#Pride pt.I

[bubblepopsims]

Pride Pt. I - Pt. II

[fudgechocolatepuff]

a lovebirds bloom! (pumpkin pie edition) pt.ii🍁

keigo t. x fem. reader | wholesome fluff :)

pt.i of a lovebirds bloom , pt.iii of a lovebirds bloom

sneak peek ➸ you bump into the winged hero again in the fall season by chance, but neither of you two mind.

word count : 2.6k

Brisk air flew over your face upon wiping the window for the -mpth time today.

Although you carefully scrubbed at the glass to rid it of any visible blemishes left from the busy workday, the window remained foggy, dewy droplets sticking from the outside and obscuring your view of the street beyond. 

The sky above was nothing short of clear, the stars twinkled from above in contrast to the darkening of the blue sky, now a navy-black colour. 

In response to the sudden draft drawn in from the decreasing temperatures outside, your fingers wrapped around the end-loops of your scarf and pulled, tightening its hold on your neck in hopes of trapping the heat there. 

If only the small window tucked in the back would close all the way instead of inviting a day-lasting breeze to nip at the tips of every customer’s ears.

Aside from the chill air that bit at the tips of your fingers, you grew more satisfied looking over the decor that you were tasked to put up, just in time for the incoming autumn season. 

No matter for what season you decorated for, the warm-toned paint of light cafè brown matched every occasion. 

This time—since you were put in charge of the aesthetics of the shop—you made sure that the festivity of the harvest-halloween period would radiate more than the past years’ decorations, and draw in more customers!

Perhaps, if you tried hard enough, you could draw back the attention of the winged hero.

You shook your head to snap yourself out of that ridiculous fantasy. 

Okay—sure, you missed the interaction exchanged between you and the hero, but you doubted he’d ever come back, let alone acknowledge the tension he’d left behind when he dashed through the doors that spring morning. 

It was embarrassing! Being stuck up on a menacingly short conversation was not of your character, especially as it was confined in your professional workspace. 

But you couldn’t deny, he teased and teased your little talk together, leading himself on to flirt and flatter you. Hell, you even let him enamor you, blushing at every comment he made about you. 

“He was a hero though, of course he’d do a bit of romancing, that was his way of making talk with any woman around his age!” you reminded yourself, the pride that resided in your heart shrinking to embarrassment. 

After letting yourself stare at the wall and ponder whether you should quit your job and start a new life in Europe, you continued your ritual of turning off each lamp scattered throughout the shop, appreciating the orange-ish glow it reflected onto the fresh stock of pumpkins and giving the space a homely fall ambience. 

You retrieved your coat that hung on the teensy wooden rack, slipping it through your arms as the tired began to rush into your body. 

Hanging your bag over your shoulder, you stepped toward the double doors, not before letting your nails glide past and tap against each of the candles, a subtle waft of vanilla-pumpkin flowing through your senses.  

You snatched a candle to take home, just as a souvenir, you’d pay it back tomorrow. 

Flipping over the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’, the bell of the door jingled as you walked out, with a bittersweet feeling now settling in your chest. 

——————

With a swift movement, Hawks’ hands tugged at the collar of his jacket, the fluffy white trim heating his lower face the tiniest bit as he flew through the crisp air of the autumn night.

He groaned in annoyance, regretting his decision of leaving all his hot-pockets at home, his frown grimacing more at the feeling of his empty, cold pockets. 

Hawks hated this time of weather. Not the merriment of outdoor activities, oh no—he loved the idea of pumpkin patches and apple picking. 

It was the transition between summer and winter. The drastic decrease in temperatures after the steady 70s in the past weeks left the man shivering. 

He wasn’t used to the dropping temperatures and neither was the rest of the civilians below, all bunched up in their coats and arms crossed tightly against their chests. This year brought quite the chilly autumn, maybe the coldest of them all. 

“A cup of the hottest, frothiest and sweetest coffee would really hit the spot,” the hero thought, scanning over the masses of people, hopping his pupils over every few buildings in seek of refuge from the cool night and to be treated to a nice dessert-in-a-drink. 

Just when his eyes lit up to the sight of a coffee shop that looked quiet enough to not be noticed, something else caught his eye rather quickly.

A lady dressed in a dark coat and a slightly brighter, but full and cozy scarf wrapped around her neck that held a peculiar yet chic pattern on the woven fabric. 

She appeared to be running on an empty street—or… chasing something. Hawks looked ahead of the woman, to which he spotted a small cylinder container rolling downhill that the woman must’ve been trying to catch. 

To this, Hawks laughed to himself softly, not to make fun of her, it just looked a little silly! The hero’s gloved hands cupped the outside of his mouth, where he huffed out to capture at least some tinge of warmth before descending onto the street of the escaping container. 

If it had been some other instance where he wasn’t bored out of his mind and actually had to patrol an area, he would have just sent a feather on its dandy way to complete a small mishap like this one. 

However, he had finally found an escape. 

His boots landed on the smooth pavement with a quiet ‘tap’ at the end of the street as he crouched down to reach his hand out, catching what looked to be a candle just in time. 

The woman who scurried down the road slowed her steps to catch her breath. 

“It’s not every night where your own candles run away from you. This yours?” the winged hero held out his hand as he flicked his eyes to the woman. 

But the cheeky smile instilled on his face suddenly dissipated into a wide-eyed stare, his question almost being cut off by his shock. 

The bundled-up woman breathed in once again—finally able to breathe steadily—as she extended her own fingers to take back the candle, but tensed up as her pupils recalled the dark shade of the man’s gloves, and felt her shoulder blades freeze. 

“Oh… you’re—“

“The flower shop girl,” Hawks remarked, a gentler smile blemishing his face, “the cute one who gave me the bouquet that Miruko adored.” 

Despite the cold sitting in the air, the warmth still made its way onto your skin. Your voice shook nervously, trying to not make this situation as awkward as much as you could.

“It.. it was nothing really, just wanted to dedicate something for a hero I really admire.” 

You shifted your hands to be clasped in front of you, just below your stomach as you spoke. 

“Well, she really loved it. Seriously, if I had gone to another store I wouldn’t be called the ‘best feather flower fairy.’”

A laugh ran through from your chest as you imagined Miruko’s reaction to the “flower fairy” delivering her bouquet. 

“I suppose you aren’t the kind of person to give her gifts like that.”

“Nah, not really. However, I just figured to get her something with a tad bit more of sentiment for her 25th,” he replied casually, still grasping the sweet scented candle in his hand. 

“Oh, that’s so sweet! I bet she really got all emotional and recited an honoring speech dedicated to you, going on and on about you being so thoughtful.” 

“If the speech was followed by a smack in the arm and a 2 minute-long cackle at me being so sappy, then yeah, I’d say she got a bit teary, almost gave me a hug, even.”

“I wonder how she’ll react next year.”

“Perhaps she’ll dedicate a memoir to me and buy me a bouncy house. A gift for a gift.”

Not many were able to joke with him like that. Of course, Hawks’ fans and acquaintances always felt ecstatic to chat with him, but there was no real talk—only jokes he’s heard millions of times before. 

And he’d never want to offend them, but they were either quite boring, or too overwhelming.

Either way, they didn’t treat him as if he was any other person, just a man-doll that swooped by and teased or flirted those who wanted his attention. 

With you, though, he could be sarcastic and not be looked at in a ‘were you joking?’ kind of way. He had almost forgotten what it was like to connect with another person on a deeper level. 

No, this was a bit more sweeter, and he didn’t want to lose that. 

Your delicate fingertips shooed hair out of your face as you looked onto the street, now completely drowned out by the darkness of the night, lit only by the orange-hued street lamps. 

You didn’t even notice the lingering gaze the winged man held onto your face, glossing over your features hypnotically. 

He stepped to your side and met with your eyes, “Hey, I know it’s getting a bit late, and you probably have work tomorrow. I just wanted to know if you’d wanna grab a quick bite with me. I saw a cafè down a couple’a blocks down.”

Although the fatigue in your body raged deep in your bones, you could endure it a bit longer for a nab of coffee. 

——————

The walk to the cafè was fairly comfortable. 

He noted to you that he even saw some pastries displayed on the window. A “sugar plum fairy” you called him, to which he grumbled at the reminder of the foolish name. What a baby. 

You didn’t expect to be asked about the progress of the flower shop, but you gladly told him about the new pumpkins that came with a carving kit, how you’d probably snatch one for yourself to make a design. 

“Wouldn’t a starry night be easier than a character like Hello Kitty? You’re quite the artistic type.” 

“Shushh! I’ve always fantasized about a glowing hello kitty with a witch hat, don’t crush my dreams.”

“Poor little florist, wants to express all of her feelings through Hello Kitty! Don’t worry, sweets, I won’t do too much on you.” 

“I’m glad you understand the severity of my fixation.”

“Heroes are always empaths, ya’know?” 

“You not so much!”

In response, he side-eyed you and crossed his arms.

You shuffled your hands into the pockets of your coat, when a sudden thought slipped into your mind. 

“Oh, by the way, my name’s (your name).”

“Hi, (name).”

——————

Upon arriving to the cafè, you felt like you could have fallen asleep on the leather-seated-booths that gave just the right of cushioning, but at this point you were starved for sugar. 

Its style was a bit more foreign like—a banner next to the cashier framed the statement that read the inspiration came from Western Europe. The beauty and emptiness of the little shop just proved it to be a gem that you’d keep a secret forever.

Somehow, you found yourself matching Hawks’ vibe with the coziness of the café. Warm, golden, fuzzy. 

You darted your eyes back down to the menu before Hawks could catch you staring at him, focusing on the ‘hot options’ category. 

When you looked up to ask what he’d order, he was already staring you back, a mischievous glint in his eye. 

“I saw that.” he taunted, a smug grin rested on his lips. 

“Sorry,” you mumbled, the obvious humiliation present on your features, pursing your lips together with the intention of relieving your shame. 

“It’s no problem, doll,” his assuring statement completely opposite of his teasing expression, “Do you know what you want?”

As if it was on cue, a waitress ambled her way over to your table, notepad in hand, not even batting an eye to the number two, “What would you guys like to order?”

“May I get a (hot drink of your choice), please?” 

The waitress scribbled down your order and turned to the man across from you.

“Ah, can I have a hot white-mocha with an extra shot of caramel as well as a slice of pumpkin pie?”

“Alright, I’ll have those out for you two in a bit!” 

You thanked her before she scurried on into the back, “It’s absolutely ludicrous that nobody else acknowledges the fact that you have a huge sweet tooth.”

“Sugar energizes my system more than caffeine, it’s just how I function.”

“Do you brush your teeth at night? Y’know, sugar can rot those pearly whites of yours.”

“Yes, mother, I brush my teeth every night,” he chuckled, adjusting the buckle of his watch.

“It can also give you a condition, don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s called diabetes—“

“Yeesh, I didn’t know I’d come to this place just to be lectured about my tastes.”

“If it were anybody else, they’d say the exact same thing.” 

“Oh, let me be.”

The two of you went silent after that, but in a comfortable moment of calm, engulfing the presence of each other and the faint chatter of the minimal customers that were also sat down in the cafè. 

Hawks in that moment wondered if he twisted the crown of his watch back far enough, he could make this night last forever. 

Before long, you’re both gulping down your hot beverages, a waterfall of heaven swirling in the brown paper cups in your hands. 

After a short debate, the two of you decided that it was getting late, and you both had busy work days to deal with tomorrow, and so he took the pumpkin pie to-go and shared it with you on your walk to the train stop. It wasn’t rude courtesy if no one could see you two at the dead of night. 

“How come you live a bit far from your flower shop?”

You chewed your piece of pie, both crust and filling, “I don’t know, honestly. I think after applying to all the jobs I had in mind, I drew little paper pieces from a hat to just decide and get it over with.” 

“Decision making can be tough when it comes to jobs.”

“You get it,” crumbs of pie fell onto your coat as you responded with your mouth full.

The hero held the empty plate with sprinkles on crumbs left behind in his hand, and with your candle in the other as you two continued the walk, about 3 minutes away. 

Stopping at the top of the stairs that descended down into the underground station, Hawks stopped you from going further. 

“Look, I really enjoyed this little going out together, although it started out with me ending your game of tag with your candle.” 

You huffed lightly looking back at the thought, a shy smile tugging at your face, “Yeah, I’m glad I bumped into you when I did.”

Placing the candle into your palms, he began to take a few steps back, and Hawks admitted to you, “I hope to see you soon, sweets, whenever time permits.”

You waved to him, “Thanks for the pie.” 

He nodded his head and gave you a sweetly sick smile, before turning to walk away and prepare to fly off. 

As much as you hated for this night to end, you could at least encourage him to come back to you. 

“Come back to the shop soon!” you shouted from afar, hoping he would hear.

The winged hero turned his head, waving his hand and shouting back, “I will!” eventually flying away into the alluring night sky. 

The next time you’d come back to this cafe, you promised to order pumpkin pie every time. 

a/n: so sorry for not posting this sooner! i’ve been so caught up in my studies and i couldn’t find time to post! however i lovedd writing this and figured now would be the best time to publish this. i hope this makes up for my absence :) love you and happy october!!

[fxtalitygod]

VIII. ~Survival~

Summary: You were determined to survive longer than anyone, even if you were set to marry him.

Genre: Historical AU, angst, mature, suggestive, arranged-marriage

Warnings: Dark themes, gore, graphic imagery, theme/depictions of horror, swearing/language, suggestive, pet names (Little Flower used 5-6x) implied harsh parenting {on Sukuna's end), mentions of adult murder, implications of impregnating, implied Stockholm Syndrome, images/depictions of dead bodies (both human and animal), child death/murder, character death(s), slight misogynistic themes (if you squint), NOT PROOFREAD YET (sorry ;-;)

Word Count: 6.5k

A/N: For starters, I want to clarify that I am choosing to purposely not mention the names of the twins. Although this makes it difficult on my end, I wanted you, the reader, to decide on the names of your choosing while reading.

P.S. This is the longest chapter I have written. Sorry it took so long but I hope it proves well and worth the wait. (╥﹏╥)

JJK Mlist•Taglist Rules• • Pt.I • Pt. II • Pt. III • Pt. IV • Pt. V • Pt. VI • Pt.VII • Pt. VIII • Pt. IX

You could see the fire, smell the blood, and hear their screams as they begged for mercy. They cried out for their children and loved ones whose bodies were now burning in the roaring flames, reduced to cinders and ashes. Those who threatened to charge were killed before they could make contact, their body contorting in ways the human form was incapable of, causing cries of pure agony as they were left to bleed out in their mangled state– they were left to suffer in their pain as the life slowly drained out of them. If a suffering soul was fortunate, the fire would catch them aflame and kill them faster, or debris would land in a fatal spot or crush them whole to end their misery.

