#The entire rest of the direct didn't matter. Everyone was setting fires.

[tequitoclown]

The only thing I miss about Twitter was when there was a Nintendo Direct or some form of video game news. Everyone would live tweet that shit so you'd refresh the page at every announcement and see 6 people screaming about the announcements.

Just pages of "LET'S FUCKING GOOOO" or "THIS LOOKS LIKE SHIT!" or "NO FUCKING WAY" or "WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK"

It sounds silly but I miss the level of hype. That's the only thing I truly miss about Twitter.

[shytastemakerthing]

So, I currently have a chat with a friend on Discord where we rant and rave about Twisted Wonderland, its characters, and the ocs that we have created for such fandom.

Which is what led to this lovely little blurb in regards to an oc of mine I have yet to introduce everyone here too, but until then, enjoy!

Warning: mentions of blood and body horror and Jade being vulnerable with his emotions

It was a strange sort of feeling that Jade did not know how to fully describe, an urge to run, that something was not alright. Why was he feeling this? What was going on? Students were running from the lounge, one right after the other, several, as he could see, were equipping themselves with their magic pens. Was there something dangerous on campus that called the entire student body to act?

What could such a thing possibly be?

The feeling grew stronger, an urge to move quicker, run as fast as he could.

Where was Floyd?

It was that question that rang through his mind that made his proverbial hackles rise, the hair on the back of his neck standing up with the widening of his mix-matched eyes, wasting no time in breaking out into a sprint, following after the rest of the students, all rushing into the same direction.

The Sports Field.

The closer that he got, the more that his heart sank, his throat drying up, goosebumps prickling his skin.

A dark cloud covered the area, a thick, dark mist spreading all around.

The field was far worse, Jade's heart hit the ground with an audible splat.

Students lay on the ground, pale, un-moving, eyes completely blank, as if life had all but been drained from them. Faces he knew and faces that he didn't. He saw it all the more he moved through the field, and then he screamed, his legs moving before his mind could fully register what was happening.

His twin, his other half now cradled in his arms, skin too cold to the touch for Jade's liking, body moving like a mere rag-doll, skin a sickly shade of pale. No matter how he shook him, calling out his name, even going so far as to pleading with Floyd to wake up, his twin never moved. Had it not been for the faint, hardly there, pulse, Jade would have thought him dead.

"Floyd, this isn't funny anymore, I need you to wake up. Floyd, listen to me…. Floyd?"

Jade, no matter how hard he tried, could feel his composure slipping, his voice wavering the more he pleaded.

He needed Floyd to wake up.……. why won't he wake up?

Another student charged past him, magical pen drawn, ready to fire off as many spells as needed, before Jade saw an inky black tendril latch onto the student, hearing the screams, ones that sent a shiver down his spine, before their body fell limp and were then dropped to the floor, bearing the same lifeless eyes and pale skin.

Jade's line of sight followed the inky tendril back to whatever body it had been attached too.

He was never one to really feel any fear, it was meaningless. Not as a predator that hailed from the Coral Sea, where he had faced more dangers than any student here, and even on land, still having his same set of skills, and the strength that came with him. Fear was not exactly something he was accustomed to feeling.

No, this was not fear.

Jade was terrified.

He has seen blot, he had seen it happen to Azul, but the student before him, no, not student, for he knew the face of the blotted student in front of him.

A mass of inky tendrils latched onto her body, connecting her to the towering blot phantom that was above her, eyes full of rage and resentment. Accumulated blot pooling past her lips, leaking from her eyes in a resemblance of tears. Blackened veins protruding from her arms, along her fins.

Jade wanted to scream, but his voice was caught in his throat, eyes widened at the amalgamation of blot that stood before him, a twisted smile painted on her face, her eerie laugh resonating in the air, causing his grip on Floyd to grow tighter.

He finally found his voice.

"Juniper…. what have you done?"

Her laugh only grew louder, near cackling, wiping the blot from her eyes, all but smearing it over her face, only adding to the daunting appearance she now held in the throes of her madness, captive within the blot.

More cries echoed out from behind him, seeing a flurry of more students rushing in.

No!

His cries fell on deaf ears, one student after another dropping to the floor, after a flash. Was…. were those tendrils absorbing the magic of those they trapped? Is that what happened to Floyd?

"Juniper, stop this, you're going to kill them!"

He was the only conscious one on the field, aside from the twisted eel before him now.

Her gaze only hardened as her mad smile fell into a scowl as she trudged closer and closer to him.

"Like you tried to kill me, Jade?"

It was getting harder and harder to breathe, the mist growing thicker and thicker, causing him to cough out, pulling up his uniform jacket over his mouth in hopes to keep it from filling his lungs. pressing Floyd closer to him. His vision grew bleary, no matter how many times he blinked his eyes in hopes to clear his sight, it was no use.

When did he become alone?

Water surrounded him, Jade was in his natural form, he couldn't move, a powerful force of nature holding him back.

Why was he here?

His eyes grazed the area, recognizing exactly where he was as his breath hitched. In front of him, he could see little Juniper, the smile of an innocent smile painting her face.

Oh……..oh he knew now… he knew it was that day

Jade saw the shipwreck, one that Juniper had been so excited to be able to explore, her eyes holding so much excitement, but he knew what was going to happen.

There he was, why was he seeing this?

He was a child again, a memory he did not often think about, until Juniper now forced it upon him.

He saw his younger self swim away, leaving Juniper alone. He saw the shadow of the boat looming over her. He saw her calling for her brother, before screaming in pure agony the moment he saw the harpoon plunge itself into her chest, her blood filling the waters surrounding them as she thrashed to get away.

Then everything was quiet.

And he was back to the beginning.

He swam, away again, Juniper was shot again.

Again and again.

More and more he screamed to her, shouting for her to move, to swim away. He screamed at himself, screaming to go back to her, to not go through this diabolical plan he had set in motion years ago. Jade thrashed at whatever invisible force was holding him. He could hear Juniper's mocking laugh in his mind the more that he struggled.

He screamed and screamed. Screamed until his throat was dry and cracking, until his voice was going out.

Screaming at himself to save her. To bring her back home.

He moved.

Eyes widening, Jade pulled again, stronger, feeling himself move just a little bit closer, a new resolve flooding his veins as he watched the loop start over once more.

His teeth grit together, pulling forward with all his might, veins near popping through his skin before whatever invisible force was trying to keep its hold on him.

He was free

Panting, not a moment was wasted. Jade had never swam so fast in his life, seeing the shadow of the boat looming over little Juniper, he reached his arms out, screaming her name, before he finally had her in his grasp, pulling her close as he launched himself back as quickly as he could, breathing ragged.

His eyes clenched shut as he held her close, holding his little sister close to him, a flurry of apologies leaving his lips like a mantra, repeated over and over again.

When had he truly apologized for anything? And actually meant it?

He could smell blood.

Pulling back, Jade felt the blood leave his face as he saw the harpoon still lodged in Juniper's chest. A cry escapes from him as her blood fills the water around them.

The cycle begins again. He pulls free again. He saves her again…. she dies in his arms again.

"STOP THIS!

His voice is shrill, body trembling with such a force as he finds himself at the beginning of the loop once again. How many times had it been? Fifty? One-hundred? He had lost count.

But he would try to save her as many times as needed. Even if he couldn't change the past.

Because saving her was all he could do now. If it meant that this nightmare would end, Jade would save her as many times as he needed.

Once again, he held her in his arms, the both of them sinking to the ocean floor, nestled in the sand as it lifted around them once they hit it.

He held her close, so tenderly, like a mother holding her newborn baby. He brushed the hair from her face, held onto her much smaller hands, sobs leaving him, pressing his forehead to her own, his voice hushed, silent, barely even managing to get the words that he needed out.

"Juniper, I-…. I'm so… I am so sorry…….."

He nearly choked on his words, lips trembling.

Nothing happened.

Looking up, he saw that the loop had ended. He was still on the sea floor, Juniper's small body beginning to dissolve in a flurry of shimmering gold, even after he tried to keep his hold on her, until he was only grasping at the water that was around him.

Coughing, he was coughing now.

Groaning, Jade forced his eyes awake, he was back on the sports field, Floyd was on the ground in front of him, Juniper was trembling before them, her eyes anchored to the ground as he could hear the faintest of sobs leaving her.

He held no hesitation.

Not anymore.

Rushing towards her, Jade clung to her true to the surname that he held, no matter how she clawed to get him off, his hold never lessened. Never again.

Her protests grew weaker and weaker, until she finally sank down onto her knees chest heaving. Jade could see the blot losing its hold over her. He could feel his own energy draining.

She was finally free.

And both would succumb to the pull of unconsciousness, and true to his word, Jade never let her go.

[dimiclaudeblaigan]

literally why is she a commander though? this is the actual worst command from a commander i have ever seen given in literally any fe game. i would have to guess edelgard gave her the position because i can't imagine why else she'd have it (and i forget if it was ever mentioned why she's in the position); but then like, why would edelgard put her in that position knowing what she's like and that she's not commander material?

either edelgard put her in that position because she's for some reason too dumb to realize it's a stupid choice and is not good for her army, or it's because bernadetta is a noble... which has unfortunate implications in any direction.

either her goal is to send the nobles into battle as commanders to kill off the current nobles because she doesn't like them/they didn't support her claims/war efforts (i.e. the nobles who didn't agree with her could be getting forced to fight to be killed off so it's less of a problem for her down the line, which i feel like wouldn't be the case for bernadetta since she seems very pro-edelgard/pro-empire in hopes? might not entirely be the case but it's the vibe i get from her various exploration dialogue, particularly in ag), her army is so badly off that she doesn't have enough capable commanders and has to send anything she can get, or the nobility problem in adrestia is so bad that nobody will listen to a non-noble as a commander... which is in stark contrast with the entire rest of fodlan and also means she's making her country's problems sound like they're everyone's problem.

just, all in all, bernadetta being a commander does not work unless:

edelgard is intentionally trying to get her killed/is just using her as fodder to keep her proper commanders alive longer (which considering she set her on fire at gronder in houses, even if she's not explicitly doing it to kill her, she definitely uses bernadetta as fodder to be discarded in vw/am, which checks out with her any sacrifice is a good sacrifice for her goals mentality)

edelgard is just stupid (the most unlikely situation here, especially because even if she did something counter productive to the war effort, Hubert would help and course correct)

her army is so bad off that she doesn't have enough capable commanders who can get respect for being a good commander whether they're a noble or not (this isn't sb, so shez doesn't count)

which like, edelgard doing something stupid would fall to the writers doing something stupid because edelgard in and of herself isn't brainless. typically she has a reason for doing something, especially in regard to her war efforts, so i can't see why she would just send bernadetta of all people willy nilly. it makes me think it has to do with nobility specifically and she was likely limited in her options, but the game never explores that.

bernadetta could have been a recruit that started out as an enemy for game mechanics, sure, but as a commander? like, is it really just her status as a noble that she's a commander for? because again, why would she put someone like this in such an important position while aiming to win a war? i feel like if she just picked whoever/her weakest commander link because she had the death knight there too (so in this case possibly figured it doesn't matter who is commanding with his strength present, so even if they weren't well commanded wanted to believe they would get by on pure strength alone), that's just incompetency on her part.

generally speaking i feel like bernadetta is more neutral on the war itself but more in support of edelgard in general in hopes, and i can't see her ever causing edelgard problems down the line, so i don't feel like edelgard would send her off to battle expecting/hoping for her to die in the belief that it would benefit her/prevent issues later. i also can't see why, knowing bernadetta, edelgard would leave her in command of... anything at all to do with the war. if she wants to win the war, why would she have someone who can barely leave her room out of fear of people command units in a war?

so that just really makes me think she had no other options, which like... what was she doing the previous two years then? planning for war obviously, but she still ended up with this? she still couldn't get her army to a better point? was it because if she tried putting a non-noble in charge of anything that people still wouldn't fight under that person's command?

in faerghus even if they don't like it, they'll do it if they at least know the person is commander material. is it meant to reflect how opposite their situations are? how planning for war for two years made this kind of difference from improving the country itself on top of its army for two years?

bernadetta as a commander is just so wtf for me. could the writers not think of anything else to do with her? she could've been a recruitable enemy, but the commander angle just feels weird.

[starfirette]

Rebirth | Azula x Reader

masterlist | requests are closed until I clear my inbox once and for all!!!!! | i spent DAYS on this. i'm so proud of it. I love writing Azula.

the request: Hello if It’s ok can I request an Azula x male reader where the reader is a earthbender that has lavabending that rescues and helps Azula when she is defeated during Zozin’s comet and when she asks why he says that he fell in love with her even through he is on the good guy side and that he is willing to abandon everything for her because she is very important to him and that she is to hot for prison.

The war seemed to be over, for most.

You were glad to be rid of it. Your hands had seen too much blood, had been drenched in too much. You were glad to see it over.

It had been a matter of hours since Aang had taken the Ability from the once named Fire Lord. And now, he was resting at the camp, with you and the rest of his friends.

The comet was still passing overhead. It was hard to rest when all the elements were being basked in the intense heat. You could feel it all the way to the bone. You could sense the pain the earth was in, as if the soil and rock called out to you in a plea for help. You wondered if Aang felt this way about the air, for that, too, was being weighed down by the mass heat.

If anyone was suffering the most, it must have been Katara.

She was in the middle of the lake right now, basking in the moisture to ease her fever that had grown shortly after her apprehension of a certain Fire Nation Princess.

Katara couldn't be eased by any amount of water she drank. She had resigned to stripping to her bathing suit and wading into the water in an attempt to keep close to her Element.

No one seemed really too happy by the victory. It must have been the heat. The comet has reached its peak by now, so everyone was eagerly waiting for it to pass on.

Zuko, though injured, seemed alright for the most part. He didn't mind the sweat, or the hot tea, or the beating light of the setting sun and slow traveling comet.

Your feet were bare and stuffed into the muddy sand of the lake's shore. You tried to feel for any part of the earth that hadn't been molested by the blaze.

You looked at the sky. The sun was setting in one direction, and yet the comet still burned on. You were given a glimpse into an alien world that had not one, but two suns. How devastating for your Element that would be...

To you, Earth should be neutral enough to be molded, whether it be mud turned to stone, or stone worn down enough to grains of sand, then to be wet and forgotten, born again as mud.

You curled your toes into the mud and winced at the heat. You waded into the water.

You neared Katara who was almost completely submerged, only her eyes and nose surfaced.

She stood, but was at least a head shorter than you.

"I think it'll be over soon," she said. Her voice held grit, like the grains of sand you were pushing your feet against. "It doesn't feel right."

You could understand what she had trouble conveying. You felt similar when traveling in the air on Appa's back--disconnected from the material plane, without any surface to cling to. You first suffered major sickness when flying, but Toph was able to teach you tricks to get through it.

"I'm surprised you're doing this well," you admitted as you made a cup of water with your hands. You splashed the Element on your face.

"I'll be fine once the night's coolness sets in. There's just no more moisture here...even the sweat off the brows of the campers are burnt. They might as well be producing pure salt."

That was one point.

"That's not what I entirely meant. You're surprisingly calm with her being here."

Katara's drowsy eyes snapped wide open, gazing at you like a hateful snowy beardog.

"She's lucky she's here at all. If it were up to me, I wouldn't have let her-,"

"-Live?"

Katara used the back of her hand to smack you hard on the shoulder. "She could have killed me if she wanted."

"She didn't," you pointed out as you dunked yourself in the water. It was warm all around, so there was no point in bracing yourself. You felt like a tea leaf.

"You didn't see the way she fought," Katara murmured as she gazed up to the sky.

Katara's breath became uneven as she recalled the event.

It startled you when Katara began to weep.

You took her small, slender self beneath your arm, hugging her the way your father once hugged you.

She stayed this way for some time before she stopped. It was the cries and whoops of joy that brought her out of her trance. The comet had made its round past the realm, and it was now a distant ember.

Katara dunked herself under the water, her hair a dark mass of threads rising around her. She rose and sputtered out water. Her hair was a mop on her face that she messily pushed out of her face.

She cast a hand out and made the water rise tall like a mountain, before releasing it. "I feel much better," she said. "Don't tell anyone."

"Don't tell anyone you feel better?"

"Don't tell anyone that you saw me crying," she scowled. "Or else."

You laughed and gave her ribs a nudge. "Sure. Whatever you say."

You two waded out of the water together, going back to the center of the camp that was in uproar with happiness. A bonfire was going, which seemed ironic considering everyone was just bemoaning over the heat a moment ago. Fish and meat were being cooked, to Sokka's delight, and Aang was scarfing down oil fried rice with greens.

The celebration was in full swing as some music played, being beaten into existence on drums and stringed instruments. You took a seat near your friends, who all sat side by side.

"They're all so happy," Katara said as she curled into Aang's side. You were dumbfounded at the sight, but said nothing as Aang just wrapped an arm around her-a new development, you supposed, and, like everyone else, you were too tired to really say anything. The idea of Aang and Katara felt natural. It wasn't out of the blue; this relationship had been long in the making.

Aang was tired. His eyes were weary and wreathed with dark shadows.

"Is it weird that we're not?" Toph asked as she put her feet flat on the ground.

"I don't feel happy," you agreed. "I feel relieved. But not happy."

"Satisfied," Sokka supplied the term as he laid on his slab of furs. "I'm just satisfied. I'm not, like, overjoyed. I know that I should be, but I'm not."

"That's fucked up," Suki muttered.

There was nothing happy about the events that had transpired. There was just the lingering feeling of guilt and emptiness. What would happen now? What to do next? This question filled you with anxiety.

"I'm going to go see her," Zuko said softly as he rose to his feet.

Katara caught the leg of his pants. "That's not a good idea."

"I believe Katara may be right," Aang said sympathetically. "Shall someone join you?"

Zuko looked inclined to decline the offer, but you spoke up before he could do it. "I'll go with you," you said firmly.

Your friends didn't want to see either of you go, but no one else dared to take your place. No one wanted to be near her, let alone watch Zuko talk to her. Zuko was undergoing intense healing therapy from Katara, who used her 'glowy water' (as Sokka says) on his wound every couple of hours. It seemed that this treatment was working. Zuko was fully capable of standing upright and dealing with the matters at hand. He was certainly the best fit for a prince. You would not make a good prince, for you enjoyed acting leisurely. But Zuko knew that he had to take care of his sister. Sure, if you had a sister, you'd do your best to check in-but if your sister had tried to murder you less than 24 hours ago.

You followed Zuko to the high point of the hills, far away from the camp. You and Toph had worked together to make a temporary prison. The rock formation looked like a cave, put together with any sort of earth you and Toph could utilize. There were members of the Water Tribe standing guard, all looking serious and solemn. They knew the prisoner they were guarding was not to be tempted or underestimated.

Katara and Sokka's father shook hands with Zuko first and then you.

"She's been quiet," Hakoda explained.

"Not crying anymore?" Zuko asked. It was laughable, but Azula had truly spent most of her imprisonment wailing in despair. She was not going to enjoy the rest of her punishment, especially considering she's been there for a matter of hours.

"Just quiet. Won't eat the food, either."

"I don't blame her," you muttered. Water Tribe food consisted of fish.

Hakoda gave you a pointed glance, with a cocked eyebrow. You smiled nervously.

"Go on through," Hakoda finally said. "I'll let Y/n do the honors."

The people standing attentive guard took a few steps back. You used one arm to take hold of the element, imagining it like solid vapor in the air. You closed your fingers around it and pulled, letting the prison door slide open smoothly.

The inside of the caves were wet and cool; dew dripped in the distance, patting the stone. Its rhythm paced you to the back of the cave.

A little breath filled the sounds of the cave, echoing off the wall's formation. There were no jagged edges, you realized, as you brushed your fingers across them. It was smooth like the edges of a coin (thanks to your talent, no doubt).

The breathing trickled closer as the cave narrowed—you could feel the rock coming to an end, rounding over like a blunt end of a match. The roots from there on ran deep into the earth, past the deep layers and crusts that sealed the planet up.

"Sister," Zuko breathed as he neared the end of the cave. He put a hand against the last wall and looked at you grimly. You sensed his message and opened the vault, grabbing again at that unseen tether connecting you to the rock and earth.

Azula was revealed to be in the center of the round room. Mounds of dirt were pushed together and layered with animal skins for her to sleep on, though she couldn't sleep comfortably. She was well contained, tied in bind of metal chains that Toph molded perfectly to her wrists and and ankles. There was no way Azula could escape such bondage.

The room was pooled with the moonlight that fell through the unseen cracks of the cave ceiling.

Azula looked pitiful.

Her eyes once had a spark. Perhaps it was a literal spark, but now it was gone. Her eyes now were puffy and red, and her nose and upper lip dried raw from snot. “Here to brag, Zuko?” She asked. Her voice—raw and hoarse.

“Do you know me so little?” Zuko asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I know more than you and your friends think.” Upon spatting the term ‘friends’ she jutted a chin to you.

Azula sat herself up, shaking her dirty, uncombed hair out of her face. Despite all she’d been through, she still managed to look beautiful.

"Where have you taken our father?" She asked as she managed to sit straight. You could tell she was trying hard to appear adequate and in control of her feelings--it was a sad display, because she was doing horribly. No one could take her for the ruthless, calculative princess she had once been when she still had snot dripping down her lip. She was a crying mess. And she was trying hard to contain it.

"I can't tell you that," Zuko said, his voice unfathomably form. His rigidity led you to believe that he was suffering from the sight of his sister this way. Despite all she'd done, that was his sister; you had no one. If you did have some one, you'd have a hard time being angry with them.

"Zuzu...this is all so pointless," she said, her laugh melded to a dry sob. "It didn't work. It failed. I failed."

Zuko couldn't figure out what to say.

You examined the texture of the rock--how amazing! It seemed smooth but if you focused on it, there are tiny, tiny holes, as though it were a sponge.

"Once again, you've earned the rewards that you didn't work for. The crop that I sowed, you have intentionally reaped. I have nothing, not even so much as a grain of rice. I did everything that I was told. I rose to the occasion."

It seemed...hole-y?

"And now I'm being punished for it."

Pourous? Permeable? Porous seemed the right term actually.

"And you, you awkward lynx," she said, glancing at you through her uneven bangs. "How is it that whenever you're around, my life seems to fall apart by the seams. You don't even speak. I've never heard a word from your chapped lips."

How interesting, that this was actually true. You never knew what to say, to anyone, let alone to Azula.

You didn't know what to say now, so you stood silently. Azula's eyes filled with tears as she demanded you to speak, to say anything to her.

"It's okay," Zuko said softly as he knelt down, crawling close to the stoney bars of confinement.

Azula spat at his hand.

It did land on him.

Zuko closed his eyes and breathed heavily through his nose as he tried to contain his frustration. He wiped his hand on his tunic and stood, struggling as he was still in a great deal of pain.

"I'll come back in the morning. I'll bring you some breakfast."

Zuko's words fell on deaf ears as Azula went limp, collapsing back to the ground, curling up into a sad looking ball. She didn't speak as you and your friend walked away.

You couldn't be sure...but once you were out of sight, the cries started to echo again.

t

The time came for the official transfer of the once royal princess Azula.

It's been seven years since that night in the cave, where you spoke your first words to the princess. In this years, Zuko had mended his nation and became Fire Lord. Aang was a full fledged Avatar-And you were their messenger. Acting as the first representative for Aang and Zuko, often times giving speeches and announcements on their behalf, you were gifted with many authorities. Many times you felt proud of such an honor-having grown up to be a good man with grace and loyalty. But at times like this, you wondered why you did the dirty work.

The prison was located within the depths of a mountain, plunging way down into the earth. You are the only earthbender in the compound. You're the only one that can feel just how deep this prison goes into the crust of the earth. The sensation is nauseating. This earth isn't like the kind you typically align yourself with. The prison has been so carved into the mountain that you can feel the rock boiling, melting, and churning over the bubbling lava that is just meters below your feet.

The entire place is swampy and devastatingly hot. Sweat pours down the back of your neck.

"We're very grateful that Fire Lord Zuko sent his closest confidant to assist the transfer," a guard said, in an awkward way to make small talk. You weren't typically inclined to such personal displays, especially in the midst of a very important moment.

All of your friends had warned you before seeing off, warning you to stay wary of the princess. Despite her 'good behavior', she was still capable double crossing everyone around her and making a quick escape.

Her occupied cell is at the very end of the hall.

It's a miserable walk. No moisture in the air dries out your nose, making it bleed along the way. Azula likely on a streak of good behavior because she couldn't find the strength, or the will, to do anything in such conditions as this heat.

"Try not to talk to her," the guard said again.

You just gave him a pointed look.

You knew all too well what Azula was capable of, having witnessed her behavior nearly a decade ago.

