#agojie

[queerasfact]

August first is Independence Day in Benin, so we’d like to share a little piece of Beninese history with you!

The people in this photo are a military regiment called Agojie - sometimes referred to as Dahomey Amazons by Europeans. The Agojie were soldiers in the army of Dahomey - now Benin - in West Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Agojie were all assigned female at birth but they expressed their gender in a variety of ways. Some renounced womanhood, and identified themselves as men. At other times, the group embraced womanhood in their war songs, comparing themselves to lionesses, and linking womanhood to their superiority over male regiments.

Numbering around 8000 at their height in the 1840, the Agojie were renowned for their fearlessness in battle, and considered the backbone of the Dahomean army.

Check out our podcast to learn more!

[Image source: Wikimedia commons]

[naomis-daydream]

ex-factor // modern au!officer!izogie

summary: exes who can’t let each other go, based on ‘ex-factor’ by lauryn hill. izogie gets hurt and calls the one person she needs to feel better, but also the same person she should stay away from.

warnings: mentions of injuries (blood, cuts, changing bandages), past relationship, suggestive language.

a/n: i have been neglecting my girl, so i present a treat for u. this is my first angst so lower them expectations pls… those who were asking for izogie content here u go, show her love <3

✧

it could all be so simple, but you’d rather make it hard. loving you is like a battle, and we both end up with scars. tell me who i have to be to get some reciprocity. cause no one loves you more than me, and no one ever will.

she shouldn’t have called you, she knew that. she should’ve left you alone, let you move on. though, a part of her hoped you’d answer. that you’d sigh, complain about the hour or nature of the call before inevitably caving, but you didn’t. you didn’t do your usual game of answering on the last ring just to keep her on her toes. you didn’t let it go to voicemail before sending a text saying you were too busy or too tired, but not enough to ignore her. you didn’t do anything, and that surprised izogie, maybe even hurt her, but it didn’t stop her.

it didn’t stop her from ignoring the alarms in her head telling her to turn around. it didn’t stop her from pushing the lift button and knocking weakly on door. and it certainly didn’t stop the small smile that crept up her lips as the barrier opened to reveal you.

your tired expression dropped slightly, being replaced by one caused annoyance rather than interrupted slumber. your cardigan fell off one shoulder as you rubbed your eyes while sighing. “what are you doing here, izogie?”

she looked down at you, forearm pressed against the doorframe while the other clutched her abdomen. “when you say my name like that, it almost makes me think you don’t wanna see me,” she laughs gently, immediately groaning lowly after.

this draws you to look down to her midriff, seeing her applying pressure to the area that was an increasingly growing deep red stain on her gray Police Academy shirt. your eyes widen quickly as you open the door entirely to guide her her in, locking it behind you as she leans against the island. “what happened?” you ask hurriedly, walking briskly to grab your emergency kit.

she smacks her teeth, shaking her head. “you worry too much.”

“yeah? you show up battered and broken in the middle of the night too much, so i think i’m well within reason.”

you crouch down, avoiding her eyes watching you as you took out supplies. she stays silent for a moment, unsure if she should attempt to make conversation. it’s been longer than usual since the two of you have spoken, much less been in such close proximity.

“it’s just a graze.” she says finally.

you look up, soaking a wash cloth with water as she continues. “the bullet. it only grazed my skin, didn’t puncture enough to go through.”

“but enough to cause so much bleeding,” you say, reaching to clean the blood from her stomach as she instinctively held up a side of her shirt.

this wasn’t her first time coming here, maybe not her last. the two of you did the whole will they, won’t they dance for nearly two years during your friendship. the tension between you was palpable, and it didn’t help that you got along so well too.

she got all parts of you—the late nights, early mornings, and countless hangouts in between. stolen kisses on hands and foreheads, hugs that lasted a bit too long to be platonic, and roaming hands when one thinks no one else is looking. she would tease and flirt shamelessly, often leaving you with a racing heart and an ache between your thighs.

until one day she didn’t. one day she went all the way. it was heavenly, her giving you so many parts of her. only it was never all of her, and you were okay with that—with waiting. relationships take time, which you understood, but after a year of being together, she still wasn’t ready. she wasn’t ready to introduce you to family, tell you more about her life before moving from her home country, talk about moving in together. she also wasn’t ready to tell you why she was so hesitant, so stubborn with you, hellbent on locking you out.

so, you had to let her go.

