#because without human affection and closeness and all that

[soaps-mohawk]

(i apologize in advance as this is probably gonna be long as hell. I love Price so my brain just honed in on him this latest chapter, sorry for the rant but i. am. invested.)

Since Price always has and always will be my favorite character in both canon and AUs, it breaks my heart (in a good way) to see him doubt his entire person. It almost feels like he could sit on the edge of the bed after yet another sleepless night, sigh and just go "i'm leaving the pack". Saying Simon can take over and that he never should have marked anyone, not even Kyle, because of his lifestyle and personality. Not sure if it's the same as canon in this fic, but Price has been a military man since he was a teen. He's not going to leave it, not even sure he can even if he wanted to and it has shaped him as a human. With him now being so experienced, (traumatized), mature and capable of cold hard logic, I could see him looking at the current situation and just going "this isn't working", identifying himself as the biggest reason for it not working and attempting to remove himself just as coldly as he would leave fatally wounded soldiers in the field or blowing up civilians (like in the 2019 game with the bomb hostage) because that's just what you have to do sometimes for the greater good. I could see him sitting down and having this talk with Simon over a cigar. Not sure how this AUs Simon would respond though, especially with the current situation..

A lot of focus is always on omegas (for understandable reasons) in omegaverse AUs when it comes to weakness, doubt and hurt because alphas are the strong providers and protectors with all the power, both physically and emotionally. It's nice to see fics where alphas aren't some indestructible machines that don't get affected when things happen. They're even more sensitive than omegas if you look at things close enough. Just look a little too long at their omega and they're ready to throw hands like immature teenagers.

All that to say; Even if it hurts, I'm always glad to see Price get some focus, especially as the packs leader. And always looking forward to updates!

I love long as hell asks, so bring it on!!!

Mhm mhm I agree with this 100%. John is such an interesting character to flesh out because he's totally committed to his job, even if it means sacrificing others. And now he's having to face that in this fic, not just with his team and pack, but also with 'mega. He's being hit with that reality right now. He has a lot of hard decisions to make. Does he continue with his lifestyle or does he leave the military? Does he leave the pack and live with that pain forever for the sake of doing what he's always done, or does he face the fact that his life has changed drastically and now he has to leave to take care of his pack and omega? That's a huge conflict for him in this part of the story, as well as the rest of the pack. His decision is going to change them forever, one way or another. They all have decisions to make, but they can't really do that without knowing what he's going to do.

I do 100% agree with that too. Alphas get portrayed as these big, tough people that have no emotion except provide and protect and they get watered down so much when really they'd be so emotional. Probably more-so than omegas at their core.

I love showing stuff from Price's POV. He has such a contrasting POV from 'mega and I think it's important to show kind of what's going through his head in different situations since there's so much that weighs on him and his decisions. It's also just fun to show other POVs besides 'mega's. I love exploring things from other perspectives.

[slobble-ya-diddly]

being alive already sucks so bad but now that I'm actively balding in my 20's it's getting harder and harder to rationalise staying around for this.

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

No one:

Me: Okay, but what if their relationship has nothing to do with Sonic and Tails? What if Metal literatally just saw Eggman working on Tails Doll and assumed without proof that they were created for him? What if Metal quite literally attached to Tails Doll through this assumption and then their partnership progressed naturally? What if the inorganic creations fell in love as an unorthodox power couple and just so happened to resemble a famous partnership?

[dangoulains-devotion]

every time I have to wade through inane ship wars where people are willfully ignorant to the depth and facets of cloud strife's character, circumstance, and story just so I can find some cool screenshots or fanart my 'cloud is ace' agenda simply grows more potent out of spite

[etheries1015]

We share the love language of biting. Now imagine TWST beatsfolk has that as an actual sign of courting. Like you're chilling with Leona, not dating or wooing him, and then you bite his cheek in affection. And all of Savanaclaw is shocked because among them, it's the same as i.e. proposing marriage. The utter chaos XD

OHH MY GOSSSHHH YOUR BRAIN >>> I LITERALLY LOVE THIS SO MUCH??? HAHAHA SODEFHSELKJD i'm gonna expand on that for a few characters...

Accidentally courting them

General warnings: Gender-neutral reader, not really proof read lol. Obvious Malleus and Lilia favoritism <3 I also decided that they ARE dating in this scenario, I think its cuter that way in my head heuheu

Featuring: Leona, Ruggie, Jack, Malleus, Lilia, ... and Rook HAHA.

TW: none! Just a bunch o' fluff of biting your non-human lover without realizing it was a sign of courtship <3

Leona

It was a typical day for Leona. You two were sitting in the lounge where most of the other students lingered, Leona becoming rather... possessive as of late. Instead of resting in his bedroom away from prying eyes as you had requested from your lover, he ignored all your feeble cries requesting privacy. Instead, he holds you in his lap without worrying what others are thinking. A form of showing others you were his, and his alone. You were conflicted in your feelings, staring at him. His eyes were closed, but he could feel your gaze burning into his head.

"How long are you-" Then it happened. You gave in. You gave his cheek a bit of a nibble. All of the sudden the chattering stopped, all eyes were on you, before they start patting Leonas back and giving him congrats while a few seemed to pull presents right out of their asses.

"Wha- what's going on?" Leona grumbled with a light blush before growling and pushing the face of someone who tried to hand him another gift.

"You all look like idiots! You know biting means something different to us. Don't be dumb." Okay, now you were extra confused. Seeing your utter ignorance, Leona sighed.

"Biting in our land is a sign of courtship, herbivore." ...Oh. You blush deeply and hide your face in his chest, Leona looking away flustered and ruffling your hair.

"Try again in a few years, and I just might bite you back."

Ruggie

You were walking down the halls with your boyfriend when suddenly you had the urge to just...bite him. an overwhelming sense of love and affection for the fact he had given you some of the bread he (probably legally) got ahold of. You smiled fondly at the bread and back at Ruggie before placing your mouth on the bulb of his shoulder, causing him to yelp in suprise and dropping his half of the bread.

"wha- huh?! What was that for?" He became flustered, bending over to pick up his bread and slowly move away from you with bright red cheeks. You furrowed your eyebrows and hugged yourself, almost embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I just...I dunno," Your cryptic and non specific response left him with his jaw open and eyes wide, spluttering out things like "We're still in school! I don't have the funds yet-" before a familiar fist came and knocked the back of Ruggies head. Leona stood there smiling in amusement and chuckling at you.

"I don't think they know what that means to us beastman, Ruggie." Even more confused then before, you asked for clarification.

"You just asked him to marry you with that bite of yours, herbivore." Now YOUR mouth was wide open, and Ruggie managed to get flee from the scene without much notice from you nor his senior.

Oh brother. You have a lot of communicating to do with that one.

Jack

You were sitting at the lunch table eating away at your food when you noticed...Jack's biceps. You marveled at the sight of his bulky arms- it's a wonder to you how he managed to become so strong and have the motivation to train all day. With a burst of admiration, instead of biting into your sandwich - you took a bite into his muscle. He yelped in suprise and just stared at you, face slowly turning red. Ace and Deuce laughed at his reaction, ready to ask you what was up before Jack took it upon himself to... well, flustered and rapidly spit-firing plans.

"W-we are still so young! Are you sure about this? I-i never knew our relationship was at this level!" He grabbed both of your hands and looked you in your (bewildered) eyes.

"If you're serious about this, I promise I will protect and love you for the rest of my life. But before we go ahead with the ceremony, I want you to meet my parents and get their blessings. Oh, and I need to get a stable job after we finish school first, too, so I can support you and our future. know we haven't talked about marriage before but-" You quickly cut him off in astonishment before crying out,

"MARRIAGE?! Jack, WHAT are you talking about?! I am absolutely not ready for marriage! What got into you?!"

...Queue Ruggie and Leona hysterically laughing at your utter confusion, reveling in the ignorance of it all for a few moments longer before explaining properly what you had just committed yourself unknowingly to.

Malleus

You were laying in the bed of Malleus Draconias's dorm, scrolling on your phone whilst his tail wrapped around your waist as he sat next to you reading a book. You sighed lightly and leaned your head back against the board of the mattress, turning slightly to look at your handsome fae lover. Your eyes then went down to his pale and perfect skin of his neck, the way it was free from all blemishes, smooth, and bright. Something about it made you want to taint it a light shade of red... He felt you shuffle slightly to adjust your body to be in just the right position where his neck was in full view. He glanced over to you feeling you wriggle free from his tails grasp, tilting his head seeing the look in your eyes crazed as you leaned over and just...chomped down on his collarbone.

You felt his tail twitch and his hands quickly throw the book he was reading aside to grasp your wrists, turning your body around and pinning you to the bed and carrassing your cheek with his tail.

"Biting..." He murmured, "Does this mean the same to humans as it does to Fae? You wish to be wed?" Your jaw dropped and cheeks took on a rosey hue, stuttering over yourself.

"W-wed?! I mean, I like to bite when I feel affectionate b-but marriage...I mean maybe one day b-but-"

"Biting in Fae culture is a sign of courtship and ownership. How brazen of you to mark me," he chuckled, "I shall take it you wish to own the next king of Briar Valley?" You could tell at this point Malleus was teasing you, something he picked up from the time you two have been dating.

Malleus could not help but return the favor by riddling your body with his own bite marks. Although he understood you perhaps did not have the intention of marrying him with your silly little form of affection, he knew in his mind with every bite that he was very serious about your future with him.

Lilia

Lilia already knew that biting in the human world did not mean marriage, yet was akin to something more of "cute aggression." So when you have the habit of biting him in the privacy of yours or his room, he knows you simply meant it as a form of affection, letting him know that you had an overwhelming sense of love for the old fae. He bit you back consistently on many occasions, it just seemed to be the perfect form of showing love for one another.

You didn't actually know it meant something much deeper, until you were in the diasomnia lounge and unable to control yourself as you grabbed Lilias hand and bit down gently on his wrist. You couldn't help it, he was being so entirely silly and loving towards you, that you couldn't help but show this public display of affection. Much to everyone else's dismay, however. Sebek stares at you with his mouth agape, sounds of disbelief escaping past his lips yet a sentence unable to form. Malleus as well seemed surprised at this.

"(y/n)," Malleus said, "You wish to marry Lilia?" You coughed at the sudden question and let out a feeble and awkward chuckle.

"I mean...I wouldn't mind one day, of course. We haven't really talked about it. Why the sudden question?"

"HOW DARE YOU," Sebek cried out after finally finding his words, "How dare you bite Lilia and be so insolent as to not move forward with your actions in dignity! YOU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR PROPOSAL-" Lilia started snickering, cutting Sebek off with a wave of his hand.

"It's quite alright, Sebek. Biting means something much different to humans than Fae, I suppose this is the first you had seen us put on a show of affection, hence your confusion." He turned to you, who had furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips at Sebeks sudden outburst.

"Biting, my dear, is a form of courtship to us fae. It is a sign of ownership," He chuckled.

"Why didn't you tell me that?!" You exasperated, "I mean, it wouldn't have changed anything I have done, but I would have been more careful about it... especially if it means something more to you," Lilia gracefully explained he understood it meant something slightly different to humans, before gently grabbing your hand and raising it to his mouth.

"Well, now that you understand what it means," He put your ring finger into his mouth and took a bite at the base,

"Would you like to bite me once more, my dear?"

Bonus:

Rook

You bit his arm and he immediately was on one knee.

"Was that a proposal? You know mon cheri, biting one affectionately is often a declaration of courtship-" You hit the top of his head and walked away from your interesting boyfriend.

"You're not a beastman or a fae! I'm never biting you again!" Your face red and folding your arms, turning away (ah, his cute tsundere lover.)