Even though Zuko had determined his sister 'fit for transfer' to the more peaceful Earth Kingdom penitentiary. You're not so sure how the royals back home decided they wanted Azula there. Maybe Zuko is good at negotiating...?

You grimace as you approach the bars of her cell. Azula was inside, and she didn't seem to be sweating as much as you were. She was alerted and she turned her attention to you.

She'd aged easily. You were half expecting her to be wrinkle ridden and going gray.

Azula closed her book shut. It was worn, as if she'd read it a million times over. "Oh, is it time already?" she asked. Her voice had a pep that you couldn't understand. She stood and stretched, standing on her toes. At least she'd gotten taller.

"It's nice to see you again, Y/n. You're looking rather...sharp."

"Oh. Thanks."

Azula folded her book under her arm, before holding out her wrists. "I presume I'll be cuffed for the journey over."

You leaned against the rocky walls and examined the fissures as her cell was unlocked. She stood perfectly still as the guards shackled her. She made a move to walk out, but was stopped. He held out a hand. "Book."

Azula looked him up and down, a small sneer of disgust curling her nose. She seemed to consider something, judging from the flicker of her amber eyes, it was a calculation of how quickly she could bypass you and the other guards for a quick escape.

But she sighed. She lifted her arm and let the book drop into the guard's hand. She seemed content with her choice as she let herself be escorted out of the cell. Up close, you could see that she was just as sweaty as you are. Her prison clothes must be loose for a reason.

She had her black hair pulled up in a tight knot. Sweat soaked the back of her neck. Despite this, she seemed to be in good spirits.

"It's been a while," she said when she came face to face with you. "Pray, where is my dear brother?"

"He sent me in his place," you said simply. "But he sends his regards."

"I seriously doubt that," Azula said with a wide smile. "How's the rest of your little gang?"

"They're fine."

"That's good to hear."

"I seriously doubt that," you retorted.

Azula laughed. "At lease you can talk, now!" She said this happily, even nudging your arm with her elbow. The guards tensed, one coming forward to put a stop to her immediate nonsense.

Azula groaned loudly. "Oh, please, I'm not going to kill him. Not until I get out of the compound, at least."

Silence.

"Hmm," Azula hummed in a flat tone. "I guess that wasn't funny. Interesting."

"Let's just move it," you sighed, circulating your hand to encourage some sort of movement.

Azula's shackles clanged together as she strolled along. She was remarkably calm as you two walked together, side by side. "What have you been up to?" she asked.

You side eyed her. "Do you actually care?" you asked.

Azula released a heavy sigh. "In all honesty, I do not. However, I've turned over a new leaf. But you can go ahead and tell me if you'd like."

Your stomached ached as trepidation tumbled throughout your body-and the mountain.

Everyone paused.

You paused. You didn't realize that the others felt it, too.

You thought it was your connection to the earth, and being so close to the soft molten rock, but everyone else was feeling the rumblings, too. This was not trepidation; this was real.

"I don't mean to alarm any of you, but I don't think the ground is meant to be moving," Azula said knowingly. She looked like a fairy with her pointed nose and her glittering eyes. "Especially when we're so deep underground already...just me? That's fine."

"No, she's right," you spoke up. You knelt down. You put a flat palm against the ground. It was a struggle to hear what the earth was saying. This rock was warm and sludgy, like a tray of raw brownies. You just couldn't quite understand...

The ground split open.

"Alright, everyone get moving!" You shouted.

The guards leapt over the crevasse that was forming before their eyes. It's slow forming split sent Azula's heart into her stomach.

"Everyone stay in front of me," you commanded.

"But the prisoner-!"

"Princess," Azula corrected hastily as she sped walked forwards.

"Being that I'm the only earth bender around, I think you should all stay in front of me," you argued as you tried to speed everyone along. "Get MOVING!"

This was completely unprecedented. No one could have guessed this would happen.

"FUCK," you shouted in frustration.

Azula whipped her head back to face you. "What is it?"

"What do you care?" You sneered.

"I care when my life is on the line! And the life of the...people," Azula said decidedly. You raised a brow. That's new. Maybe she had turned over a new leaf.

You didn't have time to argue with her. "There are other prisoners down here! We have to release them."

"We'll never make it in time!" One guard said fearfully.

"Give us your keys," Azula commanded. "Y/n and I can free them-you all go up and fetch the Avatar. We'll need immediate accommodations set for the prisoners we're about to bring up."

You crossed your arms over your chest. "'Y/n and I?'" You repeated. "You're not coming with me!"

Azula opened her mouth to retaliate, but she was shuddered across the ground as another spasm swelled in the earth. A crevasse formed before your eyes, effectively separating you and Azula from the rest of the guards. You caught the princess in your arms. She looked at your arms around her and then you at your face, in shock and awe. "You smell nice," she said awkwardly.

"Not the time," you said sternly as you pushed her away. "Toss the keys, I'll take care of Azula and the others. Just get out of here, and go get help!"

The guards didn't bother to argue-they cared more about their lives than securing a potential fugitive on the run. You'd probably mention to Zuko that he needs to up the ante when it comes to hiring prison guards. Maybe he should hire people who'd actually do their jobs.

You caught the key ring in your dominant hand.

Azula stretched her arms out. "Okay, release me," she said.

"No way," you said through your teeth.

"You can't save the others while worrying about me."

"No," you said firmly. The ground rocked; dust and crumbs of earthy crust pebbled to the fissured floor below.

"I'm not sure I believe that. I wouldn't be surprised if you're secretly an earth bender, causing all this mayhem in the first place!"

Azula looked offended by your accusation. The ground began to split further apart. "Fine! I'm trusting you, only because it's life or death!"

Azula nodded impatiently as you searched for the key that could release Azula, and effectively ruin many lives. But as the shackles fell to the ground, Azula did not run away. She turned around, running back the way you'd all came.

You two leapt over several cracks splitting in the ground. Azula had suggested that you "glue it all back together" as you sprinted towards the cells.

You tried, but you weren't strong enough to close the gaps on your own. You felt light headed after just trying to form a bridge across the oncoming crevasses.

The heat was sweltering before-but now, it was smothering you.

"WATCH OUT," Azula shouted at you. She pulled you back, from where your foot had just been dangerously close to a crumbling fissure. You would have fallen right through.

You stared at Azula hard. "Thank you."

She looked shocked. "You're welcome...I guess."

You tried to mend the soft spots of the rock, attempting to will some strength into it.

It wasn't working. Maybe if you were like Toph...or even Aang...you're strength is limited. You're nothing compared to those two. It should have been them down here.

By the time you reached the prison halls, everyone in their cells were shouting and screaming to be let out. They didn't want to die down here. You can't blame them. It's practically hell.

"Just stay calm," you tried to call out. No one was listening. Instead, you were being threatened to hand over the keys, otherwise unspeakable things would befall you.

"It's going to be alright," Azula huffed. "You're going to be fine."

"Thanks," you managed to say.

"I was talking to myself, but I guess you'll be fine, too," Azula said candidly. Great. "I mean...it's an earthquake. Just earth. You're an earth bender."

"I'm one earth bender! Besides, that's not what I'm completely worried about at the moment..."

"What could possibly be more worrisome right now?" Azula asked as she put her hands on her hips.

You grabbed her by the shoulders, hissing into her ear: "An earthquake above ground is bad. But one happening below ground? Even worse. The ground is only one layer. Below that is just..."

Azula's eyes widened. "Oh."

She was at a loss for words.

She looked around to the many cells. It was a shitty place to die. The Fire light of the torches just gave a luster of pain to the scene.

"We don't have time to get out," you gasped. "We're going to die down here."

"Hey. Hey! Don't say things like that," Azula snapped. "You reap what you sow."

"I don't think that's what the saying means. Like, that phrase just doesn't apply to our current situation."

Azula frowned upon being informed this.

The ground split again. You caught Azula by the arm and tugged her back, trying to escape the cracks that were prying the rock into islands. The prisoners shouted in fear as their cells quaked under the pressure.

This was the lowest point in the prison. You could see the lava seeping into life as the rock gave way to the higher power.

"Y/n," Azula said in a remarkably steady voice. She was holding your hand. "Lava is just...very, very hot rock."

"So?!"

"So you can bend it. Just manipulate it the same way you would normally."

You laughed. "Easier said than done."

"I've seen you bend before. You and I had several close calls in our own battles. I know how powerful you are! You have to do it. I know that you can."

Her words weren't exactly inspirational. "How do you know?"

"Because you'll die if you don't!" Azula shouted. The lava bubbles closer. "Y/N, JUST BEND IT!"

You pushed your hands out. They were trembling. You tried to push out the noise of the shouts and cries for help. Azula was by your side, on her toes, whispering into your ear that she did truly believe in you.

You tried to take hold of the lava. Your mind's eye could see it; it could feel the wispiness of the substance. It is rock. It's just...indecisive. It was not fixed and sure of where to go. Lava simple seeks out help and direction.

For a split second, you imagined that you were that direction. Go this way, you urged it. Go this way.

It rose up like a wave in the ocean, rearing over your head and spraying you all with heat. Azula shut her eyes tight as she waited for the heat to shower down on her.

It never did.

The cave steamed as you clenched your fists and willed the lava to keep calm. I'm the sense of all that you're missing, you told it. You can trust me.

The lava cooled. It formed a tall wall of a rippling wave, like a statue sculpted by the ocean.

"Wow," Azula said softly. "You did it."

She walked towards the wave, looking in awe. It was like a captured animal. It was like nature, a real movement of the elements that just happened to be frozen. She put a hand against the rock, wincing as it burned her skin. Still hot. But not so much that it was a burning sludge.

You sat down, putting your head in your hands.

Sweat dripped off your face, forming a small puddle. Azula sat beside you when she realized that you weren't moving.

"Are you alright?"

"They won't stop shouting," you muttered. You squeezed your temples to ease the massive pain that swept over you.

Azula looked past her shoulder. The prisoners weren't as impressed with your feat as she had been. They were still demanding their freedom.

"I can kill them for you," Azula offered.

You startled, doing a double take and looking the princess in the eye. "I'm joking." She cleared her throat and looked away.

"They're going to have to wait, anyways," you said, dropping your head in your hands. "I can still feel tremors on the other side. That wall's just our barrier. Nothing we can do now but wait for the tremors to pass and the lava to cool. I think I can navigate the two of us out after that."

Azula's nose wrinkles with a frown. "How long could that take?" She asked.

"Maybe an hour or so. I think these tremors happen often. This far underground, at least. Maybe small enough to just disrupt this prison. Which is poorly placed, now that I realize it."

Azula made a sound of understanding. "That's fine," Azula said calmly. "You seem tired."

"I am," you admitted. Your energy had been drained.

"So, how'd you do it?" she asked. You knew what she was referring to.

"Like you said, it's...it's rock. Soft, malleable rock."

"Yes that's true, but it seemed impossible."

You looked bewildered. "You're the one that suggested I try in the first place!" you accused her.

Azula shrugged. "It still seemed impossible," she said knowingly. She had suddenly become very agitating. "It doesn't matter now. You did it. You saved the day. You've mastered a new technique. Maybe it'll be named after you."

You considered this. After some thought, you explained, "'The Y/n' doesn't sound like a very good technique. Sounds more like an Earth Rumble move or something. Like, some sort of sleazy, cheap shot."

Azula shrugged. "It's whatever you want it to be. But still--what you did was amazing."

You felt wary about the feeling those words inflicted in your chest. Azula was surprisingly easy to talk to. She even noted, through a distasteful joke, how the prison guards were so quick to abandon the tunnels and leave the actual prisoners behind.

"Thank you for helping me," you said, doing your best to conceal whatever emotion was fluttering in your chest. "I'll tell them what you did today."

"Tell who?"

"Everyone."

Azula looked surprised. Her eyes were like a cat's eye opal.

"I didn't do it for everyone," she mumbled as she tucked her knees to her chest. "Just so we're clear."

You two waited for a long time. The prisoners grew weary of waiting and whooping obnoxiously, and they, too, fell silent, falling asleep under the ridiculously thick heat of the prison.

After some hours, you felt your nausea subside. You stepped to the wall, the only thing keeping you and the others safe from harm's way. It had long since cooled down, and there was no turmoil going on behind it.

You kneeled beside Azula. She'd fallen asleep, too. She must have been used to the heat. She was soaked with sweat, but she looked at peace. You prodded her awake. She jolted and caught your hand tightly, as if she'd forgotten who was beside her. When she saw your face, she released you, and struggled to apologize.

"It's fine," you said with a gentle smile. "I understand."

You did understand. You'd spent a long time traveling to foreign lands, meeting dangerous people. You often woke up startled, yourself, half unsure who had found you and sought to extract revenge on the Avatar.

You pulled Azula to her feet. "I think it's safe now."

Azula raised a thin brow. "You think? Or you know?"

You rolled your eyes. "I know," you mocked her. Azula followed close behind you as you split the rocky formation in half. The prisoners grew angry when they noticed their freedom was somewhat attainable.

The darkness was thicker than the heat that puffed into your face. Azula lit a ball of blue flame in the palms of her hands, breathing slowly at first to make them brighter.

"I haven't done this in a long time," she admitted. "Bend, I mean. It's prohibited in the prisons."

You weren't sure what to say to that. By now, you trusted Azula enough to make it out of the mountain. You really trusted her enough to make it beyond that. But you knew she would be carted off to the Earth Kingdom, being held prisoner there after Zuko made a deal with the monarchs.

You split through the stone in silence, Azula occasionally puffing steam through her nose in an attempt not to sneeze. This stone was rough and jagged, having captured the ripples of the lava as it moved throughout the tunnels. You couldn't imagine the catastrophe that could have been if you hadn't been down here. If any earth bender hadn't been down here. You felt confident that Toph would have been able to learn the tricks of the trade, even without Azula's 'encouragement.' As for Aang, he had more than one talent up his sleeve. After all, you were so slick with sweat, you could have been a water bender's dream.

The pressure in your head peeled back and withered once you and the princess reached the outside world.

Azula took a deep breath of fresh air, gasping at the feeling of relief. The spring air cooled her down. You knew how she felt, even after just twelve hours in the tunnels. If the sunshine and cool air felt nice to you...

Your heart ached for Azula.

A large group of people ran across the small slope when they saw the two figures emerge. All of your friends, and some other fire benders that served Zuko, came over. You were trapped in lots of hugs and sighs of relief.

Zuko hugged you tightly. "I'm so sorry," he said firmly. You could tell he felt guilty. He was choked with emotion and he tried not to show it.

"It wasn't your fault," you assured him. You pat his shoulder in a rather overtly masculine way, to which he responded; neither of you really felt like crying and opening up in front of all these other people. Even you could enjoy a good cry fest with a friend.

Toph marched over, punching you in the shoulder, but rather lightly. "How'd you do it?"

"How'd I do what?"

"Survive. Zuko's goonies told us what they saw. The ground cracking open, the lava spewing..."

"It wasn't that bad," Azula said.

Suddenly, everyone remembered that Azula was there. She stood off to the side, sticking out like a sore thumb in her sweaty prison clothes and her flushed face. She was incredibly pale, after spending so much time underground. The sight made you flush with anger. She, and countless others, spent years in those awful conditions. And the moment there was trouble, the prison guards abandoned their station.

You were mad; not exactly at Zuko, but you'd bitch at him for it. Ultimately, Zuko is responsible for the conditions which those prisoners lived under. Not to mention the unstable grounds which the cells were located...

"It's nice to see you all again," Azula said. "Katara, I see you're pregnant. Congratulations."

Katara's face wrenched with anger. "I'm not pregnant," she said through her teeth, making Azula incredibly embarrassed.

"Are you sure?" she asked, unable to think of anything else to say.

"What is she doing here?" Katara demanded to no one in particular. Everyone turned to look at you. You were, suddenly, the man of the hour.

"I don't think anyone's ever given me this much attention before," you said sheepishly. "Oh, come on. She helped me. She saved my life, and the lives of the other prisoners."

"So you're an earth bender now?" Katara asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She did look a little chunky, now that you looked at her...

"Of course not," Azula said. She put on a good face. But you could tell she was wracked with anxiety. "I am a good teacher, however."

"Can someone just cuff her, please," Sokka burst out, taking a couple steps away.

"You guys. She's..."

Your words trailed off as a guard immediately tossed a pair of shackles around Azula's thin wrists. She was so small. Frail. You could see that now in the sunshine. You saw the weary sadness in her amber eyes as she was led away. She was able to cast you one more look. She smiled.

You caught Zuko by the arm, pulling him to the side to talk.

"When was the last time you went down there?" you asked him.

Zuko was surprised by the aggressive nature of your voice. "I-What?"

"Down there," you said, pointing towards the entrance you made through the mountain's slope. "It's literally like a hell hole. It's sweaty and dark and sweaty."

Zuko blinked, but nodded.

"All of your guards abandoned their station, by the way," you said, now pointing to the herd of dumbass prison guards who stood in the field a few yards away. "They left those prisoners to die. Your sister was among them. Could you have imagined what would have happened if I hadn't been down there?"

Zuko nodded once more. He appreciated your honesty, and he didn't question your anger. "I'm sorry that this is what it took to capture my attention," he said sheepishly. "It'll be taken care of."

"Well...good. Very good..."

Zuko raised his brows. "Is there something else you wanted to mention?"

"No," you scowled.

Zuko didn't look convinced.

"Azula helped me in there," you finally said. "She really did. She didn't try anything."

Zuko now looked concerned. "Y/n...what happened down there? You can't...you cannot let your guard down with my sister. Not when she shows one sign of being good."

You made a deep frown. "But she really did help." Your words fell to deaf ears. Few of your friends listened to what you had to say. Aang did, but he was wary. He informed you that he would love nothing more than to see Azula face redemption, but he couldn't base his opinions on unpresentable evidence. He wanted to see this first hand.

Suki was the other who understood. She was empathetic and could fathom what the lack of a mother's love could do to a being.

Katara was adamant that she wanted nothing to do with Azula. She did not care for the princess, not since that Agni Kai between the princess and the prince. Katara would have no problems never seeing it speaking of Azula again. Her brother felt the same, more or less. He was nicer in the way he expressed his feelings. But he clearly felt uncomfortable at the thought of loosening the reigns in Azula's punishment.

As for Zuko and Toph...

Zuko wanted to believe his sister could be good, and Toph agreed. Toph suggested that Azula be given more chances to prove herself. At your behest, Zuko put this "chances" into action.

Azula had excelled in all of them. She did group chores at her new holding place. She did not use her bending (at least not where anyone could see her) and she seemed to behave very well with the other inmates.

You were finally able to visit her two months after the tremors in the cave had occurred. You and she had kept in touch through heavily monitored letters. Nothing between you two was private, but you did your best to communicate as normally as possible.

When you visited, Azula had been cleared of chores and tasks for the day, and she was thus able to visit you for lunch in the small tea room. It was the prison's room, used for visiting guests (typically family of inmates). The tea was bland--Azula chalked it up to the fact the garden was "nothing more than a few weeds, planted there only to keep the inmates busy."

Since her transference to the new prison, she'd regained her strength and pallor. Her diet was improved, and you could tell from the way her face had become fuller. No longer did her eyes look hollow. She was tanned now from her work in the sunshine, and she'd developed a few freckles over her nose.

You laughed, and it made Azula look strange. Her face strained and she flushed red. "Why are you laughing?" She asked warily.

"Because," you stammered, unable to fathom why she'd ask such a weird question. "Because it was funny...?"

Azula looked strained, still, as she gripped her little tea cup tightly. You thought she would break it.

"What's wrong?" You asked.

Azula then went pale. She hadn't seemed too prepared for such a question.

"What's wrong?" You repeated.

Azula looked irritated as she sat straighter, suddenly aware of her posture. "Why exactly did you come tk visit me, today?" She asked. Her voice had that cool tone you'd once been used to. Now, it caught you off guard.

"Aren't we friends?" You asked.

Azula frowned. "I don't have friends. Not anymore."

"You have me," you insisted.

Azula leaned forward, her elbow in the table and her chin resting on her palm. "How do you figure that?" She questioned with narrow eyes.

"You and I are just friends. I don't know how, exactly. I guess that day when you helped me. You showed that you changed..."

"So...if I hadn't changed..." Azula said in a hoarse voice.

She came to the sad realization that she'd lost most of her life, thus far. Sure, she'd live a longer life, probably grow to be a geriatric, even; but her teen years were gone, having been spent locked away in the sweltering prison under ground.

If she hadn't changed then she'd probably still be there.

"Well, that's not totally true," you said warily.

"How so?"

"Well, I bet we could have been friends before. If you hadn't been trying to kill Aang, that is."

"You didn't speak a word to me," Azula teased. "You can't lie."

"Well, you were trying to kill us. And of course I found you undeniably attractive. You think I just never noticed you?"

Azula shrugged. "I suppose for the most part," she said, trying to contain her feelings. She had been in the verge of blushing as brightly as the sun. "'Undeniably attractive?'" She repeated.

"Of course. You're too beautiful to spend your days in prison, tending to weed gardens," you teased back. It was a limit that you were pushing; clearly your words were flirtatious!

"Is that so?" Azula laughed. It was a real laugh, and it was natural. No awkwardness, no strain.

"Maybe it is," you said back, looking at her over the edge of your tea cup.

Azula was silent for a brief moment before she her face grew somber. "It won't ever work," she said. "A relationship between the two of us would just fail."

Stunned, you disregarded your tea and looked at her with incredulity in your eyes. "Azula..."

"That's what we've both been thinking about," Azula said calmly. "I've just put it out in the open."

You supposed she was right. The attraction had been slight, but it grew over the course of consistent correspondence.

"I've done enough damage to be locked up for the rest of my life," she said, not even trying to cover for herself. "I petitioned my brother for my freedom, on the condition I remain in house arrest for one month, then eleven on parole."

You outstretched a hand over the table. "That's a good thing," you assured her.

"I petitioned him a couple of months ago," Azula said grimly. She cast her amber eyes to your hand, desperation bleeding into her features. "Don't be a fool, Y/n," she said sassily. "I'm not getting out any time soon."

"And you think that's a problem," you concluded.

"We can hardly have a real life together," Azula scoffed. She had very suddenly reversed; she was throwing up walls, shutting you out in a way that she'd never done with you before. "I can't give you enough."

You scoffed, then. "What do you think I want from you?" You asked. "Why can't your company and shared affection be enough for me?"

"Because we're adults, now. You're not the boy you were whence we met. You're a grown man, who should start a life with a woman that's good for him. Not a felon, ex-princess."

You crossed your arms over your broad chest. "And you're one to tell me what I should and shouldn't do?" you demanded.

"Yes," she said confidently. "So if all you're here for is a conjugal visit, I'm going to have to turn you away."

You rolled your eyes. "I'm rejecting your suggestion," you said. You downed your tea and rose to your feet. "I'll be back next week."

"Next week?" Azula demanded. "I just told you no. We can't be together."

You considered this. "Hmm. I'm telling you no. I've rejected your rejection. I'll come back next week."

Azula rose to her feet. She was fuming now. Ah, yes, that was the Azula of your youth. She raised her voice just slightly, her tone sharp. "I'm trying to be mature, you know. You're ruining it for me."

"Because there's no point in being 'mature' when we can just be happy," you argued.

Azula scoffed. "I seldom get the chance to display my maturity, especially when my idiot brother won't return my messages."

"Now that is something I'm going to take care of," you said forewarningly. "Now that I think about it...I might not make it next week. I'm going to take a ship to see him."

"A ship? Y/n, be reasonable," Azula sighed.

You raised a hand. "Don't try to convince me not to," you said fiercely.

"Oh, that's not what I was going to say. All I meant is that your friend does have a flying bison."

You grinned. "I thought you were trying to be 'mature' about this."

Azula scoffed again, putting a hand over her chest. "Just because I was going to be doesn't mean that I wanted to be. There's nothing more that I want then to be freed of this place, put back into society, and to..."

"And to?"

"You already know," she snapped. "Don't make me say it out loud."

You doubled over laughing. "Mighty Princess can't confess her feelings? You pulverized me in more than one battle, you know. I probably have a scar or two to prove it. Even with that, you can't just tell me you have a crush on me?"

Azula's eyes widened. "A 'crush'?" she repeated. She laughed, the pitch to high to consider her comfortable. "It's not...it's...well, it's more than that. You actually took the time to-You know what? This is stupid. Just be on your way."

You shook your head, laughing to yourself. "It's not stupid, Zuzu."

Azula smiled nervously, her eyes faltering with something unrecognizable. "That's what I used to call Zuko."

You approached her, taking her hand, which made her eyes zoom all over the room. She couldn't look you in the eye, despite having once beaten the shit out of you. She was undeniably awkward, and that reminded you of Zuko.