Viewing the demolished structures and flaming bodies, both dead and alive, was a petrifying view– yet you felt nothing. Your breath was methodical, your expression blank, your body unmoving. Pity and remorse were thrown out the window– fear and anguish had long vanished; however, anger and resentment lingered like a tiny flickering flame that continued to grow with each crumble and cry that could be heard.

Although your exterior appearance seemed calm and collected, your heartbeat said otherwise as it accelerated, pounding against your chest so hard you could eventually drown out the hollars of distress with its rapid thumping.

“Mama, look!” Two voices sounded.

Your breath hitched as the familiar calls rang through your head. The pounding in your chest quickened and strengthened when the footsteps got closer. Hearing their giggles and whispers caused your form to tense– not having the strength to say or do anything. How would you explain your current position? How would you tell them tha-

“Mama, are you alright?”

You snapped out of your daydream to see you were in front of the stream, taking care of your personal tasks, this chore being the cleansing of garments. The query of when you arrived there was unknown, but you would assume it had been for way longer than you should have resided in that area. The dreams you would endure during the solace of night, despite those nights being anything but comforting, had begun bleeding into the day and becoming more prevalent and gruesome. It was becoming quite the distraction.

"Mama?"

Before you could allow your thoughts to consume you, you focused your attention on your son and daughter, who were awaiting your reply with innocent eyes. Yeah, their virtue never ceased to amaze you. They were too good for this world– their empathy brought light to your soul that you believed had burnt out long ago– pride and joy.

You looked at your twins with an awaiting gaze as you watched their expressions turn into excitement at the realization they had caught your attention. You blinked once before being met with a piece of parchment littered with ink. It did not take long to realize that the twins had made you something in their short time away. Blinking up at the two, you gave them a fond grin before looking back down at the material. Upon viewing the parchment, you saw an image of what you assumed to be an image of a bird, and next to the picture was a small note.

" To show gratitude to our dearest mother," you read aloud before holding the small gift to your chest, "Thank you, my loves, it is lovely."

The joy on their faces from the small compliment warmed your heart, referring to your previous statement of them being too good for this world. There were moments when you could not believe that the twins were a product of you and Sukuna– that was a reoccurring thought you had often. They were, without doubt, your most significant and last blessing as things around the temple had not been going as smoothly as they once had been the first few years you resided in it, and it was clearly starting to take a toll on everybody, including you.

"Mama, guess what we learned today?" Your son exclaimed excitedly, causing you to jump a little, not expecting the sudden outburst of enthusiasm.

"Was it penmanship because the both of you are getting better. Have you been practicing like I have told you to?" You joked, poking at their bellies, causing them to giggle.

"No, Mama, Father taught us about Jujutsu!" your daughter shouted enthusiastically.

"Hey, I wanted to tell her," the boy pouted.

"Sorry," your little girl apologized as she turned to look at her brother with an apologetic look.

The sibling tried to look upset, not wanting to give in quite yet, but when he turned around to look at his sister's guilty expression, he launched to hug her. If you had said it twice, you were to state it a third time– the world did not deserve this pair– you could not stress that enough.

"Did he now?" you breathed, your anxiety slowly creeping to the back of your neck like it did so often.

You were aware of the agreement you made with Sukuna all those years ago, and as of things so far, you both were holding up to your ends of the deal. The twins continued to be educated under your supervision and occasionally your attendant. Your little girl and boy were now at the ripe age of six, at which they would begin manifesting their cursed energy, so they were now taking lessons under their father's supervision– that notion made you apprehensive of your deal.

As you previously mentioned, things were not going as smoothly as they once were. Your village has become slightly non-compliant recently. The traditional wedding ceremonies had stopped a little over a year ago as families started refusing to hand over their kin to Sukuna. Despite the disrespect, Sukuna had no care as he had plenty of women to satisfy him; however, to say that he was taking the rebellion lightly would be a complete lie. Over the last few years, more guards were posted for precautionary reasons. Nothing major had happened yet, only the occasional distant and muffled voices chanting in protest.

With such circumstances, emotions were running high, and the crowd only seemed to get bigger as the days passed. You could admit that some days were worse than others, but it did not change the fact that these events could cause a catastrophic resolution at the hands of your husband. Viewing the situation, there was no question that Sukuna would be more occupied than usual; however, it was not amid meetings or trivial tasks but with his children instead.

Sukuna could hardly be viewed as a legitimate father but rather a mentor– a cruel one based on the round, tear-stained cheeks that would walk into the garden after they had spent their designated time with their dad. The only children who seemed the slightest bit content with their learnings were your son and daughter. Your twins have not been training for long, but they had outlasted most other kids regarding their spirits breaking. The first day your little boy and girl had left to meet with Sukuna, you could not help but feel nervous; however, when they came back, they were all giggles and smiles as they told you of their time with the man they call father. To say you were shocked was an understatement, but despite that astonishment, you were simply glad they left a good impression and walked out unscathed, their spirits still intact.

"So, have your studies with your father come to fruition yet?" You asked, not thinking of your wording as the question effortlessly slipped from your tongue.

"Come to fruition?" your son repeated, looking at his sister to see if she understood the meaning of your words.

Despite your children being clever, they were still young and naive, and that naivety could not help but make you laugh gently as you watched them whisper to each other as they tried to decipher the saying. They paused in their little hushed conversation at your breathy giggle, flustered as they looked at you, hoping you would grant them the knowledge they wanted.

"Mama, stop laughing. What does it mean?" the two whined in sync as they looked at you with awaiting eyes.

"Alright," you managed to say between your little fits of giggles, "It means to succeed in the progression of a goal. In this case, did you reach the intended goal of your lessons today?"

Your twins thought over your words for a minute before a look of realization washed over their faces. The two looked at one another to make sure the other understood, finding they were both on the same page before turning to your now-awaiting gaze. Smiles were once again plastered to their expressions of proudness.

"Not exactly," your daughter stated.

"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" you questioned with a raised brow as you looked for an answer.

"Well...we do not have cursed energy yet, but Father said it was okay because we will..." Your son trailed off before looking at his sister for assistance, trying to remember the exact words Sukuna had used.

"Manifest!" your daughter shouted in revelation after a moment of thought.

"Oh yes, manifest! He said it was okay because 'we will manifest our cursed energy soon enough,'" your son finished, ignoring the distant whispers and tiny gasps that had suddenly emerged from the surrounding women and children.

"And you both will, I am sure of that– my intuition is never wrong," a deep voice resonated behind the twins.

You froze as you looked up to see Sukuna looking down at you, a proud grin on his face as he let the words settle. Your smile had long disappeared, your lips forming into a tight line as you met his gaze. His presence was not what had upset you as you had grown familiar with his company and unexpected visits, but rather the fact that you knew he was right.

"Father!" the twins shouted, bowing before going in to hug his legs, looking up at him with their innocent doe-like eyes that shone the color of your own hues, little flecks of what seemed to be crimson could also be seen if the light hit them just right.

Your heart stopped for a second as you watched your four-armed companion freeze on the spot at the sudden attention. Although you knew Sukuna could not lay a hand upon his children due to the contents of the pact you had made with him, it did not eliminate the uneasiness you had, worried of the thought he would grow to distaste them. The curse-user was not a man of tenderness nor liked to be presented with such fondness, especially from his offspring. There was no room for weaklings in his realm, in hid brigade of suitable heirs.

You sit there, waiting for his reaction, chewing on your lip to the point it draws a small amount of blood. The man stood stiff, looking down at the two smaller beings that clung to his legs in a warm greeting before moving to bend down, causing your heart to spike in rhythm. The questions flooded your brain once more like they often did when it involved your significant other's actions. Sukuna took a set of his arms, placing one on each twin's back before meeting their eye level.

"Did I ever indulge either of you with the story of how I found out about your mother's conceiving of the both of you?" Sukuna asked, an arched brow with a devious smile as he switched eye contact from one twin to the other.

"No," your son replied honestly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

With that short answer, Sukuna looked at you, a mischievous glint in his eyes before redirecting his focus on his kids once more.

"I knew that your mother would one day bear the fruit of her fertility, but there was one particular evening where I could sense an odd presence. I immediately called upon your mother, and when I was met with her physique, I could tell she was with child. It would have been unnoticeable, but my perception is unlike the average man. Looking at your mother, I could see her stomach was softer and slightly rounder, her ankles somewhat swollen, and her breasts enlarged."

You held back the bile rising in your throat as your husband explained his side of the story you knew all too well, remembering the exact events that led up to that day. His vulgar description of the event sickened you to the core.

"Your mother was unaware of her condition, but I was. The moment I felt her stomach, I could feel the presence of not one but two essences in her womb. I remember the look on her face when I told her– pure shock."

Sukuna's words offended you because pure shock was an understatement. You were undeniably mortified that day, but you would never admit that to your children. For their happiness's sake, you were willing to push the bitter memories of your pregnancy aside. They did not need to know your previous disdain for them– you had not even met them yet. What they did not know could not hurt them.

"How could you sense both of our essences?" Your daughter questioned, tilting her head as Sukuna focused his attention on her.

"Always the curious one, aren't you?" Sukuna noted, a teasing grin forming on his face.

"Mama says it is always best to stay curious because you will never learn anything new if you are too stubborn or scared to keep asking questions."

"Did she now?" Sukuna's grin grew wider as he drew his attention back to you, "And what do you believe that is a lesson of?"

"Fearlessness?" your daughter answered hesitantly.

"Close, but not quite," Sukuna started, "She is teaching you confidence."

"Is that not the same thing, Father?" your daughter questioned again.

"Not exactly, my child," The curse-user paused, looking at you for a fleeting moment before continuing, "being fearless is alright in certain circumstances– something as frivolous as a mouse is something to lack fear of, but there are certain things you should fear. Fear, my child, is what keeps you alive; however, it can be crippling at times. It is the confidence to overcome those fears that lets you survive."

"Why have you come here, Sukuna?" you suddenly asked, becoming tired and uncomfortable with his lingering presence. You knew that the man had not come for idle conversation and to share invasive stories nor explain your teachings.

Had your twins been any older, they would have caught onto your passive aggression as you addressed their father, staring at him blankly as he drew his attention to you. You were aware of the line you were crossing, aware of the hostility you were presenting in the presence of your children, despite the obliviousness of it, but with high tension in the temple and his sudden visit, you felt you had every right to feel uneased. Sukuna's gaze turned from teasing mischief into a grave look.

"Well, Y/n, I wish not to sully our bonding with grave matters," the man spoke, returning your passive-aggressive tone, "we'll speak of it later."

"So why did you come, father?" Your boy asked, looking up at the tall man.

"Must I have a reason to visit my kin?" Sukuna teased.

"Well, we do not see you much outside of lessons," your daughter jumped in with her own comment.

"Observant as well, huh?" Sukuna huffed, pausing for a moment before speaking up once more, "I was wondering if you both would accompany me on a hunt?"

That question caused their little orbs to light up, their little heads turning to you, silently begging for your approval. Looking at their pleading eyes, you could not say no, giving a nod of approval. If they were cheerful before, they were exhilarated now. These kids were to be the death of you if a simple pair of puppy dog eyes could make you cave like this, and you were okay with that.

"Can Mama come too?

Your blood ran cold at the mention of your name. There was no particular reason to be troubled, but at this point, it was a habit for these tense feelings to rise whenever your name was mentioned. So, as you look at your supposed significant other, you could feel yourself about to explain how you had other activities to attend to.

"I do not see why not."

Now, that was unexpected.

The words you were going to speak paused in your throat, swallowing them down when your little boy and girl rushed up to you after hearing Sukuna's approval, hugging you as they tugged on your hands to stand. What was he playing at? Despite the inquiry of his intentions, you had to push it aside as you saw the thrilled look on your children's faces–they most likely wanted to show off what they had learned while spending time with their father. They always returned with smiles of pride after spending time with their dad. You would give up your life to see them smile at you like that for as long as you lived, so you followed them as they walked beside Sukuna despite your own apprehension.

Time slowly passed as you trekked quietly through the nearby woods, watching Sukuna's movement as he led the three of you through the brush, pausing when something caught his eye. It took only a moment for a bow to appear in his hand, but when you had expected him to use it, he motioned over to your son, giving the child the weapon. Every motherly instinct told you to confiscate the bow, but quickly reminded yourself of your pact both in regards that Sukuna was bound to protect your children from harm and that you had accepted he could use any training methods he deemed necessary– this being one of them.

Sukuna was crouched the lowest he could get, arms hovering over your boy's form, guiding his son while speaking in a low voice as the two focused on the prey ahead. Looking into the small clearing, you could see a few grazing rabbits, clueless and defenseless to the threat before them, nibbling on the dewy grass. The bow's snap and the sight of an impaled rabbit caused you to return from your light daze, turning over to see your son smiling in excitement.

"Did you see that, Mama? I did it!" the boy beamed, maintaining a hushed voice.

You gave your son a warm smile, nodding in reassurance before watching your son switch places with your daughter. The rabbits that previously remained in the clearing had run off, but one straggler emerged from bushes, unaware of what had occurred, clueless about its impaled companion. In a mere few moments, the creature suffered the same fate as the previous one, bringing joy to your little girl. She turned to you with the same smile as her brother's– it frightened you.

You had no doubt that you loved your children for who they were. You loved their innocence, passion, and joyful nature, but a realization had dawned upon you in these moments– one that made your heart drop to your stomach.

"Mama, you try!" your daughter called out, grabbing your hand as she led you toward a better spot to shoot from, that spot closer to Sukuna.

Their reason for upbringing would be to take their father's place, to be his heir, and Sukuna was not giving that role to a charitable and naive son or daughter. Things seemed pleasant for now, and your children might keep their nature through adulthood, but one thing was for sure. Whether they stayed that way or not, they would feel justified in their actions– believe what they were doing was good because that is what their father was teaching them, and you were enabling it.

"Darling, I'm not sure that it would be wise for me-"

"I think it is a marvelous idea," Sukuna interrupted, standing from his crouched position and grabbing your waist.

You felt the man's hands slither up your body, messing with the material of your clothing before touching your flesh. Your skin burned unpleasantly as his hands settled, a faux attempt to adjust your form when you were capable; however, with your twins present, you would not dare cause a stir. Looking at the clearing, there was nothing seemingly there as all the critters that previously inhabited it ran off.

"There's nothing for me to target, so maybe we should end this," you suggested, trying to excuse yourself from this activity, keeping a low tone.

"If nothing is there, why do you whisper, Little Flower?" Sukuna responded in a hushed voice, feeling his smirk form as his face rested against your cheek.