Oh woe is Rook! He begs and begs you to bite him more, he wants to be covered in your marks. It means you were claiming him as your own, right? RIGHT??

~~~

This was so fun to write DFSEFDSFIHSLDKJF thank you for the brain rot heuheuheueheueh

Masterlist

[deadsetobsessions]

Alley Drunk! Danny AU- Part 1

[Pt.2] [Pt.3] [Pt.4]

To not turn into a giant raging asshole hell bent on murdering people and destroying the world after everyone he loved died, Danny had ran from Amity with his chosen vice.

A bottle. That’s right. Even after Jazz’s talks about alcoholism as a poor coping mechanism as a form of self harm, he still chose alcohol. Or maybe that’s why he picked it, because it reminded him of her, right before the booze took the sting of grief off of her memory. He was never really all that good at listening to Jazz.

And now she’s gone, so it’s moot point. Danny really hated Nasty Burger.

Danny made it all the way to Gotham, bottle constantly glued to his hand. It’s better than Vlad’s creep-o-self looming over him all of the time. He bummed out on the streets, fitting into crime alley like a native. Danny learned to pickpocket. Not much, just enough for a bottle when his ran out. He stayed human. At first he tried to convince himself that it was because he didn’t want to be perceived as a meta in a city where Batman notoriously disliked metas. Then, as he sunk deeper, he admitted to himself in a shameful curl of a whisper that it was really because alcohol affected his human side much easier.

Ghosts need an ungodly amount of alcohol to even get slightly buzzed. Danny’s human side? Only one full bottle the shittiest tequila he could find could even hope to be more than buzzed. It sucked.

He’s spent two years being an alcoholic that didn’t actually get that drunk. Technically, underage drinking was a crime. But then again, so was being a vigilante ghost. So, whatever. He does what he can to dull the grief. Mostly, he slept on covered and hidden nooks on top of Crime Alley’s roofs. Gotham city had taken pity on him and cleared her smog clouds when he was awake at night. Stargazing helped, at least. It gave him a little hope. It gave him a little wish to change and better and live like he wants. But then the night ends and when the day comes, Jazz isn’t there. Sam isn’t there. Tucker isn’t there. His mom and dad are not there.

Danny always went back to the bottle, in the end. Not that it did much.

Which was why, when he saw three looming figures over a tiny child, Danny’s saving people thing flared with a vengeance and his surprised ectoplasm burned what little buzz he had achieved by downing most of the bottle away, leaving him stone cold sober and pissed.

Danny sighed, dumping the rest of the nasty tasting liquid out. There’s no point drinking that little.

He approached the trio, who were beating up an actual child. Ancients, he hated Crime Alley sometimes.

“Give me your shit, you little punk!” Asshole 1 decided to say like a typical mugger, raising his leg to kick the curled up kid below. Danny doesn’t let him land the kick, smashing the bottle on the asshole’s head before any of them clocked his presence. He pivots, pushing a bit of that extra strength he normally keeps on a tight leash into his hands, and punched the other two in a quick fashion, knocking them out.

With that taken care of, Danny turned back to the kid who was still curled up. Danny sighed again, the trembles in small shoulders plucking on his heartstrings.

“You okay, kid?”

The kid uncurls, and Danny stared. Holy shit, is he looking into a mirror? Blue eyes, black hair, and tanned skin. Holy shit, he’s even got similar jaws to Danny.

“Huh.”

The kid flinched.

“Y-y’er the drunk,” the kid flinched again, eyes darting to the broken bottle still clenched in Danny’s hand. “I- I ain’t got money, honest. Please-”

Danny blinked down at the kid, brain connecting the dots after so long without actual interaction. He’s panicking and staring at the bottle in Danny’s hand like it’ll kill him. Danny raised the bottle and the kid closed his mouth with a click, terror worming its way into the kid’s eyes.

“I wasn’t going to mug you myself, kid.”

“But- y’er the- the Alley drunk.”

Danny blinked. Did he get a reputation without knowing again? Goddammit.

“I guess. Am I famous or somethin’?”

“Nobody- nobody fucks wit’ ya.”

“I also don’t hurt kids.”

“…”

The kid stared at him dubiously and with a sinking feeling, Danny realized that maybe the kid already had some terrible experiences with a heavy drunken hand. He promptly chucks the bottle further into the alley.

“I drink, yes. But I’m also not the kind of scum that would lay hands on a kid, let alone anyone that didn’t provoke it first.”

“Oh.” The kid uncurled more, looking at Danny warily, more at ease now that the bottle has left the chat.

“Yeah. I’m Danny. Stone cold sober, right now.”

“…”

Danny waited.

“Peters.”

“Okay. Peters, do you wanna take their shit?” Danny pointed a thumb at the knocked out would-be-muggers behind him.

“Y… yeah, sure. What’s my cut?”

“All of it.”

Peters stared.

Danny shrugged and started looting.

"Y'er so fuckin' weird."

----

See, the thing is, Danny hadn't anticipated saving Peters- "'s actually Jason"- would result in having a duckling following him around. The kid, Jason, glared at everyone who even looked at them wrong. But that's not the problem, because Danny could take anyone who took issue with Jason's looks, it's more like there's a child following him around now and Danny doesn't want to be the reason Jason turns into an alcoholic. It's- well, it made him cut down on the drinking. He even got jobs- legitimate jobs that sucks out his his poor ectoplasmic soul.

Why? Because Jason's apparently homeless. While that's something Danny's okay with for himself, he can't ever condone that for an actual child. Jason's walking around in threadbare clothes and thin soled shoes in the middle of Fall, for Ancient's sake.

Danny grumbles as he piled a bunch of clothes into the shopping bag as he checked out. Gotham's Walmart is a different kind of hell, but Danny feels right at home.

Sure, the work might suck out his soul and he might hate being sober, but Jason's face every time he comes home to an actual place to live, warm clothes, and food was worth everything.

[certifiablyinsanez]

I am haunted by the detailed, completed map of Hell that Edwin took notes on. You don’t understand, it makes me sick. It’s one thing to have a basic layout, a vague idea, or a rudimentary map but it was meticulously detailed. Down to doors and what they do and where they go. Down to secret spaces in the walls. He even knew what ringing an innocuous bell would do. It can only mean one thing. We don’t know when Edwin began trying to escape, but assuming he started from the get go, it means that he spent all his decades in Hell trying to find a way out. He never stopped running. And that is assuming he never stopped. From his second trip, we could see he resorted to his old ways and ran. But he was eventually caught, reduced to pieces. Even when Charles showed up, he didn’t seem very optimistic about their chances. He could feel every second of those 70 years. There were likely many times he fell to hopelessness, trembling in the corner watching himself be desecrated knowing it was going to happen again and again. How long? How many times did he try to be so, so quiet, hoping he would have a few moments before the next round? How many times did he muster the ability to run, just one more time? How long did it take him to run, discovering the ends of each ring? How many times did he sprint up, down, north, south, east, west, trying to escape? And what happened when he finally escaped? How long did it take for him to be able to relax, even a little? Because he can never relax. He must always outrun Death and her constituents because he can’t count on them to be fair. How many times does he look over his shoulder, waiting for the monster to claim its eternal meal once again? His breath of fresh air, his first taste of companionship in ages not only keeps him company, but sticks by him. And then, in that blessing there comes a curse, because now you have something to lose. Because when you taste ambrosia how can you return to starvation? He feels safe with Charles. Happy and comfortable, but the threat always lingers. And he knows that Charles couldn’t fend off Death. He never considered he could fend off Hell beasts; after all, he’s just a ghost kid. He watches innocents be slaughtered on repeat, unphased by the level of violence but no less affected by it, because no one has even a clue what it takes to be this kind. Even at his most happy, he has so, so much to lose and he goes back to Hell when hope was dangled in his face like the fruit of Tantalus. When he returns, he’s subjected to Hell once again, sustaining through torture that obliterates souls, only to watch his best friend, his confidant, his platonic soulmate, die horrifically. This woman who gave him sea-glass courage, so powerful and yet so fragile. Allowed him to be himself, gave him permission to do so. Was the openness to his closed self, and now she is gone. And he retains his composure, his stiff, British posture because it is what has saved him from madness and Despair, protected him, and now the world is darker without Niko Sasaki in it. But surely he saw this coming. After all, humans are messy. And yet, he shows up for their souls, time and time again.

Edwin Payne is THE character.

[ariaste]

So excited to announce my next book, YIELD UNDER GREAT PERSUASION, coming out on September 17th! If you've never read any of my books before, no worries--this is a standalone, so you can jump right in without any extra context. (The stunning cover art is by the amazingly talented @holographings -- go check out all his other art!)

"Alongside the sexiness and absurdity (and the sexy absurdity) in Yield Under Great Persuasion is a tender, resonant story of second and third chances and being loved when we need it most and feel we deserve it least. Evocative, emotional, and endlessly entertaining." —Jules Arbeaux, author of Lord of the Empty Isles

SUMMARY:

Tam Becket has hated Lord Lyford since they were boys. The fact that he’s also been sleeping with the man for the last ten years is irrelevant. When they were both nine years old, Lyford smashed Tam’s entry into the village’s vegetable competition. Nearly twenty years later, Tam still hasn’t forgiven the bastard. No one understands how deeply he was hurt that day, how it set a pattern of small disappointments and misfortunes that would run through the rest of his life. Now Tam has reconciled himself to the fact that love and affection are for other people, that the gods don’t care and won’t answer any of his prayers (not even the one about afflicting Lyford with a case of flesh-eating spiders to chew off his privates), and that life is inherently mundane, joyless, and drab. But then, the very last straw: Tam discovers that Lyford (of all people!) bears the divine favor of Angarat, the goddess Tam feels most betrayed and abandoned by. In his hurt and anger, Tam packs up and prepares to leave the village for good. But the journey doesn’t take him far, and Tam soon finds himself set on a quest for the most difficult of all possible prizes: Self care, forgiveness, a second chance... and somehow the unbelievably precious knowledge that there is at least one person who loves Tam for exactly who he is—and always has.

This book might be for you if:

You like enemies-to-lovers but you think it would be improved by being a one-sided situationship, and meanwhile the other person is living through a "hopelessly yearning for childhood crush" trope

you like it when two people are so, so, so stupid that they've been fucking for 10 years and Person A hasn't figured out that Person B is in love with him, and Person B hasn't realized that Person A doesn't even know about his feelings

You know how fucking hard it is to Do The Work In Therapy and you want some catharsis about it

you want to read about an imperfect, truly difficult person who still gets loved, because being perfect is not a requirement to deserve affection and care

you know that merely saying sorry for wronging someone doesn't just magically take away the bad feelings and automatically repair the relationship, and you want to read about someone having to do the extra steps that come after the apology

this one's for the wlw: fat harvest goddess milf. my gift to u

you like gods who don't have anything better to do than stick their noses into human business

when you see a gorgeous man holding an infant, it takes you out at the knees

you like queernorm fantasy AND small-town gossip, and you find the intersection of the two delicious and intriguing

a religion based on pre-Christian Brythonic England. That is, they've got henges and standing stones instead of churches and altars. it's cool

plant magic!!!!!

"god of temptation and evil"? No, actually that's the god of self-indulgence, self-care, personal boundaries, and taking responsibility for the consequences you consented to.

You can preorder it in ebook, hardback, and paperback from most retailers (with more coming soon), but if you'd like to order an autographed copy from me directly, just fill out this form! :) Signups for autographed copies close on August 31st, so hurry hurry hurry if you want to nab yours!

(Signal boosts are very much appreciated! 🙏)

[latin5mamii]

warm.

warnings: long chapter but i think you like them

genre: fluff, cuddle session

summary:A cuddle session with your needy boyfriend is just more than enough.

author's note:I know i've been inactive these days but with school and everything it's just impossible😔...but here you go this fluffy and comforting one -shot that i hope you'll like! If you have any other fluff idea about Jude or any other player that i write for please let me know!🤍 ( i need to write fluff these days...)Plus please don't ask about the third pic please...

·　　•　　　·　　　.　　　　　　　　　·　　　.　°　　　★　.　　·　　　 　　　•　·　　°　　　·☆.　*✷　✶°　　　*　　　°　•　　　✯　　　　　 •　*　　**　.　　　.°　　°　　°　　　.　　　　.*　.　　　　　　　　

“C’mere,” Jude murmured, his arms open wide, just for you.

You stood in the doorway, watching him sprawled out on the bed, his head propped up on one arm, the other patting the empty spot beside him. His eyes met yours, a lazy grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Without a word, you walked over, crawling under the covers next to him. Before you could fully settle in, he was already pulling you close. His arms wrapped snugly around your waist, pulling you against his chest, your legs tangling under the blankets.

