldn’t give her a baby just as soon as she asked. Like he wasn’t planning on pulling a similar move in the near future.

[firelilyfox]

Deadly Eyes

Dune: Paul Atreides x female reader

Warnings: se&ual harassment / angst / curses / hateful words / comfort

If someone means harm to the girl he loves, Paul won't hesitate

Words: 1k

_______________________________

You stare at the men and women right in front of you. All of them were looking at you with the same emotions pictured in their faces. Disgust. Outrage. 

Today was the first day after Paul announced your relationship to his people. The Fremen welcomed you with open arms… well some of them at least. Your roots lies with none of the big houses. All you know about your family is, that they were travelers who never lived at the same place for more than a couple of years. You are one of the Lost Ones. But when Paul rescued you from being tortured by the brutal Harkonen a couple months ago, you never thought about traveling somewhere else again. Your people always praised that the soul is a free from wich never settles and never find the one and only home. Paul changed your way of thinking. With him you felt at home for the first time ever. 

„The Mahdi can’t be with someone who is lost“, one of the believers growled as you were passing by. All you wanted to do was taking a walk and exploring the hallways of the Sietch, one of the rocky formations what the Fremen call their home. And now you are standing in front of a hand full of believers who are talking bad about you. 

A old, wrinkly woman hisses. „You don’t belong here, Lost One.“ 

You look at her fully blue eyes. The same color your eyes have turned as an outcome to the effects of spice everywhere. „Please let me through. I don’t wish for trouble.“ 

Now a young man steps right in front of you. Too close to be comfortable with. You try to move and bring some distance between the two of you, but your back almost immediately hits the wall. Your chest tightens up. This feels like a cage. A cage of people who hate you. 

��But you are trouble, whore.“ He couldn’t have been more than five years older than you, but he was so intimidating that you wanted to flee before he would hurt you. You still are one of the Lost Ones. Their are no fighters. Your people staying alive because they run for dear life when problems appear. That’s why the Fremen always looked down on your kind. 

„All your people do, is stealing and living in the shadows. You are not worthy to be here. Your are not worthy to be with Muad’Dib“, he grabbed your neck with a tight grib. „But I’ll find some use for u, don’t you worry.“ 

The others looked away while he is dragging you to a shallow corner at the end of the hallway. Your screams got muffled by his greasy hand and silent tears filled your eyes. The back of your head hit the wall hard and your vision flickers for a moment. Fear crawling all over your body, followed by the tip of his knife. You’re trying to beg for him to stop, but all he does is giggling at your helplessness. 

„I will show you your worth and after that I will give your body to the desert. I will…“ 

A voice is shouting at the near distance. „Where is she?!“ The man fearlessly let’s go of you and hiding his knife. You fall down on your knees as Paul rushes around the corner. Gentle hands pulling you up and you begin to sob, hiding your face at his chest. 

„How dare you to touch her!“ Paul growls at the man who is now lowering his head in respect for his Duke. 

„I did not want to bring any disrespect to you, Mahdi. But this woman damages you reputation. She is not worthy to be …“ but Paul cuts him off. 

„She is equal to me. I am who I am today, because of her. How dare you to speak about her like that?“ His voice became dangerously silent and you could feel under your palms how tense his muscles were. As you look around you discover that people have stopped and watching the scene with wide eyes. 

You reach up to gently touch his cheek, so Paul would look at you. „I’m okay, Paul. Nothing happened. I’m unharmed.“ 

For a moment the coldness in his eyes vanished, but as he looked down at your neck and saw the bruises … he was ready to kill someone. Paul kisses your forehead and it feels like that he needed to do it just to calm himself down, before he would actually cut a throat. His grip around your waist thightens but not in a hurtful way. You never felt more protected as right here in is arms. 

Paul turns his head slowly. A deadly look on his face. The man kneeled down in fear of his punishment. „I will only say this once and for all. Who ever touches this woman and mean harm to her, will be sentenced to death. Without exceptions.“ He looks around, making eye contact with everyone who is watching. „Spread the word. I will personally kill everyone no matter if man or woman.“ 

The Fremen quickly leaving the place murmuring and chattering. The message was clear. If you break this rule, death by Muad’Dip will find you. 

„And for you“, Paul looked down at the man who tried to do unspeakable things to you. His voice full of dark rage. „If you ever come near her again or look at her even from afar, I’ll break your neck.“ He gave two other men a sign to carry him away. 

„I should have known that something like that might would happen“, Paul curses. „I’m so sorry. I should have never left you go alone.“ His eyes meet yours and the deep sorrow in them breaks your heart a little. 

„You couldn’t ever have guessed that. This isn’t your fault and it’s not your job to see something like that before it happens.“ 

Paul pulls you closer now that the two of you are alone. „But is is my job to protect you.“ 

„And you did.“ 

He leans his forehead against yours, taking a deep breath. His body is still tense but his touch is so gently. „I don’t want to imagine what could’ve happened if I weren’t be here on time … I couldn’t…“ his voice breaks. This is the side of him no one ever sees. The softness and the vulnerability. To everyone he is the fearless Muad’Dib. But to you he is Paul Atreides. The man who owns your heart. 

„Then don’t. You saved me. I am right here.“ To prove your point you get on your tiptoes and kiss him softly. Paul cups your face with his hands, holding you so close to him that nothing would have room in between. 

_____________________________________________

Thank you for reading! Comments, ideas & reposts are very welcome <3

[tarotwithavi]

A letter from your future self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

How to choose a pile?

Close your eyes and take a deep breath and ask the angels to show you the right pile for you and open your eyes. The first pile that catches your attention is the right pile for you.

This is a general reading so only take what resonates and leave the rest.

Masterlist ✉️ Paid services

YouTube channel (New)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT 🫶🏻💞

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Pile 1

Dear past me,

This is me sending you a big hug through this letter. It feels like you’re always pushing, always defending what you believe in. It’s been tough, I know. But I want you to remember something important: this struggle is shaping you into someone strong and unshakeable. Each time you stand your ground, you are becoming more of who you are meant to be.

There is a quiet power within you that often gets overlooked, even by you. It’s that deep, inner knowing ,your intuition that whispers truths only you can hear. Trust it. Trust yourself. You don’t always need to shout to be powerful; sometimes, the most potent strength comes from within, from a place of stillness and certainty. Let that inner voice guide you, even when things seem uncertain or confusing.

And speaking of confusion, I know there are moments when everything feels like a blur, like you’re lost in a fog and can’t see the path ahead. Those moments are scary, but they are also where your deepest wisdom lies. Don’t fear the unknown. Dive into it. Embrace it. This journey isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s about discovering who you are when the light is dim, and the road is unclear.

I want you to know that your fire is what makes you unique. Your passion, your creativity, and your ability to lead with courage even when you’re scared, that's your gift to the world. You don’t need to hide your light or dim it for anyone. Keep that flame burning bright, because it will guide you through the darkest nights.

Remember, I’m already here, living the life you’re dreaming of. I’ve faced the fears, the battles, and the doubts, and I’ve come out the other side stronger and more certain of who I am. And you will, too. Trust in the journey, trust in yourself, and know that you are exactly where you need to be right now. Keep going. The future is waiting, and it’s more beautiful than you can imagine.

With love and faith,

Your Future Self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Pile 2

Dear troubled me,

I see you there, carrying so much on your shoulders, wondering if it's all going to be worth it. You've put in the work, tried so hard to make things right, and yet sometimes it feels like you're stuck in the same place, like nothing is changing. I know you're tired. I know you're feeling the weight of all the choices you've made and the dreams that haven’t turned out the way you’d hoped. But I promise you every step you’ve taken, every seed you’ve planted, is leading you somewhere important. Even when you can’t see it yet.

I know you’ve been overwhelmed. It feels like you’re doing everything alone, like no one really understands the pressure you're under. You’ve been carrying responsibilities that aren’t always yours to bear, trying to hold everything together, and sometimes, it just feels like too much. And it’s okay to admit that. It’s okay to feel like you need a break. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. You’re allowed to put down what isn’t yours and take care of yourself first.

You’ve also faced those moments of disappointment the kind that stays with you, that makes you question your choices and what you’ve lost along the way. I know it’s hard to see past what didn’t work out, to not let it define you. But what I want you to remember is that these moments are not the end of your story. They are a part of your journey, a testament to your courage to keep moving, to keep feeling, to keep believing in something more.

There will be nights when you feel like you can’t escape your thoughts, when the fears and worries seem to have no end. You are stronger than those thoughts. You are more than your darkest moments. You have the ability to change your narrative, to find your way back to peace. I know it feels heavy right now, but you have it within you to rise above it.

There is a new path waiting for you. A chance to step into something different, something that lights you up in ways you never thought possible. A fresh start where you’re no longer bound by what’s held you back, where you trust yourself enough to take that leap into the unknown. Your spirit is ready for this, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. Trust in the adventure that’s unfolding for you. Believe in the magic of new beginnings, and know that the future you’ve been dreaming of is closer than you think.

With all the love and faith in your strength,

Your Future Self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Pile 3

Dear Me,

I am writing to you from a time when things are clearer and lighter. I know right now, life feels like a series of choices and uncertainties. You’re standing at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take. But I want to remind you of something very important: trust yourself. You have a pure heart and a courageous spirit, and that's all you need to move forward.

Life is bringing you a connection that is deep and meaningful. Embrace it fully, without fear. It might not look like what you expect or come at the most convenient time, but it will fill your heart in ways you can’t imagine. This is your time to take a leap, to jump into new experiences without overthinking, without doubting. This journey might feel risky, but it will lead you to places where your soul feels alive.

Along the way, you’ll meet someone or maybe a part of yourself who is passionate, romantic, and perhaps a bit of a dreamer. They (or you) will inspire you to see the beauty in the small things again. Follow these feelings; they are your compass. But remember, not everything will be perfect. There will be moments of conflict and struggle. Sometimes, it will feel like people are challenging you or taking advantage of you. There will be a sense of loss or tension, like you've been fighting battles that wear you down.

But through these struggles, you’ll discover something powerful within yourself. You’ll learn what is truly worth fighting for and what isn’t. You'll grow wiser, stronger, and more determined. You'll start to see yourself in a new light a light that burns bright with confidence, creativity, and fire. You’ll become the person who knows her worth and doesn’t settle for less.

In the end, you’ll find a place of peace and abundance. A place where you’re comfortable in your own skin, where you feel secure and proud of what you’ve built for yourself. You’ll be surrounded by the things you love and the people who cherish you. This is the life waiting for you , a life that feels rich not just in material things but in spirit and joy.

So, dear me, be brave. Be bold. Trust the path, even when it twists and turns. Know that everything is leading you to a future where you stand strong, radiant, and fulfilled.

With love,

Your Future Self

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

[motherearthlovesus]

theo nott surprises you in the prefect bathroom 🛁

ft. mattheo riddle | warning: bad italian | fluffy smut

You had the prefects' bathroom all to yourself—finally a moment of peace after a long, exhausting day. The warm water and lavender bubbles gave you the perfect escape. It had you sinking down into the bath, closing your eyes and letting the heat relax your muscles. You rubbed the water over your skin, lightly massaging your muscles wherever they begged for attention.

You were so heavily shrouded in bubbles and so utterly content that it did not occur to you to open your eyes. Even when the door creaked open. You didn’t open them despite the shuffling shoes and the clothes hitting the floor. It wasn’t until you heard the soft splash of legs climbing down into water that your eyes fluttered open.

“Didn’t mean to disturb you dormigliona sleepy” a husky voiced teased.

You could’ve picked out that voice in a hall full of people. Theodore. You were surprised and confused as to why he was here, talking to you.

You attempted to casually open your eyes, not quite sure how believable it was.

“You shouldn’t be here Theo” You gathered even more bubbles around you, struggling to avert his gaze.

“You don’t have to cover up on my account, you seemed so relaxed when I arrived”

"Theo," you snapped, mustering up the courage to look in his eyes. “Get out. Now."

"Come on, I need to bathe too” His voice was full of amusement, and his eyes raked over you shamelessly.

You huffed, annoyed at his audacity. "This bathroom is for prefects only, and last time I checked, you’re not one."

Theo started to walk across the monstrous bath.

"You always act so proper," he murmured, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "but I know you’re curious."

His fingers tapped the surface of the water, creating small waves that caused the bubbles keeping you covered to start waving.

You swallowed hard, trying to keep your composure as his words hung in the air. Theo’s presence was magnetic, and no matter how many times you told yourself to stay calm, the irregular rhythm of your heartbeat seemed to betray you.

“I’m not curious,” you lied, eyes narrowing as he inched closer.

You pressed your back against the edge of the tub, trying to cool yourself down. "You really should leave Theo, you’ll get in trouble."

“That’s what makes it fun, principessa”

You huffed, turning your head away to hide the way your cheeks flushed at his words. “This isn’t a game, Theo. What if someone walks in?”

“Then we’ll just have to make it worth their while,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

You could see the challenge dancing in his eyes, urging you to give in. “Theo—” you started, but the protest faltered.

You told yourself that the heat must’ve gone to your head because each step he took towards you had your legs opening up just a little bit more.

His hand dipped into the water, breaking the surface tension, and your breath hitched as his fingers grazed your knee. His fingers were slowly trailing up your thigh. The higher he went the redder you felt your face get. A moan slipped out just as his thumb had just reached the top of your thigh. As you tipped your head back, bracing yourself for whatever came next, the sound of footsteps echoed through the room. In a panic you squealed and pushed Theo away causing the water around you to slosh everywhere.

“Well, what do we have here?” Mattheo teased, leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed with that trademark smirk of his. “Didn’t expect to find this in the prefects’ bathroom. Mind if I join?”

“You shouldn’t have expected anything in here; you’re not a prefect,” you shot back, trying to maintain your composure.

“Well then what is he doing here?” Mattheo nodded his head towards Theo.

“I-“ The ridiculous situation you found yourself in had you at a loss for words.

Theo narrowed his eyes, stepping protectively in front of you. “Why don’t you take your charming self elsewhere, Mattheo?”

“Relax, Theo,” he said with a playful roll of his eyes. “I’m just trying to make new friends. Right, love?” He turned to you, winking.

Theo grabbed a towel from the edge of the bath and wrapped it around himself as he stepped out of the bath to stand in front of Mattheo. Theo grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.

“C’mon, man. Let’s leave the lady to her bath,” Theo said, giving Mattheo a pointed look before turning back to you “I’m sure she will find a way to finish what I started”.

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

reblogs are greatly appreciated

literally been so tired i wrote this in a haze maybe thats why i've been thinking about baths also why do i title my works like pornos?

[violetrainbow412-blog]

Day 3: favorite scent

Masterlist flufftober 🎃

Reblog if you liked it!

When you entered the conference room, the first thing you noticed was the strong scent filling the place. It was men's cologne, and as soon as it hit your nose, it completely overwhelmed you. But it wasn't an unpleasant dizziness; on the contrary, the woody artificial scent drove you wild. You loved autumn simply because of that.

“Sorry for the delay,” you apologized to the team, dropping into the last available seat. Next to Spencer.

You quickly grabbed the file that was on the table in your spot and took a glance at your colleague, who gave you a shy smile. You were a bit lost with the specific part your colleagues were reviewing, and he, noticing your confusion, leaned in to help you. That’s when the scent you had noticed earlier intensified, and when you turned to him, you realized it was coming from his body.

You registered your colleague’s light-colored shirt with a neatly tied black tie around his neck. His golden hair slightly brushed his cheek as he helped you, and suddenly you felt nervous, without really understanding why.

Reid found the file you were working on and then placed the folder in your hands. You whispered a small thank you, and he gave you a nonchalant expression, trying to tell you it was no trouble at all.

You had a rule you always tried to stick to, and that was not dating colleagues at work. Simply because it always complicated things. Morgan flirted with you all the time, but that was something he did indiscriminately, so you never took it too personally. As for the rest of the team members, they knew how to keep things professional, plus they were old enough to be your dad. However, that day you wondered if it would be worth ignoring that rule for someone like Spencer.

He was a broken guy, no doubt, and somewhat different from the others. But he was also sweet, polite, so intelligent, and humble that sometimes you found it hard to believe that so many good qualities could fit into one person. And the guy wasn’t bad-looking, to be honest. Although he wasn’t really your type, since you’d always dated more muscular men with a different lifestyle, exceptions could always exist.

And honestly, maybe his scent had something to do with your sudden fascination with him, because every now and then you sneaked glances at him as if you wanted to admire him with other intentions, not just as your colleague.

“Are you okay?” he asked once JJ finished presenting the case. That swollen belly from pregnancy was already starting to show, and you wondered when she would take her maternity leave.

“Yes, why do you ask?” you exclaimed absentmindedly.

“Oh, it’s just that you were late. You’re never late. And besides, you were looking at me a lot during the meeting, so I thought maybe you were worried about something and wanted to tell you that if you need to talk, you can tell me.”

Oh, sweet, sweet boy.

“I’m perfectly fine, Reid,” you laughed. Everyone had already left the conference room. “It’s just that I was so tired last night that I forgot to set my alarm, and then I overslept. But it’s nothing to worry about. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

“Maybe you should buy an alarm clock. Did you know the first alarm clock was invented by watchmaker Levi Hutchins in 1787? But it was for personal use only because he made it to wake himself up at 4 a.m. to go to work.”

“I didn’t know that. I’ll probably take your advice and get one,” you smiled at him, already used to hearing him have facts about practically every subject.

“Well, you know that if something’s bothering you… you can tell me whenever you want, okay?”

The sweetness and kindness of this man touched you, and you stretched out to hug him, hoping it didn’t cross the line of trust, as it was well-known that the doctor wasn’t too fond of physical contact. However, he gladly received you in his arms, making sure to hold you as close as possible.

“I know. You’re a good friend, Reid,” you thanked him softly. Once you broke the hug, you didn’t completely pull away, taking a moment to lean toward his clothes and inhale deeply. “Is your cologne new?”

“Uh, yeah. A gift from Morgan. But I think it’s too strong. I don’t know if I should keep using it…”

“I completely love the smell of wood,” you blurted out. “And it suits you very well. It matches you.”

Upon receiving that compliment, the boy blushed just a little, and still with his hands on your waist, he tried to suppress a smile.

“Well, in that case… if you like it, I’ll keep wearing it.”

“No! I didn’t mean that, it was just an observation. You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”

“My concern was bothering people with the scent. But now I see that’s not the case.”

A giggle escaped your lips, and then you pulled away, thinking that if you stayed in that position any longer, it could be considered inappropriate contact.

“I’ve always believed that a handsome man should wear good cologne. We women love that.”

The words left your mouth before your mind could reflect on them, and although you were embarrassed, you weren’t going to take them back. Spencer didn’t know which was worse: the fact that you had just implied he was handsome or that you were suggesting you were charmed by it.

“I’ll keep that in mind from now on,” he murmured playfully, almost bordering on a flirtatious tone.

The two of you walked out the door, chatting about a few other things so you could fully focus on analyzing the case once you got on the jet. During that time, he was thinking about two things he definitely didn’t want to forget: thanking Morgan and making sure to put on cologne every morning without fail.