Before you could respond, the sound of fluttering was heard. Without thought, you lifted the bow's angle, shooting the arrow into the air– a thud sounded shortly after as whatever you had shot hit the ground. Looking down, you could see a bird skewered with an arrow, blood pooling from its limp body and staining the grass surrounding it.

"Mama, you did it!" the twins exclaimed, thrilled you had participated.

Their sounds of excitement were drowned out by the ringing of your ears as your gaze lingered on the deceased animal. What had you done? Yes, you had viewed death without so much as a flinch, but you were not the one with blood on your hands. You were unaware you could perform such an action– you had never held a weapon before, only a mere kitchen knife.

It disturbed you.

How did you kill the helpless creature so instinctively? So effortlessly? The worst part is...

It felt good.

The ringing eventually subsided as the bow settled to your side, turning your head toward the two-faced man you called 'husband' and handed it to him. Thankfully, Sukuna took the item with no smug remark or wicked grin, giving you one of his infamous blank looks before moving his gaze toward the kids, motioning for them in the direction of the temple, settling one of his hands at the small of your back as you all started the walk back.

Making the hike back, you settled on your earlier realization regarding your children. You would love them until the end of time, and you had no doubt about that; whether they were inherently good or bad– you would love them. But now, as you continue to think, all you can think about is the future. Where would you and your twins be standing in the years to come? What kind of life would you three indulge in if you were all to live? How many bodies would have to pile under your feet before you were guaranteed genuine safety for you and them?

For the years under the same roof as Sukuna, you had been focusing on your mother's words, the promise you had made to her.

"I promise I will survive– longer than anyone."

Your life had been summed up by that promise. So far, you have kept faithful to it because you have been surviving. From your wedding day to your pregnancy, to the many inspections you attended, all up until now, as you approached the temple, you have been surviving. You played all the right cards to get you here and made all the right sacrifices to keep your children alive– what more could you ask for? You were alive and breathing along with your children, and that is all that truly mattered, right?

No.

You may have been playing this game of survival and have been successful thus far, but there was one thing you had failed to do...

Live, you had failed to truly live.

You have played your part in your husband's sick game. You married him, gave him your purity, gave him children, and now you were done. You were more than aware of the pact you had made with your husband, but almost every contract had a loophole whether it could be seen or not.

"We are relocating."

Your heart rate accelerated as Sukuna bent down to whisper those words into your ear, the words taking a moment to register. Was it out of fear? Anger? Possibly both? No. It was excitement. You had given your word that you would never leave the temple unless it was under Sukuna's supervision and say so. Unless he accompanied you outside those gates, you would remain here; however, you had never given your word to stay by his side.

You had given your word to stay at the temple.

The curse-user had just given your confirmation of freedom without being aware he was doing so.

"May I ask why?" you dug, trying to keep your composure to not seem suspicious, as if he could tell what you were thinking if you had shown the slightest emotion.

"I have simply grown bored of this place, plus I have got what I needed from these people, and they all stand right here before me," Sukuna explained, the last part of his statement being clear that he was referring to you and the twins.

"Where would that leave my village?"

Now, that was a genuine question. You were not as concerned for your village but rather your family instead. The four-armed beast of a man was not known for leaving a town so quietly– you had heard plenty of notorious stories from survivors to prove that.

"What of it?"

"Will it remain in one piece, or will it be returned to the dirt?"

"That entirely depends on them, Little Flower."

The answer was vague– it was neither a confirmation nor a denial, but you could understand the meaning behind his words. For the sake of your family, you hoped that the village elders would not perform anything stupid. You hoped they could shove their egos aside and let Sukuna leave the town with what minimal disturbance he was willing to make. Everything you have worked so hard to achieve would be ruined without their cooperation.

Approaching the temple, you could not help but feel the delight swell in your chest. After years of this torment, this unjustified punishment, you are finally going to be free. You have survived, and now you will live. The journey has been difficult, but now you will achieve the tranquility and normalcy you deserve. Your children will have the chance to live a standard and carefree life, unlike the competitive and tiring one they would achieve with their father.

It was finally over.

Arriving at the temple did not feel as bitter this time, watching your children running to your attendant as she greeted you all, giving a respectful bow before taking off with the children, most likely heading off to eat. It was quiet as you stood in the garden; everyone else had gone to fill their appetite– it was just you and Sukuna.

"What has you smiling so brightly, Little Flower."

You had not noticed it, but you had plastered a broad, foolish grin onto your face. Usually, your partner catching this would have brought you anxiety as you thought of the right words, but you did not feel that way– quite the opposite. You were proud that he had noticed, allowing your smile to grow wider.

"I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders, and I cannot wait to leave this place."

"I am glad I could bring such relieving news and bring a smile to your face," Sukuna responded, smiling down at you before taking your chin between his fingers and bending down, "Once you put the children to sleep, come seek me out as we have much more to discuss."

You could only smile stupidly, nodding and allowing Sukuna to kiss you before heading to your children. You did not care what the two-faced monster had to share with you, but you would indulge him because this would be the last time you would ever have to.

You were free.

"Oh, hello, Y/n-sama! We were just finishing our meals. Should I fix you something as well?" your attendant offered, keeping a light-hearted tone.

The young woman had grown more confident with you over the years. The two of you had grown quite close after the birth of your children– she was the only person you full-heartedly trusted with your kids. Maybe you would take her with you in your escape; she was far too good to serve ungrateful and bitter women.

"No, thank you, I am not that hungry; however, I have grown rather tired, meaning it is time for bed."

"Awwwwww," you twins whined in unison, looking at your attendant with puppy dog eyes, hoping she could convince you, only to receive a shake of her head.

The twins stood begrudgingly, approaching your awaiting stance, giving you the same desperate eyes. You gave your own silent response as you offered a warm smile and a quick shake of your head before having them follow you down the halls. In any other scenario, you would have in, but things were different now. Your children need to be well-rested for the upcoming events. You were going to give them the life they deserved.

Arriving at their sleep quarters, you slid the door open, allowing the twins in first before following. Before closing the door, you took a peek out into the hallway to make sure no one was approaching. Once you deduced nobody was coming, you slowly and quietly slid the door shut, quick to approach your kids' bedside.

"Mama, do we have to go to bed?" your daughter whined.

"Yeah, do we really have to?" your son followed.

You could not help but lightly chuckle at their resistance to sleep. Your heart filled with warmth as you remembered sharing a similar moment with your mother. There were many occasions they reminded you of yourself, and you could not wait to see more of those similarities manifest when you leave this temple. You could not wait to give them a regular and well-deserved life.

"Yes, you both have to rest. You two need to preserve your energy for the days to come."

That statement piqued their interest, their faces perking up with intrigue.

"What is to come, Mama?" the twins sounded in unison like they did so often in these moments. Sometimes, it was almost as if they shared the same mind.

"Well, soon enough, you will get to meet your grandparents," you whispered, "you cousins, aunts, and uncles, all from Mama's side of the family."

"Really?!" the two shouted, settling down when you gestured for them to lower their voices.

"Yes, but do not tell your father, it is..." you trailed, picking your words carefully, "a surprise visit just for the three of us, and I do not want him to feel left out."

There was no doubt that you despised Sukuna in every sense of the word, but you did not wish for your children to hate him. Believe it or not, you wanted your twins to paint a good picture of their father, and whether that picture remained clean was up to Sukuna himself– you would not tarnish his name for him.

"Okay, Mama, we promise we will not tell." your son spoke for the two of them, his sibling nodding in turn as she motioned to seal her lips.

You smiled, whispering a small thank you before kissing the top of their foreheads and letting them rest. You stood quietly, blowing out the candles illuminating the room before leaving. Once you stepped foot into the hallway, you were startled to see a guard, a familiar one at that, though he had clearly aged with time.

"Y/n-sama, I have been instructed to take you to your sleeping chambers," the male spoke before swiftly turning on his heel to lead you to your room.

The man's voice was cold and almost distant as he spoke to you, but his voice was familiar. You were acquainted with most of the staff within the temple, but you could not remember where you had met him in particular, though he seemed familiar and significant. Your face contorted as your mind pondered, trying to recognize his face in your personal timeline, but nothing came to mind.

"Your wedding night," the guard spoke suddenly, noticing your expression of thought, "I held and guarded the door during your wedding night."

You thought back to your wedding day, and it suddenly hit you. The guard was the same one Sukuna had forced to watch the consummation of your marriage. You quickly grew flustered at the memory, clearing your throat before speaking.

"I recall now," you responded, your voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you happy, Y/n-sama?" another unshakable tone as he questioned you.

Why was he asking this?

"Yes, I'm happy."

You did not know what this man was playing at, but you did not want to fall into any traps, so you gave the preferred answer when this question was presented to you on many occasions.

"Even though you have suffered all these years, bearing and raising his offspring?"

"Excuse me?" you grimaced at the guard's words.

"Nothing, I am sorry, I have overstepped my boundaries. I will leave you now," the man uttered, leaving you at the doorway to your sleeping quarters.

You narrowed your eyes, staring as the male's figure grew smaller in the distance. What did he gain from that interaction? No matter– it was no longer your problem to deal with. Collecting yourself, you entered the room and immediately faced Sukuna.

"Come and close the door. We must speak of these urgent matters in private," Sukuna muttered as he blankly stared at the wall in front of him.

You did not question the man and slid the door closed, approaching him as he turned to you. Before you could speak, Sukuna placed a pair of hands on your shoulders, looking into your eyes. His gaze held no emotion you could directly name, but you could sense an urgency in his tone as he spoke to you.

"We leave tonight. The others have been informed and are gathering their belongings– I advise you to do the same."

"What?! Now?! Sukuna, what is going on that you are not telling anyone?" you urged, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Now is no time to be questioning me, Y/n. Hurry, we are leaving shortly."

"No."

The word slipped out without thought. You did not care when you left because your plans would not change, but your partner was acting strangely, and you could not help but be curious as to why. The curiosity is what led you to stand there motionless as your husband stared you down.

"Stubborn as always, I see," the curse-user muttered, "Fine, you want to know, huh? We made a pact, and I'm upholding the bargain. You told me to protect those children, right? Well, for their interest, we are leaving, so be grateful."

You stood there silently, looking into Sukana's unwavering gaze.

"What is going on?" you repeated the question.

"Your village plans to lay siege, and we are leaving to not get caught in the firing radius."

That explained the tensity and whispers among the temple. That explained the extra protection. Everything now made sense and you could not help the feeling of something rising up your throat.

Laughter.

You laughed uncontrollably, trying to cover your mouth to muffle the outburst, but to no avail. Nothing about the situation was logically funny, but you could not control yourself.

"After years of torment, they only now decide to lay siege?" you cackled, "And the best part is that Ryomen Sukuna is fleeing with his tail between his legs."

You should have seen what was to come next when you made that last statement, feeling your hair being tugged to look up at the man you had insulted. Your laugh quickly subsided, swallowing the lump in your throat as you stared into his orbs. You had crossed a line this time, but for once, you were not scared of the intimidation; however, what had shocked you was Sukuna smashing his lips against yours.

"I am the most feared man in Japan– I have no reason to be scared, at least for myself. I am doing this for us and our creation because I love you, Little Flower."

"You do not love me. You love what I can do for you, Sukuna."

"I see where our children have gotten their observance." Sukuna joked, "But you are not entirely wrong. However, that does not change the fact we are leaving right here and now so collec-"

"AHHHHHHHHHHH"

The deformed man paused mid-sentence at the high-pitched scream, storming out of the room to see the commotion. You wasted no time in following him, walking down the hall before being met with the stench of blood. Had one of the pregnant wives gone into labor? Was someone injured? Or was...

Before you could finish that last thought, you were met with the sight of a lifeless body surrounded by its own red fluid. It was disturbingly familiar, and that was because it was the body of the guard that had escorted you earlier. You were shocked at his mangled state, his face just barely beyond recognition, but before you could allow the shock to settle in, another sound of screams was heard in the opposite direction.

Without thought, you bolted in the direction the screams came from. You flew past those blank walls faster than you knew you were capable of before landing at the sight of another body surrounded by women. It was your attendant, her face frozen in fear, her body almost in the same state as the previous one. This death hit you harder than the earlier one as you covered your mouth, keeping the bile from rising up your throat.

Despite the grief and sickness you were feeling, you could only think of one thing, and that was your twins. You lingered for a second longer before running to your twin's bedroom. You had not noticed, but Sukuna trailed behind you closely as you sprinted through the temple. Your breath was running ragged, but you would be damned if you were to leave your twins behind in this gruesome mess.

You made it to the door, sliding it open and rushing in, your eyes scanning the room for your twins, but they were nowhere to be seen. Your heart hammered against her chest as you began to panic, turning to Sukuna to see that his face was once again blank as he looked into the room from the doorway. Why did he have that look on his face? It did not matter– you had to search for your children. You turned to look back into the interior room, looking up from the bedrolls to be met with the wall, and heard the sound of a scream once again, your heart dropping.

You had found your twins hanging from the wall, a message written above them that was written in their own blood.

"Bring back our daughter."

Taglist:

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[clairdelunelove]

A Light in the Fog Pt.I

dwight x reader, jake x reader, ace x reader, leon x reader, dbd survivor x reader

genre: fluff/comfort, based on gameplay!

warnings: cursing, brief mentions of injury (what's expected in dbd)

synopsis: a collection of various dead by daylight men and sweet, heartwarming interactions you have with them during Trials!

a.n. this isn't the usual programming but I figured to share just in case I have fellow dbd simps out there! also pls lmk if you play!! I need more friends that play dbd 🥺

-

-

dwight fairfield

aka: nervous leader

there it is again

the materialization of your incessant, solid heartbeat that felt like your rib cage was going to crack open whenever the killer was close 

serving as an ominous warning for what was about to come next  

the generator blows up beneath your imprecise fingers and a curse tumbles out of your mouth before you can consider better of it

and the crude expletive startles dwight 

“sorry,” you hastily apologize before continuing to work alongside him, “just sounds like they’re close to us.” 

dwight, however, maintains his swiftness while tugging the colorful wires within the generator, “you don’t need to apologize. just try to keep repairing.” 

and although he desperately tries to steady his voice, you notice the nervous bounce of his knee because he’s aware that the killer is notified of your current location

honestly, he’s an enigma that you’re unable to solve 

dwight carries the characteristics of being a pronounced leader,, locating and increasing the efficiency of teammates whenever he was in Trials 

at times, however, his jumpy behavior or how you’ve caught him biting at the tips of his nails contradicts all previous logic 

but he’s always like this: incredibly polite yet remarkably strategic 

a reluctant brave leader 

in your peripheral vision, you observe the methodical way his fingers pull at the wires,, how his dark brows furrowed from atop his thick-rimmed glasses due to his unrivaled concentration 

and his efficiency bolsters a wave of confidence to wash over you 

“good,” dwight hums in encouragement when the two of you work in flawless tandem, “that’s more like it.” 

soon, the shared generator is more than halfway progressed,, the increase of repair speed having a huge impact 

but the dire presence of the killer is forewarned in a vicious screech 

you both need to make a run for it 

dwight’s eyes hurriedly dart to yours before he tactfully orders, “get going, I’ll finish this!” 

it’s an executive decision,, one that forces him to contemplate so thoroughly that the edge of his hand comes up to push at his glasses 

“what? no,” you shake your head while desperately yanking at the wires in hopes of repairing the generator quicker, “we’re almost done with this and I can’t just leave you here.” 

and the second half of your sweet comment has his expression softening because, of course, he knows you’re worried about his well-being 

a corner of his lips lifted at the sentiment and it’s such a rare occurrence that you’re left stunned while he reassures you, “you’re always looking out for everyone but listen to me: let me watch over you.” 

and sure, dwight’s voice cracks during his confession (which stiffly tumbles out of his mouth) but your cheeks heat up regardless while his next words send you sprinting away with a stronger mentality 

“now,” he pauses to send you a single, assured nod, “show me what you can do!” 