"I think I should start calling Zuko something mean. It's not right of him to ignore your messages."

"I tried to kill him," Azula allowed. "I might do the same in his shoes."

You peered at her closely, trying to get a grasp on her thoughts. She must not like being examined, because she flicked your forehead. "I don't understand," she breathed, despite her annoyance. You became aware of how close you were standing to the princess. "There are better women."

"There is no other woman I want."

She couldn't figure out what to say. "Why bother with me?" She genuinely wanted to know.

"You're too hot to rot in jail," you shrugged.

Azula punched you hard in the shoulder.

"I was joking!" you exclaimed. "I don't know why," you admitted. "I just know that you're worth it." Azula folded her arms over her chest. She puffed her chest and shoulders out, trying to remain tough. She didn't want to fall to her emotions. "Worth dealing with my foolish brother? Don't get me wrong, I lo-care about him, but-"

"Yeah, he can be very annoying," you admitted. "But you're worth all the trouble in the world."

Azula finally seemed to give in. "Whatever you say..." She reached up and pressed a very quick kiss on the corner of your mouth. You tried to dive in for something more, but she firmly pushed you away. "I'd rather not start something I can't finish."

Now you were blushing.

"If that's the case, then I should run to your brother," you laughed. Azula lifted a brow. "He's fine looking, but not quite a good replacement for me."

You blanched at the thought of deepthroating Zuko with your tongue. "He's a good friend," you said convincingly enough for Azula to punch you again. But in spite of that, she pulled you down for a real kiss. Her sweet tongue, and its taste of tea, swept briefly over yours before she pulled away.

"You should go before this does turn into a conjugal visit," she said stiffly. She held her hands behind her back.

She was truly different. It couldn't be a coincidence that she could bend fire. She had hit her lowest point but grew back, almost taking a rebirth, like a phoenix from its ashes. Aang spoke of rebirth often, but you never gave it too much thought. Not until now, as you looked at this Azula, standing before you. She'd changed over the years, and for the better.

As you bid her goodbye, your heart wrenched in your chest. You could feel your feelings for Azula growing and growing, and it hurt like hell. You realized that she had you wrapped around her finger. You'd do anything for her. She just didn't know it.

Not yet.

[bontenten]

Efficiency

Pairing: Daishou x f!reader

Word Count: 4.4k

Warnings/Tags: smut, exhibitionism, voyeurism, fingering, unprotected sex, creampie, praise, light degredation, aftercare, established relationship

Thank you so much @/bakatenshii and @/thirstyforthem2dmen for beta-reading. This is a repost from my main after it went fully sfw. Originally for the hqhq (now Anilysium) hard at work collab.

Pen scrawls and keyboard taps sound throughout the conference room as your boss goes over current client projects. Daishou is sitting across the table and you notice he's wearing the tie you gave him for his birthday last year. Looks good, you think to yourself. It's not just the tie, it's his entire outfit, and him.

Daishou notices your lingering stare and makes eye contact, granting you a cheeky grin and a head tilt. Pompous bastard. In response, you send back an expression of mock disgust before turning your attention back to your laptop.

For any newcomer at the firm, it might seem like the office is split down the middle into either your camp or Daishou's, with opinions and jabs on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Why else is there so much spite being tossed around between the two of you, if not due to a deeply entrenched layer of grievances?

It might leave the newbie confused as to why Daishou affectionately calls you his "most significant problem". Or why you preface notes to him with, "to whom this may piss off, my royal pain-in-the-ass".

Then there comes a revelation to the newbie that you and Daishou are not mortal enemies, but rather the most wretchedly in-love couple in this skyrise building. It's a bad decision to cross either you or Daishou for any matter. Not only are the both of you perfectly vindictive, crossing one means submitting an application to be on the blacklist of the other. There's no doubt, in your humblest opinion, that Daishou, even if he'll never outright admit it, absolutely worships the dirt under your heels. And when you are in remotely a good mood, fine, you don't mind his coffee breath either.

It's heartwarming, that in this tower of cold, hard stainless steel and immaculate glass panels, there's love floating around the disinfected air of money, money, and more money. When it counts, you can be sure that Daishou will stand on the same side of the fence as you.

While the meeting goes on and you multitask with the spreadsheet open on your screen, you think you hear your name being tossed around. To your knowledge, everything is lined up already and unless there is some sort of overnight emergency, there's absolutely nothing left on your plate to take care of.

At the same time, there is also the off-chance that someone decides to drag you into hell with them and include you in a project. Now, who could possibly have the audacity to put you into the wringer with them?

"Daishou! Excellent, I'll leave this to you," the boss exclaims. "This pitchbook needs to be done by tomorrow. It's high urgency and the client just sent the numbers in."

A sinking feeling begins to churn in your stomach. You pause your frenzy across the keyboard and pay attention to the meeting to hear the rest of what Daishou has to say.

"If I may," Daishou curtly asks with a smile that's a tad too wide, "I'd like to work with Y/N on this. As you know, we work best together. It'll be done before the meeting tomorrow."

You can feel everyone's eyes turn to you in the meeting room, begging you to please say yes to the man holding titles such as your boyfriend, co-worker, and also 'royal pain-in-the-ass'. You force a smile and match Daishou's client-ready, saccharine expression. "Of course, we'll have it done tonight."

Suddenly, the atmosphere of the entire meeting room relaxes by ten notches. Bastards, all of you.

"Our firm's best duo!" the boss praises, "We'll leave it to you two then. Meeting adjourned."

It's the two words everyone has been waiting for. The moment the syllable falls, the conference room is filled with the sounds of shifting seats and scuffling feet eager to leave work for the day. With a huff, you shut your laptop and see Daishou coming around the conference table with his laptop and files tucked under his arm. He adjusts and tugs on his tie.

"Guess it's you and me again tonight," Daishou comments.

"And here I wanted to leave work early for once."

"Hey, just a special date night. It's called 'overtime', sounds pretty sexy don't you think?"

You snort and walk past him, going towards the direction of the elevator. Daishou eyes your figure strutting down the hall. The lines of your ironed shirt and the pencil skirt that hugs your figure perfectly match the echoing clack of your heels striking shiny tiles.

Even if you don't remember, Daishou's impeccable memory absolutely remembers how the last time you paired that shirt and that skirt together, it was an overtime situation very much similar to tonight. And the cock that's starting to grow hard in his slacks certainly remembers a lot more. He can feel it twitching just trying to conjure up the sensation of your gummy walls milking him in the breakroom a month ago.

"You coming or what?"

Daishou sees you holding the elevator door open and waiting for him. Daishou won't ever admit to this, maybe to you in privacy, but Daishou will rather be dead than admit to anyone else how lucky he feels to have someone as incredible as you in his life.

He takes a few quick steps and enters the elevator.

"How sweet," he coos. "I knew you wouldn't just leave me hanging and working in this dismal place all alone."

"Shut-up, Suguru," you snap, but you lean your head against his shoulder anyway. It's been such a long day already, and the night is only going to be longer.

"Stay the night at my place later? I'll order your favorite."

"Let's get this project over with first."

"I caught you staring at me during the meeting."

"Huh, is that so."

"Practically stripped me naked with your eyes. Ooh, I felt tingles all over."

You lift your head from his shoulder. "You're so full of yourself Suguru," you remark before tugging on his tie to pull his face closer to yours. "If anything, I think you're the one getting hard at work."

Daishou leans in even closer. A hand encircles your wrist and his thumb brushes your inner-wrist across the bump of the vein. Your pulse is throbbing against his fingertips. You feel your adrenaline and anticipation rushing through your body as your heart pounds harder and faster.

"Then do something to help poor lil' me out?"

"At your place later, we—"

"But I want you so badly right now," Daishou breathes out, body tight against you so you can feel his straining desires through the layers of fabric. "I want—

Ding.

The elevator opens up to the floor the two of you work at. The co-workers waiting for the lift can only see two pristine and exemplary office workers without any semblance of dishevelment walk out. Daishou even says a polite "see you tomorrow" to them.

"If only the elevator stopped working," you joke after taking a deep breath to swallow the fire building in your core. "Sly snake, no one here in the office knows your true colors."

Sometimes, you wonder just how Daishou can switch his persona so quickly. Or maybe he just likes the precarious edge of being horny at work.

"Love you too dear," he sneers.

A couple workers are still at their desks scrambling for their deadlines. You and Daishou take a seat at your work stations and begin to chip away at the urgent, overtime project. Every now and then, you'll say good-night to the other remaining co-workers finally able to go home. It doesn't take long before the halls are completely vacated and empty except for the two of you still slaving away in front of the bright monitors for hours into the night.

"Where are you going?" you ask Daishou who is returning to his seat after disappearing down the hall again. "This is the third time in the last hour. Are you shitting in the toilets or dumping all the work on me?"

Daishou comes by your desk and leans on the back of your chair. "Just making some phone calls. Want to go home now? It's getting late."

"Uh...work's not done yet."

"It's fine, let's have dinner first, we can just work remotely at my place. The bulk is done anyway."

You glance at the clock and ponder Daishou's offer. It doesn't hurt to leave a little early and continue the work later in a more comfortable setting. "Okay, let me pack."

After cleaning up the workstation and packing everything the two of you will need, you and Daishou are back in the hallway waiting for the descending elevator.

Daishou takes the heavy tote bag from your shoulders. “I’ll hold onto this,” he explains.

“Why so nice today, Suguru? First luring me over with food, the compliments, and suggestions to leave early…” You trace a finger along the line of his spine and observe, pleased with the nervous grin spreading on his face. “Someone’s losing patience, hm?”

Daishou gives you an ingratiating smile. “Princess, as fancy as our work is, we still work in client-services. What can I say, I live to serve and please.”

“Cheeky.”

The elevator arrives and the two of you enter the space.

"How long do you think we still need?" you ask Daishou.

"Must we talk about work, right now?"

"You're just horny, Suguru."

"Oh, so it's 'just' me, is that what it is?"

You shrug and admit, "Nah, I was wondering why you didn't suggest anything earlier when the office was empty."

"Baby, if you wanted me that bad, you should've just climbed on my lap."

You laugh at Daishou's retort and prepare a comeback. "I think—"

A loud screech sounds through the elevator and the lights flicker briefly before a jolt causes you to stumble. Your hand automatically flies to the handrail. Daishou also wraps an arm around you tightly to steady your balance.

"Is the..."

"Seems like we're stuck," Daishou comments.

You rapidly press the service bell button, but it's no use. "No one's picking up, it's like the signal got cut. Should've just taken the stairs!"

The cell signal is also terribly weak in the elevator space. There's nothing else to do but wait and see how things play out.

Daishou laughs dryly and smooths his hair back. "We work on the 18th floor, since when do we take the stairs?"

"There's that one evacuation drill..." you reply weakly.

Daishou raises an eyebrow, giving you a look that says, really now?

"You're right, we're doomed. Last moments and—"

"With the love of your life, isn't that pleasant a way to go?" Daishou tightens his arms around you. "Don't worry, it's all going to be okay."

You reciprocate and respond to his hug, while your brain searches for a solution. "I once saw on the internet that if the elevator drops, you have to time your jump right before the elevator hits the ground floor. Otherwise—"

"Shhh," Daishou shushes you quietly with a quick kiss. He rocks you from side to side and reassures you again that everything is okay.

"Trust me, it'll be okay. Let's just have a little fun while we're waiting," he suggests one hand already tracing up your thigh. "Maybe it'll relax all those nerves you've been holding onto."

Daishou wants to laugh. Whose nerves exactly? Do you have any idea how he’s been counting the minutes and seconds for this moment while you innocently worked on the project like the good, model worker that you are?

It took everything in him to somehow put down a few excel formulas and not shove the monitors onto the floor to fuck you senseless across the worktables. Not to mention, the pleasure of having those witty remarks that spurt out from that little mouth of yours replaced with incomprehensible whines and begs for your precious Suguru to fill you to the brim. And now that you also admit to thinking along the same lines earlier, Daishou knows the dirty little thoughts clouding into your mind already.

Some slut that you are, acting proper and put-together at work, basking in the praise from co-workers and the boss; they just don’t know how ten minutes after those morning touchpoint meetings, you are bouncing on Daishou’s cock in a hidden corner while the financial markets open for the day. It’s an art, really, the number of quicks you two manage to fit into the crevices of a busy office schedule. But that’s why Daishou is one of the best employees of the firm. Daishou Suguru works quickly. He works efficiently.

The patterns Daishou's fingers trace tickle and send shivers up the skin. His low voice and hot breath across your ear elicits a soft gasp as you press your thighs together in the tight, figure-hugging skirt, seeking some hidden relief for the needy throb inside. The scrap of fabric down there is barely able to soak up the wetness beginning to pool. You are pressed up against him for comfort and security, your breasts plush against his chest. Each inhale and exhale you take is a test of patience.

"T-there's a camera," you remind him through shaky breaths, eyes flickering to the black mechanism in the corner. This is your final thread.

Daishou eyes the camera that is staring expectantly at the tryst about to happen in the cramped space with a wicked grin. Like that has ever bothered you, but if you want to play coy, he’ll humor you. He pinches the soft flesh on your thighs. "But we both know you're an attention whore. Always wanting to be the center of attention?"

You bite your lip to stop a whimper and look away, unwilling to admit that Daishou is completely right. You're already squirming in anticipation and delight. How cute, Daishou savors before deftly undoing the first two buttons of your crisp blouse. He has all of your clothes memorized, and how to take them off in the least amount of steps. At this point, it's completely second nature, and even if it isn't, the particular outfit you are wearing today has a special pedestal in Daishou's memory of interests. He pulls the tucked fabric apart to expose your delicate neckline and the soft curves of your breasts in the bra.

Oh, this one? What a coincidence then. He buries his face into the crook of your neck and deeply inhales the scent of your lingering fragrance. His hot breath and tantalizing lips drag across your collarbone, brushing your sensitive skin.

"So fucking sexy. Let's put on a show shall we?"

The thread snaps.

You harshly tug on the Daishou’s tie and capture his lips with yours. Daishou presses his body even closer, resting a forearm right above your head to cage you against the elevator wall. You wrap your arms around his neck, threading your fingers through his hair, as you meld into the searing kiss. The zipper of your skirt is tugged and the fabric is pushed up to your waist. His hand snakes up your thigh and a thumb hooks the side of your panties, pulling the soaked scrap down.

"Step," he instructs, pulling your panties down all the way and guiding your heeled feet out. "Don't want them dropping on the floor," he says, tucking the bunched fabric into his shirt pocket.

"Touch me, please," you beg, pulling Daishou back to you. You grab his hand and lead him to between your legs, grinding yourself against his thick fingers for some relief.

“No need to rush, the elevator isn't getting fixed anytime soon," he coos, "We're not going to get distracted this time."

Daishou spreads your lips apart and rubs along your sensitive bud, coating his digits with your slick. "Fuck, you're so wet already," he marvels before slipping a finger in and then another.

Daishou pumps his fingers in and out of your sopping pussy, occasionally dragging over to circle your clit. "That's it, isn't it?" he groans, feeling your walls clench around his fingers when he finds the spot that has you falling apart into streams of whines and mewls.

Daishou withdraws his fingers and brings the glistening digits up for you to see. "How much are you enjoying this? Wanting to be fucked in an elevator, watched by who knows who behind that camera."

You whimper and watch Daishou take the coated fingers in his mouth, licking off every drop of you. "You taste so good," he breathes, before pulling you into a kiss and letting you have a taste of your own arousal.

You break out of the kiss and turn around, resting your hands on the handrail. "S-Suguru, want you in me," you beg. You bend over just enough for your Daishou to see how much more wet you've gotten from tasting yourself on him. Your glistening hole is dripping and desperately clenching around nothing.

"Patience, princess." Daishou quickly unbuckles his belt and lets the cock pressing against his tight slacks spring free. He prepares to give himself a few more strokes but you reach behind and slap his hand away, replacing the hand on his cock with your own.

"Fuck," he groans, bucking his hips into your hands. "Always the impatient one."

"Hurry...please."

The building anticipation is making your knees weak and head dizzy already. You keep both hands on the handrails for support and squirm over trying to better line yourself for that thickness you need to fill your hole.

"Shit, stop teasing me!"

Beep.

The emergency intercom you pressed when the elevator first malfunctioned finally lights up. The line connects after a moment of static and radio noise and temporarily shocks a thread of rationality into your thoughts.

"Hello? Hello? Are we connected now, finally? Hello? Can you hear me?" the voice urges from the other end.

"Ah-" you gasp out, feeling Daishou fingers draw out slow circles on your clit. You press your lips tightly together to muffle a moan.

"Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me?"

Daishou leans next to your ear. "Answer them, sweetheart." The tip of his cock teases the entrance of your pussy, running along the wet lips. "Do well and I'll give it to you."

You manage, with difficulty, squeak out, "Y-yes!"

"Good girl."

Your legs buckle slightly when you feel Daishou's thick cock being pushed into you, finally giving you the gratification you have been craving during Daishou's ministrations.

"Oh, careful now, don't want you falling over," Daishou's grip on your hips tightens and he groans at how warm, wet and tight you are around him. "Fuck, you feel so fucking good," he mutters under his breath.

The speaker buzzes again. "Great, finally connected. Ma'am are you doing okay still?"

"Yes!" you cry out as Daishou gives a firm and deep thrust; a wave of pleasure shoots through you.

"Don't panic, our team is already coming—" The line disconnects as abruptly.

Daishou revels at how your soft walls hug and clench around him. By all means, he didn't expect the interruption happening at all. It seems like you are not the only impatient person, he wonders, before flashing a nasty look at the camera in the corner and flipping said object off.

"Come on, princess,” he encourages and pats the side of your ass lightly. “Let me hear how pretty you sound."

"Sugu—" you gasp out, feeling the tip of his cock rocking into you. "R-right there right, ah—"

"Yea, you like that?" Daishou groans, pushing into you again feeling your walls clamp around him so tightly. So perfectly. It's addicting and all he can do is thrust in and out, over and over again. Each time seeking out the sounds of your pretty moans when you are completely filled and stuffed with him.

Lewd squelches and the slaps of skin meeting flesh fill the elevator space, along with Daishou’s grunts and your pants. Your hips meet each of Daishou’s thrusts in perfect rhythm, taking his entire length until the base. You can feel each stroke dragging along your walls, the size and length of his cock pushing against your tightness and prodding your cervix.

Neither of you can bother with any other distractions now that bliss is just teetering on the edge. Daishou pulls out and turns you around so you face him. He then scoops you up from under your ass with your legs spread over his forearms and hoists you up against the elevator wall. You feel the stinging cold from the cylindrical edge of the handrail as a dubious support against your heated skin.

"Suguru!" you squeal out, "I'll fall! I'll—"

"I got you, don't worry," Daishou reassures, "You're okay, I won't let you fall."

Once he feels your arm wrapped tightly around his shoulders, Daishou slides into you again with a loud squelch.

"We're right outside now! Won't be long before we get you two out." A loud voice calls out from beyond the shut elevator doors.

"Smile for the camera, princess," Daishou encourages before picking up the pace, chasing the high that's just around the corner. His thrusts become faster and rougher, hitting your sweet spot deep inside you over and over again making your mind spin. The countless reflected images of Daishou's unrelenting pursuit and speed, and the expression of your fucked out face collide together in a blurry, infinite kaleidoscope.

“Gonna cum! Gonna-”

All thoughts leave your mind with each ragged breath as you near your own edge. You can only cling onto Daishou tightly, nails digging into his shoulder and back. You don't hear the sounds of mechanical whirring outside the elevator. Whatever it is that the people are shouting outside does not matter. The bright lights don't make any sense to you anymore. You don't even remember what Daishou Suguru looks like.

The blank stare from the camera is the last thing you see before you squeeze your eyes shut, face tucked in the crook of Daishou’s neck, and body feeling like putty in his arms. All that's left is the euphoria sparking through and broken syllabylic babbles you struggle to utter out.

With a few final thrusts, Daishou grunts and pulls you completely flush against his hips, finally spilling himself into you. Release after a long day never feels this sweet, Daishou muses as he holds your languid body close. Each deep breath you take only pushes your soft breast against his chest, and Daishou can feel your spasming walls still hugging him. He peppers a few kisses on your sweat covered brow. So good, so fucking good.

The voices and mechanical whirs outside interrupt Daishou’s moment.

That’s right, we’re still in this damn elevator. Daishou carefully pulls out his softened and twitching cock and lowers your wobbly form down from your make-shift seat. He takes a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the drool from your face then lightly dab away the trail of mixed fluids seeping out of your puffy cunt. The overly saturated handkerchief does a poor job soaking away the mess the two of you made.

Daishou reaches for the crumpled panties he shoved into the shirt pocket, but decides against letting you wear it. In your current state, your legs are like a newborn deer, barely able to support you let alone try to maneuver into underwear.

"Once we get back to my place, I'll draw us a bath.”

The increasingly loud mechanical clamor and sounds of the elevator workers pull you out of your daze for a moment too. You try to fumble around and haphazardly button your shirt, but the buttons miss their proper buttonhole by one. You pout and look at Daishou who just buckled his belt and tucked in the edges of his crumpled shirt. He looks ready for a client meeting already, if not for the obvious smell of sex clinging into him.

Daishou chuckles at your state and helps you slip into his long coat. He kisses your brow again in apology. "Sorry baby, just bear with it for a moment."

"Hungry."

"Yes, yes. I'll order your favorite too, like I promised."

You nod, pleased with his answer.

Ding.

The doors of the elevator open, to the relief of the elevator workers outside. They were in the process of getting ready to pry the doors open, but it seems like the elevator is back to normal already.

"Sir, Ma'am, we apologize for our tardiness."

Daishou waves a hand. "Not at all, it was fine. My girlfriend," he nods to your hidden form in the coat, "a bit frazzled, that's all."

Daishou's coat is like a bathrobe and hides absolutely everything. Turn up the collar, hide your face in Daishou's neck, and no one can see the mess that you are still underneath the thick layer. If they don't look, they won't know about the cum that's already dripping out and trailing down the curves of your legs into your scuffed heels.

"Is she okay? If there are any problems, we can direct you to-"

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her. Thanks for helping fix the elevator." Not that there was anything wrong with it to begin with.

"We'll be inspecting all the elevators in the building as well. We assure you this will never happen again."

The musty smell of sweat and sex is all that lingers in the elevator, but it'll dissipate soon enough. Maybe there are tiny puddles of your juices on the tiles but the 5 A.M. cleaning workers will wipe it all away. By tomorrow, the elevator and rest of the building will be just the way it always is again. The stainless steel is cold, and the glass panels are pristine. In the early hours of the morning, leather shoes and heels will be strutting around on the marbled floors. Phone calls. Printers. Clients. Meetings. And more overtime.

Daishou smirks to himself, supporting just about your entire weight. His phone rings in his coat pocket. He reaches for the device and answers the call. Those bastards.

"Heh, glad you enjoyed the show you fucker. And tell Kenma, 'that was a dick move he pulled back there.'"

He listens to the response from the other line.

"Yea sure, thanks for hacking the system...uh huh, tell him to cum in your dirty sock-rag then...yea whatever, go eat shit."

Daishou ends the call and shoves the phone into his pocket.

"Su-gu-ru..." you mumble.

"Yes princess?"

"...Pitchbook..."

Daishou presses a light kiss to your forehead. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart."

Even all fucked out, you still manage to not forget about corporate responsibilities, some overachieving show-off you are. After getting you cleaned up and warm, he'll finish up any remaining work. Daishou Suguru works quickly. He works efficiently.

[pilmik]

No better way to start a writing blog than by writing something completely self indulgent lmao college students this might hit too close to home but in my defense the new sem started and I'm. Mess

Gen: angst ig???some fluff? hurt/comfort? Quite literally just me writing what I want to hear

CW: insecurities, negative thoughts

Wakatoshi loves volleyball

Everyone knows this

Ever since he was little, he's lived and breathed for the sport

There's nothing better to him than the feeling of the ball hitting his hand, the adrenaline rush of a scored point, the satisfaction of a game well won

He didn't get this far on enjoyment alone though

As his s/o, you know this better than anyone, save for his coaches and teammates of course

You know the effort he's put in, you know that for every second he shines on the court in front he's spent hours practicing alone or with his teammates

And he shines on the court

Watching him play will never fail to make your heart stutter and your lungs feel like they're not getting enough air

After being with him as long as you have, you know enough about volleyball to know that Wakatoshi is something special

His speed, his strength, his reliability

No matter how many times you see that spike, the sound of the ball hitting the floor stays deafening

Wakatoshi was made to play Volleyball. It's an objective fact. Sometimes you think that the sport loves him just as much as he loves it

Sometimes, you get so jealous you could scream

one of the perks of being the volleyball captain's s/o is that you always get the best seats

You watch front row as your boyfriend leads his team to victory, and he always leads them to victory.