[lilousmustaches]

In the Shadow of the fifth floor

Warnings: Bruises, violence, virginity, smut, Hogwarts Legacy spoilers.

Notes: My first ever smut with Sebastian Sallow? Hmm.. sounds about right. I'm obsessed with Hogwarts Legacy and I just needed to get this out of my system!! I didn't finish the game yet and the story follow the storyline (Level 27). Let's just imagine they were a little older in the fifth year.

Summary: Sebastian is mad that you keep getting yourself hurt on missions. He knows exactly how to help you.

Sebastian walked fast through the dark corridors towards the Slytherin Dungeons, with a hard expression and a millions thoughts running in his mind. He was so fucking done with everyone taking advantage of your good will when he knew exactly what type of rumors were flying around the castle about you. The weird new fifth year with the strange magic, that hangs out with the blind one and the poor boy that lost his sister. It was incredibly short the list of people who really cared for you and he was sure on the top of it. 

Thanks Merlin that he bumped into Poppy Sweeting in the way, who tolded him exactly where to find you. 

He quickly went down the Slytherin’s common room stairs seeing that it was almost completely empty due to the time. Sebastian ignored all the curious stares from the few remaining there and went straight to the couch facing the dark lake, knewing that it was your favorite place to be. 

He found you laying there with eyes closed and one arm covering them. Sebastian sighed at the view noticing that your clothes and face were still a little dirty from the adventure and could notice several parts of your skin scratched. He knelt down infront of the couch and saw your eyebrows frowing. 

“Seb?” You asked with a small confused voice and he opened a small weak smile. 

“Did you call me madame?” Sebastian answered with a ligh tone seeing you lowering your arm and finally opening your eyes to stare at him. 

“What are you doing here?” You asked, confused, leaning on your elbows, unable to hold back the grunts of pain.

“I could ask you the same thing.” He said sitting next to you when you set up trying to compose yourself. “Ominis told me that he sensed you arriving weirdly back in Hogwarts. He said you were limping.”

“Has he now?” 

“Yes (Y/N), he has.” Sebastian said hardly. “Where the hell have you been?” 

You sighed finally looking away from the giants windows to the lake to stair Sebastian’s hazel eyes.

“I was…” You began cautiously. “Helping a girl out. She needed some things from… well, from the forbidden forest.” 

“Of course she needed.” Sebastian said with a humorless laugh. “And was she, by any chance, missing her legs so she couldn’t go herself?” 

“Sebastian…” You sighed tired knowing exactly where this discussion was heading.

“What?” He shot back. “You know I’m right here. I know you love getting yourself into trouble. Believe me, darling, we got that in common.” Sebastian continued, making you roll your eyes. “But you have to stop getting hurt for those cowards! They are not worth it.”

“It’s not like they’re the only ones making me put myself in harm's way to achieve something that doesn’t concern me!” You snapped before realizing what you’d said, immediately regretting it. Sebastian was taken aback, surprised by your words. He knew, deep down, that he was just like the rest of them. He knew you were still upset about the whole Crucius situation in the Scrythorium, but that was entirely different! You were best friends; he’d shown you all his life and secrets. You’d done it for Anne, too. “I’m sorry, Seb,” You said softly. “I didn’t mean it.”

“I know you didn’t (Y/N)” Sebastian replied with a bitter tone. “Because if you meant it, you would be telling me that my sister mean nothing to you and i refuse to believe that.” 

“Of course Seb…” You said softing your expression putting your hand on top of his. “We’re in this together now.” 

���Absolutely we are.” Sebastian said turning his hand that was resting on the sofa to interlace fingers with you. “I know you care for Anne and you know that i worry about you. You already have enough on your shoulders trying to figure out your powers for some nerds out there be occupying your time with their nonsense.” 

You let a weak laugh out by his words and finally seemed to notice your hands still glued to each other. You could feel his thumb slowly, almost imperceptible, carresing your skin. 

“It’s true that…” You gulped trying to take your mind out of the sensation of his touch that it felt like it started to burn. “I am a little done of people always asking me the most random favors.” 

“I know.” Sebastian continued satisfied that he was able to begin to break those walls of yours  and it was giving space to one more vulnerable side. “Because I know you. And because… we already had this conversation that time you got super drunk on butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks”

“What?” You asked indignant seeing Sebastian laughing at your face. “We did not.”

“Oh love I assure you we had.” Sebastian said feeling a sudden cold in his belly when saw your cheeks turning red from the little pet name. “You get quite talkative when you’re wasted.”

“And whose fault was that?” You snapped raising your eyebrows remembering that he was the one that offered you a little sneak out to Hogsmeade after a boring Potion’s class a few weeks ago. 

“Guilty.” Sebastian said licking his lips having fun with the memories of you tripping your way back, singing and dancing in the streets. “My point is… stop being Miss Perfect. We both know that’s not really you. Those lazy students wouldn’t do half of the things that they ask for you in return if you needed. They don’t care about you, not like… I do.”

Your breathing was cut short by the honestly in his words. You would be dumb not to admit that you didn’t notice Sebastian’s over protection towards you. He was always around, always wanting to be included, always bossing you to do things for your sake. Strangely bothered when he learned you would pass an evening with another male friend. Even if it was Ominis…. Who, by the way, had gave you hundreds of little remarks on how he never saw Sebastian acting so jealous over someone before you.  

But… it was hard to think about that sort of stuff when you were so busy trying to stop a wizard war. When he was acting desperate over a cure for his sister. And let’s not forget he did crucied you. 

So why your hand, that still was intertwined with his, was on fire? 

“How much are you hurt?” Sebastian asked not giving you time to answer his last speech. 

“I’ve been worse.” You shrugged making he roll his eyes. “A few bruises and scratches, really. No big deal.”

“Ah yes? Then prove it.” He said finally letting go of your hand to fold his arms infront of his chest. He saw your confused expression and pointed for you to stand up. “Prove it.”

“Is this really necessary?” You asked tired but saw that he wouldn’t let you go of this. You huffed trying to stand as normally as you could, but as soon as your feet touched the ground an electric wave of pain traversed your body making you grunt, shutting your eyes and grinding your teeth. 

“I bloody knew it.” Sebastian exclaimed shaking his head in disapproval. “Where?” He asked simply and with some seconds of hesitation, you ended up turning around, lifting your shirt showing an enormous bruise that started middle back and ended just above your butt. 

“For Merlin’s beard, (Y/N).” Sebastian cried fighting the urge to touch it. “Did you fall from your hyppogriff? It looks awful. Ominis always says that you are my Karma in this life.”

“Wow thank you very much Sebastian!” You said ironically and turned to face him. 

“C’mom I know what you need.” He said getting up. “Can you walk?” He asked sweetly offering you his shoulder to lean. 

You two walked calmly to wherever he was taking you. It was already late and practically no one was wandering around the castle anymore. With a few comments here and there, you finally stopped infront of the door to the prefect's bathroom in the fifth floor making you frown. 

“Why are we here?” You asked following him inside seeing it was empty. 

“You need a hot bath to ease those bruises.” He exclaimed pointing excited at the giant luxury bathtub in the middle of the room, that looked more like a pool. 

With a shake of his wand, he locked the front door to avoid disturbance and opened the taps to fill the bathtub with boiling water and bubbles. 

“We shouldn’t be here.” You said. Sure, it was reserved to the prefects. This didn’t really bothered you but the tension of the situation made you freeze. Just the two of you… taking a bath… together? The thought excited you in the same amount that scared you. 

“Please. We have done much worse.” Sebastian laughed it out not noticing right away your anxious expression. 

“Oh… ” Sebastian exclaimed when noticed what was happening, finally realizing he didn’t think this through. “Look, I can stay outside making sure no one comes. You take the time you need. You’re sore, you need to relax.” 

“No-“ You answered quickly, surprising him. Surprising you even. “I mean… it’s a giant bathtub.” You shrugged. “Filled with bubbles. You can turn around, I will enter. I will do the same for you.” 

“You sure?” Sebastian asked suspicious not expecting this behavior from you. He really did act on best thoughts to help you feel better. But the possibility of having you completely naked just a few steps away from him, drove him mad. He was scared that you would noticed his bulge growing just from the thought. 

“Yes.” You said with an unknown confidence and Sebastian immediately turned around not being able to think of any usual smarts comebacks. He was too busy trying to keep it together when he started to hear your clothes falling to the ground, one after another. Finally he heard the water moving, meaning you entered the bathtub, followed by your soft voice. “You can turn around now.” 

He looked at you, practically covered up by bubbles and repressed an adoration smile before you yourself looked away, and he took the hint that it was his time to undress. Sebastian took a deep breath trying to control his erection from growing and got in the water as fast as he could. 

“Aren’t you eager to caught a glimpse of me naked?” Sebastian joked when you turned to look at him before he could say it was ok. 

“Very funny.” You smiled ironically throwing some water in his face making him laugh. But the little war was quick over when you moaned of pain because of the movements. 

“Is the water helping?” Sebastian asked more serious when saw your discomfort. He couldn’t stop himself from getting closer to you, that lead him to see a lot of bruises in your collarbone also. 

“It is… this was a great idea. Thank you.” You gave him a weak smile and he copied you. Indeed the temperature of the bathtub was making your muscles relax. It seemed like for the first time in weeks. 

Sebastian gave one more step closer making you stop breathing. His eyes were locked up in yours and the tension was making you shiver. He slowly lifted his hand, hesitantly touching your collarbone, so carefully like he wasn’t even there. You closed yours eyes, breathing out. He was so close. If you extended your hand, you would be touching his very naked torso. 

“You know… Ominis has been asking about you. He’s worried. Imagine if he would saw like that, all hurt.” Sebastian said making you smirk. 

“Then in this case I have to be thankful that’s it’s you seeing me right now, not him.” 

He also smirked with your clever answer, distancing himself from you once again. Sebastian knew that was why you worked so well together. He took care of you, acknowledging your power. Not treating you like you were made of glass. And in return, you backed up his crazy ideas, not being afraid of doing the wrong thing. 

“Do you find him pretty?” He asked mentally cursing his tongue for letting that insecure possessive thought slip out. 

“Who, Ominis?” You asked confused for the sudden change of subject. “I guess he’s ok.”

“Not much your type?” Sebastian chuckled and you copied him. 

“Something like that.” You answered. “Though Garreth it’s pretty cute…”

“You have got to be kidding me.” Sebastian said almost nauseated with jealousy. “That moron.”  

“And what’s your type, Sallow? I would bet galleons that it’s Imelda.” 

“Though you knew me better than that, brat.” He said enjoying the surprise in your face because of the insult. “I despise her, really.” 

“I’m glad that we have that in common.” You said making him laugh. “Have you…” You started hesitant making him frown. “Have you ever had someone?”

Sebastian was astounded by your question. The drip of innocent, the curiosity in your voice… it was rare hearing you sound so unsure like that. He had to breathe to calm his nerves down and remember that you were best friends. It was only normal you wanting to know things like that about him.

"Before Anne was sick…" He started seeing you moving to lean back against the side of the ‘pool’. “When I had time to think about these stuff… I started to hang out with this Ravenclaw girl. I was enjoying the company but definitely not the love of my life. It happened once.” Sebastian chose his word carefully not wanting you to interpret badly. “Well, not once. But just this one girl.”

“I see.” You answered simply, appearing lost in your thoughts. 

“I imagine I know your answer if I ask you the same question?” Seb tested the waters, slowly approaching you once more, seeing you roll your eyes. 

“I’m focused on my tasks Sebastian. Don’t need any distractions…”  Sebastian chuckled, his eyes never leaving yours. His suspcious being confirmed.… nobody had touched you the way he wanted most. 

“Distractions, huh? Is that what you call it?” He teased, inching closer. The bubbles between you started to dissipate, leaving little to the imagination.

“There isn’t very much of a time to loose your virginity in the middle of a wizard war, is there?” 

“There is now.” Sebastian said making you snap your eyes back at him in shock. 

Hell, he knew you knew. He knew everyone knew. It was incredibly obvious how he felt about you. Sebastian was so lost after Anne’s curse, feeling alone… and in a glimpse of a second, there you were. The mysterious gorgeous new fifth year, with a remarkable power, trusting him. Helping him in no matter what. Fighting along him. 

How he could not develop feelings for you? 

“Seb, I-…” You started flabbergasted not expecting to hear him being so straight foward. His hazel eyes you adored were almost desesperate. But he wasn’t backing down. “Are you serious?” 

“Deadly. ” Sebastian said without hesitation and it was like the wind knocked you out for a second. Seeing your reaction, he chuckled looking away suddenly a little shy. His hand passed through his hair, wetting his chocolate curls and you could pratically see his internal battle in his expression. 

“You know we make a hell of a good team, love. I’ve always admire your strength, seeing you battle is a sight. But these moments…” Sebastian pointed to the two of you. “The vulnerable ones… I just… I want to take care of you. Let me take care of you.” 

You stared at him, your heart pounding in your chest. The determination in his eyes was unmistakable, and it tugged at something deep within you. The room seemed to grow smaller, the air thicker, as the weight of his words hung between you.

"Sebastian," You whispered, your voice barely audible. "I... It’s true that we make a good team."

You ended up admitting like you were taking off a giant height from your chest and saw the lips of the boy infront of you slowly turning into a smirk with the confession. It was the green flag that he was waiting for. 

“Do you trust me?” He asked taking one more step forward in a way that your bodies were practically touching now. You knew that he could have a perfect vision of your bare breasts now that the bubbles dissipated, but you couldn’t care less. 

“More than anyone, Seb.” The amount of truth in those words scared you. His face was close enough that you could almost count every single freckle in his face. 

Sebastian finally closed up the distance, putting his hands in each side of your face. He shivered with the feeling of his chest pressing up yours breasts. And ending up that agony, he finally kissed you. 

It was slow, intense and desperate. A fire that had been simmering for too long finally bursting into flame. You could feel his arousal, hard and ready, poking in your tight and excitement made your stomach flip. One of Sebastian’s hands gripped the side of your waist that wasn’t hurt, while the other one  careered you gently in the back, avoiding the bruises, his touch sending waves of warmth through you.

His kisses started to go down to your neck, kissing softly your bruised collarbone. Just like he was fulfilling his wish to take care of you. 

"You've not idea for how long i wanted to do that." He whispered making you shiver. Because as much as you have tried to figh it, you felt exactly the same way. When the realization hit you, you hold his face bringing him back for a desesperate kiss.

His fingers found the way up to your breasts, cupping them gently, his thumbs circling your nipples until they hardened beneath his touch. You gasped into his mouth, your body arching into his. He pulled away just enough to stair into your eyes, before moving his face straight to your left boob. His tongue swirling around your nipple before taking it fully into his mouth. You moaned, your fingers tangling in his hair, holding him to you.

Sebastian’s hand slid down your stomach, his fingers lingering between your legs. He found your clit, his thumb circling it gently, making you gasp and squirm. 

“Sebastian…” You started having trouble to breathe, feeling a whole new sensation that you had experience only with yourself before. 

“Shh.. I’ve got you.” He whispered in your ear, leaving slow kisses there. “I’ve got you”

He slipped a finger inside you, then another, his thumb continuing its torturous circles. He continued to touch you bringing you closer to the edge. Just as you were about to explode, he stopped making you groan in protest.

“Impatient, are we?” Sebastian teased, chuckling at your reaction. He grabbed your tights wrapping them around his waist, placing his hands in your butt. “We don’t need to do anything you don’t want to.”

“I know.” You nodded staring at his preoccupied eyes. “I want you. Please”

This time it was him that moaned impatient, the effect you had on him. 

“This might hurt a little, okay? Specially cause we are underwater.” He explained soflty as he positioned himself at your entrance. He looked into your eyes, seeking permission, and you nodded. He began to enter you slowly, his eyes watching your every reaction. You gasped as you felt a sharp pain, your body tensing making him stop immediately. "Breathe with me," he murmured, his voice calming.

You followed his lead, your breath syncing with his as he continued to fill you up. The pain began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of pleasure.

"You feel amazing," He murmured, his voice strained with effort. "So tight for me.” 

“Don’t stop.” You whispered with your eyes closed enjoying the new sensations and sensed his little smirk, followed by a kiss.

“I won’t.” Sebastian promised. 

And he didn't. He moved slowly, his hips rolling in a rhythm that was driving you both mad. The sound of your combined moans and gasps filling the air. But it was when he started to move faster, that you felt it for the first time…. electric sparks building up the tension. Your magic. Based on his reaction, surprised and pleased, you could see that he sensed too. 

Sebastian never thought he would feel something like that. It was like the pleasure of the act was doubled by an electric wave that was passing through the both of you. He could practically taste his magic mixing up with yours, and in that moment, he knew he was going to be addicted. Sebastian never felt so powerfuld, so strong. 

"Seb." You cried out, your voice a mix of pleasure and desperation. "I'm close."

"Me too," He nodded, his hips moving faster. "Together," He murmured. "We'll go together."

His hand slipped between you, his fingers finding your clit. He rubbed it in time with his thrusts, the dual sensation sending you spiraling towards the edge. And with one final thrust, you both shattered, your cries of pleasure echoing around the room. The world went white, your body convulsing. Sebastian held you tight, his body trembling due his own.

“Are you okay?” He whispered after a few seconds, getting out of you. 

You started to laugh, silly, still high in the post orgasm sensation, soon being followed by Sebastian. 

“I’m guessing this is a yes.” He said giving you one last chaste kiss, before getting out of the pool. 

“We will need to stop practicing spells and start focusing on the practice of this particular skill set.” You said lazily making him laugh. He wrapped one towel around his waist and got you one as well, retourning to the edge of the pool. 

“Oh don’t worry darling, i’m planning to enjoy as many opportunities we have.” He said smirking seeing you slowly starting to move. “We might need a stress relief after our adventures.”

You chuckled shaking your head in denial. You surely didn’t think your night would end like this when you’re fighting spiders in the forbidden forest. 

"Come on, let's get you dried off and back to your room. You need to rest." You took his hand, letting him pull you to your feet. As you stepped out of the bathtub, the cool air hit your skin, making you shiver. And sure it was still new the sensation of being completely exposed infront of your best friend. 

“Oh (Y/N)…” He said frowing his eyebrows with a pained voice making you look up confused. From that angle, Sebastian could see throught the mirror next to the towel rack and saw, once again, your whole back purple from bruises. 

“You know, i don’t break easily Seb.” You said looking at your reflection. 

“I’m painfully aware.” He said wrapping the towel around you, his hands lingering on your shoulders. "Better?" 

“A lot.” You replied with a little smile. He hugged you from behind, making you both face the mirror and your own reflection. 

“That was incredible.” He said leaning his head in your shoulder that wasn’t hurt. 

“It really was.” You agreed breathing out. Sebastian always seemed to understand you better than anyone. It was always been so obvious that your relationship would reach this point, but now that the moment was there, literally infront of you, it was hard to believe. 

“Are you sore?” 

“Yes.” You answered. “But not from the bruises.” 

“My fault.” He said with a smirk, understading what you were reffering to. “(Y/N)… have you felt that?” 

You sighed, your lips turning in a fine line. Of course you knew what he was talking about. The strange enhancer you felt during sex: your magic. You slowly turned to face him looking straight into his eyes.

