#as far as he's concerned he's totally hidden

[always-a-slut-4-ghouls]

All I can do until we see what happens with this election is hope, distract myself, and try to get others to vote, because if I think too hard about it my anxiety and depression gets worse and the voice in the back of my head that tells me to hurt myself and go hide in the woods or something gets louder

[yandere-daydreams]

Best creepy roommate is absolutely dottore because like. You cut him so much slack because he pays far more of his share of the rent than he should, and he helps you avoid the hundred dollar doctor visits by taking a quick look at you whenever you're seeing double and sweating up a storm. He even lets you eat whatever he scrounges for meals, as long as you take care of the shopping. He's got a lot of benefits.

So just... Keep ignoring all the shit he brings home from work. Ignore the samples he keeps in the countertop freezer (that you INSISTED he buy after you nearly drank a bio sample instead of your milkshake). Ignore that he really shouldn't be dealing with paperwork where you can see it (isn't that a breach of privacy, or something?). ESPECIALLY ignore the concerning terms you sometimes see scrawled out. Death_of_child is totally innocuous in programming, right...? It's probably... Probably similar in the medical field, too. It's fine. It's totally fine. It has to be fine, because you don't have any other options.

modern au dottore my beloved,,, he'd just be the most unhinged, sleep deprived medical student with the sketchiest internship and the weirdest ""homework"" you've ever seen. honestly, you're not even sure why he needs a roommate at all when he pays 95% of the rent and the bulk of your food/utility bills, but it probably has something to do with the liter or so of blood he asks you to ""donate"" every couple of weeks, or the hidden cameras you'll find littered around your living spaces every so often. you're pretty sure you're part of some fucked up case study thesis paper, but housing is expensive and you really can't afford to have a full-time job while you're still in school, so you just kinda have to put up with occasionally letting him mix his ""supplements"" into your coffee and try not to let his evil cackling keep you up too late at night. it's not even necessarily a yandere situation, he's just like that in every universe.

[sinnersweets]

DogDay x Reader part 3

<----part 2, part 4--->

A/N: It’s been a week since your first day 

Everytime I came in for my shift I always needed to change into my uniform which was starting to get tiring. I wasn’t allowed to take the shirt, nametag, or headband home. I promised the team member that I would bring everything back, but they said they needed to wash it every time with the vanilla scent that DogDay has. I huffed in disappointment and took the clothes and went to go change.  

--------------- 

I was told that at the start of the week all the helpers need to give their assigned Smiling Critter a bath that way their scent can be strong again. Also, we needed to arrive two hours before Playcare opened to everyone. Guessing it took a while to wash everyone. Then a thought came into my head. DogDay is a dog, and dogs typically hated getting wet. Oh boy, today would not be easy for me.  

--------------- 

The Playcare looked scary when the lights were off. The only lights present was from the Bron lamps. I walked over to the counselors building and somehow while looking at the ground, I tripped over a wire. “Ah-!” I hit the ground and laid on the floor for ten seconds before rising to my elbows and looking at the wire. While I looked back at the wire, I noticed that it started to move. As I got a closer look, I saw that this wire was fluffy, and purple. “Huh?” Then suddenly whatever I tripped on wrapped around my ankle and quickly pulled me into the air. I didn’t dare make a sound while I was being hoisted up knowing that the kids were all asleep. My morning was going great. 

I was brought up to the statues and finally saw what the heck grabbed me. CatNap. This was the first time I’ve seen him up close and he was by far the scariest one out of the group. Since I was hanging upside down, I had to hold my shirt down with my hands. “Hey there CatNap...could you um, put me down please?” Where the hell was Sarah?! She’s supposed to be keeping an eye on him as his helper. CatNap just stared at me. DogDay did tell me that CatNap doesn’t really talk, but him not talking was making this much creepier. 

“Psst, CatNap, Angel, what are you doing?!” I looked at the floor and spotted DogDay just below me. “CatNap she’s my helper not a doctor. She’s a friend!” DogDay whispered but also yelled out. “Friend....” That’s all CatNap said before releasing his tail from me. I fell and landed into DogDays arms. “Did it hurt when you fell from heaven Angel?” He laughed at the joke that he made. I look towards him with a concerned look on my face. “He pulled me into the air and then dropped me...and you...”  

It then registered what DogDay had just said to me, and I smiled and laughed, all the anger that I felt left. “I can’t believe you just said that. That was cheesy.” I wiped a tear away from laughing. “I wanted to see a smile on your face Angel, especially since what was happening with you and CatNap.” “Yeah, what was that all about anyway?” His face then looked nervous for a moment before he answered. “He’s not a fan of adults. He rarely tolerates his helper. He didn’t mean any harm, really.” I looked back up to the statues, but CatNap was no longer there. “Hm. Well next time I see him I want an apology.” DogDay chuckled and nodded his head. “Oh, I like your earrings, Angel.” I totally forgot that I went out yesterday and bought me a pair of sun earrings. I liked getting earrings to match my outfit. It was earlier than I liked to be awake at, so it slipped my mind that I wore them. “Thank you, there new.” 

--------------- 

DogDay led me to a hidden door that blended in perfectly against the walls. This was where they got washed up. Each Smiling Critter had their own room with everything they needed to be cleaned properly. The whole time we were walking towards DogDays room he was cheerful but as soon as we entered the room, and I closed the door he started shaking. “Hey, hey it’s okay. Taking baths are fun!” I grabbed onto his paw to try to calm him down. DogDay then stopped shaking and looked at me and smiled. “Normally I would give myself a bath but now that I have you Angel, this should be less scary.” I nodded my head and went to put on an apron to not get myself wet. “Alright, let's get started! First, I will need to take off your pendant, don’t want that getting dirty now.” DogDay lowered himself so that I could reach behind his neck and undo the knot from his pendant.  

Since it was just us, I decided to ask him a question that I had for him. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you this, but you said you went through a lot of applicants before landing on me. What made me stand out?” I could feel DogDay stiffen when I asked this. I was still untying his pendant when he spoke. “Everyone else's application seemed so boring, plus the pictures that they sent in I could tell that they would not be good to work down here at Playcare. But yours Angels, your picture was just full of-” I accidentally cut him off as his pendant was quite heavy and made me yelp in surprise. “Jeez this is heavy!”  

DogDay saw me struggling to pick it up and took it from me and set it down on the table. “Woops, should’ve worn you, sorry Angel.” “That’s really heavy, guess the kids weren’t lying when they said you were strong.” I nudge DogDay playfully. His ears perked up and he wagged his tail. Cute. “Okay now the not so fun part.” I pointed over to where DogDay needed to be at to get washed. He swallowed hard but then walked on all fours over to the area. I saw that there was a step stool for me, so I grabbed it and placed it near him. “I’ll try to be really quick, okay?” He nodded and closed his eyes. I turned on the hose and started to wet DogDay. 

--------------- 

It took around three minutes to fully wet DogDay, yeesh. Now I had to put the vanilla scented soap on him. To pull his mind away from his bath I decided to playfully tease him about calling me pretty. “By the way, I never got to thank you for calling me pretty.” “Huh?!” His ears perked up again. “Oh- right, I forgot that Damian shouted that out...Well you are pretty Angel.” I scrubbed his ears and smiled. “Thank you.” It took me thirty minutes to cover DogDay with soap. This was tiring, but I’ll improve over time. “Okay almost done, just gotta rinse you off and then dry you and then comb your fur and that’s it!” As I said it aloud, I realized that those tasks would also take a while.  

I rinsed off DogDay and turned off the hose. I walked over to a cubby and took off my apron while also grabbing a blow dryer. As I was plugging in the blow dryer I looked over and noticed that he had a look in his eyes. “Angel, I gotta shake this water off.” Oh no. “Nonono don’t shake, please don’t shake.” “It’s dripping down my body...” “Don’t shake!” “I gotta shake!” “No no shaking-” Too late. DogDay shook all the water off of him. DogDay sighed as he no longer felt as wet as he did before. “Whew I feel so much better.” DogDay turned to look at me and he then saw the aftermath of what he did.  

There I stood, all drenched in water. “So sorry Angel...” Even though I was drenched in chilly water I wasn’t angry at all. I started to laugh aloud. “Haha! I should’ve known that was gonna happen.” DogDay smiled and wagged his tail. “I really tried to not shake Angel.” “It’s okay, ahem, now let’s dry ourselves off.”  

I got dried as best as I could but knew I was going to need to change out of these wet clothes before getting sick. I brushed out DogDays fur and added in some more vanilla scent to him. DogDay then grabbed his pendant and I decided to buff it out so that it’ll shine. I looked at the pendant and saw my reflection. “There, all beautiful now.” “Yes, you are Angel...I-I mean yes, it’s beautiful now haha...” I booped him on the nose with my finger and smiled at him. “Thank you, you are looking pretty handsome now after that bath.” His ears perked up and his tail was wagging back and forth fast. Seeing DogDay like this made me happy, and warm inside...maybe I was already getting sick.  

A/N: Thank you for reading!

[lovebugism]

can I request [ MISTLETOE ] for sender and receiver to find themselves under the mistletoe. with steeb and shy!reader?! maybe they’ve both been crushing for a while and so it’s all fluffy??

ty for requesting :D happy xmas angel!! — you and steve have your very first kiss under the mistletoe (shy!fem!r, new relationship, fluff, 1.1k)

blurbcember ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

You’re pretty sure your friends are debating which Christmas song is better. You can’t be sure, though, because it all just sounds like static. Everything feels a little like static, too.  

You’re sitting on Steve’s couch, but it’s more like sitting on a cloud. He’s right next to you — arm lazy around your shoulders, fitting into your side like a puzzle piece — but you can’t really feel him, either.

Steve can tell how far away you’ve gone. You haven’t said a word to him in ages. He can’t be totally sure you’ve even blinked, either. He squeezes your shoulder with a gentle hand, one that you barely feel, to bring you back again.

You turn to him, sluggish and slow and softly smiling.

“Still good?” he wonders. His grin is barely there and slightly lopsided. His honey eyes sparkle with a subtle concern. He doesn’t know how to be anything but entirely tender with you.

You nod, though your eyes are still a little glassy.

Steve’s smile widens. His golden features drip with a fondness you don’t feel very deserving of.

He’s so close, you think he might kiss you. You can smell the hot chocolate and candy canes on his breath — a lethal concoction that makes you melt further into him. And truth be told, he wants to kiss you, but he’s terrified of being too forward.

You’re made of something delicate. Like flower petals or winter sunlight. He doesn’t want to be too rough with you.

“Wanna get out of here?” he asks.

Your chin jerks back a bit. The subtle meaning behind his words makes you flinch. “…What?”

His face falls in a gaping horror. “Wait— No— that’s not— That’s not what I meant,” he stammers quickly, an awkward laugh sputtering from his lips. “I was trying to ask if you wanted to get a drink before Eddie breaks out his metal version of Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer.”

His dumb joke makes you laugh. He’s grateful for it.

He walks with you towards the kitchen, guiding you with a warm hand on the small of your back. Robin gives him a not-so-subtle thumbs up when he passes her. “Real smooth,” she mouths. 

He flips her off but feels a little bad about it a second later. The mistletoe hanging in front of the sink was definitely her doing — and probably his only opportunity to kiss you tonight. He’ll thank her for it later, if everything goes to plan.

You stand across the room at the fridge, pouring him a glass of eggnog like the sweet thing you are. He doesn’t know how to get you over to him without being too obvious. So he just lingers in place, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest, and hopes you’ll eventually migrate towards him.

“Here you go, babe,” you murmur under your breath, not even looking his way as you sit the full glass to the side. 

Steve wonders if you noticed the nickname spilling from your mouth, or if it just came out without you realizing it. It makes his chest all warm and fuzzy either way. He wants to kiss you stupid about it, but he has to get you over here first.

“Uh, can you hand it to me, please?”

You look over your shoulder at him, expecting to find him busy in some way. He isn’t, though. He’s just kinda standing there. Like he’s waiting for something.

You’re confused, but you don’t press it. You go to hand it to him without complaint. Sweet thing, indeed.

You take a few steps towards him and reach out your arm, not quite under the half-hidden mistletoe yet. Steve grimaces slightly. “Little closer?” he pleads.

With furrowed brows, you take another step closer.

“Just a little bit more—”

Your golden laugh fills the kitchen. “What are you doing? Just take it, weirdo.”

Steve beams when you’re finally beneath it. His gasp is almost cartoonish, but it makes his eyes sparkle anyway. “Ah! Look at that! We’re under the mistletoe!”

Your eyes flit to the ceiling. The artificial plant is mostly hidden, strung up between hanging pots and pans. A smile tugs at your mouth — you wonder if he planned this or if the chance just fell into his lap.

You’re grateful for it, either way.

“What a coincidence, huh?” you murmur sheepishly, stomach so full of fluttering butterflies that it aches.

“Yeah. Not planned at all,” he beams, totally honest, as he takes a small step closer.

“Not even a little bit,” you tease.

His hands settle on your waist, warm with how clammy they’ve gone. His thumbs rub gently along your ribcage, over your reindeer-patterned Christmas sweater. His chest presses intently against yours, and you wonder if he can feel your racing heartbeat.

“Totally unintentional, actually. I think the universe willed it.”

“Totally.”

“Well,” Steve lilts with a quirked mouth and twinkling eyes. “Do you wanna?”

He won’t do anything you don’t want to do. He’d never force you to do a damn thing, but fuck, if he doesn’t want you to say yes more than he’s ever wanted anything in the whole world.

His heart nearly bursts out of his chest when you nod at him with your own quiet smile. 

When he leans in to kiss you, it feels like something out of a movie. There’s a swelling choir in the distance and snow falling all around you. It’s in black and white or technicolor, something so obviously old Hollywood, because only the golden age of film could capture these once-in-a-lifetime romantics.

And it’s weird, ‘cause it’s just one little peck.

His chiseled nose bumps once against the side of your own, scruffy chin scratching at your skin. His lips lock momentarily with yours with all their plush pink glory. It’s heaven — for a flash of a second — and gone way too soon.

Both of you are grinning like lovesick idiots when he pulls away.

His freshly kissed mouth opens to say something — to tell you that he’s head over heels for you or that you taste like hot cocoa, maybe — but nothing like that comes out.

Something metallic cracks in the distance, like a valuable thing broken, and all the loud voices in the living room suddenly go quiet.

“Little shits…” Steve mumbles in an annoyed sigh. His blatant irritation makes you laugh. The sound makes him smile all over again. “I should go make sure no one broke a limb or something.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

His hands squeeze gently at your sides before he goes, grieved to leave you.

He barely gets five steps away before you’re calling him back again. 

“Wait! You forgot your drink.” 

When he walks back towards you again — nicely settled beneath the hanging mistletoe he’d already forgotten about — you sneak another kiss in. It’s quicker than you’d like, but more languid still. 

It takes his breath away all over again.

[iz-star]

Some thoughts about Zayne in "Adventure above clouds" event:

Like I've explained here, I've been having a bad feeling about Zayne's fate in the next main story updates, and after finishing Zayne's route in "Adventure above clouds" my feelings of uncertainty are just increasing.

So, I'm going to write down some thoughts I had while playing his route, especially about him wearing Dawnbreaker's variant outfit "Shadowfall dawn", which might be a bit interesting for some.

Disclaimer: I would like to pride myself as a Zayne connossieur but that's actually quite far away from reality. I'm a Zayne main and I devour every piece of info that there is about him, however my interpretations and opinions are my own and can be wrong. I'm someone that sometimes tends to overanalyze so, it's up to you if you agree or no with my takes! I'm also always open to be corrected ❤️

Let's get strated with by saying that in this event, Zayne was undoubtedly and utterly perfect. He's honestly all what he's always been: Sweet, patient, cute, smart, funny, gentle, caring and a lot of other things, the only difference here is that he's more prone to show his affections openly and straightforward which only showcases his development as character. It's like he finally feels at ease by expressing himself, especially around MC. When I say he was perfect, I'm not talking at how lovely he was (he's always been lovely anyway) but more like, he's natural, he feels less stiff, totally happy with MC and himself, smiling most part of the time and showing his love even through words, to the point MC says this:

Since Snowy Serenity he's been more direct at expressing his intimate thoughts towards MC. For example, in previous cards he would always refer to her as "someone" and even refer to him in third person: "Someone thinks it's special treatment" [Drunken Intimacy] "He can't ignore you even if he wants to" [Tranquil Heart] "Recently, a certain someone ocupies my mind. Whether I'm walking, eating or sleeping, I keep picturing myself with her" [Heartstring healer] to mention a few.

It's in Snowy Serenity that we have a clear change in his way of expressing his feelings. He starts with "I don't want the person I like to get hurt", in here he's still using the third person but the message is really straightforward "the person I like" and as the conversation goes by and it becomes more meaningful, deep and intimate, he leaves all his chains behind and says "I need you, I have never denied that". This card is all about communication, even he admits that he's always been bad at saying what others want to hear and still, he's trying.

In Hidden Motive, this behaviour keeps going. When MC says that the lights behind him are beautiful, he looks at her and replies "Indeed, very beautiful". Because his eyes are fixating in her, she clarifies that she's talking about the lights but without hesitation Zayne replies: "I know. I was talking about you"

And I'd like you to recall Drunken Intimacy because this is like a paralel with Hidden Motive, since both cards were made for lovers' day festivities; Drunken intimacy for Valentine's Day and Hidden Motive for Qixi festival which is lovers' day in China. Not only they are like cards that go hand in hand but also showcase Zayne's and MC's character develompment and how their relationship has changed:

See the difference?

In Snowy Serenity and Hidden Motive, there's a focus on improving communication, being honest about their needs and feelings (Zayne saying "I'll survive" at MC's concern and her telling him that he'd better stop talking in Snowy Serenity and MC talking about her "last wishes" before dying and entrusting them to Zayne and he replying that he didn't come all the way here to listen to her talk about that nonsense) and finally, getting both physically and emotionally closer.

In this last event, "Adventure above clouds" it feels like the result of this devlopment is finally paying off all their effort: they're both happy working together to solve the escape room, showing open affection, talking about the future and the past ("Us in 50 years" "Our childhood memories" or how was Zayne's university years without MC and the big difference now that he has someone to watch the falling snow with). They talk about how they're each other's sun, how they keep each other warm. When Zayne says that the snow will show them the way and they both "pray" it kind of reminded me of Master of Fate. They getting at the top of the Ice Palace reminded me of Foreseer.

(It's like we've reached peak, literally lol. Ok, bad joke, that's why I love Zayne).

And once all of this has happened, once they've gone through all this develpment, they've come this far together, even bits of the story reminded me of Zayne's myths, and they've talked about the past and the future, what's next?

Zayne mentions eternity.

Zayne has mentioned eternity a couple of times, like in one of the PV's where he's wearing End of Depths outfit ("As the cosmos dances to the tune of eternity, life will reach the fathomless depths of deepspace") and in some of the texts that show up when you level up your affinity with him ("I want to turn every moment into eternity).

In here, he doesn't mention eternity directly, but it's implied when he says "Every snowflake will rememember your name. As well as our story". Eternity is just another way to refer to death for immortal people. It's like Zayne is saying "Your name and our story will endure in the snow even when we're no longer here". We often talk about the memories we leave behind in this world once we part from it, who will remember us? What are the proofs that we existed and lived in this world once we're gone? Will our story fade away? In here is like Zayne is just promising her that their love won't be forgotten.

Let's remind that one focal point in the story is immortality. We know that MC it's immortal and even in the main story, when Zayne it's explaining things about the protocore in MC's heart, he mentions that he doesn't know too much about it, however he knows that her protocore creates a shield around her when she's attacked and that she will live long enough to discover its misteries (kind of reminds of the Creatio Protocore that Foreseer gave MC but that's another talk for another day).