You watch, time and time again, as he scores the match point, that sharp wham of the ball hitting the court that sings triumph

Wakatoshi isn't the most expressive person. When his team wins a game, most people would write off his impassive face as nonchalance or as vanity, thinking maybe he's won so many times it doesn't feel like anything for him anymore

But you know him. You know that if you look hard enough at the end of a game, you can see a gleam in his eyes. A gleam that somehow means both satisfaction and hunger

Because while at the end of every game means victory, the end of every game also means the start of a new one, a new challenge, a new opportunity to be on the court. He loves every second of it

You know you're probably the worst person on the world for feeling this way about someone you love, but every time you see that gleam in his eyes, any pride and happiness you feel on his behalf is stained with resentment and an envy so bitter it stays on your tongue for days

You've never had that gleam in your eyes. You've never loved something so entirely, so completely as Wakatoshi loves volleyball

You honestly doubt you ever will

It's not like you're talentless or you don't have hobbies, you have the things you're good at and you have the things you like to do but it's not the same

You want so desperately to know what he feels like, to be doing something and to think, I could do this for the rest of my life and die happy

on your worst days, you wonder why he stays by your side at all

You watch him play, surrounded by his court and his team (no the court or the team, his.) And you wonder what he could get from you that he couldn't get from the sting of the ball on his palm, or the squeak of his shoes on hardwood

He's brilliant, wherever he goes be burns so brightly you swear he leaves scorch marks. What could a forest fire possibly want from a candle?

You watch them play a game against some college team, they win straight sets and Wakatoshi dominated the court, scoring a majority of the points. you're quiet on your way home, and he asks if you were bored by the game

You immediately tell him no, because on most days you love seeing him play, and you try and explain how you feel

He doesn't understand what you're talking about, obviously

Contrary to what most people think, your boyfriend isn't stupid or dense. He has trouble understanding different social cues and conceptualizing some of the more complicated emotions other people feel, but he's not an idiot

But these specific insecurities are something he's never had to face. For him, it's been volleyball since the start. His earliest memories are of his father in the yard, tossing a blue and yellow ball into the air while he sits on the engawa, chubby hands holding tight to a pink vabo-chan plush

It doesn't make sense to him, if you don't have anything like that, then all you need to do is find something you're good at, correct? Then you'll be happy

He tells you this, in his usual matter-of-fact way. (you can imagine how that went)

He doesn't understand why your eyes go glassy, or why you tell him you'll be fine walking by yourself for the rest of the way

But he does understand that he's made you upset, and he knows that he never wants to look into your eyes and see tears that he's put there

As he walks back to his dorm, he's wracking his brain trying to make sense of how you told him you felt, and what he said in response

He's still thinking as he enters the doorway, ignoring Tendou's greeting as he neatly removes his runners and puts them away

This, of course, alerts his redheaded friend, knowing Wakatoshi was taught to mind his manners

He leaves whatever he was doing to see him at the entrance, taking in his pinched expression. He knows that Wakatoshi walks you home after every game, and it doesn't take a genius to connect the dots

He quickly presses the pad of his thumb between Wakatoshi's furrowed eyebrows, smoothing the lines there

"trouble in paradise, Wakatoshi-kun? You can't keep frowning like that you know, you'll get wrinkles! Everyone already thinks you're an old man"

Wakatoshi trusts his best friend, even if he teases him constantly. Besides you, Tendou is his main confidant

He explains what happened much like someone would explain a mission report, in perfect unbiased detail. He tell him what you said, how he thought and responded and your reaction. Tendou is always patient with him, giving him his full attention.

After he finishes his story, his friend sits on his haunches in the middle of the hallway for a few minutes, pointer finger to his chin, head cocked and eyes to the ceiling, hmmmmmming thoughtfully

Wakatoshi waits at the entrance of their dorm room until Tendou snaps his eyes away from the ceiling and onto him

"Wakatoshi kun, I'm going to need you to imagine something for me"

His eyebrows pinch together again, but he nods

"Imagine you never played volleyball, you're exactly the same in every way, except your dad never showed you so you never learned how to play. Try and imagine who you'd be"

Wakatoshi tries his best to imagine, he replaces the blue and yellow ball in his memory with a red one, the bouncy kind they sell in bins at the grocery store. He replaces vabo-chan with some kind of stuffed animal wearing a bow

He thinks about school, about going straight home after class is over, and going to the gym only on weekends

He finds he's skipping parts of his life in large gaps, empty spaces he doesn't know what to do with, his future completely blank. It's terrifying.

Tendou must see the dawning horror on his face because he jumps up quickly with a flourish, clapping his hands together once to draw Wakatoshi out of his daydream

Tendou looks at him, smiling and says "y/n-chan doesn't have their volleyball. Most people aren't as lucky as you, finding your volleyball so early Wakatoshi-kun. Some people never find their's at all"

He stands at the entrance quietly for awhile after Tendou returns to his room, thinking about how scary it felt to imagine, even for a few minutes, his life full of the blanks that his sport filled

He wonders how it would be like to have those blanks empty all the time, with not even a clue how to complete them

Swallowing his pride, Wakatoshi realizes he wouldn't be able to live like that. Wouldn't be able to go forward into such unknowable territory, under such impossible odds

He thinks about you waking up every day, seeing your life full of blanks, and still pushing forwards despite it

He doesn't get much sleep that night.

You wake up in the morning to Wakatoshi's text ringtone

7:10am Toshi <3: Call in sick for first period.

7:10am Toshi <3: I am going to pick you up at 8.

7:13am Toshi <3: I will bring you breakfast.

7:27am Toshi <3: Wear a light jacket, it's chilly.

The half of you that's still hurt over yesterday wants to tell him to shove breakfast up his ass, but then you realise something

You stare at your phone, deeply confused

Doesn't he have volleyball practice before school?

You get ready quickly, and sure enough, when you walk out of your door at exactly 8:00, Wakatoshi is there.

He's wearing his tracksuit and runners, and he hands you a paper bag from the conbini. There's an apple, a bag of grapes and onigiri. In his other hand he's holding a warm drink, written on the lid is your favourite, exactly how you like it

"I am taking you to the park."

You tilt your head up at him, confused

"don't you have volleyball practice?"

"I'm skipping. We are going to feed the ducks."

The idea of Ushijima Wakatoshi skipping volleyball practice stuns you into silence, and you simply follow his lead to the direction of the park, you walking and him doing some sort of ridiculous exercise thing that looks like it'd make you puke

When you get there, you're happy to find that your usual bench is empty.

Wakatoshi pulls a water bottle out of his ridiculously-deep men's tracksuit pockets while you take the bunch of grapes out of the bag, neatly dividing it in half. You decide to take the big half of the grape bunch for once, because he was being a jerk yesterday and you deserve to feed the ducks more than he does. You give him his half and you both start feeding the ducks in silence

After awhile, he decides to speak

"Tendou made me imagine something yesterday"

You turn to face him, but he's still looking at the ducks

"he told me to imagine my life if I'd never played volleyball"

He frowns

"he said to imagine everything about me was the same, except I never started playing. I found that it was difficult"

"there were many things I found I couldn't fill in, both in my life and in myself"

"but the worst part was imagining the future. I couldn't imagine a single thing to put in it"

"I wouldn't be able to live like that. To live every day and see blank spaces and uncertainties. It sounds terrible"

He pauses for a moment and you're like :/ wow king thanks for the pep talk

But he takes a deep breath and he continues

"I think, for a person to face that uncertainty and keep pushing forward, they would have to be exceptional"

Your head snaps to look at him so fast you almost get whiplash

Exceptional

There's a word that you've never used to describe yourself

"I think, that if I knew someone like that, I would tell them that they are strong in a way that I doubt I will ever be"

He finally turns to look at you, and you try your best to see him through the tears distorting your vision

"after awhile of thinking, I finally thought of something that I could put in that blank future. Would you like to know what it was?"

You just nod, not trusting your words. His big hands gently engulf your own and for a moment you're absolutely certain Ushijima Wakatoshi will be the death of you

"if I didn't have Volleyball, if I didn't have a single clue of what I could do with my future, if I still had you by my side, I think I would be alright"

One hit K.O.

He keeps going though, as if he didn't just kill you

"if you would have me, I'd like to be in your blank future. For as long as it takes for you to find your volleyball, I'll be there. If it's months or years or decades,"

"if decades pass and you never find your volleyball, I would still like to stay by your side. Maybe your volleyball is looking for volleyball?"

His face contorts in consideration of the idea, and you can't help but laugh wetly, your tears soaking into his jacket as you bury your face into his arm

He presses a soft kiss to your head

"I apologize for what I said last night. I didn't understand"

You only shake your head

You two sit in companionable silence for a little longer so you can eat your breakfast, then you both walk to second period hand in hand

It's only in the boredom of your math class that you realize the gravity of what your boyfriend had said to you in the park

11:08 you: Tendou

11:08 you: was I tripping

11:08 you: or did Wakatoshi /propose/ to me in the park today

Tendou is typing......

A/N: I've never posted this kind of stuff before so comments would really be appreciated! Like if there's something I could do to make my stuff easier to read or whatever I wanna hear it! Even if it's mean I promise I'll only cry a little

[starphasedd]

LIEUTENANT

Veteran Erwin Smith x veteran F!Reader (Oneshot)

Heavy NSFW under the cut. Minors do not interact!

Reader has known The Commander since they were children; she had always been enthralled with him. She vowed to stay by his side no matter what the circumstances and that's exactly what she did. Through the childhood hardships, training camp and early starges of being a scout, she has never left his side. He has taken notice of this and now as Commander, he plans to thank her for always being there for him.

Warnings: Eventual adult content, foul language, gore, angst, slow burn, smut....

To Protect and Serve

To say you were enthralled by him was a rather big understatement. You had harbored strong feelings for Erwin for a long time; ever since you were kids. You met in school, where his father was the teacher. You remember being in awe of his enthusiasm and intelligence, even at such a young age. You would watch him every day and quickly turn if he looked in your direction. You weren't sure if he knew you had feelings for him and honestly; you didn't care. All you knew was that your destiny revolved around him. He was going to be the key to finding out humanities darkest secrets.

Throughout time you did as you promised yourself. You stayed by his side and he quickly started noticing. Naturally in his own way, he would thank you by personally asking you to join his squad when he was captain. You were intelligent, strong, resourceful and wise. All the things he needed and wanted to bring his team together.

When he was asked to become Commander, he quickly appointed you his lieutenant. His righthand man per say. Day and night, expedition after expedition, he watched you; intoxicated by the sight of you. It seemed as though you did everything with grace and everything you did you succeeded. He was more than proud of you. However, as Commander of the Survey Corps he couldn't show his adoration of you as it would pose as a conflict of interest. So he would continue to watch you; admire you. He would imagine what your plump lips tasted like, what the curve of your hips felt like under his touch, what your soft whimpers sounded like from his force. You drove him mad without even needing to look at him.

As for you, it was the same game. You had always loved him. Being near him set your body and soul on fire. Hearing his loud, thundering voice sent chills down your spine. The way he would brush against you ever so slightly when going over expedition plans. Did he have the same feelings as you? If he did, he sure as hell knew how to conceal it. Most of the time he was just as cold and stoic with you as he was with everyone else. Little did you know what was going on in his mind.

Skip forward to what is now the year 845. Wall Maria was breached 5 years ago and everything changed. Coming back from an expedition, you were dirty, irritable and exhausted. You rode your horse next to Erwin's. He glanced over at you for a brief moment to make sure you were okay. You normally wear your hair in a tall ponytail but the fight from this battle had been so hectic that your hairband broke, so your hair now laid long and messy over your chest, shoulders and back. Your neck, chin and chest covered in blood. Not yours, of course. You had a couple new cuts on your cheeks and you slouched slightly, just trying to ease the pain in your lower back from using your ODM gear all day. The entire ride back Erwin kept an eye on you.

Once back within the walls and the safety of Erwin's office, you finally got to sit back and rest your eyes. Erwin watched as you sat in your chair, slowly and weakly slipping your jacket off. It looked almost sensual to him. A breathy sigh left your lips as you laid your head back against the headrest of your chair.

"Take the rest of the day off. You'll need it to recover." The large man stated as he turned his back to you to glance out the window.

You looked over in his direction for a brief moment before laying your head back down and closing your eyes. You reached your left arm up to rub your shoulder.

"No. I'm fine. I have plenty of incident reports to finish."

"Those are my responsibility to do."

"Right. But I'm your Luitenant. It's my job to take some of that weight off your shoulders. It's unnecessary for you to have to deal with everything."

He turned back around and watched you closely. Your chest rose and fell steadily as you rubbed your shoulder, and as your hand fell to begin rubbing your chest right below your collar bone. He couldn't help but let his gaze fall to your bust, which showed ever so slightly under your shirt.

You two had shared romantic experiences here and there. A kiss when you both thought you'd be dead, a hug when one of you was broken, and touch when you both found it hard to fight your urges. Everything came back to him being your superior, and maintaining the respect of everyone around him. You both suppressed your feelings for years.

"You're disobeying a direct order, Luitenant." He said sternly as he looked at you.

You didn't speak for a moment, your eyes still closed.

After a minute of deliberation, you opened one eye to look at him and sigh softly.

"Yes, sir."

You gave in and slowly stood up from your chair. Erwin watched as you slowly made your way to the door, stopping briefly to glance back at him before turning back around and pushing the large door open. Once the door was shut, he sat down in his chair and let out am exhausted sigh. His large hands moved to pick up a pen and a piece of paper to begin on the mountain of incident reports he had stacked up.

Later that evening, you sat on your bed in the dim handle light after a refreshing shower. You wore a button up shirt with two or three buttons undone, showing your cleavage. Your hair was still damp as it lay wet on your face and neck, and you had some normal tan slacks on. You didn't know why you decided to get so dressed for just being home, normally you were half naked in the comfort of your own bed but for some reason after getting out of the shower, you got fully dressed

After a little more than half an hour, you rose from your bed. Realizing that you probably weren't going to sleep tonight, you slipped your shoes on and make your way to the door. You might as well go and do some of those incident reports Erwin was so keen on you not doing. You knew he was looking out for you, but there's no reason you should waste your entire night. Sleep was something you hadn't gotten in a while, but you were good a hiding it.

You made your way down the dimly lit halls, finally reaching the commanders office. One small knock and his booming voice reverberated down your spine. He was telling you to come in.

Turning the knob and slowly pushing the door open, you almost froze when you saw him. His hair was no longer perfectly in place but it was messy, like he had been frustrated so he ran his fingers through it. He had removed his jacket and unbottoned and first 3 buttons of his shirt, revealing his collar bones and the tops of his pectoral muscles. He stopped and looked up at you, seemingly suprised.

"Y/N? It's almost 3AM. I told you to get some rest." He said, watching you approach his desk.

You approached him with a soft smile, sitting in one of the chairs he had facing his desk. You crossed your legs; being you were small enough to do so in the chair.

"Commander, I don't get much sleep these days."

"I understand. Neither do I." He said, laying his pen down before leaning back in his chair. He watched you softly. "I am glad you got the chance to clean up though. It looked like you were uncomfortable."

You laughed softly, bringing your small hand up and biting the tip of your pinky finger as you looked at the ground. He watched you closely. He couldn't help but let his gaze fall to your exposed bust once again. Sometimes he thought you did little things like that to drive him crazy.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes sir. I just couldn't sleep. I figured I would come help you with the reports."

"I'm almost done with them now."

"Bullshit! There were like 300 of them!" You said through a laugh as you looked up at him. He chuckled softly, watching you with a soft smile on his face.

"You can see right through me, as always....Y/N."

"Damn straight. I've known you since we were kids. You can't lie to me." You said, grin on your face as you watched him. "You are the one that needs a break, Erwin." You said, using his first name. He said nothing, just watched you.

"You work day and night, get no rest and I barely see you eat either. I have to be the one to remind you that you are only one man...." you spoke softly before standing up from your chair. You walked around the other side of his desk and leaned against it, crossing your arms over your chest as you looked down at him. You were now inches away from him. Your beautiful hair falling over your shoulders as you looked at him. "....I worry about you, Erwin." A somber look on your face as he turned and made eye contact with you.

Something primal was urging it's way to the surface in him. The way you cared so deeply for him, even after everything you've seen him do. All the terrible things. You still stayed by his side. You still cared as much for him as you did before you both joined the Survey Corps.

His breath hitched in his throat and he was silent for a moment. At this point he was just trying to keep himself from bending you over his desk and fucking you until you couldn't walk but it wasn't looking good for him.

You watched as the large man slowly rose from his seat in silence. He was a good 6 inches taller than you, so when he did get up he was towering. The slight of his powerful form hovering over you and it sent chills down your spine.

Erwin was silent. He stood close to you, eyes locked with yours as if you were communicating but through no use of words. He was close to you now and you let your arms fall to your sides. His large hand slowly reached down and touched your left palm softly. All happening while in silence. He longed for your touch, as did you long for his. Your breath hitched in your throat too as you watched his gaze, not leaving yours for one moment.

He breathed slowly and deeply. His other hand moved to very slowly caress your hip, pulling your bottom half closer to his. Your eyes glazed over with lust when his hand touched you. The heat from his much larger body making beads of sweat form on your chest and you let a small whimper leave your lips. Finally, you spoke.

"Sir.......Erwin..."

You almost stuttered. You couldn't even think straight in this moment. Thats when he finally spoke and pulled you out of your own mind. His voice was deep and dark, coated with lust. "Shh." His hand left where they were and started to make their way up your torso. Your breathing uneasy as he finally reached your top button, slowly starting to undo it. All the while, he leaned down and slowly; sensually began kissing your neck.

Your face felt like it was literally on fire. It was so red, in any normal situation Erwin would have been concerned but he knew what he was doing to you, and loved the sounds you made when he was doing it. Soft, beautiful moans left your lips as he unbuttoned your shirt to the last button. He continued to kiss your neck sensually while his hand moved to the button on your slacks.

"S-sir...." you moaned, your hands moving to steady yourself by holding onto his strong shoulders.

"I've got you, don't worry."

You nodded slowly, feeling his lips leave your neck and your hips begin getting cold as he started slipping your pants off. You breathed out softly as he lifted his head to look at you. He leaned in, finally kissing your lips slowly and at the same time, after your pants hit the floor, he lifted you by your hips onto the desk so your bottom half was even with his.

He leaned in, making you lean back into the desk. He kissed your neck again as his large hand made it's way up your thigh and finally to your heat. Sliding under your panties, his large digits slipped into your core. He groaned at how wet and tight you were around him. A soft moan left your lips as the large man began pleasuring you.

"Erwin, please. Don't tease me. I can't take it." You moaned and he smiled into your neck. He removed his hand from your quaking pussy and leaned up, starting to unbutton his pants to pull his large length from the opening.

He leaned back down and slid his left arm under your head so you had something comfortable to lay on. The other held his cock at your juicy entrance.

"Are you ready for me?" He asked, breath fanning over your face.

You nodded and he obliged, slipping his hard cock into your heat. You moaned loudly as you felt him strech you out. He watched as you squirmed under him. He gave you a moment to adjust and then began thrusting into you. The sound of your wet juices mixing together was absolutely naughty to him, but the sweet sounds of you whimpering his name was even better. His right hand stayed on your hip, holding you in place as he plunged into you relentlessly.

"Fuck....fuck Y/N" he moaned, closing his eyes and laying his forehead against yours. He continued to mumble profanities into your ear the rest of the time.

His large fingers dug into your hip, leaving pink and red bruises all over. He took that same hand and moved it up to the inside of your knee, pushing that leg up to your chest to give himself more room to thrust. His large cock piercing you cervix as you struggled not to cry. The pleasure being almost too much to handle.

It wasn't long before both of you finished. Your bodies went limp for a moment as you both tried to catch your breath. After a few minutes, Erwin sat down in his chair and leaned back, still catching his breath. He looked over at you as you stood there, buttoning your shirt back up.

"My my Commander. I didn't know you could have such a filthy mouth." You said with a crooked grin as you looked over at him.

He smiled before standing up and approaching you. He wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you in.

"You haven't heard anything yet, if you'll continue to indulge me."

@ewzekeyeager

[imgoingtofreakoutnow]

An old friend - Part 3

Summary: The picnic has come and so the time to face Anthony on what you discovered, but will everything go as planned?

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x Fem!reader

Other characters: Hyachint Bridgerton, Eloise Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington

Words: 3.0k+

Warnings: slight angst (?), fluff, again some yearning

A/n: This has been quite difficult to finish, I had different ends in mind but none seemed to fit well the flow... I hope you’ll like this! Also, I may post other parts in the future but for now, count this as the final one. ENJOY!

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

Gif's not mine, credit to the rightful owner

When the time came to attend the picnic in Hyde Park, the day was nothing but perfect: the sun, for the special gathering, had decided to come out of the clouds to honor everyone with its presence and a warm breeze enveloped every figure walking through the gardens or simply resting on the grass with its embrace. Even the London sky didn’t look like its normal self, with no grey clouds all over; just a few white stripes painting the bright blue canva. In other words, the epitome of a summer day.

However, sat under the gazebo playing cards with Hyacinth, Eloise and Penelope, you felt much worse than a rabbit caught under the wheel of a carriage.

"Miss Y/N/L". You turned towards Hyacinth, who was pointing at the cards. "It's your turn"

"Very well..." you sighed, throwing in the space between the four of you the first card that came in your hand. Winning the game was the least of your problems.

You had spent all night rolling from one side of your bed to the other, playing and replaying every possible scenario in your head, looking for the right way to ask Anthony what you wanted to know without sounding too accusatory. Nevertheless, it was hard to face the man when he was nowhere to be found!

He had just a moment to greet you with a quick kiss on your hand - which, you couldn't help, had made your heartbeat rise as a river during a flood - before being taken hostage first of many beautiful debutants, second of their meddlesome mothers and lastly of some old friends from boarding school.

Right now he was somewhere in the park with them, possibly reminiscing of that one time they put black ink in the professor's shoes... or something similar to that, you imagined. You weren't so sure of what sort of jests could boys come up with.

"Miss Y/N/L". Hyacinth's voice reached you again through the bubble of your thoughts. You put down another card. It took you a second after that to realize that Eloise had no cards in her hands anymore, thus making her the winner.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry" you apologised, putting your left cards back in the deck. "I hope you didn't ask me anything while I was lost in my mind"

"Just if you were alright, miss" explained Penelope. "Did you sleep well last night? You look quite tired"

You sighed. There was no sense in keeping that a secret. "Not quite. Some matters just seemed to be stuck in my head and decided not to leave for the night"

Eloise's eyes sparked in interest. "What kind of matters?" she asked, eating a strawberry.

"Nothing relevant at all" you assured with a smile, but from the look on Eloise's face, you knew she wasn't finished asking.

"No irrelevant matter could keep anyone awake for an entire night" she pointed out. "But I know what matters could..."

Penelope sighed. "Eloise..."

"Family matters" she started, raising her index, "and heart matters". She bent slightly towards you with the Bridgertons' signature smile on. "Which does apply to you?"

You scoffed. "Neither, of course". As you lowered your gaze to the messy deck, the rays of the sun felt suddenly more focused on your face than on anyone else's.

"Heart matters, that is!" Eloise exclaimed with a single clap, her eyes smiling brighter than her grin. "Do we know the lucky gentleman who caught your eye? Or perhaps he is from the countryside? Don’t tell me: are you two secretly engaged?"

Before your cheeks became the same shade of wine, a deep voice intruded the conversation: "You shouldn't badger our guest with your inquisitiveness, Eloise"

Your head shot up to meet Anthony's gaze. Even though your feelings towards him were mixed at the moment, seeing him washed you over with a warm, soothing sensation, as the need of his touch grew within you.

Eloise huffed, standing up from her seat, immediately followed by miss Featherington. "You are a bore, dear brother. I have nothing else to say on this matter". Then, taking Penelope's arm in hers, she walked away, already whispering in her best friend's ear.

"Anthony, do you want to play with us?" asked Hyacinth, already preparing the deck for another round.

Anthony smiled gently at her. "Maybe later" he said, pinching lightly her cheek. "Why don't you go play with Gregory now? I've heard he wanted to see if he could find rabbits near the bushes... or perhaps even goblins"

Hyacinth gasped. "Without me?!". She quickly and clumsily got up in her dress and, after a small curtsey to you, she was running on the grass to who-knows-where.

Now that the cover was clear, Anthony laid down next to you, pointing his elbow on the ground to keep himself up. After adjusting in a comfortable position, he sighed, looking in the direction in which Hyacinth ran off.

"Should you think she'd be angry to find out I lied to her?"

