#but if you want me i'll be over here coughing up flowers

[carveus]

Eternally quietly fuming that the accepted meaning of Hanahaki Disease got turned into unrequieted love from the original of unadmitted love.

Because oh my god the beautiful metaphor of having to try and keep everything locked inside only for your body to physically turn those feelings into beauty that slowly choke you to death?

Fucking Sublime.

[bnuuys-writing]

Overblot Yuu! (Reader)

Hi guys! Here's the first part to that idea of Yuu overblotting! It is going to be an X Reader! Poll ends in 4 hrs but I wanted to get a head start on it! Considering I have so many votes casted in currently, I might as well make this into a series! But whoever wins first will get the first chapter! Anyway, hope you enjoy!!

-Bunny Out!

This isn't how you imagined how you'd turn out to be. This isn't you. Yet, how could you turn away from this wonderful feeling of something you were denied in this world? The coursing through your veins, the power at your fingertips, the energy swelling within you—

Magic.

———

Spring was coming up, the frosty air was slowly becoming warmer and warmer as sprouts of flowers began to appear. Grass over the courtyards were losing their morning jack frost more and more every day. Soon, finals were going to come up and summer recess would start. Everyone would go home, spend time with family, friends, loved ones.

Everyone but you.

Standing in the courtyard, eyes glazed over as you couldn't help but stare at the morning gym class soaring in the sky. Ortho, who you could tell by his jets and his broom leaving a white streak in the sky as airplanes would back in your homeland. Twirling and playing around with Epel, Deuce, Ace, and Jack, Sebek only tailed along just to reprimand them on proper technique and form of flying on a broomstick. All of your friends but you.

Taking a large inhale through your nose, slowly exhaling it as your eyes closed ever so slightly as your gaze turned from your magically soaring friends to your breath. This was unfair. Everything was unfair. Headmage Crowley still not finding your way home, all your friends will leave you here at the school just to see their friends and families again back in their homes, yet you couldn't go back to yours. All the while knowing after Malleus’ overblot, there hadn't been any sightings or starting of anyone else beginning to overblot.

Grim rested upon your shoulders, his breath coming out easy and slow as he peeked one eye out at you, a small yowl coming from his mouth as he yawned and stretched.

“Nyah, henchman, why have we stopped? It is still cold outside. Shouldn't we be heading to class?” He whined out, cuddling closer to you under your scarf to better stave himself off from the cold. To lean closer to your overwhelming body heat. You fogged over eyes slowly trailed out from the sky where you lost sight of your friends behind some clouds down to the pesky direbeast resting on your shoulder. You felt unnaturally warm in the cold weather, yet you couldn't be getting sick— Not with finals being so close by. You couldn't risk missing one lecture of a world you didn't know and having your grades tank and you fail.

“Sorry about that Grim, I was just observing our friends in the sky.” You mumbled out, the concoction of medicines coursing through your veins of all allergy relievers, cough drops in your pocket and a warm direbeast upon your neck to prevent a migraine from forming.

Grim, in turn, only seemed to frown at hearing the longing within your voice.

“If you want to go flying! You can always ask me, your magically gifted and future best sorcerer of all time!” Grim shouted out loudly into your ear on accident, causing it to begin ringing as you smiled weakly at your companion. Of course, you could always ask. There were plenty of others who were more capable of flying than Grim but you wished you could just do it on your own.

“I'll have to take you up on that offer sometime, Grim.” You hummed out, clearing your throat ever so slightly as you began to finish your trek into your first class with Grim.

Potionology.

Certainly this should've been one of the easier classes, right? Memorizing potions, pouring things into mixtures to get certain elements and components right before adding more in to get different effects, just like chemistry lab back home for you, right?! Well, when you looked at the ingredient lists, you could barely understand at least half of what the requirements were, and most of the time that was just what beaker you needed and if you needed a stirring stick. The newts, apparently there were more than just one. Direroots were hard to cut for you due to them beginning to scream if cut improperly. 

You were sure Professor Crewel was just ready to stop you from attending classes if it weren't from little nudges of your lab partner across the table helping you. Although most of your potions went wrong either due to Grim overheating it, Deuce fighting with Ace, or you just simply were unable to fully grasp the material. 

Then led onto your next class, History.

This should've been easier, right?! Its just more of memorization, pinpointing certain times and dates and their most important. Yet, that was impossible as you learned more about the different countries on the many different continents. For all the points of history had major significant events happening all at the same time. 

The Queendom of Roses beheading of the first King, all the while in the Savannah, the true king found himself home in order to take back the throne from his wicked uncle that ran the lands dry of all life.

But just before all that, some important Princess in the land of Briar faced off a large important Knight? But the City of Flowers, where you recalled meeting Rollo, was dealing with sightings of their first monster who was locked away in the infamous belltower while the city burned.

Not to mention years later, a beautiful woman who locals swore was made of seafoam was actually found out to be a mermaid, hoping to marry the Prince who was already betrothed to a young woman who was labeled the Fairest in The Land. 

Sure, they all counted back to the stories and fairytales back home but the memorization of dates, names, and which came first and after were confusing. You almost found yourself in debt to Azul in order of getting help if it weren't for Riddle stepping in first and offering his help to you when he found you almost near meltdown, head stuffed into a history book in the darkest corner of the library.

After history left your gym class.

Which consisted mostly of running laps until your legs gave out or sitting on the benches, watching your friends and Grim try to operate a broomstick. Coach Vargas didn't want you to feel left out, but to the nurse, stating how you were a liability after Grim dropped you in his large feats of grandeur, causing Deuce and Ace to crash into together in hopes of catching you, Epel grabbing your track vest at first only for the zipper to break and continue your plummet. Jack and Sebek were the ones who caught you by your feet before you could crack your head open on the grass. Ortho was quick to give you a quick scan and escort you to the nurses office after finding your blood pressure skyrocketed through the roof.

So the benches, you made sure were kept warm. And never lonely. Certainly it was never the other way. 

Which is where you reside currently, eyes fixed up at the sky as you watched Scarabia students try to make evasive maneuvers while carrying the magic-disc for a simple game of magicshift but their opponents of Pomefiore made it very difficult. Watching how they seemed to be able to soar without a single care in the world, for if they fell, they could easily catch themselves by calling back their broomstick or with some other magical maneuver.

Never were they in danger of losing their life unlike the school's residential magicless human.

After that was just getting groceries, making dinner for Grim and yourself, homework studying, then to finish off the night; your evening walk with Malleus and chatter about gargoyles. That always left you feeling at least a tiny bit better as you left after every discussion with a small ‘goodnight’ and went to bed.

Yet, it felt like the days were growing longer ever since you went to Styx. This illness you were experiencing felt like it had been slowly accumulating since Riddle's overblot. First starting with small sneezes and allergy like symptoms until now, after Malleus’ overblot, you felt like you were knocking on death's doorstep. Yet, you had to press through. One day missed felt like a whole year of trying to recover whatever material you couldn't grasp and making your grade slip even more. 

And the only reason you were allowed to stay on campus is to keep an eye on Grim. Make sure your precious roommate succeeds in school. Which means pulling your own weight in order for him to succeed and live his dreams. 

“And so, when youre looking at this equation, you have to remember to plug it into the quadratic formula, Grim.” Your voice was slow and scratchy after another long day of schooling and now here you were trying to help Grim pull his own weight. Although, your help didn't seem all too helpful in the moment as the direbeasts hopes felt like they were fading away fast within his paws.

“Nya! I don't understand human concepts of math! I want to learn magic! I want to cast magic! I want to be a sorcerer! The greatest one!” Grim yowled out loudly, a spark of fire magic sparking at the scattered papers of homework, lighting them aflame with shades of blue. 

“Grim! Dont—!” You shouted as you began to pat out the flames, not caring for the burning sensation. Yes, it hurt. Yet, what hurt more is hours of work going up in literal blue flames. “To be a great sorcerer, you have to understand the basics of being human to fit in!” You responded out, trying to sound reasonable in your reply as you were able to save some of the papers of homework. Turning towards a very irritated looking Grim who… Did… He seem bigger than before? Surely there was no way he could've grown a bit bigger sitting next to you!

Yet, his intense yowling could be heard throughout the ramshackle as his magical ink pen could be seen spurting out extra ink. You knew this sight before.

Grim was about to overblot.

“Grim! Just calm down. We can figure this out—!” You reached out to your friend once more only to get swiped away by claws. Blood began to seep down your hand as you felt something more stickier drip down your hand, casting a glance down to your weeping wound, black ink spots to be found seeping into your skin instead of flowing with the rivers of red.

“How can a magicless human like you understand my wants?!” Grim howled out, as your eyes flicked back to his form and indeed. He was growing larger, and larger, and the ink was accumulating more, and more all over his body. 

“Because if I didn't, why do you think I would even still be trying to help you pass?! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be attending this school!” You snapped back and paused. No. That wasn't what you wanted to say. That was cruel, and mean. Your eyes flicked down to the wound once more as you began to recall what you remember about human bodies.

Was it human bodies being 70% water? No, otherwise the ink would wash away in the bloodstream.

Was it that human bodies are made up of 99% empty space? No, that wouldn't make sense in this theory.

The body being a collection of matter within a continuous three dimensional space? Physics isn't helpful in this matter either. 

No, it was energy! The human body is energy! And what is most of Twisted Wonderland? Magical energy! You were breathing it in, eating it, absorbing it! Magical energy— overblots— being here in Twisted Wonderland was poisoning you! That's why you've been so sick, you've been absorbing so much energy that wasn't made to fit in your human body—

Another ear shrieking yowl broke you through your thoughts as you snapped your gaze up to Grim, a much larger Grim who was larger than the size of a horse growling at you. Blot surrounding his whole form but that didn't deter you. If you were going to lose yourself, you could lose yourself trying to save your best friend. The one that has been with you this entire time without fail.

Launching yourself at him, a yell ripping through the room as you began to claw, tear, and rip blot away from Grim. Getting yourself coated in it yourself. If you were never meant to go home, if you weren't meant to get magic poisoning, you might as well pass trying to save your best friend.

“We can get through this together Grim! Just believe me! Don't overblot, please!” Yet, your cries were unheard as another deafening roar echoed through the ramshackle as the magic around you felt like it was getting stronger. You could feel yourself getting pulled in slowly now, a sacrifice maybe? A ticking bomb of pent up magical energy storing within you, poisoning you, and now would be beneficial for Grim now. Yet, you weren't going to lose. You just couldn't.

As you felt blot forming from yourself, sparks of something clicking with your stomach as you began to slowly fade out of consciousness. Hearing glass shatter and the panting of Grim bolting as you resided somewhere on his back. You refused to die like this. You couldn't leave him alone like this.

You know, you could always make Crowley look for your way home.

What? Where did that thought come from? You consciousness was fading more and more to darkness, unable to keep both eyes open as you felt your will giving up the fight.

Forget Crowley. You can find your own way home. Just give in. 

We will set you free, Prefect. We will send you home if you just…

Give in to the power.

[luveline]

could you please write an early!roan fic where maybe she thinks Y/N is actually just coming around to spend time with her and then she finds out that it’s actually cause of her eddie, and gets all grumpy like “i thought you loved me” and Y/N comforts her “i do love you, but i also love your dad!”

thank u for requesting!! eddie and roan 1k, fem

There's a distinct smell of burned toast coming from the trailer. You trust Eddie but you rush up the steps anyhow, alarmed to find him coughing in the kitchen, window thrown open. 

"Will you take her?" he asks you immediately. 

You spy Roan sitting at the kitchen table and swap her for your bag of groceries. She gasps and giggles at your sudden appearance, quick to wrap her arms around your neck when you offer your embrace. You walk her to the open door and stand there sucking in clean breaths as Eddie fans a dish towel around under the smoke alarm. "What's dad burning?" you ask. 

"Um. Bagels?" 

You rub her shoulder. "Hey, I missed you, huh? It's been a long time since I saw you." 

"I missed you too!" Roan says quickly, eager, wrapping her arms tighter around your neck to squish your cheeks together. 

You smile into her hug. You and Eddie have been busy once again, and when you did manage to steal a date night, Ro was at Wayne's. You really have missed the little girl and you intend to show it, stroking your fingers through her hair gently. She dissolves like always. 

"Shit," Eddie says, throwing two blackened bagels into the sink and running the water. "Shit, fuck. I'm sorry, girls, I don't know where my head's at." 

"Cream cheese can't fix that." 

"It's okay, dad," Roan says. "We can get burgers." 

"I can't always feed you burgers, babe, it's not good for you." Eddie rubs his hair out of his face. "And Y/N just got here from work, she doesn't wanna go out again." You're dying to flop on their couch, but if she wants a burger for dinner, who are you to stop her? Still, Eddie puts his foot down. "No, bub. I'll make some more bagels. It'll be yummy. We have salami and everything." 

"Uh," she whines, laying back in your arms. You nearly drop her. You laugh at her dramatics as she slowly drags herself back up, her eyes practically sparkling with an idea. "Me and you can go get burgers," she whispers. 

"I really am tired. Let's get burgers on the weekend, maybe." You don't like letting her down but you have to be a united front with Eddie. Usurping his authority helps no one, especially when she wants something she isn't going to get today. "And I'd miss dad." 

"Who cares about dad?" she says. 

You laugh. "I do! He's my boyfriend." 

"He's your what?" 

Eddie looks up from where he's cleaning. The burned bagels have been disposed of, the kitchen sink washed out and the toaster cleared of scorched crumbs. "You knew that, Ro." He sounds puzzled. 

"He's my prince," you say. "You know? The prince to my princess Polly." 

"What?" Roan stares at you with an extremely amusing expression, her eyebrows tugged in betrayal. 

"Sweetheart, you know me and daddy are together, don't you?" you ask, hosting her higher on your hip. "That's why we go on dates and stuff. And why he brings me flowers, why we had that anniversary dinner, remember, with the melted chocolate?" 

"I thought you loved me." 

"I love you so much," you say, looking to Eddie for assistance. He seems as lost as you feel. "Like, so much. But I love dad too. He's hard not to love, isn't he? He's handsome and funny, and he makes great grilled cheese–" 

Roan does not look happy. She pushes at your chest to be put down and sprints out of the kitchen to her bedroom, where you hear a clattering of things being pushed over and a whine filled to the brim with attitude. 

"Should I…" 

Eddie shakes his head. "In a minute. Let her be angry for a bit. This is her first heartbreak." 

You meander into him and pinch his waist. "Don't say that to me, that's awful. Poor baby, did she really not know we were dating?" 

"Of course she knows. She just forgets, 'cos she loves you and she thinks you're best friends" He wraps an arm over your shoulders. "Wow. I wonder if she thinks of me as the third wheel when we hang out." 

You take the bread knife out of his hand. "Don't bother with that. We're getting burgers." 

Eddie's laugh is more of a girly, cute giggle, like he's just had a shot. You elbow him in the stomach until he cuts it out, and beg forgiveness for being grouchy with a hug. You press your face into his neck and huff. "I missed you before you got me in trouble," you mumble. 

"Nuh-uh, that had nothing to do with me." He kisses your temple. "She loves you. It's nice. It's… You're awesome. It's great that she thinks you love her more than you love me, even if she's wrong." 

"I do love her more than I love you." 

"Are you trying to piss us both off? You can go get burgers by yourself." 

Roan is face down in her bed when you knock on her door a couple of minutes later, completely still. You pick up the plushies she's flung off her bed and sit them up in pride of place against the wall. "Princess, you know I love you," you say. "Don't you?" 

"Yeah." 

"But you know I love daddy too?" 

"Ugh." She shakes her head in disgust. 

"Ugh," you say agreeably. "You're my favourite, though." 

She turns very slightly to peek at you. "I am?" 

"Obviously. That's why I just told dad we were going for burgers whether he wanted to or not." You tickle her side until she laughs and turns on her back to escape you. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I wasn't trying to. We're still friends, right?" 

"We're best friends." 

"That's what daddy said." You scoop her up into your side for a squish. "We're best friends forever," you whisper. 

She leans up to rub her nose against yours. 

[just-j-really]

While I'm on the subject of Dreamling-does-tropes-wrong:

Hanahaki au where Hob's the one with hanahaki. Because I think however you set it up Hob refuses to play by the rules of the genre and the potential there is like catnip to me.

"The cure is confessing your love" variant? Hob's just like "Well fuck this actually" and tells Dream he loves him the moment he starts coughing up flowers. And there's so much potential there!

