#Shy protagonist

[small-z24]

Shadows of Fate 1

Summary:

Y/n, Cassian's shy and quiet sister, prefers to keep to the shadows. Unbeknownst to her, she is Azriel's mate. His shadows are inexplicably drawn to her, and as they grow closer, a slow-burn romance ensues. Cassian, ever protective of his sister, watches over her as the bond between Y/n and Azriel deepens.

Word Count: 1032

Warnings: None

Chapter 1: The Shadows Find Her

Y/n had always preferred the quiet corners of the Night Court. While Cassian thrived in the heart of every battle and social gathering, she found solace in the shadows, where she could observe without being observed. The grand halls and bustling rooms of the House of Wind often felt overwhelming to her, and she would retreat to the less frequented areas, finding peace in the stillness.

It was in these shadows that she first encountered Azriel.

She was tucked away in a dimly lit corner of the library, a book in hand, when she felt a curious sensation. It was as if the shadows themselves were reaching out to her, curling around her in a protective embrace. She looked up, her breath catching as she saw Azriel standing a few feet away, his intense hazel eyes locked onto hers.

"Hello, Y/n," he said softly, his voice a gentle caress.

"Hello, Azriel," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She had always admired the Spymaster from afar, but his presence now was both comforting and unsettling.

Azriel took a step closer, his shadows swirling around him, almost as if they were drawn to her. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, not at all," Y/n said, closing her book. "I was just reading."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her face. "I’ve seen you around here often. You seem to prefer the quiet places."

She smiled shyly. "I do. It's peaceful."

Azriel's shadows brushed against her, and she felt a strange sense of connection. "I understand. I find peace in the shadows too."

They spent the next hour talking quietly, sharing stories of their childhoods and their lives in the Night Court. Y/n found herself opening up to Azriel in a way she hadn’t with anyone else, not even Cassian.

The next few days saw Azriel and Y/n encountering each other more frequently. Every time Y/n sought out her quiet refuge, Azriel seemed to be there, as if the shadows themselves guided him to her. The connection between them grew stronger with each meeting, their conversations delving deeper into personal histories and shared dreams.

One afternoon, while Y/n was browsing through the ancient texts in the far corner of the library, she felt a familiar presence. She turned to see Azriel leaning against the doorway, watching her with a soft smile.

"You always manage to find the most secluded spots," he remarked, walking over to join her.

She laughed lightly, the sound musical and soothing. "It's a talent of mine."

Azriel’s smile widened. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," she replied, motioning to the chair beside her.

As they sat together, Azriel’s shadows began to playfully swirl around Y/n, almost like they were welcoming her. She reached out a hand, letting the shadows dance over her fingers, their cool touch sending shivers down her spine.

"Your shadows seem to like me," she observed, her eyes meeting his.

"They do," Azriel admitted, his voice tinged with something she couldn’t quite place. "They’re drawn to you, just like I am."

Y/n’s heart skipped a beat at his words. There was a depth to his gaze, an intensity that both excited and frightened her. She looked away, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Azriel reached out, gently tilting her chin back towards him. "You don’t have to hide from me, Y/n. I see you."

Her breath caught in her throat, the vulnerability in his words breaking down her walls. "I’m not used to being seen," she whispered.

"Then let me be the one to see you," he replied softly, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "All of you."

Their encounters became a daily occurrence. Azriel would often find Y/n in the library, the garden, or some other quiet corner of the House of Wind. Each time, his shadows would eagerly greet her, wrapping around her like a protective cloak.

One evening, as the sun set over Velaris, Y/n found herself in the garden, tending to the flowers. She had always found solace in nature, the vibrant colors and delicate scents grounding her. She was lost in thought when she felt a familiar presence beside her.

"Beautiful evening," Azriel commented, his voice low and soothing.

"It is," she agreed, looking up at him with a smile. "I come here to clear my mind."