You smirked, taking a card from the deck and fidgeting it in your hands. "About Gregory or the goblins?"

Anthony turned to you, raising his eyebrows. "Both?"

You shook your head, giggling ever so slightly. "You, Lord Bridgerton, are incorrigible: lying like this to your youngest sister... what a rascal"

A corner of his lips tilted upwards. "You should not talk like this to a viscount, miss Y/L/N" he murmured. His hand moved to your arm, his fingers stroking your bare skin, lighter than a feather touch and equally tingling. "I would say it was quite improper"

At this words you moved away from him, just enough so that his fingers could only touch the empty space between you. He searched your face but you were still staring at your card.

"I believe we should talk, my lord” you said, your voice still and steady more than what you expected. “However...", you looked at Benedict and Colin, who had just appeared in your sight and were directed towards the gazebo, "...maybe a walk would be best suited for such matters"

Even with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Anthony nodded, standing up again and offering his hand to help you. You gently accepted and he pulled you up. Nonetheless your feet got caught in the cover, making you lose your balance and ending up in his arms.

"I-I'm terribly sorry" you muttered, raising your gaze to his and finding him already staring at you. The warmth of his hands, steadying you, got past your gloves terribly easily and you found that being there, pressed against his chest, so near to his heart, was the only place were you wanted to be.

You took a couple of steps back, smoothing your wrinkled dress and taking a deep breath in. His closeness was like opium to you: even the slightest hint and you lost your mind; and unfortunately right now, you had to be present.

He cleared his voice, handing politely his arm to you. "Shall we go?". You nodded joining your arms and moved with him on the beaten pathway.

A few minutes passed in complete silence, as you tried to find the right words to start. Apart from sporadic pairs walking the opposite direction, you were the only ones strolling in the park at that time of the day, when the sun shines so bright it could make the blood in your veins boil; only birds kept uninterrupted their concert.

"Are you upset because I didn’t honor you with my presence all morning?" guessed Anthony, raising his eyebrows. “Trust me, I would’ve gladly spent more time with you than with any of my other acquaintances”

You shook your head, a smile gracing your face. "Certainly not, my lord: your family was very kind to me in your absence" you assured him. "Besides I'm not upset... I just want answers to what I've heard"

"And what, pray tell, have you heard?"

You moved your gaze from his; there was no way to sweeten the pot. "I've heard that, in certain circles, you are considered a rake; and" you added, before he could stop you, "that you've been spending time with various women last season, opera singers from what these rumours told me"

"And you believe these rumours, miss Y/L/N?". His voice didn't show any emotions but his muscles were tense as an arp string.

"That is why I'm asking you, my lord. I wish to believe it a lie, but your actions yesterday, as appreciated, had boldness in them... quite like Sir Feversham's"

Anthony stopped in the middle of the path, his jaw clenched. "Don't compare him to me, I am nothing like him”. His dark eyes seemed coal ready to be set on fire. “I would've never forced you into anything-"

"I know". You squeezed gently his arm against your side. "I know that, Anthony. Nonetheless, I’ve been wondering since last night if you consider me just as one of those opera singers and you’ll leave me alone like you did to them: my honor undermined and a broken heart to fix..."

"Do you really think I would do something like that?"

You raised your eyes to meet his. The lump in your throat, seeing the hurt look on his face, triplicated. "Haven't you done it before?"

Anthony clenched his jaw again, avoiding your gaze. Many emotions crossed his eyes before he closed them for a moment. Then, after giving a quick look all around, he started guiding you towards an almost hidden path through the hedges.

"Where are you taking me?" you asked, confused and slightly frightened by the sudden change of course.

He glanced towards you with his lips curved. "You did want answers, didn't you?". When you nodded, Anthony slid his hand in yours. "Then there is absolutely no need to worry, miss Y/L/N, I can assure you that" he whispered, preceding you in that natural maze.

As you followed him, jumping over ponds of mud, protruding roots and avoiding overhanging branches, it felt for a moment like you were back in one of the fantasies you two came up with as kids, exploring the deep amazonian jungle in search of a lost civilisation or a hidden temple behind a waterfall; you couldn't believe they belonged to such a long time ago...

The hedges surrounding you ended abrubtly, opening on a clearing that looked like an illustration from a storybook: the grass, kept perfectly cut in the rest of the park, reached knee height there and, in between the stems, flowers popped out in the vivid green, their bright colours catching your eye.

However what left you mouth agape was the modest pavilion in the centre. Its classic columns, with ivy crawling around them, had almost invisible cracks on their surface, and the marble, if once polished, was now covered with a thick layer of dust and dead leaves. Still, even so neglected, its ruined beauty left you speechless.

"How... how did you manage to find this place?" you asked in a whisper, your fingers caressing the tall grass as you approached the pavilion.

"In the most common and simple way”. At your confused glance, he smiled mischievously. “Hiding from my mother"

“You even hid from your mother, my lord?” you smirked.

“Everything to escape her matchmaking schemes” Anthony laughed before a sad smile appeared on his lips. “Nevertheless, it was years ago, when I was still allowed to act as a foolish young man, from time to time”. He left your hand and started unbuttoning his tailcoat.

As he took it off to put it on the marble bench, your gaze wandered on his shoulders and down his arms, framed by his tight waistcoat and usually concealed under that thick layer of blue velvet.

"Shall we start?" he asked, gesturing for you to sit next to him.

You took a seat and noticed how Anthony was wringing his hands, his body again all tensed up. Without uttering a word - it was his time to speak - you took his hand in yours, stroking your gloved thumbs on his skin.

"I must say" he started, "that the market’s gossip is quite accurate... but still not enough to be a reliable source” - then, after a sigh - “because yes, I am a rake - or at least I can be consirered one - and yes, I spent most of last season at the opera house. However, unlike what those women told you, my only company was one beautiful and indipendent lady, whose name I’d rather keep unknown"

He looked at you, almost asking for your permission. "Of course, my lord, I understand". Anthony nodded thankfully before letting his tongue on the loose.

He told you everything you needed to know, his gaze fixed on nothing, eyes lost in memories that you could only try to picture in your head. Every emotion he’d felt in the past crossed his face as he spoke of every step of the affair, from their first meeting to their very last goodbye. You saw how difficult was for him to remember that latter part, even though months had passed since then. After all, no love can ever be truly forgotten.

"Looking back, I’ve realized only recently that she broke my heart just as much as I broke hers" he admitted, his gaze falling on your joined hands. “She deserved much better than the transitory pleasure I was able to give her... I still slightly regret what we could’ve been, but there’s no use in mourning the past”. He stroked gently the palm of your hand. “I’ve found the present to be an unexpected and more appreciated bearer of happiness”

You blushed as his eyes set on you, a welcome sincerity lighting them. However, there was still something, in a deep corner of your mind, that wouldn't let you enjoy the moment completely.

"Thank you for telling me all about it, Anthony" you said, watching him trace abstract figures on your hand. "But I do have one last question"

He moved your hand to his mouth, placing a kiss on your covered wrist and lingering with his lips on that small spot. "You can ask me anything, Y/N"

After a deep breath, you fixed your eyes in his. "What am I to you?"

He furrowed his brows, confused. "I beg your pardon?"

"I do believe you fancy me" you started, looking away and fidgeting your hands as you spoke, "but I can't quite understand if your intentions with me are honorable or if you're simply using my company to your likings"

Anthony shook his head. “That’s nonsense, I would never-”

"Then do you intend to propose to me?" you asked, a rush of boldness flowing in your veins. “You know me, more deeply than any man I’ve ever met, and I found myself drawn to you in a way I’ve never experienced before... and I believe you feel the same”. He stared at you in silence. "I thought you wanted to marry as soon as you found a suitable lady..." you added, his stillness making your heart ache. "Am I not enough to be your wife?"

"Don't". Anthony cupped your face, his hands warm on your skin. "Do not say something like that ever again. You are not only more than enough, but more than I could've ever hoped to find... your intelligence astounds me just as much as your beauty hypnotizes me and I do believe you shall become one of the most accomplished Viscountess of Bridgerton that ever walked this Earth"

As his words beat in your mind ritmically with the pounding of your heart, you held your breath. "...but?"

"But I've rushed things in the past and burned everything I'd built to the ground, myself included. I don't want to make any mistakes with you, and if that means doing things properly, then be it". He stroked your cheek gently and you unconsciously leaned in his touch. "I've lost you once and I surely shall not make the same mistake twice"

You smiled, tears menacing to roll down your cheeks at any moment.

"Don't cry" he whispered, leaving a light kiss on your forehead and you laughed. His lips were as soft as you pictured them in your dreams.

"Don't mind my wet eyes... I'm just- I've never felt this happy before"

He smiled, placing one hand on yours. "Let's hope this will never change then". You nodded, smiling even wider.

So, as the sun went down and the wind kept blowing, you stayed there, talking, laughing, making up for all the lost time, in that little clearing out of time, and you wished you could stay there forever...

“We should go now” Anthony got up from its place. “It’s getting dark”

Making your way back in the reality it felt like waking up from a long, sweet dream, one that makes you wish you could sleep forever.

Your carriage was already waiting you at the edge of the park. Anthony helped you get into it as the gentleman he was. “Goodnight, miss Y/L/N”

“Goodnight, Lord Bridgerton” you smiled down at him, your hand still in his. “And thank you for the wonderful day”

He smirked and kissed your knuckles lightly, lingering again on the same spot where he kissed you for the first time. “The pleasure was all mine, my lady. I shall see you soon”

“Of course” you whispered not capable of even breathing. Anthony smiled, letting go of your hand as a footboy closed the door of the carriage. Then the coachman incited the horses and you were off in the night.

Resting on the soft pillows inside, you sighed, your eyes fixed on the stars outside the window. “Until next time”

Tag list: @lady1505 @truly-insatiable @littlemissbridgerton @anthonybridgertonsmistress​ @chaoticgirl04 @xceafh @latekate1807 @peoniarose @bridg-09 @michael-loves-chickens​ @beckachicago3​ (tell me if you want to be added or removed💗)

[zapsalis-d]

Narudar: Chapter Twenty-Seven—The Desolation

SUMMARY: Subsequent to the fight, you're left alone to your emotions. Unluckily for you, that doesn't last too long.

WARNINGS: Slight!Cobb Vanth x reader (only temporarily!), The usual angst

WORD COUNT: 5.0k

MASTERLIST >>> MAIN MASTERLIST

"WHAT WAS THAT?"

"What was what?!" you snapped. Adrenaline still tracked itself intensely throughout your entire body, a fierce and hostile wrath reigning over your actions and emotions, contorting your face underneath your mask into an aggrieved glare. With you one big, raging step ahead of Cobb Vanth who strives to pursue you, you approached the small-scale fire the group was previously camping at—although what with all the commotion from five minutes ago, everyone had disappeared from it.

"That back there!" Cobb raised an emerald beskar-clad arm, towards the direction in which that pestering fight occurred. It was evident that he was dominated by his own slice of annoyance and exasperation as well, considering you hadn't even offered the slightest bit of information for him other than don't say my name in front of Mando and I need to get away from him as soon as possible. But that was nothing compared to the fury fuming within your heaving chest. "You know what I mean— do you know each other?"

"Obviously!" You continued down the course that led to your campfire, weaving swiftly through the several tents set up by the Tuskens. You released an irritated groan, fingers curling up and forming a strictly clenched fist as you attempted to suppress the anger threatening to escape from within you. "Why else would I have wanted to leave so quickly?! Cobb, this is exactly why I didn't want to come—"

A scoff was audible from behind you. "Maybe if you'd bothered to fill me in on the situation, I would've—"

"That's none of your damn business, alright?" you barked, whirling around to face him—though the visor of your dark-colored mask prevented true eye contact with the chocolate hues in his eyes. You urged yourself to wind down a bit in fear of awaking the remaining Tuskens any further. Disgruntled grunts were already discernible, indicating you'd annoyed quite a few of them—and so you gradually lowered your voice. "We had a past I'd prefer not to talk about. It's nothing of your concern."

A sigh escaped from Cobb's lips. "What were you doing all the way over there, then? Why did you disappear?"

"I left to escape from all that arguing—it was ticking me off!" You set a hand on your hip, leaning your weight onto one leg. "Apparently, I couldn't escape from that... Plus, I had to drink that— that stinky melon thing. I didn't need Mando seeing my face... looks like I couldn't avoid that either." You let out a vexed puff of breath, shaking your head as your mind raced and struggle to provide yourself a solution to all this. Then, "I'm heading back to town. I need to leave."

"No, we need your help with the Krayt dragon," Cobb instantly denied the idea, clearly disliking it. "I need your help. You know I don't wanna do this alone with Mando."

"Well, I also happen to hate Mando! I know you don't understand, but I need to get as far away from him as possible. I'm sure that, with the help of the Tuskens, you guys won't even need my assistance."

"I thought you were gonna rest here for a few months..." With his gaze trained steadily on you keeping your attention, you had a gut feeling he was going to attempt to guilt-trip you as he'd previously done to convince you into joining this mission (and, unluckily for you, it had successfully worked... because how could you resist him when he looked at you with those eyes?) Then, "...with me?"

"That was the plan," your prominently distorted voice softened. You gnawed at your cheek with your teeth to remind yourself you urgently needed to go, no matter what Cobb said. "But things have changed. My top priority tight now is finding a Jedi and you know that—I've told you a million times. Maybe once I've done so—and when Mando's gone—I can come back and visit again, but... Sorry. I have to leave."

"...but I need you."

"No, I need to go—"

"At least until we're done and over with the drago—"

"No—" you spun around as quickly as you could to escape from his attempt in persuading you, heading straight towards the speeders' direction instead. "No. Cobb, you're not doing this alone, you've got the Tuskens and Mando to help you. You don't need me."

A warm hand enveloped itself around your palm, calloused fingers entwining with your own, causing you to freeze in your tracks and once again turn to look into those honey eyes. "Please?"

"Vanth! You—" a groan escaped your lips, your digits tightening around his. "Ugh! Fine."

If there was something you figured out these recent months, it was this: you were a sucker for bucketheads.

(Sometimes, you despised the fact—other times, it wasn't so bad."

"But don't expect me to stay much longer afterwards, alright?"

"Not to worry—I'll keep Mando away from you."

An inevitable grin snuck onto your lips. "Yeah, I'm sure you can keep Mando away but will you be able to keep the kid away from me? I doubt it."

"What, you hate the baby, too?"

"No, of course not," you replied, gaze slowly dropping. "I just don't need him bothering me..."

Correction: you don't need him getting in the way of yourself desperately trying not to attach yourself to him again.

And ever since he'd reappeared back on Mos Pelgo, that easily became gruesome to avoid. Those large dark eyes, long and pointy ears, cute little smiles and giggles—you missed him so damn much, and there was nothing you could desire more than pick him up and hug him so close to you, never allow yourself to leave him again... That was highly improbable, though. And it had pained you to compel yourself to push him away yet again, when you initially believed you would never have to do such a thing again. Turns out that conclusion was extremely erroneous.

"I'm going to sleep," you finally spoke up after a moment of losing yourself in your asphyxiating thoughts. You approached the fire that was now a few feet away, before plopping yourself down besides the flickering flames, immersing yourself in the pleasant warmth it provided throughout the chilly desert night.

"Here? There's a tent left you can take over there."

"You take it. I'm fine here." You lifted your gaze when he hadn't inched away the slightest bit. "Go, I'm fine! I promise. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," he whispered back, before reluctantly stepping away and heading towards his tent.

Your decision was to wait a short amount of time before truly deciding to fall asleep. Once everything seemed to calm down, the Tuskens were returning to the security of their tents, and a certain Mandalorian was out of sight, you slid your hood back down and removed your mask for the final time tonight. Now that your vision was clearer and lacking the usual dark tint of a thin visor, you set the object down besides you (making certain it was in reach this time). A couple of feet away from the fire—close enough to keep you warm throughout the night and far enough not to irritate or possibly burn you—you laid yourself down and shifted around to find a comfortable position. That proved to be quite onerous, given that you were laying on the ground with nothing other than your cloak to cover yourself with. Plus, your armor was making it increasingly intolerable and difficult to sleep with, though you wouldn't dare separate from it around here.

You had absolutely no clue what you were thinking back then by setting your mask down such a distance from you, but you certainly hadn't expected Din to start searching around for you like that—not to mention he had indirectly accused you of taking the Child away from him. All of this could've easily been avoided if you'd simply elected not to take a moment to rest from your suffocating mask straight after drinking that abhorrent milk within the black melon. You could've plainly dismissed the Mandalorian with a mere I don't know, your voice accompanied by deep distortion that would obscure your identity from him. That was why you couldn't bring yourself to reply, because he would've undoubtedly recognized your voice. But then, he did seem as if he were suspecting something, and may have tackled you either way. Still, your face wouldn't have been risked...

If your covering hadn't been so damn asphyxiating underneath Tatooine's strangulating climate, you wouldn't have had ever removed it in the first place. The mask had been hiding away your features ever since you'd caught that flash of a glimpse of the undeniably familiar silver beskar-clad man mounted on a speeder bike, leisurely driving deeper into the city. As soon as you'd seen him, you couldn't help but panic and rush over to the temporary living home you shared alongside Cobb Vanth. You remembered it painfully clear—one second, you're speaking to one of your fellow companions from Mos Pelgo, and the other, you're rushing inside, frantically preparing yourself with your entire set outfit: armor, cloak, and mask, before immediately heading out to investigate the situation.

Your primary trepidation was that he'd returned for you, had somehow pinpointed your exact location to meet with you. You feared he'd regretted his decision, that perhaps he'd wished to apologize.

To which you wouldn't have forgiven him, considering all he'd done to you...

Luckily, that wasn't the case, and your shrouded uniform server you well... momentarily. As soon as you learned that the Mandalorian had solely arrived for Cobb's armor, you could sigh a breath of well-needed alleviation. Sorta. Until that fight minutes ago.

With your back facing the fire behind you, and your eyes still wide open, lacking your usual tiredness, you released a sigh. You pulled your cloak tighter around your figure, strengthening your hold around it to conserve your body heat. It was quite tedious how rapidly the temperatures altered in the deserts—but at least you weren't melting underneath the scorching binary suns.

If only you'd continued bounty hunting whilst simultaneously pursing a Jedi instead of coming here for a few months' rest. Hunting had, after all, provided you with everything you could ever need and desire. With Greef Karga promising that your Guild rates would increase drastically, that had encouraged you to return to bounty hunting, even though you weren't exactly feeling your best after everything that had occurred... At least you earned additional credits—more than you ever had in the past cycles you'd been a member of the Bounty Hunter's Guild.

That allowed you to purchase your outfit from an exorbitant emporium located on a bustling industrial planet overpopulated by excessively monumental cities. The scarlet cloak in particular was the one that had instantly caught your eye—it's silky softness seemed pleasant to wear, and considering its dark color, plus the hood, it practically screamed that you were a dangerous bounty hunter, an elite member of the Guild at that, and combated with heightened skills. Then, there was the mask that you'd purchased. It was actually a broken and fragmented Stormtrooper mask, which you had decided to reconstruct, fix, and refine to your own liking (the visor had been the most difficult part of rebuilding it). The armor was the most costly of everything you'd bought that day, but it was damn worth it. Not only did it come equipped with jet rockets in the calf armor that could assist you in gliding and ultimately saving your life in case you fell from high altitudes, but its manufacturer stated that it was formulated by Zillo beast scales.

You hadn't believed that at first. But the industrialist had allowed you to test it out, and everything checked out. The tawny plates of armor deflected literally anything that attacked it—blaster bolts, blades, a variety of weapons, and if you still had access to your lightsaber, you would've definitely experimented with it. You'd immediately bought the armor, and so far, it had saved your life several times. That, along with the cloak and mask, had also helped you conceal yourself from the entire galaxy, given that now the grand majority of the people surrounding you recognized you as a Jedi.

If only they knew of the things you'd done in your past, of the ways you'd utilized the Force in such abhorrent ways, of how you couldn't possibly deserve to be known as a Jedi.

Setting all that stuff aside, the credits you acquired through hunting was sufficient to allow yourself a well-deserved vacation here, to an isolated city you'd heard rumors about. Sure, it wasn't the best planet... Sorgan and Nata had crossed your mind, but— well, stuff happened over there.

Stuff you'd prefer to forget rather than remember every waking minute of your life.

So, Mos Pelgo seemed like the most desirable option at the time. Yeah, there was the unbearable heat, endless dunes of sand, a variety of dangerous people around... but then you bumped into Cobb Vanth. You'd actually met him cycles previously, and it was definitely a surprise (a pleasant surprise at that) to to encounter yourself with him again. Occasionally, you'd return to Mos Pelgo to visit the city's Marshal, stay for a month or two, then go back to hunting... This particular occasion, however, was shortened and not exactly well-lived. And—

"Patoo."

You had never bolted up right so quickly in your entire life.

Your heart had nearly jolted right out of your chest as you whirl around on the ground to face the Child across the other wide of the fire. Your gaze landed on his petite figure, pointy ears perking up upon realizing your face was entirely exposed and he could finally see you instead of the mask. He'd known the whole time it was you underneath all those layers of cloth and armor. It was completely understandable—he'd clearly felt your familiar Force presence, sensing that you were the enigma that Mando couldn't fathom. His little mouth quirked up into a smile, flashing those cute baby teeth that absolutely melted you. You released a breathy giggle for a second, before widening your eyes as he started his way towards you ecstatically, lifting his claws towards you.

"No, kid, you need to go back to Mando, alright?" You shook your head, trying your best to refuse him. But when he'd climbed up onto your lap, you couldn't help but freeze, unknowing what you should even do. You needed to return him to Mando, but... you didn't really feel like confronting him right now. "You can't be here. Go back."

You attempted to lift him with no avail, the effort ending up with him struggling against your hands, whining and protesting, until you eventually slumped your shoulders as a puff of frustrated breath escaped your lips. As soon as you'd set your hands aside, the Child recognized you'd given in and snuggled nearer to your body, finding comfort and contentment curled up into a ball close to your abdomen. A strict claw clutched onto your vermillion cloak, gripping so firmly, as if he could be abruptly separated from you any second now. You couldn't help but tense up, recognizing the consequences of what this could lead to—attachment.

And you couldn't allow that.

Not again.

Not after everything that happened...

"I need to take you back," you whispered, although your low and hardly audible voice evidently hadn't helped with keeping the infant awake. He hadn't answered or even moved the slightest bit, merely continuing to grasp onto the silky red fabric. Saltwater brimmed the lining of your eyes, beginning to irritate and blur your vision—but you couldn't permit them to fall, and you wouldn't. All you could possibly do right now is hope the Child would come to his senses (though you highly doubted persuading him into returning to Din was even possible. Not after all the time he'd gone without seeing you). "Mando's probably looking for you..."

The Child, per usual, refused to listen to you. That left you with no other option than to wait, until he fell asleep. To which then you could then, reluctantly, go searching for Mando and hand over his kid.

You could still manage to recognize when the Child truly was lost in his dreams, recalling those restless rotations spent alongside the Mandalorian, putting in your utmost efforts to get the relentless infant to fall asleep. All the kid had wanted to do was play, play, eat, and play—time for sleep was not on his schedule. Of course, he'd solely dozed off when it wasn't exactly the time you needed him to (like that wretched day you and Din partnered with that pestering group to rescue a prisoner, resulting in a betrayal). For now, though, you knew the Child was still awake, with his rapid breaths and the unyielding clasp on your cloak. Although you couldn't quite watch his expression since he was in a coiled position, you had a feeling his eyes were shut closed and he was nearly sleeping already.

As much as you despised these memories recently returning to your exhausted brain... the initial few rotations lacking his company were absolute hell.

You'd spent what felt like cycles, an everlasting eternity, constantly thinking about him, constantly worrying over him, constantly wondering whether Din were caring for him properly, constantly curious whether the baby had been affected by your unexpected departure. Eventually, you'd come to the conclusion that overthinking was not beneficial for you, what with your return to bounty hunting that required the grand majority of your thoughts and attention, plus your new mission to seek a Jedi. You found yourself, as strenuous and demanding as it was, compelling yourself to completely forget the Child and neglect the fact that you loved the little womp rat. Your protection was no longer required, Din had made that crystal-clear... Originally, you hadn't understood why Din had ordered you to leave in such an unanticipated manner (especially given that you'd recently almost died, and spent the entire remainder of that fight with painfully broken ribs and a rather traumatized head), and honestly, you still couldn't comprehend the true purpose of that. But what you did recognize was, it was for the best.

At least now you had all these credits and expensive belongings and new weapons...

That didn't do much against the fact that you still weren't happy.