-Poor Hob tries to confess to Dream every time they interact and something keeps getting in his way- he falls in love in 1689, in 1789 they get interrupted, in 1889 he gets halfway through a confession and Dream YOU DAREs him, in 1989 he gets stood up. In 2022 Dream shows up at his table in the New Inn and Hob just blurts out "I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU" before Dream has the chance to actually say anything.

-Modern day, post-reunion, Dream doesn't want to intrude on Hob's life but he does want to see him more so he decides to go for the totally rational move of using his Dream-powers to spy on Hob- which means he gets a front-row seat to Hob slowly succumbing to hanahaki the second their meeting ends. All of Hob's friends/coworkers/acquaintances are REAL worried for him, but he's just like "it's seriously nbd I'll just tell him next time I see him." Dream is also REAL worried while spying from afar, but eventually goes to Hob in person to beg him to confess to whoever he's in love with. (Could be very serious and emotional, could play like that one "just tell them you love them" "alright. hey, I love you." "yes, like that!" meme.)

-Hob blurts out a love confession at... literally any of their canonical meetings, and the rest of the fic is dealing with the fallout. I think the simplest way to do this is 1889, with the confession standing in for "I think you're lonely." I think the most interesting way to do this is 1489, because so much would change. I think the FUNNIEST way to do this is 1589, yes Hob is still married.

But then you can also do the "the cure is having your love requited" variant, where Hob suffers through several centuries with an incurable lung disease. One of his most treasured dreams is that someone will come up with a cure (but for Plot reasons it keeps just not happening, like someone does come up with a cure but the side effects just aren't worth it if you can technically survive having flowers in your lungs. And/or he's never found a doctor he trusted not to freak out if he died and came back on the operating table).

And then you've got options such as:

-Dream falls in love in 1689, and either they start up a relationship right then, or they spend several centuries where Hob thinks they're in a relationship (his feelings were returned, of course they are!) and Dream thinks he's pining hopelessly for Hob, who could never love him

-Dream Does Not realize that Hob is in love with him (and in fact thinks Hob just keeps getting hanahaki, over and over, for different people, and wonders why Death saddled him with the world's Messiest human). And then he falls in love with Hob.

-Dream DOES realize Hob is in love with him. Unfortunately, he falls in love with Hob (or more realizes that what he was feeling WAS love) while fishbowled. Fortunately, Hob notices the lack of flowers, gets worried about what that means (because if his Stranger returns his feelings then why isn't he here? the flowers can't be gone because he's dead, Hob refuses to believe it). Cue a fishbowl rescue!

-Dream falls in love with Hob post-fishbowl, but is in denial about his ow feelings and assumes Hob found a workable cure sometime while he was fishbowled, or got over him. He's VERY SAD about this and can't figure out why. Hob is busy googling 'how to ask out a guy who i empirically know likes me back but only looks at me mournfully when i try to flirt'

Like I want to write this fic so bad but there are so many directions i want to go with it...

[thelov3lybookworm]

To Love and Cakes

Summary: Y/n is the daughter of a flower and gardening tools shop's owner in Velaris. When he gets sick, y/n makes her father take some rest and looks after the small shop herself. But she is new to all this as her father never let her work a day in her life.

One day, as she's looking after the shop, a red haired high fae comes looking for gardening gloves as a gift to someone. Y/n helps him, and learns that he is a frequent customer.

Due to his frequent visits, they soon develop a bond. More than friends, but not lovers.

Yet.

•○●⛦●○•

Tw: i dont think there are any but still, here we go. elain being a sour and jealous mate even though she's been sailing on the elriel ship, a few curse words and all. Can't think of anything else, so let me know if i need to add anything.

A/n: this thing has been in my draft for faxing months. This is, to me, the best work of mine. This is my baby. I LOVED writing this, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

(ps. even if youre not a lucien girlie, try reading it. i have a secret agenda to make every one of you creatures a lucien simp, just like im trying to make @artists-ally a lucien simp)

(also, the scene towards the end where reader is dancing was inspired by one of the fbaa books, if it seemed familiar or you were wondering)

t'is a long one children, Enjoy!

•○🌑○•

As Y/n finished walking around the store, cleaning, she thought back to the morning two days ago.

She had just woken up and was walking towards her father's kitchen for breakfast when she heard it. A cough. She quickened her pace, entering the kitchen to find her father bent over, his body heaving from the coughs.

She rushed to him, helping him to the nearest chair. When she bought him some water, he smiled up at her gratefully.

"How many times do I have to tell you to take some rest, father? Why won't you let me help you?"

"I might be getting old, but not that old that I need to rely on my daughter to help me earn. Unless you are trying to steal my shop?"

"Father!" She said, exasperated, even though she knew he was just saying that to irritate her. "You are staying home till you get better. I'll take care of the shop."

"But you don't know anything about it." At the glare she gave him, he finally conceded. "Let me help for today atleast. Show you how to handle it. I promise I'll rest."

She had come to visit and stay with her father for some days, having just quit her previous job, searching for a new one. They were well off, the house that Y/n lived in owned by her. She had wanted to see if her father needed any help around. Which he didn't. He wasn't very old and ill by any means, he just didn't know when to stop. That's why she had already made her father agree to closing the store earlier and taking the weekends off.

As Y/n put away the cleaning equipment in the back of the store, the bell above the door rang, announcing the arrival of a customer. As she hurried to the front desk, she caught a glimpse of the beautiful male that was waiting from behind a shelf.

He had dark crimson hair cascading over his shoulder that looked like fire, with one russet eye and one that was a golden metal one, which was whirring. A scar marred the skin surrounding that eye and trailed to his jaw.

Y/n quickly averted her gaze when she realised she was staring. He hadn't yet noticed her though, looking around the shop. She stepped out from behind the shelf and cleared her throat.

He turned to her at once, giving her a warm smile.

"Hello. How can I help you today?" She asked with a small smile.

"I'm looking for enchanted gardening gloves."

She wracked her brain for the location of said gloves before perking up. "Right this way." As she led the way, he followed a respectful distance away. To fill the silence, she spoke up. "Are you from Night Court? You don't seem like you're from here."

"Yes. I'm from... Autumn Court." His hesitation was evident, and Y/n didn't push.

"Here we are." She said, stopping in front of the gloves stacked neatly on a shelf. She left him alone when he nodded.

She began sorting out her desk, her father's, really, which was near the entrance to the shop.

By the time she finished, the male was done with his browsing and bought out the gloves to the desk to pay for them. The whole ordeal went silently and quickly. With a word of thanks and a 'good day', he was on his way.

•○🌑○•

Lucien's pov.

He stared at her. His mate.

He wondered if, under other circumstances, she would have not despised him. Could she have ever loved him the way others loved their mates? Would the two of them be together if there was no cruelty in this world?

He answered those himself.

The first one? Probably.

The second one? Maybe.

The third one? No.

Because, if there was no cruelty in this world, his love, one his father had killed, would not be dead. Jesminda would be alive still. And if she was alive, he wouldn't care for anything, even his own mate.

And maybe that made him an asshole, but he couldn't bring himself to care as he stared at Elain smiling at the Shadowsinger from the corner of the room, nursing a glass of whiskey.

He looked around the room, his eyes landing on the gift he'd bought for her. It was enchanted gardening gloves so her hands wouldn't get cut. Of course, the present had been discarded in a corner, unopened. It wasn't as if she didn't notice the gift. No, he had seen her look at it before placing it aside from her other gifts.

He'd seen her do that, and his heart had been pierced by an arrow. At least it felt like it.

As he stared at the gift, his mind drifted to the shop where he had bought it from. The shop run by the female. He didn't know why, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. She hadn't even said much, but she had simply caught his attention.

He blinked when a loud laugh interrupted his thoughts, looking at the inner circle sitting in the center of the room and having the time of their lives, while he sat in the darkest corner he could find. He knew he didn't fit in here, and that most of them didnt trust or like him.

He didn't know why he had accepted Feyre's invitation to stay for the night when he knew he'd be miserable.

He had thought that maybe, just maybe, they would include him in their fun. At least for one night.

He felt so dumb now.

After a little bit of contemplation, he decided it best if he left. No one was going to miss him anyways.

Quietly, he downed the whiskey in his glass, then rolled onto his feet. He set the glass on a nearby table, then turned towards the door. He walked towards it, his boots making no noise.

As he exited the room, there was no sign of the festivities slowing down. None. He removed his coat from the nearby hook, donning it as he stepped out, the door clicking shut behind him.

It wasn't until Lucien was out of the house that the sounds faltered for a brief moment, but then the laughter started back again, and Lucien sighed, his breath misting in front of him. He stared at the little cloud of fog in front of his face.

He didn't want to go home– if it could even be called that– not yet. The night was still young. Maybe he would go on a little walk around Velaris before he returned to the mortal lands.

He started the trek across the city, walking slowly, letting his mind wander, his eyes seeing everything but taking nothing in. It was like a waste of time, looking at the beauty but not caring enough to appreciate it.

He sighed, making his way through the vibrant market place. The children running around the place, candies in their hand, adults lingering around the place with their lovers and families truly added to the beauty of the festival.

But Lucien's eyes were unseeing, his heart unfeeling as he avoided the running and giggling children.

Someone slammed into Lucien from somewhere near him, and that finally broke him out of the haze that he'd been in.

He glanced at the fae leaning against him, trying to gain her footing in the crowded area.

"I am so sorry. I got pushed–" The female looked up at him, finally stable on her feet. She cocked her head, a smile spreading on her lips. "Oh. It's you."

He returned the smile, somehow easier than it should have been considering the foul mood he'd been. "It's me. I don't think I caught your name this morning."

The lady from the gardening shop grinned, her cheeks rosy, glowing with happiness. "Y/n."

"Lucien." He mumbled, studying her. She nodded, holding out her hand. He took it.

Then they stood there, awkwardly trying to figure out what to say. "Um... enjoying solstice?"

"Yeah." She returned, a relieved expression on her face. "Just left the house after dinner. My father said he's going out with some friends, so I decided to head out for some desserts. You?"

"Not really..." That was not the right answer, but Lucien was struggling to put on his mask of indifference.

"Oh. I'm sorry. Are you alone?"

He smiled ruefully as he looked away. "Very."

After a moment of silence, the lady spoke up again. "What are your thoughts on some cake? Pie? Or maybe cookies?"

Lucien blinked, then glanced at her. "What?"

She grinned, turning away and gesturing with her hand to follow her. Seeing that he had no other reason to haunt the streets of Velaris, he followed her.

She weaved in and out of the crowd, walking with purpose towards her destination. She stumbled sometimes, due to being pushed around by the crowd, but mostly by herself. She seemed to have a problem walking without tripping.

She tripped again, so bad that Lucien had to catch her elbow to stop her from faceplanting. She grinned up at him sheepishly.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Are you... drunk?"

She shrugged and shook her head. "I don't drink. It's taste is disgusting."

A small smirk made is way into Lucien's face, but he simply nodded at her to keep going. She continued on.

Soon, she was walking into a brightly lit shop, cakes and various baked goods displayed through the glass.

"This is my favourite place for sweets and baked items. It's really good."

She went to open the door, but Lucien stretched out his hand and held it for her. She blinked at him before smiling and stepping in to the warm interior.

"Hello." She greeted the kind looking old lady behing the counter, who smiled widely.

"How are you today?"

"I'm good. How about yourself?" Y/n replied.

"I'm good, I'm good. Just these joints creaking a little extra nowadays."

Y/n grinned fondly. "Maybe you should just get some rest, you old hag."

"Oh shut it. I will rest once I know I have succeded in convincing you to get a partner. Mother knows how lonely you must be."

"I'm not lonely, you old hag. As long as I have you and father, I will never be alone."

"Yeah yeah whatever." Then the old female seemed to notice Lucien, and her eyes lit up. "Are you finally seeing someone?"

Y/n blinked, then glanced at Lucien. Her lips parted, then a flush climbed up her neck. She furiously shook her head, and the old lady sighed.

"Well, hope I'm not dead when you finally decide to interact with others." The female bustled away as other people walked upto the counter to place their order.

Y/n turned to Lucien, her face red, and she gestured to the display of sweets. He grinned when she turned away again. "Choose what you would like to try. I always go for pineapple, but chocolate is also good."

Lucien dipped his head in a nod when she glanced at him to make sure he understood her, and then the two of them went on to get their cakes.

As they were about to leave the shop, the owner of the shop called to him. "Psst. Hey! You!"

When Lucien glanced up questioningly, the lady Y/n had been talking to motioned at him to come closer. He inched towards the counter behind which the lady stood as Y/n talked to another one of the workers.

"What are your intentions for her?" The lady hissed at Lucien as soon as she was sure no one could hear her.

Lucien blinked, taken aback. "What?"

"Don't you dare even think of hurting her. Males have hurt her enough. She is a pure soul, and if you hurt her, then I will carve your eyes out with a spoon. You hear me young man?"

Lucien nodded, dumbfounded. Thank the cauldron though, Y/n decided that moment to walk up to the two of them.

The old lady smiled at her, and then shooed Y/n and Lucien away. Y/n rolled her eyes and led Lucien out of the shop.

She crossed the road and settled onto one of the many benches overlooking the Sidra. She patted the place next to her and he obliged, studying her.

"What were you and the old hag talking about?"

"Nothing..."

Y/n raised a brow but stayed silent as she dug into the treat in her hands.

The two of them sat in silence as they ate, staring at the waters of the Sidra.

Unfortunately, soon enough the two of them were done eating, and Y/n turned to Lucien. She smiled. "Did you like the cake?"

Lucien gave her a smile. A genuine one, one that felt like he hadn't smiled in centuries. He probably hadn't.

"I did. Thank you for making my solstice better."

"I enjoyed the time too, no need to thank me."

And then the two of them parted ways, Lucien thanking her again and her telling him not to worry about it.

Lucien watched her until she had vanished between the crowd, then he turned and decided to walk to secluded place before he winnowed back to human lands.

A soft breeze caressed his face, and he closed his eyes, savoring the cool touch. His mind drifted back to Y/n.

He smiled softly, opening his eyes and leaning his head back, staring at the stars twinkling down at him, as if they were winking.

Maybe... just maybe, not all fae were miserable and hateful.

Maybe there was someone out there, like Y/n, who would not hate him for simply existing.

•○🌑○•

Y/n's pov.

Y/n only had one thought in her mind, and that was to hurry up.

She had been out in the market, getting the things she needed according to the cooking book she had recently bought.

She had decided to surprise her best friend since childhood with a home baked cake, and hence the rush to get home and start the preparations.

The catch?

Y/n was shit at baking.

The few times she had tried to bake, she had either ended with something that was too hard to even be called a rock, or with something that vaguely resembled... puke.

Even thinking about it sent shivers up Y/n's spine.

But back then she hadn't used a cookbook's instruction, she tried to reason with the sane part of her brain, the one that knew this was a bad idea.

Hurry up-

And she smacked into a wall. A very warm wall.

All her bags slipped from her hands and onto the ground as she stumbled back, barely keeping herself from falling onto her ass.

She lifted her head to apologise to whoever she had crashed onto when her eyes met russet and gold. Lucien.

She paused as she watched him cock his head, a little smile spreading on his features.

"I seem to notice a pattern, Y/n."

She lifted an eyebrow as she bent to gather her stuff. He followed. "What pattern?"

She tried to shoo him off by waving her hands, but he either didn't notice or didn't care. "You are always crashing into me. That sounds like a pattern to me."

She scowled, knowing that if her father or any of her friends saw her, they would yell at her for being disrespectful to someone who was helping her.

He grinned, glancing at her as he stood, most of her bags in his hands.

"Do you need any help carrying these?" He questioned when she climbed to her feet too, and she blinked.

"Oh no, it's alright. I'll carry them myself. I don't want to bother you."

"I insist. And it's really not a bother. I have nothing else to do. These are really heavy, let me help."

"You really don't have anything else to do?"

He smiled triumphantly, as if he knew he had won. "I don't."

She sighed. "Fine then. My house is nearby. Thank you vey much."

He shook his head, that smile still on his face. "No worries."

She led him to her house, a peaceful silence between the two.

It wasn't long before they reached her house, and she turned to him, keys in her hand.

"Please come in. Let me make you some tea." That was the least she could do for him.

"Oh no, that is unnecessary, I don't want to bother you. It was my pleasure to help."

"I insist. And it really is not a bother." She smirked, throwing his words back at him.

He shook his head, grinning. "Fine."