“why didn’t you go to the hospital?” you ask, breaking the deafening silence that filled the room. “they could help you a lot more than i can,” you say, gaze glued to your hands applying disinfectant to your wound.

“i’m sure they could, but you’ve always had better bedside service,” she replies, wincing shortly when you press into her stomach. you raise a brow in warning, continuing to clean her injuries.

there was a reason you hadn’t answered her calls, hadn’t replied to her texts. you broke up over four months ago, yet every time she called, you came, and if you didn’t, she’d come to you. the cycle was unhealthy, you knew that, but so is the insatiable drug they call love.

izogie knew that you’d come too, because that’s what you do for those you love. a part of her felt bad for preying upon a vulnerable piece of your heart, the piece that’d she carved herself into, but the other craved being around you, because only you could make her feel better. though lately, you’d been pulling away. the leftover love you held for her was fading, because in your heart you both knew that she wouldn’t change, and that this cycle would repeat until one of you let go.

you finished disinfecting the wound, applying anti-inflammatory healing ointment before wrapping gauze around her torso. once you finished, you looked up at her, finding her eyes already on you. her mouth parted to allow her tongue to wipe over he bottom lip.

“this position is awfully familiar, no?”

you blinked up at her before rubbing your hands over your thighs as you stood. looking around you wrapped your cardigan around yourself. “well, you’re all patched up, so…i don’t see any reason for you to stay.”

“not one?” she asks, head turning as you washed your hands beside her.

you kept your eyes on the suds forming on your hands. “not a good one.” you clarify.

she hums quietly as you dry your hands, turning to face the island as you put away the kit. “you don’t worry about me anymore.” she states instead the usual question. “what if i need assistance changing my bandages?”

“then you go to the hospital, izogie. not show up at my place well after midnight expecting me to fix you.” your reply comes out tired, and you are, so you’re finally letting her know.

“yet you always do, don’t you?” her words come out more bitter than she intends. you shut the closet door, turning to her.

“maybe that’s the problem.”

her face softens, brows that were previously knit relaxing in your presence. you exhale, trying to find the words that have been struggling to come to light for weeks.

“i can’t do this anymore,” you say, motioning between the two of you. “this back and forth, running ‘round in circles thing with you. i did when we were friends, i did it when we were together, but i can’t do it now.”

izogie’s head drops, palms tightening into fists atop the counter as she listens. “i’ve given you so much, and i’ve been fine with hardly anything in return, but i deserve better than that.”

your voice is soft and timid as you speak, fingers fiddling absentmindedly with the hem of your sleeve as your eyes begin to shine. you look down to prevent izogie from seeing her effect on you, but she already has. her heart falters seeing you cry, especially knowing she’s the cause. “so, i need you to go,” you say, sniffing as you look up, as a tear falls down your cheek, “i need you to let me go.”

the taller woman bites the inside of her cheek, an attempt to get that pain to mask the one she felt in her chest. she hated seeing you cry, and would often tell off anybody who did so much as look at you wrong, but this time, she needed to take a long look in the mirror. look at the woman who made the love of her life struggle to hold on to the pieces of herself in her own home.

so she walks around the counter, going to stand directly in front of you as she takes you in, trying to cement the moment to memory. you don’t want to look at her, because you risk breaking the fragile boundary you’ve been trying to create. it isn’t until she shakily whispers, “please, look at me,” that you slowly lift your eyes to hers. her irises are swimming with emotions you know all to well; regret, uncertainty, acceptance.