Whether if Dr Zayne knows about MC's immortality or he doesn't, that's something we don't know yet (altho something tells me that he knows, but I won't be explaning this here, if you're curious about it just ask), however we know two things:

1._ Zayne it's against using protocores in human hearts to reach "immortality". To him, death is still essential to life.

2._ Even knowing this, he also knew in his heart that he would do everything in his power to prevent MC's death and he seems to know that something bad is about to happen.

Master of Fate and Foreseer already proved these points. Master of Fate had to kill MC for the greater good but decided to say "fuck it" and instead chose to seal her powers. Foreseer also broke the rules for her sake and gave her the Creatio Protocore, going against Astra's will in order to cure her illness and extend her life (probably one of the things that caused her immortality?). She's always been the exception to every rule in Zayne's book. Something tells me that things with Dr Zayne won't be the exception.

And now... we have to recall something about Zayne's first PV.

Ever since the beginning, Zayne's route was presented as something with angst. It's interesting to hear these unknown voices saying "Won't you regret it" "She will not come back" "You've paid the price"

This whole PV makes it look like Zayne puts MC to sleep in order to protect her (like with MoF) so she wouldn't "come back" ( revive with the help of her aether core) and then... he loses control of his evol and freezes the whole hospital? Dies in the process? These are just speculations and can be wrong, however we simply know that something bad is happening there and, if we recall them talking in "Adventure above the clouds" and "Us in fifty years"... this PV kinda shatters the hopes for them to have a life as long as that. However, 5* memories and events are not exactly connected to the main story but I think they kind of... interconnect somehow? I'm still wondering how the devs are going to relate each ML route with the Main Story. The announced that they are going to release more "Main Story Branches" from September to December, and I don't know if by saying "Branches" they meant routes? Or simply referencing to the way they've released the main story until now, with each chapter dedicated to each LI? Either way, those are questions for another day.

Now, let's remember this:

"When you and the world wake up, I hope we do not meet again"

A quote that kind of leads us to Zayne's next lifetime: Dawnbreaker.

I've mentioned above that there are bits of Zayne's route in Adventure above clouds that reminded me of MoF and Foreseer, but now it's also time to mention the most obvious thing, the Dawnbreaker reference in this event, of course: "Shadowfall dawn":

There are two things about Zayne's look here:

1._ He's wearing the variant version of Dawnbreaker's outfit.

2._ He also has a halo above his head.

And these two things together create an interesting concept considering that Dawnbreaker Zayne, the serial killer is considered the Grim Reaper, his whole aesthetic is dark, it's even clarified in his anecdotes that his wardrobe was full of black clothes. To see him with a brown variant of his outfit wouldn't make sense at some point... So, of course, Doctor Zayne being his opposite, the one who instead of ending lifes, saves them to the point of exahustion, wears the clear variant outfit, looking like an angel.

Were have we read this before?

Of course, Doctor Zayne is in the opposite role of Dawnbreaker Zayne and even tho Doctor Zayne is always wearing black clothes outside of his lab coat, it's actually wearing his profession's clothes what completes the aesthetic with Dawnbreaker: The Guardian Angel (white) and The Grim Reaper (black).

However in Adventure above clouds, Zayne is not wearing his lab coat cause he is not in his Doctor role. He's just being Zayne, he's being himself, what he is. He's being free, like I commented at the beginning of this post. Still, the fact he's wearing Dawnbreaker's variant with a halo seems a bit supicious considering what I've already pointed out, right? It could also be that I'm simply looking too much into it, but I also believe in the power of foreshadowing, especially considering that we all know that Zayne's birthday is coming next and it kind of connects with Dawnbreaker.

In the story of Adventure above clouds, of course there is a reason as to why everyone is wearing an accessory, in Zayne's case, it's because his role is being "Winter's emissary" just as MC, so she is also wearing one, however we all know that "Winter's emissary" it's more likely to be a fitting title for Zayne than for her. Recalling what it's been previously mentioned here, he says "With Winter's Emissary by your side, every snowflake will remember your name, as well as our story".

Zayne is saying that he'll be by her side in the snow, he is promising her eternity in the snow and with the halo above his head, it is clear that he kinda looks like MC's Guardian Angel, the one who is always going against his duty to ensure her safety, the one who pursued a medical career in order to take care of her heart disease, the one who is always on the lookout for her health and tho stric, still indulges her a lot. Aren't angels emissaries as well?

But you know, in order to become an angel, you first have to die? Doctor Zayne didn't have to die in order to fullfil his role as a doctor, however this one is simply Zayne. Emissaries never stay, they always have to return to the ppl who sent them. Will Zayne return to snow?

What was Zayne's reply to MC's post again?

At the end, all of this are nothing more than supositions that of course, it'd be very happy to get wrong. I wouldn't mind ending up looking like a clown if these theories are wrong and we get to spend a lot of time and precious memories with Zayne. I genuinely just want to see him being happy after all these years of respressed emotions.

[arsonlookers]

Unrequited?

Aventurine x Drunk jealous Fem! reader

warnings: supposed unrequited, alcohol intake, angst to comfort, jealous reader, drunk reader, a lot of kissing, teasing, no beta we die like Folcalor

Aventurine had invited you to join him at the local bar, dressed in his usual attire designed to captivate attention. Little did he know that your reluctance to help stemmed from your own hidden desire, secretly wishing it was you that he sought.

"come on," Aventurine whined, his voice laced with a playful tone that you knew all too well. "Can't you lend a hand to your dear friend in need? All I'm asking is for a small favor. Just ask her for her number, that's all!"

"no" You said looking at him clearly pissed off

"Come ooonnn! I only ask you for this sort of thing a couple times. Just step up and take control already! It's not difficult, I swear. All you have to do is ask her, and bam, we've got her number. What's so hard about that?"

"a Lot" you mumble under your breath but he does not heard about that so you rolled your eyes and say

"….why do you need her number anyways"

"Why do I need her number?" Aventurine says in a mock-offended voice, and you notice the faintest hint of a smirk on his face. "Well, let's just say that I'm interested in her. I'm planning on asking her out, if that's not too much to ask."

As you heard this you just kept your silence and stared at him inside clearly heartbroken by what he previously said

"I'm just going to go walk over to her and see if I can't get her number… and you just watch," Aventurine says in a self-assured tone. "And when I succeed, you'll see me as a total stud." he says with smug in it

You sigh and says " if you lose then You will grant me one wish"

inside your heart, you wished for his loss any Gods above, you are already begging to let you win against him once...Just once...

Aventurine pauses, considering what you have just said. He then chuckles and says, "I like it. Deal! But just remember… I'm going to win this. Just watch me." he says with pride in his voice so sure that he will win this bet

"…. wish you not" you mumble under your breath

Aventurine laughs and then exclaims, "So you concede defeat already, eh? No, no… not this time. I'm going over there to win her over!"

Aventurine then strides confidently toward the girl you've both been talking about.

And you did nothing but sit on the stool and couldn't do a thing to stop him as he walked far away from you and approached another woman to entertain himself with.

You stand up and go to your own private room which the two of you shared.

all you can do is sit down and drink to your heart's content only with the feeling of bitterness, jealousy, and heartache swirling inside your chest. evident to your face as how much pain you are feeling right now so to distract yourself you drink, Drink, DRINK, DRink one after the other feeling tipsy from the alcohol but you don't care you just want to forget these feelings you harbor for the blonde and how much pain he has caused inside your heart just by asking other woman's number

After a few minutes, Aventurine returns and enters the private room with a grin on his face. He says, "Well, I certainly didn't make it easy for myself, but she finally gave me her number. Now I can finally call her whenever I want."

he was stunned by the side once he arrived in front of you. You have already drunk 4 bottles of Rum displayed by your table and a half-empty one occupying your left hand.

Seeing you drowned in alcohol, Aventurine's playful mood immediately changes to one of genuine concern. He walks over to you gently takes the drink from your hand, and with concern in his voice, asks, "… are you alright?"

Aventurine says as he takes a seat next to you.

"none of your concern but heyy~ you won haha" You look at the side, with a tone of mocking him in the last words. trying to hide the pain of heartbreak by just listening to him ramble about another woman.

"Yeah, I definitely won," Aventurine says with a smirk, ignoring the mocking tone. "But, come on, are you really alright? You've been drinking a lot. I'm just asking out of concern."

"yeah yeah haha" drunk slurs in every word leaves in your mouth not even caring about what he is saying

he looks at you intently and decided

"Alright, that's enough." Aventurine takes the drink from your hand, placing it off to the side. "You've had enough drinks for the night. You're practically drunk and not even making sense. Just listen to me and stop drinking so much, alright?"

"heyyyyy!! thats mine!!" You tried to get the drink out of his hand "Don't take it away!! Thatss Mine!!!"

he pushes you away with his right hand to distance you away from his physique and the bottle in his left hand.

"I'm taking it away because you have had too much to drink," Aventurine says firmly. "Just… please listen to me and stop drinking so much. You've already had a lot, and I'm getting concerned about your health…"

"health? hahaha better of dead hahaha~ so give me that !! AND LET ME FORGET!!!" You sound desperate you want to forget about this pain and the idea of him being taken away at least you want to express yourself once for him but here you are being taken away from your pleasure, the medicine/cure of your sad heart.

"Not gonna happen. You need to sober up, no more drinks for you," Aventurine says, his voice now taking on a tone of authority. He quickly moves the drink even further away from your reach and shakes his head in disappointment. "Come on… you're being really stubborn. Drinking is never the answer to your problems…"

You glared at him with hatred

You stubbornly reached out for the drink not even listening to all his banter as you tried to reach out you slipped and made both of you fall to the ground making the bottle shatter into pieces and the drink spill all over, but the most concerning part is that you were sitting in a position straddling his stomach as he falls in his back fall flat under you.

Aventurine notices the blood slowly trickling down alongside your cheek, and his heart skips a beat in concern. He quickly grabs his handkerchief to wipe away the blood, and asks quietly, "… are you alright? The glass cut your face, didn't it? You're bleeding…"

"stop being concerned" Hiccup* you said apathetically trying so hard not to fall for him harder than you already have, all you can see right now is a pretty boy concerned for your wellbeing under your body being pressed by your thighs.

"I can't help it, though," Aventurine says, a look of worry and concern still on his face as he attempts to clean away more of the blood with a napkin. "I care for you, you know? I can't just let you get cut by some broken pieces of glass. That's dangerous…"

"no you…dont" HIccup* "you…dont care at alllll" Your drunkly accurate self already breaking persona and ready to express everything and anything now. too drunk to think twice about what you are about to say next. not after seeing him under you of course~

"Don't say that…" Aventurine says, his tone becoming more serious as he attempts to wipe away the blood with the napkin, which is doing little to clean up the wound. "I do care… even when you're like this, I care. It hurts me to see you hurt yourself like this…"

"stop" you said not believing one word coming from his mouth

he looks at you straight in the eyes

"But it's true, I do care…" Aventurine says, his voice growing softer in tone as he finishes wiping away the remaining blood from your face, and then he reaches up to feel the cut on your cheek.

you mumble your words of concern, your pain, your sorrow but he doesn't understand one bit of your rambling without even noticing that you are just talking to yourself.

"You make no sense at all," Aventurine sighs as he places his hand on the top of your head, running his fingers through your hair.

"Can't be me? hiccup*" This time he can hear you and understand you fine

he looks at you confused by what you want to say to him. intently and patiently listening to you.

"hiccup* is that all am I? Hiccup*" As you keep talking with your words, it keeps getting cut off by you, so he ends up not understanding what you wanted to mean.

tears fall from your eyes as all feelings are just all around the place wanting to get out the burden you have been feeling all this time the feelings you always wanted to express since the day he started to just randomly ask other girls numbers in your face " Hiccup* why can't I hiccup* be her? or other Hiccup* not Hiccup* your Hiccup* type?"

Aventurine becomes silent and is taken aback by your tearful and emotional response. The last thing he ever expected to happen was for you to start crying that hard. He quickly looks up at you in surprise, and he says quietly,  ".. are you really feeling that way? Are you... jealous?"

"mmmmnoot jelouuuushh" You tried to denied with your slurs and drunkness

"You sound jealous…" Aventurine says, his voice becoming softer in tone once again as he reaches up to run his fingers through your hair. "You sound like you really wish you could be her… that you wish you were in her position… that it was you who caught my attention… not her…"

"huhhhhhhh??? nooooot jeloushhhh" this time you reallyy tried hard to deny his words "No! Imm Notsss"

"Why not just admit it? You really are jealous aren't you?" Aventurine says with a slight chuckle, his tone now taking on a teasing and playful note. "That's not such a bad thing, you know? I mean, you could have feelings for me… maybe even…"

you look at him actually pouting in his words "anddd wh Hiccup* what if I hiccup* am"

"Well, if you are in fact jealous… then that can only mean one thing, right?" Aventurine asks with a teasing and playful tone as he leans forward, his face just a few inches away from yours. "You like me… don't you?"

"bassshhhtarrrd" was all you can come up with as panics sets inside your drunken brain because of how close he is with you

"Come on, you can't fool me. I can see it in your eyes. What were all those tears about, anyway? Were you really that sad that you couldn't be close to me? That you weren't the person that I was flirting with?" he said with a tone of As a matter Of Fact

"sooooo whattthhh hmmm???" you glared at him drunkenly and pushes you pointy finger into his chest

"Oh, so you do like me?" Aventurine says with a smug and teasing grin. "I knew it… so then… does that mean you actually want me to pick you over her? Do you really want to be the one I give my attention to?"

"you wonnnttt do that anywayyyy" you mumble with slurs but he still understands your uncoherent words [a miracle if you tell me]

"And why is that?" Aventurine asks with a smirk, his tone becoming more teasing and playful. "You think I would choose some random woman over someone as special as you?"

"didnt youu justtt doo thattt that" you pouts

"Huh, fair point, but that was different…" Aventurine says with a sly smile on his face, leaning in even closer to you now. "See… you and I are more… well, let's just say we have known each other far longer than I have known her. And you're more fun to be around. I actually want to get to know you more, you know? I want to be with you, not her…"

Looks at him not believing his words at one bit, kind of a glare half a stare

"Okayyy, fine. Fine, fine, fine. Yeah, I flirted with her first and got her phone number. But that's not important. What's important is that she's not you. Don't you see what I'm saying?"

Aventurine smiles and leans in a few inches more, his soft breath tickling your cheek.

You push him back by the palm of your hands away from your face

"meannniii you triedd to make me asked her numberrrrss!! " You said incoherently too drunk to care for grammar and how you sound since this time you are starting to become desperate to let your feelings out

He looks at you puts his hands on yours the one you put in his face and holds them tight

"Well, there's a reason for that…" Aventurine replies with a smug grin, his eyes twinkling playfully. "You see, I was trying to get you to talk to her and get her number. But that was to see how you would react. I… I did it to get a reaction from you, you know? Did you really think someone as smart as me would really have you ask for her number? I knew you would get jealous… and that I could finally get that admission of affection from you…"

"You're mean!!!! " You shouted a little and pouted at him

He looks at you thinking you are really acting adorable right now

"bllehhhh" you stick out your tongue and said "dont like you"

"Oh, is that so? Because I could swear you were just drunkenly confessing your feelings to me earlier," Aventurine says with a knowing smirk, placing his hand on the side of your cheek. "Tell me… what would I have to do to have you admit that you like me? Would I need to… kiss you?"

"A kiss from you!!! is not enough!!" but you can feel your face heating up not from the alcohol but from the thought that he suggest kissing you to make you forgive him ... To Kiss You... */////* you feel like dying right now.

"Really?" He sounds teasing and he finds your blushing Soooo cute he just wants to bite you! or more~

"My kiss is not enough?" He repeated what you said to clarify with a knowing smirk on his face

You nod blushingly not wanting to look at him at all

He puts his hand on your cheeks to make you look at him hazily

"So You want more~ than a kiss from me?" This time he is clear about his intentions he looks at you longingly wanting answers and wants to hear you say it ' I WANT YOU'

waiting patiently for you, On the other hand, you are just processing what he just said you don't know what type of answer he wants but you blatantly said what first comes to your mind

"I-" Before you can even say a word he grabs your wrist pulls you in for a kiss and puts his hand on the back of your head so that you wont be breaking the kiss soon.

he deepened the kiss by licking and biting your bottom lips asking for an entrance as he keeps his gaze with yours.

inside, you already feel sober enough to know what's going on, you can feel yourself starting to want and desire more, feeling flustered and lost in belief on everything, you parted your lips for him to enter and enjoy you.

As you parted your lips he didn't waste more time and deepened the kiss more, swirling his tongue with yours and exploring your mouth.

Feeling breathless and flustered you wrapped your arms around his neck and also deepened the kiss like he did, you pulled him in closer. Your hands tangle with his hair and also wrap and twirl his hair on your fingers, at the same time tugging on it.

"mmm~" hearing your moans Aventurine feels more motivated to make you feel and hear from you. Any melody that comes out from you that he caused, he loves to hear and feel it.

He breaks the kiss a while later but never loosens his grip on the back of your head, as his other hand starts to wander around your hips and back.

his touches makes you shivers and shudder which he notices and smirked on, his eyes never leaving your flustered face.

"so beautiful," he says breathlessly

You stared unto his, magenta and cyan eyes with black-slitted pupils.

And he stared back, not breaking contact, and admired your eyes like it's the most beautiful color he has ever seen.

"what? did you fall for me a second time, darling?" he smirked and had this teasing tone in his voice as he chuckles.

You stared at him, and your eyes scanned his face, realizing how sweat fell by the side of his face, how his hair stuck to his forehead because of the sweat, how ragged and uneven his breaths were, and how he kept looking at you with that smirk. how beautiful he is right in front of you right now.

"yes" you said quietly admitting how you could feel your heartbeat fasten and how attractive he looked right now.

After a while of staring you rested your head on his shoulder hiding how red your face was.

he chuckles and also nuzzles his face on your shoulder "you're so adorable right now, darling" he mumbles

Aventurine can hear his own heartbeat and how he feels so hot against you, he loves you too much... he was just teasing you and wanted you to confess first but right now he can't wait anymore. You are making this hard for him, to act nonchalant and unbothered.

he sighed and pulled you off, now staring at you he kissed your cheek and licked your injury a while ago.

By this action, you can feel your heartbeats take pace. after he pulled that off You touched your reddened cheeks and said flustered "Why? why so sudden?"

he chuckles "Hahahahaha, you are so cute right now, darling" He has this genuine smile you have never seen over the years the two of you are together as partners.

this widens your eyes and makes you flustered more.

"Please, stop teasing me" you hide your face with your hands trying to shy away

he touches your hands and wrist just to pulled it off and pulled you in for another unexpected kiss this time gentle and soft.

you close your eyes and feels his lips against yours, after the gentle kiss breaks you look him in the eye and confessed

"I love you, aventurine" This time feeling super sober

he chuckles back with the gentle smile you have never seen before, he touches your face and puts his forehead against yours.

He looked you in the eye and said "I know silly..."

He closes his eyes and breathes deeply, he opens his eyes again and this time pulled you for another kiss gently.

Feeling your lips against his, your soft lips against his. He will treasure this moment, forever.

He breaks the kiss and looks you in the eye.

"I love you too, silly partner" he chuckles as his eyes shines the brightest that night

You can feel his heartbeat in sync with yours, maybe it's the alcohol, maybe it's the lights playing tricks on you, or maybe... no....this is genuine, you wish this is not a dream.

So you did the most reasonable thing you can think right now.