She let the two of them in, setting about to get some tea ready. "So, may I ask what you are going to with these?"

When Y/n turned to look at him, he gestured at the bags he set on the counter.

"Because from what I saw outside, these things are usually used for baking."

Y/n smiled. "Yeah. It's my friends birthday today. I was thinking of making her a cake."

"That's great. Do you bake often?"

Her smile now turned sheepish. "No. I tried a couple of times, back when I was younger," -six months ago- "and I damn near brought down the whole kitchen once."

Lucien chuckled. "So now you think you can do it properly?"

She picked up the cookbook nearby and waved it at him. "I will follow instructions this time."

Judging by the amusement in his eyes, she thought he would laugh, but he didn't. He simply extended his hand towards her and asked, "Can I have a look?"

She handed it to him, turning to check on the tea she was brewing.

The sound of the pages being flipped were the only sounds other than her pouring the liquid into cups for the two of them.

When she turned back around, she found him staring intensely at the book, his brows furrowed, a downward tilt to his mouth. She tried to make no noise as she set down the cup in front of him, hoping to not disturb his concentration.

But he glanced up at her, frowning. "This won't work. This is too complicated."

Y/n blinked, taken aback by the seriousness in his eyes and words. "What do you mean?"

He closed the book, setting it aside as he pulled the cup of tea towards him. "Baking is simpler than whatever bullshit is given in there."

"You know how to bake?"

"I helped my mother when I was younger."

"And exactly how many years ago was that?"

His eyes narrowed. "How many years since you baked anything?"

That made Y/n shut up.

She sighed ruefully. "Maybe I'm just not supposed to bake."

Lucien shook his head. "I can help."

She glanced at him. "What?"

He shrugged. "I don't have anything else to do anyways. I can help you bake the cake."

"I don't want to bother-"

"Its not a bother. I would love to help."

Y/n smiled behind her cup as she took a sip of her tea, a warmth spreading through her chest.

"Thank you. I appreciate the gesture." Then, she looked at the redhead for a moment longer before turning away. "And you know what? I am noticing a pattern too."

•○🌑○•

After a day filled with trying to decide on the flavour for the cake, the decorations, making the cake and laughter, it was finally time to sleep.

The party had been perfect, so many memories made, and so many things she could think about.

But no matter what, Y/n couldn't stop thinking about him.

She didn't remember the last time she had enjoyed herself so thoroughly around a male, let alone one she knew nothing about.

And as she went to sleep that night, trying not to think of how his eyes twinkled in amusement when she had dropped an egg on the ground- huffing and puffing- she failed to keep that smile off of her face.

•○●⛦●○•

Lucien's pov.

After the day filled with helping her bake, correcting anything she had been doing wrong and watching as happiness spread across her face when the cake came out almost nearly perfect, it was finally time to sleep.

The day had been perfect, a reprieve from the constant ugly thoughts Lucien had about himself. Memories had been made, though unexpected.

But no matter what, Lucien could not stop thinking about her.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed himself so thoroughly around someone, let alone someone he barely knew anything about.

And as he went to sleep that night, trying not to think of how she had jumped around and squealed in excitement- so much so that she had nearly burnt herself by the hot pan- Lucien failed to keep that smile off of his face.

•○🌑○•

Y/n's pov.

Soon enough, Y/n learned that the handsome male with the metal eye, Lucien, was the Lucien Vanserra. The youngest son of the High Lord of Autumn Court.

He frequented the shop after that day they spent baking, him and Y/n becoming fast friends. He'd told her that he lived in the human lands with his friends, Jurian and Vassa.

Recently, she had learned that this Jurian he was friends with was the Jurian from the war centuries ago, the powerful human commander, remade by the Cauldron.

Expect Lucien to surprise a four hundred year old fae who thought she could not be surprised about anything anymore.

Y/n shook her head with an exasperated grin, finishing braiding her hair. She had spent the whole afternoon wondering what hairstyle would look good with her dress for her meeting with Lucien, eventually settling for a simple braid. Few strands framed her face, and she thought it looked better than any elaborate hairstyle she could have done.

Even after six months of being friends with him, he never failed to shock her by telling her things about himself.

He had sent a letter in advance that he would be visiting today, and he wanted to meet with her in their favourite cafe before reporting to the High Lord.

She had, of course, agreed. He was the only friend she had other than the female she had baked for, what with her being cooped up in her home with a book in hand when she wasn't working in the nearby jewellery store.

A knock sounded on the door, and Y/n practically flew down the stairs, taking a deep breath to calm her heart before opening the door.

There he stood in all his glory, smiling at her. The fading sunshine made his hair look on fire, his skin glowing.

"My lady. You look quite...dishevelled." He murmured, his eye twinkling. Y/n frowned, lifting her hand to her hair. It had looked good when she checked it in the mirror. Maybe the braid didn't look as good as she thought it did. In which case, she wanted to go and jump off a cliff.

Before her hand could touch her hair though, Lucien caught it, grinning and pressing a kiss to her knuckles, all the while maintaining eye contact. Y/n blushed.

"When I said dishevelled, I meant you look like you've run a mile. That looks exquisite." He said, straightening and flicking her forehead. "You look exquisite."

"Shut up." She mumbled, shoving his shoulder and stepping out, turning to lock the door. When she had finished, she turned to find him leaning against a pillar of the front porch. He smiled and inclined his head towards the road.

They walked towards the cafe, talking about his past days in the human lands and her job at the jewellery store. How she didn't really care for it and was thinking of taking up something else.

They soon reached the cafe which stood right on the banks of the Sidra and had outdoor seating as well in the backyard, right next to the river. As they settled down in their usual seat in a corner right next to the river, her eyes sharpened on the paper stuck on a nearby wall.

"Hey Lucien? Do you see that?" Y/n questioned, making Lucien glance back at it.

"Yeah. Looks like they're hiring." Lucien's eye lit up as he turned back to her. "You should try." She nodded enthusiastically.

Soon, they finished their food and Lucien was waiting to pay, having insisted on paying while Y/n talked to the hotel's owner. She was quite happy Y/n said she wanted to work there. They finally settled on her starting in two days.

After that, as they were walking home, the delicious smell of freshly baked cakes reached them. Y/n grinned at Lucien who took her arm and walked towards the stand where an old lady was selling small round cakes that were the size of Y/n's palm. They made idle conversation with her while she handed them their treats.

"You two make a good couple. Are you mates?" She asked as soon Y/n took a bite. Which was very unfortunate as she immediately choked on it. Lucien patted her back, grinning as he turned to the lady.

"No, we aren't mates. We're just friends."

"What a shame. But maybe the bond hasn't made itself known yet?"

Lucien shook his head with a sad smile. "That would've been wonderful, really." Y/n's had whipped to him, her eyes wide. Did he just say what she thought he did? Could it be that he... no. That was stupid. He had a mate that he would die for, regardless of whether she liked him back. He would never...

"But I already have a mate." He continued.

"Oh I'm so sorry then for assuming things."

"Don't be. It's not like it matters anyway. She doesn't want the bond."

"Oh mother, that's truly unfortunate. Maybe you could be with someone else? I loved someone in my youth, but he never paid me any attention. Then one day my friend advised me to forget the male. Now I'm married to my friend and I think I couldn't be any more happy."

Lucien looked thoughtful. "That's a good advice, I must say. And I'll definitely think about it." He winked at Y/n, making her blush furiously.

They continued on after that, though there was silence now compared to their earlier mindless chatter. And it was filled with tension. Y/n wrapped her arms around herself, staring into the waters of the Sidra nearby.

As they walked, her mind wandered to what Lucien had said to the woman. Could he really mean what he had said? He wasn't one to joke about such serious matters... but then again, maybe he was jesting.

Soon, they had reached her house, and she stepped up to open the door.

"You want to come in? We can have some tea..."

Lucien smiled. "I would love to if it's not a problem."

As she set about making the tea, he sat watching her every move. Which made her work extremely carefully, wondering if he was judging her. Which was absurd. Because, not only would Lucien never judge her, but also because she never would have cared for something so trivial as someone judging her. So why did she care now?

Because you lov–

She shut the thought down before it even finished.

•○🌑○•

Lucien's pov.

It had been over a month since he had seen his Y/n, and he was already craving her presence. Initially, he been able to go longer periods without meeting his friend. But as time went on, he became more and more enraptured with her and shorter and shorter became the time period between his visits.

The way she laughed on anything he said. The way her eyes would light up when she looked at him. The way he could make her blush by just looking at her. How she would get excited when taking about the newest book she was reading or when she learned something that made her happy.

He just couldn't get enough of her sometimes. All he wanted to do was stay and bask in her presence.

Of course, it wasn't possible, what with his work of going back and forth between human lands and the Night Court, as well as Day Court, where he had been spending some time getting to know his father.

It was a shock when he found out that Beron wasn't his real father, but he was adjusting. She had a big part in his acceptance. And he was grateful for it.

Now, he was going to leave his emissary duties for the Night Court, going to live in his father's court permanently. Which was why Feyre had decided to have the whole of the inner circle and him go out to eat for dinner. Lucien had suggested the cafe by the Sidra for the ordeal.

The place where Y/n currently worked.

He was smiling at his thoughts of her when he knocked on the door of the River House. Nuala opened it, greeting him with a smile before letting him enter. There was already sounds of chatter coming from the living room as he walked towards it. Everyone was here then. Great.

The quicker this was over, the faster he could spend time with Y/n.

He would leave soon, but that didn't mean he wouldn't come back to Velaris. He had important people here.

He had informed Rhys about his departure a few months ago, and had agreed to stay till they found someone who would be willing to take up the duties of Lucien. They were still searching for someone, so Lucien was still the emissary.

•○●⛦●○•

Lucien tapped his leg on the floor impatiently, his eyes constantly flitting between the tables and booths in search of his friend.

It had only been a few moments since he had arrived with the inner circle, but he simply couldn't wait to catch a glimpse of her.

While he was searching for Y/n, he failed to notice the High lord and lady's, as well as the entire inner circle's eyes on him.

He craned his head, and he finally heard that beautiful voice he'd been dying to hear from behind him.

"Good evening. May I take your order?"

He turned his head so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash, but Lucien didn't care as his eyes met those of Y/n's.

Her mouth lifted at the edges, a knowing look in her eyes as she turned away to converse with Rhysand.

His brain didn't process the words being exchanged between the two, he was so busy admiring her.

And wondering when the damn dinner will be over so he could finally talk to her and catch up.

When she left the table after taking their orders, she distcreetly brushed her hand against his bicep, pulling a smile on his face.

Just an hour or so. He reminded himself as he focused on the table in front of him, ignoring the looks of the inner circle, including Elain.

Which wasn't all that hard.

•○●⛦●○•

The time seemed to pass slower, just to torture Lucien that night.

Right when Lucien was about to loose his patience, everyone had finished dessert, and were on the verge of leaving.

Lucien stood, nodding at Cassian and Azriel in goodbye, hugging Feyre and shaking Rhys's hand. Making some excuse- unconvincing, he was sure- about having to go meet up with Vassa and Jurian, he walked away, eyeing the place Y/n had disappeared into.

He knew that she was about to leave, had probably already left, and he couldn't wait to tell her all the juicy stories he'd acquired over his recent travels, as well as the budding tensions between Vassa and Jurian.

The moment he stepped out onto the road, he heard her voice.

"So desperate to meet me fox boy?"

Lucien smirked, turning to find the owner of the voice leaning against a wall. "You wish."

Her eyebrows lifted as she pushed herself off the wall. "Sure. Didn't seem like it was just my fantasy when you were searching around like an eager puppy."

He grinned, though a flush climbed up his neck at being caught red handed. "Just wanted to see you so I could tell you about Vassa and Jurian."

Y/n grinned, throwing her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his neck. He returned the hug in kind, warming up his body a little through his magic so he could ward off the chill in the air surrounding them.

They stayed in the hug for longer than seemed appropriate, but no one was watching anyways. And neither of them cared if anyone was.

Y/n was the first to pull away, smiling shyly up at Lucien.

"You want to get some cake before we go home?" Y/n questioned, beginning towards the general direction of her home.

"I feel like we should make it ourselves." Lucien wiggled his eyebrows, throwing his arm around her shoulders as they began the trek to her home.

She shook her head slightly, becoming redder by the moment as she grinned softly at her feet.

•○🌑○•

It was solstice tonight.

It had been one not-long-enough year since he'd met Y/n.

Lucien's chest felt lighter than it had been in ages.

They had already found a new emissary who they trusted, and so today was Lucien's last day as a member of the Inner Circle.

He was here today to deliver some reports to Rhys.

The sound of utensils and laughter greeted him as soon as he entered the River house, the inner circle being as loud as ever. But as soon as he stepped foot in the dining room, everything went silent, all eyes turning to him.

He smiled at Feyre, nodding to Rhys and pointing to the papers in his hands. He placed the stack on a table nearby, before nodding again to the rulers of Night and turning away.

"Wait! Where are you going? Come have dinner with us." Lucien looked at Feyre, shaking his head.

He didn't want to stay. Not when all that was going through his head was how he would go up to Y/n's door and knock, and how she would open the door suspiciously, those eyes narrowed. But then she would realise that it was him, and she would fling the door open with squeal, tackling him into a hug, laughing. How when she pulled back, she'd realise she was in her pajamas and would self consciously brush herself down, touching her hair. How–

"Lucien?" Lucien winced, coming back to the present.

"I can't stay. I have to go meet a friend."

"Oh. Did you plan a meeting beforehand?"

"Oh no. She doesn't know I'm here. I'm going to go surprise her."

"She?" A gentle and soft voice intoned. Lucien stiffened. The voice he had wanted to hear acknowledge him ever since the bond snapped for him.

He turned to look at Elain, his brows rising as he took her in. She was standing from her seat next to the shadowsinger, her knuckles white from clenching her fork so tightly. Her brows were furrowed in anger, and she looked murderous.

"Yes..." He didn't really know how to answer the question, so he simply watched her.

Rage entered her eyes. "Is this the female you went with that night when we were out?"

Lucien blinked, wondering what was making Elain so angry. "Yes. Exactly that one."

Elain huffed out a bitter laugh. "So is she trying to steal my mate now? She did look like someone who steals males."

For a moment, no one moved. There was so much silence it was deafening.

Almost everyone was staring between Elain and Lucien, their eyes wide. Except from Amren, of course. Nothing could faze the little devil. And Nyx, who waved around a piece of carrot like a sword.

Lucien smiled slowly. "Glad to know your thoughts on my life, mate. I will let her know of your amazing thoughts about her."

Lucien turned away, walking towards the foyer, but just before he turned out of sight, he glanced back, his eyes meeting Elain's.

"She and I were only ever friends, but now that you've said it, I realise that we never were meant to be friends." Lucien smiled slightly, bowing his head. "Thank you."

And with that, he left, ready to meet with his friend.

•○🌑○•

Y/n's pov.

Her solstice had been normal. Nothing great to do. Her father had gone out drinking with his friends, her friends having been busy with their own families. Even the old hag was busy tending to and celebrating with her brother.

She was sure Lucien would also be busy with something, since he hadn't written to her to let her know of his arrival if he was coming.

That left Y/n alone.

But then suddenly, a knock had sounded on the door, and Y/n's heart had fluttered before even knowing who stood on the other side of the door.

After Lucien told her what was going on with Vassa and Jurian, he began telling her of the events that went down in the High lord's home as she got ready to take a stroll around Velaris with Lucien.

Her blood boiled when she heard of the things Elain said to Lucien, but a smile of reassurance from him was all it took for her to calm down.

They were in the main square of Velaris right now, watching the people dance around the huge fire in the centre.

It had become a tradition in the recent years for the people of the city to come together and dance the night away, laughing and drinking and mingling. It was a wholesome event, where younger people would gather around the old towards the end of the night and simply listen to their tales.

This was the first time Y/n was attending with someone else, as usually she would come here alone and sit next to the elderly, watching as younger couple her age danced around and bonded.

The glow from the fire danced in Lucien's eyes, making it look like there was fire inside those mismatched eyes. There was a relaxed grin on his face, one like she'd never seen before. He seemed so careless now, so free, it made Y/n smile too.

"You're staring." He pointed out, his voice barely audible over the cheers and the faeries singing along.

Y/n blushed, but in a sudden burst of boldness, she spoke, looking away. "It would be a crime not to."

From the periphery of her eyes, she found him gaping at her and had to suppress a triumphant smile.