When you'd forcefully drawn yourself out of your thoughts, you couldn't help the grin sneaking onto your lips. Your gaze dropped again, listening as soft snores escaped the Child's mouth and realizing his claws not quite clutching onto the scarlet material as strictly as before. The previous tears edging your eyes had disappeared long ago, yet they'd managed to sneakily form and well up once more...

You'd missed this. You missed keeping the Child safe within your arms, fast asleep, with absolutely no concern (other than the bounty hunters relentlessly hot on your tails), when you'd spend the lazy days within the Razor Crest, traveling securely through hyperspace, and you and Din would spend the day indulging in unimportant small talk whilst momentarily playing games to keep the Child entertained. You longed for the sorta serene times before Greef Karga had offered Din that proposition, before you'd insulted Din with those unkind and hurtful words, before you nearly left the Child lacking his sole two protectors.

As crucial and complicated your circumstances seemed back then, they were surprisingly simple compared to the present.

And to top this glorious night off, the familiar figure of Din Djarin was approaching from the distance. You figured he'd eventually bump into you after searching the entire camp for the Child, even though he evidently seemed to be wanting to avoid you as much as you did. Sucking in a sharp breath, you mentally prepared yourself to camouflage the disarray of emotions swirling wildly within you in this very moment. Hesitantly, you stood and walked towards the Mandalorian who was already making his way towards your direction.

The both of you had halted in front of each other, and for what felt like forever, an intolerable silence stretched endlessly between you two. The repulsive discomfort was utterly insufferable and aggravating altogether, even more considering that particularly painful fight, plus the fact that you were currently deficient of your mask and your hood no longer concealed a portion of your face. Tension enveloped the ambience without ceasing nor straying away as you merely gazed into that dark visor—the damned visor you had convinced yourself that you'd never have the chance to see again.

"He was... He came looking for me," you muttered, precisely loud enough for him to hear. The Child sleeping in your arms remained still and unmoving, immersed in a deep sleep now. You outstretched your hands, leaning forward a bit to offer him the infant.

"Thank you..." Swiftly and carefully, you'd exchanged the Child into the Mandalorian's grasp instead. The gentle brush of his orange gloved fingers inevitably returned specific memories to your mind, and in a split second, it was gone. The Child had been taken away from your warm embrace, leaving you feeling bitterly cold.

"Goodnight," was all you could muster afterwards, wishing for this pestering situation to vanish already. Din nodded, once, whispering a hardly audible goodnight before quickly spinning around to split ways with the Child snug and tucked into one of his arms.

You watched as he stepped away, the beskar shining spectacularly underneath the moonlit sky and prominent amongst the tan-colored tents and plain surroundings, before he was ultimately out of your line of vision. Then, you settled yourself down again, this time hoping you could catch a bit of slumber—which didn't seem very plausible... not tonight.

↯

"They say it lives in there."

After Din's statement, you eyed the colossal cavern gracing the mountainous rocks up ahead, hoping to catch the slightest bit of the Krayt dragon that caused so much destruction and frustration. Your group comprised of you, the Marshal, the Mandalorian, the Child, and several Tuskens alongside their banthas—a rather strange band of people you might add. While the Sand People traveled on their mammoth-sized mammalian beasts, you and the rest trekked through the Dune Sea on your speeder bikes. Currently, you were high up on the ledge of a mountain, peering down below towards the pitch-black cave.

As soon as you'd arrived at your destination, you couldn't help but shiver. The cavity in the mountains extended deep within the tawny rocks, almost like an endless abyss of utter darkness—which only brought Mudhorn flashbacks to mind.

Except the Mudhorn, as monstrous and frightening as it had seemed back then, was nothing compared to the Krayt.

"They say it sleeps," Din translated each and every word the chieftain spoke. The Mandalorian borrowed a pair of binoculars one of the Tuskens had come equipped with—a familiar set of binocs, and you knew exactly why... Then, "It lives in an abandoned sarlacc pit."

Cobb Vanth nearly scoffed. "Lived on Tatooine my whole life. There's no such thing as an abandoned sarlacc pit."

A wince appeared on your features, though your expression was concealed bu your mask, its thin visor directing itself towards Cobb. "Not unless you eat the sarlacc within."

It made absolute sense, actually. From what you'd seen (and you hadn't had the chance to see much, that dragon was unfathomably enormous, not to mention tremendously dangerous and hazardous if agitated. If it was capable of tearing straight through civilization and thick sand dunes, then that monster needed to be taken care of and quick. Or else soon enough, Mos Pelgo would suffer even worse consequences, and truly be wiped off the surface of Tatooine.

"What's with the bantha?" you questioned, watching as a Tusken down below approached the Krayt's den whilst leading a furry, horned creature. With you being side-by-side with Din and Cobb, practically sandwiched in the middle, you would admit (though not out loud) that you were rather... uncomfortable. But your question was an attempt to rid your brain of the tension between you and the Mandalorian, no matter how difficult and improbable that proved to be. If you at least tried to get along with the man, perhaps the whole mission would be smoother, although your patience wears thin with these type of things.

Din had returned the binoculars back to its rightful owners. Then, "They're laying out a bantha to protect the settlement. They've studied its digestion cycle for generations. They feed the dragon to make it sleep longer." The Mandalorian paused, everyone watching as the pair below halted in front of the dark cavern. "Watch, the dragon will appear."

Within a split second, the Tusken raised both its gloved hands, cupping the area of his mask where his mouth was supposed to be, before releasing a deep, reverberating bellow. The cry echoed throughout the entire cavity, unquestionably awaking the perilous beast within it. The Child had appeared besides you, now peering over the rocks and breathing out a gentle whimper, indicating the both of you were undergoing the exact feeling—the Force was warning you both that what was occurring below was highly life-threatening. A menacing growl was audible, emanating from within the cavern, causing the Tusken to whirl around and leave the bantha behind for the Krayt to devour.

You frowned underneath your mask. "Wait, but wouldn't the Krayt just—"

The dragon emerged from the cavity, opening its mouth wide and exposing its intimidating rows of keenly sharp teeth. But instead of taking advantage of the bulky and meatier meal that was initially designated for it, the beast had simply set the bantha aside and solely headed towards the Tusken who desperately attempted to rush away to salvage his own life. But next thing you knew, the Tusken was consumed whole by the Krayt dragon.

"—eat whatever is moving..."

A crackle in Din Djarin's voice modulator indicated a deep sigh. Then, "They might be open to some fresh ideas."

↯

"What are the bones?"

"That's the Krayt dragon."

"And those little pebbles?" You join in.

"...that's us."

You stare into Din's visor with disbelief etched all over your obscured face. Apparently, Cobb couldn't believe his statement either, "That's not to scale."

"I think it is."

"Can't be. That's too big."

The Tuskens alongside your group were congregated, inspecting the miniature layout which provided you with a better understanding for the plan—all thanks to the helpful Tuskens. Tiny grey rocks were set around a larger-scaled skeleton of some unknown dead creature. Your 'team' were ants compared to the 'Krayt dragon,' which only added to your trepidation. You despised dealing with these type of monstrous creatures, and it seems the dry desert planets have the worst of them... You hoped it weren't to scale, because it'd be nearly impossible to—

"It's to scale," Din confirmed after exchanging a brief question with the Sand People.

"I've only seen its head and neck," Vanth stated. "It's bigger'n I guessed."

"This is crazy... Cobb—" you called for your partner, catching his attention immediately. You shook your head with evident refusal. "We can't do this."

"Yeah," he agreed, glancing over to Din. "I'm thinkin' maybe we need to rethink our arrangement."

Din spoke to the Tuskens again, and within a few seconds, there were additional pebbles accompanying the original 'combatants.' Apparently, gaining this beskar was much more important to him than you initially imagined.

"That's more like it," Cobb commented. "Where are they getting reinforcements?"

"I volunteered your village."

That mere sentence was sufficient to cause that all-too-familiar wrath to swell up within your chest again, already beginning to dominate your emotions and actions. Your fists clenched tightly together, gaze snapping towards the Mandalorian, meeting him visor-to-visor with a stance that radiated nothing other than your anger. "What— Are you out of your mind? You're gonna bring them into a fight against a monster over ten-times their size?"

"It's their town," Din reasoned, per usual remaining calmer than you—temporarily. Although his irritation with the subject was already beginning to show in his modulated voice. "It only makes sense that they fight for their own city, too."

"I know, but you've seen the size of that thing!" You barked, a hand gesturing towards the model plan on the ground.

"All the better reason to recruit more people!"

"We're not doing this," you ordered, a tone of finality in your voice as you took a step closer.

"We did it on Sorgan," Din argued with his voice already beginning to raise to match with yours. "Don't you think they'll want to fight against the creature that's been pestering them for years?"

"That was a completely different situation, Mando! We're going against a kriffing monster here, not a group of raiders! We can't put their lives at risk for this!"

"Their lives already are at risk—"

"Okay, okay!" A new voice, dripping with an accent joined in and paused the argument in the nick of time. Several Tuskens nearby were already beginning to become aggravated with the constant disputes and yelling. Cobb continued as his eyes landed on you, "Now I'm sure the citizens of Mos Pelgo will oblige if it means we'll rid of the Krayt. We need all the help we can get."

So now he's on his side. Your chest heaved with a conspicuously heavy sigh, crossing your arms across your armored chest. You shook your head, wholeheartedly denying and disapproving the idea—but it seemed the two weren't going to change their minds. And they had reason not to—Cobb was hell-bent on destroying this pest once and for all, and Din was confident that he'd retrieve the armor that rightfully belonged with the Mandalorians. Your sole desire now was to leave this wretched planet, purchase transportation to a world a long distance from here, and never have to encounter the damned Mandalorian again. Another puff of breath escaped your lips, this time a sigh of utter defeat. "Fine. Let's get this over with already."

PREVIOUS >>> NEXT

Narudar Taglist: @wonderless-screwup @welcometothepedroverse @tanzthompson @the-bottom-of-the-abyss @thatonedindjarinfan @call-me-soap @tanyaherondale @eternal-fandoms

Permanent Taglist: @dindjarinsspouse

[mooniefics]

— quietly (it was told to believe)

pairing : connie springer / reader

word count : 2.4k

tags : heartache, hurt / comfort, friendship / love, mourning, first kiss

summary : life has been unkind to connie springer, and you've been there every step of the way.

— originally posted 1 / 24 / 21 —

"connie.." you tugged at the reins in your right hand, guiding your horse over to trot beside his, "are you alright?"

the sun had just set below the horizon, barely lighting the navy sky enough for you to see the thin clouds stretching out over it, the torch in your non-steering hand providing the best illumination over your friend's face. he looked almost dazed before you'd caught his attention, staring off into the distance at what seemed to be the castle ruins your group was making its way towards, but they were unfocused, blank, eyes filled with something so unfamiliar and sorrowful.

he righted his expression instantly when he turned to you, smiling wide enough that his cheeks puffed and his lids squeezed shut, cocking his head to the side as he spoke. "yeah! but today has been so long, i'm honestly just ready to get some sleep."

you knew that couldn't possibly be true, not after what you'd witnessed in ragako. he'd been calling out for his family, tears in his eyes, just to find his home completely crushed, ruined under the disfigured body of a titan. and though reiner had reached him first to offer comfort, you had caught the way connie's voice wavered, alarmed words spilling out of his as he pleaded with his friend to believe him, that the frail looking abomination before him had spoken and welcomed him home. and while you didn't believe that had really happened, you were sure that such a jarring sight couldn't have been good for him, that maybe in his hysteria to find any sign of life his mind had begun to play tricks on him.

and you'd been worried all throughout your team's trek, how his face had gone from tight with fear and adrenaline to resigned and despondent, then weighed down into the expression you'd seen before he put on a mask of bravery and enthusiasm. he looked so tired, entirely overwhelmed with the reality that his entire family may be dead—were most likely dead—and you couldn't imagine that you or anybody else would fair much better in such a situation. but you simply nodded at his false reassurance, cognizant of your comrades flanking you, not wanting to pry into such a fresh, vulnerable wound and humiliate him before the people he wanted so desperately to be strong for.

so you allowed the silence to fall around the two of you on the remainder of the journey to the castle, air filled with the soft pops and snaps of your burning torches and the dull clop of hooves on the dry ground. it was after you'd all tied up your horses, stretched out your sore legs and backs and barely explored the decrepit space before convening for a brief moment on the bottom floor to take inventory, that everyone had begun to drift off in their own directions. ymir declaring she would look for more food, the veterans taking up the mantle of titan watching on the lookout of the tower, reiner eventually taking off after ymir, christa disappearing down a hall with a gleam of curiosity in her eyes—and suddenly, it was just you and connie alone, sitting in silence beside each other around the small, crackling fire.

"connie," you tried, quietly, hesitantly reaching out to settle your hand over his on the cool stone floor, "you know i'm here.."

he didn't reply, vacant eyes gazing into the flames licking at the darkened kindling, and you could see how the tears glimmered on his lashes, bottom lip wobbling before he pressed his mouth into a thin line. "i just— i don't understand." he whispered weakly, "what did the people of my village, my family.. my mother.. what did they do to deserve this?"

you inched closer, fingers curling around his palm, feeling a twinge in your own heart as you replied. "nothing. they didn't do anything. it was just... a terrible accident."

you hated that you could only offer him such a lame explanation at the moment, but you were as much in the dark on the matter as he was. and though your words may have not comforted him, your touch seemed to make up for it, allowing him to turn him your shoulder and squeeze your hand tightly in his own, just barely trembling, feeling the light drip of tears wetting your shirt.

"it just hurts, you know?" he murmured in your shirt, voice fraying at the edges with sadness.

"i know, connie." you took a deep breath, "one day, things will be better."

he sniffled, swallowing thickly, pulling away to wipe his free hand down his face, hopeless hazel eyes blinking at you. "do you really think so?"

you didn't, you never had, not even on your best days, not when you were lying in bed staring up at the dark in the dorms, not when you were fighting for your life and watching the people you'd come to know be struck down for no good reason, their screamed last words and snapping bones and splattered blood as they disappeared forever into the stomachs of titans.

you could feel that pity, that empathy weighing down your heart heavy even further as you gazed at him, eyes stinging with your own tears as you told him, quietly. "we just have to believe."

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

you didn't know what hurt more in that moment—the heat still lingering over your skin from the steam of your gas tank, the way the belts of your harness were digging uncomfortably into your chest and thighs, mikasa and armin's broken screams as they kneeled on the ground beside sasha, paying no mind to how her blood was seeping into the fabric of their uniform, or connie's face as he staggered to his feet, taut with horror and such an indescribable grief as he stumbled into eren's holding quarters.

you were paralyzed, staring down at your friend, pale and still on the floor of the airship, your breathing so fast that you barely felt like you were getting any air in, heart a few frantic beats away from bursting in your chest. every part of you felt almost entirely numb, falling to your knees and unable to do nothing but gaze on at the scene before you. you couldn't believe that this was how it had all ended for sasha, after surviving three years of cadet training, four years in the scouts, countless expeditions outside the wall, even trips across the ocean—you couldn't believe that this was where sasha met her demise, on an airship away from home, at the hands of a child, still wondering about food until the very end.

visiting her grave was a dreary, surreal affair, and finding niccolo, the man who'd brought her so much joy through his cooking, so confused and anguished as he mourned despite having only known her for such a short amount of time. but even after he'd left with jean's arm around his shivering shoulders, and mikasa had murmured her soft goodbyes when she caught sight of the sun beginning to sink below to horizon, connie still remained, and you stayed behind with him.

only after everyone else had left did he allow himself to cry, trembling as he kneeled before her grave, head resting forward against the engraved headstone, tears dripping down onto the flowers that had been lain before it. he sobbed and cursed, clutching his hands to his chest, letting out the occasional strained whisper of "sasha.. y-you idiot.. why did you have to go and l-leave me behind so soon..?"

and you turned away to give him his privacy, letting your own tears roll freely down your face as you stared out into the orange sky. but eventually he fell silent, and you slowly knelt down beside him, gingerly placing a hand over his back. "connie, it's late, we should get going." you tried not to let your voice waver for his sake, forcing a small smile as you added on, "dinner'll be served soon. sasha wouldn't have wanted us to miss it."

he let out a wry chuckle, lifting his head to gaze at you with teary, wistful eyes. but they flickered back to her grave for just a brief second, and any semblance of a smile on his lips faded, features instead expressing such a raw, incessant sorrow. "things will get better one day, won't they? maybe sasha won't be there, but we'll live to see for her, won't we?"

you bit at the inside of your cheek, forcing down a sob threatening to shake you as you nodded, settling your other hand over his on the ground just as you had at the ruins of utgard.

"we will. i believe in us. i promise we'll see it for her."

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"connie locked himself in his room again."

that was all jean had to say before you were up on your feet, walking briskly down the halls to find him. your first few knocks at the door went unanswered, but you persisted, rapping at it more forcefully. "connie, please open up. it's me."

after a moment, you heard heavy footsteps staggering toward the door, uncoordinated hands wrestling with the knob's lock before it unlatched, the door swinging open to reveal your friend, eyes low and face flushed with intoxication, red cheeks gleaming with tears. but before you could say anything, he was tugging you in by the wrist, throwing the door shut behind you and locking it, stalking back over to his bed and seating himself on the edge of the mattress, balancing his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

"don't want anyone else t' see me.." he faltered, and though you couldn't see his face, you could hear in his voice that he'd begun to cry again, "like this."

you felt your heart clench in your chest, taking in the state of his quarters. his sheets were messy and twisted, like he'd been thrashing about in his sleep, and the bottle of liquor that lay forgotten on the floor was completely empty, the only light being provided by the dim oil lamp burning in the corner.

"connie.." you sat beside him, arm curling around his shaking form.

"i just don't understand," he slurred, nails digging into his scalp, "i don't fuckin' understand what they did to deserve this! my m-mom, my dad.. sunny an' martin.. s-s-sasha... they were all good people.. why does everyone keep leaving me.. why does everybody keep dying..?"

you didn't know what to say, what could you possibly say to someone who had lost so much that hadn't been told to them a thousand times before? i'm sorry? it'll be ok? things will get better eventually? you didn't even believe that assertion yourself, despite having told him for the last four years over and over that the happiness he deserved—the happiness he'd earned through so much hardship—would come someday if he just believed it would.

"i don't know," you whispered, a hand gently coaxing him to sit up, settling on his warm, wet cheek to guide his gaze onto your face, "but you're still here for a reason. we both are. and i know that everybody we know who has died deserved nothing more than to live a long happy life free of all the shit that's going on now, but now it's our job to make sure everyone who has been lucky enough to make it this far will be able to see that happy ending we've all been working so hard for."

you couldn't help but cry alongside him with the way he was looking at you, with such admiration and sadness shining in his eyes, a trembling hand rising to rest over the one at his face. "do you promise?" he croaked, leaning into your touch, "do you promise that you'll live to see the end with me?"

"i promise." you said without hesitation, "i'll be with you every step of the way."

there was death looming over your shoulder just about everyday now, whether it was the thought of your own demise, or that of your remaining friends, or the nightmares of your fallen comrades that haunted your dreams, it was always there, ever-present, clinging to you like a dark shroud. but for now, in the flickering light of his room, his slender fingers threading between your own, his presence warm and comforting beside you despite the despair you shared, you felt like you could truly, honestly promise him that you two would make it.

and you didn't pull away when he leaned forward, eyes hazy, shining and full of more emotions than you could possibly discern, then gone as his lids fluttered shut. his kiss was tender, almost bittersweet, brackish with tears and sharp with the taste of alcohol on his lips, hand trembling as it squeezed yours. and for the moment, you relished in the feeling of him, in all his agony and adoration and steadfastness, every bit of him that you'd loved in so many ways for so long. and though you wished to stay as you were all night, you remembered the empty bottle at your feet, thinking about whether if you managed to put him bed now if he'd be able to get enough rest to sleep away the majority of the hangover he would be sure to have tomorrow.

so you pulled away, smiling at him, patting his cheek affectionately before you pulled yourself to your feet. "you need to get to bed soon. think about how much of a headache it'll be if you don't sleep this off."

"fine." he had sobered up enough to resign to your logic, standing with huff to join you, stooping low to snatch the bottle off the ground and dump it in the small wastebasket by his door as you flapped out his sheets.

you proceeded across the room to the lamp, pleased with yourself when you heard him clambering into bed behind you, moving to the window to shut his curtains before making your way back over to him.

"g'night."

"goodnight, connie." you bent down to plant a chaste peck over his forehead, able to see his face flush with the thin beam of moonlight peeking through the gap in the thin drapes, "i'll see you in the morning."

you left his room, making sure to quietly shut the door behind you, wandering back down the now darkened hallways to your quarters, an odd, but definitely not unwelcoming optimism for the future fluttering about in your chest—a future you could really believe in for the two of you to share.

[mercurygray]

Thirsty Thursday, Annie Sutton for the Soulmates AU idea please...

She always knew she was never going to meet her soulmate sitting at home.

Annie never quite felt a kinship with the people in her hometown - always felt like that puzzle piece that sat on the cardtable for a few weeks while the rest of the picture started to form around pieces where the pattern matched. She'd never matched - not her family, or the other girls at the local school. What did it matter what color your hair ribbon was, as long as it kept it all out of your eyes while you showed someone what for?

It wasn't until she listened to Violet Thorkelson one afternoon at the church picnic, going on about how handsome she though Fred Summers was, and spent the rest of the afternoon in a simmering rage that she realized, really, how much she was never going to fit in here.

(It wasn't until years later that she realized she'd been looking at Violet much the same way Violet had been looking at Fred, and the anger was probably related to that more than anything else. But then, she'd been young. No one had told her love could look a lot of different ways.)

Seemed like everyone she knew had already gotten their words, the energy of that first meeting arcing them into their skin like fire on the prairie, the surest sign that you'd met the person you were meant to be with. The way Annie looked at it, either hers were never coming and she was just destined to die alone, or the man who was supposed to make it all happen was somewhere else entirely and she'd just have to go find him. (Damned inconvenient of him, but then, men were like that, she'd remembered thinking then. Women had more sense.)

There was a recruiter, at the County Fair, a confident gentleman in a pristine uniform and campaign hat standing next to a big poster advertising campaigns in exotic landscapes and a chance for vocational training with the army. He was there for the boys, in the main, but he didn't completely ignore Annie as she hung at the back.

"You have an clerical skills, sister?" he asked, once the crowd of boys had drifted away considering what a regular paycheck would look like, and she was still standing there, taking it in. (This was farm country, and the Depression was still taking some getting used to.) "We're taking women, too, as typists and file clerks and telephonists. Special pay offered for switchboard operators, if you're already trained."

Annie shook her head - her town wasn't nearly big enough for a proper exchange apart from the postmaster's wife, who listened to everyone's calls and knew the whole town's business, and no one in town needed a secretary.

"You finish the 8th grade?" the recruiter asked, setting his standards back a little. "Read and write all right? Clean physical will get you in, and they'll teach you what they need done."

Yes, the army would teach you lots of things - how to march and drill and type and file, and how to deal with the matter of another recruit who caught her in the supply closet and brushed her hand and smiled so sweetly, and later did things with her lips that Annie didn't know human beings ought to be able to do. But the words never came.

Mae ended up taking a posting somewhere else, and Annie got used to thinking she was going to die alone, again. At least the Army had a place for her - good pay, and promotions, too, for a woman who could take directions and never seemed to get distracted by the promise of marriage.

There were new recruits coming in today, and a new sergeant (after the last one had succumbed to the age-old promise of a ring and a house with a white picket fence back in Indiana) and Annie was all at sixes and sevens trying to get ready when she dropped one of her files and sent its contents flying across the floor just when the bus was due into the depot and she needed to be out the door five minutes ago and the new sergeant STILL hadn't shown her own face yet.

Cursing none too silently, she got on her hands and knees and started scooping up her papers - only to find herself looking at a pair of familiar black uniform pumps.

"I've got it, thanks," she said, none too patient. The new sergeant, obviously, late already, and them with a bus to meet and the law to lay down.

"Sure you do," came the other woman's amused reply, and she could feel the words, burning inside her watchband like a brand, and looked up into a pair of baby-blue eyes and the loveliest cloud of soft brown hair, and she could feel her heart melting and her stomach churning, what if she wasn't like Annie and it was all a mistake, but then the other woman reached her hand out and there was no watchband hiding her wrist, no bangle, and the words were there, as bold as ink, I've got it, thanks.

"I'm Lillian," the vision offered, still smiling despite the sour introduction. "It's Annie, isn't it?"

And Annie knew, right then and there, that this was the way it was going to be - that she would say she was fine, and Lillian would smile and quietly disagree and be right about absolutely everything.