her lower lip trembles. you frown, wanting to ease her pain, but you know that’s impossible without hurting yourself in the long run. she wraps strong arms around your waist as she pulls you into her. hesitantly, you curl your arms up her shoulder blades, both of you relaxing into the other’s touch. izogie tucks her chin into your neck, closing her eyes as your hands press into her. you feel damp droplets prick onto your skin through the wool of your top as her arms get impossibly tighter around you, wanting you closer.

you stay there. every word left unsaid or actions left undone being released in the moment, being freed.

you’re the first to pull away, hands sliding down her back, trailing down her forearms and to her hands. you breathe deeply as you look up at her, tear-stained cheeks glistening under the warm light.

she keeps her eyes on you as she walks backwards, holding onto your hand until her arms can no longer reach. you fold your arms around your middle, watching her as she grabs the knob, giving you one last look. you close your eyes, looking down to your sock-clad feet, only looking up once you hear the door shut.

gone, you think, which is good. it should stay that way.

right?

i keep lettin’ you back in. how can i explain myself? as painful as this thing has been, i just can’t be with no one else. see i know what we’ve got to do. you let go, and i’ll let go too. cause no one’s hurt me more than you, and no one ever will.

✧

taglist: @princessmel-1995 @gonesgone

[melaninpov]

The Agojie | Dahomey Amazons

in The Woman King

[gr00vyminibus]

If you and Izogie were pirates 🤷🏿‍♀️.

★ · °

·

July 21, 1867. On that day the Agojie completely raided your ship and tore it down to become rubble under the sea. They kept you strapped to a dainty bed under the first floor of their ship.

Sure you were able to bathe, with one hand and get your mouth cleaned but truly you just didn't want to exist anymore.

Every single day though, the second mate would come down and offer you food, her name was Izogie and you didn't like her much but the quartermaster, Amenza insisted you two warm up to each other.

"You know the drill, and do not kick—" You attempted to knock the tray back and send all the food splattering against the walls like last time but Izogie was quick to put her hand back.

"Why do you have to be so difficult, waste food and put up a fight, we did not take you to hurt you." You wordlessly glared at her as she sighed and stood up from the side of your bed. She got closer to you and leaned down a good distance so that you wouldn't try to headbutt her.

"Just eat willingly or I'll feed you myself." Who did she think she was, giving you a choice. Izogie was serious about it though, if she had to shove some fish and greens past your mouth for you to stay all nice and healthy she would.

Honestly, since you've been wallowing in the silence you paid her, you might as well just eat but not by her hands.  

"Fine, just set it on the dresser and untie me." She flashed a bright smile with her curved crest teeth and untied one of your hands, watching you turn the tray around. "You'll watch me?" You curled your lip up in question "By Amenza's orders I must." mumbling something under your breath you dug in.

After three minutes passed on the clock and the last bone of a tilapia was taken out of your mouth, Izogie flashed a smile and nodded, taking your empty plate.

"It must've been good?" The glare you gave made her want to laugh

[jbk405]

Today I was talking to a friend about the MCU, and she said that Wakanda Forever was not up to the level of Black Panther. Hardly a minority opinion. But then she said that the Dora Milaje film was also much better than WF.

At first I couldn't think of what she meant, because there hasn't been a standalone DM film. Until I realized she meant The Woman King, the historical drama based on the Agojie and the Kingdom of Dahomey.

I think this is the second time I've seen this exact same mistake. Where somebody thinks The Woman King is an MCU prequel about the history of the DM and Wakanda.

The Dora Milaje are indeed partially-inspired by the real-life Agojie, but The Woman King film never tries to imply any connection. The fact that this same mistake has happened twice...

[rjeldridge]

Statue of an Agojié warrior, Cotonou, Benin (2023)

[recreate-mix-halfbrid-puresoul]

*Random drawing that I sketch when I'm born,…*

Kakashi vs Mother of my O.C.

[adhdnojutsu]

Aspiring Agojie Nawi & Fumbe from The Woman King. Historical inaccuracies and artistic license notwithstanding, I liked this movie a lot.