Azriel nodded, his eyes reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. "I understand. It’s one of my favorite places too."

They walked through the garden together, their conversation flowing effortlessly. Y/n found herself opening up about her hopes and fears, the dreams she had for the future. Azriel listened intently, his presence a comforting anchor.

As they reached a secluded bench, Azriel turned to her, his expression serious. "Y/n, there’s something I need to tell you."

She looked at him, her heart racing. "What is it?"

He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "I think... I think you might be my mate."

The world seemed to stop at his words. Y/n felt a whirlwind of emotions, fear, and hope battling within her. "Mate?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Azriel nodded, his expression earnest. "I’ve felt a connection to you since the moment we met. My shadows are drawn to you, just as I am. I’ve never felt this way about anyone."

Y/n took a step back, her mind racing. "This is... a lot to take in."

"I know," Azriel said softly, reaching out to take her hand. "And we can take things as slowly as you need. But I want you to know that I’m here for you, always."

She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and love there. Slowly, she nodded, a tentative smile forming on her lips. "Thank you, Azriel. I think... I think I feel the same way."

As they sat on the bench, the sun dipping below the horizon, Y/n felt a sense of peace she had never known before. She knew the journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but with Azriel by her side, she felt ready to face whatever came their way.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this part. Feel free to leave a comment or send me prompts!

[sunderwight]

Okay, so the canonically confirmed Cang Qiong peaks are:

Qiong Ding (leader peak, CEO peak, politician/diplomacy peak, admin peak, etc)

Qing Jing (scholar & artists peak, knowledge peak, strategic advisor peak, etc)

Wan Jian (sword guy peak, blacksmith peak, armory peak, etc)

An Ding (logistics peak, servants peak, peak of the cang qiong labor party, delivery guys & messengers peak, supplies & catering peak, etc)

Xian Shu (gender segregation peak: girl flavor)

UNKNOWN

Bai Zhan (shounen anime peak)

Qian Cao (healer peak, pharmacy peak, first responders peak, etc)

Ku Xing (gender segregation peak: boy flavor, ascetic peak)

Zui Xian (alcohol peak)

UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN

So we only have three peaks that are entirely unnamed and unaccounted for. This has pretty good utility if you want to do a transmigration fic where Airplane and Shen Yuan are there as peak lords, but so are OG Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu. You can just give them two of the three mystery peaks, and then there's only one peak remaining for an OC and kapow, you've got all twelve peak lords sorted.

But the question of course, is what should these peaks actually be? What should they specialize in?

Fandom has argued in favor of a Beast Peak, and I actually endorse this idea, although I think specializing in demonic beasts is more of a Bai Zhan and Qing Jing thing. But while we can suppose that between An Ding, Qian Cao, and (probably) Zui Xian the agricultural needs of the sect are being met (or met sufficiently for what they can also supplement through trade), there's no clear existing peak to outsource things like training spirit animals or keeping any livestock that the peak might require. And hey, if there is a Beast Peak, then them also having some expertise in demonic beasts would be interesting.

I think the Beast Peak would slot in most logically between Xian Shu and Bai Zhan.

For the lowest peaks, things get more interesting. While there are obvious roles such as talisman making, barriers, musical cultivation, etc, most of those things seem like they'd either be covered by one of the other peaks (i.e. Qing Jing and musical cultivation) or else would be strange things for the sect to acquire so late, literally after the peak that specializes entirely in brewing.

But, that actually can work out, if we assume that these peaks have taken as specialties things that were previously secondary or tertiary interests to other peaks. Perhaps even owing their origins to particularly capable disciples from the other, more highly ranked peaks who showed such prodigal skill or innovation in that area that they were allowed to establish new peaks focusing on it.

For my money, I'd go with a Barrier Peak, specializing in protective barriers, talismans, and spiritual cultivation that shot off from Qing Jing during some long-prior generation. This peak could also be responsible for guard duties in the sect, basically sending disciples to close off unsafe or prohibited areas, to manage things like access to the various branches of the Lingxi caves, sealing off dangerous items, and (probably) helping to maintain existing barriers, arrays, and other such systems throughout the sect.