“I did.” You started. “I don’t know what it was, there’s so much i need to understand about this yet.” 

“It’s okay.” He reassured you with a small smile, passing his hands up and down your arms. “We will figure this out together, love.” 

You nodded entering the hug he was offering you with his arms wide open for you to nest there. Sebastian kissed your forehead protectively still looking at your reflection in the mirror. 

His whole body frozed when he saw a quick flash of a blue light spark from his eyes. 

Not even trying dark magics gave him half of the power he felt inside of you. It fucking terrified him what he could do with that information. 

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

𝐒𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐋♡𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 [Tension]

You're both not who you pretend to be.

Tags/Warnings: Fuckboy!Jungkook, Fuckgirl!Reader, Angst, Misunderstandings, Friends/Enemies to lovers, Very suggestive, adult, hurt and comfort, smut, did I mention angst? It's worth it in the end tho promise,

Length: 4k Words + Next Chapter preview

There is no taglist for this fic.

-> Masterlist

A/N: Idk anymore I'll write what I want.

♥━━━━━━━━━━•.♡.•━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

While Jungkook isn’t pushy, he definitely isn’t letting go either.

Any chance he can get at spending time with you, he takes- just like now, as he’s kneeled on the floor, currently taking apart some of your furniture for you since you’ve cut one of your hands by accident a day prior, Yoongi having spilled the info of that accident to Jungkook. You’ve made it very clear that you take this as an act of betrayal- but Yoongi didn’t seem to really care.

“I don’t think you can really put this up another time.” Jungkook mentions, tapping the hinge connecting to one of the doors of the small dresser with the screwdriver. “It’s been glued a couple of times already. I don’t think it’s gonna survive another try.” He tells you, and you just shrug.

“Well, then we’ll throw it away.” You just sigh, having watched him from the sidelines ever since he started working.

Jungkook suddenly moves, back of his shirt a bit damp from having worked admittedly pretty hard to take down your bigger furniture earlier. He sits in front of you, legs crossed, looking right at you- and you instantly cross your arms defensively.

You know what he wants. You won’t give it to him. “talk to me.” He says again, and it’s not really a demand, but more so him pleading. Asking.

Trying to get through.

“Nothing to say.” You shrug, and his eyes narrow at that, before he gets up and takes a hammer, offering it to you. “what?”

“Smash it.” He nods towards the small dresser, and you hesitate. “Come on.”

“I can’t.” You deny, pointing at your bandaged hand, and he nods, taking the hammer from you.

“Right. I’ll do it then.” He admits, arm lifting to gain momentum to deliver the hit to the side of the dresser, when you call out in panic, having gotten up as if to protect it-

But jungkook clearly never intended to really do it, instead just looking at you now with an unreadable expression.

“Listen.” He gets down again, setting the tool aside as he watches you look at the wooden furniture, decorated with faded stickers. “just.. at least tell me if you’re in any trouble?” He asks, and you look up at that. “do you owe someone money? Or is someone stalking you?” He worries, and you shake your head.

“No- God no, none of that.” You deny, and he sighs.

“see, that I believe.” He tells you. “your whole body language, the way you answered- that’s believable. But everything else is bullshit.” He denies you, and you get up at that, walking out of the room. “and now you’re running away- again!” He calls out defeated, getting up himself to follow you into your bathroom where you put all your skincare products into a box. “I’m trying hard to figure out what the fuck I did. Am I being too pushy?”

“No..” you mumble, putting more stuff away, avoiding interaction with him as much as you can. But much to your dismay, he’s got the audacity to take items out again. “Jungkook-“

“are you scared you’ll hurt my feelings if you shut me down?” He asks, and you roll your eyes. “stop that and talk to me-“

“as if anything could scratch your ego!” You tell him, feeling too pushed into a corner right now. “There’s nothing anyone could say that would ever really hurt a guy like you.!” You huff, not noticing the way he froze up for a good moment until a few seconds later when you’ve noticed him no longer reaching for anything.

“ouch.” He comments. “care to explain what you mean by that?” He asks, arms crossed.

“You’ve got like, everything!” You rant, folding your towels, avoiding eye contact. “you’re hot, you got the looks, great at flirting, you-..” you cut yourself off before you can ramble too much, accidentally revealing anything that could blow your cover, but it’s clear from his next words that his suspicions have been awoken.

“if I’m all of that, why not be with me?” he asks, watching you like a hawk now. “you’ve fucked Jimin, and stayed friends. So don’t come at me with that ‘Our friendship will be ruined’ bullshit.” He calls out, and you swallow.

He’s onto you.

“Thats different.” You say, avoiding the topic now, pushing past him out of the bathroom, but he doesn’t let go.

Following you around into the kitchen, giving you no chance to escape or even somehow make up new excuses in your head as he suddenly speaks again.

“Because it didn’t happen?”

You’re frozen, standing in front of the opened fridge, staring right at a bottle of water and a pack of shredded cheese as you feel your blood cool down- and it’s not from the temperature inside the device. Not even the beeping of the big device telling you to close it to save energy wakes you out of that trance, as your thoughts go wild.

How does he know?

How much does he know?

Does he even know at all or is he just bluffing?

“I knew you’d never fuck him.” He chuckles, closing the door for you, arm over your shoulder slowly retreating as he sits down at your small kitchen table, waiting for you to turn around. “and his story was always inconsistent. So was yours.” He explains how he caught the lie. “if you want to make shit up, at least agree on a Version to tell everyone.”

“so what?” You sigh, trying to keep up your act as you turn around- taken aback by the horribly soft look on his face, head leaning on his hand while his elbow rests on the table.

“Exactly. So what?” He asks you, visibly relaxing now that he’s got the confirmation he needed to know that what he’s been thinking. “But that’s not the only lie, is it?” He questions, and the way your eyes move away from his gives him an answer already. “Is that it? You lied and now you want to run away from it?” He questions, and you just let yourself go, sitting down on the floor in front of the fridge, defeated. You don’t care if you act like a child right now, it’s not like there’s any dignity left to cling to anyways.

You’re tired. You can’t keep this shit up anymore, you can’t deal with the stress of leaving even though you don’t want to, you can’t take the whole situation any longer.

“Yeah go on now. Laugh.” You mumble, hugging your knees. “close the door on your way out.”

“Now why would I do that?” He shakes his head as he sighs, moving to sit down in front of you again, on the floor, though he keeps some distance. “what made you... create this whole charade? Was it me?” he asks, visibly interested.

You shrug. You just want to vanish right now.

“I don’t.. it’s stupid.” You mumble, avoiding his gaze as you feel yourself begin to cry from the embarrassment.

“Hm yeah, kind of.” He admits. “how much of it was a lie? I mean, I have an idea, but I just.. would like for you to come clean yourself.” He shrugs, carefully tapping your knee with his finger, careful not to push you too far.

“everything.” You say. “I’ve.. the parties. And jimin. And everything else.”

“So you don't find me hot?” He teases, trying to lighten the mood a little, seeing you glare at him with watery eyes. “Hey, come on. Yeah it’s stupid, but we all did stupid shit sometimes.”

“Not as bad as me.” You deny. “I literally lied.. just to get your attention.” You say quietly, and he tries hard not to grin.

“Which is kind of cute, I have to admit..” He teases, but you don’t seem up for the joke. “But why did you think you had to make up that stuff?”

“Because.. You’re you. And I’m just.. an awkward virgin who acts a lot more confident than she is.” You say.

Jungkook falls quiet at that. While he knew to some extend that a lot of your stories were lies- mostly because the finer details didn’t add up or made any sense- he didn’t know how far exactly it went, so this info definitely changes some things.

“I’m sorry you.. fell for a fraud.” You mumble, and he shakes his head.

“I don’t think I fell for a fraud-“ he denies, “-because I never fell for any of that anyways.” He shakes his head. “I fell for the way you basically recite your dreams to me whenever something interesting happened in them. How you helped me find a good present for my mom’s birthday when I almost forgot it, even though you don’t even know her. Your laugh, your sense of humor, fuck, the way you greet me with a hug even when you’re pissed at me.” He sighs. “What made you think that sex was all I cared about?” He complains, and you feel even worse now.

“I just.. we don’t have anything in common.” You sniffle. “nothing. And I wanted you to like me so bad..” you confess, making him shake his head.

“we love Disney movies.” He responds. “we both love banana milk. We collect stickers. We like the same scents. We’re both dog people.” He gives as examples, before he runs a hand over his face. “so that’s it? That’s the big thing?” He asks, and you nod. “I mean.. yeah. This isn’t.. I hope you can understand me too here. I’m going to be a bit suspicious of stuff in the future until I know you’re not making stuff up again.” He says, and you look at him at that. “but that’s no reason to run away from me.”

“it is.” You deny. “I don’t.. I have a horrible crush on you.” You admit freely now, hiding your face in your knees. “I really like you.” You confess, and he moves closer at that, hands on the sides of your head gently forcing you to look at him.

“and that’s a bad thing?” He wonders, wiping your cheeks. “show me the real you. I’d love to fall for that instead.” He offers.

“There’s nothing to fall for.” You deny.

“Well, I’ll decide that for myself.”

♥━━━━━━━━━━•.♡.•━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

“Did you ever have your first kiss?” Jungkook asks randomly, hands shaping the pizza dough into the- somewhat- appropriate shape. Your a little hypnotized by the way his hands move, fingers digging into the soft dough to move it around, turn the outside corner in for the crust to later rise, having made it his mission to somehow figure out how to put cheese in the crust like your favorite delivery service. Suddenly though, one of the hands move, inked fingers snapping in front of your face. “Hey, I asked something.” He laughs, making you look at him.

“I- Oh, yeah.” You nod, before you shake your head. “what was the question?” You correct yourself, and he laughs more at that, shaking his head.

“I asked you if you’ve ever kissed anyone.” He repeats himself, moving to put the sauce on the bare dough now.

“I uh.. yeah. But it’s, I don’t know. Awkward.” You shrug. “not really my thing.” You admit, and he nods.

“Not really your thing, or, just had weird experiences?” He wonders, and you think for a bit.

Most of the time, you’ve been kissed, but you yourself have never kissed anyone. It was ever really.. asked if you wanted to be kissed- the moment had just been chosen by your partners back then, and it had put pressure on you to just go with it as to not make it awkward.

“I mean.. I’ve never made out or anything.” You admit. “and I never kissed anyone. I always got kissed.” You say.

“so you can ask for it at least, that’s good.” He nods to himself, before he notices you being quiet. “you.. did ask for it, right?” He questions with an oddly serious tone, and you shrug.

“the timing was always right I guess.” You answer. “I never asked, no. It just.. you know, when you’re being driven back home from a date, that’s when you kiss.” You tell him, and Jungkook shakes his head.

“No, hold on there, wait.” He denies. “They asked you though, right?” He questions, but you shake your head.

“Like I said when you-“ you start, but he shakes his head, hands on your shoulders now.

“No, none of that.” He presses. “You’re not obligated to do anything just because someone took you out. You’ll never be obligated to do me a favour just because I take you out. Got it?” He asks, and you nod, a bit taken aback by how serious he is. “if you don’t want something, you’ll have to say it. Please, promise me that.”

You nod. “I promise.” You say, and he sighs, relieved, before he brushes off the faint marks of flour on your skin.

“I’m sorry, it’s just..” he shakes his head as he resumes his task of preparing food for you both. “..nothing. Anyways- never kissed then, got it.” He nods to himself. “so we’re basically starting from scratch.”

“we’re?” You ask, unsure as he nods.

“We’re. I know of your secret, I know you like me, I like you too- so, what’s speaking against it?” He wonders, before he looks at you. “Do you want to be with me?” He asks, and you think for a second, before you nod.

“I’m just-” You start, but he just laughs.

“Not what I thought you were, I know. That’s why I’m saying we’re starting from scratch- I'm basically going to get to know you for real this time.” He tells you, putting the toppings onto the pizza that you both agreed on earlier.

He’s taking this so lightly. Like it’s nothing.

“I’ll still leave.” You remind him however, but again, he only nods to himself, sprinkling the shredded cheese onto the pizza he’s preparing. “And you’ll.. If we’re like.. Together, you can’t hook up with anyone else anymore.” You say, and he sighs, moving the food into the oven.

“I don’t know when that thought grew in your head, but let me get something straight.” He starts, setting up the right temperature and time before he braces himself against the kitchen counter you sit on, face turned towards you with a serious expression. “Yes, I enjoy sex. Yes, I have had it a lot.” He explains. “No, it’s not everything I always think about. Neither is it something that I absolutely need every day of the week.” Jungkook tells you, and you feel a bit guilty with the way he phrases it. “What made you think that’s all I’d want from you?” He wonders.

“Nothing, just..” You shrug, looking down at your knees. “I guess it was the easy way.”

“Let’s just start over then. Entirely.” He proposes. “I’ll get to know you- and you’ll get to know me. Because its pretty obvious you don’t know me either.” Jungkook says, and you nod, a bit ashamed.

“Sorry.” You apologize, but he instead puts a handful of shredded cheese in his mouth, before he offers it to you-

Laughing when you stuff your cheeks with it as well, finally breaking free.

♥━━━━━━━━━━•.♡.•━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

“what’s wrong, hm?” Jungkook says, entering your apartment after you’d texted him that you didn’t feel good.

He first thought it might be sickness- but from your tearful eyes and the blanket around your shoulders, he now realizes that you’re not feeling mentally good. And he’s happy that you reached out for him, that you finally jumped over your shadow and sought him out, proving that you seemed to be truthful in trying to be more honest with him.

“I don’t want to leave.” You say, crying again as you sit down on your living room couch, the only thing still left untouched.

“Oh baby..” jungkook laughs a little to himself, sitting down next to you to run a comforting hand over your back. “didn’t you say that you could just work for the office here?” He asks, and you nod, though shrug too.

“they’ll be mad when I say.. that I wanna switch back again..” you mumble, hiccuping still here and there. It breaks his heart a little to see you this upset- but he also knows that you dug yourself into this mess all by yourself. This is just the consequences of your own actions.

“Well, that’s going to just be the punishment you’ll have to take.” Jungkook tells you, and while his tone is teasing, his gaze is still kind and comforting. “I’ll have your back too- you can stay at my place until you found something else, since you’re already supposed to be out of this apartment by next week.” He reminds you, and you sigh.

“But I’ll impose, don’t tell me I won’t.” You argue looking at your feet. “I’ll just have to go through with it-“.

“I wouldnt be offering my place if i wasnt comfortable with the idea of you around all the time.” He playfully denies. “maybe try and not run around in your underwear and I’ll keep my hands to myself too as a bonus.” He flirts, and you can’t help but giggle a bit at that.

“Maybe I don’t want you keeping them to yourself?” You ask, making him grin a little.

“Careful there. Don’t start something you can’t finish.” He teases, before he moves into a more comfortable position, pulling you closer. “Well figure this all out. You’re not alone, alright?” He tells you, and you nod.

“Jungkook?” You wonder randomly after a good moment of just silence, and he hums as a reply before you talk again. “how do you ask for.. a kiss? Or like.. I don’t know. Forget it.” You mumble more or less to yourself making him chuckle.

“No can do. Now you’ve got my attention.” He teases a little, hands on your arms running up and down in reassurance. “You want a kiss right now?” He wonders, and you shrug.

“I’ve never.. like, made out with anyone.” You admit.

“And you want to do that with me?” He wonders, making you nod- before you shake your head.

“Yes? I don’t know.” You admit. “I don’t know what it’s like, so I don’t know if I like it. What if I don’t?” You worry, and he sighs.

“Then you don’t. Simple as that.” He shrugs. “What if you just gave me a kiss? See how that feels?” He offers as an option, and you bite at your lips for a second, before you move around to face him, eyes moving from his lips to his eyes for a moment.

“right now?” You wonder, and he smiles.

“If you want to.” He answers, still relaxed as ever. It reassures you, the fact that he’s so at ease- you don’t want to fuck this up, and you also don’t want to seem dumber than you actually are. His experience is a little intimidating to you- what if he thinks you’re lame? You most likely are. Anything you both will do will be boring to him, you realize. “hey- talk to me.” He snaps you out of your thoughts, and you pull your attention back to the situation at hand. “what’s worrying you?” He wonders.

“I want to impress you I guess.” You huff impatiently. “I want you to be like, ‘wow’ at something I do but I don’t have any idea what to do to like, get that reaction from you.” You explain, making his eyes soften.

“What makes you think that you need to impress me?” He wonders, and you look down at his chest.

“I don’t.. Taehyung once said that.. you know, you get bored easily..” you mumble, and Jungkook’s eyes widen for a second, before he clocks his tongue.

“you know, I envy you a little bit because of that.” He tells you, and that answer catches you off guard. “once you.. have a lot of sex, and have kissed a lot of people, it all loses its spark, you know?” He explains almost melancholic. “it’s like a book. You can only read it for the first time once- after that, you’re always prepared for what’s to come. It’s no longer new. Nothing exciting. Only.. maybe comforting at best.” He shrugs. “I wish I could have those early experiences back. That spark.” He admits. “i don’t want or need to be impressed. Not like this, at least.” He offers you. “I just.. want something permanent. Something real.”

“Why.. havent you been in a relationship before then?” You wonder. “if you want something permanent.”

“because no one wants that with someone like me.” He explains to you. “I’m exciting. I’m wild, and adventure. But I’m nothing someone wants to stay with.” He shrugs.

You frown at that. What?

Suddenly, a sentence jimin said years ago slaps you right in the face, full force.

“He falls in love easily, with everything around him. I wish the world around him would do the same for once.”

“Jungkook?” You ask, and he nods, looking at you. “can I kiss you?” You wonder, and he nods.

“Sure.” He teases, and you feel like it’s more of a defensive mechanism at this point. “impress me.” He jokes.

But he quickly seems caught completely off guard when your hands hold his face, before you put your lips on his. He’s truly surprised in that moment- because this is, indeed, new. He’s never been kissed like this before- with so much gentle care and attention, with such warmth that he feels like he’s actually melting right into your hands. It’s one kiss, another, and a third- and his eyes are suddenly only half-open, all words lost as he stares you down. You’re not sure if that was something he liked- but the moment his own hand finds your cheek as well makes you wonder if you really did it right.

“can I kiss you?” He asks quietly, almost a whisper, and you’ve never heard him so fragile before. But you nod- and the moment you do, his lips are on yours- a lot more confident in himself, but slow, soft. He’s taking the lead, easily so- but it’s not overbearing, instead simply an act of adoration. “You know-“ he laughs, out of breath even though this wasn’t ‘steamy’ or heated at all. “-I was joking when I asked you to impress me.”

“You dont have to lie.” You giggle, but he shakes his head, pecking your lips once, twice, again just for good measure.

“I’m not.” He denies. “this is the first time I’ve been kissed like that.”

“like what?” You wonder, unable to look away from that unique expression he’s got on his face.

“like someone's in love with me.”