You kiss him, pulling him in more, feeling him more as your hands venture everywhere on him, from his head to his face and down to his neck and shoulder.

And so does he, He pulled and didn't resist your touch and lets you take actions as he sees fit.

his hands travels on you, from twirling your hair to touching your body and starts to get down to your waist and hips down to your thigh.

The kiss became heated and heated ragged breaths and unstable touching all over each other's body.

As the two of you continued being intoxicated with each other's touch, the night was young for the two of you.

It seems like no one will be disrupting your passionate night anytime soon, all who would dare enter the room and disturb you two will surely be punished.

And so does tomorrow and other days to come.

After a very so passionate night with Aventurine- I mean Kakavasha, he actually told you his real name, so that It would be the name you would be screaming all night long and so would other nights to come.

"You're all mine tonight and forever, darling~...I love you..." He said as he gave you his and your release that night~.

©2024arsonlookers: do not steal, translate, repost my fics and do not recommend my fics onto any other site. [reminders, please try to prevent any accident or drinking too much alcohol, I don't recommend or encourage anyone drinking alcohol may you be in young age or older, try to prevent it as much as possible]

[whateveriwant]

Hey! I love your writing so much, and I was wondering if you could do 141 HCs with an albino GN!reader? Or a reader with tics but not tourettes? Either or!! Have a lovely day!

I'm sorry it took me a little while to get to this, anon! I went with the second option!

Ghost

Can you say 'twinsies'? Because Ghost definitely can 👯‍♀️

I can totally see Ghost having tics of his own – motor ones specifically, mostly confined to his face, but you wouldn't know it because they're always hidden by his masks

Thus, when he first notices you ticking, he immediately clocks it for what it is and he (almost giddily) thinks to himself 'Finally! Someone who gets me'

Because of this, he quickly becomes your second shadow, following you around everywhere like a little big puppy

Naturally, he'll get incredibly protective over you, especially when it comes to people who stare or make comments under their breath or even outright approach you and ask something rude regarding your tics

If he catches anyone doing anything of the sort, then he goes into scary dog mode real quick: arms crossed over his chest, head cocked to the side, an intimidating silence as he glares with a gaze so menacing it could melt steel

Price

With a man as sharp and attentive as Price, much like Ghost, he takes instant notice of your tics

And as protective as Price is, he'd probably get fairly concerned about you to the point where he even pulls you aside one day to have a little chat

He knows that… tics, he thinks they're called, aren't necessarily indicative of anything health-wise, but he just wants to make sure that you're okay; that there isn't anything he can do for you

Even after assuring him that you're perfectly fine and healthy and good, that doesn't stop him from looking out for you like you're his own flesh and blood

Similar to Ghost, if he sees anyone staring or making snide comments about you, then he's definitely going to step in and shut that down

However, rather than giving them an I'll tear your spine out through your throat look à la Ghost, he'll mutter something in their ear – the specifics of which you're unsure, but it always has them making a swift, shaky-legged departure

Gaz

While he too notices your tics, Gaz would never ever mention them out of respect for you and your privacy

He would wait for you to be the one to bring it up, should you ever choose to, that is. And if you never do, well, that's a-ok to him. Whatever you're willing to divulge, he'll be there waiting without pressure or judgment

However, if you were to talk to him about it (and thus invite a conversation) then prepare yourself for a barrage of questions

He doesn't ask them meaning to be offensive or intrusive or whatever; he's simply curious. He just wants to get to know you well, and that means knowing what makes you uniquely you

Unlike the other 141 men, if he notices someone bothering you about your tics, he's not going to directly (more like aggressively) confront them over it

Instead he'd harmlessly distract them, drawing their attention onto himself until they've completely forgotten all about their interest in bugging you

Soap

This man, bless his heart, would be totally, astoundingly oblivious of your tics even if they punched him in the face

In fact, the closer you become with him, the more he finds himself unconsciously start to mimic them

Kind of like when you like someone and so you start mirroring their movements/patterns of speech? Yeah, it's like that but with your tics

Of course, if you were to say something about it (and especially if you said it made you uncomfortable), he'd immediately apologize, explain how he wasn't even aware he was doing it, and make sure he never does it again

Like with Ghost and Price, if Soap noticed someone being rude towards you, he'd go into guard dog mode, but he is the most feral by far

He'd be all up in their face, furious, practically foaming at the mouth as he yells to "Mind yer own fuckin' business while you've still got workin' legs to mind with!" … only to turn to you afterwards all sunshine and rainbows like he didn't just tear that person a new one 😇

[uriekukistan]

In Defense of Shoko in 261

to be so honest, i’m really doing my best not to come off angry while talking about this. but to me this conversation is not just about shoko, but about the way women are treated in media, and especially in shounen manga in general.

people are upset about the way shoko reacted, or rather didn’t react, to yuuta’s plan because it seemed too unemotional and uncaring. if she had shown emotion or protested, people would still be upset because she would be seen as unable to do the necessary thing in a time of crisis due to her feminine emotions or whatever.

this is the dilemma of not just female characters, but real life women. there’s never a right reaction.

additionally i feel that some of the things being said about her are expecting her to only exist as support for gojo, and not as her own character, which i see way too often with female characters in shounen manga.

in any case, i stand by my cancelled wife, and here’s my defense of her. spoilers below the cut.

Since when has Shoko ever been outwardly emotional like that?

if shoko is upset about yuuta using gojo’s body as a weapon, there is just no way she would outwardly object or show any signs that she’s upset. that’s not who she is and she’s shown that. there have been several times where she’s not displayed the emotion one would expect from her, so why would that change now?

when shoko sees geto, one of her closest friends, if not her closest, for the first time after finding out that he massacred an entire village, you would expect her to be feeling a slew of emotions. maybe confusion, maybe anger, maybe hurt, maybe betrayal. maybe even concern for her friend.

but shoko acts like it’s no big deal at all. she’s just seeing her close friend on a regular day. because she’s not the type to get outwardly emotional. whatever she’s feeling right now is kept somewhere else entirely, far away from the surface.

additionally, in the scene where everyone got frustrated that gojo didn’t react about nanami, we have this from shoko.

talking about geto. not reacting. guys shoko is just not a reactive person like that, and that’s totally fine. a lot of people are like this (including myself but thats not the point)

but that doesn’t mean the emotions don’t exist, or that shoko has no way of reacting or coping or showing that she’s going through anything at all. one way is through smoking.

smoking is something shoko picks up again before the shibuya incident, when the entire jujutsu world is growing more stressed with the increased presence of special grades, particularly the disaster curses, the incident at the goodwill event…and at shibuya, the situation was very high stress, yet she keeps a cool demeanour. the only sign that she’s upset at all is that every time she’s shown, she’s smoking.

the only times we’ve seen shoko’s feelings, it’s been completely internal. the most notable being this scene:

this is the most emotional we’ve ever seen shoko, and if you’ll notice, she’s completely alone.

shoko keeps her feelings well hidden from everyone, so it’d be completely against her character to outwardly show if she was upset by yuuta’s plan.

Since when has Shoko shied away from questionable medical/jujutsu practices?

shoko was eager to dissect yuuji after he “died” like it was some sort of science project and not a human being…please note im saying this as a completely neutral statement, this is not to say whether shoko is a good or bad person, just that she is and how she is.

sure, it’s a bit questionable that she’s looking at a dead teenager on her table and wondering what information she can get out of him, but at the same time, there could be useful information in yuuji’s biology that shows what makes him a successful vessel, at least as far as shoko is aware. useful knowledge that could be used to find another suitable vessel to continue killing sukuna’s power, one finger at a time.

she even says to gojo “who do you think i am?” when he tells her to make her examination of yuuji worth it, implying that this is a trait that those around her are aware of.

she’s practical and methodical, logically thinking rather than emotionally thinking, but most importantly, she’s not the type to display her feelings.

she’s exactly the type to understand the reasoning behind yuuta’s plan and accept it as a logical last ditch effort, and she’s also the type to store her true feelings about it away to process over a cigarette (or several) at a more convenient time. asking her to do anything else would be asking her to change as a character.

i hope this doesn’t come across as me being unsympathetic to gojo’s dehumanization and being turned into a weapon, i think it’s upsetting for sure (but i respect the narrative choice, i think it’s an interesting way to bring out themes). mostly, i think that shoko, both by the narrative and by the fandom, is only perceived in geto & gojo’s shadow, and i wanted to draw attention to her as a person.

i’m sick of reading the “shoko’s a cold-hearted traitor” comments on different platforms bc i think it’s not true, and i think asking her to act differently removes her autonomy as a character and forces her to be nothing but a supporting role to gojo, rather than her own character.

hopefully this makes some sense dkskld

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

https://www.tumblr.com/attackfish/155865674048?source=share

Thoughts on this pist? The three pillar theory of Azula?

I think it's a shame that it started out as a genuinely good analysis that wasn't neglecting either Azula's "evil" side nor her "good/innocent" side, and was quickly derrailed into nonsense that either lies about or grossly misremembers canon events.

Here are the five mistakes that ruined this analysis (and plenty of others).

1 - Unwillingness to accept that, while Azula is wrong about Ozai, she is 100% right about Ursa

Ozai was an abusive parent towards both of children. Ursa was a better parent - this does not mean she was perfect.

We see her spending time one-on-one with Zuko, and sometimes including Azula in it, and looking happy when her children are seemingly getting along. So far, so good.

But she doesn't spend one-on-one time with Azula, Bryke describe Zuko as Ursa's FAVORITE, and Zuko himself does not defend his mother when Azula says she loved him more. Not so good.

When Zuko throws bread at the turtleducks and hurts one, Ursa is horrified, but only reprimands him a little before hugging him and playfully explaining to him why what he did was bad. Through the rest of the episode, we constantly see her either telling Azula to not speak the way she does or scolding her harshily - without ever explaining the reason why. Zuko, the year-old, is the only person that bothers to explain things to Azula (like Iroh coming home early because he's grieving and how that's not weakness) and question her in an attempt to force her to put herself in someone else's shoes (asking how she'd feel if their cousin wanted their dad to die).

Ursa's 10-year-old son, even when in a fit of rage, did a better job than her at parenting her 8-year-old daughter.

And, finally, this person mentions the comics as "proof" of Azula just "not understanding" that her mom totally was treating her and Zuko the same, unlike their dad.

In the comics, Ursa ignores her daughter, even she's in the room. She wakes Zuko up to say goodbye when she's banished, so he'll know he was loved, but doesn't do the same to Azula, meaning their last interaction was a fight. She then willingly forgets her own children, and then she has her memories back she rarely ever bothers to mention that Azula, who is in the middle of a psychotic episode, is missing. There's no concern for her well-being, only "Oh, I wonder how my OTHER daughter is doing." Can't even say her fucking name.

Ursa played favorites and it damaged her daughter. The mirror scene is quitely literally Azula desperately wanting Ursa to treat her like she used to treat Zuko - explaining what she did wrong, how she can be better, and assuring her that she is loved. The only time Azula is treated fairly by her mother was literally a hallucination.

2 - Bizarre need to make every mundane thing Azula does be connected to/a result of some pathological condition

Azula is a manipulative person, no one in their right mind can deny that - but I gotta laugh when people act like her giving her mom puppy-dog eyes and repeating the line Ursa probably used to make her kids play together is on the same level of her manipulating Long Feng, or that her playing a prank on Zuko and Mai is no different from messing with his head in "Avatar State."

Just because she is villain, doesn't mean everything she does has an evil, hidden motive. We first hear "Azula always lies" when she tells Zuko THE TRUTH about their dad going to murder him.

No one believes someone who is NEVER honest. No one gets attached to someone that is NEVER kind. Not dick move is a result of someone's greatest flaws. A child telling a white lie is not the same as some crazy scheme to manipulate someone.

3 - Not understanding that unhealthy/selfish love is not the same as FAKE love

I don't think I've ever been more mad at a line in an analysis about Azula (which is saying a lot) than I was when I read this person claim that Azula didn't genuinely love Mai and Ty Lee and justified with the absurd sentence "People don’t fall apart the way Azula did because somebody they love leaves them."

Yes, they do. When you have a ton of problems, be it psychological ones or life-problems, having the people you care about turn away from you can absolutely make you spiral out of control. You don't even need some kind of unhealthy, excessive dependence on them for that to be the case. Losing people is very painful, and during low points a great deal of pain can fuck you up.

Azula's dynamic with them is not healthy, but that doesn't mean her love isn't real. And I don't mean it in a "It's real FOR HER", no, it's just 100% real, plain and simple.

If Azula didn't care about them, she would have never done things like not punish Mai for blatanly disregarding her orders in The Drill, or apologize after making Ty Lee cry, admit she was JEALOUS, and then ask advice. She'd sure as hell not have conversation with her "mom" (herself) about how she hurt them and abused their friendship/her authority over them.

She loves her friends, but she was never taught how to have a normal, equal relationship with anyone. She was raised to see things as a matter of who is in charge and who is subordinate. She is the princess, therefore it's her right to put her wants and needs before that of her friends. She even says to "Ursa" that she doesn't have the option to NOT act like that, because "fear is the only reliable way."

That is a key factor of Azula's tragedy, because her relationship with Ozai is the center of her universe, it is the basis of all other relationships in her life - and it is rooted in her never doing anything to displease him because she's terrified not only of the potential punishment, but of also losing that bond. So she uses fears to keep others close to her, not realizing that if she didn't do that they wouldn't WANT to cut ties with her.

(Also, fuck me, I nearly punched my computer when I read "Ty Lee ran away with the circus to be free of Azula." She literally tells us it was about her bad relationship with HER PARENTS AND HER SISTERS. It had nothing to do with Azula - what is it with people and this obsessive need of blaming my girl for things we KNOW weren't her fault?)

4 - Not understanding that Zuko is more than just Azula's rival/the exemple of what happens when you displease Ozai

Azula loves her brother. According to the lead writer of the show, Zuko is the person Azula loves the most (after Ozai, hence all the tension in their relationship).

Azula didn't know Aang had any chance of survival until Zuko let it slip - when they were ALREADY home, meaning the plan to blame him for everything if Aang survived could not possibly exist yet.

In the following episode, she warns him to be careful when visiting Iroh, otherwise people could think they were plotting together. Zuko asks what she's gaining by letting him know, and she says she's just looking out for him - and it never comes back, because she was not lying. She WAS taking care of him.

The Last Agni Kai hits so hard because they COULD have had a good relationship if things were different. If Ozai and Ursa hadn't played favorites. If Ozai wasn't abusive. If Zuko hadn't left after Azula brought him home, or if Azula had understood WHY he left.

Even in "The Spirit Temple", one of the few comics that are actually good, Azula says she wished their mom had let Ozai kill Zuko... yet we see that her ideal, happy life includes her loving, unscarred brother that is super proud of her. She spends the entire comic saying Zuko is weak and a coward who can't face her, yet when she sees "him" (an hallucination) directly confroting her about her own mistakes and the pain she caused, demanding her to apologize, it is Azula herself who runs away to hide from him.

Azula hurt her brother many times, and she knows that - and she is in denial about the guilt she feels over it because feeling guilt over hurting someone who is "lesser" is a weakness and an imperfection, and she needs to be strong and perfect all the time.

If you disregard her conflicting feelings on her brother, you disregard half her character.

5 - Forgetting that Azula is a child soldier under Ozai's orders

This is THE big one, guys. It's astounding how people just forget that Ozai isn't just Azula's abusive parent, he is the absolute monarch that can legally punish her if she displeases him.

Does she repeatedly fight Zuko because of their rivalry? Sure. But half the time she's doing it because Ozai literally gave her the mission to do so.

Does she threaten Ty Lee at the circus because she doesn't like being told "no"? Yes... but also because Ty Lee would be a valluable team member, and she needs a small elite team to properly do the task Ozai gave her.

Even the Last Agni Kai happens in the context of "Ozai just told Azula that he's trusting her to protect defend their throne."

There's a reason why, at "The Beach", she can handle pretending to be regular girl instead of a princess, but is CONSTANTLY on "battle mode", trying to turn a game into a war, praising a guy's outfit by sayind it'd make thousands drown at sea with how sharp it is, and why her flirting game consists of "We'll take over the world together!"

She grew up seeing violence be normalized and glorified every second of the day, to the point that things don't even register to her as being violent at all anymore.

Of course she's toxic and full on hostile in her relationships, no matter how much she cares about the person in question: All she's ever known is war, and Ozai deliberately blurs the lines to make his abuse of her and Zuko seem normal.

You can't disregard "Ozai will punish me if I don't do this" as a factor when talking about Azula.

[maxwell-grant]

The Penguin Ep3 - "Bliss" Breakdown

oh

(Episode 1) (Episode 2) (Episode 4) (Episode 5) (Episode 6) (Episode 7) (Episode 8)

So that's what Victor's image in the credits was meant to represent the whole time. A still of him inside the last memory he has of his home, his perspective on the window before it all went to shit.

I get that it might have been obvious the opening was a flashback given the election was still ongoing and given we get to see Vic's friend, the one who was shot by Sofia, still alive, but they also peppered enough bits that hade me fully convinced we were just watching Victor's present life when he was out of earshot from Oz. The bombs were a genuine shocker.

Credit to @davidmann95 for pointing out that the rooftop pebbles are Victor's equivalent of the Crime Alley pearls, an extremely important detail to add to the other Batman parallels Victor's gonna be shown having in this episode.

I'm loving a lot of the choices that go into Oz's outfits and specifically what kind of outfits he wears around specific characters, the whole chameleon thing he's got going personality-wise reflective in his choice of wear, and I like how this extends to the people around him and his choice of vehicle and base and everything. He may not wear fine suits everywhere and for all occasions, but this is very much a Penguin concerned about fashion particularities and branding and ways to dress up himself and the people acting in his behalf.

This scene where Oz pays Victor is funny, but it importantly sets up an element that's gonna come into play regarding their relationship by the end of the episode, that is how hard Oz projects on Victor and how much of his insecurity and need for affection comes through in his attempts to deal with the kid. Two episodes in after all the shit Victor's done for Oz and it's the first time we're seeing Oz talk about giving him a salary. It's not an unusual comedy beat, sadly not a real life one either, but the thing is, Oz is not a cheapskate, far from it. Across the last two episodes, he's been very quick to fork over cash to smooth over negotiations, and he's more than happy to pay the kid and praise him for demanding double (even if he shuts down the idea), it just genuinely never occurred to him until the moment that, right, the kid whose job is driving me around and burying bodies and putting his neck on the line for me needs a paycheck, of course, he's gonna get a nice thousand per week because I'm a good boss who does that kind of thing.

Nice little reminder of the class disparity element of the show, in how Sofia looks at Oz's set-up and dismisses as tacky garbage, while Graciela calls it bougie and thinks Victor's basically set if his boss is letting him crash in a place like that. Also illustrated in the money scene earlier, because from what I've researched, a thousand per week is an average salary for a driver in New Jersey (which is where this Gotham is located), and despite Oz calling it a start, Victor's already shocked at how much money Oz is paying per week. Just these totally different conceptions of what money and good living entail across the board for our characters. SPEAKING OF totally different standards,

So it turns out that Sofia has been planning her own meteoric ascension into ruler of Gotham for about as long as Oz, and more effectively at that, and if there's anything this episode will establish for sure about her, it's that Sofia Falcone is an actual supervillain the way Oz is still some ways from being. Alberto's shipment wasn't the ticket for the two of them, just for Oz, and Sofia just needed him to drive her around and open the door once more.

