#but i wanted to draw shin and sabine smiling :)

[coldcutfruit]

[wip] all flowers and smiles!

[melanie-ohara]

The End of the Line - Chapter 2

Wolfwren24 day 2! I'm not late, it's the 12th somewhere in the world!

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE, INVERTED - read it on A03 HERE!

Shin woke slowly, and then all at once. A deep breath surged into her lungs and she scrabbled to get up, gloves and boots squeaking on the polished stone floor. Her lightsaber was in her hand and ignited before her feet were properly under her, and the weight of the blade pulled her a little off-balance. 

The temple had changed. The shapes were the same - the sharp-featured Nightsister statues, the domed ceiling, the enormous sealed door - but it was no longer a ruin. The stone underfoot was unbroken and neatly swept, and the statues glared down with unmarred expressions of distaste. The silence was so total it was almost physical, and the rattling hum of her blade was deafening in the dark. There were no stars in the sky above her. 

It started at the far end of the room. To the right of the door, opposite the entrance, a flicker of light spilled from a corridor Shin hadn't seen before - if it had even been there in the first place. The light grew stronger, and her ears pricked at the sound of footsteps on stone.

Her left foot slid back slowly as her arms raised, and her body coiled into a ready stance. She could cover the distance to the passageway in one leaping slash, if she needed to. Shin hoped it was Baylan. She hoped it was Sabine. She had last seen both of them sprawled on the ground, wounded or dying. 

"You can lower your weapon," came a voice in the dark. "I mean you no harm."

"Show yourself!" Shin demanded. The voice was unfamiliar, but didn't sound like a bandit. Peridea didn't have any other people. This was new. 

The light edged forwards into the temple itself, and a man followed it across the threshold. He was old, stooped, and frail, but his voice was clear and strong. The light seemed to reach out from around him, igniting lamps tucked into sconces along the walls with a gentle, steady light. There was no fire or heat, just a warm glow suffusing the room as he came closer. 

Shin did not relax her stance. 

"You're the one who opened the door," the old man observed. 

"Let me back out." 

He smiled sadly at that, and stopped just inside the range of a wide swing of Shin's blade. "I can't, I'm afraid. For while we live we cannot leave, and while we remain we cannot truly die."

"I'm not interested in riddles," Shin said. "Where is… where are the others?" She couldn't bring herself to ask after her Master directly. She had a memory of drawing life back into his body, but the events of the last few hours were hazy and there was no telling what was real and what she just wanted to be real. 

"When you breached the seal," he said, "your companions were scattered. My daughter included."

Shin's brow wrinkled in confusion. The man looked human - though, she realised with a pang of an emotion she couldn't name, that so did she - and she knew that Sabine was an orphan. It was why her armour meant so much to her. 

"My son's influence here is great," the old man continued, still completely unphased by how easy it would be for her to simply cut him down, "and mine weakens by the day."

Shin adjusted her grip on the hilt. Her gloves creaked as she tensed her fist. "Tell me how to find them."

"Please lower your weapon," he said. 

Shin had been trying, since she joined Sabine and Ahsoka, to keep her emotions under control. Baylan had taught her Jedi discipline, but it was Ahsoka's example that had given her the drive to perfect it. Frustration was one she still struggled with, and it overwhelmed her now. With a snarl, her lightsaber flashed forwards into a reverse grip, and she brought the point up under the old man's chin. 

"Tell me, now!" she hissed.

The old man sighed, and her lightsaber winked out. Shin took a quick step back, tried to ignite it again, and found she couldn't. For a moment, she forgot her situation, and panic set in that she would never see the burst of flame orange split the air again. 

"Please, do not worry, my child," the old man said. "It's not permanent. Just until you master yourself."

Shin's hand snapped out and she reached for his throat with the Force. It was like he wasn't there. There was a presence in the Force, a blinding presence, but nothing she could manipulate. Her fingers tightened on nothing. The frustration and the panic and the fear crystalised and hardened into a fine, sharp point of anger, and she threw herself at him like a dart. He stepped back neatly, far faster than a man of his obvious age could, and Shin put her weight behind a kick to his abdomen that didn't connect either. She howled and struck out, hands and feet blurring as she tried to land a single strike. His face stayed impassive as he moved faster than anyone could, until Shin had exhausted herself and stumbled away. He wasn't even breathing particularly hard. 

Shin put her hand out and leaned her weight against the wall. "Please," she heaved through huffs of air. "I need to find her."

"There is a way."

The old man crossed his arms and tucked his arms into the opposite sleeve, and came a little closer. This time, he stopped just outside of striking range, which Shin was distantly pleased to see. 

"I'll do it," Shin said. 

His face softened a little, and Shin was uncomfortably reminded of Baylan in the quiet moments of their life. He said, "it is not a simple thing."

She said, "I don't care."

"Your destiny is not yet written, child of Dathomir." Shin fought hard to suppress the urge not to attack him again. Why had Baylan never told her where she came from? Why had he let her believe a lie? But the old man was still talking, and she forced her mind back to the present. "This bond will seal your fate to hers. What happens to one will affect the other, you must understand this."

Shin straightened up. In truth, she hadn't known Sabine long. The Mandalorian didn't know it, but Shin had been keeping track, and the counter in her head of 'days spent as friends' had ticked over to total more than 'days spent as enemies' only very recently. And in a secret part of her, Shin was also counting the number of days looking at her made her stomach clench and heat flash in her cheeks, when hearing her speak brought a stupid smile to her face for no reason other than the sound of words in her mouth, and when the touch of their hands was the only sensation she cared to feel. Shin had been fascinated at first, and then that feeling had deepened, and twisted, and wrapped around her until she was fully ensnared. 

"I'm already hers," Shin announced. 

"A bond in the Force cannot be undone," he warned. 

Shin allowed herself a small smile, because neither could whatever bond it was that joined them now. "I don't care," she said again. 

The old man sighed sadly, and took a step towards her. Shin involuntarily stepped away. "Forgive me, child," he said, "but this is how it must be done."

Shin swallowed, and nodded, and let him lay a clammy hand against her shoulder. 

Sabine couldn't move her arms. The creature had pinned them to her sides, squeezed hard enough to crush the breath out of her lungs, with claws as thick as the tree branches that whipped past her. She kicked her feet to struggle, but it only tightened its grip. She still couldn't see it, not properly, only nightmarish flashes of a monstrous, bat-like shape. In the back of her mind it reminded her of a creature she had seen circling in the distance on Dathomir. Below her the ground and the tops of the trees slashed past. A few of them clipped her face or tore at her flightsuit where it was unprotected by beskar, and she felt a hundred narrow cuts tear open her skin. If she could just get her fingers to a blaster, she could try and free herself. 

Above her, the creature that had been impersonating Shin screeched in clear, sharp fury. 

And then Sabine felt a familiar presence. Shin's hand in her own. She couldn't believe she had ever taken the imposter as the real deal for even a second: Shin's presence in the Force was unmistakable. The thing threatening to crush her or drop her to her death had none of her warmth, none of her care. They were night and day. Shin, somehow there, guided her hand away from scratching against her holster harness and gently turned her wrist so her palm faced the claw. Sabine marvelled at the contact, but dared not question how it was happening. Wordlessly, Shin's fingers closed Sabine's into a fist. 

"You have to trust me," Shin coaxed. Her voice was soft, and close, but inside her head. Sabine almost felt she could feel the tickle of a stray strand of hair on her cheek, the whisper of Shin's short breaths as she concentrated, and the smell of her clothes and skin. Her hand was still but insistent on Sabine's own. 

"I do," Sabine gasped out.

"Let go." 

Together, they opened their hands. Sabine reached out with the Force, and Shin reached through her, and the beast's grip snapped open. There was a half-second of total weightlessness before Sabine started to fall, and in that half-second Shin let go of her hand. 

She screamed with all the air she had in her lungs as she plummetted towards the ground, pushing desperately into the Force to slow her fall the way she had seen Kanan do all those years ago. Nothing happened. She felt the thrill of connection run down her arms, but it wasn't enough. It was over.

Just before Sabine decided to close her eyes for her last moment, she was there. Shin stepped out of the air where Sabine was going to land, reached up with both hands, and grabbed her. It wasn't the gentle catch and lift that Ezra and Kanan had perfected, and it reminded her a lot more of when Shin had tried to crush her throat on Seatos. Shin snatched her up like she was jealous of the hold gravity had on her, and wrapped her in a grip almost as viciously tight as the creature's had been. She brought her down to the ground like she was reluctant to let go, but as soon as Sabine's feet touched the dirt she lunged forwards and threw her arms around her. 

"I'm sorry," Shin blurted. "I lost touch, I didn't mean to - "

"You saved my life," Sabine interrupted her. 

Long before Sabine was ready, Shin stepped backwards out of her arms, turned her head as if she heard something, and then nodded stiffly. "You have to go now," she said. "Your Master - "

"She's in danger, I know," Sabine nodded. "How did you - ?"

"That doesn't matter now," Shin insisted. "Find her, and I'll find you."

"How?"

Shin stepped forwards again, the way she stalked towards her in a duel, and grabbed Sabine with both hands on the side of her head. She pulled her into a kiss, and their teeth clashed off each other in their desperate rush. Too soon again, Shin pulled away. 

"I just will. Now go."

Sabine lingered for a moment, wanting more than anything to feel Shin's hands on her again, to feel her lips and her teeth and her tongue, but Shin's expression brooked no argument, so she turned and set off. When she looked back, Shin had vanished in the trees.

Miles away, over the top of the trees, dawn came to Mortis again. 

[daisychainsandbowties]

Is it just me or does shin hati lacks personality?

i think it’s pretty obvious i don’t think of Shin as lacking in personality. i love what i’ve seen of her so far - think Ivanna is absolutely killing it with her performance so far, playing this mixture of intensity and homegrown Jedi calm, of a girl who is very alone and also trying to hold herself away from caring about anyone she might have to kill. i mean, i don’t know why you think she has no personality (i’d be interested in hearing your reasons) but to me she’s a fantastic character. if you know me you know that it takes A LOT for me to write fic for a character or a ship. so if wolfwren has moved me, i can pretty much guarantee i don’t sell out for looks with no personality.

but let me actually explain why i like Shin

firstly, she’s had very little screen time, to the extent i’ve probably got gifs of every frame of her so far on my blog. meanwhile Sabine has all of Rebels, Ahsoka has The Clone Wars, and Huyang is, frankly, a very typical example of a speaking droid. reminds me of c3po (i think he’s great, just not original characterisation). and they’ve all had more screen time in these four eps than Shin, who nonetheless has, in my opinion, demonstrated tremendous presence in every single scene she’s appeared in.

how she shows up on Lothal, stands there and says in her maddeningly calm tone, “we’ve been looking for this.” it’s just… so tongue-in-cheek, and Shin could so easily have sic’d the droid on Sabine and made her escape, could have smacked her against a wall with the Force and strolled away. but she chooses to stay. and the way she dances around Sabine’s blows… grabs the hilt of her saber to manipulate her in the fight, putty in her hands. flips her over her shoulder and plays plays plays with her… the grace and the wildness and the strange fascination of their fight. god she’s just!! so intriguing.

i think people pay too little attention to how much characterisation there is in a fight scene. we have Sabine fighting with a style that’s very much a mesh of form 1 and form 3. it’s defensive, it has hints of Ahsoka in it, her own modified and slightly more useful variation of Soresu (form 3) and then we have Shin. i need to examine her moves more closely to tell what forms (i think definitely forms plural) she’s drawing from - not much makashi, which makes sense since Baylan is Jedi-trained. her movements remind me of Maul’s style in The Phantom Menace, but there’s an element to her style that feels more… joyful, freeform, free verse.

she spins and pirouettes and barely avoids the cut of Sabine’s lightsaber. there’s relish in those movements. she can clearly block blaster bolts magnificently, has the athletic and acrobatic ability for ataru (the form yoda favours, and anakin to an extent). she’s a muddle of contradictions. silent so often but when she fights, when she flies that fighter…she’s golden.

and wry, too. watch for those slight smiles. the “you almost got them” and her hop-skip in the forest on Seatos, the “hello there” energy reminding me so much of Obi-Wan. and then her obvious terror when the Inquisitor falls, spewing green smoke. at the time i thought she was afraid for herself, of Ahsoka, but she was really afraid for Baylan. he’s trying to be a Jedi Master to her - there’s distance in their relationship, and GOD you can see her longing for contact, for touch, for something she can push and feel pushing back.

i think it’s why she antagonizes Morgan, why she waits to duel Sabine. she wants to… touch something and not just in a physical sense but in terms of connection. the light is so much about embracing life and i think of Shin trapped in the middle of that, not good or evil, light or dark, but caught in a terrible silence. her care and her fire is contained but it burns. especially when she fights, when she loses her temper “you have no power”, choking Sabine at the end, and that’s just the fire that creeps out under the door! beware the smoke.

the moments of fear, of guarded concern, of delight and fascination, anger and joy. i mean!! she’s a girl of few words, but when she speaks she SPEAKS. and when she doesn’t you can see so much going on in her body language, her face, her eyes, her actions. i think both of her fight scenes are beautiful examples of character through conflict.

i always use duels and fights for character-building. a fight is boring with nothing behind it - and with Shin we see, at first, fascination. wanting to prove herself, to show she’s the better padawan, but she also… i think she could have killed Sabine very easily. i would have run from Ahsoka too, but she honestly could have murdered Sabine right there. i love how they’re creating this sense that Shin is both… disturbed and intrigued by Sabine in episode 4. angry and also… holding her by the wrist, standing between her and Morgan.

listen, i am going to ship wolfwren whether or not my cows come home, but i really don’t bother with characters who aren’t interesting. so, yeah, i think Shin has plenty of personality! i love what star wars has been doing with the girls who have red(ish) sabers lately. i adore Reva, i am regularly insane about Trilla Suduri, and i think Shin is very different from them but no less fascinating! i’m loving the tentative line she’s walking between dangerous and vulnerable.

and, yeah, i think they should kiss.