♥━━━━━━━━━━•.♡.•━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

“I’m sorry, but I won’t just let myself be some body you can practice on so you can know how to drive and move on to someone that interests you more.” He barks out, agitated, and you’re completely caught off guard, staring him down in disbelief. “I won’t let myself be used like that..” again, he wants to say, but he can’t bring himself to expose this like that. He doesn’t feel safe, he feels like a cornered animal, and the worst part is that he knows he doesn’t even need to say it, because you know what he’s hinting at.

“I’m sorry.” You say, and again, there it is; this stinging pain in his chest at your gentle tone, trying to soothe his wounds with salt it seems like.

“Why are you sorry?” He wants to know, tone dangerously low as he expects you to reveal your intentions to him, at last. “ What are you sorry for?” He wants to know, and you just shake your head.

“I’m sorry I never really looked at you properly.” You admit, and he frowns again, once more left without any control over the situation. “I’m sorry I never noticed you were hurting.” You tell him, and he swallows hard, turning away from you. “I’m sorry I can’t help you.” You say, defeated, and he slaps his kitchen counter in agony, turned away from you.

“Stop apologizing.!” He gets out between clenched teeth, agitated over the fact that he’s got no grasp of the situation.

“I don’t know what else to do.” You say, the soft whine in your tone making it clear that you’re hurting just as much as he is. “I’m.. I’ll stay with jimin-“ you offer, thinking he might want space- but he just groans out, and holds his head, marbled kitchen counter doing nothing to cool his temperature.

“I don’t want you to leave-!” He almost growls, before he braces himself against the counter top, sighing loudly. “fuck.. That’s the last thing I want, ’m just- I’m the one who should say sorry.” He says. “I just.. God I’m so fucked up..” he laughs bitterly, and you do whatever you feel like might help him- leaning against his back, arms wrapped around him. And for a moment, as he lets himself be held for just a moment, you can feel him shake a little under the weight of his own emotions finally seeping through the cracks-

And you’re determined to put his pieces back together, however long it’ll take you.

[sayusims]

Maomao mini analysis

Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries is such a sad character, but she doesn't act like it because, in her world, it's kind of normalized. First, her mom, an esteemed courtesan, essentially hated her because she gave birth to her. Her biological dad is gone and not in her life (we know it wasn’t by choice, but this is from her perspective). She was raised in a brothel, and while she had people there who loved her, it's still a brothel. Even after she was adopted, she still had to take precautions to make sure she wasn’t going to be kidnapped or that nothing else would happen to her because of men.

After all of this, when she was still a teenager, she was kidnapped by a couple of guys and sold to the Emperor’s palace. These events are really traumatic, but at the same time, she still has the same indifference—as if she doesn’t care that much. She wants to stay in her own lane, and with her tactical genius (stemming from both her parents), this is relatively easy to do. But I wanted to know more, and since I’m taking AP World History in school, it wasn’t really that hard to understand why.

The Apothecary Diaries takes place during the Ming-Qing dynasty (possibly Song), which is evident because of the harem system, the clothing style, and the medicine she uses. During this time, China had been taken back from the Mongols, and the government, in an effort to get rid of their traditions, reinstated many old systems like the civil service exam, improved education, and reestablished the bureaucracy. The education aspect is evident in the series because of the plans to better educate women on basic skills like reading.

The part worth highlighting, though, is that China (and basically everywhere the Mongols ruled) was safer under their rule. So when everything became scattered again, safety greatly decreased, making things like kidnappings more common. This is probably why Maomao wasn’t distraught about being kidnapped. Still, the rest of what happened before this time is traumatic enough.

The main reason I give for this is that she’s used to it—not in a Stockholm syndrome way, but in an “oh, this happens sometimes” way. Being raised in the brothels, she likely saw the worst parts of humanity in the customers and the courtesans. Being exposed to this regularly probably caused her to naturally believe that humans do bad things—but not in an overly pessimistic way, since she still had good people taking care of her. Along with this, she is just practical in everything she does. She weighs the pros and cons of her actions before she acts. She discloses information that is important to wrap up a case so she doesn’t have more drama to deal with (unlike a lot of characters, which is why I love her).

While she still has a curious personality when it comes to mysteries, at this point in season 2, she has gained the trust of literally everyone important, making her unlikely to get into trouble. (This is still China in the 11th-12th century, so she still has to be careful, but compared to before, she has a lot more freedom.)

While her personality may look plain at first, you quickly grow to love her, especially her passion for medicines and poisons. The shift in her demeanor when poisons come into play is so fun to watch. This shows that, at the end of the day, she is still a teenager. She is mature but childlike at the same time when it comes to things she’s interested in. Women in this time were supposed to be, like in almost every other time in history, subordinate to men. Maomao, being as smart as she is, knows and acknowledges this but does not let it stop her. She goes against the status quo by being a completely independent woman who doesn’t need a man.

The best part of this is that she does it without really thinking about it. Her goal is not to go against the status quo or anything like that but simply to pursue her interests in life.

Overall, I just really love Maomao and the series, and it better keep getting new seasons until it’s done, or else I’m going to tweak out. I also wrote this while procrastinating on my AP World homework to “review” for the AP exam (which is like four months away), but I hope you guys like it.

[meowdei]

GENSHIN IMPACT MASTERLIST.

main masterlist ; please read all warnings on fics!

𝜗𝜚 — ALHAITHAM:

𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐒.

nsfw : the delicate line between friends and lovers 14.0k words — in which the akademiya’s scribe and the bimarstan’s head nurse develop some serious feelings for each other in between hook ups. evidently, neither are very good at communicating these feelings, though

nsfw : for you, i’d do it all again 6.2k words — the story of how you replace the acting grand sage as the permanent one. alternatively: three times alhaitham wanted to say i love you and one time he finally does

nsfw : like a lotus in spring, you are mine to bloom 7.7k words — at twenty one, you’re just a girl he meets as he trains for the role of scribe. at twenty four, you’ve become everything he loves in this world. after three years of knowing you and nearly two and a half decades of life, alhaitham finally realizes why his father left letters for his mother instead of just saying the words out loud

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : the theory of soulmates

sfw : the acting grand sage and the teacher

𝜗𝜚 — AYATO:

𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐒.

nsfw : dear wife, dear husband 3.1k words — your husband is doting, regardless of whether your marriage is one of duty or of love. but unbeknownst to you, ayato craves you more than you had initially believed him to

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : how to tame a fox

sfw : the hydro archon’s justice

sfw : post partum

nsfw : two sides of the same coin

nsfw : me and my (darling) husband

nsfw : you more than me

nsfw : in my past life (you were mine too)

nsfw : rumors

nsfw : dutiful, devoted

nsfw : jealousy, jealousy

𝜗𝜚 — CHILDE (TARTAGLIA):

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : pretty lady

𝜗𝜚 — DILUC:

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : hero’s compensation

sfw : the anemo archon’s favor

𝜗𝜚 — IL CAPITANO:

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : untitled no. 1

𝜗𝜚 — KINICH:

𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐒.

nsfw : a little death 4.4k words — sometimes, he comes back to you with a beating heart. other times, his body is cold and limp until he reemerges from the flames. you never get used to kinich falling during the pilgrimage, but you’re certainly used to the feeling of his body

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : asking price

sfw : post-commission

nsfw : you say i’m strong (but you make me feel weak)

𝜗𝜚 — NEUVILLETTE:

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : the fontainian weather forecast

sfw : untitled no. 1

𝜗𝜚 — WRIOTHESLEY:

𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐒.

nsfw : it always ends with i love you 20.3k words — in which you, a small floral shop owner, meet the duke of meropide by a chance encounter—and then you meet a bunch more too…but not so much by chance anymore

nsfw : surprise compensation 3.2k words — wriothesley is a hard worker. sometimes, when days are particularly long and rough, you have a surprise or two that makes things worth the troubles

nsfw : lumidouce season 3.5k words — it was supposed to just be a picnic. if there’s still some form of divine power that’s presiding over fontaine, it must really have it out for wriothesley. it was not just a picnic

nsfw : you want to change my mind (and maybe you already have) 8.7k words — november 23rd comes and goes just like every year. wriothesley looks at you in his bed, curled under his sheets—pretty. soft. kind. a gateway to a cushy sort of life he never envisioned for himself. this birthday, he finally realizes that neuvillette sending you down for weekly compliance checks at the fortress was the first time celestia had ever favored him

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : redemption for the suffering

sfw : loving is easy (it didn’t use to be)

sfw : we’ll have a ball

sfw : help me forget (until my only memories are you)

sfw : flu season (aka wrio’s nightmare)

sfw : untitled no. 1

sfw : untitled no. 2

sfw : untitled no. 3

sfw : second chances

sfw : boyfriend zoomies

sfw : greens

nsfw : hidden corners

𝜗𝜚 — MULTIPLE:

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒.

sfw : we’re just friends, but… — ft. wriothesley, neuvillette, alhaitham, and kamisato ayato the moment they realize the word friend may not be enough of a term to describe your relationship

sfw : i wanna ruin our friendship! — ft. wriothesley, neuvillette, alhaitham, and kamisato ayato the moment they finally confess that being friends is not enough (pt 2 of “we’re just friends but…”)

sfw : you should’ve seen the other guy! — ft. childe, wriothesley, alhaitham, and cyno your boyfriend and his tendencies to get into fights. it’s a good thing he has you to patch him up

property of meowdei — all rights reserved. do not redistribute, recommend or translate to any other platforms

[isak-dot-gov]

hello um so i saw that your out of requests so i thought maybe i’d try it out i’ve never really requested anything before so if you don’t like it you can just ignore this

may i request jealous rhea x reader

maybe rhea over hears some locker room talk and they are talking about how much they’d love to get into readers pants. rheas not having any of it it upsets her. she goes of to find reader only to find them talking and giggling with Raquel gonzales. Raquel ask reader if they want to do some training together over the weekend. rhea steps in tells her reader is not interested then fluff/comfort ensues. reader asks rhea what that was all about rhea tells reader everything and reader comforts and reassures rhea that they only have eyes for her and nobody else. next show reader shows up in a i <3 mami shirt just to make rhea smile and to let everyone know that they don’t have a chance. nobody compares to mami<3

Only Mami For Me

Pairing: Jealous Rhea Ripley x Reader

Word count: 1549

My masterlist :)

......................................................

The WWE locker room was buzzing with its usual pre-show energy. Superstars were getting ready for their matches, trainers were moving about, and the general hustle and bustle filled the air. Rhea was tying up her boots, her mind focused on her upcoming match. But a conversation happening a few feet away caught her attention.

A group of male wrestlers was huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. Rhea’s curiosity piqued when she heard your name mentioned.

“I’m telling you, Y/N is the hottest on the roster,” one of them said, his tone filled with admiration.

“I’d give anything for a night with her,” another chimed in, causing the others to chuckle.

Rhea’s jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists as she listened. The more they talked about you in that way, the more her blood boiled. She couldn’t believe the audacity of these guys to talk about you like that, as if you were just some object for their entertainment.

“I bet she’s amazing in bed,” another one added, a suggestive grin spreading across his face.

That was the final straw for Rhea. She stood up, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the group. Her vision tunnelled with anger, and she felt her heart racing in her chest. She was about to storm over and give them a piece of her mind, but Damian grabbed her arm just in time.

“Rhea, don’t,” Damian said in a low voice, trying to calm her down. “It’s not worth it. You know how these guys are. They talk crap all the time.”

Rhea took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew Damian was right, but the jealousy and anger coursing through her veins were hard to shake. “They have no right to talk about her like that,” she muttered, her voice tight with frustration.

“I know,” Damian replied, releasing her arm once he was sure she wasn’t going to start a fight. “But you’ve got to be smart about this. Don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing they got under your skin.”

Rhea sighed, nodding reluctantly. She knew Damian was right. Picking a fight with the guys wouldn’t solve anything. It would only make things worse, drawing unwanted attention and possibly getting her into trouble with management. Still, she couldn’t just let it go. She needed to see you, to make sure you were okay, even though she knew you probably hadn’t heard any of what was being said.

As she made her way down the hallway, she spotted you up ahead, leaning against a wall and laughing with Raquel González. Raquel was standing close, her eyes sparkling as she chatted with you. Rhea’s stomach twisted at the sight. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust you—she trusted you with her life. But after what she had just heard, her emotions were running high, and seeing you with someone else, even if it was just Raquel, stung more than she cared to admit.

She slowed her pace, watching as Raquel leaned in closer to you, her expression friendly but with an edge of something more. You were giggling at something Raquel had said, your smile bright and genuine, and it made Rhea’s heart ache with a strange mixture of love and insecurity.

“So, Y/N,” Raquel said, her voice carrying over to where Rhea was standing, “how about we do some training together over the weekend? I think it’d be a lot of fun.”

Before you could respond, Rhea stepped forward, her presence commanding as she inserted herself into the conversation. “Actually, Y/N’s not interested,” she said, her tone firm and leaving no room for argument.

Raquel looked taken aback, her brows raising in surprise. “Oh, I didn’t realise—”

“It’s fine,” you interrupted quickly, sensing the tension. “Maybe another time, Raquel.”

Raquel nodded, giving Rhea a curious look before stepping back. “Yeah, sure. I’ll catch you later, Y/N.” She gave you a small wave and walked away, leaving you and Rhea standing in the hallway.

You turned to Rhea, your brow furrowed in confusion. “What was that all about?”

Rhea sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. She suddenly felt a little foolish for how she had reacted, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m sorry, love,” she muttered, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I just… I overheard some guys in the locker room talking about you, saying some really inappropriate things. It pissed me off.”

Your expression softened, and you reached out, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “What were they saying?”

Rhea looked up, her eyes meeting yours. “They were talking about how much they’d love to, you know… get in your pants,” she admitted, her voice tight with frustration. “And then I saw you with Raquel, and I just… I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else trying to take you away from me.”

A small smile tugged at your lips as you listened to her. You could see the insecurity and worry in her eyes, and it tugged at your heart. “Rhea,” you said softly, stepping closer to her, “you don’t have to worry about anyone else. I only have eyes for you. Nobody else compares to you, Mami.”

Rhea’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly at your words, but she still looked uncertain. “I just… I don’t want to lose you,” she admitted, her voice almost a whisper.

You reached up, cupping her face in your hands and gently stroking her cheeks with your thumbs. “You’re not going to lose me, Rhea. I’m yours and yours alone. I don’t care what anyone else says or does. I love you, and nothing’s going to change that.”

Rhea closed her eyes, leaning into your touch as she let out a slow, relieved breath. “I love you too, Y/N. More than anything.”

You smiled, leaning up to press a soft kiss to her lips. “Good. Because you’re stuck with me.”

Rhea chuckled, a genuine smile breaking through her previously tense expression. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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

The Next Show

The following week, you decided to do something special to show Rhea just how much she meant to you. As you arrived at the arena for the next show, you had a secret plan in mind. You had commissioned a custom shirt just for this occasion, and you couldn’t wait to see Rhea’s reaction.

As you made your way through the backstage area, you spotted Rhea talking with Damian Priest and Finn Bálor. She hadn’t seen you yet, and you took the opportunity to pull on the shirt, making sure it was clearly visible.

The shirt was simple, black with bold white letters that read: “I ❤️ Mami”. The design was cheeky but sincere, a perfect representation of how you felt about Rhea.

You took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves, and walked over to where Rhea was standing. As you approached, Damian and Finn noticed you first, their eyes widening in surprise at the sight of your shirt.

“Oh, wow,” Damian said, smirking as he nudged Rhea. “Looks like someone’s got a fan.”

Rhea turned to look at you, her expression initially confused before her eyes landed on your shirt. The moment she read the words, her face broke into a wide, disbelieving smile. “Are you serious?” she asked, her voice filled with laughter.

You grinned, doing a little spin to show off the shirt. “What do you think? Figured it was time to let everyone know that they don’t stand a chance. Nobody compares to you, Mami.”

Rhea’s smile softened, and you could see the genuine happiness in her eyes. She reached out, pulling you into a tight hug and pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

You looked up at her, your heart swelling with love. “I just wanted to make you smile. You deserve to know how much you mean to me.”

Rhea kissed your forehead, her arms still wrapped around you. “You make me the happiest person in the world, Y/N. Thank you.”

As the two of you stood there, wrapped up in each other, you could feel the eyes of everyone around you watching. But you didn’t care. You wanted the whole world to know that you were Rhea’s, and she was yours.

As you broke apart from the hug, Rhea took your hand, her thumb gently rubbing over your knuckles. “You know, wearing that shirt out there is going to stir up a lot of talk,” she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

You shrugged, a playful grin on your face. “Let them talk. I’m proud to be yours, and I want everyone to know it. Besides, it’s about time I showed off my favourite person.”

Rhea’s cheeks flushed slightly, a rare sight that made your heart flutter. “You always know just what to say to make me feel special,” she murmured, leaning down to press another kiss to your lips.

The moment was interrupted by Finn, who cleared his throat dramatically. “As much as I love seeing you two all lovey-dovey, we’ve got a show to put on, remember?”

You laughed, pulling back from Rhea but still keeping your hand in hers. “Yeah, yeah, we’re coming. Can’t keep the fans waiting, right?”

....................................................................

Isak speaks: ngl downplaying a request this good is crazyyyyyy

[volklana]

The Wedding Date

Title: Based on the movie from 2005, forced to attend your sister's wedding where you have to face a family that are perpetually disappointed in you, and your ex who treated you like crap, you hire someone to be your date from an escort site so you don't have to face the ordeal alone.

I also listened to this song the whole way through writing.

Modern!Sihtric x Reader

Warnings: Brief mentions of domestic abuse. Reader's family are horrible.

You felt stupid, waiting in the station watching the boards to show the arrival of a train from London, a scalding hot coffee in hand. 

Two hour long calls was all you had ever had with this man and now you were here anxiously waiting for him to arrive.

You were so engrossed in searching the boards that a voice calling your name nearly startled you half to death.

“Sihtric?” you questioned, taking in his appearance, long hair pulled into a bun at the nape of his neck, black skinny jeans ripped at the knees and a leather jacket open over a white v-neck t-shirt and your mouth almost went dry. 

That was before you even honed in on the tattoos.

“Hey,” he smiled, a genuine smile that reached the whole way up to his mismatched eyes, and you couldn’t help but smile too.

“You mentioned on the call that you liked your coffee black,” you fumbled with the cup before handing it over to him and he smiled gratefully.

“That’s so thoughtful, thank you,” he smiled almost sadly and you motioned to the exit.

“The car is right this way, should we?”

“Of course,” he nodded, taking a huge gulp of coffee “Lead the way.” 

You drove in silence for a while. 

Sihtric settled into his seat winding it back a little to relax, you offered him to play his music and he was busy queuing up songs on his phone not really paying attention to much else. You couldn’t help but glance over at him while he wasn’t looking, he was one of the most beautiful men you had ever seen, he genuinely looked as though he had been carved from the gods, but then again that is exactly why you had chosen him.

“May I?” he asked, holding up a pack of cigarettes and you wanted to say no but the way he was looking at you almost like a kid afraid of getting in trouble, you couldn’t say no.

“Sure, just roll down the window,” you relented and he smiled big and bright as he cranked the window down, and stuck his head out to smoke.

The city was long left behind and now the open countryside was rolling into view and Sihtric seemed to be taking it all in, his cigarette was almost gone when he turned to face you, and was surprised to find you already looking his way, but he did not miss the way your cheeks tinged red as you hastily looked away.