"You know, I feel like the Mother took extra time making you."

He let out a surprised laugh, the sound lighting fires across Y/n's body.

"All that extra time to make me ruined by a fucking scar."

His tone was light, though Y/n could sense a hint of insecurity and sadness under the joy.

She turned to him, watching as the smile slowly vanished from his face at the look in her eyes.

"You are beautiful, Lucien, scars and all. And if I had the chance, I would show you how beautiful they are to me." She let her hand reach up toward his face, ignoring the heat entering his eyes or the way his pupils dilated as she traced the scar that ended at his jaw.

"Beautiful. So fucking beautiful."

HIs eyes fell shut as the music came to an end, and the people dancing around the fire dispersed for a moment.

"Y/n..." He whispered, his hand reaching up to hold hers against his face.

The music started up again, a soft and slower sound than before, more sensual.

This one was for people who were a couple or in a relationship, just a slow waltz to cool down before everyone again joined in a faster, more traditional dance.

"Dance with me."

The words were a shock to her system, and she nodded without even thinking.

It wasn't until the two of them had begun dancing, her arms wrapped around his broad and strong shoulders, their faces barely inches away, that she remembered that this was a waltz for couples, and she and Lucien were definitely not a couple.

She glanced up at him, his eyes already fixed on her. She opened her mouth to tell him, trying to ignore the warmth against her skin from the fire behind her, his body pressed so close to hers in the front.

"Lucien, this dance is for-"

"I know." He mumbled, his eyes smoldering. "I know." He repeated, making sure she understood.

Suddenly, his arms around her waist became more apparent, the way they rested over her lower back. The way the stray hairs that had escaped his low bun tickled her neck, the way his breath washed over her skin when he exhaled.

Y/n's mind was about to either stop working, or remind her of Lucien's touch every two minutes, and honestly, she didn't know which one she prefered.

He never broke eye contact once during the whole dance.

Soon, but not soon enough, the slow music came to an end. And the people that sat along the outer edge cheered, clapping and demanding the couples kiss. And as all the couples shared that intimate moment, Y/n's heart rate picked up, panic clawing up her throat, feeling so many eyes on her and him, wondering what Lucien would do.

She didn't have to wonder long, though.

Lucien began leaning in, making Y/n's eyes flutter closed. She swallowed, licking her lips.

Then she felt his hot breath closer to her face, his lashes brushing gently against her skin as she felt those plump, beautiful lips on the corner of hers.

She felt him smile against her skin. All the while, it was hard to breathe.

But then he pulled away, a flush on his cheeks. If it was because of the heat of the enormous fire behind her, or because he was genuinely flustered, she couldn't tell.

As the faster music started, Lucien grinned wickedly at her.

"Let's dance, my lady."

•○🌑○•

Y/n's feet were sore, but it was all so worth it.

At some point during the night, she had discarded her shoes next to a kind old male who she had known since she was a child.

All the dances after Y/n and Lucien's initial waltz had been fast paced, where everyone changed partners every few moments. It was one of the best things that had happened that night, getting to know new people and dancing and singing along to the top of their lungs.

It was all so beautiful.

She had always thought so, watching from the sidelines. But now, being one of the people she would have watched, it was a whole different experience.

The dancing was supposed to go on for atleast one more hour before the elders gathered and began telling stories. That would go on for the rest of the night.

And so, Y/n decided to get some rest, maybe somewhere on he benches near the Sidra where it would be quiet before returning to listen to the elder's tales.

Listening to loud music for hours was one way to invite a headache.

Y/n began making her way up to Lucien, who stood on the opposite side of the huge fire, but then she paused, simply admiring him.

He had discarded his embroidered overcoat next to where Y/n had placed her shoes, now only in a simple, thin white shirt that clung to his sweaty frame, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He laughed as he held the hands of a little girl, giving her instructions on how to move. The little girl's tongue poked out of her lips as she concentrated, and Lucien was just as concentrated as her.

Once the current music came to an end, the girl grinned up at Lucien, and he ruffled her hair in return before she ran away, maybe to her friends.

Y/n finally walked up to Lucien, smiling tiredly at him.

"Hello, you."

He smiled back. "Good evening, my lady."

Y/n rolled her eyes at the title. "Shut up."

"Can I not even greet you now?"

"Yeah yeah whatever. I'm going to go sit at a bench, rest a little then return. You coming?"

He nodded, walking over to where his coat lay on the ground. He picked it up along with her shoes then returned.

When she tried to take her shoes from him, he waved her away.

The two of them walked in silence, heading towards the quiet river. Once there, they walked onto the bank and settled down where the place was relatively drier than all other places. Y/n dipped her feet in the cold water, releasing a relieved sigh at the soothing sensation.

Lucien pulled out two packets from the pocket of his coat, tearing open the wrapper and handing one to Y/n. She looked at him, confused.

He simply opened his pack, and then bit into the cake.

"Why do you have these with you?" She questioned, though she began nibbling on the little treat.

He shrugged. "Jurian found these at a bakery in mortal lands a few days ago. I thought you might like it."

She smiled, staring into the water as she slowly chewed.

"The inner circle were in the crowd tonight."

Y/n whipped her head to look at Lucien, but he didn't even seem bothered or interested in talking about the inner circle. He said it so casually, like he was telling her it was night and not day.

After a moment, Y/n spoke. "Was Elain there?"

He nodded, taking a bite of the cake. He took his time chewing before he gave her a response.

"I saw them after the fourth or fifth song. Apparently, they'd been watching since the first song."

Y/n gaped at him.

He glanced at her. "What?"

"Why are you so nonchalant about this?! Your mate saw you dancing with me on a song meant for people involved romantically!"

He blinked, then raised a brow. "And?"

"That might ruin any chances you had with her!"

He shrugged again. "There was never any chance anyway."

"Lucien! You-"

"Look Y/n. It's been long since the bond made itself known. It's been long enough that if she wanted to accept the bond, she would have. And long enough that if she didn't want the bond, she would have rejected it."

"Yes I know but you love her-"

"Let me speak, love. Let me get this off my chest. I never loved her. She didn't give me the chance to. The pull I felt towards her was simply the bond clouding my judgement. The desperation with which I seeked to gain her attention was me simply yearning for happiness. If I had not been so lonely and upset all the time, maybe I wouldn't even have acknowledged the bond if she ignored it too.

"And maybe I am a bastard for that, but I don't know what had gotten over me for the past year or so. I had lost almost all of myself, until you came along.

"You-" Lucien looked at Y/n, his eyes bright "-you made me realise that I did not need another person to make me happy, and that I didn't have to stop being myself for someone to love me. And i will be eternally grateful to you for it."

Y/n shook her head, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. "Lucien, you deserve to find love. You deserve to have a happy life."

"And I know that now. All because of you."

"But I did nothing." She sniffed, her cake forgotten in her hand.

"You didn't have to. Just simply being my friend and showing me kindness made a significant difference in how I saw myself."

"But what about Elain? What about the bond?"

He smiled. "She can be with anyone she wants now. She wanted to have control over some aspects of her life after having been forced to turn, and honestly, I don't blame her. I would have wanted to do the same if my life had been anything like her."

"And what about you?"

Y/n felt like she knew the answer, but she still wanted to know.

"I do not need a bond to be with someone I love, you know."

"And who is it that you love?"

His smile turned knowing. "You know the answer, don't you?"

"Tell me still. After all, you do love hearing yourself speak."

This was a serious moment, but Y/n felt like if she didn't try to lighten the air by joking, this would become real. And she didn't know if she could handle that.

"I love you, Y/n."

She closed her eyes, telling herself this was not real, that she would wake up soon, and realise this had been a dream. Just like all the times before she had had the dream of being with Lucien and then waking up, all alone in her bed and staring at the ceiling.

But when silence settled around her, him staring at her expectantly, she realised this was no dream.

That someone like Lucien really was in love with someone like her.

She closed her eyes, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eyes. "You don't mean that."

She felt his thumb brushing away the tear a moment before she felt his lips on her cheek. "I do. I am in love with you, my lady. I would do anything to show you how much I love you. To prove to you that I really do."

Her eyes fluttered open, staring into his eyes as he rested his forehead against hers. "Why?"

He chuckled. "What do you mean why? There is not need of a reason for me to love you. I simply love you because you exist."

After a moment, she whispered what she had been dying to scream. "I love you, Lucien. I love you so much."

His smile widened, and he began closing the distance between them. "Then let me be yours."

Just before their lips met, she mumbled. "Be mine."

And her body ignited.

•○●⛦●○•

Her joints were creaking, but the old hag watched, and waited.

She had this primal need to have the little girl she'd watched grow up in front of her eyes find happiness, and she would threaten even the mother if the need arose to make Y/n happy.

But she didn't have to do that, because as she watched, the fire head male leaned in and pressed a kiss to Y/n's lips, and the old hag smiled, giddy with happiness and excitement.

And then she turned away, meaning to hobble back to the solstice celebration in the main square and leave the two younglings to enjoy the night together.

But then she paused, staring at the young female that stared at Y/n and the fire boy she'd fallen in love with.

Slowly, the old hag's brain remembered that this female with soft features and silky hair was the high lady's sister. And in turn, Lucien's mate.

Damn the mother. The old hag cursed, shaking her head.

"Leave them be." The hag ordered the girl in front of her, who turned to her with wide eyes. "They both deserve happiness. Don't you dare think about getting in the way."

The girl in the lilac dress nodded, her eyes becoming watery, but the hag had already begun walking away.

And after a final glance at the giggling couple on the riverbank, the girl turned away, jealousy and relief warring in her chest.

•○●⛦●○•

When Lucien pulled away, his hand still resting on her cheek, she couldn't stop a giggle from escaping. His lips quirked, a little swollen.

"Something funny?"

She shook her head, her cheeks warm as she turned back to the water. "Should we do a toast, my lord?"

He laughed at that, shifting closer to her as he put an arm around her shoulders. "And what will we toast with? We don't have wine or anything."

"We have these cakes." She pointed out.

He lifted his cake into the air. "Alright then. To love!"

Y/n wrinkled her nose. "And cakes!" She said as she raised her hand, and Lucien laughed.

He laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

Carefree and happy.

And Y/n simply watched, admiring.

Loving.

•○🌑○•

Taglist: @bubybubsters @eos-princess @nightless @harrystylesfan2686 @cassie6392

[shadowisles-writes]

Too Sweet 🍯 Elucien Week Day 7

You know you're bright as the morning, as soft as the rain Pretty as a vine, as sweet as a grape If you can sit in a barrel, maybe I'll wait Until that day I'd rather take my whiskey neat My coffee black and my bed at three You're too sweet for me - Too Sweet, Hozier

A/N: I hope everyone had fun with this week, the amount of elucien content I've seen on my dash was unreal and I'm so excited to go catch up on all the fics that have been posted over the past few days! To finish off well, I've kept this fic in my docs for a while because the only right way to finish elucien week for me is definitely a smutty AU <3

Summary: Lucien believes Elain is too sweet for him, and she's very quick to prove him wrong. (smut, ice play, light choking)

Word count: 4530

“Which one is she?” Lucien tilted his head in curiosity.

There were three girls sitting at the table a few feet away from them. Two of them had to be twins, with perfectly matched dark skin, identical features and raven black hair. The other one was a brunette in a yellow dress patterned with tiny flowers. The dress was more suited for a summer picnic than an evening in a bar.

“The brunette.” Jurian jutted his chin as she laughed at something her friends said, her hand shyly coming to cover her face.

“You’re not serious,” Lucien chuckled and took a sip from his whiskey. “You know that’s not my type.”

Historically, pretty girls in pretty summer dresses truly weren’t, and Lucien wasn’t their type either. He rode a bike no matter the weather rather than buy a car, wore a leather jacket to go with it, and the lip ring didn’t scream “meet the parents” type of guy. If that wasn’t enough to scare them away, the brutal scar that ran in three jagged lines from his forehead, across his eyebrow and all the way to his cheek usually did the job.

“Your type is girls you can fuck and leave in the morning without causing a fuss.” Vassa scoffed. “You said you wanted more, I found you a girl who can be more.”

“Not this one.” Lucien knocked back the rest of his drink, determined to win this argument.

What he didn’t account for was that Vassa didn’t care enough to argue with him. She got up from their table before his glass touched the table again and headed for the girl she had met in the bathroom less than an hour before.

She turned, and it was only then that Lucien saw her face. Too pretty, too sweet. He knew it from one glance and tore his eyes from her before they could make eye contact. He didn’t need her thinking that he was interested or that he’d make a move on her.

“Here we go,” Jurian grinned a few seconds later.

“Vassa can be mad all she wants, I’m not going over there.”

“You won’t need to.” A foreign voice interrupted.

Lucien had no choice but to turn and face her. A laugh muffled into a cough came from his left, followed by a sound that had to be Vassa punching Jurian’s arm. A scrape of a chair, then Lucien knew he was alone.

“Evening,” was all he said to the girl.

She was beautiful. Her heart shaped face was framed by wavy hair, and her pretty pink lips were still smiling. Lucien counted a couple of seconds before her eyes went to his scar and trailed the whole length of it.

“I’m Elain, may I sit?” She rested her hand on the back of the chair across from Lucien and he nodded. “Aren’t you going to tell me your name?” She asked as she gracefully took the seat.

“Lucien,” he pushed his glass aside with his knuckles and rested both of his forearms on the edge of the table as he really took her in.

The dress was out of place for the bar, but it suited her. The way the square neckline framed her chest made it hard for him not to let his eyes dip low, but he remained focused on her face. Lucien gave her another minute before she’d conclude she hated him.

Elain smiled wider instead. “How eloquent.”

“If what you’re looking for tonight is conversation, I’m afraid you’ve picked the wrong table.”

“Mmh, what am I signing up for then?”

Lucien wished he didn’t feel a spark of delight at the defiance in her tone. He wasn’t an asshole—Lucien was raised too well not to hate being rude, but he couldn’t let her go on. “I’m sorry, Elain. You seem really nice, but I’m not looking for anything right now.”

“Jesus Lucien,” she laughed. “You’d think I asked you to marry me.”

Lucien couldn’t help but chuckle with her. “I’m not husband material.”

“Good,” Elain beamed. “I’m not looking for a husband.”

She was pure sunshine. Happy, beautiful, bright sunshine. 

Lucien sighed, “I’m not boyfriend material either.”

“That’s not what your friend said.”

At this, he actually laughed. “If you think Vassa is trustworthy, your judgment is severely off.”

Elain set her hands on the table and asked in a serious tone, “are you going to fight me every step of the way, or are you going to buy me a drink?”

Lucien raised a surprised brow silently waved at one of the bartenders for their attention.

A fruity mocktail and a whiskey neat later, he knew he was in trouble. Elain was beautiful, and funny, and she managed to smile and make a joke of every dry answer he threw at her. Lucien was smiling so much that his reticence was hardly believable. 

Even alone in the bar’s bathroom, Lucien had to grin at the mirror like an idiot.

“Dammit,” he cursed softly and tried to convince himself he’d tell her to leave once he got back to their table. He could do this, save himself the struggle of any sort of attachment before it was too late. They weren’t compatible. He could tell her to leave.

Elain was talking with her friends when Lucien emerged from the bathroom. They had jackets on, but hers was still on the back of a chair. She beamed when she saw him and walked over, forcing Lucien to notice how short she was compared to him. How easy she’d be to pick up and throw on his bed. How comfortable it might be to have her nestled in his arms on the couch.

Tell her to leave. That was his task, but Lucien was distracted by the pretty honey of her eyes and the way she had to crane her neck to look up at him when she stood so close to him.

“You’re too sweet for me, Elain.” He breathed out.

Elain cocked her head. “I think you’re wrong.”

“Honey,” Lucien looked down without lowering his head enough to risk doing something stupid like kiss her. “Go home with your friends.”

“Why don’t you take me home yourself?”

He almost screamed. Was there nothing he could say for her to stop tempting him? “You’re not getting on my bike in a dress,” was his last argument.

She smiled wider and shrugged. “I have a car.”

“You really have an answer for everything,” Lucien laughed in disbelief.

“If you don’t want to go home with me you can just say that,” Elain was serious then, her feet shuffling just a step back. “It’d be quicker than your half assed excuses.”

He knew he should say it, but the words that came out of his mouth were “Get your jacket, Elain.”

.

Her home was cozy. The lights were dim and warm, and the place was neat while looking lived in. Her couch looked like sitting meant sinking into the cushions forever and Lucien had half a mind to drag her there and sit her in his lap already.