“You’re warm,” you mumbled, pressing your face into the crook of his neck, the familiar scent of him immediately soothing.

Jude chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Good, because you’re always cold,” he teased, his fingers tracing slow patterns across your back. “You’re like a little human ice block.”

You laughed softly, nudging him with your knee. “Rude.”

“Just being honest,” he said with a grin, pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head. “But lucky for you, I’m always warm, so it works out.”

You rolled your eyes playfully but couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face. The two of you settled into a comfortable silence, the kind where no words were needed. His fingers continued their lazy journey along your spine, the rhythm of his breathing steady and soothing.

After a few moments, you felt him shift beneath you, his hand sliding down to your hip as he pressed a kiss to your temple. “Missed you today,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

His words were soft, almost like an afterthought, but they made your heart swell. You smiled against his neck, your breath warm against his skin.

“I missed you too,” you murmured back, your voice quiet, almost as if you didn’t want to disturb the peaceful bubble that had formed around the two of you. You shifted a little, resting your head more comfortably against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath your cheek. It was a rhythm you had grown to love, one that never failed to calm you.

Jude’s arms tightened around you ever so slightly, like he was afraid you might slip away if he didn’t hold on just a little closer. His hand moved up to your hair, fingers threading through the soft strands in gentle strokes. You could feel the quiet affection in his touch—unhurried and patient, the kind that didn’t need words to be understood.

You melted at his touch, leaning into him as he pressed a kiss to the corner of your mouth, soft and lingering. There was something about the way Jude kissed you, like he had all the time in the world, like nothing else mattered but the moment you were in.

His lips trailed down to your jawline, leaving a series of gentle kisses that made your heart race just a little faster. You sighed contentedly, your fingers slipping into his curls, twirling the soft strands between your fingertips.

“You always do that,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

“Do what?” you whispered back, a small smile tugging at your lips.

“That,” he breathed, his hand sliding down to your hip, his thumb gently tracing circles through the fabric of your shirt. “You play with my hair when you think I’m asleep.”

You chuckled softly, your fingers stilling for a moment before brushing another curl away from his forehead. “I like the way it feels,” you admitted, your voice quiet, almost shy.

Jude hummed, a deep sound of contentment vibrating through his chest. “I like when you do it,” he whispered, his lips brushing the skin just below your jaw. “Feels nice.”

You smiled against his skin, your fingers continuing their gentle motions. Jude’s thumb sketched lazy circles on your hip, and you could feel his breathing slow, as if he was on the edge of falling asleep. The room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of the sheets and the occasional sigh from him. Your fingers continued their slow dance through his hair, your mind wandering to how easy this felt, being wrapped up in him, his presence always so steady and reassuring.

After a while, Jude’s voice broke the silence again, this time softer, almost like he wasn’t fully awake. “Stay like this… don’t move.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” you whispered back, leaning in to press a kiss against his collarbone.

He exhaled softly, his arms tightening just a fraction around you, as if he wanted to keep you even closer than you already were. It was in moments like this that you realized how much he craved the quiet, the stillness.

“I mean it,” he murmured after a beat, his voice low and drowsy. “Don’t want to fall asleep if you’re not here.”

You smiled at his words, feeling the warmth in your chest grow even more. It wasn’t the first time he’d said something like that, but it never failed to tug at your heart. Jude had a way of making the simplest moments feel like they held the entire world. His need for you wasn’t loud or overwhelming, but quiet and steady, like the beat of his heart beneath your cheek.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you repeated softly, shifting slightly to tilt your head up to look at him. His eyes were half-closed, his lashes brushing the tops of his cheeks, and his lips were curled into that soft, lazy smile you adored.

He blinked slowly, eyes barely open, but you could still see the glint of affection in them. “Good,” he murmured, his thumb resuming its slow, rhythmic circles on your hip. “Because if you did, I’d have to chase you down.”

A laugh bubbled up from your chest at the thought. “You? Chase someone down? You can barely get out of bed in the morning.”

Jude huffed, his sleepy smile widening into a grin. “I’d chase you for sure. Might take me a while, but I’d get there eventually.”

You giggled, resting your chin on his chest and looking up at him with a playful gleam in your eyes. “Oh yeah? How long do you think it’d take you?”

He squinted as if he were seriously considering the question, his fingers still idly tracing patterns along your back. “Depends on how fast you’re running. If you’re sprinting, maybe an hour. If you’re walking, I’d say… ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes? You think I’m that slow?” You gasped in mock offense, gently poking him in the side.

Jude’s body shook with quiet laughter as he caught your hand and pulled it to his chest, keeping it there. “Nah, it’s not that you’re slow, it’s just that I’d be really motivated. I’d catch you quicker than you think.”

“Oh, so you’d be fast for me?” you teased, your smile widening as you watched the way his eyes crinkled at the edges.

“For you? I’d be unstoppable,” he replied with a sleepy confidence, his free hand moving up to cup your cheek. His thumb brushed over your skin in a way that made your heart skip a beat. “Nothing could keep me from catching you.”

You felt a soft blush rise to your cheeks at his words, and you buried your face back into the crook of his neck to hide it. Jude always knew how to say the right thing, even when he was half-asleep. It wasn’t fair.

“You’re ridiculous,” you mumbled into his skin, your lips brushing against his collarbone.

“And you love it,” he teased, his voice low and warm.

You smiled against his neck. “Maybe.”

“Not maybe. Definitely,” he said with a lazy grin, and you could feel the rumble of his laugh in his chest. “You definitely love it.”

You huffed, pretending to be annoyed, but you couldn’t wipe the smile off your face. Jude had a way of getting under your skin, but in the best possible way. He was right—you did love it. You loved the way he teased you, the way he made you laugh, the way he held you like you were something precious. It was all so easy with him, so natural.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” you muttered, your voice muffled by his neck.

He chuckled, his chest vibrating beneath your cheek. “I know. That’s why I get away with so much.”

You lifted your head just enough to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, so you admit it? You know you get away with stuff?”

Jude gave you an exaggeratedly innocent look, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a grin. “Who, me? I’m an angel.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “An angel, huh? You’re more like a menace.”

He gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as if you’d wounded him. “A menace? That’s harsh. I’m deeply offended.”

You rolled your eyes, but your heart swelled at the sight of him being so playful, so at ease. Moments like this, where it was just the two of you tangled up in each other, teasing and laughing, made you realize how lucky you were to have him. He made everything better, even the quiet moments.

“Okay, fine. You’re not a menace,” you conceded, resting your head back on his chest. “But you’re definitely not an angel either.”

“I’ll take that,” Jude murmured, his hand drifting back to your hair, his fingers resuming their gentle strokes. “As long as you’re here, you can call me whatever you want.”

 You didn’t need to say anything else, didn’t need to fill the silence with more teasing or banter. Just being here with him was enough ,more than enough.

·　　•　　　·　　　.　　　　　　　　　·　　　.　°　　　★　.　　·　　　 　　　•　·　　°　　　·☆.　*✷　✶°　　　*　　　°　•　　　✯　　　　　

[sorcerersandskillusers]

I want to talk about one of the most terrifying and interesting bsd characters who almost no fan remembers.

This character nearly tore down the ADA without ever getting involved herself, yet the entire fandom has ignored her because of her terrible anime adaptation.

Who am I talking about?

Nobuko Sasaki

If you haven't read Dazai Osamu's Entrance Exam, then you probably don't even know who this character is, in the anime she is watered down to the lovesick girlfriend of an actual villain, and you probably dismissed her immediately. But in the light novel, we get to see how dangerous and cunning she really is, to the point she nearly gets the better of Dazai and almost causes the ADA to be shut down. (Fukuzawa says he would have closed the agency if they hadn't caught her)

In terms of intelligence I'd put her on the same level as Mori, just slightly below the super human genius characters i.e. Dazai, Fyodor and Ranpo

The Azure Apostle

For those who don't remember, Sasaki was the Azure Apostle, a mysterious figure who challenged the agency with several horrifying cases, which would all lead to mass casualties if the agency failed to stop them. These were; uncovering an underground organ smuggling operation (which the agency failed to stop and which massively hurt their reputation) stopping a bombing of Yokohama port which could have killed hundreds of people, and preventing a commercial aeroplane from crashing into the city (this was not included in the anime)

Each of the people, who committed these crimes, had no Idea they were being manipulated and thought it was their own idea the whole time. There was no evidence that anyone else had been involved at all, and the agency had no way to connect her to any of the crimes. And she even makes the genius move of framing Dazai, the mysterious new member with suspicious knowledge of the underworld and a hidden past, as the true culprit.

In fact, she only made one mistake, challenging Dazai. If Dazai had been basically anyone else, they would have been cornered and arrested, but since Dazai's mind works on a level even master strategists can't imagine, he was able to turn the tables on her.

But even after Dazai sees through her plans, the ADA still has to act exactly the way she wants them too and stop the plane crash. Even when they know they're being manipulated, they still have to do exactly what she wanted.

Finally, after Dazai and Kunikida confront her and get her to admit to being behind all those crimes, even then they are powerless to stop her.

Even after being involved with so many massive crimes, Sasaki herself hadn't done anything illegal, so within the law the ADA is completely powerless to stop her.

They can't arrest her, and if they try then the agency will be put in even more danger as will many innocent lives. She has completely trapped the ADA, and even Dazai in a choice to follow the law and let her go or take justice into their own hands and prove they will stoop as low as she did.

In the end, there she has them in a perfect deadlock, let her continue her mission, or kill her themselves. Both are bad outcomes for the ADA.

In the end, Dazai has her killed by using a third party (Rokuzo) to shoot her, so the agency can't be blamed for her murder, though this ends her plans it deeply scars Kunikida and shakes his resolve in his ideals.

The trauma from this event still haunts Kunikida to this day, we see that when he is affected by Q's curse, Sasaki is who he sees.

So thats the Azure Apostle, a terrifying master mind who nearly brought down the Armed Detective Agency, but now lets look at the other side of this character.

Nobuko Sasaki Herself

We know several things about Sasaki as a character and her history from the light novel. That she was a brilliant criminal psychologist and was internationally recognised despite being so young

,that she was the ex-lover of the Azure King and the real mastermind behind his plans, and that she had very little motivation of her own.

That's not meant to be an insult to the character, she says herself that she never really had much direction in life, even with her incredible intelligence she never really had anything she wanted to achieve.

But the Azure King was the opposite, he had powerful drive and strong ideals, he wanted to punish criminals who couldn't be touched by the law and when he failed to change the law as a bureaucrat, she offered him an alternative.

A very important thing here is that neither of them were manipulating or forcing the other into this path, as far as we see they genuinely loved each other, each providing something the other couldn't, Sasaki her mind and the Azure King his drive.

When the Azure king died, Sasaki had no path of her own to follow, so she simply kept following his, even though she doesn't seem to have really cared about his cause.

All of this creates a very unique character, you can't say she was driven by revenge, because she wasn't really driven at all. It's more like she was running on momentum, she had chosen a path to follow and could not stop even though there was nothing pushing her down it any more.

She's a perfect antithesis of Kunikida and was the best possible villain a light novel about him could have had.

A man who brings his ideals into reality with his own hands against a woman who uses others to enforce ideals that were never hers to begin with.

Anyway, I made this because Sasaki is criminally underrated in this fandom, If you haven't read "Dazai Osamu's Entrance Exam" I highly recommend it, I've only put a tiny fraction of the amazing story here.