[novadreii]

from the wikipedia page of the dahomey amazons also known as the agojie, the only known all-female army. they formed about a third of the military of the kingdom of dahomey in what is now benin, west africa and served as a regiment for 200 years starting in the 16th century.

[theartofcostume]

The Woman King (directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Viola Davis) is a story about the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. We caught up with Gersha Phillips to discuss designing the costumes for The Woman King, and speak about her research, the process behind the armor, costume breakdown, personalization, and her collaboration with Viola Davis.

INTERVIEW LINK: https://theartofcostume.com/2023/01/18/designing-the-costumes-of-of-the-woman-king-an-interview-with-costume-designer-gersha-phillips/

Photos Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

[queerasfact]

Today is Independence Day in Benin, so we'd like to share a little piece of Beninese history with you!

The people is this photo are Agojie - often called Dahomey Amazons by Europeans.

The Agojie were regiments of soldiers who served in the army of Dahomey - now Benin - in West Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. Numbering around 8000 at their height in the 1840, they were renowned for their fearlessness in battle, and considered the backbone of the Dahomean army.

The Agojie were all assigned female at birth but they expressed their gender in a variety of ways. Some renounced womanhood, and identified themselves as men. At other times, the group embraced womanhood in their war songs, comparing themselves to lionesses, and linking womanhood to their superiority over male regiments.

Learn more

[Image: photo of a group of Agojie, some pose with weapons including guns and large knives]

[tempestades]

[actionflickchick]

The Woman King (2022): Heavy Is the Head (Til It's Decapitated)

Viola Davis stars in THE WOMAN KING. Being a soldier in any army no doubt requires some serious bravery. Surviving to become a middle aged/older soldier means that someone’s not only brave, but skilled and more than a little lucky. In The Woman King, Nanisca (Viola Davis) leads the Agojie, African kingdom Dahomey’s all female branch of their army. She’s survived to middle age in a way few…

[gr00vyminibus]

A woman's heart.

Izogie x Black!fem Agojie

After drinking with Izogie your feelings become admitted.

Taglist: @zeezeecave @mybonafidefeelings @masterajoy314 @xenaizogie @blacksapphhicmaddonna

[A/N: Switched it up, I love mess and makeup tropes 😋]

Under the clay construction, the far moon shined on Izogie and you. Illuminating your individual brown shades of skin. Two friends enjoying the night breeze with liquor in their systems. Your eyes flickered to Izogie's flask in her hand and swiped it.

Her walking halted as she watched you take a few quick sips snd give it back, frowning at the heated sensation traveling down throat and into your chest.

Izogie wouldn't drink with just anyone, you were a loyal and special friend, eserving of letting your guard down around her.

"Slow down, lightweight." she chuckled sipping next from the flask. You gently bumped shoulders with her as a way of telling her to shut up.

She smiled with her head back and managed to keep drinking the whiskey that trickled down her mouth, a skinny drop slid down the corner of her lips and left a glimmering trail that you so desperately wanted to clean up.

She led you inside her chambers and made her self comfortable on the bed, leaning back against the wall while babysitting the flask on top of her raised knee.

"You're quiet, what's on your mind?"

"I couldn't tell you if I didn't know myself.." when you focused on the ground your head was empty but if you peered into her eyes the mental space inside of it would definitely many thoughts.

"look at me." The tip of her knuckle pushed your head up. Why was she so effortlessly seductive. This small action was weakening you as you unconsciously held her wrist and flipped it over to examine her nsils.

"Can I touch them?" Your eyes hesitantly pulled away from tracing the shape and analyzed her neutral and tipsy expression. Izogie sat up straighter and flexed her hand.

"Normally I don't like for people to touch them but,"

"go ahead." The pads of your fingers pricked against the sharp edge and slid down the other side of it. You separated her fingers and then matched the palm of your hands.

But they weren't the only thing you admired. There was a scar on her neck you wanted to kiss on and make a path up her jaw, then appreciate her nude lips.