-

-

jake park

aka: solitary survivalist

typically known as a solo survivalist,, not the type to become sidetracked during Trials 

prides himself in his ability to adapt in any circumstance 

an excellent teammate to have, especially in the Realms that are centered around the woods 

yet, he’ll struggle with building connections outside of Trials and is often found replenishing his toolbox alone while the others are gathered around the campfire

not the best at socializing due to his rebellious nature and tendency to flee when pressure grows, he’s uncertain on how to interact with the other survivors 

dark eyes scanning the group, he’d be vigilant yet silent in group settings like this 

everyone’s conversing,, attempting to take the edge off of the uncertainty of when the Entity would beckon them into another Trial  

light chuckles could be heard but the rare noise doesn’t sway his attention 

his fingers work methodically to clean off varying vice grips before laying them carefully in a metal toolbox resting by his feet 

and it isn’t until you sidle in the space beside him does he glance up 

“jake?” 

his name on your lips sounds soft, friendly, and it immediately snatches his attention, “(y/n).” 

it’s silent for a couple seconds,, but from the corner of his dark eyes he notes the skittish smile you offer him at the casual mention of your name 

you’re fumbling with something 

“made this for you to use in the next Trial,” you beckon for him to take the item from your hands, “I figured it might be helpful.” 

his gloved hands brush against makeshift cutting wire made from jagged metal wire and two wooden handles 

it’s an attempt,, that much is certain by the irregular and ragged notches in the design 

but the sentiment is unbelievably sweet 

“for me?” 

the question sounds foolish coming from him but his awkwardness is overlooked by you when you eagerly nod in response 

“you sure?”

just from the shape of it he’s aware that the cutting tool could be used to sabotage hooks (an action he’s never rationalized to commit during a Trial,, yet, it’s a consensus that he’s one of the most agile survivors that could pull off such a feat) 

but your blind, compassionate trust in him is the most relevant factor that he’s dazed from 

a bright grin tugs upon your lips at his realization, “of course. only you can pull it off, jake.” 

and it’s this initial encounter that sparks the habit of jake risking his life to sabotage any hooks whenever you’re being carried by the killer 

it’s a strange deed,, how the solo survivalist abandoned his previous ways if you were even in an ounce of danger 

because he’s sprinting to your rescue 

the time nor place never dwindles his ability to locate the closest hook, slide beside it, and grant you the chance to wiggle out of the killer’s grasp– all while clutching onto the cutting wire you gifted him 

-

-

ace visconti

aka: lucky gambler

“ace, you can’t just keep giving me items during the Trial.” 

your exasperation is lost on the male, however, because he’s already tipping the edge of his cobalt-colored hat towards you 

he’s a gambler 

a lucky one at that 

will continually push his odds of being caught in the basement while looting the permanent chest that’s tucked away in one of the dingy corners 

“just for you, sweetheart,” he casually mentions while bestowing the offering to you 

his breathing is absurdly stable,, considering that he trekked across the entire Realm just to personally hand you the gift 

pressing your lips in a firm line, you halfheartedly scold, “time is wasted if you keep this up, ya know.” 

and, naturally, he shrugs his shoulders in feigned apology while shooting you a charming grin

despite your reprimand you’re still curious on what he gifted you this time 

fingers digging through the contents, a noise of complete awe leaves your lips, “oh, ace.” 

because nestled in the middle of the medkit is a plastic bottle of styptic agent,, used to stop wounds from hemorrhaging 

highly beneficial to use while healing yourself or another teammate and the rarity of the item equates to it being incredibly valuable 

“it’s great but I can’t take this from you,” you pause to close the medkit, “you should have it.” 

his bright eyes peer down at you from behind his shades,, noticing the hesitant sweep of your gaze upon inspecting the item in your hands 

but ace has different plans 

shaking his head, he proceeds to place a gentle hand on your shoulder, “keep it. it should come in handy.” 

and of course it’ll be useful because you realize there’s even added gauze within the medkit to heal a couple more injuries 

it’ll give the team an advantage 

“it’s just a lot,” you fiddle with the box’s metal handle, “this is really good loot.” 

his brows shoot up at this but coolly responds, “what can I say? I’m just a lucky guy.”

he’s bargaining with you, you know that– except he isn’t expecting anything in return 

ace’s charismatic grin is contagious and soon a bashful smile dances on your lips 

and you’re not sure if it’s the warmth of his touch or the persuasive drawl of his voice,, but you cling onto the medkit with earnest

-

-

leon s. kennedy

aka: rookie police officer

“leon!” 

the holler of his name causes his wide eyes to land on your crouched figure 

naturally, you’re leaning into the side of the generator to pull at a bundle of wires and increase the probability of powering the exit gate  

he treads forward before dropping to his knees to assist you in repairing the generator, “fancy seeing you here.” 

and his voice is warm, welcoming, and everything that you adore about leon 

his uniform is slightly covered with remnants of blood and dirt but otherwise he seems safe  

“you scared me,” you sheepishly explained and gestured to the locker he just emerged from, “you need to tell us before you do that!” 

your chiding is only for show, however, because the mutual infatuation you both share for each other is blatantly obvious 

from lingering stares and giddy smiles, your fellow teammates are well informed of the potential relationship 

which is why the third person that was helping you complete the generator stands up to leave 

but not before giving you a discreet wink 

and needless to say, the rookie cop comments about the strange behavior, “I– what was that about?” 

he raises a brow but is immersed with guiding your fingers to the correct cluster of wires 

responding with a quick shake of your head, you wager a glimpse at him when he abruptly digs in his belt pouch 

“oh, before I forget,” leon opens his gloved hand to reveal a flashbang, “I got something for you.” 

before you can sincerely thank him, he drags his hand up to scratch the back of his neck and murmurs, “in case you need it.”   

and the sun’s sweltering rays only emphasize the tips of his reddened ears 

“is this what you were crafting in the locker?” 

you attempt– really, you do– to steady your voice but the gesture is just so overwhelmingly wholesome that your tone wavers 

and your hands instinctively raise to cover your face before you add in muffles, “I’ll keep it then.” 

he perks up at your declaration,, light-hued eyes glistening at the knowledge that you’ll hold onto his flash grenade 

a soft grin dances on his lips, “okay.”  

and there’s a comfortable silence that settles amongst you both 

that is, until leon piques up, “you know, you’re kinda cute when you’re embarrassed. gimme your number when we make it out of the Trial?”

[xavierkhalil]

"Ty's Entry" (Pt.I)

I don’t even know how to start this. I mean, I guess this could be a story about how disappointing behavior leads to disappointing results. Or how wavering on standards can have consequences. However, I feel it would be wrong to make me the sole victim when I am still in the clear. And there is necessarily no villain, but someone has to be. I can only be thankful that it isn’t me.

I had a fling this summer with someone I met at my apartment complex. I was outside taking a night walk with my dog, and then we crossed paths. It was kind of romantic. He was meeting up with friends who also lived there and they invited me to smoke. I was going home to smoke by myself anyways, but I thought it’d be nice to be around people. So, I went.

There was a flirtatious vibe between me and the guy I met outside. Before I left for the evening, I gave everyone a hug, and I gave him an especially long one. Eventually, I started hanging with him and his friends, then soon it would turn to just me and him. I told him I was abstaining from intercourse, and after sharing test results with each other, I thought “a little head wouldn’t hurt,” so that’s what we did. And we did that often.

We both weren’t sure about being exclusive even though we had very strong likes toward each other. I was okay with just having fun, but I told him that we need to be safe since we planned to still see other people. We agreed and I thought that everything was going to be all right. My feelings for him started to grow strong, and I liked being around him, but there were flaws. Flaws that I noticed and chose to ignore.

1 – He had no job and wasn’t actively looking for work. 2 – He had dreams and a sense of pride but there was no plan to see those dreams become his life rather than just moments. 3 – He was driven by sex and wasn’t intentional about who he was having sex with. Just interested in their physical attributes rather than who they were. 4 – He had a pessimistic worldview, and it was hard to hear him speak about humanity so negatively while having a charismatic personality.  

I know who I am, what I bring, and what I have. However, I am trying not to place value on things and accomplishments – that goes for myself and for others. So, for this guy, I felt I should not minimize him physically or financially. Besides, he was fun. I enjoyed his company, our outings and conversations, but I wanted him to see I was more than just a temporary moment/friend. I wanted to help him get on his feet. I mean, he wasn’t working, he was faced with eviction, he had dogs that were going hungry, and hell, he was going hungry him damn self.

For most of my time knowing him, I sent him Ubers to get from one side of town to the other, paid for his groceries, nursed his dogs back to health, and looked for jobs to try and help him. All the while I found myself in debt trying to pull out of it. Trying to save money for a car and just life emergencies, and just the struggle of living paycheck to paycheck with not enough money to feed myself sometimes was difficult, and I said nothing to him because my problems seemed so miniscule next to his.  When I came back from a week-long vacation with my friends, we hooked up one last time. We tried to go to the next level of intercourse, but it didn’t work, and we used protection trying – both times. However, that was the last time.

[talatomaz]

flustered pt.ii | wanda maximoff x fem!reader

a/n: it’s finally here !! and on the first day of pride month as well hehe. i had some trouble rewriting this (mainly the smut), especially after it got deleted the first time around, but i hope it’s okay and y’all enjoy it

thank you @romanottsmaximoff bestie for helping me out with the ending and letting me brainstorm with you <3

summary: y’all have heard of having a crush on your best friend’s mum but what about having a crush on your mum’s best friend?

(feedback/positive comments are appreciated)

requested by anon: “soft mommy!wanda smut with her being your mothers (nats) best friend??? 👀”

warnings: smut - dubcon/kinda dark wanda, mommy kink, strap-on, praise, fingering/oral (r receiving), mentions of punishment, masturbation (both r and wanda), phone sex, voyeurism (kinda but not really)

word count: 3.5k

masterlist | navigation | request rules

pt.i | pt.ii

i do not give you permission to repost or translate my fics on any platform - likes/reblogs are okay and are much appreciated

“Baby, stop it.”

You paused in your tracks before continuing to pace up and down the kitchen, your mind running with worried thoughts.

Only 10 hours had passed since the events of the prior night but it felt like it’d been several days. Your stomach tightened with a mixture of anxiety and stress.

This was not the way you expected to feel after sleeping with Wanda.

You’d always imagined waking up in her arms, beaming at the soft smile that rose to her flushed skin as she hugged you tighter to her.

And, to be fair, you did sort of have that experience a few hours earlier when you awoke but you were still filled with dread. Unable to think about anything but the accidental audio message that you had sent your Mum.

“Honey, relax. It’s going to be fine.”

Wanda soothed as she flipped the bacon strips she was cooking, the sizzling of the meat filling your ears.

Shaking your head, you continued pacing and spoke, “How do you know that? What if she heard it, Wanda?”

“Baby, Tony deleted it. Off everything. Off her phone. Off any back up server. Off her history.”

Wanda reasoned with you, thinking herself successful when she saw your shoulders sag in reluctant relief until she saw you tense again.

“Yeah, I guess. But there’s still a possibility-”

“Stop.”

You paused immediately at her stern tone.

The only time she’d used that voice with you was last night. When she’d told you to call her ‘Mommy’. Your thighs involuntarily clenched at the memory which didn’t go unnoticed by the redhead who simply smirked at your obedience before she continued.

“You basically threatened Tony at 4am to have the message erased. It’s gone.”

Throwing the duvet off your legs, you jumped out of the bed and pulled your jeans over your legs, deciding to leave Wanda’s shirt on.

“Sweetie, where are you going?” Wanda asked, her soft tone laced with concern as she watched you move.

“Tony’s. He’s the only one who can delete this.”

Wanda opened her mouth to try and persuade you otherwise but seeing the determined look on your face, she sighed and got out of bed.

Truth be told, Wanda was also terrified of Natasha potentially finding out about what had just happened. After all, she was Nat’s best friend and you were her beloved daughter. Nat certainly wouldn’t appreciate or approve of Wanda fucking her daughter’s brains out.

After reaching Tony’s home, you practically dragged the billionaire out of the bed and into his study. He sat in front of his collection of devices, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

Before he could open his mouth, you handed him your phone.

“I need you to delete this message. Please.” You added after Wanda nudged you in the stomach with her elbow, reminding you of your manners.

He took the phone from you and stared at the audio message, his fingers begging him to press play but pausing when he saw the desperation in your eyes.

“Ooh, is this something dirty you accidentally sent to Nat?” He smirked, his eyes darkening as glanced between you and Wanda, his mind jumping to the right conclusions.

Grabbing his extended arm that held your phone, you twisted it around his back and pushed his chest against his desk. Shouts of pain fell from his lips and a surprised gasp erupted from Wanda.

“Do not test me, Tony.”

“Fuck. Jeez. Alright, alright. I get it.”

He saw the fury flash in your eyes as you released him from your grip. Rubbing his arm with his hand, he stared up at you,

“You’re as scary as your Mom.”

You reluctantly smirked as he set to work on completely erasing the message, lines of code filling his screens.

“I gotta say though. You threatening him was pretty hot.”

Wanda chuckled, switching off the stove, and turning to face you.

Although a brief smile passed over your face, she still saw you worrying your lip as you frowned.

“Here, baby. Let me help you relax.”