[greyskyflowers]

I have found there's very specific things I just really enjoy in fics about Edwin and Charles's romantic relationship.

So, I honestly just can't picture Charles anything other than very inexperienced at intimacy but so excited. Like a teenager feeling up his first girlfriend in the back of a car or under the bleachers. Excited, nervous, eager to please and just kind of in awe of being able to touch someone like that. He's got almost no idea what he's doing but he's 100% open and willing to learning.

I think he always ends up smiling into kisses, a little lopsided grin that's pleased as hell. He always offers a bunch of little encouragements and comforts You're doing great. I know it's a lot but I've got you. You feel good.

And lots of nipping, bites, and marks because no one will ever convince me Charles is not a hickey man.

Charles thrives on positive feedback and Edwin makes sure to always give praise.

Edwin is just kind of overwhelmed with intimacy. Being intimate with someone is a lot, especially if you haven't had it before and you've kind of built it up in your head.

So, I always feel like Edwin is in this constant closer no that's too close wait come back push and pull of anxious affection that has him leaning into every touch even though he's also trying to pull away at the same time.

Lots of bitten off noises, hums and gasps. He touches like he's scared he's going to break something or it's all going to disappear.

If they have to stop because it gets to be too much for Edwin, Charles doesn't ever look upset. He's pleased as hell to be doing any of this. He can't think of anything Edwin could ever do to disappoint him.

Careful, light, sure touches because the only intimacy they both really have is terrible. Edwin with the boys who held him down and hell. Charles with his dad.

I think Charles shows his love by loving someone and Edwin shows his love by letting himself be loved.

Charles wasn't able to show love to his family or his friends, who weren't friends at all. I personally imagine he had lots of girls he messed around with while he was alive with but it never went beyond that into something serious.

He can't show his love to humans, like Crystal, because it makes them look crazy. He can't hold a living girl's hand in public without her getting looks. They can't kiss or even talk with other living humans around without it being strange.

He can show his love to Edwin in a way he can't show it to anyone else.

Edwin is proud to be seen with Charles. He can talk and touch and be with Charles regardless of who's around. I personally like the idea that ghosts can feel other ghosts, as if they were living people or something close to that.

So, being with Edwin feels like he's with Edwin.

I just think once the ice is broken on what their relationship is, that he'd be all over it. Holding hands, quick kisses, hugs, sitting next to each other or all tangled together. Also a big fan of Charles coming up behind Edwin, wrapping his arms around his waist and hooking his chin over his shoulder to watch whatever it is he's doing.

Edwin didn't have close friends or family when he was alive, at least that we're aware of. Then he spent decades in hell where his only touch was painful, terrrifying, never ending.

Letting someone touch him, put him in such a vulnerable position physically and emotionally, is a big ask. That's why he's never done it or seem to have even contemplated it until he realizes his feelings about Charles.

He lets Charles touch him, and protect him, and know him more than anyone one else living or dead. It's easy to open himself up for Charles to love him.

I also feel like there's such a comfort level there that Edwin could say I think I'd like to try *insert action here* and Charles would be like yep yep we can do that or Charles could say I've always wanted to try *insert action here* and Edwin's like okay I'll find a book and read up on it with a fluttering of anxious excitement.

Do I also personally like to think bdsm dynamics, sexual and/or nonsexual, are present in their relationship? Yes. Absolutely. 100%.

[cressidagrey]

Looked to the Sky - Chapter 20 (The End)

Summary: 

Eira Archeron was neither a Valkyrie, nor a Seer, nor the High Lady of the Night Court. She was, however, Azriel‘s mate with her own mysterious, untrained powers.

Also known as: Azriel tries to court his mate the human way.

Warnings: 

THIS IS THE LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE SEQUEL! SO READ THAT FIRST IF YOU WANNA READ THIS ONE OTHERWISE THIS MAKES NO SENSE!

Definitely NSFW and without @k-godling this would have never happened.

(super pretty dividers by @tsunami-of-tears)

Bluebell Cottage. Finally, finally, blessed silence. 

It wasn’t that they didn’t love their family. They did. But they could be a lot and right now, Eira could really do with some….quietness. And if that involved Azriel…even better. 

Eira couldn’t help the shocked laugh as he hefted her up in his arms like she weighed nothing though, carrying her towards the front door. 

“What are you doing? I can walk!” she protested, still giggling. 

“One more human tradition,” Azriel responded with a grin. “Isn’t supposed to carry the bride over the threshold?” 

She couldn’t help but laugh, but leant back against his solid chest as he did carry her towards the blue front door. 

“You are aware that humans do it because they think the big bad faes will otherwise get them?” she asked him with another giggle. 

Azriel huffed. "Well, I'm a big, bad, scary fae male," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "So I believe it to be appropriate."

He reached the door, the shadows opening and then closing it behind them.

"You aren't scary," she disagreed, softly, leaning up to brush a kiss against his jaw. He was her husband now. She was his wife. And they were finally in the privacy of their home. If it was appropriate to kiss him anywhere, then here it was.

Azriel smiled, a soft, tender look that sent a wave of affection through her chest, and he reached the living room. He moved to put her down but she kept a hold of the jacket he was.

"Let's go upstairs," she said softly, biting her lip. Her stomach was knotting with nervousness and... something else. Lust. Excitement. The knowledge of what they were going to do...Gods, she was almost shaking with it.

Eira didn't want to wait. She didn't want to sit down or do some other innocent, mundane, domestic task. She just wanted him. She wanted all of him.

She was practically shaking now, her heart thudding in her chest hard. She was sure Azriel could feel the way it was racing...the way her blood was singing for him.

Azriel looked at her, and though there were still traces of that soft, soft smile on his face, his eyes had darkened. His wings flared wide behind him.

He knew. He knew what she was thinking, what she was wanting…and the way he looked at her made it clear that it was reciprocated. Then Azriel was moving, striding across the room to the stairs, his steps hard and purposeful as he reached them. In a heartbeat, they'd moved up the stairs and into the bedroom, the door closing behind them.

"Tell me what you want, Eira," Azriel said softly as he put her down on her own two feet.

She couldn't reply at first, her words catching in her throat as she looked up into his eyes, the hazel so dark they were almost black.

"I want you," she said, her voice soft. "I want all of you. I'm...I'm your wife now. I belong with you. I want...I want everything."

He tipped her chin up, pressing a soft kiss against her lips. "Everything?" he asked her, his voice soft and velvety. "Everything, Sweetheart?"

Eira felt her legs almost shake a little at the sound of that voice, the way his breath tickled against her skin as he spoke. She felt almost light-headed, the heat of his body and the scent of his skin and the sound of his voice all combined into an almost dizzying combination that left her blood practically on fire.

And...gods...he hadn't even touched her yet.

But first... "I got you something," she blurted out.

Azriel pulled back at that, his eyes wide and the look in his eyes almost comically confused.

"You did?" he said, his voice full of bewilderment as he stood there, his hands still resting gently around her waist.

"Yes, I..." she trailed off, her eyes moving to the shadows, giving them a nod, only for them to appear with that brown paper bag moments later. "I hope it's...right," she warned him. "I needed to ask both Cassian and your mother for help," Eira explained as she broke off a piece of that particular Illyrian Candy that involved nuts and honey, and held it out for him. Peanut Honey Toffee. 

Azriel looked down at the piece of candy, then back up at her, his expression a mixture of utter confusion...and deep, overwhelming endearment.

"You...got this for me?" he asked softly, staring at the piece of candy with wide eyes.

"I made it for you. Your mother gave me the recipe when I had Cassian send her a letter," Eira said quickly. "I thought I was supposed to make food for my mate. I hope this also counts," she asked, her voice trembling, as she lifted that piece to his mouth.

Azriel's expression softened even more, all but melting...as he opened his mouth, and let her feed him the piece of candy. Which she did, gently placing it against his lips before he slowly, gently took it into his mouth. His eyes widened at the taste, and a quiet, almost guttural growl escaped his throat.

She felt it. The moment he swallowed...that bond between the two of them blew wide open. And she could feel him. Could feel his elation and adoration, his love for her, his nervousness, his want...His pupils were blown wide and she could only stare at him, her knees trembling, as it felt like pure heat shot straight to her core.

The effect seemed mutual, judging by the way Azriel reached out, almost roughly pulling her against him, his arms going around her.

His lips crashed against hers, harsh and needy and absolutely devouring her mouth, and gods she couldn't even think, her knees buckling, her mind spinning, as she tried to kiss him back, clinging to him as if he was the only thing keeping her tethered to the earth.

"Please tell me I can get you out of this dress," he requested, his voice hoarse. "Please, Eira."

She could only nod, the words failing her as she clutched at him, her eyes going wide and dark and a whimper leaving her lips.

"Yes," she gasped, her skin practically burning, almost overwhelmed with just how much she wanted him right now. "Yes, please," she pleaded.

Later she wondered where he got that patience from. Later she wondered how exactly, he managed to open the two dozen tiny pearl buttons down her spine, without destroying even a stitch of her dress. How he managed not to shred it right then and there, because she wanted him so much and even just holding still, while he pressed kiss after kiss to her neck was enough to make her tremble, her hands clenching into fists.

Later she would have plenty of time to marvel at just how patient and attentive her mate was. How despite the heat and lust and need between the two of them that burned like fire, he was still being slow and careful, despite the obvious signs that his self-control was wearing thin.

But in the moment? She couldn’t even focus on anything. She was just too aware of how hard he was breathing against her neck, the way his kisses started feeling like burns against her skin…

"Bed," he said, his voice rough and low and she shivered.

There were no words. No more words left in her, as her heart thundered in her chest. The bond between the two of them was a living thing right now, a tangible thing, as she could feel his need and want. And she was certain he could feel her own.

So rather than speak she just nodded, clutching at his arms as he lifted her up, and carried her over to the edge of the bed.

He was so gentle, so careful, as he placed her back down. Her dress was a mess, a tangle of fabric pooling around her, the bodice open and the skirt ruffled.

But all she cared about was the way he looked at her, her mate, her husband, her everything, looking down at her like she was the most precious thing he’d ever seen.

He pulled down her dress, near reverently, picking it up and placing it carefully on a chair across from the room, leaving her in scraps of white silk and lace that she had thought would be…

She had thought they would be seductive. Or maybe she had hoped it…hoped that it would…that Azriel would like them. But all they made her feel like was...vulnerable. Exposed. 

However as he crossed back to the bed, there was a sharp shiver of want through her. 

He stopped in front of her, his eyes roaming over her as if he was studying every inch, studying every part of her, his eyes darkened. Maybe he did like the lace… And then his hands were on her knees, gently pulling them apart, until she was exposed to him, sitting there on the bed, wearing nothing more than scraps of lace.

She felt weak. Vulnerable. Aroused…and her mate was looking down at her like he was starving.

His eyes were almost wild as he looked at her, his body taut, his wings flared out as he inhaled deep, a low, guttural, rasping sound coming from his throat.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” he managed to say, his voice rough and hoarse. “I didn’t even know it was possible for someone to be this beautiful…”

She couldn’t answer, could only swallow…but she did fist her hands into the fine fabric of the jacket he wore and pulled him down to cover her with his body... Just to feel his weight, the warmth of him. 

To breathe in the scent of cedars and winter…and somehow that calmed that bond throbbing with need and want and desire. Somehow that made it possible to just look at him, to card her fingers through his midnight dark curls, to take in every inch of his face, these beautiful eyes, pupils blown wide, the green just a thin ring…to cup his cheek and press a kiss against his lips, feeling the warmth of his mouth on hers…

She let her own hands roam, one of them pulling loose the buttons of his shirt, the other exploring the broad expanse of his chest, her fingers tracing over the smooth, muscular skin.

His breath was coming in hard, ragged pants as she moved, and she could feel the effect this was having on him, the bond between the two of them practically throbbing...And then he was pulling back, his eyes looking up at her, almost delirious with lust, and gods, that look, that dark, hungry look on his face…