[royallyprincesslilly]

Title: Gilded Cage {1}

Lu Xin Lee x OFC Phoenix Argent AU

Warning: Cursing, Blood, Violence, Plot

Words: 1.9k

Summary: Phoenix has been different her entire life. Not just because her father is rich and she has a lovely big house. Phoenix has a secret about her--a secret that can either make her very powerful or very dead. Because of this secret, she’s lived her life in a gilded cage. When she breaks free, that action creates a dangerous and destructive chain of events that soon have Phoenix wondering if she was better off in this cage. That is until a man who moves and kills like the devil but looks like an angel steps in, showing her that sometimes we have to claim our freedom, no matter the consequences.

Note: Surprise!!!!! Okay, we have some Lu Xin Lee from Wu Assassins action. I’m not in love with the cover, so it may change if this continues. Please tell me what you guys think. Should I continue? 

As always, thank you so much for reading! 

If you enjoyed this please, LIKE, COMMENT, REBLOG!!! ❤️❤️

***Loosely Edited/Proofread***

“Shit, shit, shit, shit!”

 You picked up the speed that you ran. You had no idea where you were going, but you knew one thing—you had to keep going no matter what. Glancing behind you, the coast was clear, but just because it was clear didn’t mean you were home free. You’d grown up differently than everyone else. There were some things that were ingrained in you, some things that you used even to this day.

 A loud clatter snapped you out of your thoughts and brought your head to spin on a swivel to look behind you. Still empty. When you looked back in front of you, two black SUVs were pulling up. They were trying to box you in. Looking around you, you tried to come up with a plan, a way out. There was an alley on your left, and it was the alley you were going to take. Changing your direction, you ran into the alley. Using your quick thinking, you pushed one of the dumpsters to the entryway of the alley, hoping it would slow them down. You knew it wouldn’t stop them.

 When you were halfway down the alley, you heard them trying to push the dumpster aside. They argued loudly over who should do what until you heard the screeching sound of it moving.

 “Fuck!”

 That was when you picked up the speed. You were exhausted. You’d been running for the last eight blocks. Damn San Francisco for having endless hills. The downward slopes weren’t bad, but uphill was a bitch. Once you reached the end of the alley, you turned right to find a brick wall.

 “Shit!”

 Turning around, you were met with another brick wall. Trapped. Panic set in and with it your fears. You couldn’t let them catch you. It would not end well. Spinning around, you tried to come up with a plan--anything that would help you see another day. You were surrounded by brick. You had nowhere to go.

 “You can’t run anymore, Y/N!”

 They were getting closer, and you were a fucking sitting duck. If they caught you, you knew how it would end. They’d bring you to him.

 “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Think Y/N, think!”

 Your panic was increasing as their voices drew near. That was when you looked up and saw a fire escape ladder.

 “Ha.”

 You backed up and ran to the wall and used it as leverage to bounce off of it to leap into the air and grab the bottom bar of the ladder. You’d almost missed it. Now you were stuck dangling with barely anything else to give. Upper body strength was always your weakness.

 “Get up, get up!”

 Finding the hidden strength inside of you, you gave it everything you got and pulled yourself up. It was excruciating and took way longer than it should have. Once you could pull yourself up enough to get your foot on the bar, you hugged the cold rusty metal and gasped for air.

 “I should have paid closer attention,” you whispered to yourself.

 You wanted to stop. You were too tired to keep going, but you had to. The alternative was too dangerous. Placing one foot over the other again and again, you climbed the rusted ladder until you got to the first landing. That was when they rounded into the dead-end. You laid on your back as flat as you could get and held your breath so as not to make a peep. You could hear them looking around below you, questioning where you went.

 Several minutes passed with them scratching their heads and blaming each other.

 “I told you we should have shot her and have been done with it.”

 “Shut up. He wants her alive. She’s no good dead.”

 I bet he wants me alive, you thought. Why would he want anything else?

 “Let’s double back; that was her hotel. She’ll probably go back there.”

Slowly they trickled out of the alley, but you didn’t move until you were certain their cars had pulled off. Almost fifteen minutes later, you peeped out onto the sidewalk and surveyed the street. There was no sign of them. Turning onto the sidewalk, you flipped your hood onto your head and quickly walked on. You couldn’t go back to your hotel. That meant you had to find somewhere to lay low tonight so you could get out of town at first light.

An hour later, you found yourself sitting inside an Asian restaurant enjoying a meal you were overdue to have. The flavors melded well together, and if it was possible, the restaurant's décor seemed to fit the food you were eating. You loved the wooden elements of the partitions that divided the tables, and even the bamboo plants were strewn around. The feel of the restaurant was classy yet comfortable. You felt like this could have been a place where you would have spent a lot of your time.

 An uproar of laughter caught your attention. Looking back, you saw a group of people laughing together. They looked close like they’d been friends for a long time. The beautiful woman with long brown hair slapped one of the guys upside their head, which had the rest of them laughing at his misfortune before teasing him in another language. Was it Thai? Mandarin maybe?

 “If things had been different,” you whispered to yourself before finishing the sake in front of you. It was your third one.

 With you not being able to use your credit cards because they were easily traceable, you were now down to a few thousand dollars. If you had another day like today, you knew that reserve would dwindle quickly. Groaning, you rubbed the back of your neck, trying to figure out your next move. This city wasn’t familiar to you. You’d only planned on finding Ari so he could help you out of your little problem. Unfortunately, Ari was out of town, and it meant you were now stranded. Either you wait for him to come back, or you made a way for yourself. You hadn’t expected that they’d find you. You’d been so careful.

 “Everyone, we’ll be closing in fifteen minutes. Thank you for your service, and I hope you come again.”

 That was your queue. You took out a fifty and placed it on the table, and gathered your things ready to go. Before you walked out the front door, you bounced someone.

 “Excuse me,” he rushed out. You didn’t bother responding; instead, you nodded and walked outside.

 They would look for you at the high-end establishments, you had to turn to seedy, and you were not looking forward to it.

 Luckily you found an in-between option. While it was no Ritz Carlton, it was suitable enough. Before you could duck inside, your eye caught sight of someone that looked like they worked for him. Instead of walking through the doors, you stopped on the steps. Trying not to draw attention to yourself, you looked around and saw three more of them just idly standing by.

 “Shit,” you whispered. It didn’t look as if they’d seen you just yet. As inconspicuously as possible, you turned around and sauntered down the street you’d just come from.

 “Hey! Y/N!”

 “Shit!” You picked up running down the street, knowing that they were chasing you. This time you didn't have that much of a lead. You looked back to see they were close enough that if you stumbled, they’d catch you.

 When you turned, large, rough hands grabbed you, lifted you into the air, and dropped you to the concrete. The action took the breath right out of your lungs and filled you with pain. You laid there in a groaning heap writhing in pain.

 “Jesus Dro, are you insane? She’s a girl!”

 “She’s not running anymore, is she?”

 “He doesn’t want her hurt. Are you gonna explain this?”

 Pulling yourself together, you rolled onto your knees and tried to get up.

 “Stop running, Y/N. Just come back with us.”

 “Ne—ver!”

 “You’re so stubborn. He’ll never stop searching for you.”

 You knew it was true.

 “You’re his property.”

 Feeling a burst of defiance, you gritted your teeth in preparation for what you knew would come, then flung your head back and connected with his nose. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but the satisfaction made it worth it even though your head was now pounding, and your vision was slightly blurry.

 “I’m not his property!”

 The men around laughed out, and you thought it was enough of an opportunity for you to get away. Somehow you made it a full block before you were surrounded yet again. You stood in the middle, panting, in pain, and annoyed.

 “Just let me go! Tell him when you found me someone killed me. He’ll believe it,” you suggested.

 “Even then, he’ll hunt for your dead body and make everyone pay for it. I like my chances better bringing you back to him.”

 “Please, I have money. My father has a lot of money. I can pay you. Name a price.”

 The men laughed, signaling that they had no intention of taking you up on that offer.

 “Y/N, your money is no good, and you know why. Just accept it.”

 Before you could speak again, gunshots rained down all around you and pierced the bodies of the men that were around you. Screaming, you held your head and prayed that you made it out of this.

 “They will come for you. You won’t be able to stop them.”

 The words echoed in your memory, and your stomach fell. Was this was what he meant?

 When the gunshots stopped, and all was quiet, you slowly lifted your head. All around you, the bodies laid lifeless and oozing blood. None of them were alive. Before you could get up, you saw four figures coming toward you. Terror and exhaustion are what kept you in place to watch them approach you.

 “You have two options. Ascend or die.”

 You’d heard those words before. You knew full well what was meant by them. You didn’t want to do either. You wanted to live your life, the way you chose—for you. Your father knew it. The years of drilling into you your destiny and chosen path, he thought you’d accepted it. You hadn’t.

 “Choose.”

 You stood on shaky legs and held your head high. While he hadn’t drilled into you acceptance for this said destiny, he had drilled into you stubbornness, strength, and resilience you often relied on.

 “No.”

 The one in front of you wore a ski mask in black with a white sun symbol on the forehead. All you saw were their eyes.

 “She did say you were stubborn.”

 They lifted the gun, pointed it at you, and in seconds everything went in slow motion. You heard the gun go off, but once it did, you were grabbed, hoisted into the air, and moved. Before you knew it, you were on the ground watching one man fight off the four assassins. He moved effortlessly, smoothly, and with absolute control and skill. You couldn’t take your eyes off of the way he moved.

He made it look so easy. He punched, kicked, and overpowered each of them, gliding around like he had wheels for feet. He didn’t even use any guns to defend himself. All he used were his hands. After a few minutes, each of them laid on the ground like the others. You watched him bend down, take up one of the guns, and dig it behind him in the waistband of his pants. Then he turned to you. You weren’t afraid, but you shrunk back. Your vision was quickly getting blurrier with each passing moment. Each second that passed, your body felt heavier and heavier until you dropped onto the ground.

  The last thing you saw was Italian leather shoes approaching you. It was all black after that. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Permanent Tags:

@chaneajoyyy​ @dangerouslovefanfic​ @munteanhorewrites​@sonjashuterbugjohnson​ @caramara3​ @literaturefeen​ @maxcullen​ @night-of-the-living-shred​ @youremysuperstar​ @i-just-like-fanfics​

[love101imagines]

Just good friends

(sinan | imagine)

request: hey, could you write a picture with Sinan and y/n have been best friends for years, and he's been in love with her, but he never counted, with the group getting closer, he feels jealous of her with Kerem, so he takes the courage to declare. please

tags: @sinanfalls @girl-looking-out-window @imtoolazytothinkofacoolname

You two met when you were thirteen.

His parents were still together and he wasn't as self-deprecating as he was when the rest met him. You were friends, talking every now and then and spending some time together because you were new and didn't really know anyone.

Then his parents abandoned him and he shut himself off, becoming a mess with dark bags under his eyes and his hair sticking out in every direction. But, you were the only one who still stayed at his side, even more than the flask he always carried.

You were a breath of fresh air in the middle of the people who either pitied him or were simply annoyed by his remarks. You thought they were funny, even if you got upset whenever he got into trouble or he turned up late to school, dismissing his teacher quickly before slumping on his seat next to you and falling asleep. There wasn't much you could do, only take notes for him and empty his flask when he wasn't looking.

It didn't take long for you two to be attached to the hip, your entire day was spent on his house or yours were you two would watch TV, force him to do his homework or eat, and simply strengthening your friendship.

It was the day he almost burned down the whole auditorium everything changed.

You were leaning against a wall in the hall, waiting patiently even if everyone had already left for their houses. The last time you had seen Sinan he had been standing in the middle of the stage with a fire behind him before being taken by a teacher to an empty classroom before deciding whether he would be expelled or not.

You saw Işik, another one of your classmates, leave the teachers' room with a frown on her face. However, you didn't have time to ask her what had happened when Sinan left the room shortly after.

"How did it go?" You asked walking alongside him, ignoring the three other kids who also walked out of the room.

He only shrugged, causing you to roll your eyes. "I'm not expelled. Yet." He stated like it was obvious.

You sighed in relief, your eyes softening while you two walked out of school towards the pier. Still, your calmness didn't last for long.

"Why would you do that? I know there was a fight but you can't just burn down the whole fucking auditorium, you idiot." You scolded him, each sentence punctuated with a slap on his arm.

He grabbed your wrist to stop you from continuing to hit him, a scowl on your face for how reckless he had acted while he only took a sip of his flask.

"I can't say I'm sorry for something I didn't do." He said emotionless, waiting for you to take a seat next to him on the ferry.

He glanced at you after a few seconds while you remained silent. "Why does it affect you so much? I don't care about being expelled."

"Well, I do." You admitted still frustrated. "I don't want them to expel my best friend, what would I do without you? God."

His cheeks heated up, looking down at the ground so you wouldn't notice. Even if you had said that he was only your friend, your best friend, it still felt nice that someone cared for him.

You could only stay angry at him for a few minutes, the ferry slowing down as it reached its stop. You turned to him with a smile. "Can we buy some baklava? I waited for you and I couldn't have lunch."

He nodded, the faintest of smiles on his face as you stood up from your seat and grabbed his hand to hurry and arrive at his house on time to feed his grandpa and dog.

It all started to go downhill the next day, when you two found out Miss Burcu would be transferring schools and he would end up being expelled. Even if he didn't care, you wouldn't allow that, so you went to his house to find some kind of solution. It turned out that your other classmates, Eda, Osman, and Kerem, also wanted to avoid their expulsion, so you all started working together to set up Miss Burcu with another teacher so she would marry and stay in Istanbul.

You got closer to the group, and even if you weren't sure why, Sinan didn't seem fond of the idea. He seemed to always be bickering with Kerem, only stopping once you elbowed him so he wouldn't get into a fight, already knowing that he didn’t care but you did.

Still, it puzzled you why he acted like that only with Kerem. He didn't seem to care if you became friends with Eda and Işik, who were quick to point that out.

"So?" Eda asked the day of the rock concert, Sinan nowhere to be seen and the other boys in the line.

You handed your ticket to the guard. "So what?" You asked confused.

She rolled her eyes. "What's up with you and Sinan?"

You shrugged, Isik approaching both of you while you waited for Miss Burcu. "He's my best friend. We've been for years, he's like a brother to me." You quickly brushed it off.

"You seem more than friends, (Y/N)" Işik pointed out. "You're always together, he never snaps at you and you care about him."

You groaned, dealing with those kinds of questions almost every day at school and even from your parents. “Uf, Işik, not you too.”

"One day I literally saw you two passed out on his couch with your head on his lap and his arm around your waist, that's not something just friends do. Spare us the bullshit." Eda carried on.

You bit the inside of your cheek, trying not to show how concerned you were starting to get when he didn't seem to show up. "I'm just really comfortable around him."

And that was the truth. Or at least, part of it. Sinan mattered too much to you to ever try to pursue anything. You didn't want to lose him and you knew he wasn't the best with his feelings, so you simply brushed it off and tried to act as normal as possible. You knew something happened to you when you were close to him, and it was a different feeling from when you were close with Kerem or other boys. A better feeling.

“Hi! Sorry I’m late, Kerem passed by my house and I already waited for you for like ten minutes.” You said, a smile on your face as you sat on a desk in front of Sinan.

It was recess, but most days he didn’t go out in the courtyard and stayed on an empty classroom to sleep or read a book in silence. You usually did the same, even if sometimes you both talked until class started.

He didn’t answer you, his eyes fixated on a page you were sure he wasn’t reading or was taking too long to turn.

“Why didn’t you pick me up today? Did something happen?” You asked taking the book out of his hands.

“No.” He answered shortly before grabbing back his book.

His answer kind of relieved you, but you still felt unsure about why he hadn’t picked you up by your house as he had done for the last three years. The only times he hadn’t was when you were sick, you got up earlier than him or he was passed out on a bench on a random park.

“Anyway.” You started trying not to focus on the tension between both of you, the only ones who were in the room. “Are we going to have lunch at my house? I don’t mind skipping gym today. God, I’m so tired, the other day Kerem was playing basketball because he was kicked out from the team which sucks and...”

“Don’t you have anything else to do?” He interrupted you.

You frowned your brows, feeling your heart drop at his words. “What’s up with you today? You’ve been weird the last few days.”

“Weren’t you too busy with the caveman to notice?” He asked sarcastically, a scowl on his face as he finally looked at you.

“Why are you such a jerk to him? He didn’t do anything to you.” You insisted hoping to get an honest answer.

When he didn’t reply, you continued. “Are you jealous?”

As you stared at him trying to decipher his expression, he shallowed before turning his gaze back to his book. “No, why would I? Don’t be stupid.”

You sighed exasperated, fed up with his snarky comments. “You always do this when I talk to you about a boy.”

He shut his book, “Why? You want us to talk about boys and braid our hair?” He asked with a dry tone glaring at you.

“I don’t want you to act like an asshole whenever I want to have a conversation with you about someone I like.” You shot back, arms crossed.

When you realized his face softened at what you had said, you thought he would apologize for behaving like a brat in the last days. Instead, he avoided your gaze and continued speaking. “You like Kerem?”

“Are you fucking kidding me, Sinan?” You asked incredulously. “God, you’re so...”

You meant to say oblivious, not believing how the boy couldn’t realize that you could only have feelings for him, being by his side every time he needed it.

He scoffed. “Go with your other friends if you want to talk about your crushes so badly.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

His jaw clenched as you stood up from the desk, grabbing your bag next to his in anger before leaving it next to one of your friend’s and leaving the room.

Truth be told, your anger lowered during class, feeling a bit bad once you realized that he spent the entire lesson alone.

“What happened? Why’s he looking at you like a lost puppy?” Eda whispered to you.

You resisted the urge to turn around and see if Eda was telling the truth, so you only continued taking notes. “He’s acting like an asshole.”

She was silent for a moment before nodding, continuing with her drawing while you felt a pit in the bottom of your stomach.

Of course, you had a few fights with Sinan, but most of the time you two didn’t say anything and started talking back again after a while. The longest you had spent without talking was only one hour, but now you ignored him for the whole day.

Still, you couldn’t help a small smile on your face when you opened your door on your house to find him standing in front of you with a bag of food, possibly baklava.

“Everything’s fine now?” You asked.

He nodded, embracing you in a hug that caught you off guard, but you only stood on your tiptoes and hugged him back.

“Bit unexpected. And they say you aren’t affectionate.” You chuckled before pressing a kiss on his cheek.

You took the bag out of his hands before going towards your kitchen, not noticing how his cheeks heated up.

A few days passed and he tried his best not to snap at Kerem. The rest had already noticed the way he seemed to look at you, and even if they urged him to confess his feelings, he still felt unsure about it, feeling like he was going to fuck it up.

With the plan, you had managed to convince Burcu and Kemal to work together for the May 19 celebration, and after spinning around under the boiling sun, you left your umbrella on the ground before heading to your bag to drink water.

On the other side of the courtyard, Sinan took a gulp of his flask. It had to be now before he regretted it. After almost finishing his drink, he made his way towards you, grabbing your arm and taking you away while the rest of the students glanced at both of you curiously.

“What the fuck?” You asked confused once he stopped.

You were in the back of the school, the place were you had reunited with the rest for the last days, but now you were alone.

“I’m sorry for dragging you here.” He started, feeling his hands shaking before leaving them in his pockets. “But I needed to tell you something.”

You nodded, waiting expectantly for him to continue while you leaned against the wall.

“You’re making me nervous, come on. You can tell me anything.” You added, your hand going to his to try to calm him a bit.

He took a deep breath before staring at the ground. “I love you.”

You smiled. “Aw, I love you too, Sinan. You already know that.” You said like it was obvious, your voice trailing off once he sighed and looked at you in your eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?” You asked confused, absentmindedly rubbing your thumb against the back of his hand.

“Because I am in love with you, (Y/N).”

You dropped his hand in shock by how serious he seemed to be, finally understanding his words. Before he could regret it, in one swift motion he placed his hands on your cheeks and smashed his lips against yours.

Your head felt dizzy with all the emotions you were going through. You wanted to continue like that for hours, but after a few seconds, he pulled away to allow for both of you to catch your breaths.

You leaned your forehead against him, your lips forming into a smile. “I love you too. More than a friend.”

[sinsiriuslyemo]

Happy new year, dearest readers! Let’s start off the new year with a little Rabastian!

10. 2014

DECEMBER 30,  2013

“That was hilarious,” Sebastian said with a grin as he and Rafael walked out of the Walter Kerr theater. 

After he’d gotten out of yet another pretrial motion filed by William Lewis’ lawyer, Rafael had been anxious to go see a show with the pianist that had been on his mind the entire day. He’d gone home to change and walked to Sebastian’s apartment. Upon seeing the musician, Rafael instantly felt the day’s tension leave his shoulders. 

“Jefferson Mays has never disappointed me,” he said as Sebastian’s hand naturally found his and laced their fingers together.

“I know, he is so amazing, I’d watch him in just about anything,” the pianist replied. “And the fact that he played all those roles--”

“--Oh, I know, he was brilliant,” Rafael said, holding up a hand to hail a cab. 

“Thanks again for bringing me,” Sebastian replied, gently squeezing the other man’s hand and dropping a kiss on his lips. 

“It was my pleasure,” Rafael said with a smile as they got into a cab.

“You hungry?”

“Yes, actually,” Rafael answered.

"What do you think, Italian?" Sebastian looked over at Rafael, who had slightly curled his top lip as he tilted his head to one side. "Okay, sushi?" The musician laughed at the grin of approval that graced the prosecutor's lips before he turned to the driver and gave him an address. He looked back to Rafael. "You're adorable when you speak with your expressions, you know that?" 

"You're adorable, period," Rafael answered, sliding his gloved fingers between Sebastian's.

Ever since their first sexual experience together Christmas Day-night, he'd found himself thinking more and more about he and Sebastian planning a future together. He would often picture coming home to the musician working at his piano while a roast cooked in the oven. Or waking up to the feel of the other man's lips against his neck. He was well into a fantasy of he and Sebastian taking a trip around the world together when the pianist spoke again.

"Hey, listen, I was wondering...you spending New Years Eve with your family?" the musician asked, pulling him from his fantasies.

"No, I usually just spend it at home," Rafael answered. "Why?"

"Well, Casper and I usually spend it at his place and since Katie's living there now, I was hoping that maybe you would want to come too." The pianists eyes shifted nervously to their joined hands before coming back up to meet his own.

A slow smile came to Rafael's face as he shifted slightly to look at Sebastian. "You want me to spend New Years Eve with you?"

"Yeah, I-I know it's kinda last minute...I wasn't even sure if I should ask you, I mean...we've only been seeing each other a short--"

"--Stop," Rafael said softly, his easy smile stretching his lips. "I'd love to ring in the new year with you, Sebastian."

The pianist mirrored his grin and leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to his lips as the cab stopped at their destination. Paying for the cab, Sebastian tugged on Rafael's hand and they walked into the sushi bar together.

"You really spend New Years Eve by yourself?" he asked Rafael in a gentle voice after they'd been seated by the hostess. 

The prosecutor bobbed his shoulders, opening the menu. "I usually have work to keep me busy. My mom has always said I could come with her to my aunt's house but...crime never sleeps, apparently. And my aunt lives in Kew Gardens, my mom usually spends the night. I have to work the following day, so…"

"Well, this year, you'll only be a few blocks away from home. No excuse. And no work either. We can leave early if need be, if you really need to get some work done, but while we're at Casper and Katie's, I want you to relax and have fun, deal?"

Rafael's lips stretched into a closed-mouth smile as he nodded. "Deal."

"Good."

"So Casper and Katie live together? How long have they been dating?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Ugh, don't get me started on that. According to Casper, they're 'roommates'." He brought his fingers up to make air quotes as he again rolled his eyes. "And yet they've been sleeping in the same room and fucking for the last seven months. Oh and Katie definitely wants more. Casper's the neanderthal."

"Ugh," Rafael answered in a grimace.

"I know."

"Why hasn't he--"

"--I don't know," Sebastian replied with a chuckle, shaking his head as he looked down at the menu. "I told him he's a commitment-phobe. It's a shame, too, Katie's a good woman."

"Well, to be patient with that arrangement, I'd say she's a downright saint."

"Tell me about it," Sebastian said. "I told him last week he needs to shit or get off the pot. It's time, and the girl's earned the girlfriend title by now."

"I agree with that," Rafael replied. "Speaking of friends, I finally talked to Liv about the dinner party thing."

Sebastian looked up, setting his menu down. "And?"

"She said she didn't think I would go with all the other detectives there, and she apologized for making the assumption."

"See? I bet you feel better after talking to her," Sebastian said.

"I do actually. You were right," Rafael answered, smirking at the pianist.

"I'm glad. She seems nice. She doing any better after the...thing you were talking about?"

"She is...but the trial's coming up next week, I'm not sure she's ready to face him."