I think this peak would be a decent fit for Airplane, as it would once again situate him pretty close to matters of daily sect operations, and put him in position to know a lot of the secrets and goings on beneath the surface of things. So a plausible explanation for his authorial knowledge and insights would simply be, Barrier Peak are the flies on the wall of a lot of high-level matters. If someone breaks into a restricted area, they know about it. If someone wants something hidden, sealed, or disguised, they know about it.

Bonus angst: this would probably mean that the Barrier Peak's head disciple assisted in sealing a young Yue Qi inside the Lingxi Caves with Xuan Su. If that's Airplane, well, that's twisting a knife a bit now isn't it?

Which just leaves peak no.12, which frankly could be any damn thing. After Booze Peak and Girl Peak, the field is wide open. Dance Battle Peak. Transit System Peak. Spiritually Infused Textiles Peak.

My personal favorite, though, is Sex Worker Peak. Not only because that is the most fanfic-y option, but also because it actually kind of makes sense.

The PIDWorld is just chock full of fuck-or-die tropes, which makes there are countless substances, ailments, curses, etc that can only be cured via sex. Not just for cultivators, but also for everyone else in the world. Like imagine you're an NPC magistrate or something just out there managing your district, having only the most tangential connection to the plot, and one day you're going for a walk and you trip and fall and manage to land right in a field full of sex pollen that cropped up like weeds overnight. Because that's just how this shit works, it doesn't wait for the protagonist to exist in order to activate, it's all got to be out there all the time in order to be there when the wife plot happens, and also for various experts to have accumulated all the mandatory exposition points about how it works.

But you're just some normal guy! You don't want to die of Horny, but the best way to clear this up is not just to have sex, but to have sex with a cultivator who is at least moderately good at using the exchange of spiritual energy to purge your body of the sex pollen poison.

Unless you're lucky enough to know someone, you're probably going to be in the market for professional help here, like even apart from all the other reasons people like to hire sex workers. This is a situation that probably happens fairly often and for which "hire someone to fix it and then move on with your life" is probably the ideal solution. As a bonus, a professional sex cultivation expert is probably also going to minimize your risks for unwanted side effect like STDs and pregnancy, too.

So, imagine we have Qian Cao peak struggling under the workload of all these requests for help with dual cultivation. The problem isn't prudery, but that this stuff is so commonplace it eats up time that could also be allocated to things like research and other medical emergencies. Plus, you have political leaders (kings, princes, emperors, etc) always demanding to be sent your "best" disciples to attend to them, when quite frankly their condition is something even an outer disciple could handle in less time than it would take them to travel out to their location, and these fuckers are not-infrequently liable to try and steal your people away into concubinage too.

One day then, much like with Qing Jing and the Barrier Peak, the Qian Cao peak lord of yore gets fucking fed up and is just like, this requires it's own department. Zhangmen-shijie we're starting a new peak. I'm not asking you I'm telling you. It's a medical peak entirely devoted to sex work. My best disciple at sex, who is in the running for Head Disciple status almost entirely because of this shit, is going to be the new Peak Lord. Any time some princess gets her vagina cursed and needs dick badly, the new peak are going to handle it, while I get to finally fucking finish my research into organ transplants.

And the sect leader of that era, knowing what was good for her, was like yes okay rubber stamp that we have twelve peaks now. Twelve's a good number we probably should have done this sooner anyway. What do you mean we don't have that much mountain? Eh, we'll haul some dirt in and make it happen.

Other Sex Worker Peak Thoughts:

Obviously, raising disciples from the age of ten upwards into this kind of work is controversial at best. Depending on tone, a fic author could either accept that grooming children for sex work was a historical practice and examine the fucked-up-ness of it all, or, we could go another direction and make a case that this is generally the peak which takes on older prospective disciples.