“Do you want some water?” She dragged him out of his filthy thoughts with a polite offer, so Lucien cleared his throat.

“Sure, thank you.”

He curiously kept on walking to the next door. He found a blue themed bathroom, with a flowery shower curtain and the matching bath mat. There was only one other door, so he stepped into her bedroom and took in the postcards lined up on one of the walls.

“I get them from museums wherever I travel,” Elain explained as she stepped in behind him.

“Cute,” he commented and took the glass of water from her.

She had put a few ice cubes in, and he almost dipped his fingers in to hold one to her skin. He wanted to trace her neck, her chest, watch her nipples harden, then follow that trail with his tongue.

As if reading his mind, she smoothed her hands down her dress. “You didn’t come here to talk about postcards.”

“Unless that’s all you want to do.”

“It’s not.” Elain removed the glass from his hand, put it on her nightstand, then reached for the fabric of his shirt. “It was hard work getting you here in the first place, I’m not about to change my mind.”

“Good,” Lucien cupped her cheek and finally allowed himself to kiss her.

Elain let out a tiny whimper, the smallest of noises that had Lucien’s free hand flying to her lower back to press her against him. All of the restraint he had been grasping at since she first talked to him flew out of the window. Lucien let his hand slide back to tangle his fingers in her hair, he twisted into the strands at the back of her neck and tilted her head up to better claim her mouth with his.

Elain whimpered again, her hands grasping at his shirt in all the wrong ways in a pathetic effort to get it off. Lucien groaned when her nails scratched at his skin and kissed her harder. He’d expected her to be chaste, or at least to ease into things, but Elain was kissing back just as ardently, their lips and tongue meeting in a mess that made his head spin.

She only hesitated when her tongue teased at his lip ring like she wasn’t sure what to do with it. Lucien slowed down enough for her to figure out how to play with it, a quiet moan coming from the back of his throat when her teeth lightly tugged on the metal. His blood rushed south too fast, urging him to move his hands to her ass and bring her even closer.

When he couldn’t take it anymore, Lucien left her mouth to start trailing kisses down her jaw, her neck. He found the spot that made her breath hitch and grazed it with his teeth before sucking on the sensitive skin just long enough to leave a mark. At the same time, his fingers began to tug at the sleeve of her dress to pull it down, the other hand still on Elain's perfect ass. Lucien exposed her breasts, his lips following the hem of the dress until he could finally suck her nipple into his mouth.

Elain moaned, a hand flying to his head to guide him where she wanted. Her knees nearly buckled when he caught her nipple between his teeth and tugged just enough to send a hot wave of pleasure through her.

"I need this off," he groaned in annoyance when the dress wouldn't go any lower than her waist, and Elain chuckled breathlessly.

"There's a zipper," she turned and offered her back to him. "Can't hurry everything."

"My bad," he pressed an apologetic kiss to her neck.

Lucien's fingers fumbled with the fabric to find the zipper, then pulled it all the way down to let it fall to the floor. She wasn’t wearing panties, so he wasted no time turning her around to guide her back until her knees hit the edge of the bed. Elain sat and gasped as he immediately fell to his knees in front of her.

Lucien was rushing this, but a nudge at her knees was all it took to spread her legs and see the glistening wetness already clinging to her inner thighs. He tore his eyes from the pink pussy he was dying dive into and latched on to the soft skin of her thigh instead, biting and licking on each side until light purple marks began to litter her thighs. Elain was growing impatient under his touch, writhing and lifting her hips to get him closer, but he denied her every time.

“Stop teasing,” she eventually grabbed his hair to put his mouth where she wanted it.

Lucien caved, at least as desperate as she was. Her taste spread on his tongue and wetness coated his face, but he’d never minded getting messy. He tried not to get lost immediately and paid attention to the way her breathing hitched when he did certain things. Lucien kept a hand on her inner thigh and felt the way her muscles clenched every time his tongue stroked a sensitive spot. He mapped her out with his tongue until he knew exactly what patterns worked to make her moan.

Elain loosened her grip on his hair, no longer guiding but accompanying as she relaxed into his touch. Lucien looked up at her with eyes wild with desire and echoed her moan with one that vibrated against her pussy. He licked and sucked eagerly on sensitive skin until she was close to seeing stars. Elain threw her head back on the pillow, eyelids fluttering shut as she got lost in the sensations.

She didn’t see Lucien reach for the glass of water just close enough for his hand to wrap around it, didn’t dare complain when fingers replaced his mouth on her clit, thinking he might need to catch his breath. Then, his cold tongue stroked her and Elain lost a cry.

She jolted to look at Lucien, whose eyes were full of mischief as he sucked her clit into his mouth until the cold sensation was replaced by warmth. Elain would have complained if he didn’t choose this moment to gently press two impossibly thick fingers inside of her while his tongue still moved on her clit. Whatever she was about to say came out as a garbled whine and gasps.

Lucien curled his fingers just so, and the dragging against her sweet spot combined with his tongue began to make her thighs shake. He kept his pace steady, building the pleasure up, and up, and up until Elain came on his fingers and tongue with a soft cry. She panted, eyes rolling back with each wave of pleasure while Lucien hungrily lapped up everything she gave him.

Elain had to shove his head away for him to finally lift himself from her pussy.

“That little trick was mean,” she said breathlessly.

“Yeah?” Lucien chuckled as he wiped his face with his hand and came back to hover atop her body. “What are you going to do about it?”

He had expected an eye roll, maybe a half hearted slap on his arm. Instead, Elain took him by surprise and used her hips to roll them over. She perched herself in his lap and carefully placed her hand on his neck. She wasn’t pressing down, but Lucien stopped breathing all the same.

“How about you take your clothes off and find out how I play?”

Yes please, was what he would have said if he could still speak. Lucien nodded instead and wordlessly began to move to remove his shirt. Elain lifted herself from his lap, freeing his neck so he could hurry to undress. She watched without an ounce of shame, eyes filled with lust the more she got to look at him.

Lucien wanted nothing more than to keep pleasing her. He was on his back once again in seconds, his cock painfully hard and leaking a bead of precum. Elain climbed back on him—ass low on his thighs so she wouldn't touch his cock just yet. Looking right into his eyes, Elain placed her hands high on his chest and carefully brought both thumbs to brush his nipples.

Lucien surprised himself with the loud gasp he let out, his cock twitching from the stimulation. No one had ever bothered to play with his nipples, and the wicked grin growing on Elain's face told him she was going to keep on exploiting that particular weakness. She removed her hands and leaned to the side, and Lucien followed with his eyes as she dipped her fingers into the glass to pull out an ice cube.

He would have fumbled and dropped it for sure, but Elain moved with confidence and she must have been the sexiest thing he had ever seen perched on top of him like this. A drop of cold water fell on his chest—just enough to make him jerk lightly.

"Payback's a bitch," Elain murmured as she held the ice in front of her. "Did you know that?"

"I-ah," the next words out of Lucien's mouth were unintelligible as she ran the ice cube from his Adam's apple down the middle of his chest.

His breaths were shudders as she went back and traced random lines, then suddenly followed his collarbone, swirled in an unexpected circle, moved along the lower line of his pectorals. Lucien was positive he'd lose his mind, and he nearly swatted her hand to reverse the situation. His curiosity regarding her next move was the only thing that kept him from doing so.

He couldn’t even remember the last time he had wanted anyone this badly. The ice cube melted somewhere around the V of his lower stomach and Elain wrapped her still cool hand around his hard cock. Lucien tried not to jerk, and miserably failed. A few strokes of her hand and the press of her thumb at the top were enough to make him whimper like he’d never been touched by anyone in his life.

Elain shimmying up his body to rest a hand on his chest and grind her soaked pussy against his cock should have felt like a mercy, but Lucien didn’t know how he could keep himself together long enough to please her. A breathless moan escaped her every time the head of his cock caught her clit and she went from slowly grinding to adding more pressure in a maddening cycle that was about to become Lucien’s undoing.

“Fuck, Elain, I can’t—” he groaned and got stopped by her small hand on his neck again.

“Not yet.” She ordered without ever slowing down.

Lucien would have done just about anything to obey. He dug his nails into his left palm and lifted his other hand to her waist, caressing up and down her impossibly soft skin. His eyes remained torn between looking at the glassy look in her own or the way her tits bounced with each rock of her hips.

In the end, it was her small hand adjusting his now soaked cock at her entrance that caught his attention. Elain lowered herself slowly, little sighs of pleasure falling from her lips while Lucien struggled to keep ahold of himself at the sight of his cock disappearing in her perfect pussy. Careful up and down motions took her lower and lower, their bodies easily sliding together with how wet she was, but Elain was still struggling to take him.

Elain winced slightly. “I don’t know if I can, ah,” she had to lift herself to be able to keep breathing.

Lucien pushed on the mattress to sit up and carefully grabbed her ass to adjust their position. He bent his knees to cross his ankles, and Elain shifted to wrap her legs around him.

"There," Lucien licked a hot stripe up her neck and guided her hips down on his cock again, stopping before he accidentally went in to deep. “Do what feels good,”

This position gave her more support so she could control her movements without having to exhaust herself. Lucien leaned back on one hand and brought the other between their bodies to toy with her clit. Elain’s chest flushed a bright pink along with her cheeks, her pants were quickly muffled into a kiss and Lucien tried not to weep from the maddening tightness of her pussy on his cock.

Fucking perfect, was all Lucien could think when she let her head fall back.

“Too much,” Elain dug her teeth into her lower lip in a failed attempt to hold back a desperate whine. “I need you to, ah, please.”

The last word was his undoing. Lucien fell over the edge right along with her; he bit her shoulder with a groan as he emptied himself inside of her. Even as he panted, trying to catch his breath after his release, Lucien knew he’d been thinking of this night for the rest of his life.

With Elain still atop him, Lucien carefully licked the light marks his teeth left into her skin before moving up, nuzzling her neck briefly and catching her lips in a messy kiss. She pushed at his shoulders gently, and he lowered them back onto the mattress on their sides, carefully slipping himself out of her. They didn’t say a word for a minute—or five, Lucien wasn’t sure he could count anymore.

“Should we…” Elain broke the silence and traced a finger down his chest.

Lucien shivered and eagerly agreed, “Yes, if you give me a minute. Or five.”

She didn't, already pushing herself up on her elbow to look at him better. “Oh I have ideas on things to do while we wait.”

“Oh?”

It took both of her hands on his shoulders for Lucien to lay fully on his back and keep still to watch what she’d do next. Elain threw her leg over his body to straddle his torso and moved up, and up.

“I like where this is going,” Lucien licked his lips in anticipation.

“Open your mouth.” Elain said before her knees reached either side of his head. “Tongue,” she added once he complied.

She sat without hesitation, her pussy dripping their mixed fluids on his tongue. “That’s it,” she praised quietly when he kept still and let her grind herself on his tongue the way she wanted. “Just let me, mmh.”

Lucien was in heaven. His eyes remained wide open to stare at her, perfect and just a little bit sweaty as she took what she needed from him. His hands fit just right over her ass, supporting each roll of her hips. He had never been used like this before, but he’d let Elain do it until the day he died. Wetness covered his mouth and cheeks, slick on her inner thighs that made the filthiest wet noise against his face every time she moved.

Lucien groaned as the muscles in her legs tightened and her breathing grew more erratic. Elain was going to come on his face again, and he didn’t think his cock had ever been harder. He watched the way her skin flushed bright pink, his toes curling when she suddenly reached for his hair and tightened her fist in the red strands.

“Lucien,” she moaned his name as she moved faster, ground harder.

She came without slowing down, riding each wave of pleasure with whimpers that had Lucien’s cock twitching. He cleaned her up with his tongue, eyelids fluttering at the taste of her until she ground her hips to a halt. He almost begged her to come back when she lifted herself to slide back down his body, but she went boneless in his arms and he could do nothing but catch her.

Lucien ran his hand up and down her back soothingly while she recovered, he felt the urge to kiss her temple, too, but held himself back in fear that the gesture would be too intimate for people who barely knew each other. Then, his chest almost shook with a laugh that a kiss could be too intimate after his tongue had been in her pussy.

“You okay?” He asked softly when she moved again, her hips sliding to trap his hard cock between her soaked pussy and his stomach.

“Mmh,” she adjusted again so the head caught at her entrance and carefully slid down.

Her wince made Lucien frown. “If it’s too much we can—”

“It’s not,” Elain interrupted. “You might just need to…” Her weight shifted, and Lucien followed until he was on top of her, her sinfully perfect legs wrapped around his waist. “There.”

Her heels dug into his skin to urge his hips forward and Lucien whimpered.

He had tried not to push all the way in too fast considering how she’d struggled to take him earlier, but riding his face must have worked wonders because her pussy practically sucked him in to the hilt and Lucien lost his mind the moment his hips were against her skin. He gave her a couple of slow strokes, watching out for her reaction, but there was nothing but bliss on her face.

Lucien lost himself in her, thrusting harder, skin slapping together every time and dragging uncontrollable moans from them both. It was nothing like the calculated way he ate her out earlier, or her controlled pace on top of him, this was an animalistic craving. Their skin was slick with sweat, bodies more slippery as he grabbed one of her thighs and hiked it up higher to be able to pound into her.

Elain cried out, the new angle doing something to her that had Lucien cursing through groans. He desperately wanted to feel her come on his cock again, but he was already out of his mind with pleasure and he had no idea how much more she could take. Her cunt tightened on his cock with each thrust, so wet they had to be making a mess of her bedsheets, and Lucien’s mind immediately went to the mess he’d make inside of her when he came.

The thought was enough to make his hips stutter. His arms trembled from holding himself up and keeping up such a hard rhythm, and he focused on not crushing her so hard he didn’t even notice her get close. Elain came so hard she nearly sobbed, pussy clenching around him in a way that made it impossible for him to hold back.

Her small hands clutched Lucien’s back as he lost all control and thrust roughly for another few seconds before he spent himself inside of her with a groan. His cock twitched hard, spilling as deep inside of her as he could get in a moment so earth shattering he knew he’d never recover from her.

Their pants were out of sync, both of their breathings erratic until Lucien leaned down to kiss her again. Elain hummed against his lips softly and let him roll them over again so she was laying on top of him. She broke the kiss to rest her her cheek on his shoulder, their chests now rising and falling together.

“I’ve never, um finished just with someone in me before,” she eventually said, still breathless.

Lucien grinned at the ceiling like an idiot and tried not to let his ego inflate too much. “How was it?”

“Life altering, I think. You should try it.”

“Having someone in me?” Lucien chuckled.

Elain’s giggles were like sunshine. “I’m having a hard time thinking, but I don’t see why not if you’re up for it.” She turned to look at him and cocked her head pensively. “Are you?”

“I could be,” he admitted.

Something sparked in her eyes. “Do you want to find out?”

“Right now?” Lucien was both turned on and alarmed.

“Maybe later,” she laughed at his panic. “Or another time.”

“Another time,” he agreed, like he had never doubted for a second that he would want to see her again.

[kairismess]

imagining kenma having allergic rhinitis like me ...

he sniffles back the residue of his sneeze, it sucks being sensitive to the pollen of the flowers. as the blonde feels his eyes water up a little in reaction to the allergen, you hand him a pack of tissues. "here," you offered him, with him nodding. "thank you," he murmurs, wiping his eyes dry and blowing his nose clean.

it wasn't just pollen that triggered his allergies, so did the dust that accumulated from the classroom floors whenever you two were cleaning monitors. he kept sneezing and coughing, hoping that you wouldn't stop all because of him. "stupid allergies..." he muttered in frustration as he felt another tickling sensation up his nose.

"do you need your saline spray, kenma?" you asked him, looking your shoulder to see his response. he was hunched over a little after coughing and sneezing a bit, and he nodded. "y-yeah, please..."

you came back with his saline spray, and, thanking you once more, took a few shots of it and blew his nose yet again. "...sorry you always have to deal with my allergies, i hate being sick, but i hate it even more when you feel obliged to take care of me," kenma admits as he runs the pad of his thumb over the label of his saline spray, his eyebrows furrowed.

you placed a gentle hand over his head. "don't worry about that... i love taking care of you," you confessed, looking into his semi-watery, golden eyes. his eyebrows raise a little, and his cheeks turn slightly crimson. "if you don't want me to, i'll stop, as long as you're comfortable," "...if you like it, then... i wouldn't want you to stop. thank you, again," kenma repeats, smiling slightly at you.

then, he sneezes once more as he feels the room get colder.