“So,” he said, relaxing back into his seat “You got any questions for me, or have you done this before?” 

You gripped the steering wheel as you swallowed hard “I have never done this before,” you answered voice shaking “I don’t even know why- I don’t know what I’m doing,” you were nervous and Sihtric wanted so badly to put you at ease, so he rolled his seat up so he was sitting upright again.

“It’s alright,” he promised reassuringly “You can ask me anything you need to know.”

“How does it usually go?” you asked, cheeks still tinged pink and he smiled.

“For the entirety of our time together I am whatever you want me to be. You want me to tell people I’m an investment banker..I’m an investment banker. You wanna create a backstory for us, I’ll learn it off. I’ll hold your hand in public, I’ll dance with you, I’ll do anything that you need me to do in order for people to believe this is real.”

You nodded, taking that in and he smiled.

“No sex,” he continued and you nodded in agreement, staring straight ahead, hands like a vice grip on the steering wheel, “Or that will cost you extra,” he winked cheekily, it was a cheap shot at making you squirm,  but it was worth it to watch the blush spread all across your face for him.

“Do you have any rules, or I guess boundaries that we shouldn’t cross?” you asked gently and he smiled that almost-sad smile your way again, almost like he was in awe of how considerate you were being.

“I guess kissing feels very personal to me, so I would ask you not to do that.”

“It’s done,” you replied without missing a beat and he watched you from the corner of his eye again.

You drove in silence for a little while more until he interrupted the peace again.

“I’m sorry I gotta ask. You’re an attractive woman and you seem super nice and with your shit together, you telling me you couldn’t find a date to this wedding off your own bat?” 

You huffed out a breathy laugh, “If you only knew the half of my bad luck with men,” you cringed “And worst of all, my ex is one of the groomsmen and he is a bit of a prick” you trailed off but Sihtric knew what you were getting at.

“So I’m here to make your ex jealous,” he deduced and you deadpanned with a pained laugh.

“It’s even sadder when you say it out loud,” you whined and he couldn’t help but laugh, and despite yourself you laughed too.

You pulled down the long winding lane that led to the country estate you had grown up on; a Georgian Manor House nestled among acres of ancient woodland and set in the backdrop of rolling hills and lakes.

It was the perfect place for a wedding, and the last place on earth you ever wanted to be again.

“Close your mouth,” you swiped at Sihtric as you struggled with your bags and he reached in over you with a “Here let me,” as he pulled them easily out and sat them on the ground, before diving back in for his own.

Standing back up to re-inspect his surroundings he muttered “Shoulda charged more,” and you shot him a dirty look,but laughed when he smiled that huge smile your way. 

He insisted on dragging your bags up the steps to the door for you and when you suddenly stopped and patted yourself down, taking deep but uneasy breaths he could see that you were shaking like a leaf.

“This was a mistake,” you suddenly panicked and took off back down the way you had come, abandoning the bags in a heap he took off after you, you didn’t stop at the car, you continued sprinting down the path through the trees until you reached the shores of the lake and could run no further, and Sihtric burst out through the trees to find you absolutely freaking out, pacing back and forward trying to force air into your lungs.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” you panted, pacing before him and he tried to reach out a hand but he wasn’t sure how best to comfort you, he didn’t even know you.

“I shouldn’t have brought you here, Sihtric. It was cruel. You don’t know these people, they make my life hell, they’ll do the same to you.”

“Hey, I don’t care what they say to me,” he hushed and you stopped pacing to glance at him, and shook your head.

“It’s not fair to ask this of you, Sihtric, you seem like a nice guy and I feel wrong forcing you into this, I know you were joking earlier but you are really going to want to charge me extra once you’ve spent a few days here and I won’t blame you.” 

“You didn’t force me Y/N,” he finally reached out to place a hand on your arm and made you look at him “You told me exactly what I was in for on the phone, and I still took the job, you haven’t tricked me and you’re not forcing me to do anything. And I could be speaking out of turn here but are you sure you want to put yourself through this, if this is how they make you feel?” 

“I have no choice,” you cried and Sihtric sniffed and then nodded.

“So we get through it together then?” he nodded, eyes boring into yours in a way that told you everything would be fine.

“Okay,” you eventually whispered and allowed him to lead you back up the path and up to your discarded bags. 

 Your parents took in Sihtric’s appearance and he didn’t miss the way your Father scrunched up his nose as if something stank, your heart thumped in your chest but you said nothing.

“You should freshen up before dinner,” your stepmother announced with a forced smile, “You are in the west wing.”

“Why not my room?” you quipped and she looked at you incredulously before smirking wryly,

“Honey, that ceased to be your room the day you turned down Cambridge to pursue that little art career of yours, besides your sister needs it for her new in-laws.” 

Sihtric followed you up the stairs and into the room on the west wing of the house, not facing out to the lakes, but rather the forest of ancient trees to the back.

“So you’re an artist?” Sihtric asked you from his position on the bed, arms locked behind his head, staring up at the ceiling while you freshened up in the wash basin in the ensuite.

“A failed one,” you laughed back, before joining him in the room again, “I work for a publishing house as an editor now, and I do art in my spare time.” 

“Anyone who creates is not a failure. It’s only failing if you don’t do it,” he answered as if it wasn’t the most profound thing you had heard in ages.

“What about you?” you asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and examining him, “How did you end up in this line of work?” 

He considered you for a moment, he couldn’t explain why but he felt like he could tell you his whole story and you wouldn’t judge him, but he decided to give you the long story short.

“I was modelling on the side to make some extra money to get out of an incredibly shitty situation, and then my friend Uhtred put me on to this and I was making so much more this way I decided to pursue it. Surprisingly, I’ve never been short of work-”

-”With sad cases like me, incapable of finding a man on their own,” you were joking and he knew that, but something deep down inside of him wished you wouldn’t speak about yourself like that.

“So what do I do?” he laughed tapping you with his knee “Investment banking? Insurance? Hedge Fund Manager? Oh maybe I could work for a Consultancy Agency?”

“I was leaning more toward architect,” you suggested, pushing his leg off playfully, and he grinned at you “Always wanted to be an architect actually,” he mused and then he looked at you seriously “Okay, you are a fantastic editor and painter and I am a highly successful architect we live in a penthouse apartment in the city and we are very happy together. Drinks down the pub every Saturday with my friends Uhtred and Finan and Osferth and Sundays we spend browsing the markets and art galleries.” 

“On Wednesdays I go to a jewelry making class,” you chimed in, that part was true and he made a mental note of it.

“We’re going to make this work, it’ll all be over before you know it and I promise I won’t leave you to face it alone.”

Dinner was a horrible affair.

Everyone talked over each other and Sihtric was questioned within an inch of his life, but he never faltered, that quiet confidence he carried himself with was such a breath of fresh air to you and you could not deny he looked absolutely and sinfully gorgeous in his dinner slacks and black shirt, which the top few buttons had been left open on.

“Where did you find him?” your sister asked in a hushed tone, openly ogling Sihtric like he was a piece of fresh meat.

“London,” was all you offered by way of explanation and she raked her eyes up and down his form, “He is delicious,” she mewled “Aethelred is going to simply die when he sees you two together.”

You took a monstrous gulp of wine from the glass in front of you, and Sihtric placed a hand on your knee and squeezed it once in reassurance, your sister nearly squealed beside you and you prayed dinner would end soon so you could be excused to the reprise of your room.

You weren’t paying mind to the conversations taking place around you, but Sihtric had been locked in conversation with your uncle for the past twenty minutes about Viking history and mythology and he laughed for the first time since you had met him, really laughed, and it lit up the whole room, and you couldn’t help the smile that broke out across your own face in response to it.

“Isn’t that right Lettie?” Your Father’s booming voice pulled you from your Sihtric induced haze and you whirled as your stepmother laughed out loud at the nickname.

“Don’t call me that,” you snapped and your stepmother rolled her eyes in mock exasperation.

“It’s just a nickname Let,” your sister offered and you were grasping the wine glass so hard in your hand, you thought it would shatter.

“What was the question?” you cut over the tension and your dad repeated his statement “Life is very hard for the struggling artist. Do you remember that god awful bedsit you were staying in when you first moved to the city? Thank God Aethelred got you out of there, the landlady was a god awful plump woman.”

“She was a lovely woman,” you cried “She looked after me like I was her own.”

“All the same-” Your father interjected “Thank Goodness for Aethelred.”

“She never did tell us how she managed to mess that one up,” your stepmother whispered to your sister, but whispered was too kind of a word because anyone within ten feet of her could hear it, Sihtric looked at you questiongly and you knew he had heard it too, you just shook your head in way of answering him.

You downed your wine and placed the glass down, “I’m absolutely shattered from today’s travels I’m going to call it a night,” you announced and Sihtric turned to face you.

“I’ll come too darling,” he shook your uncle's hand and promised him they would continue their chat tomorrow, he patted him soundly on the back and when he turned to you he smiled kindly, “You’ve found a good one there, Lettie.” 

You and Sihtric decided to tuck and tail, he was at the top and you were down the end of the bed.

Lying in the darkness you tossed and turned for a bit, sighing loudly when you realised you could not fall asleep.

“Why do they call you Lettie?” Sihtric asked softly into the darkness and you couldn’t help the tears that sprang to your eyes.

“Piglet,” you eventually answered, voice barely above a whisper, “When I first met her, my stepmother, I never stopped crying apparently. Squealing, as she called it… like a piglet. I was four and my mother was dead and the nickname stuck.” 

Sihtric felt a pain in his chest and he didn’t know what to say, “I’m so sorry, that is so beyond awful.” 

“She was an artist,” you eventually spoke again after moments of silence, “My mother, she was incredible. I still have some of her work, well what’s left of it anyway. ”

“Is that why you pursue it?” Sihtric questioned and you hummed in response.

“I never knew my mother,” he added, “She died when I was a baby, but I don’t remember her, I’ve only ever seen pictures.”

“I’m sorry,” you whispered into the darkness and Sihtric rustled about in the bed a bit until he found your hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. 

When you awoke in the morning it was to a feeling of warmth all around you and you were startled to find yourself fully wrapped up in Sihtric’s arms, who was still sleeping soundly beside you. 

“Sihtric?” you whispered panicked, but all he did was nuzzle further into you. 

“S’too early, go back to sleep,” he mumbled into your hair and groaned when you sat fully up in the bed, pulling the duvet with you.

“What's wrong?” he sighed running his hands through his loose curls and you sighed because it was genuinely cruel for a man to look that good first thing in the morning. 

“Look,” he reasoned, picking at a loose thread on the spread “You were tossing and turning all night, and I just figured you would be exhausted today if you didn't get some proper rest so I came down here and I held you and you stopped fussing and didn't move a muscle the rest of the night, and if you lay back down we could actually catch another hour or two, it's still early.”

You suddenly seemed very interested in the pattern on the duvet and were refusing to meet his eye. 

“Just c’’mere,” he urged gently, scooting back down and making room for you, and after what felt like an hour you lost the battle with your better judgement and crawled back into his waiting arms and he scooted back up behind you, throwing an arm over you and pulling you close. 

“Close your eyes,” he commanded softly and when your eyes finally fluttered closed you couldn't help but hope he couldn't feel how fast your heart was beating out of your chest.

The smell of coffee pulled you from the depths of sleep and you opened your eyes to find Sihtric struggling with a breakfast tray filled with pastries and two massive cups of coffee.

“Morning sleeping beauty,” he teased, gently settling the tray down on the bed and taking a seat down the end.

He huffed a laugh as you gasped “Thank you! Bless you!” and immediately took a huge chug of your coffee.

You both ate in a peaceful silence for a while before Sihtric finally spoke, “So I was thinking. Maybe it might be nice if we took a walk in the woods today. Get away from all the madness before dinner tonight, and maybe get to know each other a little better.” 

“Yeah,” you smiled lazily “That would actually be really nice, Sihtric.”

You took Sihtric along your favourite trail, one you hadn’t been back to since you were a teen and it was surprising how easily the conversation flowed and just what good company he really was. 

There was an openness and freeness to Sihtric that you really envied as he swapped stories about some of the antics he had gotten up to with his friends and you realised with a heaviness in your chest that nobody had made you feel this carefree in your entire life, especially at a time that was meant to be the most painful and stressful for you.

“Look I gotta ask,” Sihtric eventually stopped walking and turned completely to face you, “Why did you hire me? Surely there is some colleague or fellow artist out there who is dying for a chance to date you. We both know you would have no trouble finding a date, you didn’t need me.”

You sighed and then laughed “I have given up on love and dating forever. I’m really happy on my own and I guess if I invited someone to a wedding with me, it might give them the wrong idea. Plus my family are so much to deal with- hell I don’t even wanna deal with them. Just seemed cruel to inflict that on another person.” 

“Forever?” Sihtric asked with a cock of his eyebrow.

“Forever,” you confirmed adamantly. 

“Come on,” he reasoned “You don’t deserve to be alone forever.”

“Less painful that way though,” you tried to play it off as a joke walking on ahead of him again, but he could see the truth veiled thinly behind the words. 

He caught your hand as you went a little bit ahead and swirled you around.

“You have given up on yourself,” he tutted and pulled you closer “Don’t you remember how love feels, the butterflies, the longing, the aching. Don’t you ever want to feel that again?” he was almost whispering, eyes flicking down to your lips, “The rush of a first kiss,” he trailed off, pressing a slow, languid kiss to the side of your face, hand rising up to cup your face, and as he broke away he gently placed a kiss to each of your closed eyelids. But much to your disappointment his lips never met yours.

“You’re lying to yourself,” he whispered “You haven’t given up on love, you’ve given up on yourself and that breaks my fucking heart.” 

When your eyes fluttered open, they were glassy with tears and Sihtric’s face crumpled, he stroked your cheek with his thumb.

This isn't real, you had to remind yourself. 

That evening marked the arrival of Athelred and you were a ball of nerves all evening.

“Can you zip me up please?” you asked Sihtric who was waiting on the bed for you to finish getting ready, his fingers ghosted over the bare skin of your back and you watched him carefully in the mirror, as he gently slid the zipper up, he caught your eyes in the mirror and you were suddenly blushing furiously. He turned you around to face him.

“Do you want him back?” he asked softly, “If he tries to get you alone tonight, where do I stand? Do I let you go with him or do I come save you?” 

“Come save me,” you answered, voice shaking slightly, “Please don’t leave me on my own with him.”

“I won’t leave your side,” he promised, and then he looked like he was going to kiss you again, but refrained.

As usual the whirlwind that was Athelred swept in and caught everyone up in its orbit. Your stepmother and sister swooned around him, but Sihtric, true to his word, stuck by your side all night. Rubbing reassuring patterns on your knee or holding your hand whenever he sensed your unease. 

“So, Sihtric,” Athelred called from across the table disrupting the conversation the two of you were having, “I hear you are an architect,” it was hard to tell if he was smiling or sneering.

“I am,” Sihtric answered back, confidence bordering on cockiness.

“Oh? At what firm?” 

“Ragnarsson & Brothers,” Sihtric replied without missing a beat.

“Funny, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them,” there it was you thought, the snobbish, judgemental sneering, you were so accustomed to.

“That is funny,” Sihtric replied, leaning his elbows on the table, “Y/n never mentioned you were so interested in architecture.” 

Athelred seemed like he wanted to press the issue but he could see now was not the time or place.

“And how exactly did you two meet?” he went back to faking a smile again.

Sihtric took your hand in his and smiled widely “We met at a jewelry making class,” he brought your hand to his lips and placed a kiss to your knuckle and you couldn’t help the smile that broke out across your face.

“We’ve just recently started another one, haven’t we darling, every Wednesday evening.” 

Your heart was thumping in your chest because how had he even remembered a point so trivial you had mentioned in passing?

It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real. 

You were repeating it like a mantra in your mind but yet you could not stop the familiar feeling of butterflies in your stomach. 

After dinner, there was dancing in the marquee and you were tipsy.

Twirling around the floor with Sihtric, arms locked around each other and laughing so much your sides were beginning to hurt.

For someone so objectively sexy, he was a goofball and he was not afraid to dance with you even when there were no other men on the floor, he didn’t care for trying to be cool and that made him infinitely…cooler.

He dipped away to get you both drinks and you were dancing with your sister when you felt a tap on your shoulder. You thought it was Sihtric, you spun around but the smile immediately slipped off your face when you realised it was Athelred.

“May I?” he grinned like a shark and you searched the crowd for Sihtric but you couldn’t find him anywhere.

“Oh, come on, I’m sure your lover boy can spare you for one dance,” he mocked and grasped your hand in his and pulled you out into the middle of the floor.

You saw your stepmother's eyes visibly light up and felt as though all eyes were on you, you silently prayed that Sihtric would hurry up and come back.

“You know why they invited me this weekend don’t you? They’re hoping we will rekindle our little romance, and I can’t deny I was hoping for the same.” 

“I’m with Sihtric,” you cut him off, “Besides, there is nothing to rekindle.”

“Oh come on y/n,” he scoffed. “Girls like you don’t end up with guys like him. Look at him, the tattoos, the hair, what on earth does he have to offer you in terms of prospect and comfort.”

“How about love and safety?” you cut back and he scoffed again.

“Oh come off it you’re running around with ruffians, doing your little art on the side, we all know it’s just a protest and one of these days you will have to settle down.”

You tried to pull your hand from his, but his grip tightened, and you gasped at the pain, “Don’t be stupid, I am offering you a second chance here.” 

“You’re offering me a second chance?” you spat trying again to wrench your hand back, “You gave me a black eye and destroyed my mother’s paintings, it should be you begging me for a second chance, which by the way you wouldn’t get if you were the last man left alive,”

“Shh,” he warned, jerking you angrily “I warned you not to bring that up again. Ever.”

“Let go of me!” you spat, pulling your hand ferociously but he would not relent.

“She said Let.Go,” you heard Sihtric’s commanding voice behind you and you ran to him the moment Athelered released you and he caught you in his arms.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Athelred spat between his teeth.

“My girl is my concern,” Sihtric spat “And if she tells you to take your hands off her you had better do it quicker in future, or you won’t have hands anymore.” 

Athelred smiled his fake shark like smile and rose his hands in surrender, mindful of the people watching, “Just a little misunderstanding between two past lovers,” he moved away and Sihtric finally gave his full attention to you.

“Are you okay?” he asked, hooking a finger under your chin to make you look at him, you were trying to play it off but eventually you shook your head and Sihtric pulled you into a hug.

“You wanna get out of here?” he drawled and you nodded into his chest and let him lead you off the dancefloor into the gardens, twinkling with the fairy lights draped overhead. 

You walked hand in hand for a while through the edges and down towards the lake, before you finally felt like talking.

“He wanted to give me a second chance,” you laughed bitterly, “Like I’m the one who was in the wrong, like I didn’t have to sneak out of our house in the middle of the night to escape him.”

“What happened?” Sihtric asked, he wasn’t prying but he wanted to help.