Pecking her eyelids and brows, feeling the texture of her hair and so much more, much more you wanted to do with her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"I cannot decipher it.." Izogie grumbled, smirk splintering her stoic facade. You wore a nervous smile on your face, sitting beside her.

"It is.." her looked at the ceiling "kind," she glanced at you.

"—intense even. Perhaps you.... nevermind." Izogie chuckled and grabbed the whiskey, internally cursing when she shook it, only a little left.

"Go on"

"I said nevermind."

"Well you brought it up in the first place, why shy away now?" A glare was thrown your way.

"Tell me what my look means."

"What, do you like me?" Izogie jokes thinking that'll stun you so hard you'd hold your breathe, she just wants to make you laugh is all.

But your pounding heart may have been audible to her ears. Maybe the gods above finally had the chance to answer your prayers that you chanted late at night. Or even begged for with a sigh whenever she let her eyes linger on you during instruction.

If you didn't have the liquor in your system you would've played it off smoothly but your heart demanded the floor so you let it speak before you could think about.

"... yeah." Her eyes slightened widened at you as you stared back, repeating yourself a bit louder and more clearer. Your eyes lowered to her lips eventually as courage grew within you by the minute.

"You're kidding"

"I'm not." You narrow your eyes.

"Swear, y/n."

"I swear." Izogie looked off somewhere and chuckled in disbelief, "you think I'm lying?" She nodded before synchronizing with her pointing finger.

"You had me alm-" An experimental kiss was placed on her lips; and as if on instict she pressed back into you but it stopped just as quick as it started.

"Y/n!" Izogie whisper-yelled but she wanted more and you noticed.

"You kissed me back."

"You confused me."

"How?" Well this is definitely not how you thought your confession would go. Izogie stopped herself from sputtering a response and just sighed loudly. You wanted her to explain though, she looked very thoutful right now.

Sealed lips getting grazed with her teeth as she pressed her thumb to her mouth.

"Why did you kiss me back?" You placed your hand on your thigh as you rested on your hip.

The reason was because she secretly craved you. The lady right to her eye level who never complained and accepted all consequences, good or bad. A restless and determined soul just striving for pride.

And although you didn't make yourself known, Izogie paid even better attention to you. You were meek but not frail hearted and that attracted her in ways she couldn't mentally seperate from her role as your teacher.

"If you don't want to speak I'll leave." She dropped her hand and pressed up against the wall better, her eyes still not meeting yours.

"We must forget this, the kiss. It never happened." Izogie finally looked at you and saw you avert your gaze almost shamefully as the painful lump formed in your throat.

"Okay." As usual you'd never complain and this time she didn't like it, deep inside she wanted wanted to argue and protest that the kiss meant something to save the outcome of this moment but this felt best.

You picked yourself up and went to exit the hut until she called for you.

"And Y/n?"

"Hm."

"Don't let anybody see you." Your toungue poked your inner cheek as you gently moved the flap aside to leave with the little decency you had left.

Because if you stayed longer you would have broken down.

•••

The next morning was the same but a little bit harder to bear since you had to act like you didn't kiss the woman of your dreams that coldly rejected you on the spot. She carried on better though, the emotions that swirled in her eyes last night were gone.

Izogie's back was straight, chin high and ready to do what she had to do while you were toeing the sand and avoiding her surveilling eyes.

"We will do a morning run to have your blood rushing for the day. Get in formation." All of them stood in straight line towards the straw gates of the palace.

"If you fall behind, jog or be high on your knees. There will be no walking, slouching.. or complaints." She walked around the back of the line where you were and looked over you purposefully. Ouch.

You breathed in and out through your nose and looked away from the sun to calm down, why did your emotions want to flood in now when you were so skilled at hiding them.

"A mɔ nǔ jɛ mɛ à?" Izogie called out as they agreed and started jogging towards and out of the gate. Your feet carried you for miles up and down hills, tredding through grassy plains. The synchronized huffs of others began to quiet in your ear.