[aliasmard]

why every time I want to draw wolfwren, I get the most beautiful sabine and potato one shin

btw sabine's little smile drawn while I was watching the clone wars

[whiteravengreywolf]

Wish You Were Here - a Wolfwren fanfiction

A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back with another story in the Life of the Wolf, the Wren and their Cub series! This time they are taking a little vacation to Krownest! Here is the beginning and if you enjoy it you'll find the link to the full story at the end!

It took about a year for Uschi to finally convince her mother to take her to Krownest. It wasn’t just that Sabine didn’t want to go back there. The place was charged with a lot of memories, some of which she wasn’t sure she was ready to confront. But it was also Uschi’s inheritance, and the girl deserved to play in the snow for a little while before she was too old to enjoy it to its fullest. So, despite her hesitation, Sabine packed up everything they needed in the shuttle and they journeyed to the New Kleyman system.

Uschi was positively vibrating in her seat as they pulled out of hyperspace and approached the frozen planet. Shin had been driving, as if to spare Sabine, to let her focus on her emotions, but once they approached the orbit of the planet, Sabine took over, driving them down toward the Wren stronghold.

Uschi gasped when they broke through the clouds and she saw the snow for the first time. It smeared down the slopes of grey mountains like rough brushstrokes, powdered the leaves of trees and carpeted the ground. The lower they descended, the shinier it seemed. They flew over a frozen lake, and the stronghold came into view, drawing another gasp from the girl. It was made of glass and concrete, jutting out of the mountain and standing like a stack of boxes on the edge of the lake.

“Is this where you grew up?” Uschi asked.

“Yep.”

“It’s so cool.”

Sabine brought the shuttle on the roof, where they used to keep their small fleet of ships, and she parked it there. Once the landing pads rested steadily on the roof, she cut out the engines. While Uschi unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed out of the cockpit, Sabine wasn’t so quick to move. She took a deep breath, hands rubbing at her knees like she wasn’t sure she would be able to get up. Shin placed a hand on her lap, drawing her attention.

“I can keep her occupied, if you need a moment.”

Sabine sighed, but gave her a small smile.

“I’m fine.”

Shin stared a second longer at her, as if trying to deciphering how much Sabine was lying. Enough to be concerned, but not enough to call her out on it. She gave a little nod.

“Alright,” Sabine said, finally, as she stood up. “Let’s get her inside before she freezes over.”

[twinsunstars]

My Thoughts on Parts 1 and 2 of Ahsoka - A Discussion Post

Ahsoka premiered on Tuesday at 6 PM PT, and fans were raving about it. Fans of Star Wars: Rebels were overjoyed with the content they got. Let's dive into this week's premiere episodes, MASTER AND APPRENTICE, and TOIL AND TROUBLE.

SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE SERIES YET!

I'm starting off with the loth-cat because this little thing is just so ADORABLE. Sabine takes care of it so well, and it loves her. It must be protected. The cat will keep you company as you read.

The series started with a movie-like introduction, words scrolling up for us to read. I liked how they did that and gave us a little preview to what happened before we started off. Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati arrived and landed in a New Republic ship, attacking the crew with their lightsabers and rescuing Morgan Elsbeth, who was held prisoner on that ship. Baylan had at one point talked about childrens' tales in the Jedi Order, which indicates he was a former Jedi, Not much is yet known about his past, but we do know from the trailer that he had known Anakin Skywalker.

Later, Morgan revealed herself to be a Nightsister of Dathomir, which is interesting as she talks about her past. She had used Nightsister magick herself after she obtained the map, which amazed me. I really want to know more about Morgan's history as a Nightsister. The three are ready to rise to power and locate Grand Admiral Thrawn, wherever he could be.

Ahsoka Tano is first seen at the remains of a Nightsister Temple. The details of the Temple got my curiosity peaked, and it's interesting to see more of Nightsister culture.

Huyang, an ancient droid who used to live in the Jedi Temple and helped younglings build their lightsabers, is Ahsoka's companion as he helps her escape the droid attack. I love how Huyang is here with Ahsoka and giving her and Sabine advice, but it still intrigues me on how he is here. What happened to him when the Jedi Order was taken down? How and when did Ahsoka find him? I'm still researching about it myself, but I'd love it if anyone could share some sources.

Moving on to Lothal. This beautiful planet that was once ruled by the Empire in darkness now shines brightly under its sun, the loth-cats running in the fields freely. I really wish Ezra could have been here to see his home liberated and shining after the fall of the Empire. The day he comes back, he'll love it.

We got to see Ryder Azadi in live-action with his original voice actor (Clancy Brown) speaking to the crowds of Lothal. He stands in front of the iconic mural last seen in the finale of Star Wars: Rebels, depicting the Ghost Crew, the heroes of Lothal. The mural is on public display for everyone to see.The day celebrates the liberation of Lothal and Ezra Bridger's sacrifice. Alongside him, Jai Kell appears, who is now a Senator of Lothal. I loved these cameos, it got my Rebels heart screaming.

Sabine Wren was announced at the event to speak to the public, but she was a no-show. Sabine raced away with her speeder, and HER SOUNDTRACK? That needs to be out there now. No one can stop this girl. I love how Natasha Liu Bordizzo portrays Sabine, she really captures Sabine's stubborness and strength.

Sabine has added her artistic touch everywhere she has been; from the tower, Ahsoka's ship, her helmets, and everything. I love the little drawings of Loth-cats she's done. I loved the detail of her chipped nail polish. When she brought her armor out again, I loved that she added a Purgill on one piece, as memory.

When Sabine had turned on Ezra's message for her, I was both screaming and trying not to tear up. Eman Esfandi does such a good job portraying the character, and it's been so long since we've heard Ezra talk on screen. (I want the blueberry boi home now.) He had called Sabine a "sister", which I thought was adorable. Sabine smiled to herself hearing it.

(I know that some Sabezra shippers are a bit upset over it. I see them both ways, and I'm fine with whichever direction they go, and I like to imagine them either way as an alternate universe thing for the fun of it.)

Sabine had taken the map ball from Ahsoka even though she had told her not to (where do you think she got that, Ahsoka?), and managed to open it. Shin Hati had been sent by Baylan to go find the map, in which she succeeded in obtaining. Sabine quickly grabbed Ezra's lightsaber to fight against her. I find it interesting how she had made her own modifications to it but it is still Ezra's lightsaber, despite Huyang saying it is hers now. Shin and Sabine engaged in a heated fight, ending with Shin impaling Sabine and taking the map.

Huyang talks to Sabine at an infirmary on Lothal. As she recovers from her impale wound, Huyang calls Ezra's lightsaber hers and discusses Sabine's journey as a Padawan. I think it was confirmed that she was not Force-Sensitive, but I see some articles saying that she is, but she is weak in her abilities. I'm still a little confused, and I think she maybe is Force-Sensitive but doesn't fully have the ability like other Jedi, but Sabine has potential with her own talents and as a Mandalorian, as we know from seeing her in Rebels.

The duo of Hera and Chopper is always so fun to watch. I like how Mary Elizabeth Winstead embodies the character of Hera, and how she worries for Ezra. Once Ahsoka had returned with the map ball, hope grew in her that this could be a chance to find him. She has never stopped being the courageous fighter she is.

Chopper is himself, of course. And he's everything we love. During mid-battle, Chopper argues with Hera, most likely asking, "Hera, did you go through my stuff?" I love his energy and attitude, it's so funny and loveable.

Marrok was the name given to this Inquisitor before the series had released. There were many theories surrounding this inquisitor potentially being Ezra, but thankfully it's not. (Hopefully.) The character is said to be the very last Inquisitor, and has a mysterious background, Hopefully we can learn more about him.

Sabine is ready to return as Ahsoka's padawan, coming back to her signature short haircuits and rocking her Mandalorian armor. She visits the mural, tapping Ezra's face and looking at the mural with hope before departing Lothal with Ahsoka, ready to get the map back and find Ezra and Thrawn.

The massive structure seen being built towards the end of the second episode is said to be called the Eye of Sion. Morgan oversees it's construction, and I have heard it's something that will help bring Thrawn back. There are theories surrounding it regarding a Sith lord, but I'm still doing my research and looking up things. It'll be interesting to see more of what this is about.

Anyways, the premiere episodes of Ahsoka were a blast to watch. I'm excited for the next episodes, and I hope to learn more about Sabine's journey as a Padawan. (And Ezra better be home soon.) I also hope Zeb and Kallus show up soon, and Jacen Syndulla has to make an appearance. I also hope the loth-wolves would show up, that would be fun. But the journey has just begun.

[armoralor]

Deliciously Sacrilegious

Pairing: Ahsoka Tano / Sabine Wren / Shin Hati Warnings/Tags: Implied Master/Padawan Relationship(s), Age Difference, Power Dynamics, Threesome, Oral Sex, Nipple Play, Oral Fixation, Sexual Inexperience, Orgasm Control, Masturbation, Kink Negotiation, Praise Kink, Trans Shin Hati Summary: Set during the Ahsoka show (post Fall of the Empire, during the New Republic). Ahsoka has a few things to teach Shin about making Sabine come. AO3 Link: HERE

Sabine sits in Ahsoka’s lap naked, thighs spread open with knees hooked over top of Ahsoka’s. 

Ahsoka has a hand between Sabine’s legs, spreading her glistening pussy lips to reveal a swollen clit and dripping core. Teasing, but not directly touching where Sabine wants it most, Ahsoka holds her open for Shin to see. 

Eyes burning, Shin kneels obediently in front of them both, watching every move with rapt attention. Shin isn’t allowed to touch just yet, needing permission first, but is vibrating with the need to sink her teeth into something.

Tracing a finger lightly along the seam of Sabine’s pussy, Ahsoka taps the throbbing clit once. 

“You’re going to suck here, sealing your mouth then rubbing it back and forth with your tongue.” Ahsoka says sweetly, ignoring the way Sabine writhes on her lap. “Once her thighs start to shake, I want you to pull back and slide down here.”

Ahsoka’s finger moves again, dipping down to rest against Sabine’s soaked entrance, but not yet breaching. “You’re going to clean this up, then we’ll see what you’re allowed to do next.”

Shin nods, only half listening as she watches Sabine’s cunt clench around nothing. The urge to bite mark claim is almost too much, but her training with the Jedi appears to be paying off. Taking a steadying breath, Shin sits back on her heels and waits .

Ahsoka hooks her chin over Sabine’s shoulder, resting against the Mandalorian’s collarbone while considering the Sithling sitting between their legs. “You will stop if I say stop… and you will not bite hard enough to draw blood.”

Both younger women huff at the second part, but Ahsoka pins them with a look that means she’s serious. “Not this time . We’re learning and setting boundaries here, no broken skin.”

Sabine opens her mouth, but a light slap to her pussy has it closing again. Swallowing her words, Sabine bites back a moan as Ahsoka passes over her clit one more time before settling her hands on Sabine’s waist.

Ahsoka lets them both stew in anticipation for a moment, their desperate panting the only noise filling the small cabin room.

“You may start-” the words are barely formed, but Shin is already surging forward, licking at Sabine like a woman starved.

Shin may not have prior experience eating pussy, but her intensity, passion, and willingness to learn makes up for any shortcomings. The movement of her tongue is awkward at first, confidence not quite there but the potential is undeniable. 

The flat of Shin’s tongue rolls against Sabine’s twitching clit, working to find a rhythm that satisfies. It might not be perfect, but the sloppy sounds of Shin’s mouth on her sopping pussy has Sabine throwing her head back. The Mandalorian attempts to hump her hips forward, but Ahsoka’s grip is iron clad. 

“Does that feel nice, Padawan?” Ahsoka coos in her ear, thumbs rubbing soothing circles into her lower abdomen. 

“So- so good.” Sabine chokes out, another hash suck from Shin sending a bolt of pleasure up her spine.

Shin preens under the praise, humming around Sabine’s clit and earning herself another moan. Ahsoka loosens her grip on one hip, reaching down to lightly brush through Shin’s hair. Tucking a sweaty blonde strand behind her ear, Ahsoka offers the women on her knees a kind smile. “Yes, she is good.”

Flushing under the additional praise and attention, Shin tries to refocus her efforts on Sabine, settling on a steady flick of her tongue that quickly has the other women bucking desperately.

The hand in Shin’s hair pulls lightly, drawing her away from Sabine’s pussy. The little Mandalorian looks wrecked, chest heaving with unspilt tears in her eyes. Shin licks her lips, already wanting more .

Sabine whines at the loss of Shin’s tongue, the orgasm that had been building slipping away against her will. Sabine can feel Ahsoka smiling, not even needing to see her smug face. 

“Now I want you to put that tongue to use a little lower. Sabine’s made a bit of a mess, why don’t you help her?” Ahsoka says in mock innocence, as if she weren’t referring to her padawan’s dripping cunt, spread out on display for all to see.

“I can help- please.” Shin responds instantly, eyes tracing the slick puffy lips waiting for her. She can help; she wants to make Sabine feel good and show Ahsoka she is good. At least a little.

“I knew I could count on you. Why don’t you lick her clean and open her up on your tongue? Then we can go back to her clit and think about putting something bigger in there.” Ahsoka says, ignoring the pout and groan Sabine aims at her.

Shin wastes no time diving back in, tongue spearing Sabine open to dip inside. The taste is new to her, alkaline and salty, but now it’s something to crave. Shin wants to taste Sabine in every way, savour every part of her into eternity. 

The thighs around Shin’s head are shaking, breathy moans reaching her ears despite the insulation. Risking a glance up, Shin sees the hand that had been in her hair has moved north, now kneading at one of Sabine’s breasts.

Rolling a nipple piercing between her thumb and forefinger, Ahsoka splashes pleasure pain onto the growing inferno burning within Sabine. Ahsoka continues to worry at Sabine’s piercing, giving Shin a knowing smile as their eyes meet. 

The look in Ahsoka’s eye has Shin circling her own hips inadvertently, hard clit begging for attention of its own. Trying to ignore her own simmering need, Shin closes her eyes and picks up the speed of her tongue, fucking into Sabine with renewed vigour.

Sabine arches her back, the ecstasy constricting all of her muscles. She’s so close, and more than ready to reach the end. Ahsoka must sense her growing desperation, because the grip on her breast disappears to tilt Shin’s chin up instead.