"ah, bless you!" you exclaimed, handing kenma another tissue. he sniffles, taking it from you, then blowing his nose. "thanks..." he murmurs in a muffled voice from behind the tissue.

[adventuringblind]

Flowers in your throat

Lando Norris x Reader x Oscar Piastri

Genre: Angst

Summary: the problems of unrequited love

Warnings: hanahaki disease, blood, coughing

Notes: idk what this is... Does anybody wanna spam my inbox with things to write over break? Logan is on the list, but I'm blanking on ideas for the boy T_T

Masterlist

Flowers. Beautiful things that each have their own meanings. One that even color plays into.

Beautiful amd deadly things, these Flowers. She can't even stomache the sight of them anymore. Not when they are the source of her current misery.

A misery she has yet to understand. Is one not enough for her? Will Lando hate her for loving more then just him? Is she really that greedy?

Her driving had suffered because of her lack of focus. She's coughing over the radio now and her engineer has started to notice. Her trainer even more so with how sick she looks.

She doesn't want Lando to find her like this. Maybe she doesn't even like Oscar and this is because of the loving looks and gentle touch he's been sharing with her boyfriend. Is she jealous? In a way yes, but she wants that from both of them. She coughs up another petal at the thought.

Hopefully Lando isn't awake. She'd been on the floor of the Hilton bathroom for at least an hour now. Her mind running through all her options. How she might be able to fix this.

Death is the easiest option in the long run. The surgery would hurt Lando as she would struggle with any kind of love afterwards. Oscar loving her back is another, but again, how would Lando react?

She'd yet to even open up to him about the idea of polyamoury. To scared from past encounters and getting hurt. Easier just to ignore anything else. The words of her last partner rings through her ears. 'It's either one or the other' but never both. How can she have such a love for two people to the point it's killing her?

The door creaks open. She panics and tries to hide from Lando's worried gaze. He still ends up on the floor with her.

"Please talk to me."

"I can't. You're going to leave me."

"Whatever this is, we'll figure it out, okay? But we can't even begin to work on it if I have no idea what's going on." And he's right. For as chaotic as he is, Lando has always wanted to work through things together.

"I'm not - well - before I start I should say I love you dearly with every fiber of my being."

"Is this a break up?"

"No!" She shouts a little to loudly and quickly. Lando looks a bit startled but calms we he sees just how panicked she is. "I don't want us to break up - I just know that you won't want me anymore."

The thoughts of Lando leaving her flood her mind. Having to watch him and Oscar be teammates while she watches from afar. Her body wracks with coughs again as another petal comes up, pretty but splatters in red.

"Is that-?"

"Hanahaki, unrequited love."

"But I do love you so then..." He takes a moments to process. "It's not me is it?"

"My parents always told me my heart was to big." She inhales shakily. "It's Oscar."

"Since when? How long do we have before-" He doesn't finish the sentence.

"A have a few months left maximum. I'm already two months in."

"Silverstone."

"I'd already been fond of him before that but watching the two of you smile together like that." Tears slip past her eyes as she tries to stop the burning in her chest. "I'm so sorry and I understand if you leave. It's not like you signed up for this."

"I'm not leaving you. I don't care who else you love as long as I'm here with you. Plus, it's Oscar, I'd be lying if I said I don't have any feelings for him." Lando Admits with a shrug.

"Really?"

"I know you love me, too much, probably. If this is what loving you means then I'll be here every damn step."

She throws herself into Lando's arms, curling into the warmth of his body. And for the first time on two months, she cries in relief.

~~~~~

On the other side of things, Oscar isn't fairing any better. The constant scratch of his throat has started in August. Over the summer break when he had to bare witness to Lando and his girlfriends pictures.

He couldn't tell who he was more jealous of, or if he was jealous at all. Both, he was jealous of both because he wants to be with both of them. It's illogical, he thinks, that he should want two partners so desperately. They are committed to each other, why would they want him as well?

Lando is once again on the podium his female counterpart part there to congratulate him. Eyes shining as they smile at each other. The itch in his throat is to much. It burns in his chest as his lungs try to fight for air.

He runs back to the garage after getting weighed. Just in time to collapse onto the floor of his driver's room. Petals fall from his lips. Beautiful and soaking in red fluid.

He's still struggling to breathe when his door flys open. Logan amd Liam swim in his vision and ears. They drag him off the floor and get him upright again.

They clean him op and sit with him until Kim comes to get him for debrief. The older male looks horribly concerned. Lando also looks at him with something he can't pinpoint while sitting through the meeting. It's enough to make his chest burn again just knowing Lando is even looking at him.

Logan and Liam come knocking at his door that night. They want answers and rightfully so. He tells them, coughing on the bathroom floor while doing so.

"Have you talked to them?"

"No, why would they want me Lo?"

Liam hands him more water and pratically forces him to drink it. "Have you seen the way they look at you?"

And no, he hasn't, only how people say he himself looks helplessly in love.

How would they look at him now? In disgust? Maybe pity?

Shame he may never find out.

~~~~~

Another hard race. Las Vegas had messed them all up in some way shape or form. She couldn't breathe knowing Lando had crashed to hard. She coughed an entire petal up during the yellow flags just thinking about how he must be feeling.

She's been coughing up whole flowers recently. Tonight was no exception. Lando, despite being on heavy painkillers, was desperately trying to help her through a few larger ones.

She was barely eating anymore. Couldn't breathe. Her teammate had even noticed the drastic change in her appearance. Max and Christian had both been on her case. Third seemed so far away now as Lando tries to get water down her throat.

"I don't want you to die."

"And I don't want to live without love."

Lando manages to pull himself off the floor to answer the door. Mumbling about how it's probably Jon making sure he's alright.

She can hear the familiar voices of Oscar and Logan through the thin walls.

Oscar sounds rough. She blames it on the long race he had. He'd looked so tired coming out of the car, hands running through his hair.

Her lungs burn again. It's more so this time. Her entire body is on fire. She can't even cough properly and wails as she has to pull out whatever is in her throat.

A stem. One with thorns.

Lando is frantically pleading with Oscar and Logan for something. Oscar is also coughing. Enough that is worsens her own.

She coughs again. Another stem feels like it's tearing her open from the inside. She wails at the stinging pain. Panic overcomes her as it seems to never end.

The door swings open. Lando and Logan drag in a coughing Oscar.

He's in the same boat as her. He's been suffering this whole time.

"Logan who is it?! Please, I need to know." Lando is begging now. The sight of what's happening can't be helping his nerves.

"It's you two, both of you I think. He didn't say exactly."

She tunes out anything else. It's them. He is feeling this because of them. She coughs up the rest of the stem and the burning starts to fade.

But then the exhaustion hits. She wants to tell Oscar everything. Enough so he doesn't have to cough up thorns like herself.