In an instant, Wanda hoisted you up onto the marble kitchen counter that you’d previously been leaning against.

Your arms immediately went around her neck as she pushed up her t-shirt that you were still wearing from the night before.

Once she’d pulled it up over your arms and discarded it on the counter, she started to plant soft kisses down your bare body. She nibbled on the sensitive part of your neck erupting a satisfied moan from your throat as you pulled her face closer to you.

Her kisses slowly travelled further down and your hips jumped when, in a sudden, she wrapped her lips around your nipple and sucked. Your back arched into the feeling, holding the redhead close to you as you basked in the pleasure.

“Fuck, mommy.”

Wanda released your wet nipple with a small pop before kissing the space in between your breasts.

“Shh, baby. Let mommy help you.”

She then sucked the other nipple in her mouth, giving it the same treatment as she’d just given the other. You hissed when she grazed the bud with her teeth before her tongue flicked out to soothe the pain.

Your mind grew cloudy with pleasure as your core throbbed, needing relief. Sensing this, Wanda moved further down. When she reached your thighs, she gently pushed your upper body down flat on the counter. You shivered at how cold it felt against your bare skin before shuddering when Wanda threw your legs over her arms and kissed up your inner thighs.

Your hips rose, trying to get her mouth where you wanted it, but Wanda had other ideas. Her eyes grew red as she swirled tendrils around her fingers. In an instant, you found yourself trapped against the counter, almost as if you were bound by invisible rope. Your pussy clenched when you realised it was Wanda’s powers.

“I want you to relax, my sweet girl. But if you don’t listen, I’ll tie you down for real and edge you until you pass out and stop thinking. Is that what you want?” Wanda said sweetly, her soft tone contrasting with her dark words.

You audibly swallowed as your mind filled with what that scene would look like; your arousal spilling down your thighs. You unconvincingly shook your head making Wanda chuckle darkly as she stared down at you.

“Maybe next time. But for now, relax for mommy.”

Not giving you time to respond, she licked a long stripe up your folds. A loud groan fell from your throat. You could practically feel the grinch-like smirk form on Wanda’s face as she started to eat you out.

She licked, nibbled and sucked; wanting to push your worry aside and instead, occupy your mind with pleasure. Her actions were proving fruitful as she felt you nearing your high.

It was almost embarrassing how quick she was able to bring you to your high. No one had ever been able to make you feel like before. Hell, not even you could make yourself feel this way.

Wanda, unbeknownst to you, was listening to your every thought and tabled that particular anecdote for the near future.

Wanda listened carefully to every moan you released and noted the way your pussy would clench every time she moved her tongue in a certain way. With your legs still over her shoulders, she spread them further and pushed her wet tongue inside you.

Your walls immediately clenched at the intrusion. The feeling weird as it differed to the way it felt when her fingers and her strap had been buried inside you.

You weren’t sure whether it was necessarily a better sensation. But it was definitely different. Good different. It seemed as though her tongue molded to fit you as she pushed it in and out of you.

Still unable to move, you couldn’t do anything but relish in how good she was making you feel, throwing your head back as groans and incoherent curses slipped past your lips.

Wanda, unable to speak since her tongue was currently buried in you, decided to voice her words into your mind using her powers.

“Come for mommy, baby. Show me how good I can make you feel.”

You mewled when she curled her tongue inside you, hitting that sweet spot.

You were full of Wanda.

She consumed your body and your mind.

She thrusted her tongue inside you a few more times before you released your arousal on her tongue and all over her mouth.

She let you ride out your orgasm and only pulled back when you shuddered. She stared up at you, her green eyes sparkling with lust, her mouth glistening in your arousal.

“Good girl.” She murmured, licking her lips.

                ✧── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

“Ugh.”

You slumped on the bed, exhausted at the day’s events.

After Wanda had so graciously given you a release, you hadn’t realised you so desperately sought after, you’d spent the rest of the day running errands and studying for an upcoming exam.

Still laying on the bed, your head propped up when you heard a key jangle in the lock.

“Sweetie, I’m home!”

You jumped up when you heard your Mum’s voice.

Shit.

You silently begged and prayed to the powers that be for, what appeared to be, the millionth time, hoping that she hadn’t listened to the audio.

Now it was time for the moment of truth.

Would she shout at you?

Berate you?

Hell, throw you out of the house, even?

With your mind preoccupied with endless possibilities, you ended up tripping down the stairs. You quickly got up and brushed yourself off, ignoring how your Mum was staring at you.

Silence filled the air as the two of you stared at each other. A few more moments passed until the redhead in front of you burst out laughing.

You stood there, arms crossed over your chest, annoyed at her finding humour in your clumsiness. But as she continued laughing, a smile formed on your face as you joined her until the two of you were in a fit of giggles, tears falling down your cheeks.

As you laughed, you couldn’t help but be relieved. She still acted like your same old Mum. There definitely wasn’t any way she knew.

“Hi, Mum.” You beamed, hugging her tightly.

“Hi, honey.” She replied, wrapping her arms around you.

After her return, the two of you had decided to have a girls night in and watch some movies and eat popcorn. You’d ended up watching some chick flick that neither of you ended up paying attention to as you both fell into a conversation about nothing in particular.

Well, until Natasha had decided to change the subject, causing you to choke on a piece of popcorn.

“So, were you good for Wanda?”

“What?” You asked, coughing before drinking some coke to wash the food down.

“You texted me after the party saying you were staying with her, remember?” Natasha explained nonchalantly, her face unreadable.

“Oh! Yeah, no, I, um. Yeah, I was good.” You said, mentally slapping yourself for stammering over your words as you remembered just how good you behaved for Wanda the night before.

“Okay, good. Want some more popcorn?” Natasha asked, holding up the more empty bowl.

“Uh, sure.”

You watched as she walked out the room, shaking your head at the way you had reacted.

Get it together, y/n.

“Well, at least now you can definitely relax. If she knew, I’m sure I’d be dead by now.”

“Don’t say that. She wouldn’t have killed you.” You said, whispering into the phone, speaking to Wanda on the other side.

“Baby, she’s an ex-assassin. Of course she’d kill me.” Wanda stated, matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, maybe.” You chuckled lightly. “I’m just so relieved right now.”

“I can imagine. Just next time, remember to turn your phone off.”

“N-next time?” You asked, your cheeks flushing red.

“Oh, princess. You didn’t think this was a one time thing, did you?”

Your pussy throbbed at her sweet but condescending tone.

“No, Wan-Mommy,” you corrected yourself earning a hum of approval from Wanda.

“Good girl. Now, will you do mommy a favour?”

You nodded before speaking, remembering that Wanda couldn’t see you. “Yes, of course.”

“Can you get the dildo from your closet? You know. The pink one.”

Your eyes widened as your mouth dropped.

How the hell did she know you have a toy? And also, how did she know what colour it was and where you’d hidden it?

“Mommy knows everything, detka.” Wanda replied, as if reading your thoughts - wait, was she?

“Now, go listen to mommy otherwise you might make her mad.”

You hurriedly but quietly - so as to not wake your Mum who was down the hall - opened your closet and found the toy Wanda was referring to. Returning back to your bed, you picked up your phone before connecting your airpods to the device, “I got it, mommy.”

“Well done, baby. I’m gonna need you to be quiet for me because Nat can’t know what we’re doing, okay?”

“Mmhmm.” You hummed.

“First, I want you to get comfortable on your bed and take off your clothes for me.”

Obeying her orders, you felt a rush of pleasure in between your thighs in anticipation.

“Done, mommy.”

“Good, baby. I want you to play with yourself a bit. Run your fingers through that sweet pussy of yours. Imagine that they’re mine.”

You sighed softly as you did exactly what she said. You continued to stroke yourself as you felt yourself grow increasingly wet.

“Slip a finger into yourself, detka.” Wanda said sweetly.

You pushed a finger inside your entrance, a moan trapped in your throat. It wasn’t enough to make you come but the feeling caused your need to grow.

“Add another, baby.”

You slipped another finger in, “now, what, mommy?”

“Push them in out and out, sweetie. But don’t come. You’re not allowed to.”

“Mommy-” You started to whine before Wanda shushed you.

“Don’t be a brat. Listen to your mommy. She knows what she’s doing. I want you to be able to make yourself feel as good as I can make you feel.”

So overcome with need, your mind didn’t make the connection that that was a thought you had earlier when Wanda was eating you out on her kitchen counter.

“I’m sorry, mommy.”

“It’s okay, baby. Go on.”

With her permission, you started to thrust your fingers into your pussy. You tried to be quiet but soon, the sounds of your wet pussy started to fill the air as you felt the familiar sensation form in your stomach.

Hearing you were close, Wanda ordered you stop and you reluctantly pulled your fingers out and licked them clean, as per her request. You then followed her next orders and wet the strap with your juices before pushing it into your entrance.

“Keep going for me, princess. You’re being such a good girl for mommy right now.”

You could hear her soft moans coming through the airpods which you’d connected to your phone. Wanda was currently fingering and teasing herself as she got off on telling you how to pleasure yourself.

“Fuck.” The whispered curse fell from your mouth as you buried the cock to the hilt inside you.

“Exactly, detka. Fuck yourself with the toy. Now.”

Not hesitating, you started to ride the cock, pushing it into you at an increasingly bruising pace.

Soon, the sound of the cock slapping into your pussy filled the air, making you clench tight around the silicone toy.

“Mommy, I’m so close. Please.” You begged, tears pricking your eyes.

“Rub that sweet clit for me and keep fucking yourself. Just imagine me standing over you, watching you right now.”

Sure enough, images filled your head as you pictured the scene perfectly.

Your free hand dropped to your clit and you rubbed the bud harshly in a circular motion as you continued to thrust the strap into you.

The coil inside you grew impossibly tight, you were almost certain you wouldn’t be able to hold it, when Wanda said those three magic words.

“Come for me.”

Biting your lip, you threw your head back as you came hard around the strap, your body arching off the bed.

Wanda’s release quickly followed and soon, she was soothing you with sweet words into the phone.

“Shh, you did so good for mommy, detka. Such a good girl for me.” She cooed making you blush furiously.

                ✧── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

“Good evening, Wanda. How are you?”

Wanda narrowed her brows at your formal tone but answered just the same.

“I’m well, thank you. How about you, y/n? I trust you’ve been getting on well with your studies?”

Wanda replied, conveying the same levelled tone as you had.

“Of course. She’s a good girl, right, Wanda?” Natasha asked causing Wanda to pause when she was about to take a sip of her wine.

Natasha had invited Wanda over for another dinner and the three of you were currently sitting at the dinner table.

It was almost deja vu; after all, the last dinner the three of you had had, was the catalyst for the beginning of your relationship with Wanda. This was where she’d first teased you and then again in the kitchen, whilst you remained a nervous wreck.

Except this time, both you and Wanda were anxious as you tried to remain as aloof but still friendly with each other as possible, not wanting your mother to catch on or suspect that anything had happened between the two of you.

However, the latter would make certain remarks that would have the two of you panicking, making you second guess yourself about whether Tony had actually completely erased the audio message or not.

Her asking Wanda if you’d been a good girl was an example of that.

“Can you pass the salt, Mom?” You asked, in an attempt to change the subject when you saw Wanda stammering to come up with a suitable answer to Natasha’s question.

“Now which Mom would this be? Me or Wanda?”

Both you and Wanda dropped your forks, the cutlery clattering on your plates as you stared at each other and then at Natasha, her face blank.

“W-What?” You replied, your face heating up as panic rose through you.

Natasha placed her fork on the table and folded her arms over her chest, staring intensely at you.

“I heard the audio that I assume you accidentally sent to me. Well, I heard just enough to realise what was happening and then it suddenly disappeared off my screen. Stark, I presume?”

You cowered under her gaze, wishing for the ground to swallow you whole. Not sure of the right thing to say, you nodded instead.

“How long has this been going on?”

“Just once.” Wanda replied making Natasha turn to face her.

“Well, twice. Technically three times if you count-”

You covered your mouth with your hand to stop yourself from speaking. Wanda stared at you dumbfounded whilst Natasha’s face held a look of amusement.

Natasha’s sigh had both you and Wanda staring up at her, holding your breath as you waited for the repercussions.

“Look, you’re an adult, y/n. I can’t control your life, especially who you sleep with. As much as I wish it wasn’t with my best friend, I know she is a great person. Just no doing it under my roof.” Natasha added making you nod furiously and Wanda exhale a breath of relief.

You were too embarrassed to reply, so you got up, hugged your Mum and grabbed all the dishes, hurrying out of the room with a flushed face.

Dashing into the kitchen, you placed the dirty dishes into the sink and braced yourself against the sink in an attempt to catch your breath and gather your thoughts.

You didn’t know what you’d expected. But it definitely wasn’t that.

Natasha watched as you practically ran out of the dining room and her gaze returned to Wanda.

In an instant, her entire demeanour changed. She tightly gripped Wanda’s arm and stared at her.

“You hurt my little girl and your powers won’t be able to save you from what I will do to you. Understand?”

Wanda was more shocked than anything. She’d known how scary Natasha was but had never had the anger directed at her.

She swallowed hardly and nodded just as furiously as you had done so just a few moments ago, “Y-Yes, Nat. I understand.”

Natasha nodded in acceptance and released her grip on Wanda’s arm. The latter pulled her arm back and rubbed her hand over it, soothing the burn that your mother had caused. They both then faced the open door as you walked back in, unaware of what had just transpired between the two women.

“Everything okay?” You questioned, your brow raised as you saw a suspiciously sweet smile painted on your Mum’s face.

“Yeah, sweetie. Everything’s good. Right, Wanda?”

The redhead in question swallowed hardly and forced a smile to her face, “Yes, all good.”

[saturnsstufff]

The Empress (pt.I)

Hello! This is a C!Technoblade X reader, however its a tad bit of a AU mixed with the dream smp, and the Smp Earth. I had heavy inspiration from ClearMiller’s Animatic on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdGImEfG4Mk  (there is the link! its amazing I so I hightly recommend checking it out!)

I hope you enjoy! -Saturn

warnings: mentions blood

words: 1,317

pt.I pt.II 

   "Have you herd of the Antarctic Empire?"

   The soft voice had startled you a bit. To used to the clank and ring of your hammer bouncing off the anvil. You spared him a glance to show you were aware of his presence. The question hung in the air as your father slowly shuffled through the door. The limp in his step evident. You hummed in agreement, not taking your eyes off the anvil before you. Not wishing to burn yourself or ruin your work. The Empire was the largest and most well known. Many of the people that resided there were labeled as dangerous. To this day the rumors stood that the country was built upon bloodshed. There leader, the Emperor, was the one everyone feared the very most. The glowing blade in your hand weighed heavy, keeping you mindful as you stuck the heated metal. The sheer warmth radiating from your craft had sweat beads running down your forehead, causing stray hairs to cling to your face.