"Pull off that jacket or I'll rip it," she managed to bring out weakly, making him laugh as he sat back on his haunches, pulling off the jacket and the shirt he wore hurriedly.

His wings twitched behind him, spanning wide, and it was all she could see.

Her eyes traced over every line, every muscle...gods, the sight of him, shirtless and sitting between her legs, was almost overwhelming. She could only look at him, her eyes roaming over his chest, the smooth, muscular lines of his stomach, down to the waist of his trousers. His skin was gorgeously tan against the moonlight, the intricate tattoos marking his chest and arms like a work of art…he was perfect.

Her hands came up, almost involuntarily, tracing over those tattoos, the hard, firm planes of his body…she wanted more. More skin. All of him.

He let her, sitting still, as she ran her hands over his shoulders, down to his biceps, tracing over the tattoos along his arm and back up his chest…Azriel was breathing hard now, his eyes watching her every move, almost panting at her touch…

He wanted her. Wanted her more than anything. But her mate was being careful. Even now, as she could sense that last, thin thread of self-control…he was holding himself back.

Being so careful not to scare her… Her hand traced his jaw, her thumb coming up to caress his cheek…and there was a shiver of need, a tug against that bond between the two of them, as he closed his eyes, leaning into her touch…

"I want to touch you," he whispered. "Please, can I..."

She could hear the need in his voice, the plea, and it sent a wave of heat through her body.

"Anything," she breathed, her own voice almost breaking. “Anything you want, anything you need…I’m yours, I’m yours…”

He bore down on her, fingers slipping off these scraps of lace, a wave of self-consciousness overcoming her...but then he kissed her, and Eira forgot it all. Forgot everything but these broad, gentle hands on her skin, exploring her body...forgot everything but her mouth against her skin as he stared at her neck and pressed kisses to every single inch of her skin.

It was devastating. To feel his hands on her body, his mouth against her skin, leaving not an inch of her body untouched, as he explored her, worshipping her, caressing her, as if she was the most beautiful and precious thing he’d ever seen.

He was murmuring things against her skin, words of praise, words of adoration and love, that left her breathless and shaking and melting beneath his touch…

Azriel sucked one breast into his mouth and she moaned, her body arching and shaking, his thumb pressing over her other breasts...and then suddenly he hesitated. Her eyes opened and she watched as he stared at her body, as his thumb, hesitantly, reverently passed over the thin silvery scar underneath her left breast. 

Her eyes widened, a shiver of self-consciousness, of shame, going through her body as she looked down at the scar… Some part of her expected him to look at it with repulsion. Or pity, perhaps. But when her eyes met his his own, his expression was…worshipping. His thumb gently passed over that thin silvery gash. The sight, and feel and touch of it almost left her breathless.

He wasn’t looking at this thin silver scar with pity, or repulsion…he looked at it like he did the rest of her. Like something beautiful, and precious…and his.

And then he pressed his lips to it…near reverently. 

His kisses moved lower, down over her stomach...he was taking his time with her, exploring every part of her, as if wanting to commit every part of her to memory. And the more of her he touched...the more of her he tasted, the more her skin became almost feverish…

"Azriel," she gasped. "Please... please..."

"Shhhh," he shushed her. "You don't need to beg, Sweetheart. What do you want?" She shivered when he called her that...gods...he could make her melt with one single word...

"I need you," she gasped out, staring at him through half-lidded eyes. "I need you...need to feel you...I-"

Her hands reached out for him, trying to pull him down, trying to get him closer...

"Do you want to come, sweetheart?" Azriel asked her softly, pressing a kiss against her stomach and she whimpered. "So that you are getting wet and ready for me?"

She whimpered, the touch and the heat from his mouth and the sound of that voice and those words...

Her body was shaking, practically thrumming with tension after all that had taken place...and at the sound of that question, her back arched, a low, trembling yes leaving her throat…

"If you tell me to stop I will," Azriel said softly. "But give yourself a few minutes to get used to it, alright?"

She wasn't even sure to what exactly she had just agreed...only that his head was suddenly right between her legs, his hands gently holding her thighs open as she looked down at him, all dark, messy curls and hazel eyes, blown dark and wild with desire. He looked like he was going to devour her. 

And then he was kissing her. Right there, and a strangled gasp tore itself from her throat. "Az-Az riel..." she pleaded, her voice breaking...

She was shaking already, a tremble, a deep, uncontrollable trembling, shuddering through the entire length of her body. His hands were on her thighs, her hips, keeping her legs pinned open, even as his mouth worked magic against her skin…

And all she could do was clutch desperately at the sheets, gasp out broken pleas and half-words, her body wracked with need and desire...

He was devouring her. Suddenly she understood.

As his tongue teased at her in devastating, expert motions, as his lips and teeth and hands worked magic...his worshipful, reverent touches and kisses and licks reduced her to a trembling, panting, squirming mess…

He was devouring her. 

She was shaking, her body quivering, arching, writhing against his mouth, but his grip on her hips kept her pinned to the bed, his hands holding her thighs open even as she gasped and moaned and pleaded...

His head was between her legs, her trembling hands tangling into his hair, trying to hold on, but all she could do was shudder and shake as she came apart. 

"Good, sweetheart," Azriel praised her softly, pressing kisses against her thighs as she still shook through it. "That's perfect. You are getting so wet for me." She whimpered, her cheeks reddening at his words. Her cheeks were burning, her body shuddering as she looked up at him with wide eyes...still trying to catch her breath, while he was smiling at her...and the sight of him, his face and mouth still wet...

"Azriel...I-" she gasped out, her voice trembling, only to break as she let out a little, shuddering mewl…

He climbed back up over her, settling himself between her legs once again, his body pressed against hers, and like this, she could feel that he was hard. The length of him pressed against her stomach, making her breath all the more faster, making her want.

"Please," she managed to gasp out desperately, beggingly, and he groaned at the sound of it, dropping his head to nip at her neck.

"Please, Azriel..." she pleaded, her fingers tangling in his hair… Gods, he was surrounding her everywhere, pinning her to the bed like this, and his skin...his skin was so hot, practically on fire against hers, and she could feel him shaking, every muscle in his body taut…

One broad hand stroked down her body and she whimpered at his touch, as it slipped between her legs, circling that pearl at the apex of her thighs, and then one thick finger sank into her.

Her own had felt…big inside her. But that was nothing against how Azriel’s finger felt inside her…

As he circled and stroked inside her, her body wracking itself with a shuddering tremble, her back arching as her hips moved of their own accord, trying to get as close as possible, trying to move

"Perfect, sweetheart," he praised her, a kiss pressed against her temple.

"I... please, I-" she begged breathlessly, her hips arching and shaking as he moved that finger in and out, slowly, so damn slow she wanted to scream...but all words escaped her...all she could do was moan, a low, whimpering sound, as her body writhed and squirmed, arching against his touch...she was lost to it, to the feel of his hands, to the feel of him...

"Please..." she managed to pant out again, not even sure what she was asking, the only coherent thought going through her head being need and more…

“Another?” he asked her softly.

Another...she was struggling to even think straight at the moment. All her coherent thoughts were concentrated on that wicked finger moving inside of her...Her eyes met his, wide and a bit unfocused, but with just enough of her mind left for her to nod, albeit breathlessly. 

His second finger was almost as devastating as the first. Her breath came out in little pants now, her hands clutching desperately at his shoulders, and she could suddenly feel how close she was to the edge, her body shaking and trembling, as he moved his mouth to the base of her neck and bit.  

Her body arched at the feel of his mouth, at the feel of teeth on her neck as he bit and sucked at her skin, surely marking her, sure enough, to leave bruises on her skin...that, and the sight of him above her, the feel of his fingers, moving inside of her...

"Azriel..." she gasped his name, the plea clear in her voice, her body writhing and shaking against his hold…

This time, she was desperate, she was a trembling, writhing mess of pleading moans and pants, as her body felt like it was practically vibrating, as she was right on the edge...and then his thumb came to rub that sensitive bundle of nerves right there…

Eira keened, arching off the bed,  her hands fisting into the sheets, her body shaking and tensing, so taut it felt like she was about to snap, as she gasped and panted, her mind going blank as that pleasure, that heat built within her...it was terrifying, like being on the edge of an abyss...

And then she snapped. A sharp, strangled cry tore itself from her throat as her body went absolutely tense for a second...and then relaxed as wave after wave of pleasure swept over her, wracking her body as she gasped and shook and shuddered into that release.

She was dimly aware of his hands coming up and stroking down her sides, his lips against her neck as he praised her, calling her perfect, and sweetheart, and good, as she trembled on the edge of those overwhelming waves...

And she was melting, at the sound of his voice, at the praise, at the touch of his hands and his mouth...

But gods, she was also so, so sensitive, her body feeling like it was on fire like it was over-stimulated...she let out a little whimper, her hands clenching against his skin...

"More," she requested, tipping up her chin so that she could kiss him.

It was a greedy, desperate kiss, all hot and open, and his body was still pressed against hers, and she could feel the heat and hardness of him, burning between them...gods...

He groaned into the kiss at the feel of her, of her lips and tongue, the sound a low, guttural sound, almost bordering on animalistic...

"Are you sure?" he asked her softly, and she swallowed but nodded.

The feel of him, his body pressed so close against hers, so hot and hard against her...he was asking, but she knew he was hurting, she could feel how much he wanted this, needed this as well...

"Please," she whispered, "please, I...I want this...I want you..."

"Shh, sweetheart," he shushed her, pulling back and she leant up on her shaking elbows to watch him divest himself of his trousers. 

She could only stare.

That drawing of male anatomy had… definitely not…prepared her for Azriel. 

She could just swallow when she took in the sheer size of him. 

Her mouth was suddenly feeling dry in a mixture of desire and terror. Her stomach turned into a tight, nervous knot. 

"That's...That's not going to fit inside me," Eira squeaked. That was not…that was not…

"It will," Azriel promised with a soft laugh. “Just relax, Sweetheart. We’ll make it fit,” he promised her, pressing a kiss against her unresisting lips. 

No, that wasn’t…This wasn't two fingers like she had maybe thought. This was…

“You…you are huge,” she blurted out. 

"What every male wants to hear, sweetheart," he said with some amusement, pressing a kiss against her lips. "But I am only slightly above average."

Somehow she didn't believe that. At all.

And then suddenly something else made sense. "Is that what everybody means when they say you have the biggest wingspan?" she asked him weakly, making him laugh.

"I do have the biggest wingspan," he chuckled.

Eira collapsed back into the mattress, making Azriel chuckle as he pressed a kiss against her lips. 

“I promise you, it will fit,” he whispered against her lips. “You were made for me, Sweetheart.”

And somehow…somehow that…she was made for him. She was his mate. 

“We can try,” she said, biting her lip. “But if it…if it hurts…”

“If it hurts, we’ll stop,” Azriel crooned softly, his body moving over hers, covering her, as he leaned down to kiss her lips. "I promise you, it will fit," he murmured, his hands running along her body. "Just relax, Sweetheart. We'll make it fit."

She whimpered as she felt him notch his cock against her, her folds drenched and overheated and a full-body shiver went through her.

"Don't worry," Azriel murmured against her neck. "I am going to be very careful. Just relax, sweetheart, it's going to feel so good."

Eira swallowed, she was trembling under him, her hands clenching against his shoulders. 

She trusted him. She trusted him not to hurt her. To make this good...

And so Eira willed her body to relax, too intense under him, and his hands were stroking gently over her body, his mouth trailing kisses and sucking marks down her neck, his tongue and his teeth leaving a trail of sparks running throughout her body...

She was starting to settle, her head leaning back, her breath coming in shallow pants as desire replaced her previous fear...

"Just relax, sweetheart. That’s all you need to do," he reminded her softly, his voice a little strained, and she nodded.

She tried, she tried to relax, she breathed, but gods, he was so close and so hot...she wanted, she wanted it, but she was still terrified at the same time...

He shifted his weight just slightly and she gasped as she could feel him press against her entrance.

“Please, talk to me,” she panted out, just needed to know that he was right there…