“Look how good you’ve done, can you feel how close Sabine is? I want to embrace that feeling, but don’t get lost in it.” Ahsoka says quietly, holding on to Shin’s face a moment longer. “I want you to go back to licking her clit, but now you can touch.”

Shin swallows audibly, pupils widening further. Nodding in Ahsoka’s grasp, Shin doesn’t think she could find the words to convey how much she likes that idea, even if her voice was working.

“You may use your fingers, but no more than two.” Ahsoka adds, giving Shin’s head a little shake to keep her focused. “Yes?”

Shin nods her agreement, hoping her expression reveals her sincerity. Ahsoka must like what she sees, because she lets go and gently thumbs at Shin’s lower lip. “Good girl.”

Shin lets out a whine of her own, tongue darting out to lick Ahsoka’s thumb wantonly. An eyebrow arches as a smile splits Ahsoka’s face, “We will unpack that later.” 

Shin should be embarrassed but nods again, desperately wanting to continue. Shaking her head in amusement, Ahsoka’s hand pulls away once more, returning to Sabine’s hip.

“Go ahead- make her cum.” Ahsoka says finally, sucking at Sabine’s neck as Shin finally gets what she wants. 

Sabine screams as Shin’s hot mouth returns, assaulting her spit slicked clit like a woman possessed. Shaking from the multiple rounds of edging finally catching up on her, Sabine can’t control the way she spasms as two fingers curl into her with vulgar ease. 

Shin groans at the tight heat sucking her fingers in, release already dripping down to the palm of her hand. Rubbing at Sabine’s clit hard with the flat of her tongue, Shin hooks her fingers violently, knocking against the spongy spot hiding within Sabine’s cunt.

Sabine howls, abdomen tightening in threat of release. Shin looks up at Ahsoka, happy to see the Torgruta nodding at her encouragingly. It’s the only sign Shin needs, sucking harder at Sabine’s throbbing clit as liquid begins to gush from the pussy milking her fingers.

Unable to stop the orgasm crashing into her with the force of a freighter, Sabine finally gives in, letting the pleasure blot out all of her senses. 

Shin fucks her through it all, licking at the release squirting out of her in awe. Sabine rides out the aftershocks, not realizing she’s crying until Ahsoka is rubbing the tears away. Words fail her, but Ahsoka’s gentle caress is enough to keep her grounded.

Over-sensitivity finally winning over, Sabine whines at the tongue still pressing kitten licks to her clit. The pressure is gone immediately, and although it’s what her body wanted, Sabine mourns the loss.

“Very good Shin,” Ahsoka says with pride, smiling openly. “I think it’s time you come too.”

Shin gasps, the thought of her own pleasure being taken into consideration foreign. Blinking up at Ahsoka in surprise, the blonde tilts her head in confusion, unsure how to obey the command.

Something dark passes over Ahsoka’s face, a sad type of understanding that is immediately buried. Releasing the feelings into the Force, Ahsoka starts again.

“If you want, that is. Do you want to come, Shin? You’re allowed to.” Ahsoka says gently, still rubbing soothing circles into Sabine’s overheated flesh. Shin watches the tenderness with a heavy heart, wanting, but not knowing how to get there. 

Nodding, somewhat uncertain, Shin shuffles slightly closer on her knees to rest her head on Sabine’s thigh. Humming in contentment and fighting exhaustion, Sabine’s hand is released from its hold behind her back to reach out for Shin instead. Petting through the disheveled blonde hair, Sabine offers a sleepy smile, “I want to watch you come.”

Shin shivers at the words, fire that had diminished reginiting in her belly. Clit hardening again, Shin sucks at Sabine’s inner thigh, unsure of what to do with her own hands. But Ahsoka is there to take the reins, lifting the burden off of her.

“I want you to take the wet hand you were using to finger Sabine and bring it down to your own clit, okay?” Ahsoka says, her warm presence filling the empty space left behind by fear. Happy to have something to do again, Shin brings the hand that had been inside of Sabine to rub at her own body. “Good girl, I want you to cup your hand and use that to get off. Do you think you can do that for me?”

Letting out a noise of acceptance, Shin grinds into her fist. Spreading Sabine’s release on herself feels deliciously sacrilegious, and Shin can’t help but moan as Sabine tightens her grip in her hair. 

“Mesh’la .” Sabine whispers, captivated by the sight of Shin chasing her own pleasure. 

Shin doesn’t know what the word means, but can feel the intense desire dripping off the word. Rolling her hips faster, Shin gathers her own beading release into her slicked hand, the squelch echoing in the small room. 

“So good for us.” Ahsoka coos, her hand finding its way back to Shin face. Lips spreading eagerly, Shin greedily accepts two of Ahsoka’s fingers, sucking hard as they press down on her tongue. Closing her eyes to focus on the glide of her clit, Shin feels the beginning of an orgasm creeping in. 

Shin can feel the way Sabine is staring at her, even with her eyes closed. Even with half the galaxy standing between them, Shin could recognize the feeling of Sabine looking her way. The hand in her hair tightens, and it’s the sound of Sabine’s breath hitching that sends Shin over the edge.

Spilling out on the floor and splashing her own belly, Shin groans quietly around Ahsoka’s fingers. Her ecstasy is enough to make the room shake, the air growing heavy with the passion burning through Shin. It almost consumes her, but the two sets of hands grounding Shin help pull her back.

Distantly, Shin knows something is being said to her. There is likely a lot being said, and she should probably be listening, but the soft haze settling in is too tempting to not embrace. Leaning into the light, Shin knows she’s safe.

[fiendfontainefenix]

work in progress. 18+ jingren

warning. dub-con/non-con. jing yuan being a possessive bully is a+ tier.

-

He didn’t like using the restraints but with someone as feisty and defiant as Blade, it was all but required. Keeping his scarred hands pressed firmly to Blade’s groin, his fingers weaved through a dense patch of dark pubic hair, Jing Yuan teasingly trailed the tip of his tongue along his cock’s twitching shaft. It was taking more strength than usual to keep Blade from thrusting up against his mouth. Jing Yuan’s golden eyes flickered up to roam hungrily over the body laid out in front of him. These visits were sparse nowadays – it was proving harder and harder to steal time away to indulge in this…ah, what would he even call it? Torture? Heaven? Perhaps it was an even mix of the two. Jing Yuan closed his lips over the precum soaked tip and sucked hard, wrenching a restrained moan from Blade. His tongue pressed to the slit, drawing out even more of that addictive flavor.

The man lay on his back, sabine hair pooled in a silken mess around his head. His legs were bent and tied together – shin to thigh to prevent any undue kicking. His tightly clenched fists were bound to his ankles. There was a dribble of blood from where his blunt fingernails had dug so deep into the skin that it had been split open. Blade’s face was flushed an alluring hue of scarlet. His sweet lips were twisted into a furious, agonized grimace. His crimson eyes glared up at the ceiling, as though demanding it to tear apart and drop onto them both. Such a pretty façade…it took up so much of his energy to just pretend that he wasn’t enjoying every single moment of this.

It was an expression that Jing Yuan knew well, having seen it as many times as he had. Chuckling low in his throat, he abruptly sunk further down Blade’s cock, swiftly taking him in to the base. Blade cried out sharply. His hips arched upwards, fighting against the weight of Jing Yuan’s hand pressing against them. He was tempted, for just a moment, to allow Blade to move freely, to fuck his mouth as he pleased but the urge quickly passed. There would be time for that later when his beloved was finally ready to listen to reason. Jing Yuan slid back slowly, sucking hard as Blade’s pulsing cock slipped from his mouth. Blade’s chest heaved with labored breaths. His long fingers flexed, curling and uncurling with a frenzied fervor. If he was unbound, Jing Yuan was certain that he would either try to strangle him or force him back down onto his cock.

A part of him wanted him to do both.

“Does it feel good?” Jing Yuan asked softly, the puffs of breaths against Blade’s length making it twitch adorably.

There came no answer, only labored pants. Blade continued to glare at the ceiling. The corners of Jing Yuan’s lips tilted up into a slight smile. Ah, so they were at that part of the game? No more threats. No more demands. Just a silence that Jing Yuan despised with every fiber of his being. He could feel a familiar rage burning at the back of his heart. His penis ached inside the uncomfortably tight confines of his trousers, demanding to be let out so he could finally, finally be welcomed into another unyielding space that he knew was desperate for him. To prove his point, Jing Yuan smoothed a hand down from Blade’s crotch until his fingers found what they were looking for.

“You’re already so soft…” Jing Yuan purred, rubbing the pads of his fingers against Blade’s hole. After these long stints, he always expected to find resistance but every time, this beautiful place was ready for him. Jing Yuan smiled broadly, mouthing a line of kisses down Blade’s cock. Ah, he wanted to be inside. He wanted to fuck him, to make love to him. He wanted to fill him up. He wanted to give him everything that he wanted. “I’ve barely touched you, but I can already feel you trying to suck me in. Tell me, Blade, tell me how much you want it. I’ll be gentle, rough…whatever you like. All you need to do is tell me.”

Still, there was silence from Blade. Despite the pronounced trembling of his muscular body and the barely restrained lust gleaming in his blood-red eyes, the man offered nothing.

“So stubborn.” Jing Yuan chuckled mirthlessly. He pulled his fingers away, his hand going to the floor to retrieve the special toy he had brought just for Blade. This was the part of their play when he usually gave in – his own desires becoming too great for him to contend with. He wanted to hold him so he did – without abandon, without hesitation; fucking him until they both were wrung dry. Blade always won. He always held out, denying him finality…a satiation to this crazed hunger. Jing Yuan paused then shook his head with a wry smile. Satiation? He was an abyss – endless, eternal. There was no satisfaction. He would always need more…but for today, he would suffice with this hard-won victory. Perhaps it would finally pry open the cracks that had been appearing along Blade’s careful façade.

“Throwing in the towel so quickly?” Blade asked quietly, his voice a defiant rasp. “That’s unlike you.”

Jing Yuan laughed again, “You should know better than to assume that. I was just getting a new friend.”

Straightening up, Jing Yuan held out what he was holding for Blade to see: a perfect replica of his penis. Procuring a standard dildo would’ve been much easier but, as silly as it was, he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else being inside Blade. This was a begrudging compromise. After all, it was still, technically, somewhat him. Better than any alternative.

Blade raised an eyebrow, “What do you expect to do with that? Bore me to death?”

“Are you saying that you want the real thing?” Jing Yuan asked, placing the tip of the dildo to Blade’s sweat dotted chest. The muscles in his stomach danced and quivered as he slowly slid it down towards his crotch. Bending down, Jing Yuan followed the trail with his tongue. Salt and sweetness swam across his tongue.

“Shut up and get it over with.” Blade sneered, through his blood-red eyes were locked on the dildo. Was he anticipating this…or dreading it?

Sighing softly, Jing Yuan leaned back. He brought the tip of the dildo to Blade’s twitching hole and rammed it inside. The muscles parted easily for him, drawing him in with an enticing neediness. A startled yelp rippled out of Blade’s throat. He quickly clamped his mouth shut to try to dampen the torrent of moans. Furious eyes swung down to glare at him. Jing Yuan only smiled in response. Oh, beloved, this was only the beginning. Today…he would beg. He would beg for him. Tightening his grip on the dildo, Jing Yuan began rapidly plunging it in and out. He swept down, stretching his mouth open wide to take Blade’s sopping wet cock inside. His lips clamped down around the shaft. There was no teasing, no build-up – only a sudden encasement of intense warmth and pressure that took him all the way down to the base.

He moaned happily around Blade’s penis. Quickly sliding back up, he swirled his tongue around the swollen head before sinking back down. Falling into a relentless rhythm came naturally – a steady rise and fall, rise and fall that quickly had Blade letting out profane gasps.

“Bas-ANGH!!” Blade panted rapidly. He writhed and squirmed underneath him, pulling hard at the restraints keeping him in place. “I’ll kill you! There won’t be any safe place for you when I’m-!!” His harsh voice cut off into a keening whine as the head of the dildo banged hard against his prostate. An explosion of sticky cum poured into Jing Yuan’s mouth. It momentarily caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered, his eyes sliding closed as he gulped down the delicious ambrosia. More…more, more…

[pl-panda]

To Marry a Vigilante: Part 5

MASTERLIST || First || Previous || Next

-------

By the time the class landed in Gotham, Marinette and Chloé had enough. Their recorders, which were supposed to serve as damning evidence of blatant bullying, got ‘damaged’ when Lila accidentally splashed the two girls with a drink. Whatever it was, it was sticky, didn’t wash with water, and also ruined their hidden dictaphones. 

Of course, the liar made it look like it was Marinette who tripped her. The class almost hounded her, but they kept their distance not wanting to also get their clothes dirtied. Of course, Lila was occupying the bathroom for the next fifteen minutes, so when she finally left the drink already dried, making it even harder to get rid of. 

When the girls made their way out of the plane to meet with Sabine and their teacher, Lila pushed past them and came crying about how rude Marinette ruined her outfit, which was supposedly incredibly expensive. None of the intelligent people bothered to try and point out that it was cheap mass-produced junk. Alix was visibly conflicted, but also did not speak up in the end. 

“Marinette. I expected better of…” The teacher started, but then she saw both girls were hit worse than Lila, who cleaned most of it in the bathroom. 

“Sweetie…” Sabine started to rethink if a simple murder wouldn’t solve their problem.

“Don’t worry Maman. I can probably salvage it once we ret… get to Damian’s” Mari corrected herself. Luckily, it seemed like nobody caught her slip of tongue. 

“Ugh! Not that creep.” Alya complained. “He gives me shivers.” 

Mari glared at her former friend. She wanted to say something, but her teacher urged them to move. They were put into a small lounge. Marinette, of course, had to run them through a safety course, for reasons. She still did her best, as Gotham earned its reputation as the World’s Capital of Crime. 

When they were finally cleared and the class left the airport, there was a bus waiting, ready to take them to the hotel. Marinette and Chloé were about to board when a limousine pulled next to them. 

“Angel, Bourgeoise…” He greeted the girls. “Since you’ll be staying with us, my father decided to send a proper escort.”

The class stared in disbelief. The guy with a sword was loaded? It definitely looked like it from the car. 