   "To be fair i believe everyone has nowadays" you hit the blade again, with a stasifying "Clink" causing sparks to fly off. You worked the metal with ease, almost as if was made of clay, bending it to where you pleased.

   The elder man's eyes flickered between her and the blade. The heat from the blade, and the flames from the the forge caused a warm atmosphere. Light dancing everywhere on the stone walls, Illuminating the your face as it contorted into a thought. "Why do you ask?" You inquired. Pausing your hits on the blade as to not miss hit or possibly hit a finger. You lifted your head with a sigh, wiping the sweat from your brow, facing your father.

   "The Generals have sent a request to every small village black smith." The man ran a aged hand over his beard, as he paused. Slowly sitting on a discarded stool. No longer able to stand long due to his pain. "They would like a fine blade. Handcrafted out of the best material we have access to" he cleared his throat. You could tell he was weary of informing you. "If you choose to offer a blade, you will be payed handsomely they so said, but on the condition that its hand delivered"

   ah yes, there's the catch.

   Your face contorted briefly, "hand delivered? Are they crazy? They live in the middle of a ice cube" you scoffed. Even if the idea of good pay interested you, Your father was respectfully definitely out of commission for work. After the raid that terrorized your small village, many of the men from your village were left injured, some beyond repair. Your father although luckily alive, was one of the ones left with permanent damage. "Why don't they ask there own smiths to craft them one" you placed the blade down fully, walking to a stool by your father, figuring this is a good enough time to take a break.

   He hummed amused "well word is they don't have the resources to make said weapons, sure iron maybe, but there looking for something much stronger.". Everyone knew Diamonds were the best material you could have, however you were not from Africa, so diamonds were not as lucky. You watched him, your father wouldn't have brought this up for no reason.

   "Right" you paused trying to think of a way to ask the meaning of this conversation, ultimately just choosing to be blunt. "Why bring this up?".

   Your father rubbed his hands together, a nervous habit he possessed. " (y/n) you have a gift. No matter what material your given you pour your heart and your strength into it. Your blades are nothing short of amazing". Pride filled your heart at his words. Praise from him meant the world to you. Where your mother praised your work daily. Even if she found your craft boy-ish, your fathers praise was rare. Only voicing it when you did something truly magnificent. "I was hoping you would craft a blade and deliver it. If not for your name, do it for mine. The money would really help us." His eyes were kinder, somewhat pleading.

   "You... want me to enter a blade...?" You worded it carefully. Thinking on what he said. He gave a simple nod as a response. "You don't seriously mean.." his face in that moment said it all. He wanted you to, you didn't have to. But it was obvious the nudge was present. "Do I have time to think about it?" Your father nodded again.

   "I'll show you the letter, your choice doesn't have to be now. However, since you are of age you can freely travel, so I thought maybe it would interest you. Since young girls seem to have a knack for adventure. Again, if you do not choose to I understand." He rested a steady hand on your shoulder for reassurance.

   The talk with your father had your mind restless for the next two weeks to come. After reviewing the letter, you were able to determine they would pay you to bring your crafted weapon. If your blade was made well enough they also would buy it off you for a large sum. You were torn. the money would greatly help your parents, not only that but, your village was near desolate. Depending on the sum given the money could go towards buildings and repairs. However, if you stayed you wouldn't have to leave your parents, and have to battle the climates to get your weapon there. after all that was the biggest problem you were facing. 

   Soon you made your mind up, you would craft a blade. you would craft the best blade they had ever laid their eyes on. You gathered your materials and what you deemed fit, Diamonds and Netherite. You had come across Netherite when trading for materials. The gentleman you bought them off said it was a strong material if used properly. However, he was never able to find the correct use for the strange material. Luckily a mistake you made ages ago with testing, turned out to be the correct mixture needed to make Netherite what it was claimed to be. For what you were aware no one used Netherite, for what you were going to use it for, you hoped that your new material would prove useful, and as strong as the man had claimed.

   At that you had pushed yourself and got to work. putting your literal blood, sweat, and occasional tears into this blade.

   The shear weeks trying to prefect this monster of a sword had definitely taken a toll. you were tired. Yet you still had to prep and ready yourself for your long aching trip to the empire. with the blade finished, it was a pure work of art at that. The blade itself was black, the glittering of purple and a pearlescent blue danced with the light when you moved it. The hilt was just as sturdy as the blade, the handle wasn't uncomfortable, wrapped in leather and ensured for the possible long term use. You were proud. 

   You put the sword into the sheath. carefully wrapping it up in a cloth to insure it will not be damaged. from then you moved to packing. you packed clothes, and heavy ones at that, then little other things you think you may need. you genuinely had no idea how long this trip would take. 

   After talking to a nearby harbor you were able to secure a ride to the empire, with the payment of labor. so when you were ready for your trip, you lovingly said your goodbyes to your neighbors, and your parents. Your father had a hard time saying goodbye, but he also knew you would make him so very proud. with everything now set in stone you were on your way to the Antarctic Empire.

[namelessgansey]

 gansey; the raven cycle pride icons pt.i.  (♡´❍`♡)*✧ ✰ ｡*

intstagram: @sofiastylized // like or reblog if you save!

[twiceblackvelvet]

Iris

Pt.I

May 4th, 2022. 12:31 PM. Daegu.

The sweet smell of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers fill Joohyun’s nose as she breathes in the fresh air around her. The gentle reminders of her home have become a welcomed presence in the new life that began the day she stepped away from her position within Red Velvet. Every day surrounded by the wonderful nature haven she’s created for herself distracts her from thoughts of doubt or regret.

Most days are spent like this, tending to her little garden lined with the most beautiful flowers and their aromas. It’s not per se the civilian life she intended to have, but it’s the one she’s grateful for. People often recognize her, though, they refuse to speak and hurry along quickly once they realize that she knows they know who she is. No one asks questions despite them being on the tip of their tongue. The first few months were the worst, the staring being too intense and overwhelming. However, people have grown to respect her boundaries a little more as time has gone on. Now when they look, it’s a quick glance. 

After the disbandment, many people wondered why Irene had retired. Was it the pressure of the industry? Did she simply feel her time had ended? None of the theories being correct in that Joohyun wanted to feel like a normal human being once again and the way to do that was to say goodbye to being Irene. 

Her parents supported the decision to leave and move back to her hometown in a house close by their own. Their own days are a little brighter now that they’ve got her back with them to enjoy their days together instead of apart. Everything feels right, almost too comfortable.

The ground has been hard from the dry weather lately. The watering can suffocating from her tight grip offering the only relief for the Irises she and her mother recently planted. The purple hues they will offer by the time Autumn comes around is something Joohyun has been looking forward to since the day they found the bulbs at a small gardening market stall. 

“Those look pretty” A soft voice from beyond the gate speaks. Irene whips around to be greeted with the face of a stranger. “The flowers, that is. Although, you too Ire- I mean, Joohyun.” The man noticing her shift in expression at the use of her former stage name quickly decides upon using her birth name instead.

A crooked smile that would be unsettling if it weren’t for his eyes creasing in the corners along with it. Ruffled brown hair that’s too long for the soon to be summer weather that’s fast approaching. A suit covers his frame, though, a size too large for his small body. His nose is a little small for his face. Overall, he doesn’t appear threatening but his presence is confusing. Joohyun never has visitors.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Joohyun questions after the man offers no explanation himself. 

“No, sorry. I realize now that this is weird, I should go.” The strange man turns his body back toward the gate he’d only put one foot through, ready to leave faster than he arrived. His awkward stance almost garners a laugh from Joohyun if it weren’t for her still being kept in the dark about who exactly this man is. 

“Please, who are you?” 

The man stops dead in his tracks, contemplating whether to continue the conversation after such a bizarre first introduction to one another. A blush spreads deeply across his face once he turns back to face Joohyun, embarrassed by his own actions.

“Sorry. My name is Seo Dongchul.” Both Joohyun and Dongchul continue to gawk at each other for a few seconds until he finally realizes she doesn’t recognize his name or face. “I’m a screenplay writer. I thought you might have known who I am, that was stupid of me, I apologize again.” 

Joohyun’s eyes wander over the man once more, unsure of whether this person is who they say they are and the reason they’re moving to sit on the bench in her garden.

“One of my shows is about to be green-lit for production, it will be a big deal if we can get the budget we’re looking for.” Once again the man pauses awaiting Joohyun to telepathically piece his puzzling words together. “I’m here to offer you the main role.” 

A hearty cackle is Joohyun’s immediate response to his ridiculous offer. Not only is she retired, but she’s not ready for the main role in a drama as big as this man is proclaiming it will be. 

“I’m serious. I’ve written the main character based on you playing her. I’ve always been such a huge fan of you, Irene… Um, I mean, Joohyun.” The laughing suddenly stops as Joohyun notices how serious he is and that she isn’t being pranked. “I think you’re perfect for it and what better way to get you back out there in the spotlight. People seriously miss you.” 

Memories of old cloud Joohyun’s mind. The years of training unsure of whether a debut would ever happen or if she’d be selected for whatever group would be put together. Finally getting to perform on stage for the first time only to receive backlash. Bringing Yeri into the group and having to protect her for years due to people’s harsh words. Forming a sub-unit with Seulgi that meant more to the two of them than either could ever explain. The sense of pride for Joy when she got her first deal to appear in a drama and watching it religiously at the dorm to support her. The privilege of listening to Wendy’s incredible voice whenever she wanted to do so.

The very world she became a part of is difficult to navigate. More times than enough it has caused her a great deal of sadness or disappointment. But, those highs of hearing people scream your name can drown out every worry within anyone’s body if they truly drink it all in and allow it to consume them. The adrenaline is an unmatched high, but the hate that comes along with it is a deep and dark low. 

Perhaps Joohyun had been suppressing this feeling of missing her members and fans. Perhaps, she had begun to hyper fixate on the small land before her in hopes it would help her forget that deep down inside, she’s still to this day unsure if she truly made the right decision. Perhaps this is a sign or at the least her chance at a second turn. Or, perhaps this is all too good to be true and will only prove that escaping the idol life was the correct thing to do.

Acting had always been an interest of Joohyun’s since she debuted. However, any opportunity she was offered was declined by the company or she didn’t think she could connect with it properly. This role, if she were to consider it which she surprisingly even to herself is despite knowing nothing about it would have to be perfect for her to even think about giving up the normality bubble she’s become so attached to here.

“We’re hoping to have production up and running by October, but I’d need your answer by the end of June at the latest so we can schedule screen tests, wardrobe fittings, and the works.” Dongchul rummages through a backpack he removes from his back, pulling out a large folder. “Here’s the script. I’ve highlighted your character’s parts and wrote up a description in the front to help you get a feeling for what she’s all about. Just give it a read, that’s all I’m asking for.”

The man stands and places his backpack over one of his shoulders and lets himself out of Joohyun’s garden. A slight breeze hits her face and ruffles the sheets of paper firmly gripped in her hand. What an odd little man, she thinks. Yet, despite how confusing this entire thing was, she can’t help but wonder one thing.

Quickly striding towards the gate that Dongchul just exited, it takes a few seconds for her eyes to find him among the people enjoying a walk in the sunshine. However, his slumped shoulders inside the too-large suit are a clear giveaway. She runs towards him as quickly as possible, shouting after him before he vanishes.

“Hey wait, how did you find out where I was?”

Dongchul turns back towards Joohyun, noticing she’s still gripping his script, giving him a sense of hope. 

“Let’s just say we have a mutual friend,” he hesitates on whether to reveal their name out of fear it will be a negative reminder for Joohyun. Then she’d never consider taking on the role. “They told me where I could find your parents, I headed that way when I spotted you with your flowers.” 

A mutual friend, that could be anyone. Many idols transition into the acting world and any of them could have let slip that her parents live in Daegu, however, there’s only four who would know the exact address and only one of those has ties to acting. Rather than guess, she gets him to confirm her thoughts, anyway. 

“Who was it?”

A sad expression takes over his features before finally offering an answer. 

“Joy.”

pt. iii

[jokiking-blog]

Planetariums pt.I

You connected my moles into constellations

Every star set afire, the trail your fingertips left burning madly

In breathless whispers you revealed what stargazers search cold night skies for

In vain are their attempts to find the secrets the universe conceals behind its curtains

They tug too violently at the heavy folds and scour them ravenously, starved for answers

They are so busy trying to find a way into what lies beyond that they don't see that it has always been right there.

The curtains cloth is translucent.

Stitched between the seams, a white hole.

Impossible, defying every bit of reason and evidence as to why it shouldn't exist.

Of course they wouldn't know what to make of it, which is why they refuse to see it as an answer.

Yet here we are, basking in its ephemeral beauty

Thinking nothing of it as it illuminates the stardust within our flesh.

Something born from nothing.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Part 2

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

This is the first half of a ?poem? I wrote a while back. It's really rough because I don't usually write ?poetry? (Is that what this mess is?) Part one isn't my pride and joy for this set but not everything you write is going to be great. That's why I'll share them with whoever passes by.

[pilyongpinoy]

Anger pt.III

NOTE: Para mabasa ang mga naunang post tungkol sa temang ito. Click Anger pt.I and Anger pt.II. Maraming salamat. - PINOY

Balikan natin ng slight ang mga nauna kong sinabi tungkol sa galit. Yes, parang classroom set-up lang na kailangan bago simulan ang isang lesson ay may review. Bakit kailangang magreview? Kasi may mga bagay na nakakalimutan tayo kasi hindi natin napagtutuunan ng pansin. Kaya ayan tuloy ay iniwan ka ng syota mo kasi nakalimutan mong rebyuhin ang relasyon nyo kung healthy pa ba o hindi na. *wait. Baka mawala ako sa topic ko ngayon*

Kung babalikan natin ang Part II nitong Anger, sinabi ni Fernandez sa kanyang sinulat na The Anger Personality: A Representation on Six Dimension of Anger Expression (2008) na may tatlong klase ng galit (yes! Akala mo pare-pareho lang yan? Magkakaiba yan!). Ito ang passive anger, aggressive anger at assertive anger. Naipaliwanag ko na ang Passive Anger at kung saan matatagpuan ito? Just click the link above (anger pt.II). Thank you.