"The oyo will catch you, hang you by your feet and cut your throat!" Loud claps and complaint were heard from the back as nawi, a trainee was getting scolded. You ran past a few girls to drown out her voice completely.

After a while the heat definitely got to you especially since you didn't eat breakfast. The feeling of dizziness attacked and the others caught up and surpassed you multiple times until you were the only one left walking in the back.

Except for one.

Izogie jogged up to you and eyed your state.

"pick it up, y/n. Your knees." You shut your eyes and continued walking begrudgingly.

"I can't– right now."

"I did not think I would have to remind you of this but what is the first rule of training." She moved infront you as you both continued traveling across the soil. You honestly couldn't care less about what it was but your mind instantly spoke out from memory.

"To always obey you."

"Do not forget it now, shake this off and catch up." You knew she was talking about the kiss and your attitude. You dropped your hands from your hips and jogged around her. Izogie felt like she nearly severed the ribbon of your relationship.

She would have to talk to you sooner or later, to see if you were on the same page.

•••

During sparring Izogie was as stern as usual maybe a bit colder now and stricter, she was buzzing by your ear like a mosquito. Correcting you on every little thing even your breathing and posture.

She thought if she instructed with you more you'd get the memo that Izogie was not aiming to ignore you and had no harsh feelings.

But it only agitated you to the point where you stopped fighting with your opponent and threw the spear on the ground. Your hands locking above your head as you marched off somewhere.

"Y/N!" That tone, Izogie never used that tone with you. So threatning and scorching. You shook it off and kept walking, there wasn't a consequence you couldn't handle. You just needed a break.

"She's so full of it.. I swear." You hissed, voice almost breaking as steady footsteps sounded behind you. There was a woven straw barrier that you could go behind and crumble down to your knees.

Away from everybody's instructions and orders.

You hit your hand against the dry clay as a hot lone tear rolled down your cheek. Izogie finally reached you with a hand balled up by her side. Her gaze hotter than molten lava but cooling to the sight of your evident pain. She crouched down to you as you covered the side of your face and crossed one arm over your chest.

Her eyes tracked your body language before speaking. "Why did you run off?"

"That's the question you ask.." You folded both arms over your chest now and continue not to look at her. Although, Izogie didn't like how you were unwilling do so, you were technically rejecting the warrior and it stung, just on the cusp of burning if you kept treating her like this.

"If it's because I was instructing you during the sparring, my intention was not order you around like some puppet.." She spoke blandly. Face still hardened from her own personal irritation.

"You were breathing down my neck, correcting everything."

"That is my job incase you have forgotten. I am your teacher, feedback as frustrating as it may seem is mandatory."

"Why all of sudden did you want to give me all that attention?" You looked at her, pink eyes incredulous and it confused her along with your question, her eyelids slowly blinked as she shook her head.

"What are you talking about y/n-"

"Don't make me feel stupid!" Her gaze softened before it deepened.

"Lower your voice."

"And if I don't, if I say no just once will that abuse your stupid ego! Forget about the training and the run, you broke me when you told me to forget that...." You sucked your teeth and looked away as tears brimmed over your lids yet again.

You abruptly got up and wiped your whole face as she got up next, albeit slowly.

"I'll tell you this, that kiss meant alot to me." You sniffed as she stared at you.

"I ran off because you still didn't understand that, or rather you do not want too. You're so stubborn but I guess my heart is too since I still... like you. Foolish of me?" You were about to walk around Izogie when she gently grabbed your arm and pulled you back infront of her.

"What-"

"Come to my room after dinner."

"...." you were truly done talking and Izogie sensed this.

"Please." You removed her hand and walked away from her freely as the warrior and swallowed a lump down her throat, her heart squeezing for you and twisting from your absence.

All she could do is hope you would come see her. And to believe with such emptiness in that possibility didn't make her the same for the rest of the day.

••

When dinner came around you took your sweet time, you ate slower and even got a second bowl, bathing time was luxurious in duration. Stretching for nearly an hour as you took that time to relax.