Oz the whole time basically happy with running a club and pushing dope out of a warehouse to the point of crying to her in the end that it was the best thing that ever happened to him, while Sofia here casually unveils a Gus Fring hidden meth lab with a mushroom forest full of Arkham Super Drugs and another Batman Villain working out in the backroom to produce them. Oz spent the last years ass kissing and spinning plates and seizing his own little levers of power all over Gotham, while Sofia was enduring soul-redefining torment entrenched inside the Supervillain Factory of the world where she would discover and pillage the tool that would let her conquer the city in one swoop.

A tool that she debuts before the underworld with an intimidating yet casual speech, above the city writhing before her and falling by the minute into her grasp, before casually leaving and telling her grunt to wrap up negotiations for her. The Riddler showed Gotham what a supervillain is and can do, a call to the maladjusted victims and freaks everywhere to grab their masks and bombs and get in the action because this is how the world works now that Batman exists, but Sofia here shows us not just a different way the rot spreads across the city, not just a way in which Arkham can become the other force filling in the power vacuum, but that being a supervillain is also a business model every respectable criminal in the city is gonna have to get on board with real fucking quick.

I love/hate that we get to have a few scenes of Sofia and Oz working together and how good they are, glad they could at least give us those before everything gets turbofucked forever further.

I definitely encourage you to keep up with the Penguin podcast, and particularly the latest episode where they talk with Rhenzy Feliz and fluency consultant Marc Winski, where they go over the thought and care that went into depicting Victor's stutter and incorporating it into the character and show, it's a very insightful conversation.

Oz's empathy for people with disabilities shows up in him complaining at the waiter for speaking over Victor, and later in their scene with Johnny Viti when he berates him for calling her a psycho, and is consistent with lots of other little moments where it's come up. I like that this is a consistent thing with Oz, and not just one of the things he does for show - even when he's complaining about Sofia to Victor, he never disparages her based on mental illness, he calls her uptight and elusive and a problem he wants off his back, but he never insults her the way all the other mobsters do.

Even in the bathroom scene by the end of the episode, where he does lose his patience and rushes Victor to explain himself, only happens after they've reached a boiling point. I do think it's important, for his character and role, that Oz maintains some important principles, even if they are still self-serving.

Again, love how the show knows just when to drop the Penguin name to maximize hurt on Oz.

What a fucking show Farrell and Miloti and Feliz give us in this episode.

I said back when the trailers dropped that Sofia Falcone looked like she was going to be the prestige crime drama protagonist that this show would have if it wasn't about The Penguin, and that's the vibe you get out of these two together. She is the tormented HBO leading lady and he is the charismatic side character, he is her driver with a wacky voice and face that bites it tragically to motivate her revenge / bites it after the reveal of how he backstabbed her. Which is exactly where the Falcones liked him, that funny guy in a supporting role who drives them around and runs their club and digs up their graves, and it's partially how their last scene in the episode plays out.

"Yeah I know I ruined your entire life and led to irreparable damage to your mind and sanity and reputation and all that, but I really wanted a little piece of the action as a nightclub owner, is that so bad?" is a confession that Oz only survives because he's the main character. In any other show, him bearing the depths of his embarassing pathetic soul to Sofia like that would be the last thing he does before dying, tragically or cathartically.

But to his credit, it worked. Sofia actually sheds a tear for him. It's the first time Oz has seemed genuinely honest with her, and more importantly, it's the first time anyone has been honest with Sofia ever since she got back from Arkham. She really has no one else she can possibly trust but the least trustworthy person on the planet. Who on Earth could possibly be willing to make an ass of themselves before her like that if they weren't being truthful?

Lauren LeFranc: You know, I think Oz is a bit of a walking contradiction and I think he deeply believes what he believes in that moment. I think he genuinely feels that way. Also understands the benefit of her being on his side at the same time. Right? Like, if she doesn't believe in him, their operation currently goes to hell. Not to say that he's playing that up, I think that is a moment of genuine emotion from him. But I also think for a man like him, he's not quite sure where it begins and ends. He doesn't believe that it's bullshit. That doesn't mean that it's not. Like, I don't know if he can even identify it or if, honestly, if Oz takes the time to unpack that. He's not a guy who's like, "Hmm, let me think about my actions today.", you know? - The Penguin Podcast: Episode 3

I'm extremely curious as to what the Sofia-Oz dynamic is gonna look like in the rearview. Does he have enough of a lid on his temper to fake that masterfully being offended on Sofia's behalf while playing her attack dog? Does he genuinely regret that she got sent to Arkham over whatever he did? I think this and the ending scene go a long way in pending towards either way and that's interesting to me. Even if 90% of what he says is bullshit there's some of that regret / kinship that feels genuine

I am very curious to see what becomes of Eve and what more will we learn about her. She seems to be Oz's second-in-command when it comes to businesses he does with her and the girls, and I like that the girls and Victor form a personal squad for Oz (and crucially, he's promising all of them a bigger slice of the pie when he becomes a big shot, and just as crucially, all of them have massive targets on their back right now).

It is genuinely funny how appalled and offended Oz is, at the idea that maybe the kid he roped into this with a gun to the head only stuck around out of fear, not because the kid thinks he's a great guy giving him a chance. I call him the Michael Scott of crime and I mean it. But like most funny things about the Penguin it also has something sad and lonely and pathetic and human about it, the ever present disconnect between the gentleman he wants to be and the thug he acts like.

Like with the salary thing, it just did not cross his head at any moment prior to this, not when he threatened to kill the people he cared about or openly argued with Vic whether to shoot him and stuff him in a trunk, not when threatening to gut him like a fish for messing up or spilling his secrets or telling him to lie with corpses, that Vic was sincerely scared of him and his power and did not leave because he feared this known gangster would do exactly what he said he was going to do. To Oz, doing those things to "his guy" now would be unthinkable, but the question that Vic wanted to leave never even popped in his mind.

And it makes him genuinely upset. That scene at the bar, where he is fully alone, sad and tired with his drink, tired from all the plates he's had to spin and all the indignities he's endured and still endures, tired from all the hats he's had to wear, and sad because the only person so far he's been able to let down his guard around, the one person with whom he could at least wear a hat he liked just bailed on him.

Of course he'd never kill Vic for just wanting to leave, once he realizes that this is actually a factor in how Victor views him and obviously he'd be a bad boss if he did that. Of course he gets angry at Victor for wanting to throw away an opportunity given to him that Oz would have (and probably has) killed for, he's giving Victor the kind of help he desperately wishes he got and he's gonna throw it away? Of course he gets shocked at being reminded Victor is a guy with needs, a guy that Oz holds lethal power over, and not just a kid version of Oz that he can live out his Rex Calabrese fantasy by helping out and mentoring. And of course, none of the cruel and hurtful things he says to Victor before he leaves would sting if there wasn't just enough of a bitter truth to them, or at least, enough of it to stick with Victor.

What an excellent scene Victor's panic attack was, totally get why it was the editor's favorite

I was waiting for a Victor-centric episode and was not dissappointed, this is the episode where he first comes on his own as a character and we see how crucially important he is to the show, the from-the-bottom ground floor perspective on everything that Reeves and LeFranc have repeteadly defined the project around. I love getting to see such an on-the-ground perspective of how fucking monstrous Riddler's plan was, and the kind of lives it ruined. This poor kid thrust headfirst into a Batman/Robin origin story and situation.

It's like Feliz said in the podcast, the end of the episode is the first time we've ever seen Victor, and maybe the first time Victor's ever seen himself, outside of survival mode, outside of simply living to try and get to next hour and do what his parents/Oz tell him to, which is a painfully real state to be in for anyone who's dealt with poverty growing up or is dealing with poverty right now. It's the first time he really has an opportunity to decide on his own what he's going to do on his own. As much as we may know he's making a doomed choice, that he really should just hop on the first bus out of Gotham and join his girlfriend in the sun, well, he's a Batman character, he doesn't get to do that.

Victor wants to live his life and protect himself and the people he loves and make good choices and be a good person, but on a deep fundamental level, he just wants his family back, he wants his dad back, he wants to do right by them more so than by himself, even if that means doing things they would find detestable. Like the son of a doctor, a son who now chooses to inflict violence every night if it means he can avenge their memory, here we have the son of a nurse presented with a choice: He gets to honor the intentions of his parents by dying as a well-meaning decent nobody like they did, or he gets to make up for the shame of how they died by living a good life, one which was denied to them, by surviving and thriving as a criminal. He gets to honor their ideals, or get back at the shameful cruel reality of how they died, but he cannot do both. So he makes his choice.

Oz, in this episode, burns nearly every single bridge he has: with the Falcone family, with the Maronis, and with Sofia, and he even does it with Victor. If Victor hadn't come back, Oz would have died on that parking lot, and still Oz is ecstatic that his guy's come back, because all he wants is for someone to like him enough to stick around with him. Victor is not so sure he's not in for a horrible time now, but in his own way, he also burned his bridges, and he also got what he wanted.

Okay Vic, you wanted dad to not take shit from others and shoot for a better life, you got a dad who will teach you to do just that. You wanted to pal around with small-time criminals you were friends with even if your parents insisted otherwise, well, the king of hoodlums is the only guy you have left in your life now.

You have committed yourself body and soul to a dangerous life within the city you love, spurred on by the tragic injustice that took your parents in an event that destroyed your entire world? Great, welcome to Gotham, here's even a new name you get out of it.

[chichikoi]

hiraeth(II).

part I. synopsis: she watches as cassian falls for another (...or does he?) grappling with her own hidden affections and their newly snapped mating bond in the process. pairing: cassian x fem!reader fandom: a court of thorns and roses genre: angst warnings: alcohol mention. a/n: 1.7k words! so... theres gonna be a part 3. i thought this would be it but... apparently not! yup, part two is... still angst. yes, i have started writing part 3. yes, its going to have a fluffy ending. meddle about, because he's totally chase atlantic coded.

Cassian woke with a start, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as the realization hit him like a brick, as something tugged at him. Panic seized him, his mind reeling with the implications of what had just occurred. He stumbled out of the couch, careful not to disturb her slumber with his thoughts in turmoil, and made his way out of the House of Wind in a frantic daze.

With each step, the weight of centuries, centuries of unspoken feelings crashed down upon him, threatening to suffocate him with its intensity. He had loved her for so long, kept his feelings hidden deep within his heart, never daring to hope that she might feel the same.

–

The sparring ring buzzed with energy as she and Cassian circled each other, their movements fluid and precise. Cassian's muscles rippled as he lunged forward, his siphons blaring in the dim light, as she parried his blow effortlessly, her movements graceful yet calculated.

They danced across the training hall, their blades clashing in a deadly symphony. Cassian's attacks became more relentless, his desperation palpable, and she found herself struggling to keep up. She parried and dodged, her movements growing more frantic as she sought to break through Cassian's offensive onslaught.

Cassian found himself pushing harder, driving himself to the brink as his movements became more aggressive, more forceful, fueled by a primal instinct he couldn't control. She fought back with equal ferocity, but her struggle to keep up with him was evident. Cassian could see the strain etched on her face, the way her muscles trembled under the force of his blows. 

Seizing the opening, Cassian pressed his advantage, his attacks growing more relentless. She found herself on the defensive, her steps quickening as she struggled to keep up with the sudden onslaught. She could feel the heat of his breath on her face, the tension coiling in the space between them.

Finally, with a sudden burst of speed, She feinted to the left, then struck with lightning precision, her sword whistling through the air towards Cassian's exposed flank. “C- Cassian-'' she called out, her voice reverberating through her chest with a note of urgency. But it was Azriel's booming voice that cut through the tension like a blade. "Cassian, enough!" he called out, his tone firm and commanding. 

She gasped, her eyes widening in surprise and confusion as she found herself trapped, her sword clattering to the ground. Cassian's gaze bore into her, his breathing ragged, and for a heartbeat, She saw a flicker of something primal and raw in his expression – a fierce, almost animalistic need to – harm her? 

Cassian froze, his siphons stilling in the air, his chest heaving with exertion. He saw the concern etched on Azriel's face, the silent plea in his eyes.

Cassian’s gaze flickered to her, breathing ragged and her body trembling from the strain. He saw the fear flash in her eyes, as realization dawned on him that he had gone too far.

Tension hung heavy in the air, the silence broken only by the sound of their labored breathing. Slowly, Cassian released his grip, his hand falling limply to his side. He averted his gaze, his features etched with shame and guilt, as if he had committed some unforgivable transgression. She stood there, her heart pounding, her mind racing to make sense of what had just transpired. She had known Cassian for years, had fought by his side in countless battles, and yet she had never seen him react this way – with such raw, unbridled emotion.

Tentatively, she reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm. "Cassian?" she murmured, her voice laced with concern. "What's wrong?" Cassian flinched at her touch, his jaw tightening as he struggled to find the words. "I… I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something came over me, and I couldn't…" He trailed off, his gaze fixed on the ground, his features a mask of anguish.

Her brows furrowed, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of Cassian's uncharacteristic behavior. She had always admired his unwavering strength and composure, his ability to remain calm and centered even in the midst of the fiercest battles. To see him so unraveled, so vulnerable… Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension coiled in his muscles. "Talk to me, Cass." she urged, her voice soft and soothing. Tentative.

Without a word, he turned and left the ring, his footsteps heavy. Azriel followed close behind, his anger palpable as they made their way through the bustling streets of Velaris. The usually lively sounds of the city faded into the background, replaced by the heavy silence that hung between them. Cassian's jaw was set, his gaze fixed ahead as he wrestled with his emotions, visible in the rigid set of his shoulders.

–

The familiar warmth of the tavern buzzed in the air, as Azriel's gaze bore into Cassian.

“She's my mate,” he confessed to Azriel, his voice raw with emotion. “She's my mate.” Each word reverberated through the silence with an intensity that belied its softness. "She's my mate.” 

Azriel sat there, a small smile playing on his lips, his eyes alight with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. "It's about time." Azriel said, his voice tinged with a hint of teasing.

But before Cassian could respond, a sudden intrusion disrupted the moment. Rhysand's voice echoed through their mental shields, knocking on the barriers of their minds – quiet, inquiring. 

Perfect timing.

–

As she pushed open the tavern door, Cassian's world tilted on its axis as he felt the air shift. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her sauntering frame, couldn't ignore the pull drawing him towards her, like a moth to a flame. Her dress hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating every curve and dip of her body. It was like something out of a dream, something he never thought he'd see in real life.

He wanted to tear her clothes off right then and there, to feel her skin against his, to lose himself in her. But he knew he couldn't. Not here, not now. There were too many eyes on them, too many prying ears ready to catch even the faintest whisper of scandal.

He tried to focus on his conversation with Azriel, tried to drown out the overwhelming voice in his head that screamed her name, but it was futile. His eyes wandered back to her, drinking in every detail as if he were seeing her for the first time. He felt a surge of possessiveness wash over him, a primal need to claim her as his own. The music, the laughter, the world itself – ceased to exist until there was nothing but her. She was a vision, a goddess, even amongst immortals, and he couldn't tear his eyes away.

–

Mor's movements were like poetry in motion, each step with a confidence that was impossible to

ignore. She flashed a dazzling smile at the bartender, who nodded in acknowledgment before quickly preparing their drink.

Her thoughts wandered to Feyre and she whipped around to see her seated next to Rhysand, who were lost in each other's arms in a secluded corner of the tavern, and as if on cue, her gaze landed on Cassian. He stood at the edge of the dance floor, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her knees tremble and her heart race. There was something in his gaze – a hunger, a longing – that confused her. Mor's curiosity piqued as she followed Cassian's gaze to where it rested on her. It was a dangerous game he played, allowing himself to be drawn into her orbit, especially when the weight of his feelings threatened to overwhelm him.

Just as he was about to excuse himself, he felt a presence beside him. Turning, he saw her approaching, her eyes soft with concern. "Hey," she said, her voice gentle yet determined. "Can we talk?" 

Cassian's eyes flickered to hers, and she was struck by the raw vulnerability she saw there. For a moment, it seemed as if he were on the verge of revealing whatever it is that’s been gnawing away at him. But then, almost as quickly, the walls slammed back into place, and his expression hardened once more. "I…" he began, his voice rough with emotion. "I don't think that's a good idea." 

"Cassian," she said, her voice soft and gentle. "You know you can trust me, right? Whatever it is." Foolish, fragile heart.  

For a long moment, Cassian remained silent, his eyes fixed on the amber liquid in his glass. She could practically see the gears turning in his mind, the internal battle he was waging. Finally, he let out a shaky breath and turned to face her, his eyes burning with an intensity – fondness that took her breath away. 

That fondness looked like something that might one day call itself affection, and for all his insistence that he didn’t know how to feel the things his tender expression implies, she grapples to clip their wings. Unsuccessful, she chastises herself as she lets hope beat against the walls of her chest.

Cassian felt the walls he had so carefully constructed begin to crumble, his heart pounding in his chest as her eyes searched his, as if she could see straight into the depths of him. His gaze drifted to her lips, and he caught the subtle hitch in her breath, the same desire mirrored in her eyes. 

This is, she knows, intimate for him, and he shied away from intimacy with a degree of discipline that was almost devout.

Slowly, almost involuntarily, he raised his hand, his calloused fingertips tracing the delicate curve of her cheek. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed, and Cassian felt a jolt of electricity coursing through him. 

He was all but a lost soul, desperately trying to find his home in a path that was not the slightest bit familiar. And if he was feeling kind, he'd flutter down and bless her with a kiss: dark and violent, screaming bloody murder, and kick his way into her soul. But he was never hers in the first place, was he?

Tags: (thank you guys so much for the support! <3) @joyseuphoria @puttyly @talesofadragon @saltedcoffeescotch

[yes-i-write-fanfiction]

How would the tfa and elite guard and cons react to the sparkling beans who are tiny to be hold by human hands entirely

-On Cybertron, in autobot society, sparklings are kinda seen as something to be flaunted around. Small, defenseless and time consuming, having one is almost a status symbol, a show of how much free time and resources one has to be able to have a sparkling. Going on a walk with ones sparkling is more for ones own pride than anything.

-Meanwhile, in decepticon culture, it's kind of the opposite. Since sparklings are so frail, they are kept far away from others, not hidden but not seen by anyone other than the parents or really close and trusted friends.

-For these headcanons, the sparkling is not any of the bot's, it's just one they found.

The autobots:

-Optimus is incredibly awkward around sparklings since he's never really been around them before. At the same time he's hovering around them, having a hard time putting them down once he's holding them since he's so concerned about their safety. Every time a bird flies overhead he ends up shielding them because he worried the animal will mistake them for pray and make a dive for them.

-Now, Ratchet has some experience with sparklings, despite not being a pediatrician. As such he knows how to take care of them and he's very confident with how he handles them. Thinks it's ridiculous the way Cybertron flaunts around sparklings, they aren't decorations after all.

-Bumblebee sees the sparklings more like a novelty than actual living beings, mainly because of how they are treated and seen back on Cybertron. He tries to show off how good he is at taking care of them but quickly realizes how out of his depth he is when one starts crying. Ends up begging Ratchet for help. Tries juggling them once but got promptly reprimanded for it.

-Oh, poor Bulkhead, he is really stressed out. Those sparklings are so small and he's so very big and clumsy and he doesn't dare to get close to them out of fear that he will accidentally hurt them. Finds them absolutely adorable though and will coo at them from a distance.

-Tries to act cool and in the know but Prowl has no idea how to take care of these small things. Ends up resorting to things he's seen humans do with their young and this ends up working pretty well. Fake it till you make it and all that. But because he appears so well versed with taking care of sparklings, a lot of the baby sitting duties land on him. He feels completely at a loss at what to do.

-Ultra Magnus, while he's never had one of his own, has met many sparklings in his life, mostly the spoiled young of Cybertron's elite. That's why he doesn't really raise much of a fuss when he sees one. A good temporary caretaker though, always very careful and gentle with them.