“I bet his gramps just works as a driver and borrowed his work car,” Lila whispered to Alya and suddenly everyone was repeating the lie. “Or maybe even stole it…” 

A blade was suddenly pressed into Lila’s neck, a hair width away from drawing blood

“Tt. I will tolerate many things, but if you try to insult Alfred one more time, your end will be painful.” The class backed away in fear. Marinette immediately went to try and drag the boy away from a very pale Lila, but he wouldn’t budge. “Am. I. Clear?”

Lila was too paralyzed to answer, so he pressed the blade further. Now it was in contact with her skin and a moment of inattention could have fatal consequences. “Am. I. Clear?” He seethed.

“Yes…” She managed to whisper. 

“Tt. Good.” He sheathed his blade just as two security guards came outside to check the commotion. 

“Arrest him! He tried to murder Lila!” Alya immediately screamed. 

“No. If I did, she would be dead. I only explained certain values.” Damian deadpanned. 

The two guards looked between the class and visibly angry Damian Wayne and scratched their heads. They could report it, but they only had the word of some foreigners against the word of the son of the First Citizen of Gotham who was also the fifth richest man in the world. The cameras here stopped working, hence they came out to check what happened. 

“Children. We should be going or we’ll miss lunch at the hotel,” their teacher urged. That was enough for the guards. If the chaperone did not press charges, they wouldn’t bother. 

“But… But…” 

“Lila. Be a bigger person here and apologize to Damian.” Sabine grinned. 

“But he…”

“I don’t want to hear it!” The woman cut her off. “You must show our host some respect.”

“I didn’t…” The glare Sabine sent her and the murderous expression on Damian’s face made the words freeze in her throat. “Fine. I’m sorry Damien.”

“Tt.” Was the boy’s only response. 

Marinette and Chloé were about to leave when Rose protested. “Why are they not going with us to the hotel!?”

“Because as one of the host families, I’m allowed to welcome the students I choose to my house for the stay.” Damian did not care enough to elaborate more. Instead, he just jumped into the back seat of the Limousine. The girls followed, with Chloé going as far as sticking her tongue at the class. 

Once the doors closed and Alfred started the engine, Damian lowered the windshield and leaned outside. “By the way, it’s Damian. Damian W…” He didn’t get to finish because Marinette covered his mouth with her hand and dragged him inside. The windshield closed. 

When the car entered the main road, the girl finally let him go. 

“What was that about, Habibti?” He glared at her. 

“You were about to reveal that you’re the Damian Wayne.” She accused him.

“Tt. It’s time that liar learns who she’s dealing with.”

“It would only blow up in our faces. She would make it worse for all of us, including your family.” Seeing that both her best friend and her husband (still hard to get used to) were looking at her with no small amount of curiosity, she elaborated. “Damian Wayne is supposedly her ‘ultimate price��� from this exchange. She will want to sink her claws into you with all her skill.”

“Tt. She can try.” He huffed. His hand instinctively went to his sword. 

“You do know you are quite murderous for a Robin?” Chloé quipped.

“And you’re bratty for a lady.” 

“Bird-brain.”

“That’s Drake. Spoiled princess.”

“Daddy can afford it so why not? Trained monkey.”

“Grayson. Try harder. Talentless heiress.”

“I’m helping Marinette start her own company. Emo McBroodyPants.”

“Where did you even get that one?”

“I read.” She huffed. “And looks like I won.”

“Tt. As if.”

Marinette just sat back and watched her best friend and lover bicker there and back. It was nice that they were warming up to one another…

-----------

When Sabine finally arrived at the Manor, she was dead on her feet. Alfred was, of course, waiting for her at the entrance.

“Eventful day, Madame?”

“Don’t.” She cut him off.

“I assume it went worse than anticipated then?”

“Where is Tom?”

“Master Tom is in the kitchen. He decided to prepare some baked goods for the afternoon.”

Sabine stormed to the kitchen where she found her husband. He was clearly busy preparing the dough. After a quick greeting, she went to help him. 

“That bad?”

“Worse.” She sighed. “I really don’t understand that woman. How… She cut me whenever I tried to rein those monsters in.”

“Oh… Hand me the pin.” He interrupted himself. Sabine gave him the item, which she already had in hand when he started speaking. 

“I’m not sure if I can survive until school starts again. And even then there will be occasional afternoon trips. If it continues, I might just… I will get a jam. You did bring it?”

“I’ve put it on the counter,” Tom replied while still preparing the dough. “And don’t worry. I’m sure it’ll get better.”

“I hope so…”

---------

In the evening, Marinette, Chloé, and Sabine were introduced to the Batcave. It was indeed impressive, but Sabine was mostly interested in the training ring. She would lie if she didn’t want to test herself against the famous Batman. And she didn’t fancy committing crimes to do so. Well, for now. The class was making it more and more appealing.

“So you’re the girl that tamed Robin?” A redhead in a wheelchair rolled over to Marinette. 

“Tt. Shut up, Gordon.” Damian managed to spend a beautiful afternoon without any teasing from his family. Sadly, nothing could last forever.

“Come on baby bird. After the show you gave us on Christmas Eve, you can’t expect us to just drop it.” Dick was there, smiling cockily. 

“As much as I too want to tease that couple, I hoped for some sparring matches.” Sabine decided to save the teens. For now.

“Well, Madame, I’m happy to oblige.”

“Who’s with you?” She asked once Nightwing entered the ring.

“Um… I didn’t think you wanted a team match?” He replied, slightly confused. 

“No, no. I just thought I would have some challenge.” She smiled brightly. She was dressed in a dark-pink judoka and wooden sandals. 

“I… want.” Cass chimed in. She gracefully jumped into the ring before turning to Dick. “Alone.”

“Of course Sweetie. But I won’t go easy on you.” 

“Did not… expected.” 

The two women watched one another, neither moving from their spots. Both seemed relaxed but ready to react. Cass was first to start circling, with Sabine following. Neither could find any obvious flaws to exploit. Finally, Sabine lunged forward, only to jump to the side before getting in Cassandra’s range. The girl didn’t lose the bit and with a quick spin kicked her aunt, only to be deflected. Sabine tried to capitalize on the opening, but Cass followed her failed kick with another, launching herself in the air. Her target ducked low before trying to deliver an upper-cut punch toward the flying girl. It did connect, serving to push her back. She used the momentum to get some distance before landing on her hands and doing a double backward cartwheel and ending in a ready stance. 

“Not bad, Cassandra. I’m impressed. That boy would probably already be crying on the floor.” Sabine smiled genuinely. There was no need for banter between them. 

“Weakling.” The girl blew Dick a raspberry. 

Two women watched each other for a moment. This time, it was Sabine who initiated the actual fight. She delivered three quick punches that Cass blocked, but it created a small opening. She tried to deliver a side-kick to the girl’s head, but her opponent had the same idea. 

Their legs clashed by the shins. Sabine landed her leg firmly on the ground, but Cass once more lunged in the air, trying to use the momentum. She did two more kicks that her aunt blocked before she tried to put the older woman in a grip. Sabine, seeing the attempt, jumped back and tried to grab Cassandra’s hand, but instead, the girl spun around, delivering a powerful kick to Sabine’s side. 

The woman felt the kick, but she used the opportunity to timely grab her opponent’s foot and twist it. Cass, to avoid an injury, also had to spin in the air. She managed to attempt a kick before falling on her stomach. Her kick did force Sabine to let go of the foot to avoid having her head hurt. The girl quickly jumped on her feet, just in time to block an open-palm strike, which was followed with a kick. She did not get to respond, because Sabine made a low-sweep. Cass jumped in the air, only to find herself pushed away by another open-palm strike that, this time, connected with her chest, pushing the air out of her lungs. 

The woman followed Cass in the air, so she did not get a chance to stand up before getting pinned and rotated on her stomach. The grip that Sabine used effectively made it almost impossible to get out of before her aunt delivered a mock game-ending strike to her head. 

When Sabine stood up and helped her niece, both were panting heavily. It did not affect the accuracy with which the older of them made a back-kick, right below Jason’s belt. 

“Next time you try to sneak on either of us I will hit harder.” Sabine didn’t even bother to turn around and watch how the man curled on the floor, crying. “Good fight.” She focused her gaze on Cass, who blushed slightly.

“I lost.” 

“Well, depends on the criteria. You got the first hit, which is often decisive. And an achievement.” The woman cheered her with a broad smile on her face. Cassandra couldn’t help but also smile. “We could both use some more practice. I definitely would’ve taken you when I caught your foot and if you capitalized on the initial advantage you could’ve ended the fight.”

“It is an honor… training… with you.”

“Thank you, my dear. I also enjoyed it.” Sabine then turned to the gobsmacked group. The fight must have looked more impressive than she thought. 

“Did you just… defeat Cass in less than five minutes…?” Tim asked, unable to form a smooth sentence.

“Well, Sandra always said that I was the better one in unarmed combat. She does rock with swords though. And you should’ve seen her in that club in Tokyo. She’s definitely the dancer of the family, or rather was. I enjoy Cass’s ballet more.”

The great moment was interrupted by Batman speaking to everyone over the comms. 

“Suit up. We’ve got a hostage situation at Gotham Plaza.”

“For the love of Kwami… Please tell me it’s not my class.” Marinette groaned. 

“Tt. Of course it’s them.” Damian pulled his phone, showing her a live feed from the news helicopter. On the rooftop, there was a clearly visible group of teenagers, surrounded by goons with guns aimed at them. Near the edge stood a guy in a two-color suit. Half white and half black, with a red and black tie to complete the mad image. Half of his face was badly damaged and purple. 

“If Batman doesn’t show here to save his precious sidekick soon, we shall see if the little birdie can actually fly.”

Everyone who met Lila groaned. 

“I assume we can’t just let him deal with her?” Marinette asked hopefully.

“Sadly, Angel, it would be bad for our image.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“The two of you are sitting this out.” Batman walked into the cave, already in his suit. “We can’t risk any of them recognizing you two and it’s too early for Ladybug and Chat to appear. It would be too easy to associate their appearance with you two coming to Gotham.”

Seeing Damian’s irritated face, Marinette decided to intervene before she had a fight on her hands “Let’s do a movie night. I’m sure you have a theatre room somewhere in here.” 

Immediately, the boy brightened. “No Bourgeoise?”

“I think Chloé has other plans for the evening.” She nodded toward where the blonde was talking excitedly with Cass, trying to convince her to train her.

“Good.” Damian offered his hand and the two left the cave.

“Damn! I didn’t get the chance to tease him about the proposal.” Jason looked really dejected. 

--------

Masterlist // Next

[chimpukampu]

Adrinette April Day 23 - Secrets

@adrinetteapril

AO3 | Fanfiction | Wattpad

Week 1: Just Friends - Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7  

Week 2: Falling in Love - Day 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Week 3: Reveal - Day 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

Week 4: Dating - Day 22 | 23

You know the saying 'Curiosity killed the Cat?'

Adrien had that moment when Marinette told him not to peek in her sketchbook. When he asked why, she told him that it was a secret, and that reasoning only heightened his curiosity to the feline level. He was supposed to obey his Lady's commands but the secret was always nagging behind his head like a blinking red light, and the notion only gave him sleepless nights. Besides, they promised to each other that they will never harbor secrets between them since the reveal so why did she refuse to share it this time?

As if the secret was for him anyway.

Refusing to listen to his Lady's taunting voice in his head, he gradually opened the leather-bound sketchbook and prayed to all Miraculous gods that his girlfriend will never skin him alive.

You know the continuation of the saying mentioned above?

Adrien did not feel any satisfaction afterward. In fact, he felt remorse.

Because on that sketchbook was a drawing of a beautiful long wedding gown.

A wedding gown he deemed fit for his Marinette.

Don't get him wrong - it was Adrien's dream to marry his one and only Princess. The fairest of all Ladies. His partner. His soulmate. His one true love.

He didn't know that Marinette was ready all along.

Without wasting a single minute, the blond immediately drove to T&S Boulangerie Patisserie and asked for Tom and Sabine's blessings. The couple gave it to him wholeheartedly, even cried with happiness when he began explaining his proposal and inquired if their daughter has an idea about his plans. He told them it was a secret.

Afterward, he dialed Nino's number and asked for his urgent assistance.

"I know I owe you a lot for helping me on Alya's ring," his best friend bemused "But man, I did not sign up on visiting every single jewelry shop in Paris just for an engagement ring!"

"I just want nothing but perfect for Marinette," Adrien raked his blond hair after they left their tenth, or maybe the eleventh store. He lost his count.

"Have you tried customizing it?"

"The soonest will take them a week, man. I can't wait for that. I'm running out of time."

The DJ raised his arms. "Whoa, what's the rush, Adrien? It's not like one of you will be out of the country or you have a terminal disease."

The blond flashed him a lopsided grin "I'm just too excited to make Marinette my wife."

Thankfully, they were able to find Adrien's perfect ring for his Princess much to the men's delight.

"Don't forget our breakfast hangout at seven, okay?" Nino reminded him before he walked himself home.

As Adrien parked his car on the dedicated slot, he received a confirmation call from Nathalie that a table for two in Le Jules Verne was booked under his name. He thanked her profusely and expressed his happiness for the VIP privileges being an Agreste.

He could picture out how Marinette's bluebell eyes will shine when he gets down in one knee after their romantic dinner date and pop the small velvet box that contains the engagement ring, and how the Eiffel tower would illuminate once she says 'yes'.

But if she will say 'no'...

"You're just wasting your time thinking such dumb ideas," Plagg admonished as if he could read his Chosen's mind. "I swear on the name of Camembert that Mlle. Bug will say 'yes'"

His kwami's words only boosted his confidence the next day.

Like what he had promised to his best friend last night, Adrien and Marinette arrived at the bakery around seven.

The blond caught his future in-law's knowing smirks and winks as they waited for Nino and Alya's arrival, and the exchange glances when they served their breakfast were left unnoticed by his future fiancée.

"Are you hiding something from me, Kitty?" Marinette asked with a discerning gaze.

"It's not my secret to tell, my Lady," Adrien answered as he planted a kiss on her temple.

The first thing that the blond noticed was Alya's misty eyes as the couple entered the shop, followed by Nino's awkward wave. It was now obvious to him that the Ladyblogger knows about his secret proposal thanks to his loose-tongued best friend.