"Trial? What happened to her?" Sebastian asked. "Was she…"

Rafael sighed as he shook his head, brows raised on his forehead. "She says no, but I...I honestly don't know. I think she would've told me if he had. But even if he didn't, he still abducted her for three days...tortured her…he would've killed if she hadn't--" 

His jaw clenched as he thought about the photos of Liv from the hospital, sleep-deprived, beaten and traumatized. He shook his head, trying to keep those images from tainting his evening with Sebastian. As if on cue, the musician reached across the table and placed a hand over his. 

"Sounds to me like the guy deserves to fry," Sebastian said. "And I don't even believe in the death penalty."

"You don't?" Rafael replied indignantly, looking up at the pianist with his brows in waves.

Sebastian was a little taken back by his response, inching away from him slightly. "No...does that bother you?"

"For animals like William Lewis, I wish a firing squad were still an option," Rafael answered. "Some people deserve to die."

"That may be true, but who the hell are we to decide who lives and dies? The death penalty makes us just as bad as they are. Worse, actually...we bring in people to watch it go down."

"Your own mother was murdered, you wouldn't want to see the guy responsible pay for what he did?" Rafael asked, biting down on his tongue after the words had escaped his lips. The musician pulled his hand away and leaned back against his chair as Rafael shook his head and lowered his eyes, mouth hanging open. "I'm sorry, that was...outta line, I'm sor--"

"--You're right, it was outta line," the pianist replied.

Rafael could see a mixture of hurt and anger swirling in the blue of the other man's eyes and he lowered his own gaze, silently cursing his big mouth. He supposed it was only a matter of time before his words would work against him. It certainly hadn't been the first time he'd said something he immediately regretted thereafter. His tongue, however sharp and effective in a courtroom, may very well have just ruined the one good thing in his life. 

Swallowing the lump that had begun to form in his throat, he inhaled silently and deeply, pursing his lips before he again reached across the table and looked up Sebastian, who now appeared to either be holding back tears or trying to keep himself from throttling the prosecutor. Maybe both.

"Sebastian, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking, I..." The lawyer shook his head and bit down on his bottom lip, a small form of punishment, which paled in comparison to the offense. "I never should've said that."

The musician simply continued to stare at him as their server came to take their orders. It was then that Sebastian broke eye contact and looked up at her with a small smile before he gave her his order. Rafael followed suit, though instead of a polite smile he looked more like a child who'd been caught misbehaving. Only after she'd left did Sebastian speak again, this time directing his words to Rafael.

"I need to know you're not gonna use that against me every time we disagree," he said.

"No," Rafael answered immediately, shaking his head for good measure. "I promise you, it'll never happen again. I'm so sorry, Sebastian."

Sebastian nodded. "Okay," he whispered. "And just for the record, I never said that I wouldn't want my mother's killer to pay. It's just that my idea of vengeance is a lot darker than just a needle in the arm."

"It's justice, not vengeance," Rafael said with a frown. 

Sebastian shook his head. "It's a quick fix for us and giving them the easy way out. I'd want to know that every morning I get to wake up, free as a bird, while he rots in a cell for the rest of his life. I'd want the option to be able to go to whatever prison he's in and watch him rot. Watch him suffer knowing he'll never see daylight again. The man who killed my mom doesn't get to rest in peace. I'd want him to live a long, miserable life in a four by four cell with nothing but time to think about everyone he ever hurt."

Rafael regarded the pianist with soft eyes as he picked up his water and took a sip while his eyes roamed their surroundings.

"They changed the lighting in here, I think," he said as his eyes once again settled on Rafael. 

Smiling softly, the ADA reached across the table and laid a hand over the musician's forearm until he met Rafael's gaze.

"You're such a good man," he said.

Sebastian snorted softly. "I'm a good man because I want some piece of shit to suffer?"

"A piece of shit who would deserve to suffer. A piece of shit who took something from you that can never be replaced...but still you would spare his life. That's what makes you a good man. Most people would let him die. Want him to die."

Smirk tugging at his lips, Sebastian shrugged. "I'm not most people."

"I know," Rafael replied, using his thumb to stroke over the musician's hair-covered forearm.

"I think we just had our first fight," Sebastian said after a moment.

"Yeah, thanks to my big mouth," Rafael answered, lowering his eyes again.

"I love your mouth," the pianist said, turning his palm to face the ceiling, waiting for the lawyer's hand to slide over it. "Most of the time," he added with a teasing smirk.

Grinning back, Rafael brought the pianist hand up to place a firm kiss on his knuckles as in his mind he answered, I think I love you.

DECEMBER 31, 2013

Sebastian checked himself over in the mirror one last time after he heard the short rapping on the door, which he assumed was Rafael. They'd decided to meet up at Sebastian's and then go to Casper and Katie's together. Taking a deep breath, he tried to slow his racing heart by focusing on his breathing. Why was he so nervous? He and Rafael had been seeing each other for almost five months, they'd been on countless dates together, but never had they hung out with other people for an evening, least of all another couple and close friends of Sebastian's to boot. 

It'll be fine, you idiot. Just open the door so he doesn't think you ditched him.

Clearing his throat, he took long strides to his front door and opened it to find Rafael in a pink polo shirt under a tan jacket and jeans, carrying a bottle of expensive-looking champagne. The musician couldn't help the grin that formed on his face as his eyes drank in the sight of the ADA over and over again. 

"Wow. You look so good," he finally said, stepping aside to let the other man in as he gestured to the bottle. "You didn't have to bring anything."

"My mother taught me to never show up at someone's home without something in your hand," Rafael answered, closing the space between them to plant a kiss on the pianist's lips. "You look handsome, too."

Looking down at his fitted white thermal and dark stained jeans, Sebastian smoothed a hand over his shirt before his eyes came back up to meet Rafael's. "I may just say fuck it and keep you all to myself tonight."

"Well, you'll have me all to yourself later," the prosecutor replied, smirking suggestively as he laid another kiss on Sebastian's pout. 

"Oh, no work this year?" the pianist teased.

"I had a reason to get it all done this afternoon," Rafael said.

There was no stopping the warmth that crept up Sebastian's neck at the thought of Rafael making sure to clear his evening just for him. As if he hadn't already had thoughts of Rafael coming home to him after a hard day in court, now he was fighting the urge to mentally plan their wedding. 

"Should we go?" Sebastian asked, grabbing his jacket and putting it on. 

"Yes," Rafael replied. "So is this the first holiday Katie and Casper are spending together, too?"

"They were...whatever they are for this past 4th of July, so, not exactly. But it is coming up on nine months they've been fucking." Sebastian locked the door behind him and followed Rafael downstairs and onto the sidewalk.

"You should just call it what it is," Rafael replied with a smirk. "They're dating. Who knows, maybe if you say it enough times, Casper will finally start referring to her as his girlfriend."

The pianist laughed as his fingers naturally laced with those of Rafael's while they walked up the street towards Casper and Katie's apartment building. The streets were relatively clear, the large majority of the city either at a New Years Eve party or in the restaurants that were scattered around The Village. No true New Yorker ever went near Times Square when they could have a far more comfortable view of the Rockin Eve festivities from their couch or on a rooftop.

"That's not a bad idea," Sebastian said. "Who knows, he may not even notice."

"How long have you known him?"

"Since we were, like, twelve. He lived in the building across the street from mine," Sebastian replied. "How about you and Olivia? How long have you guys known each other?"

"A little over a year now. Basically from the time I started working with Manhattan SVU. She's probably the closest thing I have to a friend left. The only other person that I would still consider a friend is...going through some things. I'm not sure if things will ever be the same between us," Rafael replied.

"What happened?"

Rafael sighed heavily, forcing a smile on his face as he looked over at Sebastian. "Alex Muñoz happened."

"That whole thing that went down a couple months back?"

Rafael nodded as they both came to a stop at the corner of the block. "We were all friends as kids. Alex had the looks, Eddie was the muscle and I was the mouth, of course."

"Course you were," Sebastian answered with a smirk, gently bumping the ADA's hip with his own. 

Snorting softly, Rafael rolled his eyes just as the white figure appeared on the light across the street, indicating they could safely cross. "Eddie and I always had a special bond. A kind of unspoken connection...and we both always followed Alex. Until I went off to Harvard, Eddie stayed with Alex in the South Bronx, even became his bodyguard when he got into politics."

"So he was probably privy to a lot of the not so kosher shit Alex was doing."

Rafael nodded. "He was. He almost went to prison because of Alex."

"Why didn't he?"

"Because I convinced him to make a deal," Rafael answered in a barely audible voice. "He has a son, a mother to look after. Single dad, he's their only income. And I have no idea what he's gonna do now that Alex has been indicted. That whole ordeal just...it made me feel like a bad friend for leaving him."

Sebastian's thumb idly stroked over the glove covered skin between Rafael's knuckles. "You helped him stay outta prison, Raf. That sounds like a pretty great friend to me."

The corner of Rafael's lips curled upward slightly, his eyes lowered towards the sidewalk. He had never seen the prosecutor look so sad as when he talked about his childhood friends, and all Sebastian wanted to do at that moment was kiss every bad memory away.

"You should invite him to the club some night," he suggested, giving Rafael's hand a squeeze. 

"I don't know," the ADA answered in a sigh.

"If he took your advice, that means he values your opinion...and with Alex gone, I'm sure he could use a friend he knows he can count on," Sebastian said as he streered them towards the entrance of a six story building. "Think about it."

Nodding gently, Rafael smiled at Sebastian as they walked to the elevator and waited for the doors to open. "I will."

"Good," the pianist answered, pulling his hand out of Rafael's to wind the arm around his waist. "Because I can't tell you just how badly I wanna hear all about what you were like as a kid."

Rafael laughed, letting his head fall back as he leaned into the other man's frame. "I can tell you. I was a nerd. Older kids in the neighborhood used to beat me up, take my lunch money. Eddie put a stop to that."

"Well then he sounds like a pretty great friend, too."

"He is," Rafael replied.

They stepped into the elevator  and Sebastian hit the button for the fourth floor. "We're supposed to be getting a lot of snow in the next couple days."

"Yeah, I am not looking forward to that," Rafael replied in a sigh. "The commute to work is gonna be a nightmare."

"I can't say I envy you," Sebastian answered with a smirk. "That's probably the easiest part about my job, short commute."

"Your job must be nice. You get to play music all night, relaxed setting."

"It's got its difficulties like any other job. Mostly just people who drink a little too much and make asses of themselves. Doesn't happen too often, but still. Plus, it can get a little difficult to keep the sets fresh every night. There are only so many songs that are compatible with a piano arrangement."

"I, for one, wouldn't care if you played the same song on a loop every night. Your voice is so beautiful," Rafael answered, leaning his forehead against Sebastian's temple.

Turning his head to stare into the prosecutor's emerald eyes, Sebastian grinned and closed the space between them just as the elevator dinged softly and the doors began to slide open again.

"THEY'RE HERE!" he heard Katie yell. 

Breaking their kiss, Sebastian turned his head to see the petite brunette standing in the hallway with a beer.

"Jesus Christ, woman. What the hell are you doing?" he asked. "You started without us?" He gestured to the bottle in her hand as he and Rafael got out of the elevator and walked towards her.

"Casper didn't think you guys would make it. I knew you would," she answered, leading them both inside.

"Shit," Casper muttered when he saw the two men walk in behind Katie. 

"What a way to greet your guests, you animal," Sebastian mused as he took off his winter gear.

"I thought for sure you guys were gonna end up staying at your place so you could bang, if I'm being honest," Casper said with a bob of his shoulders. "I mean, you know, New Years Eve, fireworks and shit."

"Whoa, fancy," Katie said, her eyes on the bottle in Rafael's hand.

"Oh, yes, here. I brought this for us to toast to a new year," the prosecutor said, handing the bottle to Katie.

"Wow! Champagne," Katie replied with a grin. "Thank you, that's so nice. I'll go put it in the kitchen."

"Champagne, huh?" Casper chimed, nodding as the corners of his mouth turned down in appreciation. He looked up at Sebastian. "I like him."

Rafael chuckled as he, too, took off his winter coat, gloves and scarf.

"So what have you two lovebirds been doing?" Sebastian teased.

Casper rolled his eyes as Katie answered, "Oh just hanging around. By the way," she turned her gaze to Casper as she came back into the living room, "you owe me ten bucks."

"Yeah, yeah," Casper replied, reaching into his pocket and digging a ten dollar bill out of his wallet.

"He bet you guys would end up cancelling and staying at your place to bone," she explained to Rafael and Sebastian.

The pianist turned to look at the prosecutor. "See? What'd I tell you? Animal."

Rafael laughed softly before he looked back at Katie. "He means thank you for inviting us over."

"Aw, you're doing that thing where these two act like total idiots," she gestured to Sebastian and Casper, "but you and I are totally on the same page." 

"We're standing right here," Casper said with furrowed brows.

Katoe paid him no mind. "Do you guys want some snacks? We've got some cheese I can cut up and crackers."

"Sure," Sebastian answered.

"Do you want some help?" Rafael asked.

Katie's eyes lit up. "I would love some help, thank you, Rafael."

Sebastian watched Katie and the ADA walk into the kitchen as he and Casper sat down on the couch, the latter reaching into a small cooler for a bottle of beer to hand off to Sebastian. The pianist couldn’t help but chuckle as he took the offering. “Something wrong with your fridge?”

“No, this is just easier, I don’t have to get up. So, this is getting pretty serious between you two, huh?” the scrawny man asked, leaning back against the cushions.

“I don’t know if I would say that just yet, but things are going really well,” Sebastian answered. “How about you and your girlfriend?” he asked with a smirk, remembering the conversation with Rafael on the way over to their apartment.

“Oh, I mean, same ole. She really liked the bathrobe, you were right,” Casper replied. “Think I’m gonna--wait a sec, did you call her my girlfriend? She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Right,” Sebastian mumbled, taking a sip of his beer. “So she liked the bathrobe?”

“Yeah.”

“I told you she would,” Sebastian said, grinning. “Hey, I’ve been thinking...I think I wanna take Raf to meet Edna. What do you think?”

“Five months in?”

“No, not right away, but I was thinking maybe for Valentine’s Day we could stop Uptown to see her and he could meet her then,” Sebastian replied.

“And you say it’s not getting serious.” Casper smirked, rolling his eyes and taking a sip from his beer. “Have you met anyone from his world yet?”

“Yeah, I met one of his coworkers one night while we were out.”

“Did you meet her there or did you just happen to run into her?” Casper asked.

“We just ran into her, but Raf still introduced me.”

“I don’t know, man,” Casper mumbled.

“What? He just happened to meet you guys down at the piano bar. That wasn’t planned.”

Casper tilted his head to one side. “That’s true.” 

Katie and Rafael came back into the living room with a platter of cheese and crackers, laughing at one thing or another as they set the platter and small plates on the coffee table. For a moment, Sebastian could imagine that the four of them had been together for years and that this was their tradition every New Years. It was a nice thought, especially when accompanied by the image of him and Rafael going home together, falling asleep together.

“So how was the show last night, guys?” Katie asked as she sat down next to Casper, who instinctively put an arm around her shoulders.

“Oh God, it was amazing,” Rafael answered, looking to Sebastian as he too sat down.

“Yeah, Jefferson Mays knocked it out of the park, as usual. You guys should go see it if you get a chance to, it was so good,” the pianist agreed.

“Well, I wanna go see it, but you know Mr. I-Don’t-Watch-Theatre over here,” she answered, as she pointed to Casper with her thumb.

“I just don’t like the crowds,” Casper said, shoulders bobbing.

“This is a really small theatre, so it’s actually perfect for someone who prefers smaller crowds,” Rafael offered, leaning against Sebastian when the musician draped an arm over the back of the sofa behind him.

Casper seemed to consider it for a moment before he idly nodded. “Yeah, okay. Maybe we’ll go then.”

Katie looked pleasantly surprised. “We gotta keep you around Rafael. I never thought it would be that easy to convince him to go see a show.”

“Happy to help,” the ADA answered. 

“Hey, let’s play a game!” Katie suggested, handing Rafael a beer from the cooler. “I got Cards Against Humanity from my grandma and I think we might have Jenga somewhere.”

“That sounds great,” Rafael chimed.

“I’ll go get them!” Katie replied, shooting up from her seat excitedly and disappearing down the hall.

For the next couple of hours, they played games while waiting for the time to tick closer to midnight, and Sebastian couldn’t shake the feeling of it all being so...normal. As if they’d been doing this for years with Casper and Katie. Every so often they would meet eyes and share a smile at one another and Sebastian couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so happy. He hoped it would last for the rest of their lives.

Eleven fifty-five came in no time at all it seemed, and Casper suggested they all go to the rooftop to watch the ball drop, just as he and the pianist had done every year. Opening the bottle of champagne that Rafael had brought, they poured four glasses out and began to make their way to the top of the building.

“I can’t believe you can actually see the ball from here,” Katie mused as Casper propped open the emergency exit that led to the roof.

“I mean, it’s not a perfect view, but you can see it as it reaches five seconds left,” Casper answered, leading them to the perfect spot for the best vantage point. Looking down at his watch, he started off the countdown. “Ten, nine, eight…”

“Thank you for inviting me,” Rafael mumbled into Sebastian’s ear before he planted a gentle kiss on the skin beneath the lobe.

“Thanks for coming,” Sebastian mumbled back with a warm smile.

“Three, two, one...HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

With his heart filled to brim with joy, Sebastian closed the space between them and pressed his lips against those of the ADA’s, keeping their foreheads pressed together when, after a few moments of bliss, their lip lock broke. From the corner of his eye, he could see a bright flash and turned to look at Katie, who was holding up her cellphone, pointed at the two of them.

"Sorry, you guys are just so cute together, I literally want to put you both in a frame and keep you always," Katie said.

"When would they pee?" Casper asked, earning a chuckle from Sebastian and Rafael.

“Katie, would you send that to me, please?” Rafael asked.

“Yeah, of course!” Katie answered.

Sebastian couldn’t have helped it if he wanted to, and he definitely didn’t want to stop himself from falling, long and hard for the ADA at that very moment. And he didn’t even care that it might’ve been too soon to feel that way.

[super-cerulean]

Why Didn't You Call Me?

Thank you so much for sending me this ask!!! I had a lot of fun writing it, so please feel free to send me some more! I accidentally deleted the actual ask while I was trying to write it so I'll just use this picture. Anyway, here we go~

Warnings: Violence, fighting, and some angst

Of course you got captured.

You were cocky. You thought since it was a small arms bust with minimal risk that you could relax a bit. That was your first mistake. You knew if you called Jason he would immediately start lecturing you. He'd say 'no job is a small job' and 'never let your guard down'. You knew all the stuff he said was right, but you didn't want to have to sit through it when you were already giving yourself a mental smack down.

It was supposed to just be a weapons transfer between a group of small time thugs. What you didn't know was that they had signed on with Two-Face and the whole thing was a set up. You'd been taking down a lot of his forces around Gotham, so it was only a matter of time before the big boss decided to do something about it. You should have been ready for it.

When you arrived to stop the deal, they had some sort of inhibitor inside of the gun's crate that completely neutralized your powers. Normally you had control over electricity, but with his new toy you couldn't do anything. You still knew how to fight and could have taken them out no problem, but the problem was that you didn't even know your powers were being suppressed until it was too late. Your plan was to drop down inside of their small circle and incapacitate everyone with a pulse of electricity just strong enough to knock them out. You dropped down in front of everyone, but found that when you tried to use your powers they didn't work. That's when Two-Face showed up and you knew you were screwed.

You hadn't anticipated not being able to use your powers, so when you were surrounded with guns pointed at you from all angles there wasn't much you could do. You'd just have to play along until you could find a way out. Somehow...

Your confidence grew thinner though, as they handcuffed you and threw you into the back of their truck. The handcuffs were easy to pick and you were out of them almost immediately, but you still kept them hanging around your wrists so as to not blow the illusion that they were in control. They took you to some kind of makeshift courtroom where they had probably around thirty or forty other guys set up and waiting to watch the show. There was an old metal chair near the center of the room with wires and pipes splaying out around it in every direction and a giant tube of a brown liquid behind it. Beside it there was a different set up entirely with a dentist's chair with leather arm and leg restraints. You should have figured he'd want to flip his stupid coin over it.

While he made his decision, you set to working on your escape plan. Although the room was filled with thugs, only a few of them were armed. If you could take them out first you'd be able to take care of the rest of them with no problems. It was just a matter of waiting for the right moment.

While you were casing the place, your eyes almost glanced over a dark figure near the roof of the place. You'd seen flash of red out of the corner of your eye and when you saw them fully you recognized the suit immediately. It was Jason.

You didn't know how he found out where you were or how he got there so fast, but he was gearing himself up to fight so you did the same. You moved your arms so that you could easily yank off the cuffs just as he started firing.

With your combined efforts it didn't take long for you to secure the place. You had been expecting Jason to yelling at you the entire time, but surprisingly he hadn't said much other than what was necessary to coordinate your fighting. He was definitely mad at you. That part was obvious, but his normal angry shouting was completely absent. It was almost worse when he was quiet.

Once everything was squared away and the police were called, you and Jason headed out. You told him you were going back to your hideout and that he could come too if he wanted. His response was simple, but he came with you nonetheless.

Your hideout was set up in the baaement of a vacant restaurant buildig that you were renting. It was in a line with several other stoeres, but you'd bought it knowing that there was a large basement for storage space. There was also an underground entrance a few blocks away that you'd upgraded and added security to for more incognito entrances.

Once you were both inside, you took off your mask and moved to start putting your gadgets away.

"So are we going to act like you didn't just get kidnapped and almost murdered?" Jason was at your side within seconds, his helmet thrown along with some of your other gear. He was looking down at you with fiery eyes as you turned to face him.

"No, I was waiting for you to start screaming at me," you said. He defnitely didn't appreciate the way you rolled your eyes but he somehow managed to keep himself from losing it. "I wasn't about to die, I was already out of the handcuffs and making an escape plan."

"Why didn't you call me?" he said, ignoring your comment entirely.

"Like I said, I had it under control. I didn't need any back up, I was waiting for the opportunity to take them out."

"(Y/N), that could have gone so bad so fast. You can't just assume you'll get out of shit like that and not tell anyone."

"I'm not a rookie Jason, I know what I'm doing. They caught me by surprse with the inhibitor and got the jump on me. I was going to get out of it if you'd have just let me," you said. Your voice was rising a bit towards the end of your explanation, but you couldn't really help it. He was always like this. Holding his extra years of experience over your head and lecturing you like you were new to this. It was one thing that you absolutely despised.

"It doesn't matter if you're a rookie or not if you still make rookie mistakes." His voice was rising too now, and you could tell it was going to be an arguement. Another thing you despised. "You rely too much on your powers so when you lose them they turn into a weakness."

"I do not rely too much on my powers! I can kick ass just as well without them. There was no way I could have known they were going to be able to block them out at that exact moment!" You stepped away from him, feeling your blood start to boil. You tried to busy yourself with throwing off some of your armor, but it was hard to try to keep from completely blowing up on him.

"Whatever it was, you still got caught and you still should have called me. Even if you thought you could get out of it, you still should have called in back up as a last resort."

"I. Didn't. Need. Backup!" You said, whirling around and clasping your hands together in anger. "I'm not calling you everytime I scrape my knees. That's a waste of both of our time."

"I don't care if it's a waste of time!" He was in front of you again, this time with none of the composure he had before. You could even see a flush of red on his cheeks. "I want you to call me when shit starts to go sideways. I don't care how stupid or weak you think it is, I'd rather be annoyed with you than oblivious and without you."

"Jason-"

"What would have happened if you couldn't find an opportunity and you couldn't get out? If I hadn't known where you were?"

"That wouldn't have happened."

"What if it did? What if you ended up dead in that dirty fucking courthouse? I wouldn't have known anything about it. I found out what was going down by accident, (y/n). If I hadn't been at the right place at the right time and you really did need my help then there would have been nothing I could do!"

This time when he paused you didn't say anything. He'd gotten mad at you before, but never like this. His hands were trembling at his sides and his voice was even starting to shake. You'd ever seen him so worked up before.

"That would have been such a stupid way to die. All because you were too full of pride to just call me. I'm not going to lose you over something dumb like that. I can't."

You weren't really sure what to say at first. You were utterly silent for a few moments and so was Jason. You were staring up at him for what felt like forever before you finally did something. Since words were still failing you, you dragged him downwords into a tight hug. It seemed to be the right thing to do, because he completely buried himself in the embrace, his head bowing into your neck.

"I'm sorry, Jason," You said after a while. "Next time, I promise I'll call you."

"Even if it's stupid. If it makes it easier I'll call you too," he added.

"You'd better," you responeded, slowly letting him go. "If I find out you got your ass kicked without telling me, I'll hunt you down so fast."

"I don't doubt it," he said, finally smiling.