-Yeah, Sentinel is totally out of his depth here. He acts like taking care of sparklings is super easy and that he can do it no problem but the moment the sparkling so much as whimpers he dumps it on somebody else. Will take all the credit for their care though.

-While he's seen some sparklings, actually being so close to one is a totally new experience for Jazz. He finds them super cute but is also kinda stressed out by how small they are. Very protective and will use his ninja skills to keep them out of harms way.

-Oh boy, Jetfire and Jetstorm won't stop poking and prodding at the poor thing. They've never been so close to a sparkling and they are so much smaller in real life! Kinda treats it like a pet before realizing that hey, that's an actual cybertronian, maybe we should treat it like one.

The decepticons:

-Megatron doesn't dislike sparklings but he feels no particular attachment to them either. That being said, he feels the need to place them somewhere safe, somewhere secluded. It will take a while for them to grow up but he trusts that one day they will become a fine decepticon.

-Immediately, Starscream snatches them up and puts them in his cockpit. The sparkling is vulnerable out here in the open after all. Don't want to take care of them but doesn't trust anyone else to do it right so he ends up doing it.

-Depending on the personality, Blitzwing may or may not be allowed near the sparkling. Icy is given a go since he is careful enough to properly care for something so small. Hothead is allowed to watch other the sparkling but not hold them since he's too, well, hotheaded and might do something without thinking. Random is banned from even being in the same room as the little one ever since he 'joked' about them being so cute he could just gobble them up.

-Lugnut is not allowed to hold the sparkling, no matter how longingly he looks at it. He's dreamt of having a sparkling together with Strika for a long time now and he sees this as a perfect opportunity to adopt. Please, he'll be careful, let him hold it!

-As he's worked undercover on Cybertron for some time now, Shockwave knows about the autobot customs regarding sparklings and is repulsed by it. He instinctively wants to tuck it away, put it somewhere safe and locked up but knows that he can't because he needs to keep up appearances. At least his ability to shapeshift into his smaller Longarm form is good for handling small sparklings.

-As much as she tries to pretend otherwise, Blackarachnia is completely enamored with the little one. When no one is looking, she coos at is, wiggling her fingers at it. Makes a baby sling out of web and carries them around, showing them off.

[separatist-apologist]

Burning Red

Summary: When Arina is brought with her father to Velaris, she sees an opportunity to escape the marriage she's desperate to avoid. She wants a smaller life- a simpler life.

One that doesn't involve a dragon.

For @erisweekofficial

Part Five of the Dragons Series | Read on AO3 | Wonderland | A Mythical Thing | A Fragile Little Flame | Amber Skies

-

Arina always did what was expected of her. In that way, she was a dutiful daughter to a king who had rather little interest in her. She dressed in whatever dresses were brought to her, smiled when she was supposed to and moved when she was told. And when her father said she’d be married to one of his most trusted advisors, Arina hadn’t complained.

Out loud.

But in her head, things were different. She said the word no and people listened. She screamed when she was overtaken with fury and cried when she was sad. She talked about more than the weather—and people cared about her opinions. 

Those were merely daydreams. The reality was far grimmer than even Arina was willing to admit. She was in a strange land, engaged to a man she hated and paraded about by both her father and Jack before the human delegations. 

Isn’t she beautiful? Jack must have said it a million times. Arina wanted to strangle him with her bare hands and then hang herself with her own hair. She was a decoration and nothing more, forced to play along with easy smiles and dead eyes. His words were the epitome of chivalry, the highest compliment. Everyone knew women didn’t have thoughts, after all.

Only beautiful faces—if they were lucky.

Arina didn’t like Prythian. It was teetering on the edge of war with a newly minted King that didn’t seem terribly concerned about his predicament. In fact, when she met Rhysand—who’d immediately told her to call him Rhys—she thought he found the entire thing amusing. Her own father hadn’t stopped ranting about the looming threat of the dragons, a threat that had once been eradicated.

Only to learn there were hidden kingdoms of them everywhere. Rather than dying out, they’d gone into hiding, rebuilt, and had returned. Arina hadn’t met one yet, and wasn’t allowed to—her father was terrified one would see her and steal her away in the night like they’d been doing to other women.

Jack, though, had told her once the dragons finished fucking, they began feasting. That wasn’t enough to keep her in her room when the night they were set to come. She merely wanted to see them. Her father and Jack had locked the door to her room, an adjoining chamber to the rooms they’d been given, too. Of course they had the keys—they could come and go as they liked, a thought that scared her far more than any dragon.

At least she knew death would come quickly with the monsters. With her betrothed, however…

As the sun set, Arina used a pin from her thick, blonde hair to open the balcony doors before tossing it to the neatly made bed in the corner. All the pearl pins in her hair made her scalp ache, though fashion always came before comfort. 

She wanted to run wild.

She envied the creatures in the distance, great wings beating along the wind. What did it feel like, she wondered? If she could have, Arina would have leapt from that ledge and taken off and no one could stop her. She’d fly to the very ends of the earth, build a little cottage, and live her days in total seclusion.

They’d call her a witch.

So long as they didn’t call her pretty.

None of the incoming dragons paid her any mind save for one. He wasn’t dark scaled like the others, with ribbons of color that wound around their necks. This one was pure orange, glittering in the sunlight like pure flame. Amber eyes found her as heavy wings beat closer and closer and—

She panicked, scrambling back in before he could perch those massive talons on the marble edge, open his gaping maw to swallow her whole. Standing behind the glass, she watched the creature peer in, wings still flapping. She pressed her palm to the glass as the creature huffed out a breath, fogging her view.

And when it cleared, the monster was gone. 

Arina woke to the sound of the door unlocking. It was morning if the golden light filtering in had anything to say about it. Jack appeared moments later, fully dressed in stark contrast to her with her unbound hair and her thin shift. Arina yanked the blanket up to her neck but he’d seen too much.

“You’re lazy,” he complained, gaze hungry as she pressed herself against the headboard behind her. “Why aren’t you up?

For another day trapped in this room?

“My apologies,” she murmured, praying he wouldn’t make her stand. Please, please, please—

“Get up,” he ordered, a cruel smile spreading across his aged face. He was a few years younger than her father but aging far worse. Heart pounding, Arina meekly slid from beneath the blanket so he could really look at her. In the patch of light, the thin material might as well have been nothing at all—it was see through and they both knew it. “Get dressed.”

Their eyes met again. “You can’t be in here.”

“You’re nearly my wife,” he bit out, clearly displeased she hadn’t just stripped naked. “I can be anywhere I want where it concerns you.”

Arina was going to be sick. “I—”

A loud knock on her bedroom door interrupted them both. Arina scrambled back, snatching the first gown she saw before vanishing into the bathing chamber. She’d narrowly escaped this time, interrupted by good fortune or fate, but Arina knew she wouldn’t get so lucky again.

She needed to leave.

Arina had spent years coming up with plans, mapping out escape routes and deciding how best to get as far as she could as fast as she could. She’d never mustered up the guts to do so, though, afraid of what would happen if she got caught.

Would Rhys look for her? And how hard? The real danger seemed to be the dragons and they were all currently occupied at the summit, arguing for peace and perhaps one human woman a month to eat or fuck or both. She was merely some minor Kings daughter. Sure, they’d look, but for how long and how hard? If she could just vanish into the woods, Arina thought she’d be fine. She could figure it out from there.

Make her way to a river or the sea, get on a ship and completely disappear. She’d change her name. Cut her hair, if she had to. Dirty her face, put on pants—whatever it took to never be recognized again. The trick was getting out, and Arina suspected she knew how. 

She came out of the bathing chamber dressed in a burnt umber dress made of crushed velvet. She’d pinned half her hair off her face and wore the same satin slippers she always did—she wasn’t permitted anything sturdier. That didn’t matter—she’d go barefoot if she had to.

Arina was only allowed one place in the palace without supervision, and that was the library. Everywhere else was off limits to her without a male escort, and if she asked Jack or her father, they’d tell her no. The library, however, was seen as acceptable.

And Arina loved to read.

Jack had mentioned it would be useful to have a well-read wife to teach his children, the thought alone enough to make her wish she was illiterate. The library was on the ground level of the palace, with doors everywhere. She’d spent the day reading, return after dinner, and then slip out. By the time Jack realized she was missing, Arina ought to have a full night on him. 

No one was at the door, so Arina left a little note just inside the room that anyone with eyes would see.

Went to the library.

She should have gone to breakfast. She couldn’t stomach the thought of sitting beside her betrothed, legs clenched tight to keep his hand from sliding too far up her thighs. Every meal was like that, making it impossible to truly eat. If she let her guard down for even a second he was trying to pull up her dress or touch her over the fabric. Every moment was a nightmare.

You can do this.

The only person ever in Rhysand’s library was a lonely scholar who merely nodded at Arina from his desk, spine permanently hunched. She offered him a smile she hoped seemed genuine, if only because it was. She picked a little chair half hidden in the stacks, close enough that she could slip between two and make her way out onto the veranda without anyone noticing.

And then she sat down, book in hand, and began her daydream. She couldn’t focus on the pages, anxious and desperate for time to move faster. 

Time seemed to slow down, and the library was more popular than it had ever been. An auburn haired man stepped in a little before eleven. He had a pair of familiar amber eyes and the kind of aristocratic features that marked him as royalty. She knew a prince when she saw one. He found her, though he didn’t come any closer. He didn’t speak at all. He simply turned from the room and left her to stare at the clock and imagine what she’d do when she no longer had to look over her shoulder. 

He returned later in the afternoon, and this time when the man’s gaze found her, he came to her, too.

“Your father is looking for you,” he said by way of greeting.

“Don’t tell him I’m here,” she replied.

“You left a note,” the man replied with the faintest hint of amusement. “The whole palace knows you’re here.”

“So you’re, what? An errand boy?” she replied, certain that would wound his fragile ego. 

The man smiled, and Arina wished he hadn’t. He was beautiful, radiating cool warmth she wanted to get closer to. That kind of impulse would only lead to ruin, so Arina remained in her chair, trying her best to stare him down even though he towered over her. He was build like a warrior, muscular and broad beneath a cream colored coat and wine red pants. His black boots cut just below his knee and were so polished she could see the lights gleaming off the leather. 

Even his hair was perfect, pushed off his face in a faux casual sort of way—she knew he’d spent time agonizing over each strand. Something about him seemed a little fussy. Still, his strong jaw, high cheekbones, and full mouth were reassuring, in a way. 

She wasn’t sure which way, only that the sight of him settled that restless impulse racing through her. 

“Have you eaten?” he questioned, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Maybe he was restless, too.

“I’m not going into that dining hall.”

His expression darkened. “Why not?”

Arina couldn’t tell him the truth—he wouldn’t care, besides. “I don’t know you.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I won’t hurt you.”

“Not intentionally,” she said without thinking, half drunk on the power she felt just saying whatever she wanted. His eyes blazoned with heat that wasn’t for her.

“Did someone hurt you here?”

“What do you want?” she demanded. Arina wasn’t telling this man anything. He’d betray her inevitably, even if he thought he was some sort of chivalrous hero. 

“Come with me.”

“No.”

He sighed, and if he’d been less principled, she imagined he would have stamped his foot, too. “Please?”

“”Oh, well since you asked so nicely,” she replied, tapping her chin as she pretended to think about it, “no.”

The man let out a frustrated growl. “I’m not going to deliver you to your father or the dining hall.”

“I’m not allowed to leave without a male chaperone,” Arina informed him primly.

The man ran a hand down his toned chest. “Am I not a man?”

He had her there. “I don’t think you count.”

“Then your father should have been more specific,” he replied smugly, offering her a hand. Arina didn’t take it, though she did stand. What did it matter if she went with him? She was leaving that night regardless, and if she was caught, being alone with him was hardly the end of the world.

“What’s your name?”

“Eris Vanserra,” he said promptly, looking as though he were omitting a lot of facts.

“Should I call you Lord? Or Prince?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Neither. Just Eris.”

Liar, liar. Still, she followed after him, annoyed by his longer legs and quick gait. He was definitely some spoiled nobleman at best. He walked like it—like women had been throwing themselves at his feet since he’d grown into his masculine features. Or, at least, he walked like he knew he was handsome and that annoyed her, too.

“That makes you sound a bit like a prick, you know,” she informed him, coming out of the library half in his shadow. He’d paused in the wide hall, looking in every direction and Arina, uninterested in getting caught, stood behind him as though no one could see her.

He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve been called worse. Why are you hiding?”

“I’m not…” But it was no use. They both knew she was lying. Eris sighed.

“This way, princess.”

“How do you know I’m a princess?” she demanded, back at his side once they turned the opposite direction, heading toward a part of the vibrant, moonstone palace she’d never seen. It was so airy and open here, with windows that towered toward the skies and swirling marble floors she could have eaten off of. The palace was far emptier than the one she lived in, and she wondered why. Didn’t Rhysand have a court? Friends? Enemies who liked to live luxuriously? Even the servants were sparse, slipping past before seemingly evaporating to mist.

“Everyone knows. It’s all your fathers advisor speaks about—the beautiful princess we’re all forbidden from speaking to.”

“Betrothed, you mean,” she said. Arina didn’t know why she told Eris that. Maybe she wanted at least one person to understand why she left. And something about him made her think he might impede the search for her. Misdirect, cause a little mayhem, slow them all down so she could slip away. 

He ground to a halt and Arina, who was still picturing how he might mess everything up for her father, slammed into his shoulder. 

“Betrothed?” Eris asked, his voice lethally soft.

“Sorry if you were angling for an arranged marriage,” she replied blithely, trying to keep the fear from her voice, “but I’m already promised.”

Arina held up her hand and the little gold band that sat on her third finger to wiggle them in front of him. “This trip is just a last stop before the—- hey what are you doing?”

Eris grabbed her wrist in one hand, fingers a vice to keep her from pulling free. With the other, he wrenched that ring off her finger and flung it out a nearby window. 

Arina shoved at his chest for all the good it did. “What was that for?”

Eris looked wild, more animal than man with his heaving chest and flared nostrils. Staring down at her, Arina waited for his explanation. Eris took a breath through parted lips and then said,

“Come on.”

“That’s it?” she demanded, trailing after as he walked forward as if nothing had happened. “What is wrong with you?”

“I didn’t realize you were so in love,” Eris sneered as a muscle began jumping furiously in his jaw. 

She grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him. “It’s not—I’m not in love— but you won’t be punished—”

Eris spun around again, that wildness magnified. “Punished? Punished how?”

“I…just…can you go find it, please?” she whispered, hating herself for how pathetic she was. Eris looked at her for another long moment.

“Later.”

Arina didn’t argue, though she also didn’t believe he was going to try very hard to track it down, either. She’d need to stay out of sight for the remainder of the day, or keep her hand hidden if she didn’t want to be found out. The last thing she needed was to be locked up and so badly bruised there was no point in sneaking away. She’d be too noticeable with a black eye. 

Eris took her to a private patio, laid out with enough food to feed five people rather than just two. The little table was the only thing sitting against the marble, with an unmatched view of the rising mountains in the distance. 

“Eat,” Eris said, pulling out a chair so the legs scraped the ground. “I’ll….I’ll find your ring.”

“Thank you,” she said, heart racing. He’d brought her here to eat with her? “You don’t want to stay?”

He did. Hesitating, fingers holding the golden knob of the glass door, she watched as the man warred with his thoughts before shaking his head. “You eat. I’ll be back.”

He vanished back indoors, leaving Arina alone again, though without half as much misery as she usually felt. There was an inherent trust to his absence—he’d return and she didn’t need to worry. Arina didn’t know how to explain that typically she was the one no one trusted. 

Sitting in the chair, she let herself eat more than she would normally to compensate for the journey she knew was coming.

Eris returned not long after, eyes sweeping the table. “You barely ate anything.”

“I’m one woman,” she replied. Eris leaned his body against the doorframe, ankles crossed like the arms over his chest. “Did you find the ring?”

“No.”

Arina sighed. “Great.”

There was a pause in which she thought he might apologize for what he’d done, or at least explain why he’d done it. He didn’t. “You can stay, if you like. I’ll cover for you.”

“Why would you do that?”

Eris stared at her for a moment. “I like the sound of your voice,” he said, his own strained as though he’d had to push them out against his will. No one had ever said that to her before. 

“You want to listen to me talk?” she questioned.

Eris crept an inch closer. “Yes.”

Arina looked down at her empty plate. “I wouldn’t know what to say.”

He shrugged. “You don’t have to speak unless you want to.”

“I should…I should go back, actually. Before someone realizes…” Arina stood abruptly, annoyed when Eris shifted so his body was blocking her only exit. 

“What would they realize?” Eris asked in that lethal, soft way of his. “Why are you being held prisoner?”

Arina shoved past him. “They’re your laws,” she snapped, angry he wanted to both uphold the rules that allowed men to treat her like property while also being indignant when they were enforced. “Take it up with yourself.”

“Not my laws,” Eris replied softly. Arina turned, heart racing in her chest. He hadn’t moved other than to face her, still leaned against the door in that casual way of his. Eris reached for his collar, slipping one of the buttons out so she could see the glimmer of orange against his fair skin.

Scales.

“We don’t treat our females so cruelly,” he told her. 

“Because you killed them all,” she whispered, suddenly afraid. He was a dragon? No one had told her that their human forms looked like that. She’d expected a man who was more monster than anything, but Eris seemed painfully human. With deft fingers, he rebuttoned his jacket, hiding the proof he was more than just a man. 

Eris didn’t smile. “Is that what they tell you?”

“It’s the truth,” she replied, taking another step backward. “You killed your women and now you’re stealing humans—”

Eris barked out a laugh so loud it drowned out the rest of her accusation. There was no mirth on his expression, no amusement etched over his features. Only blazing hatred staring right back. Arina turned, too afraid to listen to whatever lie he’d offer up. She didn’t want to hear his justification, why he thought his people were owed more women to destroy as well.

And she didn’t want to be part of it. If he’d taken an interest in her, that was a bad sign. Arina made her way back to the library, heart racing painfully. He knew she was here—he could simply follow after her should he choose to. 

Curled up in a chair, Arina thought the day had gone from bad to worse. She expected, though, to be left alone for the remainder of it. That was naive. The whole thing had been naivety because Jack, too, tracked her down with relative ease. 

“Up,” he said, startling Arina who’d been engrossed in a book. “Is this how you waste your time?”

She was on her feet in an instant, wincing when he grabbed her upper arm with unnecessary force to jerk her closer.

“You’re hiding,” he accused, brown eyes searching her face for proof he was right. “Where were you this afternoon?”

“Here,” she said, though she knew that wasn’t true. It must have shown on her face because Jack shook her hard enough to make her teeth rattle in her skull. 

“I was here,” he said, breath sickly sweet against her face. Arina wanted to turn her head and knew better. Instead she cast her eyes downward, wondering if this hadn’t been Eris’s little plan all along. “You were nowhere to be found.”

“Then I was in my room,” Arina said, hiding her hand in the folds of her skirts so he wouldn’t see the missing engagement ring, too. “I had to use the restroom—I’m allowed to move freely—”

He hit her. Arina couldn’t even stumble backward to escape it, held in place by his punishing grip. Tears smarted in the corner of her eyes, swallowed before she could burst out sobbing. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction, wasn’t going to let him see how thorough of a job he was doing at breaking her down. 

“You’re not allowed to breathe unless I will it,” Jack hissed, face inches from her own. “You will go nowhere, do nothing unless I say you can. If I tell you to stand in a corner for the rest of the day, you’ll smile and thank me for it. Do you understand?”

Arina didn’t dare look at him. “Yes.”