After all, dual cultivation is actually good at helping with setbacks and restoring a damaged cultivation base. You could argue for it being the ideal cultivation approach for latecomers. There could even be a precedent for adult disciples from the other peaks transferring to the Twelfth Peak/Sex Worker Peak if they show an aptitude for the work, and for disciples to temporarily join them as part of repairing or preventing damage from qi deviations.

This could also be a contributing factor to Shen Jiu being like, I have to not only be on Qing Jing Peak but also be the absolute boss of Qing Jing Peak with as few people able to gainsay me as possible, because he's terrified of being ordered to pimp himself out.

Not that he would be, though, because I imagine the sexpert cultivators are pretty well aware of how trauma works and who does or doesn't actually have the right temperament for their business, or what jobs within that business. It's their specialty, after all. If someone is going to have a panic attack and qi deviate over doing the job, that someone is not a good candidate for the job, or for these types of treatments overall.

Sometimes Twelfth Peak loses people on account of them falling in love with their clients or deciding to take some king up on his concubinage offers, but it happens less than one might think. After all, it's basically like working for the best brothel in existence. They have rigorous hygiene and healthcare standards, you get access to all the generalized medical care from Qian Cao, travel expenses are covered and you don't have to work out of your home if you don't want to, your food and housing is supplied by the sect, you're trained in cultivation and martial arts, with a shot at achieving immortality, and you don't even have to work every day because the jobs are contingent on what's being requested, not on you making rent money. In addition to physical cultivation, you can also make and sell tons of erotic art or "love tokens" and it will sell for a lot because of the social mystique of sexy cultivators. A pair of twelfth peak lord's panties probably goes for just as much as one of Shen Qingqiu's fancy calligraphy paintings. So unless you really want to live with some dude, switching over to depending on him for your upkeep doesn't seem all that appealing as a prospect.

Additional fun with this idea is that it would also potentially be an interesting peak lord role for either Airplane or Shen Yuan to end up in. Airplane would probably be like, well I guess this is karma for putting so much gratuitous smut in my stories, and then actually manage the hell out of the whole peak and enjoy himself by only taking on the jobs he actually cares to. Not a bad gig, especially compared to his previous grind. On the other hand, Shen Yuan's internal freak out and subsequent attempts to somehow be the Sex Peak Lord while not actually having any sex would be a potential comedy/suspense goldmine.

[thunderglade]

meowphoreus

[puccafangirl]

Like many people I tend to ship the Pokemon protagonist with almost every friend/rival of theirs. But I gotta say, Dipplinshipping's gotta be my top fave ship involving the S/V protagonist. Like play through the whole DLC and tell me that Kieran didn't have a crush on her! <3

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

in a world of #girlboss Strong Female Leads, there's something wildly profound about Mako Mori letting a man get into a fight on her behalf

[dancing-dawn]

for the ask game. please put him under the microscope

[to all my other sskk+kuro mutuals - love ya, have a little treat from me mmmwah!]

Why, my darling loving literary versed and slightly unhinged friend, you have my eternal gratitude for blessing me with this opportunity to analyse our bastard son. This ask just brought the brightest smile upon my face, because it was so unexpected but also, oh, how my soul has been craving it without my knowledge. I shall make a fair warning here: all of this is going to be my pure and unblemished opinion, since I have read 0, and I mean 0.00 Kuroshitsuji analysis (unlike, yk, for some other cursed by fate morally gray and doomed by the narrative characters for whom I have read every single instance of meta knowledge that can be found on this blasted site). So this shall be fun! Hopefully I can do him justice with my measly understanding of the source material and longtime hyperfixation.