She passes out before she can.

~~~~~

Oscar wakes up in bed. One that definitely isn't his own. He tries to sit up, but his body is depleted still. Noticeably, his lungs feel lighter then they have in months. The ache in his chest has lessened, but his love for the two is still there. If this isn't the work of a surgery then-

He sits up frantically, searching for something. Someone, more like. A hand on his shoulder pushes him back down.

"Relax, we're still here." It's Lando and his partner is on the other side of Oscar. She's dead asleep and rightfully so after what he witnessed her cough up.

"Where's Logan?"

"Asleep on the couch. He didn't want to leave you."

"And you - do you and her - are we?" His words are broken. He can't think properly.

"Caught feeling a while ago, mate. Her before I realized myself. She loves hard, enough to cough up flowers, apparently." Lando crawls into the space between Oscar and the female. Oscar, in his sleepy haze, latches onto Lando. He feels better being apart of whatever cuddle pile this is.

He falls back to sleep so easily. Only to be woken up later by a few frantic coughs. Lando is immediately trying to get the female out of bed and to the sink. She claims she's fine and it's confirmed by the lack of petals.

"It's from what the thorns did." Her voice sounds wrecked. Oscar tries to get up to help only to be pushed back again by Logan. Curse his exhaustion.

The American gets everyone water. Oscar is grateful for it as it soothes his still sore throat.

"So does this mean you three are going to be together then?" Logan raises an eyebrow.

"If either of them say no after this, I'm throwing hands. After the hell they've put me through I will force them to cuddle if need be."

[jedipoodoo]

I can't imagine how raw and irritated echos skin gets, especially from his armor rubbing against it. now I can imagine is his s/o applying lotion all over his upper body, and once rubbed in, giving him a massage cause lord knows the poor baby's been through enough.

finding good echo gifs is so hard 😭 I feel like I've already used all the good gifs in my other one-shots. If anyone has some Echo gifs they'd be happy to let me use for story visuals, please let me know!

Patch Your Broken Wings (ARC Trooper Echo x Reader)

Notes/Warnings: Got a little off topic here sowwy :3. People are jerks to clones, descriptions of scents, Echo has a hard time making decisions for himself and feeling good about himself.

This one-shot does not contain spoilers for season three. Please do not discuss spoilers in the comments.

"Here, smell this one!" You took a bottle off the shelf and shoved it in Echo's face. He stumbled back a step or two before he caught his balance. He took a deep inhale of the scent and closed his eyes, imagining himself in the middle of the meadow printed on the side of the bottle. The scent, however, didn't quite match up to the picture.

"Well, what do you think?" You asked. You were so giddy you were bouncing up and down on the tips of your toes as you waited expectantly for his answer.

He shrugged, "It's nice."

"Nice?" You frowned, "Is that all you have to say about it?"

The truth was, Echo really didn't care for that one at all, but with how excited you were about it and the other five bottles you'd thrown in your basket, he didn't want to disappoint you. Plus, there were at least three other customers staring at him, speaking in what barely counted as whispers. He knew he looked weird, on top of being a clone. Most people didn't like him being out in public, not that it bothered you. You were fearless.

"Yeah, smells like flowers." He mumbled.

You frowned, "Okay then..." You put the bottle back on the shelf, and Echo immediately knew he messed up.

"We can still get it if you like it! I don't mind!" He insisted.

"Do you like it, though?" You asked.

Echo blinked. "What do you mean?"

You sighed deeply, "Echo, I wanted to get these lotions for you."

"For me?" Echo pointed to himself with his good hand, "Why?"

"For your skin!" You reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently, "It's so dry and rough, especially by your cybernetics."

"Oh," He said softly, "I've never really thought about it before."

You smiled at him and leaned in to kiss his cheek, "I was doing some reading on the holonet, and it said that prosthetics can start to chafe after a while, but lotion so help with that."

Echo couldn't believe it. You'd done research to help him? On your own? He almost started crying.

"Come on," You pulled him after you, "You need to find one that you like. I'll help you put it on."

Echo felt a bit like he was floating as you pulled him along to the next aisle of lotions. Was that all that this store sold? Well, there had been some candles at the front of the store, and they were selling scented antibacterial packets by the register.

"We are not leaving until we find a lotion that you like," You warned him, "Now, what smells do you like?"

Echo fidgeted a bit under your scrutiny. "Well, I like caff, and flimsi. It smells nice when it's warm."

"Well, we could find a caff-based scent, but flimsi will be a bit harder to find," You hummed, "Keep going."

"Uh, I like the smell of the antiseptics that they use to keep the medwing clean, that's always nice."

You shook your head, and grabbed two sample bottles of lotion off the shelf. "Do you prefer flowers or fruit?"

Echo panicked, "Uh...both?"

Just as you reached out for him, an older woman shoved her way in between you both to get to the display wall.

"Pardon me-" Echo coughed.

"Excuse you!" You snapped. The lady turned to you, and though Echo couldn't see her face he knew she must be scowling.

"Watch where you bring that thing," She snapped back at you. She didn't even grab any of the lotions as she pushed past Echo towards the registers. Even more people were staring now.

"Maybe we should go-" Echo tried, but you grabbed his arm and kept him standing right where he was.

"You have just as much right to be here as anyone else," You whispered to him. Echo just gulped, and nodded.

You pulled his arm towards you and dabbed a bit of the first lotion onto his wrist. As you rubbed it in, it felt kind of nice, feeling you work away the tension building up in his muscles.

"What do you think?"

The first one was tinged purple, and smelled like joganfruit with hints of lavender. It was much too strong and Echo shook his head with a grimace. You applied the second scent, and Echo gave a hearty sniff. It was light and floral, with hints of meiloorun in the background.

"That one's nice," He said somewhat wistfully.

"You like it?" You seemed shocked at this revelation.

"What's the flower in that one?" He asked. You took a moment to read the label.

"It's made from ti'il blossoms, from the planet Alderaan," You read, "It's made with meiloorun and hints of prosecco."

"Prosecco? Isn't that an alcohol?" Echo asked.

"Yeah, but it smells nice," You shrugged, "You want that one?"

"Yeah," Echo said, reeling a bit from these events. Maybe the prosecco in the lotion was giving him the same effects as drinking it.

Buying the lotion and going back to your apartment were a bit of a whirlwind for him. He liked being at your place, it was a safe haven from the rest of the galaxy, where no one would oogle him or whisper about his condition as if he couldn't hear them.

"Hey," You called him from his trance, lotion in one hand, "You okay?"

He nodded, quickly, "I just...I don't usually get stuff like this."

"It doesn't hurt, if that's what you're worried about," You teased. Echo chuckled half-heartedly.

"Echo?" You said softly, "Babe, what's wrong?"

Echo tried to wave it off, but the lump in his throat betrayed him.

"No one has ever cared about me, not like you have." He stammered.

"Echo, that's not true," You pulled him to sit on the couch and cradled his face in your hands, "Your brothers would do anything for you, and you know it."

"They're my brothers, they don't count."

"They're your brothers--of course they do," You rested your forehead against his, breathing deeply in order to allow his breaths to align with yours.

"Thanks for what you did back there, at the shop," He murmured.

It was your turn to get flushed, "I barely did anything-"

"Not just with the lady," He clarified, "For the lotion, for looking stuff up, for this," He waved his scomp arm between the two of you, "It means everything to me."

He caught a glimpse of your smile, "You mean everything to me, Echo. I hope you understand that."

Echo chuckled again, "I think I'm starting to."

[eddiemunsonw]

None of your business | PART 2

PART 1 - PART 2

Gator Tillman x fem!reader

Summary: It's one week later and Gator returns for more

CW/Disclaimer: Smut, handjob, oral (f and m)

Author's note: A few people wanted to see a part 2, so here it is! I have something sitting in my askbox still that I'll try to write for next, so don't expect a part 3 anytime soon (or ever really, if I'm being honest)

Words: 3694

Next Saturday came around and you found yourself paying more attention to the door than you usually would. Despite being the one doing the favor, you had enjoyed your little late night escapades with Gator more than you’d like to admit. In fact, it had given you your own release thinking back on it every night since. The thought of rocking his world to the point that he was more focused on wanting to kiss you rather than getting his own jizz out of his face was also hard to forget.

However, there was no Gator. You wondered if maybe he was too busy, duty calls and such, whatever that meant as Roy Tillman’s son. Maybe he had found the confidence to ask someone else now that he had a sliver of experience. You didn’t know why that annoyed you so much. Brutal Bob was the last to stick around that night. Normally he would have gone by now. He hadn’t asked for a refill in a bit and if he wasn’t still obviously breathing and looking alright you would have taken his temperature just to make sure. There was an amused expression on his face, which widened when you met him with a confused glance of your own.

“What are you so smiley about Mr Bob?” you asked with a chuckle. “I keep seeing that sneaky smirk of yours!”

Brutal Bob laughed, which sounded more like a cough and something gurgling in his throat.

“What’s it with you and Tillman’s boy, sweetie?”

“Tillman’s boy? What do you mean?” 

You were genuinely curious, considering nothing had really been going on when Brutal Bob had been around.

“He’s been “sneakily” looking through the windows every ten minutes or so. You got a date or summit?”

Immediately, your head turned to the nearest window where sure enough, you could see just about the edge of a cap peaking from below. Did he just hide himself from you?

“Oh, I don’t know Bob, I think the likes of them fancy a proper girl. They’re not gonna find that one with me,” you said with a shrug. Brutal Bob shook his head with a smile and you got the feeling that he was smarter than he let on.

“Alright dearie, I will call it a night so you can go to bed as well. If it’s your bed you’re sleepin’ in t’night.”

“Bob! Stop it,” you chuckled as he threw you the fattest, most exaggerated wink as he got up from the barstool. “Mind your business old man.”

“Alright alright. Just nee responsible like I am!”

With one of his bouldering laughs (and coughs) he left the bar. If you weren’t mistaken, he announced his departure loudly once he was outside. It took about another five minutes for Gator to come in. With… flowers? Which he had clearly plucked out of someone’s garden. Interesting.

“I thought he’d never—” Gator coughed, “I mean, the lights were still on when I happened to drive by so I thought I’d come in and say hi.”

“A very spontaneous decision I’m sure,” you said with an amused smile and a pointed glance to the flowers in his hand. He followed your gaze and tightened his grip around the makeshift bouquet of daffodils.

“Just thought this dim bar could use some color,” he mumbled, avoiding your eyes.

“You think they’ll survive in this dim bar?” you asked curiously, wanting to see his response to your teasing.

“Just take the damn flowers, woman,” he grumbled, holding them out for you to take. “I need to take a piss.”

“Thank you for the flowers, man,” you called after him as he disappeared towards the bathroom as soon as you accepted the flowers. With a chuckle, you grabbed a vase to put some water in, giving them the spot on the bar that would get the most daylight. Daffodils usually didn’t last that long. When he came back, he glanced over at the vase and then his eyes flicked over to you to watch you warily.

“So?”

“They’re lovely, thank you. Who knew you could be cute when you wanted to,” you said with a subtle smile teasing your lips. Gator groaned. He wasn’t mad, just “annoyed”. Quotation marks were in order.

“Shut up, remember who you’re talking to. I’m not cute.”

“I think giving a woman flowers after getting a surprise first timer handjob is pretty cute.”

“Isn’t it like, the bare minimum for first date shit? What’s cute about the bare minimum?”

It sounded like he genuinely wanted to know. You decided not to tell him that the fact he had been waiting outside for the perfect moment to step in was cute too.

“Sometimes I think things people do are cute when you don’t expect it from that particular person. I expected you to… I don’t know. I actually expected you to not come in at all, at some point,” you told him honestly. Gator frowned and stepped behind the bar, finding his comfort in your close proximity again.

“Why didn’t you?” he asked, again, genuinely confused. You took a step towards him as well, waiting for him to back away except, he didn’t.

“Well… thought you’d find it elsewhere than the last resort now that the awkwardness of the first time has passed.”

You had no idea why you were being this honest with him. Maybe it was because he was looking at you with an openness you hadn’t seen before. He was still frowning, but it was easy to see through the tough exterior.

“I don’t see why I’d search for someone else when I already got myself a woman right here,” Gator mumbled. “Besides, I don’t know everything yet. You said I wouldn’t be able to get you off so why would I bother with someone else? I want you to tell me what to do. So I can…”

Find someone more suitable and prettier for my needs, you finished off in your head. When he seemed to hesitate, you promoted him to answer. You just wanted him to confirm it for your own sake.

“So you can…?”

 A blush spread on his cheeks but his eyes flared with annoyance. One step closer and he towered over you. It shouldn’t make your heart beat this fast to see his gaze drop to your lips.

“Just— shut up! Shut up and let me… do the… do it back.”

“Do what back?”

“Finger you.”

He gave you a challenging look as if to say, yeah I’m using big boy words and so what? You couldn’t help but laugh and felt a little guilty when the confidence drained from his face.

“What?!”

“Nothing.”

“Spit it out, woman.”

“Ah, if only it was said with a little less disdain, I might have considered complying...”

“Do you want me to finger you or not?” he asked impatiently. From the way he was fidgeting with the zipper of his jacket, you figured he was the one really wanting to do the deed. Return the favor, if you will.

“Well jeez I’m gushing down there from this sensual foreplay, oh my,” you mumbled sarcastically. “You’re not gonna get me wet with just your fingers, you gotta put some work into it, get me in the mood.”

“Females are such a handful…”

“Women just require a more complicated manual. Men are embarrassingly easy honestly.”

“Men are not embarrassing!” Gator protested.

“Right, tell that to the string of jizz nearly hitting your eye out of eagerness last week, hm?”

Gator grabbed you roughly by the shoulders and pushed you against the wall right next to all the expensive liquor. The bottles rattled faintly as you gasped in a breath.

“I’m fucking done. Never mind this- this bullshit—”

You grabbed his hands from your shoulders and put them on your waist instead. Confusion mixed with anger, though it was more so exasperation, etched into his face. You felt his fingers flex just lightly under yours.

“Come on. Touch. Show that you care about her. Show her that it matters to you how she feels too.”

It kind of sucked, removing yourself from the narrative despite being the most prominent factor there alongside him. However, since he clearly had plans to learn and move on, you didn’t want to let your mind linger too much on what could have been. After a moment, you let go of his hands when you felt he wanted to let them wander on his own. Whichever words he had left for you died on his tongue when you let go of a soft, content sigh. His hands were big and frankly it had been a while since someone touched you with such tenderness. Gator watched your face like a hawk, focused on every reaction his wandering hands caused. As his thumbs brushed the underside of your boobs, his lips parted to run his tongue along them. Your eyes shifted towards his and you were surprised to meet his gaze, a softer one this time.

“Can I touch your tits?”

There was nothing that had prepared you for Gator Tillman asking for permission rather than just taking it. You wondered why that was. As far as you knew, the Tillmans never asked for anything. They took. Normally you probably would have giggled at the way the words left his mouth, but right now you only found yourself nodding. Gator’s hands didn’t waste a second to cup them fully, squeezing them over and over as if they were the first pair of boobs he ever laid his hands on. It probably was. Soft curse words rolled over his lips in quick succession, his eyes full of lust as they trained themselves on the view his hands created. He seemed to drown in the feeling, the freedom to give into his urges. You gently cleared your throat and his eyes immediately flicked up.

“Bad?”

“No, it’s- it’s alright.” It was better than alright. “Was just wondering if you were still with us,” you finished with a soft smile. Gator rolled his eyes and moved his hands back down to your waist, pulling it against his own.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” he mumbled and with the pressure you felt straining in his pants you wondered if he made a subtle innuendo there. You nodded and he moved away until your hands grabbed his waist to keep him there.

“This part can be good too,” you told him gently, emphasizing what you meant by a roll of your hips. His breath stuttered and he bucked his hips against you, forehead coming down to rest against your own.

“T-That’s uh— But, for you too?” He struggled to make coherent sentences. You looked down at your skirt, considering. While you weren’t much of a skirt wearer, you had to admit that you had pulled on this stretchy short pencil skirt with Gator in mind. It would just be easier to move things out of the way, wouldn’t it?

“Less clothes in the way helps,” you mused softly, as you hitched up your pencil skirt until it rested on your waist, black tights and matching black panties on display in the dim light of the bar. Gator’s hands immediately came down to grasp the curve of your hips, his fingers digging deeply into the soft skin.

“Fuck… you’re…”

For some reason, he stopped himself and instead fumbled with his own pants until he could push them down to his knees. You didn’t have to tell him to slot his leg between your thighs as his natural instinct took over. His forehead came to rest against yours again as he rolled his hips deliciously against yours. An easy moan left him as soon as he found a rhythm, his hands holding your hips hard enough to bruise. You flung your arms around his neck and glanced over his shoulder towards one of the windows, realizing you never shut the blinds.

“You know… any passerby could see us right now,” you whispered into his ear. His breath was picking up as he rolled his hips quicker and a shaky moan left him at your words.

“Fuck, you can’t just say that shit!” You could tell he tried to sound annoyed rather than horny, though he failed miserably at it. Your smile rested against his cheek.

“Oh, you like that, hm?”

He mumbled something incoherent.

“Shut up.”

Oh. Hm.

“Make me.”

For a moment, Gator stopped moving, as if his brain couldn’t keep up with both your conversation and the actions of his hips. Then, his gaze snapped up, his face already so close to yours.

“Say that again,” he ordered, even though his expression was more hopeful than demanding. You nodded, a smile teasing your lips.

“Make. Me.”

Gator crashed his lips against yours and moved them eagerly yet so clueless, while his hips failed to maintain their rhythm now that he was occupied with kissing you. It was a little sloppy, but he happened to use just the right amount of tongue and for some reason it was working for you. You needed to gasp for breath and right in that moment, you felt his grip on your right hip loosen as his hand wandered down and slipped below your tights. Normally, you’d tell him that a little teasing above the fabric could be very enticing as well, but right now you honestly really just wanted to feel his calloused fingers against your skin. He clumsily found his way down and immediately started rubbing you way off your clit which you couldn’t really fault him for. Some men still couldn’t find the clit after several encounters.

His impatient kisses faltered a little when you wrapped your hand around his own, probably fearing he’d done something wrong. To assure him he had nothing to worry about, you kissed him again and adjusted his fingers to where you needed them. Hesitantly he continued to move them once your hand slipped out again and when it was rewarded with a soft moan against his lips, he rubbed your clit a little faster.

“Good?” he sighed against your lips, not giving you the time to answer with words as he stuck his tongue inside your mouth again. You hummed in approval and moved your legs apart a bit more to give him better access. Apparently he noticed, because his free hand wandered down your hip to hoist it up, his hand easily holding it there.

“Oh, Gator—”

“Yeah?” You felt him smile against your lips and his next words sounded a little cocky. “You like that, huh? Like it when I play with you baby?”

Very cocky, actually, all things considered. But god it was working for you. He teased your entrance with newfound confidence and after feeling around your wetness he was quick to add a second before he actually started thrusting his fingers into your cunt in quick succession. His palm happened to make just the right contact with your clit, which you considered beginner’s luck on his end. On your end, it was pure bliss. Your hips bucked into his hand and a low chuckle left his lips.

“Not so talkative now, eh? Jesus you’re wet down there. It’s like— you’re just so wet for me. Because of me.”

His stupid words and his quick finger work were what pushed you over the edge not much later. It wasn’t the best orgasm you ever had, but you certainly weren’t complaining either. A little out of breath, Gator reached for your face after gently letting your leg back down.

“I think I’m a natural, huh?” he mumbled with a cocky grin, “can fucking smell you.”

And just like that, he brought his fingers to his nose and inhaled. Without removing his gaze from you he experimentally gave his finger a lick, followed by a groan.

“Fuck…”

One moment he was in front of you and the next he was down on his knees, pulling your tights and panties down and pushing your legs apart before hoisting one over his shoulder. His nose tickled you as he accidentally leaned in too close, though he made quick work of letting his lips follow the same trail, and then his tongue.

Eagerly, he started to lap up your juices in eager licks from your dripping cunt all the way up to your clit. You had never been eaten out this hungrily, noisily. His spit mixed with your juices was running down your thighs as he grunted into you, licking and sucking everywhere until it was all cleaned up. You were almost on your way to your second orgasm when he suddenly stopped and you realized you had been moaning and grabbing onto his hair desperately. You wanted to wipe the smug expression off his face but instead all that came out was: 

“Please.”

His chuckle vibrated against your clit right before he took it between his lips and sucked. His fingers found your cunt again and it was easy to forget that this man was a virgin a week ago. His fingers could use some work but holy shit his mouth was heaven sent. He moaned with you when you grabbed onto his hair tighter and rode yourself to your orgasm on his tongue. When you glanced down at a particular desperate moan from his lips, you noticed he was jerking himself off.

“Don’t come,” you warned, trying to sound stern purely because you wanted to listen to his protests. When his hand didn’t slow down, you nudged his balls with the toe of your shoe.

“Don’t.”