“I told your father bringing you here was a mistake,” Jack said, still in her personal space. “You’re not smart enough to understand your place in all this. You are simply a woman.”

Arina wanted to go to her room and see what her face looked like. Jack, however, dragged her to the dining hall where Rhysand himself was already seated, a goblet of wine in one hand. Beside him was a man clearly marked by red dragon scales, sprawled in a chair as he spoke with an easy familiarity. Jack paused when he saw him, clear frustrated, before shoving Arina into a chair.

Across the long table sat Eris—not the nobleman's son, or the prince, but the dragon. He, too, had wine in his hand though it was all but forgotten as he stared her down.

She didn’t want to look at him, either. Arina was tired of being humiliated by men. She was back to being decorative, though how true that was wasn’t made clear until she was sent back to her bedchamber midway through the meal as a little show of power. Just as dinner was set before her, Jack instructed her to leave with a servant, plate untouched. 

No one stopped him. 

In truth, Arina was grateful for it. Anxious and miserable, she’d nearly tripped to escape both men and dragon, all of whom ignored her in favor of a strained conversation she hadn’t been paying attention to. There was no point in locking the door—and Arina knew she wouldn’t be left alone that night. 

Jack would stake his claim the only way men knew how. He’d marked her face and then he’d mark her body, rendering her worthless to every other man and completing what her father had begun. Arina went to the mirror, relieved to find there was no bruise on her face—only a fading red handprint that would be gone by morning.

She could be gone before he ever arrived, too. Pulling the pins from her hair, Arina went to the locked door, slid one of the pins into the lock, and opened the door. Everyone was at dinner drinking and talking and engaging in what she could only assume was a dick measuring contest. Maybe the dragons would eat the men and forget all about her. 

No one tried to stop her. Not when she ran through the halls or burst outdoors. None of the guards said a word when she crossed the expansive lawn for the little city below—and not one person cared when she pushed open a gate and made a break for the forest.

Arina hadn’t brought anything else with her.

But she was free. 

ERIS:

Eris stood atop a parapet, watching his little mate walk into the city.

Good. 

Beside him, Cassian sighed. “If you kill them, it’ll start a war.”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted?” Eris questioned, ignoring the urge to chase after her. He had her scent lodged in his nose—he’d find her easily enough once the sun set. His business was here for at least another hour. “My armies?”

“That’s what I want,” Cassian agreed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Not what my king wants.”

“Is he hoping for more slaughter, first? Proof that humans are barbaric? I think we all remember what they’re capable of—and what kind of diplomacy they offer.”

“It’s…complex…” Cassian said. Eris bet it was. There were no females left with which to mate with, and the dragons were coming to realize their mates were humans, now. They were curious and desperate—they wanted to start lives, have families. The war had come to his own shores, and though they’d managed not to be totally decimated, Eris didn’t have half as many people as his father had once commanded before he’d vanished, taking his mother and a brand new child born in the middle of war.

Eris never had found them. He assumed they were buried in some unmarked grave, unmourned and lost to even time itself. Eris was bitter about all of it. Humans didn’t live as long as his kind and reproduced far faster. They had an abundance of women they treated poorly, children they neglected and abused, and wars they started simply because they were bored.

Why should he be the bigger man? His mate had come to dinner reeking of fear, her face swollen with a handprint while the offending male had sat like a king, unbothered by the other humans who ignored her entirely.

And Rhysand had floated into Eris’s head, warning him against the violence he was contemplating. He could have incinerated them all with only half a thought.

You’ll frighten her.

She would forgive him—Eris was certain of it. She was already scared, but maybe she’d feel less scared knowing she didn’t have to keep looking over her shoulder. He could make her queen of whatever land she called home, could unite their territories—

“A month,” Eris said, looking at the warrior beside him. “Tell your king he has a month to decide before we withdraw. This time, if he chooses cowardice, I will lock our borders and you will fight the humans alone.”

“And if he decides on war.”

Eris grinned, “You can count on my support. We could attack them now, take their territories and decimate their armies before they had a chance to respond.”

“If I had my way,” Cassian mumbled. “Diplomacy is wasted on them—they make promises they intend to break while taking as much from us as they possibly can.”

“They only understand violence.”

“Rhys thinks we’re not better if we destroy them like they destroyed us.”

“The world would be better without them,” Eris said, wishing he could still see Arina. She was merely a dot on the horizon, long vanished into the woods. “Will Rhys be angry if I kill a human King.”

“Undoubtedly,” Cassian said glumly. 

“If it were his mate—”

“But it wasn’t,” Cassian said with a touch of finality. And it never would be, was the unspoken rest of that sentence. Rhys would never have sat across a table, forced to endure what Eris had while another male forced him to pretend none of it mattered. 

With the conversation done, Cassian turned to leave before hesitating. “If you wait, you could misdirect her family. Buy her time.” It was tempting— “She’s alone.”

If Cassian agreed with him or not, Eris couldn’t say. He didn’t turn to look, unconcerned with the other males' approval. Cracking his neck, Eris inhaled slowly before shifting into his dragon form. This was how he preferred to be—how all his kind preferred to live. Wings outstretched, scales warmed by the sun. 

He could see better in this form, could move faster, was a true predator. Besides, Eris didn’t like all the pretending he had to do around the humans, who hadn’t realized he was a dragon. Not one human ruler knew the Western Isles were controlled by dragons on purpose. Eris let them believe they’d been killed and he was what remained, hiding all traces that marked him in an effort to keep his people safe.

Some might call it cowardly, but Eris called it survival. 

Taking off, Eris inhaled the crisp, early evening air. There, beneath the stench of humans and the familiar smells of nature, lay vanilla and lime mixed together. 

Arina. 

She didn’t like him—he’d seen the fear and disgust on her face when he’d shown her his scales. Maybe it would have been better to pretend to be a human to gain her trust, but Eris wanted her to know from the outset who he was—so that when she finally claimed him, it was him, and not some pretend version of himself. 

She was going to be angry with him. If she knew he was flying over the treetops looking for her, she’d be angry before he ever touched the ground. That was a risk he was willing to take in the name of keeping her safe. He knew there were predators prowling, who would see an unarmed, defenseless female and decide to make an easy meal of her.

They’d think twice if he was there. 

Eris found her walking through the bramble, dress held in one hand to keep from dragging across the ground. He dipped, catching how her neck craned to look. He was big, wings knocking against branches before he took on his two legged form to hop beside her.

“I was looking for you,” he said, hoping his smile was charming. 

“Go away.” She tried to sound authoritative, but there was a streak of mud on her cheek and she was breathless from running.

“Where would I go?”

“Anywhere else?” she said, stalking off. Eris caught her easily thanks to his longer legs and how often he trekked through the wilderness on his own. She’d never survive without him.

“And leave you to die? Or worse?”

“What’s worse than death?” she demanded, turning that beautiful face toward him. The hand print was still faded, though the insult remained, branded against his very soul. It was the gravest of insults. She didn’t understand and Eris didn’t know how to make her.

“Your impending marriage,” he said, forcing out the words through his teeth. Her head whipped around, slapping golden curls against her cheek. Eris wanted to touch her so badly it made his bones ache. His entire life, Eris had believed like many other males of his kind, that he simply did not have a mate. Mates were said to be equals—gifts from their Mother goddess. And Eris didn’t believe he’d been granted one. Why would he, of everyone? 

He’d recognized her the moment he flew in, had felt an almost painful tugging in his chest that directed him toward her. She’d been watching on the balcony with the pair of greenest eyes he’d ever seen in his life. She’d retreated indoors and Eris knew better than to go barging in, though it hadn’t stopped him from scouring the palace looking for her the next morning. He just needed to know for sure.

He’d taken one breath in that library and had known the truth of things. After that, everything felt like a dream. He’d gone to Rhys and asked what the rules were—could he simply take her? That's how things had been when he was a child and Eris thought he was fine with the repercussions of such an act if it got her far, far away from the impending war. It had been Rhys who informed him that Arina was engaged and that he was expressly forbidden from kidnapping her.

Bullshit.

There was no rule saying he couldn’t guide her back to his home, however, which was why Eris was trailing after her like a lovesick puppy. Which, he supposed he was, even if it annoyed him. 

“You think death is better?” she asked, some of her dislike melting into a different emotion.

“He hit you,” Eris replied, curling his fingers into fists. Talons burst from his fingers, slicing open his palm before he could get himself better under control. “I think I’d rather be dead than endure a lifetime of that.”

His father had died before Eris could kill him, but he knew from first hand experience he didn’t want to waste his life trapped with his abuser. 

Arina sighed, picking up the pace again. “What do you know about it?”

Too much. Eris nearly told her, desperate for connection—to show that their experiences were mirrored, their suffering shared. A rustling in the trees caught his attention, stopping him as he inhaled. 

Wolves.

She was walking straight to them if the scent on the wind was any indication. Jogging after her, Eris attempted to reach for her but Arina was too prepared.

“Don’t touch me!” she hissed, jerking away. Her recoil made his whole body ache with hurt, causing him to forget, for just a moment, why he’d gone to her in the first place. Was he truly that offensive to her? Would she rather go it alone when he was right there?  

“I…”

They both halted at the sound of a braying wolf far, far in the distance.

“We need to go,” Eris said, voice icy. “I’ll take you back to the palace.”

“No!” she gasped, turning wholly toward him. “Please—anywhere else.”

“I’ll take you to my home,” he replied cautiously, expecting her to also reject it.

Arina’s green eyes narrowed. She’d fight him even as her throat was being torn out. “And where is your home, exactly?”

He could just scoop her up and take her. He didn’t need to ask—it was merely a formality. “The Western Isles.”

“All the way out there?”

“Look, I would love to discuss this with you but we are moments from a bloody death. Agree to come with me or I will simply—”

It was too late. Eris shifted with enough time to wrap Arina within the spiked plating of his tail, but not fast enough to avoid razor sharp teeth sinking into his throat. The wolf simply came with him as he rose higher in the air, shaking viciously in an attempt to bring him down. Emboldened, more of the wolves came running from the thick trees for both him and Arina. 

Eris panicked. He was used to fighting only to save himself, or as part of his military—not to keep his newly acquired mate alive. She was defenseless, without a weapon and in satin shoes. If they caught her, she’d be dead before Eris ever learned another thing about her.

Before he ever saw her smile.

With a taloned claw, Eris ripped the wolf from his throat and flung it against a tree, ignoring the pained scream it barked out. With his tail, Eris swept a wide arc around the pair of them as Arina came closer, saying words he couldn’t make out in the chaos.

He was in trouble. Blood poured from his wound and breathing was physically painful. Reaching for Arina, Eris held her in that same claw as he tried to take flight. More wolves latched onto his legs, ripping and tearing through his plating for the flesh below. Eris bellowed, fire erupting from his ruined throat in an inferno that only served to ruin him further.

Instinct had taken over his good sense. He needed to protect his mate or die trying. And the way things were going, Eris wasn’t convinced he’d survive. 

She might, though. Eris managed to get the starving animals off him and take flight, veering wildly to the left, and then the right, as he tried to settle himself. He could hear Arina distantly, her screams enough to set him on edge. She was afraid.

Well, he was, too. 

Managing to right himself, Eris soared as high as he dared. His vision was blurry, his breathing labored and each beat of his wings felt like a monumental task. He wasn’t certain he was up for it. Still, he flew with no real destination in mind. He wanted to get her away from the humans that, even traveling on horseback it would take them days to reach her. Eris needed to lay down. 

Darkness seeped into his vision just as he saw a clearing. A large lake lay in a valley, hidden by high, snow capped mountain peaks. The Illyrian Mountains, he realized. Cassian might find them—might find Arina, should Eris die. 

“Not the lake!” Arina cried as Eris began to descend. In truth, he hadn’t realized he was so low to the ground. Cradling her against his chest, he crash landed in the grass, likely breaking a few bones on his way down. Arina seemed unharmed, pulling from his grasp to stand on her feet. Her hair was windblown, eyes wide with fear and there was speckled of blood against the brown of her cheek. 

“Are you okay?” she whispered, reaching for him before pulling her hand back against her chest. Eris supposed it was too much to hope that she’d touch him before he died. He tried to assure he was, but the words wouldn’t come out.

He was still a dragon.

Trapped in his form, all he could do was huff out a breath and hope she was safe. His eyes closed.

And Eris was gone.

[yellowbunnydreams]

Bunny Ears (Part 24) ~William Afton X F! Reader~

~This is my formal apology to anybody who cried over the last chapter, I'm sorry! If it's any consolation, I cried writing it.~

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Want more or something different? *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Tag List: @ruh--roh-raggy @h4nluv @sleepy---head @do-double-g @confiscated-peaches-main @dij-ology @viviennemuerte @robin-the-enby @shari-berri @randymeeksisafinalgirl @hallow1090 @aponia-yue @likoplays @dilflover-3 @oak-leafs @phd-in-fuckery @weirdoartist21 @nicolezghostz @fauine @emmbny

Sorry if I missed you on the tag-list!

CW: Minors DNI, (18+ ONLY), Female Reader, legal age gap (Reader- 20's, William - 30's), divorce/processing divorce, Afton being a sarcastic hot ass, grumpy x sunshine. Faz-Fuck TM, scenes of making out, soft dom! Will, grinding, teasing (sexual), discussion of kink, drinking

You woke up curled up in William's sheets, holding onto his pillow and eyes opening to find it vacant aside from yourself. Confused as you sat up and rubbed the sleep from your eyes before the door pressed open and you watched a very focused Vanny holding a tray in her little hands as she tried not to spill the contents onto the bed spread, smiling as she noticed you were awake.

"You're awake!"

"Good morning to you too little lady." You smiled, making Vanessa giggle as you took the tray from her and let her climb onto the bed before placing it down, looking at the small bowl of cereal that she picked up, leaving you with bacon, eggs and toast.

There was a gentle knock on the open door and you smiled even brighter as William walked in, his hair tousled and looking half-asleep himself still, carrying a tray in one hand and keeping the other behind his back as he leaned over and placed a kiss on your forehead.

"Good morning, bunny." The nickname he gave you still made your heart flutter as you felt your cheeks heating up, unable to help yourself as you watched how his clothes sat against his body as he sat down besides you and shuffled closer.

"Good morning William." Giving him a kiss as he balanced his tray on his lap, curiously raising an eyebrow as to his hidden hand.

Pulling it from behind his back, he produced a bouquet of sunflowers, blue hydrangeas and yellow roses. Making you gasp and bring your hands to your mouth as you looked up at him, eyes watering as you gently felt him lean into your side, your hands moving to gently take the flowers and touching the petals like they might suddenly break as he wrapped his now free hand around your shoulders and held you close.

"It's not even my birthday, you didn't have to-"

"I wanted to. I haven't gotten you flowers since our first dates and...I wanted to surprise you."

"The breakfast as my idea!" Vanessa informed you rather loudly between bites of cereal, making you laugh at the small girl's determination to have her efforts recognised.

"Yes, apparently it's my solemn duty to make sure that you're treated like a princess this morning." William put on a serious face before it twitched into a smile, unable to keep his serious expression around you as you leaned your head on his shoulder and kissed there.

"Well, I don't think I can say no to that can I? What time is it anyway?" You asked, picking up your fork and beginning to eat slowly.

"Plenty of time before the both of us are due in work, unfortunately."

Work, you had totally forgotten that you were scheduled at Freddy's, and the thought of it sent your heart plummeting through your stomach. Unsure of how everybody would react to you coming back after the previous day's sudden announcement of your relationship to what felt like the whole of Hurricane, hell the whole of Utah as far as you were concerned. Swallowing a little thickly, you cradled your beautiful flowers against your body in a little comfort, William saw the little motion and held you closer to his side as he sipped the coffee he had brought up for himself.

Breakfast was finished all too soon, and you had to get a cab to your house to grab your uniform whilst William dropped Vanny off at Henry and Sarah's house so that she could take Vanny back to her mother. But you were feeling your stomach twisting and flipping as you stood in your uniform in front of the familiar smiling bear logo and neon lights that had yet to be turned on.

Taking a deep breath, you headed inside, feeling your heart beating quickly inside your chest as everybody inside turned their head towards you, you knew it was the same reaction you'd had a thousand times whilst working, but what made you feel like you were going to throw up was the sudden pause in the chatter that permeated the staff in the morning. Gripping your bag close to your body, your eyes flickered down as you headed towards the back to find out what your work assignment for the day was.

Hearing the whispers beginning again in your wake, your eyes watered as you tried not to listen to any of them, afraid of what you might hear as you went through the employee's only door. Placing your bag into the small cubby that was available for bag, adjusting your hair, vest and purple ribbon bow in the dusty mirror as you tried to take a deep breath and calm yourself. Putting on a brave face and smile as you turned on your heel and walked back out.

"Well, we know how somebody got the job at least." Garrett scoffed as you re-emerged, making you look at the floor as any confidence you had falsely put up slipped and your smile wavered.

"Shut the actual fuck up Garrett."

"Yeah, jesus christ, just because you can't get laid."

"You really got to shit on them like that?"

You were surprised as several voices piped up to your defence, and you looked up to see most of the people who had been near to the spotty young man frowning heavily and inching away from him.

"What? It's clear that she did something to get into their favour! I mean maybe she took bo-" Grinning as he spoke, only for you to see Stacey walking up to him, jabbing a finger in his chest.

"Finish that thought and you're going to get your head fucking kicked in." Stacey spat, continuing to push her finger into Garrett's chest as he held up his hands in defence, still smiling and laughing.

"Like you could reach. Anyway, I bet Afton got his he-"

"Well, this was certainly not what we expected to come into this morning." The voice of Henry Emily snapped everybody too, seeing his green eyes darting around and assessing as everybody on the staff held their breath slightly. Looking like somebody had performed a magic trick in front of a dog, whilst the taller, broader figure behind him looked positively murderous.

William and Henry had arrived.

Nobody moved for a second before the two large fry cooks you had never really spoken to moved quickly, grabbing Garrett by the back of his uniform, and picking him up, much to his scrawny, flailing protests as they headed towards the front door. Your heart beating quickly inside your chest as you opened your mouth to protest.

"You're going to apologise to Mr. Afton now, and then to," you heard your name, blinking as you realised that they had set him down in front of William. Holding Garrett in place with a vaugely threatening aura as the staff came together.

The women starting to congregate around you, gently touching your arm and offering a few soothing words as your eyes watered. You thought that they would all think like Garrett, he had voiced your worst fear in coming in that day, but you felt the rest of the staff's support as they glared his way. The guys moving towards William and Henry, clearly riled up by the fact that the scrawny barely-adult had run his mouth.

"Garrett....Why don't you follow me to the office?" Henry offered after a moment, gesturing towards the back offices as Garrett scoffed, rolling his eyes at the kindly smiling man.

"Mr. Emily, I don't -"

"Oh, it wasn't a fucking request. Get in that office, now." Everybody paused as they heard Henry swearing, watching him place a firm hand on Garrett's shoulder and guiding him towards the employee's only door, nodding to the little gaggle of girls that had gathered around you. "Excuse me ladies, you shouldn't have had to hear that from me." All but dragging what you suspected was soon to be your former co-worker into the back.

There were a few beats of silence before one of the guys clapped William Afton on the arm, making him jump slightly and frown before you heard the low murmur of voices.

"Congrats Mr. Afton."

"Yeah, you're a lucky guy! Not many girls would have a guy after saving them from falling flat on their ass." Causing a bit of laughter from the group of guys and watching as William began to relax, smiling a little as he glanced at you over their heads, offering you a softer, more warm smile.

"So...who started this little crush cycle then?"

"I bet it was when he asked for ID."

"No way! It was totally sports day!"

"Come on Mr. Afton, settle the bet!"