Favourite thing: Ok I feel the need to be very insightful here and analyse the complexity of his character and why he’s such a unique and lovable protagonist besides being an absolute insufferable little shit but, honestly, it’s his character design for me. The way he’s drawn in the manga and espeeecially in the latest volumes where Yana’s art style has grown and flourished so much - it’s magnificent. Such a simple yet striking design, with the glowing engraved with runes purple eye beneath the eyepatch and the very simple boyish blueish hair which oh thanks god he doesn't look like your typical anime protagonist with crazy hair (it also helps to drive the appearance of just a normal little boy who's driven into a world of pure madness and forced to grow up and essentially come on top of the underground “mafia” because of his heritage)

Second, his asthma. As crazy as I may sound. The connection I feel to him because of his lung problems is as limitless as the sky. I adore asthma representation in media, it’s very important for me and I feel that his was portrayed very respectfully and serves to paint the full picture of his story.

Third, all the goddamn chess metaphors to his name. I love the chess symbolism to SHREDS!! And everything related to his personality to stem from that yes.

Least favourite thing: MMmmmmm some of his earlier outfits imao, I can think of some especially atrocious ones from the anime (the colors are NOT helping). But don’t get me wrong - I also love a lot of them. Especially those from the dreamscape, yk what I'm talking about.

Favourite line: I just realised I don't have one???? Preposterous, gotta go on a deep dive gimme a sec…

“I prefer to have my nightmares with open eyes.”

Oh that's a sick one I like it! Coming back to check Ciel quotes I'm being reminded this boy has some terrific life philosophy and I love him for it.

brOTP: Ok it’s a bit weird to call it a “brotop” but in the sense of which platonic interactions I love the most of course I need to say between those of our main duo. Ciel and Sebastian have the most complex and interesting dymanic, possibly out of any characters in media outside of kuro too, I just don't feel confident enough to analyse it here because honestly it's hard even for me to put into words.

OTP: I feel like the story of Black Butler is best told without any romance, so I’m gonna say none.

nOTP: For plot and current manga development reasons, as tragic as it is, I need to say Lizzy/ Ciel (both in fact). I love Lizzy, so so much. She became very dear to my heart the second her backstory and real character was revealed in Book of the Atlantic. Her love for Ciel is tragic in many ways. It makes for a dramatic interesting story but I still feel sympathy for her.

Random headcanon: He would soon reach a point when he'd start wanting to tear himself from Sebastian's care - maybe just to spite him, maybe to prove to himself he's as physically weak as he's perceived, but he will start making his own tea or trying and failing spectacularly to make his own desserts and little things like that.

Unpopular opinion: uuuuh gonna skip this one i can't think of anything perdonami perdonami

Song I associate with them: Easy. So easy in fact that I searched for the song the second I opened this document and it’s been playing nonstop for an hour while I write this. I have so many fond memories of this song because I discovered it very early into my Kuro obsession and at first I didn’t even realise it’s not an “official” character song, it just fits so so well. I remember this song carrying me through my uni prep art courses when I was feeling so stressed and close to throwing up, I always put this on repeat to calm me. I barely even remember what the lyrics mean and yet I still feel a very intense connection to it.

Favourite picture:

I shall not and need not elaborate further thank you :3

[khaoala]

Do you have any other japenese gl recommendations???

we unfortunately don't have many. ayaka is in love with hiroko is the first one that has this romcom vibe as far as i'm aware.

another one that is very famous is chaser game w. this one has two seasons and it tells the story of two women who had a romance in university but they broke up in bad terms. years later fuyu goes back to japan and becomes itsuki's boss and fuyu is very determined to make itsuki's life hell (it doesn't last long, though, she folds so easily).

one of my all time favorites, though, has to be she love to cook and she loves to eat. it also has two seasons and it's not necessarily plot heavy, but it approaches many topics. like a lot of my favorite japanese shows, she love to cook and she loves to eat revolves (obviously) around food, but it's also about discovering one's sexuality later in life, coming to terms with that, and just living life how you want and not how others expect you to. it's such a heartwarming show, and it might not be everyone's cup of tea because it is slower, but to me, it's very comforting and i rewatch it every time i need a pick me up.