"Are you alright?" the raven-haired asked her best friend who simply glanced at the pale-faced blond friend and her nervous husband-to-be.

"I'm fine, Marinette." Alya smiled. "I'm just so excited for today."

"Me too!" she answered as she pulled out her leather-bound sketchbook. "Ta-da!"

If Adrien was eating his croissant that time, he might have choked it or sputtered it directly to his best friend. His face turned from bloody red to ashen white when his girlfriend flipped the pages of the sketchbook and stopped to show them the drawing of a beautiful long wedding gown.

A wedding gown he thought was for Marinette.

"Hey dude, are you alright?" Nino asked when the blond's mouth bobbed like a fish out of the water.

"I actually hide this design from Adrien," the designer explained nonchalantly, "Because the boys can't keep a damn secret to each other."

Said boys looked at each other guiltily.

"And knowing Nino," she went on "He will likely spill the beans to his fiancée, which will eventually ruins the surprise."

"N - Not really," Alya stammered anxiously "I - I can still act surprised, right Nino?"

The bespectacled guy winced painfully when she kicked his shin discreetly then answered: "R - Right."

"Okay," Marinette drawled then looked at the trio with curiosity. "So, what do you think about Alya wedding gown design?"

Adrien remained silent the entire breakfast meeting.

He wasn't sure how he could keep the ring in his pocket and the motive of his dinner date tonight as a secret.

[matchaball]

inking indigo | 6 |

Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6: Lupines, for the truth in imagination 

AN: It’s been a very long while, and I’m so terribly sorry about that! Life happened, as it does. To those of you who stuck around so very patiently and continue to enjoy this story, thank you, thank you, thank you :’) 

(I also recommend re-reading chapter 5, as I’ve rewritten a bit of it to fit better with the story!)

( Fanfiction.net ) ( AO3 )

It takes Marinette a few weeks to find the time to visit her parents' place for the weekend. She has sleep to catch up on, a dozen clients to tattoo, a myriad of teases and questions from Alya to answer (or dodge), and an uneasy curiosity growing in the pit of her stomach to poke at.

Her overactive imagination feeds her curiosity without reserve as her thoughts inevitably turn back to Adrien, soaked in sunlight and covered in flowers. For how soft he seems, she doesn't know why his touch is so sharp upon her nerves. Why his presence lingers in her skin long after, a buzzing that sits close to her bones.

It's a little familiar, that sensation. Growing up immersed in gymnastics and track makes fatigue a familiar friend; pain, even more so, though it was never cuts or bruises or blisters that bothered her. Sometimes, an ache would build, then knot in an elusive hiding place on her body. Marinette spent hours absentmindedly prodding her muscles and joints, seeking bruises she couldn't see but only feel.

They were never where she expected them to be. It'd be the spot beneath her wrist bone. The spot on her side, right along a rib. The spot on her shin, off center. She was always covered in them, phantom black under the flushed red of her skin.

Adrien's impact leaves a similar mark on her, somehow. Visiting him sporadically at the flower shop in the past few weeks helps prod different spots in her, but a recent influx of clients wanting new tattoos keeps their meetings brief and their friendship confined to texts. It's not the same, but the distance helps her think.

She'd find the spot, wherever the curiosity has planted itself within her.

"Something the matter, Mari-berry?" Tom's easygoing voice breaks through her thoughts effortlessly. The childhood nickname transforms her to a kid of six, small pudgy hands mushing fondant like clay, instead of a young woman with strong, capable hands currently slamming bread dough relentlessly into submission on the kitchen table.

"A lot on my mind, papa," Marinette admits, grimacing as she unsticks her fingers from the goopy pile of dough. "It's just been a busy month."

Tom levels a considering gaze at his daughter, before taking in the number of pastries crowded on every available surface of the kitchen. Three intricately decorated pies rest on the small round table like plates set out for dinner. Cupcakes frosted to look like roses bloom across the plains of the countertops. Even little turtles made of matcha bread with chocolate crackled shells peek out over the top of the microwave and the fridge.

Marinette only ever baked so much when she was stressed or thoroughly preoccupied with a problem. Her hands could never stay still for long.

Tom asked, "Anything you want to share with your old pa?"

"You're not old," Marinette counters immediately, the words jumping out from age-old habit. The trick works though, and Tom's answering chuckle prompts a smile to rise on her face. She sprinkles more flour onto the kitchen table, picks up the slab of dough, and slams it down again. As she folds the dough over and lifts it up to smack down, she adds, "It's nothing, I think. Won't Louis and Camille need you downstairs?"

"My assistants can manage ten minutes without me, especially when you look like you're beating the air out of your dough instead of adding it. What has that bread ever done to you?"

"Nothing," Marinette mutters. "Absolutely nothing."

The frustration in her voice is much more telling than her words. Sensing that he was getting close, Tom guesses, "If it's not the bread, is it about your tattoos?" As Marinette's head shoots up to stare at him, eyes wide like she's been caught in headlights, he laughs, "I might not've noticed when you first got your ears pierced, but I can sure see the new ink on your shoulder."

Marinette's hand lifts automatically to cover the white anemones capping her shoulder. Her fingers press down on the deep blue centers, feeling for that bruise.

"I feel all- jittery," Marinette admits, searching for the right words. "Like... like I've got growing pains again."

"Maybe you'll finally be taller than me," Tom chortles, merely laughing away the blob of bread dough that Marinette smears onto his cheek. "Growing pains eh? Maybe your body is getting used to having new tattoos?"

"I've never heard of that happening before." Marinette's frown focuses on her pile of dough as she throws it down in thought. "Did you ever get pains?"

"Not that I can recall," Tom says. He hums and strokes his mustache as he thinks, planting his elbow solidly on the table to bare the pillar of his forearm.

No one has tattoo sleeves quite like her papa. Marinette's childhood is stitched onto his skin in outlines of dragonflies, astronaut dogs, twirling dancers, dinosaurs, and masked heroes. His tattoos came to life in a completely unique way. Under the patient colouring of her markers and wandering narration of her imagination, they'd become so vibrant that they seemed to move. They never actually did, but Tom would bear her artistic masterpieces with such pride and humour that it never mattered. He enjoyed entertaining curious customers with the stories she made up.

The drawings sit on his skin now, still and empty. Marinette always wondered how his tattoos would react if his soulmate ever did touch them. Would they colour themselves in with his soul, like she once did for him with her markers?

She wonders if they'd ever find out, but the curiosity is faint and fleeting. Tom loved her colourings as much as any effect he'd get from a true soulmate. He called her artistic efforts perfect, and perfect his tattoos have always been to her ever since.

"Your first tattoo never gave you any trouble?" Marinette asks.

The tattoo sleeves came after she was born, but the laurel leaves inked across his collarbones were Tom's first. These are solid black, stark and strong against his skin- a tattoo he'd gotten on a whim, but grew into as he realized his ambitions as a successful baker and pastry chef.

"Nope," Tom chuckles, tapping his collarbone. "I remember this one. I wanted to be outside with my friends instead of sitting in that chair waiting to be stabbed over and over again by a tiny little needle."

Marinette bursts out laughing, lifting fingers covered in flour and bread dough to poke at his arm over and over in a mocking imitation.

"It's not that bad!"

"It took forever," Tom sighs dramatically, playing up the memory. "Master Fu was slower than a turtle. So no, I never got pains, but I sure was scared of growing old in that chair."

"If you'd gotten old, Master Fu would've been a fossil," Marinette laughs. She slaps the ball of dough down on the table, applying the proper amount of force this time.

Tom nods in approval. "It would've matched his tattoos at the very least."

He watches Marinette knead the dough, hands ever in motion, before motioning for her to move over. As she relinquishes her task with a puzzled expression, Tom takes over, expertly folding the dough over and continuing the process.

Before Marinette can protest the loss of her bread, Tom says, "Anyway, if it's tattoo problems you're having, maybe try talking to your mom." Correctly interpreting her stubborn silence, he comments, "You can't avoid the problem forever."

"I'm not avoiding," Marinette protests. "I'm… I'm thinking."

"About?"

A frown furrows Marinette's brow as she looks up at him; in the blue of her eyes, he can see a dozen thoughts soaring by, her mind somewhere far away where he can't reach.

"About why something hurts," she says slowly. Then, quietly, like a thought she meant to keep to herself but escaped in her exhale, "Why do I hurt?"

It's jarring and not just a bit upsetting that the normally cheerful and confident shine to Marinette's bright eyes are shadowed by an uncertainty and just a hint of fear that Tom doesn't understand. It makes her look paradoxically both much younger and older- and for a frightening moment, Tom doesn't recognize the young woman in front of him.

Who is his little girl growing up to become?

"If what hurts?" Sabine asks, her voice floating ahead of her steps as she comes down the stairs from Marinette's old bedroom. The question had been at the tip of Tom's tongue too.

A ripples of emotion pass through Marinette's face as she tries to define her issue, but in the end, she simply points to her new tattoos. The pleading look Marinette gives Sabine is one Tom hasn't seen since Marinette was a little girl, forever asking her parents for answers to the million and one questions she had burning in her precocious mind.

"I see," Sabine says gently. Tom's glad at least one of them apparently does. He can't make heads or tails of what Marinette's trying to say. "Who is it?"

Marinette reddens. "A new friend." She reddens even more, the freckles staining her nose like sunspots, as Sabine smiles knowingly.

There was a leap of understanding taken that saw Sabine to the other side where Marinette was waiting, but Tom is still stuck across the divide. He glances between his two girls before decisively collecting the bread dough into his hands.

"I'll finish this downstairs." He motions with glob in his hands as Sabine and Marinette look over to him. Confusion creases into the corners of Marinette's puzzled frown but it's Sabine's single nod that encourages him to leave rather than stay. "I can't help with your pain, but I can definitely help you with your pain."

Laughter lights the room as Sabine chuckles and Marinette groans good-naturedly at his pun. Tom leaves on that note, carrying Marinette's lighthearted smile with him rather than the fear that had turned her into a stranger. His faith in Sabine's ability to help her though, is absolute. He knew it the moment she walked in the room and only needed to ask a single question.

Just like Sabine, to get right to the heart of the matter.

"So, a new friend," Sabine comments as she fills the kettle with water for tea. She delicately maneuvers around the dozens of baked goods Marinette's crammed onto every available surface. "It wouldn't happen to be someone from the Catmint Print now, would it?"

Marinette looks more resigned than surprised at her mother's intuition. "Alya told you, didn't she."

"I don't need Alya to tell me there's someone special when you've always come back from that store with a smile on your face and more flowers than you paid for. But not just a smile," Sabine observes, reaching over and cupping Marinette's cheek gently. "You're uneasy about something."

Sabine's hand falls away as Marinette moves to take a seat by the counter. Marinette's fingers find the peonies tattooed on her wrist, smoothing over them thoughtfully.

"Why do we need tattoos?" Marinette eventually asks.

The kettle whistles into the air, giving Sabine a moment to think about her answer as she pours two mugs of tea.

"It's to let the soul breathe," she says slowly as she sets a mug down in front of Marinette. "A tattoo is like opening a window."

"A window works both ways," Marinette points out as she wraps her hands around the ceramic. "You can reach out and someone could reach in."

"Yes," Sabine concedes. "That's how we find our soulmates. In that way, tattoos are also an invitation."

"For a human connection," Marinette clarifies.

"Yes."

Quiet falls over them as Marinette turns a thought over in her mind.

"So what does it mean," she finally says, "if someone doesn't have any tattoos?"

"Oh, that's simple," Sabine smiles as Marinette takes a sip from her mug. "They haven't got a soul then."

"Wha-!" Marinette chokes, nearly spitting her tea out. She groans as Sabine starts laughing.

"My darling, you think too much here-" Sabine knocks on Marinette's head "-and not enough here." She taps Marinette's heart and smiles fondly.

"You and papa," Marinette finally laughs, shaking her head. "I'm gonna get you back good for that someday."

"Someday," Sabine chuckles indulgently. "But someone who doesn't have a tattoo? Like a child?"

"No, my age," Marinette corrects. The cup twirls in her hands as she thinks.

"Hmm." Sabine taps her chin in thought. "I've only heard of very rare cases like that. Like I said, tattoos let your soul breathe- and I mean that literally. It balances out the yin and yang within the body and self. We take the dark within us- the yin- and give it light and colour- the yang."

"The souls are dark?" Marinette asks as she sits up straight and leans forward with vivid curiosity. "This sounds a little like magic."

"Maybe," Sabine laughs. "It's what I learned from Master Fu, and he from his teacher, and what has been passed down from tattoo artist to tattoo artist throughout generations. This is why what we do is so important, this balancing, even if other people may not realize it. It's a necessity, but it's also a gift. Whether or not it's magic, it's ultimately about the yin and yang within ourselves. And with each other. We are social creatures after all. Our most powerful relationships transform us."

"It's why our tattoos can move?"

"Precisely," Sabine smiles. "What can the dark do, but give the light a place to shine? And what gives shape to the light, but the dark? When you find that balance, that's when you make a home of yourself."

Even when coached as a lesson, Sabine's words fall as soft and familiar as a storybook tale. Marinette's childhood was saturated by the stories Sabine used to tell her. Some were myths, some were made up, some were read from books, some explained her tattoos, but they were all masterfully and artfully told by Sabine. If imagination had a voice, young Marinette always imagined it as her mother's.

The graceful lines of Sabine's hands lead up to her arms, bared by her t-shirt. If Tom's tattoos were Marinette's childhood colouring book, Sabine's were her picture books. Circles the size of large coins march a straight line from Sabine's wrist to shoulder, each encapsulating an exquisitely rendered scene from Wenzhou, China.

Marinette remembers visiting Wenzhou once when she was little, but her own memories are merely faint echoes of crowded streets, long ferry rides, and relatives plying her with more food than she could consume in several lifetimes. But even if her own recollections are hazy, each of Sabine's tattoos are as vivid and dimensional as miniature dioramas; looking at each scene really does feel like peering through a window into another world. Marinette can almost hear the overlapping cries of vendors yelling across the market of bright, delicately inked fruits and vegetables on her mother's arm, or smell the warm salt of the impossibly blue waters of Nanji Island as they lap against the rocky cliffs. The tattoos of the lush green mountains of Wuyanling appear soft as a watercolour dream, but Marinette knows them to be truly like that thanks to Sabine's stories, her memories.