AGGRESSIVE ANGER - direkta nating kinakausap ang mga taong nagtitrigger sa ating nararamdaman. Para sa mga taong may aggressive anger, mas madali sa kanilang ilabas ang galit nila kung direkta nilang kakausapin ang kanilang kaaway. Maaaaring mailabas nila ito sa pamamaraan ng pananakit sa kanya emotionally, physically or psychologically. May ibat-ibang klase ng aggressive anger. Halimbawa…

1. Bullying - pinakanormal na ito na paraan para ilabas natin ang galit natin sa ating kapwa. Kung babalikan natin ang post ko tungkol sa bullying as one of the defense mechanisms, sinasabi dito na maaaring iproject natin ang galit natin sa ibang tao. Maaaring sa mga taong mas mahina sa atin at alam natin na kayang kaya natin silang talunin. Halimbawa, binubugbog ka ng tatay mo sa inyong bahay at dahil pakiramdam mo na ang hina-hina mo ay hahanap ka ng mga kaklase mo na mabubully. Sa ganitong paraan, nararamdaman nila na malakas din sila. Na kaya nilang makapanakit ng kapwa. Sa relasyon din mga bes, kapag feeling mo ay inuunder ka ng jowa mo, baka may point sa buhay nya na sunud-sunuran sya kaya gusto nya na maramdaman na sya naman ang powerful sa relasyon nyo. Werpa!

2. Destructiveness - ito ay paninira ng mga gamit, maaring dahil sa vandalism o kaya naman ay paghagis ng mga kagamitan sa bahay. Kung nakapanood kayo ng mga lumang pelikulang Pilipino na panahon nila Lito Lapid at Jacklyn Jose, makikita nyo ang mga eksena kung saan uuwing gabi at lasing si mister at magagalit si misis pagkatapos ay babatuhin nya ito ng kung anu-ano tulad ng baso, plato, figurines at kahit TV. Kayang kayang ibato dahil sa sobrang galit. Sa mga kabataan naman ay in na in ang paninira sa mga pampublikong lugar at transportasyon. Makikita mo sa mga CR na may mga vandals na Mahal loves Dagul 4eves. #BakitNyoAkoNiloko #FixMeImBroken o kaya naman ay UxtOh qUoeh nU4h m4m4t4y. Sa pamamagitan ng vandalism ay nailalabas natin ang mga galit natin sa buhay. Sa bus din makikita mo mga numbers kung saan nakalagay ay Wanted Sexmate pagkatapos ay number nung kagalit nila ang ilalagay nila. Naniniwala ako na ang mga taong gumagawa nito ang dapat inuunang dalhin sa impyerno.

3. Grandiosity - ito ay behavior kung saan gusto mong maging angat sa iba. Kumbaga ikaw si Jollibee dahil bida bida ka. Sila yung mga taong mataas ang tingin sa sarili na hindi makikipagbabaan ng pride. Akala nila sila ang sentro ng buhay ng mga tao na sa kanila iikot ang buhay nila. Itong mga taong ito ay hindi makikipagbati sayo kapag hindi ikaw ang unang lumapit. Hindi ka nila kakausapin hanggat hindi ikaw ang nagsosorry. At naniniwala ako na kadalasan, sila yung mga pinakamatatanda na sa opisina na kailangang pakisamahan mo.

4. Hurtfulness - ah! Iba ito. May kasamang pisikalan. Lets get physicaaaaal! Sila yung mga taong nabubuhay sa pagiging bayolente. Mga kamag anak ata ni Goku na ambilis magkamehame wave. Sila yung mga taong magsasalita ka palang pasuntok na sila. At hindi mo gugustuhing makipag-usap sa kanila dahil baka mata mo lang ang walang latay pag-uwi. Mag-ingat sa mga taong ito dahil madalas, sila yung mga unang napupunta ng bilibid.

5. Manic Behavior - sila yung mga taong tatalunin ang mga DJ, barker at mga tindera sa palengke na sumisigaw. At huwag mong asahan na makakapagsalita ka pa para ipagtanggol ang sarili mo dahil talo pa nila ang mga nagfi-flip top sa bilis ng pagsasalita. Sila yung mga taong kayang isumbat sayo pati ang pagkamatay ni Lapu-lapu, traffic sa EDSA at pag-extend ng Ang Probinsyano ng isa pang taon. Sila ang mga armalite ang bungaga. Mahihiya sila Gloc9 sa mga taong ito

6. Threats - matapos kang tadtarin ng mga kung anu-anong mga issue ay babantaan ka nila. Madalas uunahan na nila to ng mga salitang “Binabalaan kita” then kasunod noon ang mga consequences kapag ginawa mo yung mga pinagbabawal nila. Hindi ka naman matatakot sa galit nung tao, natatakot ka sa kaya nyang gawin at hanggang saan ang kaya nyang gawin dala ng galit.

7. Unjust Blaming - sabi nga ni Bobby sa pelikulang Four Sisters and A Wedding, “Bakit ako? Bakit parang kasalanan ko?” Ito ang mga taong isisisi sayo ang mga bagay bagay. Lahat ng kamalasan at kalecehan nya sa buhay ay sayo nya isisisi. Pati pagtakbo ni Mocha Uson bilang senador ay isisisi nya parin sayo.

8. Vengeance - ito na ata ang pinaka palasak na paraan ng pagkukwento sa mga teleserye. Kung saan mula sa kasula-sulasok na kahirapan ay babangon muli ang bida na biglang yayaman at gagantihan ang mga taong nagpahirap sa kanya. Ito ay mindset ng tao na hindi ako titigil hanggat hindi ako nakakaganti. Parang naga-gratify sila kapag nakikitang naghihirap ang mga kalaban nila dahil sa kanila. Naniniwala ako na karamihan sa paghihiganti ngayon ay dala ng ating napapanuod sa telebisyon.

Tanong: Paano mo hinahandle ang galit mo sa kapwa mo? Gusto mo bang gantihan sila? Ano ang pinakamalalang nagawa mo sa kapwa mo? Let me know.

[bubblepopsims]

I just wanna get high with my lover, Veo una muñeca cuando miro en el espejo Kiss, kiss, looking dolly, I think I may go out tonight I just wanna ride, get high in the Moonlight

[currentlycumin]

Dreams of the Erotic pt.I

Having a brain tumor can be a lot of fun sometimes.  I almost feel compelled to apologize for writing it, it’s probably confusing, but it definitely deserves some…explanation. More than one sentence. This will be exciting to write about. It is something I would only feel comfortable wiring about if there were only person reading so this tumblr is apt. It’s one of my brightest ideas. But lets just take a few steps back. Saturday.

My tumor makes it difficult for me to remember a lot of things and that unfortunate thing is one of the only things I dislike about having a brain tumor. It’s also one of the reasons why I plan to learn to play the bass. I want to remember music in old age or in the case of metastasis and whatever form of memory loss that might underlie that. But Saturday. One scene I can recollect with clarity is Jiro’s face as he watched the patrons eat. The look on his face resembled pride but it wasn’t. It was something deeper. The look of the one who feeds. An all consuming desire to feed and and and an awareness of ones own power. That’s not a look you see often but it’s one I always recognize.

[fxtalitygod]

VI. ~Survival~

Summary: You were determined to survive longer than anyone, even if you were set to marry him.

Genre: Historical AU, angst, mature, suggestive, arranged-marriage

Warnings: Dark themes, themes/depictions of horror, swearing/language, suggestive, mentions of child murder/adult murder, implied cannibalism, breastfeeding, pet names (Y/n called Little Flower 4-5x), Implications of child neglect, implied Stockholm Syndrome, images/depictions of dead bodies, slight misogynistic themes (if you squint).

Word Count: 4.9k

A/n: I apologize for being so late with this post... I was initially going to post this around Thanksgiving (practically on Thanksgiving day), but I decided to do a little revising. I finished this chapter on my flight though I was unhappy with the product, so I tweaked it a little. There were a few other factors, such as spending time with family, and I did happen to get sick while on my vacation; however, I am better and was finally able to finish this chapter. Chapter VII is already in the works and will be released sometime in early January, hopefully, sooner. I know I've been saying this for a while, but I'm still trying to figure out a posting schedule, but in the meantime, I will be posting when I can. Thank you all for being patient with me. It's greatly appreciated. This a friendly reminder that my asks are open. If you want to ask me any questions about this story/other works or to talk about hcs, suggestions, or to be added to the taglist for any of my series, have at it! Thank you for sticking around, and enjoy Part 6 of Survival!

JJK Mlist•Taglist Rules•

• Pt.I • Pt. II • Pt.III • Pt.IV • Pt.V • Pt. VI • Pt.VII •

You knew in your years of living that motherhood would never be easy, but taking care of the future heirs of a four-armed man practically considered a god was another story. You were restless, your stress and anxiety slowly creeping up on you. The worst part was that you had to keep those vulnerabilities concealed. Not once were you allowed to let a weakness slip, or else you and your children could end up being the next set of cold bodies on the record.

Today was especially no exception to those rules.

You sat in the garden with your twins, letting their beautiful giggles fill your ears. The wives that had begun to admire you gathered around the scene, cooing at how your baby boy and girl interacted with each other. This was something you had seen often with your babies. The two were inseparable as they were constantly interacting with each other, grabbing and laughing with each other, and overall enjoying their childhood innocence. The sight was almost able to make you forget the upcoming event today.

Inspection day.

It was a typical tradition among the mothers who lived in the temple. Sukuna would request all mothers and children to meet at the temple's main hall to inspect his sons and daughters. It was a way of seeing the progress of his kinder to pick out the most suitable heir among them.

Unfortunately, there were many situations where the father had decided it best for his weaker spawn to be taken out of the competition. It did not matter how old they were— if he saw that they were falling slightly behind the other children, he would not hesitate to end the child’s “miserable life,” as he deemed it.

You were no exception to this rule. No one was. The life of your twins could be ended with a simple wave of Ryomen Sukuna's hand, and you could not be more horrified by that fact. You tried to pride yourself in how you prepared your children for such days, but you could not help but worry. Your twins were strong and healthy, which was the only requirement for infants on inspection day, but as they mature, they must present more than general health. Hardly any of the children made it to their teenage years. None made it to adulthood.

"Is this not your twin's first inspection?"

The question pulled you out of your thoughts as you turned to look at one of the wives, an acquaintance of yours. It had been about a few months since you had given birth to your little miracles, and you could not be more content with the time you've been able to spend with them; however, it would be untruthful if you kept telling yourself that it wasn't taking a toll on you. You could admit that you had become more paranoid, causing harm to you both physically and mentally. There were days that you would hardly leave the nursery, trying to avoid others from seeing you in a disheveled state. Although, it was a rare occasion, meaning no one had any suspicions regarding your behavior.

"Indeed, but I am confident in my parenting," you responded in confidence.

You saw some eyes shine in admiration as you held your head high and proud, proving your current status among the other wives. Over the few months, you managed to convince the other wives that you were untouchable; however, that did not mean you didn’t receive loathing stares and comments. Most of those women had decided it best to keep a distance, waiting for you to slip up to take the higher ground, but it was proving difficult to be patient at that time.

You could feel the stares of the ones who were still waiting. You could already picture the snickers and smirks behind you, knowing that today could be one of your many possible slips. All that could be done was to pray; pray that everything would go according to plan.

Before you allowed your paranoia and anxiety to seep in more than you already had, you looked up to see servants pouring out into the garden, helping some mothers gather their children. One had attempted to approach you, but your attendant quickly hopped in, telling them she could aid you. The two of you gathered what little items you had brought and settled your children in your arms.

It did not take long for everybody in the garden to make their way to the main hall, where Sukuna awaited his next of kin. The crowd was suffocating, some women and even children being too close for comfort. You eventually found yourself in a line in front of the doors to the main hall. Hushed voices filled the room as the women started to converse. The conversations ranged from ones of concern, cockiness, and caution. No matter the topic, you could tell that the tension was increasing.

What went from whispers turned into boisterous discussions. It stayed that way for a while until the inspection began. The second those doors went ajar, the room went silent instantly. You could see how the simple action brought everyone slight fear. The children who were old enough to think were undoubtfully terrified of the occasion, having either been told the dangers of inspection day to prepare them or they had experienced the ritual and what it meant for them if they were to fail.

"The examinations shall begin!"

With that announcement from one of the distant servants, the line started to move forward. There was nothing but silence as the line advanced into the room. From what you knew, silence meant one of two things, dread or reassurance, and from what you could tell, the quiet was proving to be more of a relief. Unfortunately, the quietness did not last long.

"NOOOO!" you heard a woman cry, followed by the piercing scream of a child.

That was only the first of many screams you would hear that day. As you advanced toward the main hall, the shrill screams crescendoed. Some came from a mom, but most came from the youth. Most of your companions stayed in the room, while others left in a broken state or muttering in disappointment toward their deceased kid. No matter the result, you could only feel disdain.

Before you knew it, you were the next to approach your husband. You could see Sukuna sitting on his throne as he looked at one of his sons. The boy could have been no older than two or maybe even three years of age, hardly old enough to understand what was going on, but you could tell that this boy would not have a happy ending. You had spoken to his mother before, and based on what you had heard, the boy was lacking behind the others in his age group.

You remember sitting in the garden with your twins one day, feeding them as you watched the slightly older kids play; however, there happened to be one boy in particular that had caught your eye. He had been chasing around one of his siblings before he collapsed, coughing up blood not too long after tumbling. You knew that the child was your competition, but out of the goodness of your heart, you approached the struggling boy, managing to keep your children in place to not disturb them.

You found no need to ask if the boy was alright—blood splayed out in the grass served as enough proof that he was not. You rubbed his back as he was stuck in a coughing fit, blood spewing onto the grass.

You looked around for the boy's mother, only to see that no one around was interested in assisting the kid.

The child sat there with you for a few minutes before you saw a slightly older woman making her way toward you, a look of worry etched upon her face. She immediately ran up and hugged her son before thanking you profusely for caring for him despite having responsibilities with your own children. Despite not needing your assistance anymore, she remained, telling you of his illness. From what you gathered, he had developed the problem not too long after the inspection the previous year, causing him to fall behind the other children his age in their physical health, meaning it would be harder for him to develop his cursed energy.

As you stood there, hearing the incoherent voices of the child talking to his father, you focused your attention on his awaiting mother. She played with her fingers, bit her bottom lip, and let her eyes tremble as her anxiety began to kick in. A little part of you wanted to go in and comfort her, but you knew you could not, so you chose the second-best option. In slight haste, you whispered in your attendant's ear, asking her a simple request. She was only gone for a second before making her way back over to your side.

On the far left side of the room, where the mother had been standing, you saw a female servant approach. She tapped on the mother's shoulder, whispering in her ear before escorting her out of the room. Sukuna, despite being preoccupied with his determination for the boy, had taken notice of her leave. His gaze followed her path to exit the room as she let out a few sniffles, trying to hide her despair, as she knew her son's fate the moment they had walked into the room.