[starshine-valley]

“I ship Kanade with the passive character with long hair and a great singing voice!”

Which one?

“No, actually, I meant the one with a ponytail who acts in front of others to please them and is an honor student!”

I said. Which. One?

[small-z24]

Shadows of Fate 2

Summary:

Y/n, Cassian's shy and quiet sister, prefers to keep to the shadows. Unbeknownst to her, she is Azriel's mate. His shadows are inexplicably drawn to her, and as they grow closer, a slow-burn romance ensues. Cassian, ever protective of his sister, watches over her as the bond between Y/n and Azriel deepens.

Chapter 2: Keeping Secrets

Cassian had always been protective of Y/n. As the older brother, he felt it was his duty to keep her safe from the world’s dangers. When their parents died, Cassian had taken on the role of both brother and protector, a role he took very seriously. So when he noticed Y/n spending more time with Azriel, his instincts kicked in.

One evening, Cassian stood on the training grounds, watching Azriel as he practiced his swordsmanship. The movements were fluid and precise, a testament to Azriel's skill. Cassian waited until Azriel finished his set before approaching.

"Az, can we talk?" Cassian’s voice was casual, but there was a seriousness in his eyes.

Azriel nodded, sheathing his sword. "Of course. What’s on your mind?"

Cassian motioned for them to walk, leading Azriel away from the others. "It's about Y/n," he began, glancing at Azriel to gauge his reaction.

Azriel’s expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Cassian replied quickly. "But I've noticed you two spending a lot of time together."

Azriel nodded slowly. "Yes, we have. We’ve been getting to know each other."

Cassian stopped walking and turned to face Azriel, his gaze intense. "Az, she’s my sister. She’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to see her get hurt."

"I understand," Azriel said, meeting Cassian’s gaze steadily. "And I care about her, Cassian. More than I can explain. I would never hurt her."

Cassian studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright. But just know, I’m watching. She means everything to me."

Azriel nodded, a solemn promise in his eyes. "I won’t let you down."

Cassian gave a curt nod before walking away, leaving Azriel standing alone with his thoughts. Azriel knew that gaining Cassian’s trust wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to prove himself worthy of Y/n.

The next few days were filled with cautious interactions. Cassian kept a close eye on Y/n and Azriel, watching their every move. Y/n noticed her brother’s increased protectiveness but chose not to confront him, understanding his concerns. Meanwhile, she and Azriel had decided to keep the fact that they were mates a secret, at least for now. They didn’t want to stir up any trouble or cause Cassian unnecessary worry.

One evening, as Y/n was reading in the library, Cassian approached her. "Hey, can we talk?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Y/n looked up, setting her book aside. "Of course, Cass. What’s on your mind?"

Cassian sat down beside her, his expression serious. "I just want to make sure you’re alright. With Azriel, I mean."

Y/n smiled gently. "I’m alright, Cassian. Azriel has been nothing but kind and respectful. He makes me feel safe."

Cassian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. I just... I worry about you."

"I know you do," Y/n said, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "And I appreciate it. But I need you to trust me. Trust that I can make my own decisions."

Cassian nodded slowly. "I do trust you, Y/n. And I’m trying to trust Azriel. It’s just... hard."

"It’s hard for me too," Y/n admitted. "But I think Azriel is worth it."

Cassian studied her face for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Just promise me you’ll be careful."

"I promise," Y/n said, giving him a reassuring smile.

****

Azriel felt the weight of Cassian’s scrutiny, but he remained patient, knowing that earning the warrior’s trust would take time. He continued to spend time with Y/n, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.

One evening, as they sat together in the garden, Azriel turned to Y/n. "How are you feeling about all of this?" he asked softly.

Y/n looked at him, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the moonlight. "It’s a lot to take in," she admitted. "But I’m glad we’re taking it slow. I feel like I’m getting to know you, really know you."