“He came home drunk, smelling like another woman, and it was no secret he was cheating on me the entire relationship, but this time I had had enough, I packed my bags, but as I went to walk out the door, he grabbed me,” you stopped because it was truly embarrassing and you had never told another soul this in your entire life, “And he punched me as hard as he could, and while I was crying, nursing the cut on my cheek, he destroyed my mother’s paintings in rage. All I had left of her, destroyed in an instant.”

Your words from the other night came back to stab Sihtric in the chest “What’s left of it anyway… ” 

Sihtric was suddenly seething “I will kill him if he lays another finger on you. I should go back up there and knock that fucking smirk off his face.”

“Don't,” you begged, reaching for him, “We just have two more days to get through and then I never have to see him or any of these hypocrites ever again. But I can't do it without you, you're the only thing keeping me sane right now and if you go up there and punch him -”

-”No of course, you're right. It just makes me sick that he could hurt you like that and yet your family would want you to take him back.”

“They don't know. You're actually the only person I've ever told.”

Sihtric’s face crumpled and he reached out for you, “Okay,” he whispered, “But I don't think I can look at him again tonight without ripping his head clean off his shoulders. So,” he proposed “How about we steal two bottles of that expensive champagne and have our own party in our room.”

“Sounds like the best idea you've ever had Kjartansson.”

The music was blaring and Sihtric was hanging out the window smoking a cigarette. 

“Those things are gonna be the death of you,” you teased from the bed and he turned around to face you, you had long discarded your heels and were sprawled across the bed, one arm lazily draped over your forehead listening in a drunken haze to the songs he had selected. 

He wished it was the drink, really wished it was, but it wasn't.

It really wasn't the drink that had him focusing on the way your hair fell down around your shoulders, the way your lashes fanned against your cheeks when you blinked or the way your bare legs looked like satin just begging to be touched, and it sent his head into overspin. 

“You're gonna be the death of me,” he groaned and you had the cheek to cock your head innocently as if you didn't understand what he was talking about. 

He stalked his way over to you, and you sat back eyeing him suspiciously. 

He stopped before you and reached out his hand, “Dance with me,” he drawled and you allowed him to pull you up, and locked your arms around his neck, as he swayed you gently to the music, his mismatched eyes smouldering into yours, he fisted his hand up into your hair and brushed his thumb across your lips, you all but whimpered under his touch and before you could overthink it, you pressed up onto your tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. 

“I'm sorry,” you gushed “I'm so sorry you said no kiss-”

He cut you off by pressing his lips back to yours and it was needy and passionate and your head was spinning, not from the alcohol. 

Uhtred’s voice flashed like a warning in Sihtric’s head but he rushed it away, “Rule number one, never catch feelings for a client.”

You weren't sure when kissing became discarded clothes, and being pinned down under the weight of Sihtric’s body, or nail marks down his back and bite marks on your skin that you were hoping concealer would cover for your sister’s wedding, and you definitely weren't sure how one time became two, or how you ended up in the shower of your ensuite together, warm water running down your aching muscles. 

But as you lay wrapped up in his arms that night, you had to repeat that same mantra that haunted you this entire week. 

It's not real. It's not real. It's not real. 

But no matter how much you said it, you knew this was only going to lead to you getting hurt.

“My father killed my mother,” Sihtric whispered into the night and you twisted in his arms to face him, “He used to beat her black and blue, and when she wasn’t around anymore he did it to me. That’s why I wanted to kill Aethelred earlier because the thought of someone hurting you like that makes me sick.”

You caressed his face with your thumb and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, “I’m sorry,” you told him truthfully and he nuzzled into your neck.

“The shitty situation I was running from, was because I beat him to a pulp, left him for dead but the bastard survived, almost killed me in return, kicked me out into the street and I had nowhere to go. This job allowed me the financial freedom to escape him and I’ve been doing it ever since. I just need you to know that that’s the man you are laying with. That’s my baggage.”

“I don’t care,” you cried, “We are not our families and we survived the best way we knew how, I would never judge you for what you’ve had to do to get by.”

He burrowed into you and you wrapped your arms around him.

“I need to ask-” you said but wished you could take it back because his mismatched eyes were glistening in the moonlight and the moment was so fragile you were afraid what you said next would shatter everything, and when he nodded for you to continue, you swallowed thickly.

“Have you ever done this with another client? Kissed them, lay with them? I’m not judging- I just. I just need to know that this is real.”

“Never,” he told you solemnly “You are the first and only. The only one who has never tried to take advantage. The first to respect my boundaries and not pressure me into doing things I don’t want to do.”

You released the breath you didn’t even realise you were holding and he took your hand in his and placed it on his chest, over his heart “And this is real.” 

“Let me show you,” he mumbled, climbing on top of you, brushing his fingers through your hair as he kissed his way down your aching body, disappearing between the sheets to nip at the skin on your thighs and you gasped as he parted them, hands tangling in his mass of loose curls as he lapped at the skin of your most sensitive parts and he offered no reprieve until you were a panting, sweaty mess as you came around him, climbing triumphantly up the bed to rest his head on your chest and your arms locked around him, and for the first time in all your time together you ignored the mantra you had been repeating all week. 

“Good morning beautiful,” Sihtric husked, kissing any piece of bare skin his lips could reach and you giggled in his arms. 

“Our second last day together,” you pouted and Sihtric chuckled. “I wouldn't be so sure of that,” he kissed the pout off your lips. 

“Although I do remember telling you that sex would cost you extra,” he teased and you looked at him in mock hurt. 

“How much more?” you shrieked and he pretended to think about it carefully for a moment. 

“Hmm, how about a date when all of this is over? I mean I know you have sworn off dating forever and all,l but I figured you might make an exception,” he mused and you turned in his arms to take in his beauty in the morning light. 

“I will make an exception, just for you,” you told him genuinely and the smile that broke out across his face was absolutely radiant. 

His heart fluttered in his chest, he knew he had been crossing boundaries with you all weekend, he had been the first to kiss you yesterday, albeit not on the lips, but he had still broken his own most important rule within two days of knowing you. You had slept together last night and that had been another boundary crossed, but he just couldn’t bring himself to care. He had been attracted to you from the moment he’d met you on the platform, coffee in hand waiting for him, and god dammit if you weren’t the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

Sihtric tagged along with you to the city to go pick up the bridesmaid dresses from the tailors.

He held your hand in the car, he opened your door for you and he kissed you at every possible moment, hands tangled up in yours, arm slung around your shoulder, or hand placed delicately on your lower back, you soon learned that physical touch was his love language, he simply had to be touching you and for the first time in your whole life you didn’t mind the feeling of a man’s hands on you at all times.

When you had stopped for coffee, he insisted on paying and it was genuinely nice to have someone want to take care of you this way.

Your stomach would lurch every time you thought about this week ending, would you be able to make it work on the outside? Would he feel the same about you once he was back in the ‘real world,’  and had the freedom to see whoever he wanted? You didn’t want those doubts to creep in but Sihtric was an absolute God amongst men and you had not been treated well by much lesser of men.

“Hmm?” you chimed, pulled from your thoughts on the drive home by something Sihtric had said.

“I just said, would you maybe like to come for drinks with my friends some night after our proper date that is?” 

You paused for a moment, your heart swelling with the cuteness of this man and you turned your head to smile his way “I would love that,” you smiled genuinely and his face erupted with a huge grin.

“Good, because they will absolutely adore you. You’re going to want to leave me for Finan but I won’t allow it because you’re all mine!” 

You laughed because this man was ridiculous, as if you would even look at another man when this man was on your arm. 

Tonight was the night before the wedding, and there was a huge rehearsal dinner planned. It was almost a mini wedding itself.

You watched Sihtric dress in dinner slacks and a white shirt and your heart fluttered with adoration as he fumbled with his tie, you moved into his space and began to arrange his tie for him, his eyes kept flicking down to your lips and he moved into your space and kissed you.

“Do you think if we had met under different circumstances you would have given me a chance?” he suddenly asked and you stopped his ministrations on his tie.

“Sihtric,” you stressed “Why would you even ask such a thing?”

“Look at you,” he mused, turning you around to face the mirror as his arms circled around your stomach “You are so out of my league,” he spoke into the skin of your neck “I don’t even deserve to look at you, let alone touch you. With my job, with what I do, are you not ashamed? You could do so much better than this. Than me.” 

You turned in his arms and locked your own around his neck, “I’m not ashamed of you, and I couldn’t do better than you if I tried,” you told him honestly and you meant it, and that seemed to satiate him enough to put his mind somewhat at ease, “More than that, I don’t want anyone else but you.”

You were slightly late making your way down to dinner because as soon as you had put your dinner dress on, Sihtric had removed it and your sister sent you a knowing smirk as soon as you sat down. 

“Sorry I’m late,” you muttered slightly bashful and she shrugged you off, “It’s alright we’re still waiting for Aethelred,” she told you and you searched the table, silently noting that he was indeed absent. 

Sihtric grabbed your chair and pulled you as physically close as possible, you were absorbed in your own little conversation and barely even noticed Aethelred’s arrival until a folder landed with a thump in front of you and his figure loomed over you.

“I’m sorry to do this here but I think you deserve to know the truth,” he rushed and you looked between the folder on the table and him.

“What is this?” you quirked and Sihtric went to reach for the files.

Aethelred began to raise his voice and you began to suspect there was about to be a performance.

“You deserve to know the truth,” he spoke and then pointed his index directly into Sihtric’s face “About this con artist. He is not who he says he is!” he spat and continued “He is not an architect, he is a hooker and has been lying to your face from the moment he met you!”

With trembling fingers you opened the folder and there in black and white was Sihtric’s escort profile and you felt like you were trapped in a glass dome that was coming crashing down in sharp shards all around you.

Your stepmother swiped the folder from your hands and her eyes flew between the printed pages in front of her and Sihtric who had gone completely rigid beside you.

“You swine!” she shrieked “You dishonest swine, you would lie to her like this just to worm your way in and all this time you are whoring yourself out to sad cases who can’t find a man of their own?”

You felt white hot rage surge through your body and you glared into Aethelred’s smug face.

“I’m so sorry to do this you Let, but you deserved to know the truth.” 

“He’s a hooker?” you heard someone whisper down the table and you were rising to your feet in an instant.

“He is not the one who has been lying!” you spat “I’ve known who he was from the moment I met him. And he is the most honest, decent man sitting at this table.” 

You were shaking with rage and you watched the realisation wash over Aethelred’s face and he began to laugh, “Oh my God, you never thought he was an architect…you booked him.”

“I did!” you spat, “And how dare you humiliate him like this, with your fake bullshit concern, you didn’t do this for me but for your sick gratification you fucking tiny, insignificant man.”

“You brought a hooker to your own sister’s wedding?” your step mother guffawed and you rounded on her.

“I did, and he is the best man I have ever met. He is worth 10 of every single one of you sat here tonight and I am ashamed to even call you my family.”

“You know you don’t get extra for pretending to care for her,” Aethelred mocked, “Worming your way into her knickers is one thing but worming your way into your heart, now that was a good one, and she’s so fucking gullible, it was the perfect crime and you nearly got away with it.”

Sihtric was out of his seat and had his hands on Aethelred before you could even react.

In the scuffle that ensued Aethelred’s lip was bloodied and Sihtric’s hair had come free from his bun in loose, unruly curls.

“You fucking beat her black and blue. You destroyed her mother’s paintings and you stand here judging me?” Sihtric was roaring as he was being pulled away from a sneering Aethelred, “I might be a fucking hooker but I would rather die, than touch one hair on her head. You scumbag!” 

Your sister and mother were looking horrified between both men and then your sister’s worried eyes landed on yours, “This is why you left him?” she almost cried and all you could do in the moment was nod, Sihtric was being held back by your father, his chest rising and falling in anger and he spat on the ground.

“You fucking hypocrites. You give her a cruel nickname that she can’t stand. You allow her to be abused by this piece of weasel shit and you stand here now and judge her? I am what I am but at least I can be honest with myself, you are all sitting here in a house of bullshit and you can’t even see the amazing, kind hearted girl right here in front of you.”

He shrugged your father off violently and stormed off across the grass and you followed in pursuit, but he didn’t stop until he made his way the whole way to your room, flinging the door open and throwing clothes into his bag.

“You’re leaving?” you cried when you finally reached him and he whirled on you like you were crazy.

“Of course I’m leaving!” he spat rushing around the room picking up discarded items and flinging them into his bag, “And you’d be a fool not to too!”

“It’s my sister’s wedding tomorrow,” you tried to reason, “I’m a bridesmaid, I can’t just up and abandon her.”

“Your choice,” he simply scoffed and you tried to reach for him.

“I’m sorry,” you cried and it sounded like begging, “Please don’t leave.”

He shrugged out of your grasp and began furiously zipping up his suitcase.

“Don’t,” he warned when you tried to reach for him again and when he realised he was packed he turned to you, “Are you coming, or not?” 

“Sihtric I can’t,” you cried, “Please I am so sorry about Aethelred. I’m sorry about it all, but please we can face it together. I have to stay for her, but I can’t do it on my own. I need you.”

“Come with me,” he reasoned “Come with me or stay, but either way I am leaving.”

Your head was spinning because you always knew, deep down, that this day was going to come, you knew he would see enough, or wake up enough to know that he deserved better than you and he would leave.

He sniffed and then nodded in acceptance that you were not going to leave and flung his bag up onto his back and then pulled his suitcase from the bed.

“Fine stay, and let them walk all over you as always. What’s it got to do with me anyway?” 

“You’re hurt and you have every reason to be, but you’re lashing out at me, but you know I have no choice here.”

“You have a choice,” he scoffed “And you’re making the wrong one.”

“I’m staying,” you said defiantly, even though your whole body was shaking. “Because I am sick of running. I’m sick of letting them dictate who I should be. I am not ashamed of you, or our time together and I will not let them make me feel embarrassed another moment of my life, and I will stand by my little sister’s side tomorrow and I will do her proud, with or without you. But I really wish it was with, so I am begging you, please stay with me?”

He seemed to consider you for a moment but he was too angry to take in what you were really asking of him.

“I would like to be paid now,” he sniffed again, as if he had disregarded everything you had just said.

“Paid?” you asked, voice small.

“Yeah. I am a hooker in case you needed reminding and I would like to be paid for my services.”

“Right,” you blinked quickly, feeling the dagger twist in your chest, “Right of course.”

You ruffled in your nightstand until you found the pale brown envelope you had kept from the moment you had booked Sihtric, you had put some extra in there over the week as time progressed and now your hands shook as you passed it his way and he snatched it from your hands, and tears sprang to your eyes as he made his way towards the door.

“Is this really how it ends?” you couldn’t help but cry as he reached for the handle,and Sihtric’s face softened ever so slightly.

“We’ve been fooling ourselves all week. Talking about us as if we were ever real. Carrying on as if this wasn’t the way it was always supposed to end” he replied, “In a way Aethered did us both a favour to snap us out of it.” 

And there it was, the sickening proof that what you had been reminding yourself all week had been true. 

It's not real. It's not real. It's not real. 

When you didn’t respond he pulled the door open and made his way outside into the hall.

“Goodbye Y/n, good luck with everything. I hope one day you find what you deserve and the right man to give it to you. But I think we both know that’s not me.” 

There had been no more trains going to London by the time Sihtric arrived at the station and he huffed in anger as he flung his bags down, realising he would have to sleep in the station.

“Good,” he muttered as he settled down on the waiting room floor, anything was better than staying in that bullshit place with your snivelling excuse of an ex, he only wished he had gotten one more swing at him before anyone else stepped in but he was satisfied that at least some of his blows had landed.

He pulled his jacket around him to protect him from the chill and pulled the envelope he had hastily stuffed in his pocket out and emptied the contents into his hands.

He ruffled through the wads of cash and realised with a turn of his stomach that there was way more than the agreed upon price there and finally a tiny hand written note.

“For keeping me sane this week and not running no matter how tough it got xx”

His heart sank down to his toes, he couldn’t shake the image of your shaking form in the bedroom as he threw shots intended to hurt your way. He thought if he could convince you that none of it was real, he would believe it too.

He had been a fool and worse than that he had been cruel and for what? All because Aethelred had wounded his pride and humiliated him.

You had defended him in front of your whole family, refused to be ashamed of him, pleaded with him to stay and he had thrown it all back in your face, all because you had the bravery to stand and face what he was too embarrassed to.

He broke his one promise to you, that he wouldn’t leave you on your own and all because he couldn’t take two minutes to sit with his feelings and cool down.

Maybe it was because everyone had spoken his worst fears out loud and Aethelred had laid it all out in black and white for everyone to see, he wasn’t good enough for you, and if you had never booked him, he would never have even had a seat at that table with you.

But he had laid himself bare for you in the moonlight and you hadn’t rejected him, and now as the sun rose you would be left to deal with his shame and shortcomings all on your own.

And he had broken every single rule in the book from the moment he realised he had feelings for you, and then it hit him like a brick and all at once, he had fallen in love with you and now it was all over.

His fingers shook as he bought his ticket and texted Uhtred asking to pick him up once his train landed in London.

He had gone too far, messed up too badly to come back and ask you for forgiveness so he took the cowardly way out, he did what he always did when things got real, he ran.

And so the train to London pulled in, he took one last breath and released it as it departed.

Your eyes were red and puffy from crying, and the makeup artist scolded you, asking if you’d had any sleep at all, but you weren’t about to tell her you had cried yourself to sleep that night.

You slapped a smile on your face for all the photos of getting ready with the bridal party, and despite the filthy looks your stepmother was throwing your way nobody brought up the antics of last night, until your sister came to sit beside you and handed you a champagne flute.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried “About the nickname, about pushing you to get back with Aethelred, for everything. Sihtric was right about everything, we’ve treated you so cruelly and I promise you I will never make you feel like that again.” 

“Today is about you,” you squeezed her hand through your tears and she shook her head.

“I couldn’t do this without you,” she protested “You’ve always been by my side no matter what, no matter how horrible Mum and Dad are, you’ve never abandoned me and I’ve taken you so for granted. I wouldn’t have blamed you for cutting and running today, but I’m eternally grateful that you didn’t.”

You smiled her way and shook your head “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Sihtric?” she tried and you shook your head, refusing to meet her eye.

“Gone,” was all you offered and she pulled you to her in a bruising hug.

“For what it matters and despite what anyone else may say, it is impossible for anyone to fake the way he looked at you all week, I think he genuinely fell for you.”

“Maybe he did,” you said weakly, “But Aethelred killed it all dead, there was no going back from that humiliation.”

The bridal music began to play and you watched the first bridesmaid make her way up the aisle, followed by the second and when it was your turn you took a huge breath, nodded and held your head high as you began the ascent. You knew all eyes were on you and you ignored them all, but the wind was knocked completely from your lungs when you took your place at the top of the aisle and there standing in the back row, two- pleading- mismatched eyes locked with yours and it took everything in you not to cry there and then, so much so you could barely focus on your sister’s grand entrance.

Once the vows were swapped and the couple were deemed man and wife, you followed the procession down the aisle, eyes locked on Sihtric, afraid that if you took your eyes off him for just one second he would disappear.

He made his way over to you as soon as you cleared the aisle and you were struggling to find the words.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, the fragile hope in your voice almost shattered the tiny ounce of resolve he had.