The tattoos are of a different time and place of the same woman who makes Marinette crêpes when she's sick, who exchanges quick volleys of jokes and well wishes with the easy fluency of one born and raised in Paris, and who strolls along the Seine and tucked away back alleyways alike, utterly at home. And despite the life built upon the tattoo shop then the bakery, Sabine's tattoos are an everlasting reminder of her heritage, keeping her memories close and fresh as the day they were collected, no matter how long ago.

Marinette understands then, what her mother means when the soul needs to breathe through their tattoos. All that history, all that life in her soul should have the chance to shine through somehow, somewhere.

A frown crinkles Marinette's brow as she remembers her original problem. "So, if you've got no tattoos…"

"If there's no outlet," Sabine muses, "I suppose there's no telling what could happen."

A chill runs a light finger down Marinette's spine. Lightning, she remembers. A sudden possibility alights in her mind, one she's never considered.

"Could- could a soul make its own window?" Marinette suggests slowly. "Like… break out?"

Now Sabine frowns, worry clouding her expression. "I don't know. I've never had an experience with something or someone like that. Master Fu might be able to help you more." She watches Marinette twirl her cup faster and faster, tea rising over the lip and breaking upon its edge. She stops the frantic motion with a gentle hand. "You should keep an eye on your friend and make sure he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else around him."

"I felt him. It," Marinette blurts out. She releases her mug and juts her wrist out, pointing at the peonies sprawled over her skin. "Here. I felt- something, like, something coming through me and trying to find a way out."

"Is that why you got these too?" Sabine asks, her hand rising as if to touch the silver and blue anemones peeking out from the apron straps on Marinette's shoulder. Her fingers stop just shy of contact. "To provide another outlet? To help him?"

Profound shock eclipses every other emotion in Marinette's expression.

"I…" she starts, but trails off as her thoughts scatter. She finds them again as she remembers her fingers sunk in cool earth, of enveloping sunbeams and accidental static electricity, of the difference between perfection and happiness.

Her emotions have been a mix, a constant surprise around Adrien, but her actions have always been clear- even if they didn't immediately seem so to her at first.

"Yes," Marinette says simply. The realization, the admittance tastes strange in her mouth. She doesn't know what to make of it. "Whenever we touch, it's like…"

A sharp bang of the front door opening strikes between their conversation, making them both jump. Marinette's tea finally succeeds in sloshing over the edge and splashing down over the countertop as she starts.

"Like that," Marinette whispers.

The faint approach of footfalls is overshadowed by Sabine's hum as a look of intense thought creases her face.

"That's not how a soulmate is supposed to feel right?" Marinette rushes into the pause. "But that's also not how a normal person should feel either."

"No," Sabine answers thoughtfully. "It's not. And he didn't touch your tattoos?"

Marinette shakes her head. "He didn't have to."

"But you felt him." Sabine frowns. "So how did he get in like that then?"

"You speak friend!" The earlier interruption pokes his head in, the wide smile on his face undimmed by the shadow of his baseball cap. "And enter!"

A stunned silence greets Nino as Marinette and Sabine start, unprepared for his sudden appearance.

"Uhh." Nino's eyes widen sheepishly as he takes in the spilled tea, Marinette's preoccupied expression, and the thought creased deeply into the lines on Sabine's face. "Bad time?"

"Nonsense." Sabine recovers smoothly, rising up from her chair and coming forward to peck his cheeks in greeting. She bows around a familiar basket hanging from his arm. "You know you're always welcome here."

"Thanks," Nino grins, stooping down to kiss her cheeks back. "By the way, Tom asked me to ask you if you could come down and help him decorate the special order? I'm assuming he means the thousand and one tarts that's invaded the back kitchen."

"Oh dear. I better go," Sabine sighs, setting her cup down in the sink and wiping her hands. She levels a measuring look at Marinette, still clearly turning over the problem in her mind. "We'll talk later, ok?"

"Yeah," Marinette answers distractedly, her gaze locked on the basket swinging innocently from Nino's arm. "You should save papa before he stays up all night decorating them to perfection."

"He does like to get things just right," Sabine laughs. "Make yourself at home, Nino."

"Thanks," Nino grins as he sets the basket down on a patch of bare counter space. As Sabine heads down, he turns to Marinette and adds, "You definitely get the perfectionism from your dad."

Marinette narrows her eyes at him suspiciously. "Thanks?"

Nino merely raises an eyebrow and looks meaningfully at the rose frosted cupcakes, the matcha and chocolate turtles, and the large pies overcrowding the kitchen.

The thought of telling him that the quantity of baked goods is a result from overthinking rather than perfectionism dances at the tip of Marinette's tongue, but she lets go a good-natured laugh in defeat instead.

"Anyway… 'speak friend, and enter'?" Marinette asks, an eyebrow quirked as Nino slides into a seat next to her at the counter.

"Adrien and I binged through all of Lord of the Rings this weekend," Nino explains. He reaches up to rub tired eyes, knocking his glasses askew in the process. "The extended versions, too. I totally forgot so many details in the movies. Did you remember that orcs are born from that gross goopy mud? Although, speaking of…"

He snags a used mixing bowl and collects a chunk of cookie dough with the swipe of his finger. He looks at Marinette and pauses, a finger in his mouth and an uncomfortably knowing twinkle in his eye. "Are you wearing Adrien's apron?"

"Don't insult my baking like that," Marinette evades, trying to laugh the jibe about orc goop off instead of answering his sharp observation. "Especially if you've just come here to mooch."

"I would never," Nino deadpans, bringing hand over his heart in mock hurt. As if he didn't spend most of his childhood and adolescence gleefully chowing down every treat Sabine and Tom always left for him, Alya, and Marinette to consume after school. He quirks a smile. "You're definitely wearing Adrien's apron. It's got the flowershop logo on it."

Marinette's cheeks heat up and she hastily stands and bustles to the sink, grabbing a dirty mixing bowl to scrub clean.

"I just haven't had the chance to return it to him," she defends, not meeting Nino's eyes. His gaze is always the one that catches her unaware, at times she never expects so can never prepare for. "And it's the only clean apron I've got at the moment."

"Uh huh." The dryness of Nino's tone isn't one she can fight against. Sometimes, Marinette thinks he knows her weak spots better than even Alya. He softens and relents. "Though speaking of, Adrien asked me to bring this back to you."

He nudges the basket on the countertop with his elbow, uttering a soft "Oh shi-" as he accidentally knocks a turtle off the edge. He catches it just by the tip of his fingers as he lunges for it, saving it from a crumbly demise upon the floor.

Marinette pauses, bowl and sponge dripping from her hands, before setting them both down in the sink and wiping her hands dry on her apron. A small sound of surprise escapes her as she draws the basket towards her, finding it heavier than she expected.

NIno comes up, turtle in hand, and watches expectantly.

The lid folds back under Marinette's hands, and a soft sea of blue and purple lupines greets her. She plucks a single stem up, watching as the tall spike waves up with the weight of the numerous blooms spiraling around the long stalk. The blooms at the tip remain closed still, still green and growing, graduating into full bloom towards the lower end of the stem. Marinette's fingers hover over the fully opened flowers at the bottom, just shy of touching a violet rich and vibrant enough to taste.

She lowers the flower to place on the countertop and changes her mind halfway, tucking it instead into the pocket of her apron. When she closes the lid of the basket, her hands are shaking. The mashup of her emotions churn in her mind, whirling faster and faster and faster until-

"He bugs me," Marinette blurts out.

Nino freezes mid-bite, the turtle pastry dangling precariously from his fingertips. He looks, wide-eyed, at Marinette. "Uhh…"

"No no no, ugh, that came out wrong." Frustrated, Marinette runs her hands through her short hair until it stands on end. "I like Adrien. A lot! Like, maybe indecently sometimes. Wait, maybe that's too much info..."

"I'm getting mixed messages here."

"Arghhhh!" Marinette groans. She topples forward until her forehead clunks down on the countertop. "Shouldn't this, whatever this is, be easy for me to figure out? Or like, simple at least? He's a great guy and a great friend."

Slowly, as if not to startle her, Nino says, "I mean, I've known Adrien long enough to tell you that he's got issues like any other person." He takes off one of the turtle's legs in a large bite. As he chews, he continues, "But all things considered, he's really chill."

"He is!" Marinette rolls her head so her cheek rests on the counter as she looks up to Nino. "That's why I don't get why I'm so jumbled around him?"

"You like him?" Nino suggests bluntly, taking off the turtle's head next. He snorts as Marinette puffs her cheeks and petulantly blows flour off from the countertop up at him. "You've never been very subtle or smooth when you've liked someone, Mari. You're usually barely coherent."

"Thanks Nino. I knew I could count on you to lift my spirits and help me out. Where would I be without you," Marinette deadpans.

"I could channel Alya instead and use your cell to phone Adrien so you could ask him out. Right now."

"Oh god please, no," Marinette laughs. "You're the worst."

"Maybe I'd be doing you a favour," Nino shrugs. He finishes the rest of the turtle with a decisive chomp and reaches for another. "You think too much in your head sometimes. You should just go with the flow."

"You know I don't do improv well. I'm a planner."

"You're an overthinker. Still a perfectionist either way," he teases. After a moment's thought, he starts laughing. "Yeah… you really don't do improv well."

"That was one time," Marinette protests loudly as she guesses what's on his mind, "and we were both like, thirteen! Asking you out through a phone call was Alya's idea."

"Was rambling on about homework for fifteen minutes in the beginning her idea too?" Nino raises a brow, a shit-eating grin on his face. "I loved the part where you called me a 'cool dude'."

"I was nervous!" Marinette throws her hands up. "I panicked!"

"My favourite bit," Nino chuckles, "was when you phoned back right after hanging up because you forgot to actually ask me out the first time around."

"No wonder you said no."

"Hey, I panicked too! Alya gave me such a hard time about it…"

"Yeah, she really ripped through you afterwards," Marinette laughs, remembering. "That's ok, our timing was never really right. We always kept missing one another. And then you and Alya found out about each other…"

"Hey," Nino interrupts, voice gone soft. "Alya might be my soulmate, but that doesn't make what I felt about you any less real or any less… well, less. I always felt really lucky, that you liked me too." A faint smile steals over his face as Marinette leans over and pecks his cheek. As she draws away, she feels the what-if strung between them, hanging for a weighted second. It slips away when he continues, "I know Adrien would feel like the luckiest guy too, if he knew how you felt about him."

"I don't even know how I really feel about him," Marinette points out, sighing as she leans down on the counter with crosses arms. The lupine presses against her hip as she rests against the counter, suddenly making her self-conscious of who's apron she was conspicuously wearing.

"Don't you?" Nino looks pointedly at said apron. "C'mon now."

Marinette chews her bottom lip in thought and resists the childish urge to pluck out a lupine and jab it into Nino's face, more to evade the whole conversation than anything else. If only it was as simple as merely liking Adrien.

"Alright," she says. "Maybe I do. You've known him for a while, don't you find him easy to like? And I don't mean because he's a famous and ridiculously good looking actor or model or something. There's something… else to him."

A thoughtful look steals over Nino's expression as he helps himself to another shortbread turtle. He plays with it between his fingers as he slowly pieces his thoughts aloud. "You know how some people are really attractive, but the more you talk to them, the less attractive they seem to get? Like there's just no substance underneath. Maybe they're rude, or bigoted, or whatever. And then there's sort of the opposite. There're people who only get better the more you get to know them, like their personality shines through and their face becomes something... else. Something more." He looks at Marinette and says, easily, "Adrien's probably one of the most beautiful people I know."

"... dang Nino," Marinette breathes. "Are you sure you guys aren't soulmates?"

"Nah," he chuckles. "Well, at least not for me. We checked. Can't say for him though since he hasn't got any tattoos. Although…"

The way Nino's brow suddenly furrows as a question enters his expressive eyes has Marinette leaning forward and prompting him with, "What?"

"Well, you know my tattoos. And you know what happens when Alya touches them."

"Mmhmm," Marinette hums. His first tattoos had been just two simple thin lines running parallel down his back, years ago when they all got their first tattoos. Since then, he's come to her for an expansion, turning two strings into a geometric symphony across his back and down his arms in sweeping curvilinear lines that run the entire expanse of his back like a music staff given wings. They reach down to his forearms, looping over and over until they converge and end in a single point on his wrists.

She'd teased him on how he turned his compositions into math like a nerd, but even though she suffered multiple hand cramps and fierce headaches from the intense concentration of maintaining so many clean lines, she thinks his tattoos may be one that she's proudest to have done.

"The strings vibrate. I've seen it."

"Yeah." Nino runs a hand over his head, as if bracing himself, then taps the visible ink on his arm. "But that's only half of it. I hear it, in my head, the different notes and sounds that Alya can bring out when she touches my tattoos. I guess like synesthesia. But the thing is, I sometimes hear- I think I hear echoes when I'm around certain people, like you or Adrien. But it's nothing definitive, it's just… a resonance. And that frequency can sometimes change, like it's being tuned. Like when I first met Adrien, nothing. Now I get… it's weird, it's like a dissonance somehow, but it's still something. It's like my tattoos are telling me, there's a maybe."

Marinette frowns. "A maybe? Soulmates are a sure thing Nino. Either you know, or you don't."

"All I'm saying is, maybe things can change," he argues. "I like to think it can, anyway."

"Like away, but soulmates are fact. They're predetermined. That's not something that just changes."

"Who says they can't?"

"Like, everyone."

"Well I volunteer as tribute then, to be the first to prove you all wrong," Nino chuckles. "I know what I hear. What I feel. Even now, sitting here next to you, there's- something." His fingers ghost over the lines on his forearms, as if playing them like an instrument.

"Maybe you're reacting to something else," Marinette frowns.

"Feel free to check me yourself, and see where we stand," he offers with an easy grin. "I promise, no matter what my tattoos do, nothing will change unless you want it to."