The conversation between Sukuna and the boy continued. You observed the scene, patiently waiting as you nurtured your twins. The wait repulsed you. The more Sukuna dragged out the conversation, the more the boy's symptoms started to show. Fortunately enough, the torture came to an end when the boy coughed up blood on his father.

You watched as Sukuna looked down at himself, seeing the splotches of blood on his skin. The fear in the kid's eyes was evident as they widened in absolute terror at what he had done. Despite being very young, the child knew that his father wasn't much of a forgiving person. It did not take long for the tears to well up and spill from his eyes. You tried to remind yourself that the competition was being eliminated, but your morals wouldn't allow you to suppress the sympathy you felt.

What came next, you could hardly watch. The boy, despite his horror, plastered a smile on his face as he apologized to his father. Sukuna only sighed as he looked up to meet the boy's eyes. You could hear the whispers behind you as mothers conversed with each other. Some were of pity, some were of fear, and others of relief.

As awful as it sounds, you felt it would be best for the boy. His condition wasn’t getting any better. To wait another year, with his fate practically predetermined, would have been torture. There was no doubt in your mind that by the following year, he would no longer be standing within the temple. Right now, you could tell he was at peace with his fate, the saddening smile proving you so.

The next few seconds were quick. Sukuna uttered one last statement before putting the child out of his misery. It was silent— there were no screams or pleas for mercy. All you could see was blood spilling down from where the boy once stood and a slight clinking noise as something had clearly fallen.

It did not take long to hear the shuffles of servants rushing to clean up the mess to avoid any “complications” regarding attachments. Any belongings of a deceased child were discarded immediately as Sukuna was advised that it would be easier for a mother to move on and procreate once more when they were not reminded of their dead offspring. In a way, this method proved to work sufficiently, especially with the women willing to keep Sukuna pleased or the more vulnerable women. It kept them obedient. It kept them distracted.

Sukuna watched as the help slowly and efficiently cleaned up the mess, but the second he looked up and laid eyes on your form, it was clear that the man was too eager to wait any longer. You could see the smirk on his face grow and the gleam in his eye. The gesture should have given you relief, but it made you apprehensive.

"Come forward, Little Flower," Sukuna announced.

You felt a shiver run down your spine as Sukuna beckoned to you. Despite your apprehension, you walked forward, keeping your head high to facade your uneasiness. As you approached your husband, you kicked an item, the clinking on the ground. You do not know what came over you at the moment, but some form of impulse caused you to slip the item into your shoe, hiding it underneath the sole of your foot.

In a matter of a few steps, you were standing before Sukuna. Unlike the other inspections performed, Sukuna was quick to stand, towering over your form. You could only stare into his eyes as he peered down at you, the grin on his face growing. Maybe it was due to the situation, but it was more unsettling than usual. Had he predetermined his decision? Was he going to take your children out of your care? The questions kept flooding your mind while keeping a straight face.

"You seem quite confident in yourself, Little Flower," Sukuna stated.

"I am as I believe I've shown enough skill in my ability to mother our infants," you responded, swallowing whatever anxieties you had.

The answer seemed to please Sukuna as he sat back down on his throne, grabbing your waist to stand between his legs. You knew he was teasing you at this point, trying to stir a reaction out of you, trying to rile you up. This was common for him to do with new moms. You did not know if it was for entertainment or a form of test, but it still made you uneasy either way.

"We shall see then, won't we?"

You watched as Sukuna went from looking into your eyes to looking at your twins. The babies were tucked snuggly in your arms, their heads turned into your chest to obtain warmth from your body. With one of his hands, Sukuna turned your son's head to achieve a better look, his teasing look turning into one of concentration. The two-faced man was gentle with his touches, something you had not known he was capable of, something you couldn't believe was in his nature.

He took his time, undoubtedly in no haste to proceed with the mandatory tradition. Just when you thought he had finished, anticipating him to pass your son back to you, he slithered one of his arms to take grasp of your daughter. You watched as the baby squirmed in his hold, attempting to shift into a comfortable position, letting out an occasional grunt as she did so.

Your heart was hammering against your ribs. Your chest started to develop a heave. Your hands began to grip the material of your kimono. You had never experienced fear as great as this.

"You never cease to amaze me, Y/n."

You almost sighed after hearing that glorious sentence, but you kept your poise as you bowed, ready to take your twins back into your arms. However, Sukuna never made it that easy for you. The four-armed man quickly pulled you onto his lap, handing your twins over as he plastered an all-too-familiar grin on his face. Before you could question his actions, Sukuna straightened his form, placing his back against his throne as he looked at the awaiting line of women and children.

"Listen well, women! This is where your standards should be. In a year of her time, Y/n has accomplished what the majority of you achieved in a decade here at the temple. She has even gone as far as surpassing you all. I suggest you all follow her example."

You didn't know how to feel about Sukuna's short speech. There was a chance that the man had placed a target on your back, but he could have also made you untouchable. His utterances of praise could be proved as both a curse and a blessing.

Once he had settled himself, you believed he would let you leave to inspect the next child— you were wrong. He held you in his lap and beckoned for the next mother to bring forth the child. He didn’t speak to you after that. He continued the rest of the inspection, caging you in a set of his arms.

To say you were horrified was an understatement.

What you had seen was gruesome and grotesque, but that isn’t what unsettled you. What truthfully left you distressed was your absence of physical and mental response. You were desensitized.

You watched as he slaughtered child by child. You felt his second mouth chew on the bones of his deceased kin. You heard the screams and cries of both women and children, some even calling to you to convince Sukuna to spare mercy. But no matter what, you felt absolutely nothing.

Had you really become that selfish?

You were always willing to get your hands dirty to keep yourself and your children alive, but you never imagined you’d have to shut down your humanity to achieve that; however, in a dog-eat-dog world, you would have to look out for number one.

So you sat there, watching body…

After body…

After body…

After body…

Stack up in the room without so much as a flinch. Not a word escaped your mouth, nor a yelp or gasp. You sat there motionless and silent as the chaos subdued into a conclusion. The dense silence was a dead sign that the event had ended.

You were shifted to sit between Sukuna’s legs, facing the mothers and children who had decided to wait in the room. You could see looks of great pride, looks of disappointment, and looks of grief. The sight alone could’ve made you cry, but you refused to let that happen.

There was no room for errors in your plan, such as letting your vulnerabilities show.

“What should I do with them?” Sukuna whispered in your ear discretely as he leaned down, almost making you jump.

“What do you mean?” You asked, trying to act oblivious to his question, although you knew fully what he meant.

“It’s relatively simple— should I spare their pitiful lives, or should I exterminate them? With what we created, there is no reason to keep them around; however, I leave that judgment entirely up to you.”

You could not help but widen your eyes. The power and jurisdiction Sukuna had given you were tempting and overwhelming. In a simple sentence, you could have the competition eliminated. Your mind was rushing with all the possibilities of your future if you went through with what Sukuna had offered. Knowing all the opportunities, you made your decision with ease.

"Spare them," you answered.

"What an interesting choice, Little Flower," Sukuna chuckled before sitting up straight, "Very well then."

Sukuna looked down at the forms in front of them, wearing a straight face as he examined each of their faces. With little to no expression on his face, Sukuna looked more fearsome. Nobody could tell what he was thinking or planning— any action that was to follow from his state of blankness would come unexpectedly.

"You should all be grateful to be standing here today. Unbeknownst to you, I just offered your companion a very tempting offer. However, she chose to spare your lives," Sukuna announced, "You should all be thankful."

You felt one of Sukuna's arms grab your waist, and you could feel his hand grasp your face as he pushed his cheek to yours. All eyes were now focused on you. Every movement was monitored and taken note of on both ends. If you were going to be truthful, you didn't know how to feel about the new-found attention— like you had mentioned earlier, Sukuna's praise was both a blessing and a curse.

You felt his Cheshire grin form as his face remained against yours. It was clear that he was pleased with what he had done. Whatever was brewing in his mind, you couldn't deduce, and quite frankly, you didn't want to. Even with your inquiries about the situation, you believed you would never follow up on them. Some questions were better unanswered.

"Ahem, Sukuna-sama, I believe it would be best to conclude this session," A person, whom you couldn't deduce whether they were a man or female, chimed.

You had seen this individual at the temple before, usually seeing him trail behind Sukuna. In many instances, you had assumed this person to be a personal servant to Sukuna, but if you were sincere, you thought they were more than that to the two-faced man. Possibly a close friend, sibling, or some sort of ally.

"I suppose you're right, Uraume," Sukuna sighed, straightening himself out again.

"This examination event is concluded. All of you may leave. Remember the words of caution I have so graciously given you. Dismissed!" The four-armed man announced, keeping his posture straight and intimidating.

With his confirmation, you stood, twins in your arms, making your way out of the room before you were yanked down into Sukuna's lap.

"Not you, Little Flower. I'm not finished with you yet."

At that instant, you didn't know what to think. Unlike the other moments you had been pulled aside, you did not feel anything. Your mind wasn't running with questions and fear— you were calm. If Sukuna had wanted to hurt you, he would have done it by now. If he found your children useless, he would have put them down the moment you approached him.

The room was empty and quiet as the two of you sat there, watching the last child leave. The silence encased the room after that. You made no effort to make eye contact, and neither did Sukuna. It was not out of fluster or fear but rather the peace in that silence. You couldn't remember the last time you had been left in a room where your mind wasn't running rapidly or where there wasn't some sort of commotion outside a set of doors.

"Walk with me," Sukuna blurted, allowing you to move out of his lap, babies settled in your arms.

You watched as your husband stood, motioning you to follow him as he made his way toward the main hall doors. It was quiet for most of the walk as he led you to who knows where. There was a moment you wanted to ask him about where he was taking you, but there was something about his blank expression that made you second guess yourself, deciding to continue trailing behind him until he released you to your duties; however, Sukuna took notice in your lagging behind, slowing down his pace while hovering one of his hands at your lower back to keep you from falling behind any further.

"We're here," the man announced suddenly, pulling you out of your own consciousness.

You watched as Sukuna opened a pair of grand doors, revealing a nursery; however it wasn't the nursery you were accustomed to. The room was relatively small compared to the other where you and the other mothers would care for your children, but it was size enough to fit at least a few groups of people.

"What is this? Are you relocating some of us?" you asked as you looked around the room.

"No, only these two. I believe they should be separate from the other offspring and their mother. They will be just fine with a wet nurse in the evenings."

The string you were working so hard to maintain snapped in that instant. You felt as if something overtook you, a shadow looming over you. The thought of you being isolated from your babies left you paranoid; moreover, the idea of a wet nurse taking care of them left you livid. No longer did you care if you upset Sukuna. He went beyond your line of patience when he suggested the concept of leaving your children in another's care.

“No.”

You swore that you saw all four of his eyes widen the slightest, and you were convinced that you even saw him smile a little, but with all the adrenaline from your sudden irritation may have easily made you see things. For a subtle instant, you wished you could have taken that singular word back, but the regret quickly flushed away as you remained glaring at your husband. This was the first time you had truly stood up against Sukuna, the man who was more than capable of wiping out a village in a matter of minutes— seconds if he pleased.

"disputing me? I have to be honest; I do not know how to feel about your sudden disobedience, but I'll entertain it. Why do you disagree with my plans?" Sukuna chuckled, inching himself closer to your straight form.

Selfishness.

"You know as well as I the betrayal and deception among the women in this temple; bribery, extortion, treachery, and other deceitful actions. I understand you are not a man of morals, but we can agree upon our children's interests. You said it yourself, they've been able to excel further than any of the other children, and I strongly believe that has been possible with my watchful eye and protection."

"You make a very fascinating argument, Little Flower. However, I still do not understand how this is beneficial if you do not tell me what you're proposing directly," Sukuna questioned.

You knew fully what he wanted to hear from you, and you were willing to give it to him. Though the words that would spill from your mouth would be distasteful, you had to come too far in the game to back out. The two cards you had set on the table were choosing between life and dignity— the choice was evident between the two.

Life.

"Sukuna, I beg of you. Please let the children stay with me until they are old enough to communicate their thoughts; this will benefit you. The time they spend with me will not be fruitless. I will educate them to the best of my ability, and when you deem them ready, they can begin whatever training you set out for them; however, during that time, I only have one request..." you paused, seeing if you should continue.

"And what would that be, Little Flower?"

"That you protect them with your life," you answered.

"And if I do not accept these terms," the man countered.

Your answer determined not just your life but your children's. You were starting to run out of cards to play, and you couldn't run out to get a new deck at the moment. With every option you looked at, there was risk involved, but all the safe options hardly guaranteed the future you were hoping for. It was a true gamble. So, in those last moments of desperation, you played your shot in the dark.

"Then I walk from this temple, twins in hand."

The silence felt like hours while, in reality, it was only a few seconds. In those few seconds of silence, you could not help but feel slight regret...who would not feel this remorse in your situation. Though you have faced life-or-death decisions in the past, this one way is by far the most alarming, and the stillness wasn't doing you any favors.

Then came the infamous chuckle, one of his more notable responses that could strike fear in the most powerful shaman.

“Seems that my Little Flower has grown some thorns, hasn’t she?”

You could only look at him as he approached, towering over you in his close proximity.

"Is this an attempt at proposing a deal, Y/n?"

Deal.

That word sent shivers down your spine, but not out of fear or disgust. It was a pleasant quiver. It wasn’t effortless to broker a deal with Sukuna, especially since you were merely another one of his, and as much as you hated to refer to yourself in such a degrading way, concubines. If it had been anyone else, you could guarantee that their head would be cut clean off by now, making it clear that you had something of value on the table to offer by the fact you hadn’t been decapitated at the moment.

“Yes,” you answered confidently.

“Straightforward as always, I see. I think that is what I love most about you. You never seem to dance around the question,” Sukuna quipped, looking down at you with a look you still could not deduce, “Fine, I’ll take you up on this deal, as it is of mutual interest, but I want something in return.”

You nodded, waiting to hear what he wanted to put on the table.

“I want your word that you never leave this temple unless it is under my supervision and say so. Unless I’m accompanying you outside those gates, you will remain here. Do we have a deal?”

Outings from the temple were usually uncommon, but they were on occasion, but only a select few would attend such expeditions. These women were commonly accompanied by a chaperone: maids, guards, gardeners, anyone from Sukuna’s staff but never Sukuna Ryomen himself. The man was not known for being someone to leave the temple for leisurely walks or to run a quick errand to the local market, meaning you would practically be bound to the temple for as long as he stayed in your village and bound by his side for as long as he or you lived.

This was your gamble.

Selling your life entirely over to Sukuna for the safety of your kin.

"Yes, we have a deal."

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