“I promised I wouldn’t leave you alone.”

“But you did,” you cried and grief carved its way across his face.

“I did,” he replied, voice raw and cracked, almost like it pained him to say, “But I came back for you and I won’t leave you again, until you send me away.”

“Sihtric,” you cried, tears pooling in your eyes “You told me it wasn’t real and I begged you- I begged you to stay.”

“I lied,” he rushed, words fast and desperate “I lied. I pushed you away because that made it easier for me to run. I was cruel. I was embarrassed and I lied. I know I have no right to even be here but I needed you to know that it was real for me, and the thought of leaving you to face this all on your own made me want to tear my own skin off. Even if you never want me again, I just needed to be here for you.”

“Sihtric, I don’t know,” you cried, hurt etched all over your features “You’re here and you’re saying all the right things, but I am shattered, I so desperately want to believe you but I’m scared,” he nodded, eyes boring pleadingly into yours, but he fumbled in his suit jacket pocket and pulled the envelope you had given him the night before and thrust it into your hands.

“I’m never gonna leave your side again, if you allow me. And I don’t know how else to prove to you right now that my feelings for you are real but to say I don’t want this- I just want you.”

You looked at the envelope in your hand and went to argue but he cut you off by repeating, “I just want you.” 

Your name being called caught your attention and you hastily wiped your eyes, and thrust the envelope back into his hands.

“Can you please..stay. We will talk later I promise. Just. Please stay.”

“How long are you going to make him suffer?” your sister asked gently, after the speeches had ended and the band began to play, and you followed her line of sight to where Sihtric was sat alone, head down-turned, but still here.

“I don’t want him to suffer, I just need time to figure it all out.”

“Y/n, he came back for you. Despite what everyone here thinks of him and did to him last night. He’s here, and he’s here for you.”

“I think I’m in love with him,” you finally admitted and your sister smiled a small sympathetic smile “Of course you are,” she sighed “And I think you should go for it. You deserve to be happy,” she looked in disgust to where Aethelred was sat at the other end of the top table, “You never laughed with him the way you do with Sihtric, he lights you up and you deserve every second of it.” 

“What if he breaks my heart?” you cried and your sister squeezed your knee.

“You’re breaking your own by not giving him a second chance,” she quipped, and you knew she was right..

You had barely stepped into his line of sight when he was up from his chair and standing to attention.

“Okay,” you replied, voice small and he was stepping into your space with a childlike excitement.

“Okay?” he repeated.

“Okay,” you nodded “I want this. I want us to try again. I want you-”

You hadn’t even finished your sentence when he was scooping you up and peppering kisses all over your face, each one dissipating the worry you had buried in your chest.

You took the band from his hair and freed his curls from the bun they were trapped in, you tore his tie off and threw it aside and he watched you with a curious quirk of his head.

“But the real you- not the one we were trying to impress my family with,” you popped open the top two buttons of his shirt to reveal his neck tattoo, and ran your hand over his pecs under his shirt.

“Not Sihtric the perfect date. Not Sihtric the architect. But my Sihtric.”

He smiled his huge, breathtaking smile and dove in to kiss you.

“I’m just warning you,” he mumbled against your skin “I’m never gonna leave your side again.”

“Good,” you laughed. “Because you are my date to every single event I can think of for the foreseeable future.”

“And you’re my last,” he told you and he shook his head “I’m getting out of this game, I’m tired of running, I’ve found everything I’ve been looking for and I won’t risk losing you again. You remember when I told you you were the first and only client I’ve ever kissed, I want you to be my last client, and the first girl I give my all to.”

You kissed him, because you could, because he was yours to kiss and when you pulled away you looked at him honestly.

“What will you do for work?” 

“I had been saving up to open my own motorcycle work shop with Uhtred and Finan, Uhtred got out last year, and now it’s my time.”

“Sihtric the mechanic,” you smiled and he smiled too.

“But first I have to dance with my girl,” he grinned and before you could protest he was pulling you out into the middle of the floor, spinning you around under the lights and for the first time since you arrived at this godforsaken place, you didn’t care who was watching.

In fact you hoped they all were.

Tagging:

@canyonmoon-2 @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @whitedarkmoonflower @thenameswinter99 @foxyanon

@acdassenza @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @gemini-mama

@troyottonick @alexagirlie

a-beaverhausen nebulamorada izzydlb knight-of-flowerss

justcuriousandbored @leftoverp1zza @cheesesandwichsanto

[thoughtsforsoob]

his take on your trinket obsession

note: guys I’m trying so hard to get a labubu someone please help me 💔 I have a sonny angel (a little brown poodle one) and a smiski (from 2019). I just want to complete the trilogy. Choi yeonjun if you’re seeing this, if you loved moa you’d buy us all little trinkets.

yeonjun

Loves to tease you about your little collection. He knows it’s what makes you happy so he doesn’t go in too hard on you. He just likes to see you got pink in the face. His favorite thing is when you’re opening your little blind boxes and you make excited little expressions. He loves filming your unboxing an and keeping them for himself. He watches them back when he misses you. “Babe, those are kids toys!” He says. You glare at him, “quit being mean!”

soobin

Unsure of your little obsession at first but learned to just roll with it. Everytime you go out, you’ve got him looking at those little blind boxes. They make him think of you. When he goes on tour, he always brings back a ton of different blind boxes for you to open, including whichever your favorite ones are. If they make you happy, then he thinks he should support it. “Oh babe, what’s that?” He asks as you open another box, “they’re smiskis! Aren’t they the cutest! And they glow in the dark!”

beomgyu

He is in full support of your little trinket obsession! He loves the way you, once in a while, put them all on your desk and arrange them once again in a different order. Sometimes when you’re doing that, he’ll ask you about them just to hear you ramble on about them. “Oh yeah! And there’s gonna be a new Sonny angel collection soon! I’m excited to see what they’re going to look like.” He nods along as you speak, “that’s exciting! I promise I’ll buy you some boxes so you can get them all. You deserve them.” (Secretly takes some of your little toys and plays with them but we’re not ready for that discussion)

taehyun

Clueless but supportive nonetheless. You were a little nervous to admit to him that you collect little figures but when you finally tell him, he doesn’t really care. It was a relief to you. Now, he’s on the phone right at the designated time, trying to snag you a labubu. If that doesn’t work after a few tries, he takes you straight to the nearest popmart at the next labubu restock. He’s aware that going through all that trouble for a mere bag charm may seem silly but it’s what makes you happy so it’s worth it. “Oh thank you, baby! Lychee Berry is gonna look so cute on my toe bag!” You hug him and he hugs you back. “Anything for you.”

huening kai

He wants to start collecting because of you. He does it in a way that’s really lowkey because he’s not sure if you’ll approve of him wanting to follow in your footsteps. When he starts to get random boxes in the mail, you ask him what they are. He always says, “just new gym gear.” You believed him until you found a box of calico critters in his drawer while you were putting away laundry. You ask him about it and he’s folds, admitting he didn’t want you to think he was weird. “Awww kai, you’re so silly. How about we put our families together?” He nods, “okay, but only if they can kiss!”

[sturniololuvz]

Could you do a fic where Y/N got into a fight at school and the triplets were blaming her for it but they wouldn’t listen to the full story and they all yelled and snapped at her and when they finally realized what happened they feel terrible for not believing her and her face is beat yo badly and the other girl had a broken nose

okayyyyy

“Jumping to Conclusions”

Sturniolos x sister

Y/N slammed the front door shut, her jaw clenched as she tossed her bag onto the floor. Her face ached, her knuckles were sore, and she knew she looked like a mess. She barely made it two steps inside before she heard her brothers’ voices.

“What the hell were you thinking, Y/N?” Matt’s voice was sharp, filled with frustration.

Chris was pacing, his arms crossed. “A fight? Seriously? What is wrong with you?”

Nick stood with his hands on his hips, shaking his head. “Do you even realize how much trouble you could be in?”

Y/N let out a tired sigh, already exhausted from everything that had happened. “Can you guys just chill for one second?”

Matt scoffed. “Chill? You got suspended! Mom and Dad are pissed, and now we have to deal with this?”

“You don’t even know what happened,” Y/N muttered.

Chris ran a hand through his hair. “We know enough! You got into a fight at school. You threw punches. That’s all we need to know.”

Y/N’s blood boiled. “Are you serious? You’re not even gonna let me explain?”

Nick snapped, his voice rising. “What’s there to explain? You got into a fight and now we all have to deal with the consequences!”

Y/N clenched her fists, the pain in her knuckles reminding her of why she had thrown those punches in the first place. “You think I just went looking for a fight?” she shot back, her voice shaking with anger.

Chris crossed his arms. “I don’t know, Y/N, did you?”

That was it. That was the breaking point.

Her eyes stung with frustrated tears as she glared at them. “She was talking shit about you guys!” she yelled. “She was running her mouth about how you don’t actually care about me, how I’m just some tagalong to your fame. She called me a pathetic waste of space! And I ignored it until she shoved me first.”

The room fell silent.

Y/N let out a bitter laugh, blinking back tears. “She hit me first. I defended myself. And you know what? I don’t regret it.” She tilted her head, her bruised cheek catching the light. “She’s got a broken nose. I’ve got this. Worth it.”

Guilt immediately washed over the triplets.

Matt looked away, his jaw tight. Chris exhaled sharply, running his hands over his face. Nick swallowed hard, stepping closer.

“Y/N…” Nick started, his voice soft now. “I—I didn’t know.”

“Because none of you let me tell you,” she said, shaking her head. “You just assumed the worst.”

Chris stepped forward, guilt all over his face. “We’re sorry. We should’ve let you explain.”

Matt sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “We just—when we heard you got into a fight, we freaked out. We didn’t stop to think that maybe there was a reason.”

Y/N sniffed, looking away. “Well, there was.”

Nick gently took her hand, examining her bruised knuckles. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Chris wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “And next time, we’ll listen first before jumping to conclusions.”

Matt pulled her into a hug. “We’re proud of you for standing up for yourself. Just maybe… let’s try not to get suspended next time?”

Y/N let out a small laugh, finally relaxing in their embrace. “No promises.”

[istoleyoursphenoidbone]

In Search of Kindred Spirits - Chapter 2

This has been fun to write so far, this chapter will have the warning for character death though, but it's canon character death so take it with a grain of salt. Hope you enjoy and as always feedback is welcome!

Prev | Next

June 2nd, 200X

Dear Jason,

Gotham sounds just as crazy as ever. I can’t believe you managed to talk yourself out of getting caught sneaking into a fancy restaurant. Do you always think so fast on your feet? Or is this just another one of your weird Gotham superpowers? Either way, you’ve got me beat. Last week, I tripped over my own shoelaces in front of my whole science class. Not my proudest moment.

Things are… weird here. Ever since we got back from Gotham, my parents have been even more obsessed with ghosts. The ghost portal they’ve been working on in the lab almost turned on the other day. It kind of exploded instead. Pretty sure I’m still picking bits of ectoplasm out of my hair. But hey, at least my parents didn’t notice when I accidentally melted their toaster while trying to make waffles. Long story.

Write back soon, okay? And don’t get into too much trouble. (I know, I know—that’s basically asking Gotham not to rain.)

Your sidekick,

Danny

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

Jason chuckled as he folded up Danny’s letter, slipping it back into the shoebox under his bed. The kid had a way of brightening up even the darkest days. No matter how bad things got in Gotham—or how heavy Bruce’s expectations felt—Jason always knew he could count on Danny’s letters to pull him back from the edge.

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

July 15th, 200X

Hey Danny,

Tripping over your shoelaces in class? Rookie move. Next time, at least do it somewhere less embarrassing. Like, I dunno, a haunted house or something. Bonus points if it involves ghosts, since you’ve got your mad scientist parents to back you up.

Things here are… well, it’s Gotham. You know how it is. Same old, same old. There was a fire at one of the warehouses by the docks last week. I didn’t see what happened, but there were rumors it was tied to some gang fight. Sometimes it feels like this city’s falling apart, y’know? Anyway, enough depressing stuff.

Bruce—uh, my new guardian—keeps dragging me to these fancy events. You’d laugh if you saw me in a suit. Don’t even ask about the food. It’s all weird, tiny stuff, like caviar and quail eggs. I snuck a slice of pizza in my jacket once, and Bruce nearly had a heart attack when I pulled it out at the dinner table. Worth it.

Stay outta trouble, Sidekick. (But if you do get into trouble, at least make it a good story.)

Your favorite hero,

Jason

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

The months passed, but their bond remained as strong as ever. Each letter carried snapshots of their lives, written in messy handwriting, and peppered with inside jokes and ghost puns. Jason didn’t tell Danny he was Robin, but he dropped subtle hints about his nighttime escapades: vague mentions of “training” and “helping someone out.” Danny, in turn, never told Jason about the accident that had turned him into half a ghost.

But the things they couldn’t say didn’t matter. The letters, though slow and sporadic sometimes, were enough.

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

October 10th, 200X

Dear Jason,

Okay, I laughed so hard at the pizza story that I snorted milk out of my nose. Thanks for that.

Things here have been… kinda crazy. My parents finally got the ghost portal to turn on (no explosions this time), but it’s still not working right. I swear, one of these days they’re going to accidentally summon some giant ghost monster and blame me for it.

School’s been weird too. There’s this kid, Dash, who keeps trying to pick fights with me. You’d totally kick his butt if you were here. Don’t worry, though—I’m handling it. Well… mostly.

Anyway, I gotta go before Mom and Dad notice I’m writing this instead of “helping” in the lab. They just started yelling about “ectoplasmic anomalies,” which probably means something’s about to explode. Again.

Write back soon, okay? I miss you.

Your sidekick,

Danny

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

December 3rd, 200X

Dear Danny,

This Dash kid sounds like a loser. Tell him that if he messes with you again, he’s gonna have to deal with me. Not that he’d stand a chance, but still. You’ve got this, Sidekick.

Things are… well, you know how I said Gotham’s a mess? That hasn’t changed. Bruce has been working late a lot, and I’ve been “helping out” more. (Don’t ask—it’s boring, trust me.) But it’s not all bad. I got to sneak out for a while last week and saw this kid giving out sandwiches to homeless folks in the Narrows. It made me think of you. He kinda reminded me of the way you’re always trying to help people, even when it’s risky.

Anyway, enough of the sappy stuff. Have your parents blown anything up lately? And are they still wearing those crazy jumpsuits? You’ve gotta get me a picture someday. I need to see this for myself.

Stay outta trouble, Danny. And remember, you’re tougher than you think.

Your hero,

Jason

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

February 14th, 200X

Dear Jason,

First of all, I’ve gotta see this pizza stunt you keep mentioning. Next time, record it or something, okay?

Second, yeah, my parents are still walking around in those ridiculous jumpsuits. It’s like they’re allergic to normal clothes. I’ll try to sneak a photo for you, but if they catch me, it’s your fault.

Things have been… weird here. Again. There’s this creepy ghost lady who keeps showing up in the middle of the night. She keeps calling me “child of both worlds,” whatever that means. I think she’s just trying to mess with me, but it’s still super freaky. Anyway, I’ll figure it out. I always do, right? Oh and I sent some drawings with the letter, have fun.

Write back soon. And try not to fall off any rooftops or whatever it is you do in Gotham.

Your sidekick,

Danny

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

Jason stared at the crumpled piece of paper in his hands. Danny had scrawled a diagram of something called a “ghost thermos” on the bottom half of his latest letter, complete with doodles of stick figures fighting over what appeared to be glowing green blobs.

"Figures," Jason muttered, smirking. Danny hadn’t changed much, even after all these years. His friend’s goofiness was one of the few constants in Jason’s life, a lifeline that kept him grounded when Gotham’s darkness threatened to pull him under.

But some things had changed. Jason could feel it.

Danny’s letters were different lately. There were hints—small, almost imperceptible cracks in the cheerful façade Danny always wore. Jason knew the signs. He’d seen them in the mirror.

The truth was, Danny had changed. His accident had transformed him into something he didn’t fully understand. Being half-ghost came with powers he was still learning to control and a sense of responsibility that weighed heavier every day.

It wasn’t that Danny didn’t trust Jason—he just didn’t know how to explain it. How do you tell your best friend that you’re half-dead?

When Jason wrote about his “training,” Danny sensed that he, too, was keeping secrets. But he didn’t press. They were still kids, after all. Everyone had their demons.

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

The stars seemed to align, however, when Jason’s "training" brought him to a city near Amity Park. For the first time in years, they had a chance to meet face-to-face.

Danny sprinted toward the abandoned park they’d chosen as a meeting spot, his breath visible in the cold winter air. He spotted Jason leaning against a rusty jungle gym, a cocky grin on his face.

“Hey, Sidekick,” Jason called.

Danny laughed, tackling Jason in a hug. “Takes one to know one.”

They pulled back, grinning at each other. Jason had grown taller, his frame more solid. But his eyes carried something darker, a sharpness Danny didn’t remember.

“You’ve gotten taller,” Danny said, feigning jealousy.

“And you’re still short,” Jason shot back. “Some things never change.”

They fell into an easy rhythm, catching up like no time had passed. Jason didn’t miss how Danny seemed… different. He moved like he was always on edge, like he was ready to disappear at any moment.

Danny noticed things about Jason, too—the reckless way he joked, like he didn’t care if he got hurt. There was a bitterness in his voice sometimes, a chip on his shoulder that hadn’t been there before.

Neither of them brought it up. They were too happy to see each other to ruin it with questions.

As they sat on a bench, watching the city lights in the distance, Danny nudged Jason’s shoulder. “You ever think about… y’know, what’s next? Like, after all this training stuff?”

Jason tilted his head. “I don’t think I’ve gotten that far. Gotham doesn’t exactly let you plan for the future.”

Danny frowned. “That’s not fair.”

Jason shrugged. “Fair’s got nothing to do with it.”

Danny bit his lip, hesitating. “Well, if you ever want to get out of Gotham… come visit me in Amity Park. My parents will probably try to feed you ectoplasm, but at least it’s quieter there.”

Jason laughed, the sound softer than Danny expected. “I’ll think about it, Sidekick.”

The night ended too soon. Jason vanished into the shadows, leaving Danny with a nagging sense of unease. Something wasn’t right, but he didn’t know what. At least he could look forward to Jason's next letter.

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

Except, Jason’s next letter never came.

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

Two months later, Danny sat in his room, staring at the envelope in his hands. The handwriting wasn’t Jason’s.

Inside was a letter from Alfred.

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

May 6th, 200X

Dear Mr. Fenton,

It is with great sorrow that I must inform you of Master Jason’s passing. He spoke of you often, and I believe he would have wanted you to know how much your friendship meant to him. Jason was a remarkable young man—brave, compassionate, and fiercely loyal. He will be missed dearly.

Yours sincerely,

Alfred Pennyworth

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

Danny’s vision blurred as he read the letter again and again, the words refusing to sink in. Jason was gone.

How could someone like Jason—so alive, so stubborn—be gone?

Grief twisted into determination. Danny clenched his fists, his eyes burning with unshed tears.

Jason wasn’t just “gone.” He couldn’t be. Not entirely.