Eventually you went back to your hut and moisturized your skin while putting on some fresh clothes for bed.

Izogie wasn't going to string you along so easily anymore, she could beg outside your hut for all you cared. The warrior really hurt you this afternoon and to face her in her homely hut, with the atmosphere mirroring her every aspect was like sitting in a blood curdling steam room.

Izogie didn't expect much but she did, so she had back up plans if you didn't show up. The sky was only getting darker and nothing changed besides the position of the grey clouds.

Izogie sat on her bed thinking if she walked to your hut it come off as desperate but this was a now or never situation.

So she threw her pride away and got up, pushing her flap to the side and stepping out into the night.

"Y/n I would like to say that.. I am sorry and I should've never- no." Izogie cracked her knuckles and started over.

"I understand that kiss meant a lot to you and I made the mistake of...? watering it down to- mawu." Izogie sucked her teeth and bring a thumb to her temple like it pounded painfully. Your hut was in the distance and she saw it, her heart thumping at the rate of milliseconds.

When Izogie finally stood infront of it she licked her dry lips and shut her eyes momentarily.

Praying for this to go as she hoped.

Izogie reopened her eyes and called out, "y/n." You cracked an eye open from your fake sleeping and frowned. "Y/n are you awake?" You faintly smirked and raised off the ground, slowly creeping to the flap and standing infront.

"Maybe she's asleep... " you pulled it back and watched her whole form freeze.

"Are you just going to stand there or come inside." You swiftly turned on your heel and let her come through as she opted to stand up while you settled on your bamboo mat.

"I wanted to come and apologize about this afternoon and last night. I want to actually talk about it and why I did what I did, when you.. kissed me I," Izogie walked over to you and settled on her knees.

Her gaze penetrate yet nervous. You fixed your face on your propped hand and returned the look back, minus the nervousness.

"enjoyed it."

"You don't have to lie Izogie." You dismissed as your eyes drifted elsewhere momentarily.

"Y/n, I never lie to you." Izogie stated lowly as you blinked, eyes softening.

"I wasn't led by any conscious when I kissed you back and it scared me. I felt so content and.. selfish because it felt so good."

"Then why did you push me away?" The way your voice was contrasting and gentle pinched at her heart, the warrior nearly crumbling to her thoughts of embracing of you but that would come later on.

"Because I didn't want to start something that I couldn't finish. Imagining how attached I could've been to you and then one day you're gone made me push you away."

"How can you grow attached to me, I thought I was your friend." You tried to repel all of Izogie's sentiments with your assumptions of her. It was a test to see if she felt different than what you assumed.

"If you were just a friend, I wouldn't have been with you that night, I wouldn't have kissed you, went out of my way to talk to you this afternoon, or ask you to come room. Y/n you're more than a friend.." Izogie sighed as her hands gripped her skirt, almost tearing the material.

"And?" You sat up, face to face with her as your eyes ran over her features. The woman straightened her posture and reached for your hand.

You glanced down at it and looked back into her eyes, smooth and glassy. "And I like you." A sincere smile washed over your face as she mirrored it and swiped her thumb across your knuckle.

"I don't have to forget this too right?" She chuckled with you, the mood lifting just by your harmonious laughter. "No, you don't have to forget anything, especially not this." Izogie moved into you first and connected your lips in an exploring kiss.

It was slow and wondering over the plumness and bows of your lips, your breaths mixing into the perfect pheromone for love and devotion to one another. No matter how short or long it would last.

And this time Izogie would not be rejecting her hearts desire for you. Not when it felt this blissful and not when you both rightfully deserved it.

You pulled her down to the mat as the warrior made it up to you all night with skin to skin carreses and wet kisses along the expanses of your body.

She told you her feelings all through with feathery freedom resting on her shoulders.

[rjeldridge]

Agojié Monument, Cotonou, Benin, 2023

[theyaoiconnoisseur]

They need to compensate you one million euros for every second you spend outside the house on your period