“You just relax, Sweetheart,” Azriel whispered her softly. “Just relax…I am not going to do anything…Just get used to the pressure and weight…”

"Please," she panted out, not even sure what she was asking for, only knowing she wanted more, needing him to move and do something, because this, this pressure and heat and wait was driving her insane… "Please, please..."

He rocked inside her, just a little bit and she gasped.

She gasped, loud, her hands coming up to clutch at his shoulders,

"Shhh," he whispered against her neck, kissing her skin, as he began to move, slowly, so slowly rocking into her, as he kept whispering against her skin...

"You're doing so good, sweetheart," he murmured, "You are so good..."

He felt so big inside her, stretching her so wide, and she whimpered in a sharp, stinging pain as he slid deeper inside her.

His body seemed to react on instinct, stopping, as he raised his head to look at her, his hands coming up to cup her face. "Are you alright, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice, that beautiful, deep voice, full of concern, and she knew, instantly, that he would stop if she wanted him to.

But she wanted this. Wanted to be closer to him, to be his, more than anything else. She shook her head, clinging to him, digging her hands into his strong, perfect arms.

"Don't stop," she pleaded. "Please, don't stop."

“More?” he asked her softly and she managed a nod. 

He groaned against her neck, her head arching at the sound of it, and he started moving again, slowly, still so, so slowly, rocking into her. This time, the pain was less, replaced by that all-consuming pleasure. Every time he pushed himself into her, a deep, aching pleasure, something she couldn't have imagined before his body pressed against her. 

His body had found a rhythm, a steady pace, an almost torturous back and forth, and she found herself moving again, meeting him, arching against him, needing her body to press against his, to get as close as possible to him.

More and more of him inside her and every time she thought she had taken all of him...more slid inside her, and her body yielded, making space for him somehow.

He panted her name against her neck, and she could feel it as his muscles trembled, as if desperately trying to hold on to that last, fragile thread of self-control...he was holding back, for her, trying to make this as good as possible...

It was so good. How could it be anything else, with the way he was surrounding her, his body, hot and flushed against hers, the way she could hear his low, panting gasps, the way he was whispering her name, over and over, again and again...

She could feel that familiar heat, rising within her, like a wave in the ocean, every time he pushed inside of her, filling her. Every move, every shift of his body, driving her closer and closer to the edge, driving the heat to that point where it trembled on the edge, just like she was...gods...he was moving faster, now, faster, with a steady, almost driving pace, as he kissed against her neck, her shoulder, his hands running up her body to her hair, and...

"Please," she gasped out, her words coming out in little pants, begging, "Please, I need, I need..."

"I know, I know," he groaned against her neck, his hands coming up and tangling in her hair, his pace never faltering, "I know, sweetheart, I got you."

And he did.

It was like an explosion going off inside of her. Wave after wave of pleasure, of white, hot, pleasure wracking her body with a shuddered shock, as she clenched around him, her body convulsing as she arched, writhing against his body, crying out his name. 

His body tensed above her, and his hands clenched into the sheets, his breath coming out in a low, guttural groan, as he shuddered, and she could feel him pulsing inside her. 

He was panting against her neck, his breath as uneven and ragged as hers, his heart racing against her chest. And, even though she was still trembling, still trying to recover herself from the overwhelming pleasure, just feeling him there, on top of her, with his body flush against hers, was...perfect. 

He raised his head, pressing a kiss against her lips, a slow, gentle movement, and it sent a shiver through her, as she raised one trembling hand to cup his face. Gods, he was perfect, so perfect in this moment.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, his voice a low, hoarse hoarse rumble. Her eyes opened at that, and she was hit with a sudden wave of warmth in her stomach. 

"I'm perfect," she whispered back to him, a slow, blissful smile spreading on her face. And she meant it, the smile widening as his face brightened. 

He smiled at her response, a beautiful, beautiful smile, before he shifted, rolling them over until she was lying sprawled on top of him. He settled with a sigh, burying a hand in her hair and she snuggled into his chest, feeling perfectly safe like this. 

Surrounded by her mate. 

***

Azriel had never in his life thought that the Mating Frenzy would feel like that.

It was like a wildfire, burning inside of him, driving him mad, as it urged him to hold onto her, keep her close, claim her again, and again, and again...

And he did. Again and again and again. He waited for it to abate, but nothing of that sort happened. He waited for himself to do something, to reach some unspoken limit that would make Eira withdraw or flinch away or tell him no.

But there was nothing.

It was like she was made for him like she could take everything he gave her, everything his body, his instincts, demanded from her, and she just met it with that look in her eyes, that look of sweet pleasure.

Just relaxed underneath him with all the trust in the world, her eyes closing, her body growing lax.

Gods, she let him do whatever he wanted, and her moans, her gasps, her whimpers, they drove him mad, drove him to do more, more, more, as he could never get enough of her...

She was pliant and soft, her body arching and yielding to his touch, so perfect, so sweet, every touch sending another wave of heat through him, like it was just stoking the fire further, making him want her even more…

He was quite sure the only reason that they didn't starve or had a serious case of dehydration, was the shadows that plied them with food and drinks whenever they took some sort of break.

Which they only did rarely, because all of his attention was on her, on her sweet mouth, those beautiful eyes, her delicate body, all of it that he could touch, taste whenever he wanted...

It was endless, all-consuming, the way he claimed her, the way his body demanded her, again and again, until she was panting his name, whispering pleas and promises against his skin...

And even in that, in that mindless, endless desire, the way he wanted her, he was conscious, always conscious of the way she felt, the way her body responded to his, the way she trusted him and gods, he wanted to soak in that trust, drown in it.

His body demanded, needed more, more of her, more of her body, her sweet moans, the way she shivered and arched against him. 

He lost track of time, of what day it even was, his mind consumed by the desperate need to touch her, taste her, bury himself inside of her, again and again...

Over and over, the days passing with their bodies tangled together, his name a chant, a plea against her lips, her body a sweet, sweet haven for him, a paradise, that he could simply lose himself in...

Gods, he would never be able to have enough of her, of feeling her, of the way she trembled, and gasped, and moaned, the way her skin flushed, the way her body clenched around him...

He wasn't even sure how long it had been...longer than a week, because the last time Rhys had tried to check in on him, he had forced him out of his mind, too busy between Eira's thighs...Rhys had pulled back like Azriel had burned him and hadn't appeared again.

Not that he even noticed, too occupied with the heat of her body, the softness of her skin, the feel of her around him, every inch of her body like the most delicious food, that he could simply not get enough of…

He woke up, curled around her back, one wing stretched over her.

Eira was still asleep, hair mussed...he had managed to pull the flowers and hair combs out of her sometime during the days that followed their wedding...had even managed to take a bath with his mate, which had then ended up with him taking her from behind, her body draped against the cool marble of their bathroom...

She looked so peaceful, sleeping there, her body boneless with exhaustion, her skin marked with love bites and bruised he had sucked into her skin much to her delight. The sight of her like that, with the evidence of his mark clearly visible on her…

He groaned, his body already reacting to the sight of her, to her smell, as he wrapped his hand around her hip and pulled her closer, shifting her body until her back was flush against him, his front pressed against her perfect, soft back.

Gods, she was so warm, even through the blankets, and he couldn't resist burying his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet, sweet smell. Snowdrops and almonds and ice and...he buried his nose tighter against her pulse point, inhaling again, a soft hum coming from her.

Cedar and Winter, his own scent...but that wasn't...He breathed in again.

He could smell...something soft and sweet, like a bud just opening...Eira's scent changed. Already.

Changing into something richer, something...fertile. 

Changing with the scent of a new life having taken root in her womb.

He paused, his hands going still, as that realization hit him. Gods...he could already smell it on her, the change in her scent, the change...proof that she was...pregnant...

"Azriel?" his hand snapped up and he stared at his mate, at his wife, at the mother of his child, her eyes blinking open, eyes still drowsy with sleep.

Gods, she looked so sweet as she looked up at him, and it was like all the air just vanished from his lungs… His hand trembled slightly as he raised it and touched her face, her soft skin against his fingers, his mind still trying to comprehend the idea that she...that they were...

"Are you doing alright?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit raspy, and her eyes softened, her lips pulling up into a slow, sleepy smile.

"Mhmm," she hummed out, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment, as she snuggled tighter into his chest. "Just sleepy," she answered, her voice sleepy, but content, as she burrowed closer to him. "Warm..."

He buried his nose back into the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent like a starving male, his hands sliding down underneath the blankets until he could touch…

He ran his hands over her body, gently, just feeling her, just touching her skin, feeling his palms slide over her hip, down her curves, down to her stomach...right where the scent was coming from, thick and powerful, the scent of a baby, their baby, taking root within her womb...

It was like that thought, that knowledge was making his mind short-circuit, like he could barely even think, let alone process it...he just...wanted to touch and hold her, to keep her safe.

"You're changing..." the words came out against her skin, mumbled like a prayer, the realization driving him mad. She was pregnant, she was creating life within her womb...

"Hmmm?" she hummed out, her eyes still closed, a small smile on her face, so blissfully ignorant of what that scent meant. "What do you mean?" she asked, and his heart ached at the adorable confusion in her voice.

"I can smell it," he said back, his lips still against her skin, still breathing in her scent. "The change in your scent..."

Those beautiful, beautiful, grey eyes of hers blinked open slowly, a bit more alert now, though still confused. "Change in my scent...?" she repeated, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion for a moment. "I smell different?"

"You smell fertile..." he said, his hands still on her stomach, running in slow, almost reverent caresses over her skin. "The scent's changed...already...proof that...that you're...pregnant..."

Those sweet, grey eyes of hers widened at his words, and his heart ached for a moment, as a flicker of disbelief passed through her expression. He waited, barely able to breathe, for her response.

Her eyes darted up to his for a moment, searching his expression. "...are you sure...?" she asked back in a whisper, her body tense for a moment, but her voice hopeful.

"I'm sure," he answered, his hands rubbing over her stomach once more. "The change...it only happens...in pregnant females...you're...you're carrying our baby, Sweetheart..."

That was it, the moment, the moment when he saw that realisation, that knowledge settle onto her, the moment he saw acceptance and hope and joy all flicker through her expression, before...before the tears started welling up in her eyes...

"We…we made a baby?" The words came out as a soft whisper, so hopeful, so sweet, that it was like a dagger to his heart. 

Azriel's breath hitched in his throat, and his hands tightened their hold on her body, as he nodded in response. "Yes...we made a baby," he answered, his voice as soft as hers.

And then it was like the dams had broken, tears starting to pour from her eyes, as she let out a choked, broken sound, her body shaking against his. 

She wasn’t upset, wasn’t sad, didn’t regret the baby they had made…he could feel a wave of almost relief wash over him from their bond, and then, a fledgling, sweet feeling of happiness. 

Azriel gently pulled her closer, until he was cradling her in his arms… "Shhh...shh...it's alright," he soothed her, whispering against the top of Eira’s head, as he tried to bring her back from her tears. "It's alright...don't cry, sweetheart...shh..."

But she was just crying harder, now full-on sobbing in his arms, her hands coming up to grip onto his shirt, her face buried against his chest… He held her like that, tight against him, his nose buried in her hair, as he let her cry it out, whispering soft, hushed assurances against her hair, trying to soothe her and himself at the same time.

"We...we made a baby?" she repeated, her voice coming out in hiccoughs against his chest, and he felt a pang of pain at the sound of it, at the hope, joy, and disbelief, he could hear in that soft, broken voice...

"Yes, sweetheart," he said, his voice a soft comfort in her ear, "yes, yes we did...we made a baby...you, you're pregnant, we're having a baby..."