Azriel smiled, his heart swelling with affection. "I feel the same way. And I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what."

"Thank you, Azriel," she said, reaching out to take his hand. "I appreciate that more than you know."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the night air filled with the scent of blooming flowers. Azriel’s shadows wrapped around them, creating a cocoon of intimacy and safety.

As they sat together in the garden, surrounded by the night’s embrace, Y/n felt a sense of peace and belonging she had never known before. She knew the journey ahead would be filled with challenges, but with Azriel by her side, she felt ready to face whatever came their way.

Despite the growing bond between Y/n and Azriel, Cassian remained wary. He watched them closely, his protective instincts on high alert.

One evening, after training, he cornered Azriel. "Az, we need to talk."

Azriel sighed inwardly but nodded. "Alright, Cassian. What is it?"

Cassian’s eyes were hard, his jaw set. "I know you care about Y/n. But I need to be sure that you understand what this means. She’s my sister. If you hurt her..."

"I won’t," Azriel interrupted, his voice firm. "I swear to you, Cassian, I will protect her with my life. I would never hurt her."

Cassian searched his eyes for any sign of deceit, finding none. Slowly, he nodded. "Alright. But just know, I’m trusting you with the most important person in my life."

Azriel nodded, a solemn promise in his eyes. "I won’t let you down."

As the weeks turned into months, the bond between Y/n and Azriel deepened. They spent countless hours together, talking, laughing, and simply enjoying each other’s presence. Y/n found herself falling for Azriel, her heart swelling with love for the quiet, shadowed warrior.

One evening, as they sat together on a secluded balcony, Azriel turned to her, his eyes filled with emotion. "Y/n, there’s something I need to tell you."

She looked at him, her heart skipping a beat. "What is it, Azriel?"

He took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. "I love you, Y/n. More than anything. You are my mate, my heart, my everything."

Tears filled her eyes as she reached out to cup his cheek. "I love you too, Azriel. With all my heart."

They shared a tender kiss, the world around them fading away. In that moment, Y/n knew that she had found her true home in Azriel’s arms.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this continuation of Y/n and Azriel's story. Feel free to leave comments and let me know your thoughts!

[ma-smimon]

Och, Liko 🥺

[kieflo]

im going to sleep but before that i must tell everyone that im 99% sure that in pokespe violet will do the whole kitakami siblings and bb arc while scarlet is off doing all the insane side quests and if this doesn't happen i will kill god

[mygwenchan]

Today I had a bit of a k-drama meet-cute moment at the grocery store and apparently I was the cutie?

So there I was, short af, struggling to get a package of cheese from the upper shelf. I'm already on my tip toes and still can't reach the damn thing... Typical Friday etc. Then suddenly this tall handsome woman appears out of nowhere behind me. "Here, let me help you with that." I'm like half in her arms while she grabs the box and holds it for me, so I can have my pick. I take my cheese, but of course we're both a bit clumsy and two packages drop down and then we laugh and almost bump heads while we pick them up and she goes like "Let's just pretend nothing happened~" with the most beautiful smile ever and she puts the spare cheese back and winks at me, then disappears into the crowd and I'm standing there blushing like hell 🙈💕

[no-brand-gays]

it is always a good day to find out that the character you’ve liked the most so far in your watch of love live superstar is a descendent of the samurai who founded the city you live in

[yuchime]

yes, it's this, with my ship: https://twitter.com/Euly_y/status/1673757704324521985

[small-z24]

Love in the Shadows Pt. 6

Summary:

Azriel and Y/n have revealed their relationship to the Night Court, but the secret of their mating bond remains hidden. As they navigate their new dynamic within the group, Y/n must earn the trust of Azriel’s closest friends while keeping their deepest secret intact. Mor's jealousy and Cassian's protectiveness create additional challenges.