She's fairly certain she knows the answer already, and the temptation to actually know makes her fingers itch. Still, she shakes her head and emphatically replies, "No."

Nino shrugs, easy-going, but doesn't quite let her off the hook this time. "I know you don't like anyone touching your tattoos but… why again?"

"I don't want to know," Marinette frowns. "I don't want something that's supposedly predestined to be confirmed. I want to do things and choose people my own way."

"I get that," Nino comments thoughtfully as he helps himself to a cupcake. Instead of immediately biting into the delicate flowers iced on top, he carefully traces a petal with a gentle finger. "But I don't think that's entirely it."

"What do you mean?" A strange, sinking sensation twists in her stomach, the sort of gut feeling that tells her she won't like what she's going to hear.

"I think," Nino says, looking up and squarely into her eyes, "that you don't like being vulnerable."

The words come at Marinette like a blow. She takes the punch, even as it bruises her pride with its truth, and rallies back, "Who likes being exposed? So many people get hurt that way."

"Yeah- like you," Nino points out.

His simple observation hurts, like pressing a bruise she never realized she had. She's spent so long thinking of others, of drawing boundaries so she wouldn't hurt them, that concern for her own well-being hides so cleverly and carefully behind those walls. She doesn't like to admit that selfishness has a part in feeding the roots of her actions.

"And what," Marinette frowns. "You're M. Invincible now, are you?"

"Oh hell," Nino laughs, of all things. "Mari, I'm always scared. My imagination has enough running around in there to make me anxious all the time. I'm always vulnerable."

"That sounds terrible," Marinette retorts. "I'd hate feeling like I couldn't do something about that."

"So your way of 'doing something about it' is to keep everything a secret? That doesn't make you invincible either. What makes you think that someone like Adrien's not feeling the exact same way?"

"Annoyed?"

"Scared."

The lupine in Marinette's apron pocket bows into her hand as she reaches for it. Her hand involuntarily closes into a fist as she grips its stem. When she brings it up to light, she can feel the purple petals staining her palms like phantom bruises. Adrien's marigold apron suddenly feels strange on her body, like wearing a skin that's not quite her own. But in some ways, it's similar, familiar in a way she's always known. They both know how to hide behind their jobs, the duty of it.

It's a defensive position, at best. But the game Adrien plays these days is very different, open among the flowers and under the sun. And maybe that's all happiness really is: something heady, encompassing, and ultimately ephemeral. Even sunshine can't last forever.

Her hand unfurls, revealing fewer stains among her fingers than she expects. The lupine falls to cover her entire hand, its tip pointing away like a compass. She doesn't need much imagination to wonder where- or who- it'll take her to.

"I guess the risks wouldn't really be worth it," Marinette murmurs, the weight of Adrien's kindness balanced in her palm, "if you didn't have something to lose."

AN2: It’s been nearly a year!! Dishonour on me, my cow, etc etc etc. Two big things happened: I graduated, and I got a job!!! It’s been crazy fun and intense and exciting, but incredibly time-consuming and energy-draining. At the end of most days, I cook lunch, walk my dog, then fall right into bed. 

Regardless, a million, million, million apologies for how long this chapter took! This story was always lowkey slow cooking in my mind no matter how busy I got, and tbh, I think a long simmer was what I needed for this story to go through. For both plot and personal reasons. I do realize that the long chapters and long wait between chapters makes this slow burn painfully slow, but I hope you’re enjoying the ride nonetheless :’) The unbelievably sweet, supportive, patient, and encouraging comments kept this story alive for me, and continues to do so when I’m sitting in front of a blank page thinking, I can’t do this. But I can, and I will, because this story is still wonderfully fun for me to write, and because it’s such a joy to find it makes other people happy- even now, after so long :’)

(Now here’s hoping I can get chapter 7 out before Christmas!) 

Tom’s tattoos. Sabine’s tattoos. Nino’s tattoos. 

And also an enormous thank you to-

♥ @jesuisunjardin​ (for this lovely adrinette sketch) ♥ @kwamikwami​ (for this gorgeous moodboard) ♥ @larvesta​ (for this INCREDIBLE comic of chapter 3!) ♥ @chiumonster​ (for this perfect adrinette moment in the flowershop) ♥ @lunecake​ (for a fabulous cosplay, and two wonderful drawings) ♥ @12hues​ (for making me cry. TWICE.) ♥ @qookyquiche​ (for this darling adrinette drawing) ♥ @maaarble​ (for this beautiful Marinette moment in chapter 3) ♥ @goonlalagoon​ (for a great rendition of Luck be A Lady and the Catmint Print)

[whiteravengreywolf]

A Kiss for a Gift - a Wolfwren Christmas fanfiction

A/N: Hello everyone! Merry Christmas! As advertised multiple times I've posted a Christmas one-shot set in my High School AU. Here is the beginning and if you want to read the whole story the link will be at the end!

The Life Day Market of Capital City was the biggest in Lothal. The whole plaza at the foot of the central tower was taken over by lights, wooden chalets and all the Life Day decorations the place could handle, green and red and gold everywhere the eye stopped. People lined up for warm drinks and hot treats. Vendors displayed jewelry and paintings and socks, the perfect gift for your family on Life Day. And Sabine had had the terrible idea of letting Hera sign her up as a volunteer, again.

All the streets leading into the plaza had been closed off except two, the entrance and the exit. A banner hung above the entrance, welcoming everyone into the market. If it wasn’t enough, however, Sabine was the extra welcome. She sat in a tiny wooden box at the corner of the entrance, too cramped up to move. She was supposed to give additional information to the people, but she wasn’t even sure what information she could give them. There was no map to the market, it was made up of two concentric circles of cabins and impossible to get lost in. The time the market opened and closed? They had a big sign near every entrance for that. People walked by her without sparing her a glance, probably as confused by her presence as she was annoyed by it. She scrolled on her phone, draining the battery to keep boredom at bay. She’d brought a pad and pencil to draw but she barely had the space to move her arms.

At least she had avoided the role of one of the droids in the Santa Clause factory like the year before, she thought as Ezra brushed his way back to her, dressed in a poor man’s droid’s costume.

“Why did I have to be a droid?” he complained as he leaned over the small counter of Sabine’s booth.

“I don’t know what’s more cramped. This box or your droid costume.”

“It’s the costume, trust me.”

He tugged on the sleeves yet they continued to hike up past his wrists.

“Anyway, Hera is asking if you want a snack.”

Sabine sighed. The only privilege of working for the market was that they didn’t have to cue twenty minutes for a crepe. Still, with her legs cramping up and her elbows rubbing against wood all day, it didn’t feel worth it. And if the PA system behind her played that stupid Life Day song again, she was going to take it down herself.

Ezra stared at her, waiting for an answer. Her gaze migrated away from her brother to the familiar blonde who had just squeezed through the crowd at the entrance. A big smile appeared on Sabine’s lips as she spotted Shin. She waved at her. Shin gave her a small smile and brushed past the crowd to get to her.

Full Story Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52519663

[melanie-ohara]

It's a Long Way to Peridea

Written for @wolfwrenweek Day 3: Between Two Lungs, but posted two whole days late because I had a bad week!

Read it on AO3 here!

Finale: Release

Shin didn't know what she was doing, so she let Sabine guide her as she worked her tongue against her pussy. The taste of her flooded her mouth and she pressed deeper, driven by Sabine's soft moans and surprisingly gentle gasps. Through the Force, she could feel her rising pleasure and combined with the ways she tilted Shin's head with her hands and mumbled approvingly, she quickly developed her technique. Sabine liked when Shin focused her attention around her clit, but pulled her away slightly if she put too much pressure on it directly.

"Try tracing the alphabet," Sabine offered helpfully and Shin smiled.

She worked slowly, carving each letter into Sabine's pussy like she was practicing caligraphy. Aurek, besh, cresh… she could feel Sabine's rising frustration, but there was something in it Shin could tell she was enjoying and knew that if she sped up the way she craved, the Mandalorian would wish she hadn't. So she kept up her teasing pace, so lost in her work and Sabine's soft moans she didn't care that her tongue and jaw were starting to ache, and the burning need between her own legs was going unattended. Shin thought about moving one of her hands to touch herself, but she was enjoying the feel of Sabine's thighs under her fingers too much to move them. And, she hoped, Sabine would be repaying this favour soon and she didn't want to rob her of claiming the first flush of her own pleasure.

Shin made it all the way to isk before Sabine couldn't take it any more. She shifted her weight forwards until she was all but straddling Shin's face and started to grind her hips, riding Shin's face as she struggled to keep up her ministrations. Her fingers tightened in Shin's hair, but she could still tell she was holding back. Shin almost laughed when she realised that Sabine was trying not to hurt her, a far cry from how she normally was towards her. She wanted to tell her she could be rougher - that she could take what she wanted from her, as long as she would get hers in return - but she couldn't pull herself away from the taste of her. She tried to will it through the Force, but Sabine seemed closed to her. But there were other ways she could communicate without speaking, she realised, and started writing with her tongue.

Herf, aurek, resh, dorn, esk, resh.

Harder.

Sabine got the message and laughed. It was the first time Shin had heard that sound from her and it stuck through her heart harder and deeper than any of her pretty gasps or moans. She was trying to dislodge it when Sabine sped up, pressing her weight down against Shin's mouth and riding her hard. Shin was reminded of shameful nights when she had gone to sleep with this ache between her legs and awoken with her legs wrapped around a pillow, and the idea of being treated like an inanimate object Sabine could use for her pleasure made something inside her unfurl like a bat spreading its wings. She showed her how much she liked it by closing her mouth around Sabine and sucking hard enough to draw her clit into her mouth, pressing the flat of her tongue underneath. It was a motion that had popped into her head fully realised, and it was only when she heard Sabine cry out in shocked pleasure that she recognised that she'd done it because it was what Sabine was thinking about in that moment. After that, it didn't take long for Sabine to come undone on her tongue.

Shin felt it rising in her, as much against her lips as she did through the Force, and didn't really know what to expect. Sabine's fingers tightened in her hair and she cried out - a loud, sharp sound that turned into something unfamiliar from Sabine, but entirely welcome: a giggle. It sounded wild and free and totally uncontrollable, and in that moment Shin would give anything to hear it again and again. She kept her tongue pressed against Sabine's clit, relishing every movement as she humped against her face. Eventually, she felt Sabine loosen her grip and gently guide her away. Shin looked up into her face and saw the lopsided, satisfied grin tugging at her mouth.

"Something funny?" Shin asked and Sabine shook her head.

"That's just how I cum," she said. "Which means you did a good job."

Shin stood slowly, without looking away from her eyes. She rested her hands on her hips and felt the heat of sweaty skin against her palms.

"Your turn," she said, trying to sound as confident as the Mandalorian. She thought she sounded petulant and demanding, but it made Sabine smile again.

"Yes it is."

Both of Sabine's hands traveled under the band of her undershirt and lifted it until it sat above her tits. Shin kissed her again, making a conscious effort not to slam into her mouth too hard now, as Sabine cupped and squeezed at her chest. Her hands felt improbably soft for someone who spent so much time firing blasters, and the shocks of pleasure burned her nerves as she kneaded her tits and carefully tweaked her nipples between the pad of her thumb and the edge of her palm. She wanted her to leave bruises, the way she'd wanted to leave bruises on her. All they ever did to each other was leave marks, and Shin wouldn't have in any other way.

Without thinking, her thumb slipped under Sabine's tugged-down top to find the perfectly circular scar she had given her at their first meeting. Sabine hesitated when she felt her touch it and pulled away from the kiss, something a little like fear in her eyes.

"I gave this to you," Shin remarked. Despite the fire raging in her, her voice sounded calm and detached. Sabine's smile didn't quite reach her eyes and Shin cursed herself for her fascination with the feeling of marred, damaged skin against her thumb.

"Regret it yet?" Sabine asked, teasingly.

"Almost," Shin said. Tasting Sabine as she came was something she would remember for the rest of her life, but it was a very pretty scar.

Sabine surged forwards and Shin was forced back against the metal bed. Sabine moved with her as she sat down heavily, their foreheads never separating.

"I'm sure I can make you," Sabine said. Her voice was almost threatening, and it sent a shiver of excitement down Shin's spine that terminated in a pulse of arousal. She mewled as one of Sabine's hands left her chest, but bit back her complaint when she felt her fingers questing into the waistband of her underwear. If they weren't black, her wetness would have been obvious, but since the dark stain was invisible Sabine let out a soft gasp of appreciative surprise when her fingers touched her.

"Shin, you're soaked," she whispered. It sounded like awe.

Shin arched her back to press her body against Sabine's. She was dimly aware of the Mandalorian resting one of her legs on the bed beside her for balance, but her attention was too focused on the light, experimental touches against her slick folds to care about much else. Sabine's other hand kept playing with one of her nipples in a way that made Shin squirm as her mind went blank. Her lips searched for Sabine - not even her lips, just any skin she could put her mouth. She found her neck, and the feeling of two of Sabine's fingers softly parting her outer lips made her sink her teeth in without a second thought. Sabine's sharply gasped 'fuck' thrummed through Shin's head and she moaned into her flesh, muffled by her skin.

Sabine tilted her own head, forcing Shin to let go of her and find somewhere else to put her teeth. She traveled down her neck and latched onto hard sinew above her collarbone, which made Sabine draw a hissing breath.

"I want to be inside you," she whispered in Shin's ear. Her voice was honeyed but desperate, and Shin was surprised to find a note of a question in it. She was asking for permission. All Shin could think about was that nothing Sabine did to her would feel wrong now, and that the burning ache in her cunt needed sating.

She took her teeth out of her neck long enough to reply. "Then do it," she encouraged.

She went to bite her again, but Sabine brought her hand up from her chest long enough to catch her chin and turn it towards her.

"Kiss me," Sabine ordered. Shin had been happy with the feel of her pulse against her teeth, but whatever Sabine wanted she was determined to give and brought her lips to bear against Sabine's. She felt her tongue push into her mouth just as, between her legs, Sabine slowly penetrated her.

It was unlike anything else she'd ever felt. Incredible pleasure singed her nerves, the slight pain and shock of being invaded melding with it to create a rush of feeling that overwhelmed her brain and left her frozen in place. Her body trembled against Sabine's, and all she could do was hold on to her shoulders and tense.