And her sobs changed, that word, that truth, like a soothing balm over a wound, as she kept repeating it, through her tears and hiccoughs, like she was trying to make herself believe it...

"I am pregnant...we're having a baby..." she whispered out, over and over, and gods, it was the sweetest sound in the world, her voice, the words out of her mouth, and he could feel his own tears starting to burn in his eyes, at the sheer, raw joy of those two facts...

He just held her there, cradling her tight in his arms, stroking her back, and her hair, whispering more soothing, loving words to her, as she cried, as she repeated it over and yet again...

Eventually, the tears dried, her sobs subsided, her body tired and boneless against his chest. "Are you alright, sweetheart?" he whispered against the top of her head, as he held her against his chest, stroking her hair with gentle, soothing caresses.

"I'm..." she muttered out, her voice still a bit raw. "I'm just happy." she lifted her head up with a smile, her grey eyes a bit swollen, a few tear tracks still visible on her face, but her eyes so full of joy and life, as she stared up at him with a shaky smile, her hand coming to rest on the side of his face. "I'm so, so happy, Azriel..."

He felt his heart clench in his chest at the sound of her voice, at the absolute, pure joy in her tone, as he nodded, a few tears of his own slipping from his eyes now. "I'm happy, too," he said, his voice low and rough, as he bent his head and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm so, so happy, sweetheart..."

Babies? the shadows whispered, suddenly appearing behind him.

Azriellaughed as he looked behind him, staring into the shadows. "Yes, babies," he said quietly, gently pulling his mate even closer, as he stroked her cheek with his hand. "We're having a baby..."

The shadows wriggled like they were dancing on the spot with sheer, pure excitement, coming to wriggle all over Eira, pressing against her naked skin.

"Hey," he snapped at them, gently batting them away from his mate. "Careful," he hissed, his hands carefully pushing the shadows away from the soft skin of Eira's stomach.

"It's fine," Eira protested, a hint of a smile on her face, as she looked down at the shadows. The shadows writhed around her hand, wrapping itself happily around her finger before pressing against her stomach once more. "They just....want to be close to their new friend," she said, her voice soft, her gaze warm as she looked down at the shadows.

Azriel groaned, his annoyance fading away at her words, as he looked down at the shadows, at the way they were wriggling happily against her skin, his mind picturing the image of them happily playing with the baby, once it was born...

"Just be gentle," he told them firmly, his eyes fixing back onto the shadows, the way they were wriggling around her, clearly delighted at the revelation that her womb, that her body, was making a new life within her…

They writhed, the shadows all coming together to form one large, singular one, which reached out, and very gently, barely touching against her stomach. Eira reached out as well, her fingers gently wrapping around a part of the shadow, which pressed against her hand, as if in greeting.

Azriel let out a soft breath, as the sight of that interaction sent his heart into a spin. The shadows were...happy. Delighted. They liked her. Hell, they loved her. He had never seen them interact with anyone like...like they were interacting with Eira...

And the way she was gently stroking the shadows...it was clear his mate loved them just as much as they loved her. That...that was probably the last thing he could have foreseen and yet, the sight of it...it made his heart sing within his chest.

Notes:

It's always bittersweet to come to the end of a story. I did really enjoy the last three weeks though and appreciated ever comment and ever like or kudos, every favourite and every bookmark.

While Looked to the Sky has now ended, The Prophecy is as always, ongoing. So every thought, prompt, comment, throw them my way! I'll add them to my horde of plot bunnies

[improper-use-of-germx]

I know you’ve probably writing about it before, but there is just something so lovely about a human not understanding alien courting customs and accidentally doing a lot of them to an alien, who is feeling like they are getting a lot of mixed signals from their human friend! Would that be a usable request? Love your writing!!!

OOOH anon I'm such a sucker for "accidentally doing something considered flirtatious by a different species toward a member of said species"

I feel like in the kind of modern sci-fi settings I use for my writing there's an extra level of awareness and drama, because while an alien surrounded by members of their own kind might assume you're coming onto them purposefully, your alien crewmate is very aware of the cultural differences that come with interspecies work. They know you're unaware of the courting methods of their species, much less the specific traditions of their people.

They wouldn't expect you to know that sort of information anyhow, so they're not offended when you offer to share from your canteen during a mission without realizing the intimate, personal implications of the gesture. How would you know? Humans share drinks all the time, they were thirsty. What kind of friend would you be if you didn't share?

You were right, of course. Water-sharing to you was just a kind gesture, there was no reason to deny your affection. Their mouth met where yours had been, and they feel so close to you they ache.

There are times they feel guilty. When you shut you eyes and stretch, casually letting the entire universe know that you trust them to protect you when your tired, or when you drape one of your blankets over the both of you while you watch a movie and they can smell you from all sides. There are times they want to tell you: This doesn't mean as little to me as it means to you. You're kissing me in my native tongue, y'know.

They know they shouldn't be indulging in the idea that you're acting on any kind of romantic interest, but they just can't bring themself to tell you. There was too much of a chance you would stop.

[kakushino]

Knot Enough

Werewolf! Tomioka Giyuu x AFAB! Reader

Giyuu is hit by an unanticipated rut.

Tags: smut, in heat/rut, pheromones acting as aphrodisiac, knotting [& creampie (obviously)], possessiveness Word count: 2,4k

Masterlist

It was the start of an extended weekend - holiday on Thursday and you took Friday off - and you were happy to finally catch up on your anime binging. All was peaceful, you were in just your panties and an oversized shirt for comfort; you got through two episodes so far, you were stocked up on snacks and drinks, content to spend three days alone before your date with your new boyfriend, Giyuu.

You had met Giyuu through a friend of a friend and you hit it off very quickly. You just sort of… clicked together, like missing puzzle pieces, or soulmates or whatever. It was three months in, and you couldn’t be happier. You hadn’t yet passed the kissing stage, but Giyuu seemed a little shy, which was perfectly fine. It wasn’t as if either of you were uncontrollable horny teens.

You were in the middle of watching a mage and his apprentice acquire a grim familiar during a tension filled-scene when your doorbell rang. 

“Fuck-!” you were so into it, the noise nearly made you jump out of your skin. Pausing the episode and putting your snacks on the coffee table, you padded over to the front door. The peeking hole showed you your boyfriend with a troubled expression. Worried, you quickly opened it. “Giyuu?”

The sound of your voice snapped him from a trance and his fever-bright eyes met yours. A smile spread on his face and slight blush decorated his cheeks when he walked forward without asking to come in. Unusual.

“Is everything okay?” The door closed.

Your boyfriend didn’t respond, kicking off his shoes - another odd thing, he was a very neat person - and tugging you into a tight hug, burying his face in your neck and inhaling deeply. A shudder seemed to go through him the moment he took you in.

He spoke at last. “I know we’ve only just started dating,” he started in a low rasp. The sound of his voice so close to your ear sent goosebumps crawling across your whole body. “But my rut just arrived and I-” he cut himself off with a sharp exhale, his nose touching the side of your neck when he took a deep breath again.

You were beyond confused. “...rut? What do you mean?”

Giyuu’s arms wound even tighter around your form. It was a bad time to start explaining but he needed to, he needed you to understand and to act - to help him. “I’m not human.” 

You could only gasp. “What are you-?”

“I’m a wolf at times… and this wolf affects me even in human form. I need to-” he shuddered again, his lips gliding down your neck to where your shoulder met it. He licked the spot, trying to stem his hunger for you. “Please let me- let me fuck you,” he said in a breathy voice.

His desperation sent a flare of desire throughout your entire body. Your mind reeled with his admission. This whole scenario reminded you of the monster porn you read once or twice, but what did it mean for you? 

“Please,” he begged hoarsely, one of his hands pushing on the small of your back to press your belly against the bulge in his pants. 

Giyuu had never begged you before, he'd never expressed himself so boldly before. Just because of that, you were leaning towards giving in. 

It didn't help that he smelled so good.

"Okay." 

No sooner had that word left your lips, his own slotted against yours in a deep and desperate kiss that stole your breath away.

He backed you up against the wall, his hands holding your hips to grind against you and yours in his hair, the leather cord he used to tie it coming loose quickly as you lightly tugged on it. He released a sinful moan into the kiss, sending a delightful shiver down your spine.

Giyuu guided you both to the bedroom - you later wondered how he knew which room it was - tugging at your oversized shirt, clearly wanting it off, an impossible feat without pulling back from the kiss.

Just when you thought he would give in and tear it in off, he actually did let you discard it peacefully.

Your panties did not receive the same tender care.

With a growl of "I'll buy you some later," he laid you onto the bed tucking himself between your legs. One of his arms supported his weight by your head, the fingers of the other impatiently delving into your pussy to prepare you as soon as possible. One, two, three digits stretched you out in a quick manner while all you could do was sigh and moan softly, your eyes locked onto each other as you quivered under his form, mind hazy.

Giyuu had wanted to take his time on your first night… before his rut hit him. Now, he just wanted to eat you alive.

“I want you,” Giyuu whispered breathlessly. “I need you.”

You nodded shakily, still trying to find your bearings from the stretch of your pussy on his fingers. He pulled them away, making you gasp at the emptiness, your muscles clenching around nothing as you heard his belt buckle open. 

The sound of it had never been so enticing before.

You blinked slowly and looked at him.

You weren’t a virgin, but you had never seen a cock like his - thick and long and so, so pretty, with a strange swelling around the middle. But a brief glance was all you could get before he was onto you, kissing you deeply, sloppily. He was in a daze, his eyes half-lidded.

“Lovie, gods, I need you-” 

Giyuu lined himself up against your entrance and slid in slowly, the stretch of his tip entering you feeling so much more than his three fingers, even if it didn’t seem like it. “F-fuck, slow- slow downngh-” 

He immediately stopped and pulled away from your face, eyes glistening with unshed tears, guilt and anguish clear in his expression. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he muttered, looking so wounded as if he were the one being speared open with a cock. 

You breathed through the burn, your hands cupping his cheeks gently. “Just go slower okay? I’m not- it’s just been a while,” you reassured him. 

“I don’t want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you,” he leaned closer, resting his forehead against yours. “Please forgive me, lovie.”

Your thumbs caressed his face softly as you murmured, “You’re fine, Giyuu. You just need to go slow, okay? Can you do that for me?”

He closed his eyes, and hummed in agreement, sliding more of himself in slowly, as you’d told him to. He kissed you in an unhurried passion, enjoying you - your taste, your heat, your body against his. 

The burn wasn’t as bad this time, though as you threaded your fingers in his hair, you had to grip it tight when the swelled middle started to slide in. You broke away from him to breathe, clenching your eyes shut as Giyuu murmured apology after apology, peppering many soothing kisses all over your face and then-

Giyuu slipped in in his entirety, eliciting a deep groan from his throat. He’d swear later it was an accident, that he’d mean to just force his knot in faster so you wouldn't hurt so much, but he miscalculated how slippery you were. And Gods, your cunt was so snug around his cock, he could hardly breathe.

You could hardly breathe. So full. So hot. A fever spreading from your belly out to your fingertips - but not unpleasant. It felt good. The pain and burn faded instantly when you buried your face in Giyuu’s neck, breathing in the musky smell of his sweat. It made your mouth water and you couldn’t resist placing an open mouthed kiss on his pulse point, your tongue slipping out to taste him. 

His breath hitched, his hips bucked, and you threw your head back with a low moan when he hit the sweet spot inside of you with his cock.

“Fuck- sorry, lovie,” he apologized in a strained voice, trying to stay still. “Are you o-okay?” 

You only nodded shakily. “Please, mo-move.” You forced your hands to stop gripping his hair so much, keeping only one hand there while another cupped his cheek. 

Your eyes locked with his as he started to rock into you gently.

Giyuu’s face was flushed, sweat beading at his temples, lips parted to pant, eyes glazed over with an unnatural brightness. You probably looked no better, a mess underneath your lover. 