If there was even a chance Jason’s soul was out there, Danny would find him. No matter how long it took, no matter where he had to go—he would bring Jason back. The portal swirls to life with it's bright green before a shout of 'going ghost' echoed through the basement. The ghost zone awaits.

[shirefantasies]

Hiiii hru? Can I request like the fellowship with a reader who is like a total push over? Like could be stabbed in the leg and would apologize to the attacker or like could literally be freezing but would offer their blanket so somebody who has slight chills. If you don’t want to that’s perfectly fine 😊 thank you ❤️

Yes you can! As someone who struggled with people pleasing for a long time & am still unlearning a lot, I really feel this! I didn’t go full apologizing for getting stabbed but hopefully this is a good representation of people pleasing behaviors 😅 Warnings: some blood/violence mentions, mental struggles implied

The Fellowship + People-Pleaser

Aragorn

“Why are we stopping,” you ask, “did you not say make haste?” “It cannot have escaped your notice that you were just stabbed,” Aragorn replies, gently urging you down and dabbing with stinging but necessary force around the bloody tear at your leg. His voice is hard to read- colored with wry amusement, perhaps, concern most definitely. His eyes shine at the sight of you and his gentle touch has heat rushing to your face. “Why do you think we would force you to bear a burden like this?” Struck. That is the only way you can describe the feeling, what his words do to you. You fear so greatly being a burden that the others see it as a poor reflection upon themselves. Like you think them heartless. You shake your head. “I’m sorry. I just- I didn’t want to slow us down since you said what you said. Never would I believe you capable of any great cruelty, Aragorn.” He nods. “That is not my intent.” His words are barely above a whisper now. “Now rest, please. We all could use it.”

Legolas

Shuffling behind you alerts you to another presence cutting like lightning through the spiraling clouds overtaking you. Panicking, you sniff and wipe frantically at your face with your sleeve, unglamorous as the gesture is. Straightening, you try your best to shakily apply the mask again, lips curving upward as much as you could will them. “What troubles you?” Legolas. Somehow it has, until this moment, escaped you that climbing into the trees was no promise of solitude when a woodland elf called your company temporary home. “Oh, nothing,” you say, cursing the waver of your tone, “nothing.” Brows furrowing, he stares pointedly as his dark eyes are soft and does not let his gaze leave. “Please. No burden is ever truly solitary.” Gaping, you try to come up with a rebuttal, feel too broken and melted to speak. Legolas sits at your side, leg brushing yours. “When you are ready, I will listen. There is no shame here. If you wish not to speak, I will simply stay.”

Boromir

Boromir's brows knitted at your repeated apologies. Breathy words of regret passed through your lips between waves of pain. Boromir's arms were around you, his steps shifting to guide you onto your back. Your leg was possibly broken, trampled in the last skirmish to great pain, and he had taken up the task of aiding your steps. “You did not ask for this,” his reply cut into your stream of words, “how can you apologize for actions beyond your control? You fought well, now come and rest.” “Thank you,” you manage, gritting your teeth as he lowered you onto a bedroll. “You are so like my brother sometimes,” Boromir chuckled deeply, smiling down upon your form as he unlaced your boots, “you need not prove your worth, you know. I care about you solely for what is in your heart.”

Gimli

“You can do anything! A great warrior lies within you! Every hit you take makes you stronger!” You had opened up to Gimli about the harsh words spoken to you in your past. The way you had subconsciously learned to live by them. Stay the desire to let people in lest they hurt you. It was exhausting, but you had been called a burden before and did not wish to be one again. Thus you told him to use those words again. You were used to them, after all. But all you received from the dwarf was staunch refusal. Kind words. Rousing words. “You remind me of my own kin,” he continued, “no challenge ever stops a dwarf for long. The fact that you spoke anything at all, naturally, is your first act of resistance. Thus now as you realize your own strength you can practice spitting it back in their face!” You can’t help the laugh that escapes you, but in the flash of joy something else pierces your heart. Gimli immediately took those words as hogwash. Maybe those lessons had not been lessons at all, but hits just as he said. Maybe there was something to be said for rising better from them instead of lying down.

Frodo

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” you give your characteristic response the moment the others check in on you, unwilling to become the burden they could surely see you as. Seeing as how you gave no strong opinions the others nod and continue on. Taking a deep breath, you walk on as well, at least until an arm falls gently across you in restraint. “Why do you always do that?” Frodo asks, eyes imploring. “Do what?” You reply, unsure what you have done to bother him. “Put yourself down so,” he answers, “act like your say has no value. They would stop for you, you know.” “I…I do not wish to be the reason we slow,” you stammer out, voice quieting. Frodo just shakes his head at your words, hand reaching up to grasp your shoulder reassuringly. “Do not doubt our love for you,” he tells you with a small smile, “after all, it is not a thing that is bought and sold.”

Sam

“Oh, Sam,” you hold back a sneeze, “I love them!” “Really?” He doesn’t look convinced, starting to retract the hand holding the flowers giving you the unfortunate reaction. “Of course, why would I not?” Cocking a brow, Sam shot back “Because my mother was always having a bad time with these lot and you just gave the same twinge of your nose as she did. No need to lie over it, I’d love to find you some new ones.” Your face and head fell. “Sam, I am so sorry, truly I-” “You can’t control it,” he chuckled, “besides, the apology is mine if you felt like you needed to lie. You never have to lie to me, ok? We can work it out together.” His eyes shone and all you could do was smile and nod.

Merry

"No, no, really, take it.” Insisting, you hold out your blanket in a shaky hand as you peer beseechingly into Merry’s eyes. His brows furrow faintly, but no annoyance or even confusion crosses his face, only…concern, a look as though you held out your very soul. “You really don’t need to do that, you know.” Now it is your turn for an expression fading into concern, brows knitting at more than just the chill wind whipping the trees. “Do what?” The hobbit places one hand upon his hip, the other giving an accusing little wave. “Offer up your blanket and think to leave yourself none. I thank you, but really. You have needs, too, you know.” Both his face and tone soften upon those words, punctuated with one step closer. “And they’re no less important.” No one said such things to you. Perhaps they even came with some disbelief, a grate on the way down like a wrongly swallowed pill. But the way Merry said it: it was clear to you he believed it, and that fact alone gave you pause. “O-oh. Alright. Thank you,” you replied softly. “Of course. And if you’re really so concerned,” he gave the rakish smile that always had your heart leaping, “we could always share. If you were comfortable, of course.”

Pippin

“Oh, Pippin, I’m so sorry.” “What ever for now?” No malice colors his voice, only pure amusement and its usual jolly lilt. He peers at you with brows raised and green eyes wide as you glance down. “I’ve got to reach over you really quickly here.” “That’s it?” “Well, I was getting in your way and-” “If that is getting in my way, do your worst. In fact, you don’t have to be sorry. You don’t have to be sorry for accidentally stepping in front of me, either, or not realizing you spoke at the same time as me… wait,” stopping., Pippin gapes at you, “do you think I don’t like you? I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth!” Your heart flipped. How could he even consider that you would think that? You just felt like you were in the way all the time. Apologizing was something you always had done. Just in case. “Oh, no, I just…. Well, I suppose it’s silly,” you trailed off. “Oh, no,” Pippin grabbed your faltering hand with a shake of his head and a grin on his face, “no more apologizing on my watch, alright?”

[edenmemes]

asoiaf: a dance with dragons starters

❝ i fear i make you uneasy. ❞ ❝ knowledge is a weapon. arm yourself well before you ride forth to battle. ❞ ❝ go on. show your steel. give me cause to do the same. ❞ ❝ fear is what keeps a man alive in this world of treachery and deceit. ❞ ❝ these woods are not as empty as you think. ❞ ❝ promise me that you will never turn against me. i could not bear that. promise me. ❞ ❝ the only time a man can be brave is when he is afraid. ❞ ❝ if i must die, i will die with an axe in my hand and a curse upon my lips. ❞ ❝ tales are told of you. i hear them everywhere. people fear you. ❞ ❝ go too far down that road,  and  mistrust  can  poison  you,  make you sour and fearful. ❞ ❝ you mistake me. that was a command, not an offer. ❞ ❝ sorcery is a sword without a hilt. there is no safe way to grasp it. ❞ ❝ prophecy is like a half-trained mule. it looks like it might be useful, but the moment you trust in it, it kicks you in the head. ❞ ❝ it is not the foes who curse you to your face that you must fear, but those who smile when you are looking and sharpen their knives when you turn your back. ❞ ❝ i rose too high, loved too hard, dared too much. i tried to grasp a star, overreached, and fell. ❞ ❝ they think that this will break my pride, that it will make an end to me, but they are wrong. ❞ ❝ tell me of the things that make you happy, the things that make you giggle, all your sweetest memories. remind me that there is still good in the world. ❞ ❝ one war ends, another begins. there is always someone fighting someone somewhere. ❞ ❝ this is what i was made for. the dance, the sweet steel song, a sword in my hand and a foe before me. ❞ ❝ my enemies have told you i am dead. those tales are false, as you can see. ❞ ❝ not all that a man does is done for gain. ❞ ❝ i know that you believe me weak, frightened, feeble. ❞ ❝ it takes a man to rule. kill the boy, and let the man be born. ❞ ❝ do you mean to spend your whole life running away? ❞ ❝ kingdoms are at hazard here. our lives, our names, our honour. this is no game we’re playing for your amusement. ❞ ❝ however gentle the words, there are always darker motives underneath. i do not trust you. ❞ ❝ a good honest face, but you should smile more. ❞ ❝ my throne is made of burned bones, and it rests on quicksand. ❞ ❝ you are so radiant today i fear to look on you. ❞ ❝ prove yourself more trouble than you are worth, and you can go your own way. ❞ ❝ you need not look so pale, i was only playing with you. ❞ ❝ this is not the day i die, i promise you. ❞ ❝ i wanted you from the first time i saw you. ❞ ❝ was i so blind, or  did  i  close  my  eyes  willingly, so i would not see the price of power? ❞ ❝ men should not go wandering in this place. ❞ ❝ hold your tongue and do as you are told, or you will soon wish you had. ❞ ❝ you won’t try. you will obey. ❞ ❝ kneel and live. or go and die. it’s your choice to make. ❞ ❝ are you so blind, or is it that you do not wish to see? ❞ ❝ that is not a place you want to go to. ❞ ❝ i will not go back without doing what i came for, no matter how hopeless it may seem. ❞ ❝ the fairest woman in this world...i am drunk with the sight of you. ❞ ❝ secrets are worth more than silver and sapphires. ❞ ❝ we have come too far to turn back now. ❞ ❝ what have i done to make you hate me so? ❞ ❝ you meet so few men who value friendship over gold these days. ❞ ❝ it is true, i am a bolder man than most. ❞ ❝ i cannot go home. but i dare not stay here much longer. ❞ ❝ foes and false friends are all around me. ❞ ❝ the fewer folk who will know of this, the better. ❞ ❝ all you have i gave you. remember that. ❞ ❝ will you make me say it twice? go and do as i commanded you. ❞ ❝ love is madness, and lust is poison. ❞ ❝ i feel safe when i’m with you. ❞ ❝ have you no smile for me? am i as fearful as all that? ❞ ❝ why did i ever allow myself to be talked into this farce? ❞ ❝ don’t think i don’t see what you’re doing. ❞ ❝ i will tell you nothing. do me the same favor. ❞ ❝ if i look back i am lost. ❞ ❝ a crown should not sit easy on the head. ❞ ❝ we must show a little trust, you and i. ❞ ❝ trust only your companions, and do your best to avoid attracting notice. ❞ ❝ you’re not going to try to kill me again, i hope. ❞ ❝ if you will forgive me for saying so, you look...weary. are you sleeping? ❞ ❝ your clothes are stained with blood. take them off. ❞ ❝ every fool loves to hear that he’s important. ❞ ❝ my father used to tell me that a man must know his enemies. ❞ ❝ you are a harmless creature, to be sure. as innocent as a lamb. ❞ ❝ till then, let us drink and dream. ❞ ❝ you will be tempted to betray me. to run or fight or join our foes. i’ll not hear you deny it. ❞ ❝ soon enough you may have grave need of me. do not refuse my friendship. ❞ ❝ it is best that no man knows that you are here. ❞ ❝ i kill kings, haven’t you heard? ❞ ❝ should any ill befall you, this world would lose its savor. ❞ ❝ some will look at you and see only another doomed pretender. ❞ ❝ i think life is a jape. yours, mine, everyone’s. ❞ ❝ i will forgive those words...once. but never presume to threaten me again. ❞ ❝ your father would be so proud if he could see you. ❞ ❝ just once you might try to give me an answer that would please me. ❞ ❝ they love me well. none would betray me. ❞ ❝ i have sins enough to answer for; i’ll have no part of this one. ❞ ❝ i mean you no harm, you know. ❞ ❝ i do not trust you, but i need you. ❞ ❝ we’ll both sleep, and dream of sweeter days. close your eyes. ❞ ❝ since you ask so nicely, how can i deny you? ❞ ❝ no wine is half so intoxicating as your beauty. ❞ ❝ why should i beg for what is owed me? ❞ ❝ a lord may love the men he commands, but he cannot be a friend to them. ❞ ❝ let them try and trouble us, we’ll show them what we’re made of. ❞ ❝ a leader should be feared, by friend and foe alike. if men think me cruel, so much the better. ❞ ❝ the enemy of my friend is my enemy. ❞ ❝ a book can be as dangerous as a sword in the right hands. ❞ ❝ i am an old man, grown weary of this world and its treacheries. ❞ ❝ these are desperate days, and like to grow more desperate. ❞ ❝ we need to find shelter before nightfall. ❞ ❝ there are footsteps behind us. we are being followed. ❞ ❝ this is no common fog. it stinks of sorcery. ❞ ❝ i am glad you came to me. it is good to see you again, my friend. ❞ ❝ the man who does nothing also takes a risk. ❞ ❝ the women are the strong ones. ❞ ❝ afraid, are you? i would be if i were you. ❞ ❝ tell me a tale. some tale of valor with a happy ending. ❞ ❝ i’ll have a cup of wine as well. to clear my head. ❞ ❝ we may lose our heads, it’s true...but what if we prevail? ❞ ❝ keep your swords sharp. we’ll have us a real fight soon. ❞ ❝ this is going to end badly. ❞ ❝ what are you doing here? how did you get past my guards? ❞ ❝ it is so hard. to be strong. i don’t always know what i should do. ❞ ❝ let us instead speak of love, of dreams and desire. ❞ ❝ you wound me, wandering off like this. have you grown tired of my hospitality so soon? ❞ ❝ with this sword i defend my subjects and destroy those who menace them. ❞ ❝ it is too late for such misgivings. you made your choice. ❞ ❝ in times as confused as these, even men of honor must wonder where their duty lies. ❞ ❝ why? what did i ever do to you? ❞ ❝ we must be certain that we do not choose the losing side. ❞ ❝ dream sweet dreams. there are no monsters here. ❞ ❝ i know who you are. i know what you are. ❞ ❝ a little honest loathing might be refreshing, like a tart wine after too much sweet. ❞ ❝ a bloody sword is a beautiful thing. ❞ ❝ a ruler belongs to their people, not to themself. ❞ ❝ if the ones i killed come haunt me, i will kill them all again. ❞ ❝ you shine so brightly, you will blind every man who dares look upon you. ❞ ❝ a fair bargain leaves both sides unhappy, i’ve heard it said. ❞ ❝ there’s blood on your hands, aye, same as mine. ❞ ❝ i have done wicked things, i know, but i could not bear for you to hate me. ❞ ❝ it is good to see you smiling again. ❞ ❝ i have doubts enough without you throwing oil on the fire of my fear. ❞ ❝ blood pays for blood, a life for a life. ❞ ❝ go home, if that is what you want. i am staying. ❞ ❝ a man’d think there’s no trust between us. ❞ ❝ i would choose freedom over comfort every time. ❞ ❝ you are even lovelier than i was told. ❞ ❝ stay. i do not wish to be alone. ❞ ❝ treachery on treachery. is there no end to it? ❞ ❝ dreams and prophecies. why must they always be in riddles? ❞ ❝ one wrong word, and this could turn to blood in half a heartbeat. ❞ ❝ you lie. i can see the truth in your eyes. ❞ ❝ throw down your steel and stand aside, and no harm need come to you. ❞ ❝ you are supposed to be my friend. why must you mock my hopes? ❞ ❝ it is better to die with honor than to live without it. ❞ ❝ it does no good to brood on lost battles and roads not taken. ❞ ❝ i see you are deaf to sense. ❞ ❝ you are no better than me. we’re just the same. ❞ ❝ a man should never draw his sword unless he means to use it. ❞ ❝ you kill men for the wrongs they have done, not the wrongs that they may do someday. ❞ ❝ close your eyes. close your ears. turn away. you do not need to see this. ❞ ❝ the sooner we are gone from this place, the better. ❞ ❝ i am sorry my actions have displeased you. i did as i thought best. ❞ ❝ you do not need to trust a man to use him. ❞ ❝ if you cannot do this thing, you need only say so. there is no shame in that. ❞ ❝ never wound a foe when you can kill him. dead men don’t claim vengeance. ❞ ❝ this is what i wanted, what i worked for. so why does it taste so much like defeat? ❞ ❝ honest men should never need to hide their faces. ❞ ❝ i am not the trusting fool you take me for. ❞ ❝ men’s lives have meaning, not their deaths. ❞ ❝ he’s dead. he won’t bite. ❞ ❝ if this is the price for peace, i pay it willingly. ❞ ❝ it makes me wonder whose side you are on. ❞ ❝ dreams and prophecies. why must they always be in riddles? ❞ ❝ i will not say that you are welcome. nor will i deny that i have hoped that you might come. ❞ ❝ you have the eyes of a wolf and a taste for blood. ❞ ❝ men are mad and gods are madder. ❞ ❝ one war ends, another begins. there is always someone fighting someone somewhere. ❞ ❝ not all risks lead to ruin. ❞ ❝ is there some place with fewer eyes and ears? ❞ ❝ i need you now as i have never needed you before. ❞ ❝ tell me, is there any fight left in you? ❞ ❝ it was the wind that you heard screaming. ❞ ❝ crying? i was not crying. why would i cry? ❞ ❝ are you some butcher of the battlefield, hacking down every man who stands in your way? ❞ ❝ rain. a storm is coming. ❞ ❝ that was simple. simpler than i dared hope. simpler than it should have been. ❞ ❝ see that you do not speak of this. i’ll not have this tale spread. ❞ ❝ how could i be so blind for so long? ❞ ❝ you had a bad dream, that was all. ❞ ❝ are you prepared to defend that boast with sword or lance? ❞ ❝ i will do it. i said i would. i will. ❞ ❝ think that. believe that. tell yourself it’s true. ❞ ❝ you have more enemies than you know. ❞ ❝ i have no heart. i only have a hole. ❞ ❝ it has been too long since i’ve killed a man. ❞ ❝ words are wind. words cannot harm me. ❞ ❝ have you forgotten who i am? ❞ ❝ too many good men died that day. ❞ ❝ it is so good to see your face, your sweet face. ❞ ❝ it is still not too late to abandon this folly. ❞ ❝ i will not stay here to be insulted. ❞