"You okay?" Sabine asked. Shin felt her move to retract her finger and managed to squeeze her thighs together to keep her hand trapped.

"Good," Shin managed to breathe. And then; "more."

Shin felt Sabine grin against her lips in the half-second before she was kissing her again, and then her wrist was moving. Her other fingers stroked her folds as she used the one inside her to fuck her. Shin stopped thinking for the first time, possibly ever, as she clung to her Mandalorian and released herself to the feeling.

Sabine's palm descended on her clit and Shin let out a howl of pleasure as something suddenly rushed through her. She could feel something building in every muscle in her body, radiating out from Sabine's insistent touch until it suffused her being from top to bottom. She moaned and gasped and humped her hips up into Sabine's hand as her talented, infuriating rival coaxed the most intense feeling Shin had ever experienced out of her.

Finally, it broke. Every part of Shin released as her brain short-circuited and the tension building in her snapped like a band. Her body thrashed outside of her control and the pleasure was too overwhelming to even try and fight it. She was vaguely aware that she had bitten Sabine's lip again, but the Mandalorian refused to pull away from her for a second. She was so eager to be connected to Shin now that not even the pain would drive her away, and realising that made Shin cling to her even harder as they rode out her orgasm together.

-

After, Shin and Sabine laid next to each other on the flat metal bed. They had pulled the various bits of clothing that hadn't been stripped from their bodies back into place as protection from the chill air of the cell, and Shin had curled herself against Sabine's body to feel the warmth of her skin. Even the sheen of cooling sweat on their bodies felt comfortable now. Familiar. Sabine tucked one arm behind her own head and reached the other across her body to come to rest on Shin's shoulder. She couldn't see her face now, just the top of her head and the spill of her platinum hair. The strands tickled slightly against her neck.

Idly, she glanced across the room and saw Shin's lightsaber where it landed by the binders. Shin was still recovering. She could reach it first. The cuffs were within easy reach of the hilt, so she could -

"You wouldn't make it off the bed," Shin said quietly. Her hand slithered across Sabine's stomach and wrapped around her hip, in a way that felt more possessive than it did restrictive.

"No?" Sabine asked, eyebrow raised. "You don't look like you can move that fast right now." She felt a prickle that made the hair on her arms stand on end, and Shin's lightsaber rolled across the room to join the pile of her robes.

"I don't need to move," Shin explained.

Sabine felt a strange rush of affection for the powerful creature curled up against her side like a cold loth-cat and squeezed her shoulder.

"Neither do I," she said. There was a soft, comfortable pause where the only sound between them was breathing. "Wait," Sabine said, realising something. "Were you reading my mind?"

She could swear she felt Shin smiling. "Just sensing your intentions."

"Right." Sabine focused her mind, the way Ahsoka had taught her to meditate. Instead of clearing it though, she focused on the fantasies she usually tried to dispel - Shin, all four limbs tied and spread on a large, comfortable bed while she took her time breaking her with a series of interesting and varied toys. Blindfolds, gags to stop her biting, vibrators and spreader bars. "What are my intentions now?" she asked, as casually as possible.

Against her arm, she felt Shin shuffle slightly as she focused and took a deep breath. She could almost feel the heat rising from her cheeks when her breath hitched, and Sabine smirked.

[whiteravengreywolf]

Fire Within Fire, Desire in Deity - a Wolfwren fanfiction (NSFW)

A/N: Hey everyone! I just posted a new one-shot, this one as you can see is rated E ;) Here is the beginning of the story, but if you want to read the whole thing, the link is at the end!

Shin woke up to the sound of delicate scratching. She smiled and turned in bed, away from the morning light coming in through the window. Lothal mornings were always blinding. She had to blink a few times until her eyes stopped watering. She rubbed them, stretched, feeling the blanket falling away from her, then finally opened her eyes. Just as she had predicted, Sabine was seated at the edge of the bed with her leather-bound notebook on her lap, and a sharp piece of graphite in her hand.

“Did you have to turn?” she asked Shin once she had opened her eyes.

Shin didn’t reply right away. First, she sat up and grabbed the back of Sabine’s head, kissing her. When they parted, Shin glanced at the notebook. Sabine had been drawing her naked back with the sheets drawn up to her waist. Shin lay back down against the pillow.

“You know I love annoying you.”

Sabine rolled her eyes. As if to prove Shin wrong, she picked up the graphite again and began another sketch of her. Shin reclined back down, staring at Sabine.

“I didn’t expect you would be drawing me first thing in the morning.”

Sabine had sketched her before in that very special notebook. It was a gift from Mon Mothma for service rendered to the Galaxy. It was near impossible to find that much paper anymore, and for a long time, Sabine had preserved the gift, using it sparingly. For the past few weeks, however, she had been filling every page with drawings of Shin.

“I was just looking at you and the urge came over me. Can you blame me?”

“I give you the uncontrollable urge to draw?”

Sabine chuckled.

“It’s almost like I find you beautiful or something.”

Full story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52141087

[matchaball]

wip updates

It’s been a long while since I’ve updated a lot of my fics, but I am working on them! I’m working on multiple fics at the same time so even though the going’s been slow, it’s been steady for all of them- which means at some point, I’m going to be dropping a bunch of fic updates at once haha. But in the meantime, I thought I’d give some wip snippets for any of those interested :) 

inking indigo

“Adrien and I binged through all of Lord of the Rings this weekend,” Nino explains. He reaches up to rub tired eyes, knocking his glasses askew in the process. “The extended versions, too. I totally forgot so many details in the movies. Did you remember that orcs are born from that gross goopy mud? Although, speaking of…”

He snags a used mixing bowl and collects a chunk of cookie dough with the swipe of his finger. He looks at Marinette and pauses, a finger in his mouth and an uncomfortably knowing twinkle in his eye. “Are you wearing Adrien’s apron?”

“Don’t insult my baking like that,” Marinette evades, trying to laugh the jibe about orc goop off instead of answering his sharp observation. “Especially if you’ve just come here to mooch.”

“I would never,” Nino deadpans, bringing hand over his heart in mock hurt. As if he didn’t spend most of his childhood and adolescence gleefully chowing down every treat Sabine and Tom always left for him, Alya, and Marinette to consume after school.  He quirks a smile. “You’re definitely wearing Adrien’s apron. It’s got the flowershop logo on it.”

Marinette’s cheeks heat up and she hastily stands and bustles to the sink, grabbing a dirty mixing bowl to scrub clean.

“I just haven’t had the chance to return it to him,” she defends, not meeting Nino’s eyes. His gaze is always the one that catches her unaware, at times she never expects so can never prepare for. “And it’s the only clean apron I’ve got at the moment.”

“Uh huh.” The dryness of Nino’s tone isn’t one she can fight against. Sometimes, Marinette thinks he knows her weak spots better than even Alya. He softens and relents. “Though speaking of, Adrien asked me to bring this back to you.”

He nudges the basket on the countertop with his elbow, uttering a soft “Oh shi-” as he accidentally knocks a shortbread turtle off the edge. He catches it just by the tip of his fingers as he lunges for it, saving it from a crumbly demise upon the floor.

Marinette pauses, bowl and sponge dripping from her hands, before setting them both down in the sink absentmindedly and wiping her hands dry on her apron. A small sound of surprise escapes her as she draws the basket towards her, finding it heavier than she expected.

NIno comes up, turtle in hand, and watches expectantly.

The lid folds back under Marinette’s hands, and a soft sea of blue and purple lupines greets her. She plucks a single stem up, watching as the tall spike waves up with the weight of the numerous blooms spiraling around the long stalk. The blooms at the tip remain closed still, still green and growing, graduating into full bloom towards the other end of the stem. Marinette’s fingers hover over the fully opened flowers at the bottom, just shy of touching a violet rich and vibrant enough to taste.

She lowers the flower to place on the countertop and changes her mind halfway, tucking it instead into the pocket of her apron. When she closes the lid of the basket, her hands are shaking. All the questions she’s wondered since the day she met Adrien, all the new information gleaned from her mother, and all the mashup of her emotions churn in her mind, whirling faster and faster and faster until-

“He bugs me,” Marinette blurts out.

ninette companion piece to @tides-miraculous‘ incredible art! (part 1/?)

When the footsteps of the couple have faded from her hearing, she slings her yoyo out and chooses to drop neatly down to street level to start heading back home. The immediate urge to detransform is strong- she appreciates that she can leave Ladybug behind when there isn’t a need for her- but the veritable cityscape of responsibilities, deadlines, and questions waiting for Marinette back home stop the necessary words from rolling off her tongue. They stop her slow walk down the street altogether, and Ladybug’s not quite sure where to go.

She wonders if Chat ever feels like this- like he’s adrift in his own skin, like he's a little...

“Lost?”   

The familiarity of the voice is the only thing that stops Ladybug from whirling around and giving a good roundhouse kick to the head, except it's not Chat that she sees as she turns around, but Nino.

“Yes?” she automatically answers, then backtracks to his initial question. “Wait- no… umm, maybe?”

Being unbalanced by surprise has her sounding much more like flustered Marinette than confident Ladybug. Something in her face must've shown, because Nino doesn't comment on it despite his pause of confusion. He blinks once, twice, then shrugs.

“Well, I’m going to be hanging out here for a while if you want company,” he says. He looks at her for another moment before offering a small smile. It’s an invitation as he walks to a nearby bench and settles himself comfortably down beneath the low light of the streetlamp.

She doesn’t want to stay on among the rooftops, but she doesn’t feel like going back just yet either so- maybe here is where she’s supposed to be.

Nino’s eyes are dark, and kind, as Ladybug steps up and joins him on the bench.

follow the running stitch 

“You've been watching those detective TV shows again,” Marinette groans.

“What's a journalist but a detective?” Alya shoots back, laughing at her friend’s disgruntled expression. “Besides, if you're going to make a guess, you might as well make it an interesting one.”

“An informed one hopefully, oh great reporter of the world.”

“Then it’s no longer so much a guess, as it is practically a fact.”

“Extrapolation, Alya. Isn’t that the point of investigative journalism? To dig and dig until you uncover every dirty little secret?”

“Only the truth, dear Watson. Only the truth.”

The look Marinette shoots her at the nickname is entirely dry and unamused, but Alya merely plucks the macaron left on the plate between them and pops it pointedly it in her mouth, her eyes crinkled in wicked humour. The pleasant chatter of the café’s patio around them falls away as Marinette gives in and rolls her eyes, a grin tugging up despite herself.

“Well your truths aren’t helping me draw anyone properly so help a girl out?” The flip of her sketchbook’s page is Marinette’s version of a sigh. Her pencil skates to the corner and stands poised, waiting to try again.

replay, rewind, restart (naruhina, soulmate au)

It would rip her apart, to lose her soulmate. She could feel it too, how it would break him.

“Don’t scare me like that again ok?” He pulled back just enough so she could see his eyes again, the memorable blue of them. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, calloused thumbs shaking as they stroked over her cheekbones gently, reverently, passing over the bandages that covered her temples. “I can’t lose you. I can’t.”

It had been her choice, to intervene with the gunman. Hinata would do it again, if the situation called for it once more, and she knew that she couldn’t make a promise that she wasn’t sure she could keep.

She realized it then. How having your soulmate didn’t mean also having forever with them. There was never a guarantee of a happy ending. There would always be fears to face, realities to answer to, choices to make. What Kiba had told her long ago didn’t seem so true here; Hinata couldn’t see the strength in the choices she might have to make, not when it meant leaving a shattered heart. There was just pain, and a bittersweet seed of hope that those choices may never come to pass.

“I…” Hinata started, because she knew she should say something. The words weren't there- but he was.

Her hands lifted up to wrap loosely around his wrists before skimming down powerful forearms tanned by the sun. Her fingers stretched wide open as she reached his broad shoulders, but they still couldn't span the solid width of them. He swallowed, throat working as she slid her hands down the great expanse of his chest. She mapped him, feeling the unconquerable strength of him tremble beneath her gentle touch. Within the fighting beat of his heart, she found her words.

“I'll try,” Hinata promised.

His answering smile broke over his face like a rising sun, dazzling and breathtaking. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek, her nose, her lips, anywhere and everywhere that he could reach, drinking her in with unchecked emotion.

Hinata leaned into his embrace. Fear would make a fighter of her, but his love, this happiness was worth it.

“Hey,” he whispered softly at the end, his shining blue eyes the last thing she remembers. “You're the bravest person I know.”

naruhina drabble prompt (music au)

They make a stunning trio, dressed in formal black that soaks up the dark ink of their long hair. Their eyes shutter down towards their respective instruments, concentrating on the vibrato of the cello, the hum of the viola, the trill of the violin- and even though Naruto doesn't know much about classical music, he knows that they are very good.

Still, the pieces they play are very long and honestly a little tiring to listen to considering his minimal interest in classical music. Despite his best intentions, Naruto dozes off.

He swears, he only closed his eyes for a second but suddenly Tenten’s kicking his shins and the audience has surged into a roar of applause. Guilt springs Naruto to his feet and he cheers with all the heart and volume that had been denied to him before.

He can see Neji rolling his eyes at him, no doubt unfooled by his enthusiasm. The girl with the violin clasped in front of her smirks with wicked humour and Naruto gets the distinctive impression that he's become the butt of a joke.

The cello practically hides the other young woman on the stage but Naruto’s eyes flicker over to hers as she stands and bows. As she straightens, her long inky hair slides back from her face like curtains, revealing warm lavender eyes staring directly at him.

Maybe it's because her eyes had been hidden from view the whole time as she played before, maybe it’s because her countenance had been so unassuming before, but the open sincerity of her gaze now strikes him like a blow. The look of gentle amusement she gives him trips his heart and he can’t say why his face suddenly grows too warm. Even when she looks away to take in the rest of the crowd that’s starting to die down, he’s still clapping, still staring.  

“What d’you think Naruto?” Ino elbows his side. He totally misses the sly edge of her grin, the knowing tease in her voice. Something about the look from the cellist lingers in his mind like a note he’s trying to catch, and even though he can’t remember what he listened to, he knows there is something about that performer that makes him feel.

“...whoa,” he breathes.