Word Count: 720

Warnings: None

Navigating Trust

The days following Y/n's introduction to the Night Court were filled with a mix of curiosity and cautious acceptance. Azriel could feel the eyes of his friends on them, assessing the new dynamic and the woman who had captured his heart.

One morning, Y/n stood on the balcony of the House of Wind, watching the sun rise over Velaris. The city glowed with a golden hue, the river Sidra sparkling in the early light. She felt a presence behind her and turned to find Mor stepping out, a cup of tea in hand.

"Good morning, Y/n," Mor greeted, her tone warm but her eyes betraying a hint of coldness.

"Good morning, Mor," Y/n replied, offering a small smile.

Mor joined her at the balcony railing, gazing out at the city. "Beautiful, isn’t it?"

"It is," Y/n agreed, her eyes reflecting the same warmth. "I never tire of this view."

Mor sipped her tea, studying Y/n over the rim of her cup. "You know, we’re all very protective of Azriel. He’s family."

"I understand," Y/n said softly. "And I promise, I only want what’s best for him."

Mor’s gaze hardened slightly. "Good. Because Azriel has been hurt before. We don’t want to see that happen again."

Y/n felt a pang of anxiety but masked it with a gentle smile. "He means a lot to me, Mor. I would never hurt him."

Mor nodded, but her expression remained skeptical. "I hope you mean that."

As Mor left, Y/n felt a mixture of relief and determination. She knew she had to prove herself, not just to Mor, but to all of them.

Cassian’s Watchful Eye

Cassian, however, was not so easily convinced. His protective nature over both Y/n and Azriel was as fierce as ever. One afternoon, he found Azriel in the training yard, practicing his swordsmanship.

"Az, we need to talk," Cassian said, his tone serious.

Azriel paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "About what?"

"Y/n," Cassian replied, crossing his arms. "I’m still trying to wrap my head around this."

Azriel met his gaze steadily. "Cassian, I care about her deeply. More than I can put into words. I would never hurt her."

Cassian nodded slowly. "I know you wouldn’t. But you’re like a brother to me, Az. I don’t want to see you get hurt again. You’ve been through enough."

Azriel’s jaw tightened. "This is different, Cassian. She’s different."

Cassian sighed. "I hope so. But just remember, I’m watching. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt."

Azriel nodded, understanding the weight of Cassian’s words. "I wouldn’t expect anything less."

Rhysand’s Observations

Rhysand had always been a keen observer, and he couldn’t help but notice the subtleties between Azriel and Y/n. One evening, he and Feyre discussed it in their private chambers.

"Do you think Azriel and Y/n are more than just a couple?" Feyre asked, her curiosity piqued.

Rhysand sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I do. I think they might be mates."

Feyre’s eyes widened slightly. "Mates? Are you sure?"

"I can sense the bond," Rhysand said quietly. "But Azriel hasn’t said anything, and neither has Y/n. I think they’re keeping it to themselves for now."

Feyre nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. They probably don’t want to rush anything or deal with the added pressure."

"Exactly," Rhysand agreed. "We’ll let them reveal it in their own time."

Azriel’s Commitment

As the weeks passed, Y/n and Azriel continued to navigate their relationship within the Night Court. They found solace in each other, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.

One evening, as they walked through the quiet streets of Velaris, Azriel turned to Y/n, his expression serious. "There’s something I need to tell you."

Y/n looked at him, her eyes filled with concern. "What is it?"

Azriel took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "I love you, Y/n. More than anything. You are my mate, my heart, my everything."

Tears filled her eyes as she reached out to cup his cheek. "I love you too, Azriel. With all my heart."

They shared a tender kiss, the world around them fading away. In that moment, Y/n knew that she had found her true home in Azriel’s arms.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this continuation of Azriel and Y/n's story. Feel free to leave comments and let me know your thoughts!

[protagonists-catastrophe]

"..."

> [He's just staring at you.]

> "Stop staring at me. You little freak."