He kept panting and moaning softly, and this was the most expressive you'd ever seen or heard your boyfriend be. The vulnerability he showed you made you feel as if you would crack open - your heart so full it could not be contained-

“I love you.”

The words slipped past your lips before you could stop yourself. His eyes seemed to glow with happiness, and he sped up his thrusts. Your hands fell from him to grip onto his forearms.

“I love you, I love you-Iloveyou-” Each time he bottomed out, you repeated your feelings, and each time, he went faster until nothing other than moans and whines could escape you. 

Why did this feel more intense than anything you’d ever felt before? Why did it feel like you’d spiral any second? Why did it feel like you couldn’t get enough, that you wanted more of him, have him deeper, make him carve you out from the inside until no one else could fit but him?

It was a heady mix of greed and lust and gluttony for Giyuu, the not-human, the wolf.

“Pl-ease-! Ah!”

You could hardly believe the sounds leaving your throat, high pitched whines and animalistic keening, which only seemed to spur Giyuu on to be rougher with you. He kept eye contact with you still, his hands gripping the fabric of your pillow above your shoulders tightly, his wrists leaning against you to keep you from sliding away from his thrusts.

“Ghi-yuu-ngh-” 

His lips slipped open even more, in awe of how beautifully he disintegrated your composure; dew beaded at your lash line, your eyebrows furrowed, eyes half-lidded as you babbled his name, begged and told him how you loved him. 

And oh how he loved you too. 

He was going to keep you as his forever. Your cunt was too good for him, you were too good for him. Your scent called to him. He needed you.

More, more, more.

Not enough.

Giyuu fucked you like the beast he was, chasing his pleasure and getting drunk off of yours. This was the first heat he’d been even tempted to sink into the core of his partner and Gods, it felt so good. He’d never be able to not fuck you during his heat.

Thankfully, his heats happened only once or twice a year…

He pulled back slightly, slowing the fucking temporarily so he could put both of your legs over his shoulders before he picked up his earlier pace again. His hands gripped your hips tightly, his sharp nails - claws - digging into your skin. You could no longer keep your eyes locked into his, turning your head away and clenching your eyes shut, tears of pleasure falling, when he slightly changed the angle and rubbed along your sweet spot repeatedly. You let out a hoarse whimper.

“Lo-lovie, if you get- fuck- if you get any tighter - hah - I won’t be able to pull out-” he choked out, yet he did not let up. Deep down, he knew he would not be able to hold himself back. He needed to give you all he had, he needed to fill you with his love.

You clawed at the mattress, trying to find purchase, not knowing if you wanted to escape from the ecstasy or if you wanted more. Something threatened to snap in your gut, Giyuu didn’t seem to care as he pounded into you. “Plea-se-!” 

Your voice was music to his ears; if he could, he would hone his wolf ears onto you for eternity. “What is it, l-lovie?” 

“I- I c-can’t- plea-se- please!” you begged, not knowing what for - but you wanted it, you wanted something.

Your wolf knew though. “I’ve got y-you… you can l-let go, lovie-” One of his hands left your hips to push on your belly, making you infinitely tighter. A mistake, or perfection?

The bubble burst in the next slam of his hips against your ass. You keened, arching your back, more tears escaping your eyes. You were afloat, mind unable to handle any other stimuli than what erupted from your core; your ears rang, stars burst behind your eyelids, your mouth hung open. 

A strange vibration reverberated through your body, then sharp heat inside of you, and a slight burn from being stretched. Your brain registered that that couldn’t be right, but you could not focus on anything at all.

Giyuu was in heaven, his knot locked inside of you, his seed filling you up, and you lost in pleasure. There was no better place to be than right where he was - inside you, around you, with you. You, you, you, only you. Your scent enveloped him in a heady atmosphere and his teeth ached with need to sink into your neck, your shoulder. He wanted to truly make you his own.

But he wouldn’t. He couldn't, not without your explicit consent.

He already felt like he'd preyed on you as is, not pulling out, using you like this… he needed to make it up to you somehow. 

He needed to show you he could be your forever partner, he needed to show you he could be your future.

He lowered your legs from his shoulders to cradle his waist instead, half-laying on you, soaking up your presence in the post-orgasmic bliss. It distantly occurred to him that his rut had not yet passed, the feverish heat still burning in his gut. He didn't even know how long he'd need to wait for his knot to deflate… before he needed to fuck you again, and again, and again.

"Are you okay?" Giyuu asked at last when the both of you caught your breaths.

You hummed in affirmation, sore all over, throat hoarse as if you'd been at a concert all night. Your arms loosely embraced him as you cooled down a little. "So… not human, huh?"

He flinched. "I have some explaining to do."

dividers made by the amazing @benkeibear

[hxnbi]

⸻ ₊˚Ꮺ ❝ REMEMBER OR FORGET ❞ ﹒﹒wind breaker boys

would they choose to remember or forget your relationship? ft. sakura, umemiya, suo, kaji, sugishita, togame x gn. reader

wanted to try something new and angsty 😅

To FORGET or to REMEMBER. It is a question that haunts our minds from dusk to dawn, from life up to death. It is not simply a choice between black and white. Not when the pain of your existence was ripped away from them…

Would they choose to forget the tenderness of your touch, the affection of your words, the warmth of your embrace on those cold, vulnerable nights? Or would they prefer to remember, to hold onto the bittersweet memories of what you both once were, even as it pains at their chest with every heartbeat?

To remember is to endure the perpetual ache of absence that of the once love that can never be again. But to forget… to forget would be to erase a part of your very soul, to lose the heart of what made him whole.

Each is a double-edged sword—both a blessing and a curse. But what if they had a choice? To chose to either remember or forget.

The clock is ticking. So, what's their answer?

SAKURA would choose to 「 forget 」

Hah... Why would he willingly subject himself to that same pain and loneliness once more? He knew that his life was a story to be made fun of—a game that fate continue to test him time and time again, and you were no different. The memories of you and him, a vivid dream that haunts him. Because, if only you were with someone else, you could’ve been even more happy… A nightmare fuel that persists only with time. Thus, he selfishly chooses to run away. If by some divine mercy was actually on his side this time, for once in this damned life, and allowed him to forget all those memories now that your soul no longer is here—all because of him—why shouldn’t he take it…?

UMEMIYA would choose to 「 remember 」

He's been through so much. Hardships, troubles, and loss, but nothing even came close to the heartbreak when the love of his life became but a fragmented memory. Nothing in his life was given to him, not without a price. But even so, those memories will not and can never ring hollow. To him. Never to him. They are what make him who he is today, and if he has to be the one to shoulder all those burdens alone, stacking them upon his weary shoulders, then so be it. All in the name of his devotion to you, in hopes that one day, someday, just maybe, he might cross paths with you once more.

SUO would choose to 「 remember 」

There is plenty that people don't know the true nature behind that perpetual smile of his, and likely will never know the true extent of what really goes on behind that carefully crafted mask of his. What remains hidden is always prone to resurface, but to Suo, it's only a matter of hiding it—the raw emotions of what makes someone human—all behind the veil of ignorance of those he encounters and his own willingness to tuck it behind closed doors. Through all the charm and snide is someone who harbours an aching pain he chooses to live with by himself and himself only. He chooses to remember all the times you laughed together, May the memory of his love last, even if your physical presence is gone. After all these years, who could possibly know? No one ever has, and never will.

KAJI would choose to 「 forget 」

He was utterly broken when he found out. Silence was all he could muster. Even the once serenity of music—your and his favourite music—his safe haven, became nothing but a horrid curse for him to endure alone in murmured silence. No longer were you there to share in the melody he once cherished with you, and the silence was deafening as it was harrowing. The silence was too much for him to bear. It destroyed him, it shattered him, when he realized the loud truth all along—he could never hear you again. So, without thinking, when given the chance, he chose the easiest way out. Even if that choice meant an erasure of your very existence in his life as he knew it.

SUGISHITA would choose to 「 remember 」

Sugishita is a loyal man, no person could ever doubt that. So, without hesitation, he chose you. To honour your memory and bring it to his grave. Your legacy is what drives him. But he is a loyal man as steel is silent. His remembrance of your life goes unspoken, even to those he truly trusts. Selfishly, Sugishita keeps for him alone to bear your remembrance. It hurts, it hurts so much, But that was never what hurt him the most.

TOGAME would choose to 「 remember 」

As painful as it might be, he chooses to live with it. To him, it is his divine punishment for ever getting close to you. Thus, he decides to suffer the consequences. The pain—a reminder of what he did to lose you. He chooses the route of hell because that is where he belongs. It to be his rightful place, the punishment he deserves. He is a broken soul that you once repaired, and though the cracks have shown once more, those memories will persist, even if he aches.

©hxnbi. please do not modify, edit, copy or reproduce any of my works.

[lxvvie]

On today's episode of Simps-R-Us: A Guy and his... pet(s), or You, Your Faves, and your fur/feathered/fin-babies:

Capt. John Price - Standing ten toes down on this: Price would have two small, cute dogs, one named Sir Peabody and the other named Lady Marie. You two spoil them something fierce and they have a pile of little doggy hats that match their beloved papa's... much to his chagrin.

Gaz - Gaz said he'd surprise you and surprise you he did. He came home with a cockatoo. A damn cockatoo. Jokes on him, though, because your bird baby absolutely loves to prank the shit out of Gaz, too, by mimicking your voice when you're away and making him jump. Jokes on both of you now, because Soap has taught him how to curse and that's all he does now, Scottish accent and all. You have a picture saved of the bird (named Buttercup) on top of Gaz's head.

Alex Keller - Has the most gremlin Donskoy (named Brunswick) to ever gremlin, complete with the wide stormy eyes, which is funny because Keller can sometimes make a face that's very much gremlin-esque and the two greatly resemble each other. Can usually be found making biscuits on Alex's head.

Soap - Has a Labrador named Whiskey that he absolutely adores. Whiskey has also put you two in the most adorable of love triangles where you don't know whose affection you're playfully fighting for on any given day. Also has a tendency to take Soap's socks and he has to chase him throughout the house. Well, he and Whiskey are chasing each other throughout the house just about constantly.

Ghost - You guys talked about it but he surprised you one day by bringing home a Belgian Mal puppers who didn't make the unit. His name? Pup. Pup Riley. And Pup Riley is a ball of energy. Bloody hell. He always assumes he's going for a walk whenever you two make ready to leave. He also won't let Simon leave without him and so Simon usually has to create a diversion just to walk out the front door. It's also not uncommon for Pup to jump on his Papa whenever he gets home, too. Oh, did we also talk about the fact that Simon has to fight with Pup for his side of the bed whenever he's home or that Pup wakes him up early in the damn morning to take him out for his first walk of the day?

Roach - Found a stray kitten and brought her home. Her name's Oatmeal. Oatmeal is now the chonkiest, cutest loaf (you send Roach various pictures of her Loafiness). You two also bought her a set of those pet buttons just for shits and giggles and Oatmeal's really caught on to them. She uses "Dad", "Mad", and "Food" a lot even though she stays fed lmao.

Keegan - To everyone's surprise (and his own), has a husky named Balto who ignores the concept of personal space, loves to put his paw right in the middle of Keegan's face, and has pissed on Keegan's boots more than once because Balto felt slighted (you had to go to the groomer's, buddy, you rolled in mud). You and Keegan have also lost count of the number of times you've had to carry Balto into the house because he refuses to come inside, especially when it’s cold.

Alejandro - You two adopted a senior dog named Mojo who is the most peaceful little angel. Can usually be found lying near yours or Alejo's feet as you're working or something of that nature.

Rudy - You two have this huge ass tank full of fish that run the gamut of the rainbow and you remember all their names. The brooding one is named Alejandro and his namesake was not amused lmao.

König - You two have a small but floofy cat. She's black with a grey undercoat that he calls his "little Prinzessin" and she always looks like she's in a constant state of surprise. Whenever she blinks or closes her eyes, she becomes a floofy void. Her Highness prefers to be carried like a baby, thank you very much.

Phillip Graves - You two are the proud parents of a Bulldog named Bubba who thinks he has his humans trained (spoiler alert: he kinda does). Bubba Graves makes your day with the way he silently judges his parents, throws a tantrum when he doesn't get more food or pets, and usually has Philip sigh facetiously and go, "Now, son, why can't you behave for your old man, huh?"