"I'm not settling any bets for you lot. Unless it's about how many children I take out at the next sports day." William chuckled, earning a cheer from the guys whilst you were still being fussed over by the few other by the ladies.

Stacey pushed her way to the front of your own little crowd, her eyes wide and watering as you felt yourself being pulled into a tight hug, giving her one back as you laughed softly.

"You're almost as bad as Henry, you know that right?" You giggled, making your friend hug you harder before holding you at arms length, lip trembling as she tried not to cry.

"I can't help it! You're too cute! Both of you are too cute! Oh god at least I haven't missed much...have I?"

"Well...we have matching bracelets?" You offered, bringing your wrist up to show the silly purple plastic one with the Spring-Bonnie charm as William seemed to escape from his own circle and head towards you, smiling warmly, clearly a little flustered from the attention.

"YOU HAVE MATCHING BRACELETS?!" Stacey wailed, holding onto you and making you laugh as William rolled his eyes behind her, reaching over to place a soft kiss against your head, much to the delight of the ladies.

"I swear you're a tiny Henry sometimes. Are you sure your last name isn't Emily?" He asked Stacey, sending her into a million and one questions and vauge threats about if he broke your heart or hurt you in any way.

You supposed you had two families now. The Afton family and the Fazbear Family.

The phone rang in William's ear as he sat in his office, sighing softly and waiting for the supplier he was calling to pick up as the door to his office opened and you entered. Making him smile broadly, running his hand over his beard as he gestured for you to come in by curling two fingers in quick sucession. Smiling at you softly before he quickly scribbled down a note on his desk and hung up the phone. Leaning forwards onto his elbows as he rested his chin on his hands, eyes sparking behind his gold glasses in the same way they had when he had bitten at you when you first came into parts and services what felt like a lifetime ago.

"Well, to do what do I owe this pleasure?" He rumbled, making you smile as you stood infront of his desk, your hands conspicuoisly behind your back as you rocked back and forth on your heels.

"Well, sir, you seemed like you needed to eat something." William groaned as you called him 'sir', feeling his chest tighten as you looked so sweet in front of him. You raised a slight eyebrow at the noise.

"So I've been sent dessert before dinner?" An almost growl to his voice as he heard your own breath catch slightly, feeling pleased with himself that he could fluster you so easily.

You produced a pizza box from behind your back, making William laugh as you set it on the desk, his fingers opening it up as the smell hit him and he realised just how hungry he was. He had only had a coffee that morning, and the extra calories wouldn't kill him, only develop his dad-bod further which he had heard no complaints from you about. He decided to have fun with you though and sat back in his chair with a sigh, hearing the office chair creak under his shifting weight.

"If I only had the time, I have to finish this paperwork and I can't exactly get my fingers greasy and then handle it..." Making you raise an eyebrow at the comment, feeling your own smile widening slightly as he ran his thick fingers through his greying hair. "I guess you'll have to feed me, bunny."

"Well I feel like I'll drop it onto your paperwork if I do, sir." Hearing a little growl under his sigh as he made the same 'come hither' gesture towards you, the office silent aside from a quiet fan as you stepped around his desk. Yelping as he ensnared your waist and pulled you onto his lap, making your cheeks flush badly as he shifted you so that you were sat on one broad thigh. His hand remaining on your waist as he looked up at you, raising an eyebrow and trying to maintain a serious expression.

"Now you won't drop it on my paperwork, and you get to be a good little bunny and keep me company too." Whispering in your ear and making you shiver as he picked up his pen again and began to pull over his paperwork whilst holding onto you.

You picked up a slice of pizza and brought it up to William's mouth. Giggling at the absurdity of sitting in his lap and feeding him whilst he worked away on parts orders and technical specifications that went way over your head, which only made the older man raise an eyebrow at you before he carried on silently with his work. But it wasn't an uncomfortable silence, rather simply a comfortable lack of things to talk about in the moment.

As you fed him, he would occasionally shake his head and you would take a bite. Leaning against him and occasionally squirming in his lap to stop yourself from falling off, earning a small squeeze around your waist as you did so.

"You have sauce on your lip, Mr. Afton." You said after a while, making William blink and place his pen down, leaning back in his chair with you and smiling slightly.

"Oh do I now?" That playful spark in his eyes making you smile.

"You do sir, can I get it for you?"

"Please." You smiled and complied, leaning in and kissing him slowly. Sensually as your tongue darted across his lip to catch something that didn't exist, you simply wanted an excuse to kiss him.

William's grip tightened on your waist as he groaned into the kiss, responding in kind as his tongue slipped into your mouth, eliciting a soft gasp from you and an almost posessive growl from him as his other hand rested on your thigh and stroked over the material of your work pants lightly. Both of you moving slowly before parting for breath.

"I think I got it, Will." Giggling as he looked up at you after a moment, seeing him smile as he placed his forehead against yours.

"Do you know how much you drive me crazy?" Chuckling as you pulled back and looked at him quizically.

"Oh?"

"Oh is right, little bunny. Coming in here, pressing my buttons without knowing what you're doing." He growled, making you smile and look at him with a raised eyebrow and cocked head.

"I did?...How?" You asked, earning a gentle tap on your nose as he leaned back in his chair, running his hand through his hair.

"Think about it, work that brilliant, pretty mind of yours."

It took a few moments of thinking, finding yourself a little flustered after his comment before looking back at William and trying not to laugh as you looked into his eyes.

"Do you...you like being called 'sir'?" You asked, earning a squeeze and a wolfish grin as he tipped his head to one side, shrugging nochelantly.

"And what if I do, little bunny? What if I liked hearing you call me that from your pretty little mouth when we're alone?" He asked, humming softly as he watched your expression. He knew you were slowly being eased into it all, and he didn't want to overwhelm you with it all, especially since he knew he had a lot more ideas of things he wanted to do to you in your shared bed in his room.

"Is it just hearing it from me?"

"Only you, my love."

"Then I guess that's acceptable, sir." You decided to tease him slightly, unsure of what about it make William tick, but the growl and the warning squeeze you recieved on your thigh sent butterflies through your stomach.

"You're playing dangerously, bunny, I have a lot of thoughts going through me right now."

"Show me?" You asked, a mirror of the day you sat on his workshop bench and removed his wedding band with your teeth.

His grip tightened on you as he easily scooped your leg up and wrapped it over him, making you wobble at the sudden movement. William forced you to straddle his waist ans you could already feel how much he strained against his slacks under your ass as he reached up and undid the bow around your neck.

"You're hard." Heart pounding as he looked up at you with darkened silver eyes and his lip curled into a playful snarl. One hand expertly undoing buttons on your blouse as the other moved to your lower back and held you there.

"I've had a beautiful, wonderful woman sat on my lap for the past while. Treating me like she wants to, pushing those little buttons I wanted to keep hidden from you a little longer. Are you surprised, you little minx?" Growling as he shoved your blouse off of one shoulder and began to kiss up the skin between your collarbones. Feeling his beard scratching at his skin and occasionally nipping at you as he made his way up to your neck. His hips thrusting up into your core and eliciting little gasps from you that drove him even more wild.

Your arms wrapped around him and cradled his head against your skin as he found the point between your neck and shoulder that sent sparks up your spine. Grinding your hips back against his and gasping as you were rewarded with the the feeling of his teeth against your skin, nipping and sucking as he held you against his hips. The hand that had been undoing your blouse moving into your hair and grabbing it a little roughly as he marked up your neck in little bruises, listening to each whine and pant that fell from your lips with a thrilling chill down his spine as he enjoyed teasing you.

Eventually, William left your neck and smashed his lips to yours, his tongue bullying it's way into your mouth, allowing you to taste each other as you moaned into it. Feeling his hips still thrusting against you, head reeling as William pulled away and left little strands of saliva connecting your lips as he sat back in his chair with a wolfish grin. Looking at the mess he had made of you.

"Why...why stopping?" Your head was spinning, and William chuckled as he leant in to give you a gentle kiss, buttoning up your blouse for you and retying the little bow as you kissed him back breathlessly.

"Because of that, bunny. Can't have everybody out there thinking I've fucked you so well you can't even speak." Chuckling more as he placed a kiss on your nose, fixing your hair carefully and looking you over to make sure you were presentable. Your cheeks flushed an additionally deep shade as you realised you probably sounded like a mess as he looked at his watch.

"I promise bunny, waiting will be worth it though, okay? I love you."

"I love you too, William. Even if you're a teasing ass."

"You started it bunny, my babygirl, but I am certainly not going to turn down playing." Biting at you like he had the first time he met you, making you blush and shake your head as you smoothed yourself out and headed for the door, blowing him a playful kiss as he smirked and blew one back, shooing you out playfully and shaking his head as he sighed and tried to focus back on the paperwork on his desk, rather than the taste of you on his lips.

You somehow managed to get through your shift without being killed off by the thought of what William had done to you in his office. You knew you were going to get him back eventually, but you knew something about him now that you didn't before, and hadn't expected if you were honest with yourself.

You hadn't gone to William's house after work, claiming the need for a shower, which was true as much as he protested that you could use his, and secondly, you pointed out that you had to do some washing and actually wear clothes other than your uniform and the ones you borrowed from him. He wasn't thrilled about it, but you smiled at how pouty he got that he couldn't drive you back to his house and keep you for a while longer.

A knock on your door disturbed you from your thoughts, forcing you to get up and answer it, hair wet from the shower, wearing William's college hoodie and baggy sweatpants as you opened the door, smiling at Sarah Emily as she held up a bag which bulged with goodies.

"I brought wine!" She sang as she stepped in, making you groan and shake your damp head.

"You know I'm not much of a drinker, Sarah, and please tell me how you're getting home if you've been drinking?"

"Shush, you're sounding more and more like a mother every day! Henry dropped me off and is picking me up when I give him a call. I figured today was a good day to bring wine and have a girlie chat without the kids around." She grinned, glancing at your neck and her smile widening as she suggestively raised an eyebrow. "And it seems like William got a hold of you."

"What?" Slightly spooked by the comment, you felt your cheeks flushing and consciously covering the dark hickeys that had formed on your neck as Sarah giggled.

"That was practically William's signature in college. Henry told me William had a....thing... for biting, although, now you're a big girl and getting into those kinds of activities, the proper term is a biting kink." Placing the bag on your kitchen counter and bringing out a bottle of white wine and a bottle of lemonade, pottering around to find two glasses for you.

"So...William has...this...kink?" The word felt unfamiliar on your tongue, and you had images of William choking on whatever air there was if you asked him about it without any context.

"Oh probably quite a few, and you probably do too, you just don't know it yet." You swore your cheeks burned even more at Sarah's comment, taking the white wine spritzer she had poured for you gratefully taking a sip to give you something else to focus on. "How did the lingerie go down?"

"Yeah...I think one bit of it survived." Chuckling as Sarah gasped and playfully smacked your arm, shaking her head and waggling her pale eyebrows playfully too.

"So what I'm hearing is, if you get more that might might break?"

"I..I'm thinking of maybe asking him to pick out something he likes?"

"You know William far better than you think you so, he will go feral for that."

The two of you burst into giggles as you sipped your drinks, making idle chatter about the week so far and how adorable it had been to see the girls out playing together. As the sky got darker outside and your face began to hurt from laughing and smiling with one of your new found friends, you thought about how different your life would have been if you hadn't gone to Freddy's that day and asked for a job.

How if you hadn't fallen for a prank, you might not have met William Afton.

After Sarah left and you said hello to Henry as he picked her up, slightly tipsy, you decided to get down to the project you had brought the stuff for. Opening a cupboard and pulling out a sewing machine, blowing off the dust and coughing as you made sure it was all in working order. One of the many fixations of a hobby you'd had over the years and never quite put to use.

Quietly, you hummed to yourself as you picked up the bags of fabric and began to outline a pattern. Measuring and double checking everything to make sure it would fit perfectly.

You hoped William liked it, at the least. Working away on something that had been playing on your mind for a while.

[saerins]

⋆୨ chapter one ୧˚ thorns without flowers, bars with no drinks

⋆୨ if not for you (masterlist) ⋆୨ previous: prologue - all see through just like glass <> next: chapter two - a million miles away, still you connect me in your way ୧˚

⋆୨ synopsis ୧˚ neither of you want this. both you and sae reluctantly agree to this marriage, although sae’s dissatisfaction far outweighs your own. with hidden agendas and old flames, will this ever work out between the two of you, or will your forced spark be doomed to fail?

ೀ series: sae x f!reader | wc 5k | ೀ content warnings: fluff/angst, modern au, arranged marriage, rich!sae and rich!reader, hostility on sae’s part, profanity, your marriage is not off to a very good start, both yn and sae both have other … options. | notes: ty i appreciate all of you who are reading this <3 i added everyone who asked to be tagged ^_^ lemme know if i missed you !!

The day has finally arrived. After two months of painstaking preparations, it’s your special day today. Not that your parents have given you any say on your own special day. You wonder if your future husband got the same treatment too. That is, if he was even interested in it.

Everyone has arrived, the chefs are ready, people are dressed to the nines, photographers are already snapping away. More than half the guests, most of which you barely know, have come to speak to you, to congratulate you, but it all still feels so surreal.

Is this really happening?

There’s a lot of important people in attendance today, a lot of them you don’t even know personally. Which is funny, considering that it’s your wedding. Of course, both sets of parents were in charge of the invites, and your actual friends probably only account for fifteen percent of the entire list. (With Sae’s friends, probably totaling thirty percent.) The rest are spaces filled by people in power—political, business, what have you. It’s no surprise; your parents (and you guess Sae’s as well) are great at networking, and of course these people would attend such an event—two kids of rivalling companies getting married would signify a possibly huge shift in market share, and they’d probably like to be here to witness for themselves if this is some sort of sham. If this lasts, then they’ll have to move their money around, that’s for sure.

It is kind of a sham, but you’re trying to get that out of your head. This can’t possibly be anything but a ruse to further their own gains. Parents are like that, as much as you know.

“Hey, are you sure about this? There’s still time to back out, you know?”

Beside you, your ever observant younger sister offers you a sad smile; a product of the guilt she feels because despite you not telling her, she knows you’re just trying to keep the crosshairs away from her. She must’ve realised that your feet are colder than you thought. But as far as you’re concerned, better you than her.

She has a happy relationship with one of the nicest guys she’s ever met, and the last time you’d spoken to him, he’d confessed to wanting to marry her. The only downside to it all is that your sister is way too filial—if your parents tried to force her to get married to someone of their choice, she’d give in eventually, and you don’t want that.

Besides, you don’t have anyone. No love interest, no potential suitors—what’s the worst that could happen to you? As long as Sae is decent enough of a human being, you’re sure you’ll be fine.

“I’m sure, so don’t worry about me, okay?” Your hands come up to her shoulders, squeezing slightly, offering your best and most radiant smile.

Sensing that there’s only more of your dear sister’s worry coming, you’re grateful that a timely knock comes from the doorway. You hold back a sigh of relief before turning to look at your visitor, and you stiffen up when you realise who it is.

“Is this a bad time?”

Your sister speaks up before you do. “Oh, Itoshi Sae, of course not!” There’s a sense of excitement in her voice that masks her earlier concern; it’s kind of sad that the art of faking is a necessity of living in the world you do. It’s one of the essential skills. You either fake it or face consequences. “I’m all done here, you two should talk.”

With that, she bounces out of the room, and you wonder just what kind of thoughts she’s having—her happiness is kind of infectious. Sure, Reo had said countless times that if Sae was ever a dick to you, he’d punch him in the guts for you. So far, he doesn’t have to. It’s nice that he made the time to visit you before the ceremony, it’d be nice to meet just once before after all.

“Hi, um, it’s nice to meet you.” It’s the best you can do when you’re halfway gaping at how good your future husband looks. There’s nothing that needs to be said for his face; his red-brown hair frames his face just nice, his teal eyes makes it feel like he can see right through you, and those naturally long lashes of his makes you envious. He’s wearing a simple black tux—but you know there’s nothing simple about the price tag. Not for his tux, nor for your couture wedding dress. He still looks handsome all the same, and you realise now why so many girls seem to be all over him from all those forums you’d been reading up on.

Still, as charming as he looks, he makes you slightly uncomfortable with that especially long silence, your eyes falling on his gaze, his teal eyes seeming like they’re posing you silent questions. You remain quiet, waiting for his next move. It’s almost like you submit by default.

Some foolish part of you, the hopeless romantic, is hoping you and him can hit it off right away, but even you know that’s asking for too much. Sae proves you right when he finally opens his mouth.

“I wanted to set things straight before we go through with anything.”

Just like that, with just those few words, Sae has managed to strip all the hope out of you. Nothing good can come out of those words, coupled with that monotonous tone of his. This isn’t the face of a man who’s happy to get married, and certainly not one of a man who is even willing.

Though, can you really say you are?

“I only said yes because I was forced to,” Sae tells you, not explaining more than he needs to. The line is drawn—thick with a black marker, something you can’t miss even if you wanted to. “Just play your part, act happy, and you can drop the act once we’re done with this today.”

There’s something in his bossy attitude that doesn’t sit right with you, but you’re too busy being disappointed in yourself to do anything about it. All you allow is a nod, because even without Sae saying it, you had planned to give your biggest smile later anyway, no matter how fake it is. Thing is, you had imagined that Sae was less… hostile than this. Honestly, maybe you had been hoping for him to at least put some effort into liking the situation, but from how he is now, it doesn’t look like it at all.

“Okay then, see you.”

Sae barely looks at you before he turns and walks off toward the door, right about to turn the corner when he’s stopped by your parents. Of course, they’re more than delighted to see him. They’d been convincing you hard to this arranged marriage, claiming how you’re so horrible at romance that they really are just pushing you to do this so they can have an heir early. If you ever did have a child, you can only be sure how you want to not treat them like. Your parents can be credited for that.

“You look wonderful, Sae!” Your mother is already gushing over Sae’s look as your father has his arm around him, pulling him back to the door.

“So, this is the first time you’re meeting our Y/N right? What do you think, son?” Your father has his Client Services voice switched on—after seeing him work all this time, you can distinguish it in an instant. You wonder if Sae can.

In front of your parents, you’re shocked to see that he’s already putting on an act. There’s a very subtle smile on his face—something that seems so soft and secretive, something that looks like it’s meant to be viewed by exclusive people only—and you find your own heart skipping a beat. You wonder if anyone’s ever been so lucky to be able to see that naturally.

“Your daughter is…” Sae trails off, and you find yourself swallowing the lump in your throat, inwardly asking. yourself why on earth would his opinion matter to you at all. “Pretty.”

It’s a simple word, with an even simpler meaning, and Sae doesn’t even mean it, but you find a heat creeping up your cheeks and you’re not sure why it’s so easy to appease you.

“You’re hopeless, you know that?” Reo says later on, after your parents and Sae have headed off somewhere and Reo takes their place.

Covering your head with your hands, you groan, absolutely annoyed with yourself. “Is it so wrong that I just want my future husband to remotely like me even just a little bit?”

Reo sighs, wondering what kind of luck you have to be born into a family where that isn’t even possible. Usually, people marry someone after they dated them for a while. After they can ascertain they’re good for them and that they have the capacity to put them first. Somehow, you’d been stripped of that because your parents, of all people, are the ones encouraging you to get married to someone who doesn’t love you. Hell, they even know that you and Sae don’t even know each other.

It’s pitiful, really. You’re a nice person, and Reo would shake you and convince you not to do this if he could, but it’s not like you can afford anyone to lose faith in you. If they do, how will you keep up your act? So, he’ll play his part as your best friend and just support you—he’ll deal with Sae separately if he ever dares to treat you horribly.

“Does he even know how to be nice to people?” You ponder out loud, whining, pouting as you gaze at nothing at all, the ticking of the clock making you more nervous by the second.

The wedding ceremony is half an hour away now.

Reo takes a seat beside you, leaning an elbow against your dresser. “Hmm, I heard about him from friends of friends—but all of them say he’s more of an asshole than your average person,” Reo fills you in, though you probably guessed that by yourself.

Of course, he chooses not to disclose the fact that Sae has an alleged ex he can’t get over, because what good would that do you? You’ll just get all FBI-mode and try to find her socials and find reasons you’ll never measure up and say shit like maybe that’s why Sae isn’t interested in you.

Still, you look like a hot mess and Reo has to encourage you somehow, or else you’ll end up walking up that aisle like you’re marrying Lord Farquaad. “Oi, Y/N, what I hear is he’s just a tough nut to crack.”

“I get it, Reo, I’ll probably end up talking to the wall everyday at home since my husband won’t even talk to me.”

Reo rolls his eyes, pressing his lips into a firm line and putting his hands on your shoulders, taking care not to shake you or else your hairdo will come off and he’ll have your hairdresser absolutely seething. He’s not about to try and owe her anything or else he’ll end up bald just from having to offer her a wig.

“Hey, he’s just a tough nut to crack,” he repeats, and he sighs in exasperation when you still don’t get it. “So crack him, stupid. You’re good at that, right?”

Your eyes widen at Reo’s insinuation, and even more so when you realise it’s an actual good attempt at trying to encourage you. You crack a small laugh and Reo smiles along with you—he thinks that smile looks the best on you.

“If you can crack Nagi of all people, who’s Itoshi Sae?” Reo affirms. Nagi Seishiro, the son of the dean back when all of you were in university, who wanted for nothing except laying in bed all day and playing games, somehow managed to show an interest in helping his mother with her business, and it’s all because of you. Reo still doesn’t know how you did it, but all he knows is that you’re probably magic. (No, he knows you definitely are. You were, once, his once upon a time after all.)

His words stay with you even as you walk down the aisle fifteen minutes later, arm looped around your father’s.

“Be a good wife, okay?” Your father’s words break you out of your reverie. It isn’t the normal way a father would show concern for his child. No, the way he says it is cold and sinister, like it’s a threat. He reminds you why you’ve never had a good relationship with him. “If you screw this up, we’ll all have hell to pay.”

Trust your father to drop a bomb on you right before he passes you to Sae, who receives you with a polite nod. Perhaps, his original reaction is to have no reaction at all—is that nod his form of ‘acting’?

“Dearly beloved, we are all gathered here today—”

The words are lost on you as you try to keep your head in the present. Different thoughts are invading your head from different places that you almost feel overwhelmed from the mess. You can see Sae right in front of you, staring at you, and all you can think of is how you’re going to get along with someone who looks like he doesn’t want to. Growing up with a distant father and a far-too-subservient mother gives you anxiety—what if you end up just like that? Aside from that, instead of the holy words of matrimony, all you can hear is your father’s words repeating themselves in your head.

Hell to pay? Why, exactly? Why did he let go of the flimsy excuse of simply wanting to be his daughter’s matchmaker? What’s he talking about when he involves you in a possible blowback? What’s going on?

“Anytime now, princess.”

Sae’s hushed voice snaps you out of your thoughts, and you scramble to gather yourself. “Yes, I do.”

For some reason, Sae’s hands are now around yours, and the glimmer of the diamond on your ring finger reminds you of the gravity of what you’re doing. You’re getting married—to someone you barely know, for a reason you’re somehow not privy to. You’re signing away your life to be with someone who made it clear he’s definitely not interested, who views you as a chore before he bothers to get to know you.

It all terrifies you, if only because this was not what you ever envisioned for yourself. In the audience, you see Reo’s vibrant purple eyes looking at you, a confident smile on his face, nodding as though telling you that you’ve got this. In some ways, it’s reassuring, because once upon a time, you’d thought of Reo as your Prince Charming.

In front of you—not completely oblivious to your subtle actions: trembling fingers, eyes flicking over to that purple-haired boy in the front row, your shallow breathing—Sae puts a gentle hand on your cheek, slowly guiding you to look straight at him. For his part, he has to at least make this believable, to make his parents believe that he’ll follow through with this for years and years so that they’ll never have to bother Rin. Unfortunately for you, you’re his ticket to that end. Like it or not, both of you are in this together.

“Try to look like you’re happy, at least,” Sae breathes against your lips, a soft curve on his lips just for show, as he slowly presses his lips against your own, a satisfaction washing over him as he feels you kiss him back.

Great, step one is done. Now, for the rest of the wedding.

It’s a tough sell. During the reception, you’re acutely aware of how awkward you and Sae are around each other. He tries, occasionally tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear, or offering to feed you food. It’s only because there’s a lot of eyes on both of you.

His hand on your back feels foreign, and forced, and you can’t help feeling sad that he’s not someone who cares for you. The only thing tiding you through is that it’s not necessarily that way for you too.

“You’re a horrible actress,” he whispers, low so only you can hear. He’s right, too. You really do suck at this. “If you don’t at least look happy, we’re both in trouble.”

As if you need a reminder. In some ways, his attitude is similar to your father’s, and not in a good way. It only serves to make his touch more alien.

“Hey, look who’s here,” you hear a very boisterous voice approaching.

A quick turn of your head and you can see who you assume to be Sae’s friends, because surely they’re not yours. The one approaching first looks older, dark hair with green tips, behind him another one with blonde hair and wild pink highlights.

“Hello there, beautiful,” the first one says, reaching out to grab your hand and place a kiss on the back of it.

With a click of his tongue, Sae yanks his hand off of you. “Stop playing, Oliver.”

Oliver. That name sounds oddly familiar.

“At least I wasn’t like Mr Embarrassing here who spilled the wine all over one of the bridesmaids.”

Mr Embarrassing cocks a brow, ready to challenge Oliver. But before either of them can say anything more, Sae cuts in.

“These are my friends—”

“I’m Oliver Aiku,” he introduces himself, properly reaching out his hand this time now, waiting for you to take it at your own pace. 

You stare at him dumbly for a moment before shaking it. “As in, the law firm?”

“At your service,” Oliver smirks.

Of course one of Sae’s friends is the son of the most influential law firms in the whole of Japan. Right as you’re still collecting yourself, Oliver nudges Mr Embarrassing.

Looking completely disinterested, he sighs. “Ryusei Shidou.”

“As in,” you pause for a while, afraid you might be wrong. “As in… the governor Shidou?”

Annoyed, Shidou nods anyway, and Oliver begins to tell you to excuse him because he’s in a shitty mood but you’re not really hearing any of that.

Holy crap. So that must be the infamous son of the governor, the one he keeps carefully hidden away from prying eyes. Given how he’s behaving, and how he looks completely unlike a… typical person here, you’re not that surprised. That’s probably just how tradition is, in their family. Much like how you and the Itoshis have their own as well.

The rest of the celebration goes uneasily, your anxiety forever creeping up your spine, threatening to unravel itself and have you running off to Reo for some sense of familiarity—but that won’t look well: new bride choosing to spend the entire celebration with her best friend instead of her new husband? That’ll just bode a scandal for all three of you, and with this many influential people in the room, from governors to influencers, that’s the dumbest move you can make.

“Well, you two look absolutely beautiful together!”

After your first dance, the Itoshis approach you, both of them seemingly happy on the surface, but given how Sae absentmindedly tightens his grip around your hand, you’re not so sure you should believe in the superficial. Right, because you of all people should know the complications that come with being children of such parents.

It’s like Sae realises what he’s doing before he drops your hand, acting like nothing happened at all.

“Sae. What did we discuss?” The way his father calls his name is absolutely sinister. If you didn’t know any better, you swear they feel like absolute strangers.

Fortunately for you, some other guests come by and steal their attention, both of them relegating to one of the other tables. Beside you, Sae’s jaw is clenched—he’s lost any interest in faking anything for now.

Still, you suppose, if you’re going to get along with him, you probably have to try to reach out… right? Steeling your resolve, you place your hand over his, squeezing it a little, “what was that—”

Without even letting you finish, Sae yanks his hand away, and for the first time today, you’re seeing some genuine emotion behind his eyes. 

And they’re not kind. They’re pretty, but they’re ice cold—the veins on his temple are prominent now, and he really doesn’t care if anyone sees.

“You’re my wife, only on paper,” he hisses through his teeth, still cautious in keeping his voice down. His frustration doesn’t know its boundaries, choosing to take this anger out on you. “Stop trying to poke your nose into my fucking business, we’re strangers, and that’s all we’ll ever be. Drop the act, I’m done for today.”

Just like that, he storms off, which doesn’t quite particularly cause a ruse because for a wedding held for the both of you, there’s not a lot of people here that actually care for either of you. It’s as though this wedding is just a pathetic excuse for a larger-scale networking session.

Feeling even more pathetic yourself, you make sure nobody’s looking before you slip away, retreating to the rooftop garden—you need some fresh air after being so uprightly rejected by your on-paper husband.

Back in the dressing room, Sae locks the door behind him, knowing full well you didn’t deserve to be on the other end of his temper but not being able to bring himself to just apologise. Just as well, he figures. From the looks of it, you seemed pretty hopeful for the bare minimum being a good relationship but Sae can’t see it.

He catches his reflection in the mirror, barely recognising himself. A year ago, getting married wasn’t even in his radar. He’d thought of it before, sure, but would never have guessed in his wildest dreams that he’d get married to you of all people. 

There’s always an agenda for why his parents force these things on their children. If he was a shittier brother, he’d have let them drag Rin back for all he cared. But maybe it’s the way he can’t bear for them to ruin yet another dream that he so easily gave in. Or maybe he thought that this idea wouldn’t be so bad in the first place, maybe it’ll give him the chance to want to move past certain things.

Evidently, it’s not working well.

You’re pretty, and that’s something he didn’t lie about. You really are, but that’s all he can say. He can’t say he sees anything, any hope, any reason for him to want this to work out.

Sae sits down on one corner of the bed, pulling his phone out. He scoffs upon realising he doesn’t even have your number. What kind of fucked up marriage is this? Nothing was handled for either of you, so it’s safe to say that the only thing either set of parents cared about was that this went through. 

As he looks through his phone, contemplating whether to ask Oliver or Shidou to think of an excuse to let him bail from the celebrations before it ends, a text comes in, and this time, all the anger and disappointment disappears, all that’s left is the warm feeling of nostalgia and familiarity.

The contact he hasn’t seen in his notifications for a few years now lights up his phone, and all of a sudden he feels somewhat better. Though, her message itself makes him feel complicated inside.

Sae types a couple of responses, staring at it for a few moments before rephrasing himself and sending it through.

Hours later, after the celebrations are done and both of you are forced to drive back to your new apartment together, you sit in the passenger seat, staring out the window as Sae drives, sitting in complete silence.

As much as you want to save what this marriage could be, you’re not sure where to even start after how he flared up earlier.

Sae keeps his eyes on the road, too enveloped in his own thoughts to bother even turning on the music. His eyes occasionally flick over to your figure. Your fingers are trembling. Are you scared of this all or are you just feeling cold? Either way, he can’t bring himself to care. All he cares about right now is just finding a way out of this stupid farce.

After a fifteen-minute drive, both of you arrive at the apartment building; sleek black walls on the front and twenty-storeys high. Each floor is an apartment in itself, and it doesn’t take a genius to know that only the rich and wealthy stay here. By extension, that means your neighbours are either going to be complete strangers who don’t bother each other, or annoying young kids who host parties and have to be complained against.

Both of you head up to the top floor, neither of you knowing what it’ll look like—it was a gift from both your parents, saying how they picked out the best of the best for their children, and then periodically joking about wanting grandchildren. (You and Sae had completely ignored that part of the conversation.) Sae let you carry your heavy bags on your own, choosing to avoid any sort of eye contact all the way up. He’s just busy on his phone, and you can’t help feeling a little lost.

When you reach the top floor, Sae opens up the door; it’s made of heavy mahogany, slamming right back at you after he strolls in. You take a deep breath, pushing on the door to open and barely making it in, sucking it up because the last thing you want after an entirely shitty day is to have an argument.

Sae doesn’t even stop, just keeps walking, placing his suitcase in what seems to be the master bedroom. Truthfully, you wouldn’t know; this is the first time you’re even seeing the apartment. This entire place is huge, and thanks to this being on the top floor, there’s two floors and a high ceiling. All crisp and clean, walls a bright white, full contrast to the outer walls of the apartment.

Ten seconds later, Sae comes back out, finally making eye contact as he looks at you like you’re dumb for just standing there. If he does think that, he doesn’t say it out loud.

“There’s another room at the far end down the hall, you can use that one,” he tells you, matter-of-factly, as though you wouldn’t retort. (You don’t, but it’s annoying that he takes it as a given.) “And there’s only one key, but I’ll make a copy tomorrow and pass it to you.”

How romantic. The first night of your new life together and he’s relegated you to the far end of the house to sleep alone. You’re sure it wouldn’t be past him to enforce a rule of minimum contact at this point.

“Yeah, sure.”

You’re trying not to make a big deal out of this, because what would it even amount to? It’s not like you can get out of this, or else what’ll that do? Just impact your sister. But still, it completely sucks that your husband isn’t someone you love, isn’t someone who even wants to give it a shot, isn’t someone who’s willing to make himself bearable to live with.

An exhausted sigh leaves Sae’s lips as he tosses the keys onto a tray placed carefully atop the kitchen island. “I don’t think I need to remind you, but I didn’t want this and I think neither do you,” he says, his eyebags more apparent now that some of his makeup has caked off. “So I’ll keep out of your way if you keep out of mine.”

Spoken as if he truly hates your guts.

The wariness from everything that happened earlier—the wedding, the entertaining, the scepticism, your unwilling husband. What’s supposed to be a typically happy occasion has drained the complete life out of you, though it deigns to strip your hope entirely. Some nauseatingly optimistic cell in your brain is telling you that you still have to try, that it takes longer for some people to warm up to you, that if you give up then this might really just be it for the rest of your life.

So you nod your head and force a smile, even when Sae doesn’t return it, even when you know he won’t. “Mhm, okay,” you say, obediently, even though Sae just looks on at you emotionlessly, the only sliver of human that you see in him being the slight furrow of his brows. When he turns to walk back to his room, you call a goodnight! to him. All it gets you is a grunt of acknowledgement before he slams the door once he’s in.

Trudging your bags behind you, you dump them on the floor of your bedroom. The walls are pearly white, and the dresser is huge, a top-to-bottom mirror rests on the wall next to the closet. There’s even a bathroom inside, too, though you’d bet it’s smaller than the one Sae’s room has. 

It’s all very nice. Expensive, like the suite of a five-star hotel, and decorated lavishly.

But that’s all this is.

Nice. On the surface. It’s nice only to the eyes. Yet it can’t shake the foreboding feeling inside you that nags at you, warning you that Sae is just going to get even worse as you go.

Right as you’re about to spiral into a descent, you get a text from Reo.

You smile at his offer. Maybe if this was a few years ago. Maybe if both of you had acted on it when you knew the feelings were there. It’s been too long since then, everything that could’ve been is not—but what is doesn’t seem to have any hope of working out. 

Sighing to yourself, you make a mental reminder in your head to keep trying tomorrow. After all, you’re probably the only hope this sham of a marriage has at making it.

taglist: @kimvmarvel @mxplesyrvp @yuzurins @futuristicxie @kiopanxp @k0z3me @y-sabell-a @sae1toshilover @xoxojisu @karmatiz @sagejin @minnieminnie00-got7 @hearts4heidi @shiinobu-x @n1uh @prepchuu @leeyzhuo @shidouryusm @kaiserkisser

[adiluv-moved]

omg omg going off your obsessed scara can you imagine how he'd react if you got with somebody???? boy would go crazy

❥ 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍. ˚⊹꒷

a continuation of this post.

796 words. modern au, obsessive fan behavior, stalking, suggestive, reader is not traveler, not edited.

superfan scaramouche who is initially ecstatic when your group's official accounts announce an upcoming tour within inazuma, hours that he could've—should've spend asleep instead being dedicated to scouring your accounts for venue announcements and pre-sale dates. he goes into a frenzy once the information drops, pulling all-nighters in order to secure tickets at every one of the concerts.

superfan scaramouche who has, as mentioned previously, seen you in person before—attending previous performances both within his home nation and travelling abroad to attend the tours that weren't. but, archons, he just can't control his excitement when it comes to you, having him acting as if it were his first concert.

the chance of seeing his favorite idol while going about his day-to-day, encountering you at all his favorite spots in the city, the possibility of something romantic... his delusional little mind just can't help but jump at it!

superfan scaramouche who personally visits each and every large hotel within inazuma city, convincing ꒰manipulating꒱ them into providing any information they have about exactly where you and your groupmates will be staying. he'll make sure that you, specifically, have the best room in the entire building—anonymously shelling out his own money for sake of upgrading you and you alone.

superfan scaramouche who lurks around your hotel in the same baggy clothing he'd used to disguise himself whilst meeting you, an ominous presence hidden in the crowd that can't help but unsettle you during attempts to go sightseeing before your first show. your nervous expressions are even more intoxicating in the snapshots he takes of you, tucked away in a corner of his room for personal viewing.

superfan scaramouche who has his delusions unceremoniously shattered when his lurking leads him into a bar, eyes wide as saucers and mouth agape as he watches you converse and—and kiss another man that approaches you! despite the stabbing feeling within his chest, he's left totally unable to act as the both of you—intoxicated—stumble out the doors, instead rushing home in tears and on the verge of a mental breakdown. he... doesn't sleep that night.

superfan scaramouche who eventually manages to convince himself that your betrayal is really nothing more than a one-night stand. after all, you certainly couldn't have been in your right mind꒰!꒱ allowing such an... insignificant pest to whisk you away. surely, you must've come to your senses by morning, felt so ashamed by your low standards that you'd come shamefully crawling back to your room.

... only to be proven wrong as he catches you sneaking out during the evening, face hidden beneath an oversized hoodie as you went to go entertain that miscreant yet again. he's in far worse spirits when he returns home, tearing his room apart and destroying half of his merch collection before coming to his senses.

superfan scaramouche who comes to regard this affair of yours as a mistake, even if you aren't exactly aware of it yet. nothing but a mar, if you will, on the perfection that comprises your very being. he's well versed in the dramas of the idol industry, knows well that agencies often exert total control over the lives of their idols. living beneath a ceo's thumb must get exhausting, he decides, a justifiable line of reasoning for this... act of rebellion. it's that worm's fault, really. taking advantage of somebody sweet as you—capitalizing on your naïvety.

superfan scaramouche who, as much as he doesn't want to, believes that there's merit in alerting your supervisors to your rendezvous. actions packaged under the guise of innocent concern, he emails photos of the two of you to your manager—intently eavesdropping on the commotion coming from the hotel that night. you cry until the early hours of morning, his heart aching with each muffled sob.

still, he feels no remorse for his actions, deeming your pain a necessary form of suffering. just like icarus, who flew too close to the sun, you too must learn not to play with fire—to avoid being burnt and falling from the sky.

superfan scaramouche who approaches you during one of your ꒰far more limited꒱ moments of downtime, pointing out the saddened look in your eyes and offering comfort when you vaguely detail your grievances. although there's something familiar about him and the words of praise that slip past his lips, the amount of fans you meet on a daily basis makes it impossible to place the connection—so you instead turn a blind eye and indulge in his comfort. he allows you to weep on his shoulder until your satisfied, the fabric moistened by your tears... revisited later that day.

"shh, shh... i know it hurts now, but really... this was all for the best."

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