Sure enough, his hand slowed and his mouth worked faster. You were certain you nearly pulled out his hair with the force you held it with but he didn’t seem to mind. Once again you couldn’t help but look down and to your surprise he was watching you as your hips moved over his tongue. That intense gaze was all you needed to get there a second time.

Gator immediately went for cleaning you up with his tongue again but you pulled him back by his hair this time and made him get up so you could drop to your knees instead.

“Oh…” 

He watched your hand as you wrapped it around his base and bit his lip hard enough to bleed when you rested your tongue under the head of his throbbing cock. His hair was a mess thanks to you and together with the rosy cheeks, he had never looked cuter (and hornier). He frowned a little when you grabbed his hand and guided it to the back of your head where you helped him grab onto the makeshift ponytail. Quickly catching on after that, you watched as his pupils blew wide into lust and his hand tightened around your hair as he started to move his hips. Slowly at first, and you assumed he did that so he wouldn’t blow his load in two seconds, then faster, and faster, and sure enough in under a minute, he was done. His hips stuttered as weak, high pitched, dragged out moans left him while he enjoyed the warmth of your mouth. He kept you there for a moment, nose buried in his pubes, looking up at him as you swallowed around his head.

“God, fucking look at you…” he mumbled. “Wanna keep you there forever.”

Yet, he pulled back and pulled you back up. His lips ghosted yours with a temporary hesitance before he kissed you softly. There was no rush this time when he tenderly explored your mouth, his hands resting on your hips.

It surprised you when he pulled your skirt back down before he pulled his boxers up and the smile he had was calmer than any you had seen before.

“Can’t have people get a look at you,” he mumbled, as if you practically hadn’t been giving a show to any possible passerby. You doubted anyone would have seen, considering the time, but still. A hesitant smile formed on your face and you nodded quietly. He’d probably go somewhere else now, right? To someone else? You hadn’t done everything but the last part was honestly the easiest if you did the rest well enough. Gator took your chin between his fingers and gave you a concerned look.

“Why are you so quiet? Did I hurt you or something?”

“No, you didn’t, I’m fine.”

Gator rolled his eyes at your obvious lie and bent down to help you back into your panties and tights. As if that would help. If anything, these unexpected kind gestures only made it harder. His next question surprised you.

“Why’d you say “touch her” earlier? Make “her” feel good?”

Honestly, you wish he just left. What kind of question was that? Wasn’t it obvious?

“Well, since I know you’re here to… learn, and it’s not about me or anything, I thought I’d… I don’t know. Just removed myself from the narrative I guess.”

“Well that’s stupid,” Gator mumbled. “I’m here to have sex with you, not someone else. I came back, didn’t I? I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t good and… tonight was really good. Like, better than watching porn.”

You snorted and felt relief slowly surge in your body as you took in his words.

“I sure hope so, yeah,” you sighed with half a smile.

“Are you only having sex with me because I’m a virgin? Is it a savior complex kind of thing?” Gator looked at you intensely, impatient for your mouth to give the answer.

“No.”

“Why then?”

“Because I…”

Like you. 

“I like you,” Gator blurted, voicing your own thoughts out loud. “I only wanna have sex with you. I wanna go all the way someday too but… not now.”

He looked a little shy, as if being open about his feelings was a completely new concept to him. It probably was.

“What do you wanna do now?”

“Kiss you. But only if you like me back.”

You smiled and loosely wrapped your arms around his neck.

“I like you back.”

“Good.”

He kissed you slowly, with the silent promise of doing it again, and again, and again.

If you enjoyed reading this, please know that comments and reblogs are highly appreciated :) Likes are lovely but sadly do nothing to spread the fics around! Help your favorite writers (not saying me - in general) out like that so you can continue to enjoy consuming the free work they put out, it's a win-win.

[intriq]

‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Scabious

‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

Theme: Angst

Character: Dick Grayson

Word Count: 855

scabious; unfortunate love

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Dick had always been your close friend. Your close best friend. The best friend you fell in love with.

But he didn't feel the same. He loved someone else, not you. He loved Kory. Not you.

Even though he'd rejected you, made it known he only ever thought of you as a friend, you still loved him. Loved him so much that it made your lungs hurt and fill with flowers.

Which is how it lead to now.

Your both on patrol together, like always. Except the only difference being your waning strength as the flowers in your lungs greedily consume you, growing off that suffocating love you've got for Dick Grayson himself.

One particularly nasty cough makes Dick turn to you, worry evident all across that pretty face of his. "You sure you are in any condition to be on patrol tonight?"

"I'm fine, trust me." You reply in return, crumpling those bloody flower petals in the palm of your hand that you'd just coughed up moments before. "Just allergies kickin' my ass."

"C'mon, there's something you aren't telling me here." Dick's gaze locks on your own, even if your gaze is focused on the city below. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Dick. It's just a stupid cough from allergies, I'll be fine in a few weeks." You lie instantly, refusing to meet his gaze.

Dick is almost upset that you insist on lying to him. Did you really think he wouldn't notice the signs? The bloody flower petals that you've been coughing up?

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Dick's tone is enough to make you flinch. "You think I didn't notice those flowers you've been coughing up?"

"Nothing get's past you, huh?" You weakly laugh, a pained smile on your face before you begin to cough again, more flowers stained a deep red by your blood falling into your waiting palm.

"How long?"

"Few months now, I think."

"There's a way to fix this, right? There has to be. I can't lose you."

Your face scrunches up, contorted into pain. You barely had any time life, really. Very little of it. Sure, it was selfish to keep on loving Dick, even if he was begging for you to keep living. But in order to keep living, you had to get rid of your feelings for him. And you, in all honestly, didn't wish to do so.

Dick doesn't say anything. He can tell from that saddened look on your face that there isn't a whole lot that can be done, a whole lot left to do. That you don't have time to do anything else about it.

So perhaps it's the desperation over the fact he doesn't want to lose his best friend that makes him take your hand and pull you closer and kiss you.

He doesn't quite like you the same way you like him, but it'll do something, right? It has to. Dick doesn't want to accept any other answer for it. He needs it to account for something, to do something.

You pull away almost instantly, violently coughing up more flowers. Because Dick's desperate attempt to fix you, only worsens the problem. And when you can finally breath again after coughing more flowers into your own lap, speckled in crimson, you speak.

"Dick, please. Don't force yourself. Don't force yourself to pretend as if you feel the same way I do. Please."

"I may not love you, but god! You're my family, okay? I care about you. I don't want you to die, especially not because of me!" Dick pleads, holding your hand with both of his at this point. Voice shrill and desperate.

"I know it's selfish but.. God, I can't lose you. You've saved me more times than I can count. I can't lose you. I can't.. Please, please don't leave me alone."

Dick's voice is pitiful, pathetic. Selfish, but pathetic. Weak. And not only that, but he's crying. Sobbing, even. All because you're dying.

"Dick, please. Either way you'd wind up alone and without me. I love you. But not in the way you love me.”

Dick opens his mouth, as if to protest what is you’re saying, but he pauses when you continue to speak.

“You don't love me the way I wish you would. I love you. Not a friends kind of love. You don't love me the way I wish you would."

You're the one who should be crying. You're the one whose dying, after all. But yet here you are, hands reaching up to wipe away Dick's tears instead.

After a bit more back and forth, begging from Dick, your answer stays the same. You refuse to get the surgery, no matter how hard it makes Dick cry over this revelation.

But when weeks pass, and your final day is dawning upon you, Dick is there. Even if he can't stand to watch you die, you deserved someone by your side, at least.

So you die while Dick holds your hand with both of his. You grow cold and limp in his grasp as the final flower in your lungs bloom a beautifully macabre shade of deep, dark crimson.

A flower that blooms as a result of your pitiful and unfortunate affection.

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[risingsoleil]

The teenager drabble of the AU collection is one of my favorites. Could you let us know how was it when Lin finally agreed to be Tenzin's girlfriend? I'm in serious need of some fluff here

Hi anon~ sorry for taking so long to answer. It took me a while to figure out what might have happened when Tenzin asked Lin out.

Nothing went according to his plan.

A sudden storm swept across the city, ruining Tenzin's picnic date for Lin. He thought he was about to have a heart attack asking if she wanted to go out to dinner instead. By some miracle, she agreed. Maybe she said yes because he asked over the phone and she had no idea he was sweating bullets.

As soon as they hung up, Tenzin practically screamed into his pillow with joy. Aang knocked and opened the door. "Are you okay?"

Tenzin coughed and gave a thumbs up. "Yes, I'm okay."

Aang gave him a look, a smile growing at the flushed pink on his son's face. "Is it something related to a girl?"

"No, Dad. Just...it's nothing."

"O-okay," Aang replied sing-songy, closing the door. "I hope you have a betrothal necklace ready for Lin."

"DAD!!" He doesn't wallow in the embarrassment for too long. Peering out the window, the rains are insistent and neverending. If he's going to go on a date, he better get everything in order.

He manages to get a dinner reservation at a casual restaurant. He's been there before with Lin and his siblings last year, and they all enjoyed it.

He knows that the flower shops should still be open, if he hurries. One bouquet of panda-lillies, and yellow roses. Lin loves yellow roses because they remind her of sunshine and spring.

Well, as it turns out, most of the flower shops closed because some of the streets are flooding with a feet of water. Tenzin visits every single one, hoping and praying for one to have at least a few panda-lillies and yellow roses. None of them do. They were all sold out or packed away due to the sudden storm.

Biting his lip, Tenzin points at all the pink and red roses, carnations, and orchids.

"I'll take them all."

If he can't get Lin panda lillies or yellow roses, he'll buy her half a flower shop.

But he doesn't think how he'll protect the flowers on his way to pick up Lin. The rain doesn't show any signs of stopping, but fortunately, Oogi is with him on this stressful journey.

No matter how much he airbends, Tenzin keeps getting soaked and drenched by the downpour. He bends off the water one last time as he stands in front of the Beifong residence. Tenzin tries to create an air bubble to keep the flowers as dry as possible.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The door opens and Tenzin's heart melts and tumbles with joy.

Lin is dressed in a soft pink cheongsam, with the subtle tint of blush on her cheeks and a rosy lipstick. Her hair is curled much neater, and there's a pearl hairpin in her hair.

'I should have made the betrothal necklace already.'

"You look...wow," he whispers, eyes locked on her outfit.

Lin shifts and avoids his eyes, trying not to smile too hard. "Thanks..." She studies him and his usual robes. "You look dry."

"Huh?" He peers down at himself. "Oh, yeah. It's raining. A lot. Super hard."

"Yeah."

Tenzin feels his palms getting sweaty. "Uh, if you don't want to go out tonight, it's ok because of the--"

"No, I want to go out tonight," Lin insists. "I got all dolled up anyway. I don't want to waste it."

All Tenzin can do is nod, and he extends out his arms. "Um, this is also for you."

Lin catches the overly large bouquets of flowers. "Oh, thanks. They're really nice."

"I, um," he rubs the back of his neck, hoping he doesn't sound like an idiot, "I couldn't find any yellow roses or panda lillies, so...I just bought everything this old man had."

Lin takes in every detail of the flowers, a smile growing on her face. "I still love it. Thanks for getting these, Tenz."

"Of course," he says tenderly, feeling his own happiness peeking through. "Uh, do you want to leave the flowers here so that they don't get ruined in the rain?"

"Sure."

Maybe things are looking up for them, despite the storm.

They have Oogi to help them get across the city. Tenzin has an umbrella for Lin.

It breaks mid-flight and Lin starts to get wet. Tenzin makes sure Oogi is steady before hopping in the back and trying to dry off Lin.

"I'm sorry! I thought this umbrella would be okay--"

"Just dry me off when we get to the restaurant," Lin orders, pressing her palm at her forehead to keep her makeup intact. "I'll just keep getting soaked."

Tenzin bites his lip. "We're almost there, I promise."

Dinner should be okay. They're only a few minutes away.

They've made it and Tenzin draws out as much water as he can. But Lin is instantly touching her hair. It's frizzed a bit from the neat curls that he saw 20 mins earlier. Lin pats it down and tries to curl it with her own fingers to tame it.

When the young teens look at the door, they see the sign:

"CLOSED. Diner was flooded. We will reopen in two days. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Grey eyes read the words.

Left to right.

Left to right again.

Lin shrugs. "Well, we can--"

"Are you fucking kidding me?! First the weather, then the flowers, now this?! What the hell, universe?!"

"Don't worry about it, Tenz. We can probably grab some street food around the corner."

Tenzin groaned and he buried his face into his hands, rubbing. "I don't want you to have street food! I want you to have a nice dinner or a picnic on the top of the park hill."

"We can do that another day then."

"No. Ughhh!" he storms up at the door, glaring at the sign. "I wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend on the perfect date, with the perfect flowers, and perfect food. But now it's ruined!"

Suddenly, he's spun around and hands grip his robes, yanking him down. Warm and soft lips collide against his and it takes Tenzin a few moments to realize that Lin Beifong is kissing him. Lin exhales slowly, her breath sweeping across his cheeks and rustling his eyelashes. She pulls away and Tenzin feels like he drank an entire barrel of cactus juice.

Her body is only inches away from his, and he wants so desperately for that gap to diminish.

"You..you're...my girlfriend."

Lin smirks and Tenzin notices how her lipstick has smeared slightly, just outside the natural outline of her lips. And he wants to smear it more, until it disappears completely on his own.

"Am I?"

"Huh?" He tilts his head. "Wait, did I ask you?"

Lin shrugs.

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Her arms wrap around his neck and Lin stands on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his again.

"Does that answer your--"

The last thing Lin expects is for Tenzin to pick her up and run into the rain. Her legs wrap around his waist as the rain descends upon them, and Tenzin creates an air funnel, blasting them into the air.

"Lin Beifong is my girlfriend!" Tenzin exclaims to the heavens, and Lin tightens her hold on him as the earth beckons to her feet again. The rain pelts harder onto them as if heaven gives its blessing to them.

"Tenzin!" Lin yelps, the fabric of their clothes clinging to their skin.

The airbender promptly and safely lowers them both to safety. As soon as Lin's feet are planted on the earth, Tenzin cups both sides of her face and pulls her for a kiss.

He pulls away, grinning. "I promise to be a good husband."

Lin laughs and gives him a look. She pokes his forehead. "You keep skipping steps, Airhead."

"I can't think straight."

"Obviously. Your head is in the clouds."

His hands wrap around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "Then bring me back to earth," he murmurs, gazing into her eyes.

For the next ten minutes, the earthbender and airbender seal their relationship beneath the storm. Sudden bursts of energy command their bodies to run through the streets, dancing and spinning under the rain. Part of Lin's makeup runs a little, but Tenzin doesn't care.

Lin Beifong is his girlfriend.

And Lin was right. They do find an alley of street food vendors open, with plastic covers to protect their customers from the brunt of the storm.

Lin eats a chicken skewer and Tenzin has a veggie skewer.

Tenzin reaches over to hold Lin's hand under the table.

[mars101]

❝ 5 Reasons To Love Lee Juyeon ❞

☆ PAIRING = juyeon x reader

☆ GENRE = established relationship, pure pure fluff, i love love so much :<

☆ WARNINGS = reader is shorter than juyeon, eating, one use of y/n (i tried not to use it for once :<), pet names included: sweetie/sweetheart (to reader) & hon/honey (to juyeon)

☆ WORD COUNT = 3k?? or 2.9k??? one of those

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★ SYNOPSIS = "What made you love me?" a question not usually asked when it's your eighth year together. but juyeon was just so curious, so here's five reasons why (and how) you fell in love with lee juyeon.

★ RELEASE DATE = 02.14.24

★ PLAYLIST = 💌

★ AUTHOR’S WELCOME = happeeee (late) juyeon day !!!! i love you juyeon ☹️☹️ ok now its happy valentines day !!! lolol i was supposed to post this for his birthday but it was still a wip 💀 so now happy vday juyeon !! ok bye enjoy this pls (NOT PROOFREAD OR BETA READ BTW)

╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴╴>

Date: Feb 14th, 2024

“What made you love me?”

Juyeon’s sudden question made you stop mid-bite into your food. His tone makes you think he's playing around but when you look up at his face, he has a serious but curious expression displayed.

“So suddenly? Uhm…”

His eyebrows raise in curiosity as he awaits the answer. Mouth parted while he nods gesturing you to go on.

“You're you.”

“Huh?”

“I love you because you're Lee Juyeon”

The male pouts as a blush paints his cheeks, “I wanted to hear specifics. Like, like… you know!”

You chuckle at your lover's reaction and caress his hand on the table. “I'll give you specifics then, alright?”

“More than alright”

“Hmm let's see…”

No.1: “Lee Juyeon is a caring man.”

Date: Feb 14th, 2019.

Valentine's Day 2019. The day you weren't able to go on the date the two of you had planned for weeks because you had a fever.

The two of you have been calling each other all day, hearing the sound of his voice made you feel better each second.

During the whole call you heard rustling in the background but decided not to comment on it until you heard him walk out his house and enter his car.

“Juyeon..? Where are you going?”

“….Nowhere.. where are YOU going…?”

Once he returns the question back to you, the two of you say nothing. The voice of Juyeon’s gps tells you everything you need to know as you hear it say your street name.

“Juyo.. You shouldn't come over, I don't want to get you sick”

“Who said I'm coming over? I'm not coming over, just going somewhere..” He continues to act clueless the whole car ride, dodging questions and comments as he makes his way to your house.

Even as you watch his car pull into the driveway next to your mom's car, Juyeon still tries to act like he isn't at your house.

“Sweetheart, I don't even get what you're saying. I'm at home, is there another handsome, tall, kind, sweet, and did I say handsome man you're seeing?”

The phone hangs up as the doorbell is rung. Outside the window, you can see Juyeon on the steps to the door. Red roses hidden poorly behind his back.

“Oh! Didn't think I'd be seeing you here hon”

“This is my house.”

You sigh as Juyeon happily skips his way into your house, ignoring the sniffles of your nose and coughs escaping your mouth. “Juyeon you really shouldn’t be here. Even if it’s Valentine’s Day.” Opposing to your words, you shut the front door behind you.

“But if I wasn’t here, how could’ve I brought you these flowers?” He pulls out two bouquets of roses from behind his back, “One’s for your mom, because she's so sweet for having to deal with me here everyday”

Juyeon opens his arms with a big smile, “A small cold isn't going to stop me from showing my love for you” Your engulfed in his hold as he rests his head atop yours. “Sadly, I don't think anything will stop you Juyo.”

“Nope!” He pulls his head away just to come back and plant a kiss on your forehead. “Whether you're healthy or sick, I'll always be here beside you.”

No.2: "Lee Juyeon is a romantic man."

Date: Feb 14th, 2021.

Everybody knows what happened this year, no need to explain it. Juyeon was thanking the gods for the fact that the year prior, he came up with the idea for the two of you to move in together.

But there was one problem this Valentine's Day. He couldn't go out to get flowers this year. To him, it's the most important part of the gift. He didn't need to go out to get your gift because he got it a year before. But the flowers! What's February 14th without the surplus of flowers in the air?

A day before Valentine's Day, Juyeon did the last thing he thought he would be doing. Googling last-minute gift ideas for Valentine's Day.

It took an hour for him to find something to replace the missing flowers and it was perfect. Especially since they were easy to personalize. He's lucky they're easy to make too as he finished them while you were sleeping and hid them in his bedside drawer.

“Good morning, Juyo Honey~ Happy Valentine's Day!” You softly kiss his cheek, and he rustled awake at the warm feeling.

He blinks his eyes open and squints as he takes in his surroundings. Once his eyes land on you, they widen, and a soft smile makes its way onto his face.

Juyeon’s hands lay on your cheeks as he brings you closer to him for a soft kiss. “Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart. Sorry I didn't make you breakfast in bed this year, I stayed up making you something last night.” He yawns and does a big stretch.

“Hon, you don't have to apologize.. I'm happy just staying here with you for hours- Wait made? Don't tell me… You made another giant card filled with pictures and glitter??”

“No! Come on, sweetie, you know I try not to repeat gifts. It's something even better,” He turns to his bedside table and reaches into the bottom drawer to get the first gift for you.

A gasp leaves your mouth as you lay your eyes on a bundle of paper flowers made by the man next to you.

“Juyeon! What- I- When did you make these? And how long? Oh my” You sit up, and the bundle is placed on your lap.

“Made it last night after you fell asleep. Only took me about… three hours?”

“I fell asleep at ten… You stayed up till one to finish these?”

“Well yeah, I was missing only the flowers this year. I had to find a way to have them for the day.”

Your face drops at his words, “There’s more..?”

“We're baking a cake together, I got the ingredients delivered.” Juyeon pauses before glancing towards the closet door, a common spot for hiding gifts in the household. “And there's a giant card…”

“Oh no…”

“It's confetti, not glitter this time! So there's a difference!”

No.3: "Lee Juyeon only has eyes for you."

Date: Feb 14th, 2016.

”sent to lee juyeon”

”For: lee juyeon”

”can this go to juyeon?”

Your school was doing a cute Valentine's Day event, pay a dollar or two to send your crush or lover or friend a simple carnation rose. Seems cute on paper, doesn't it?

Yes... But all the work of delivering flowers on Valentine's Day is as stressful as staying in class for the whole day. Who knew flowers could start so much drama?

People coming to the busy student council room and yelling at you because their flower wasn't sent first, couples sending flowers to other people and confessions. Way too many confessions.

Someone at the center of a majority of these confessions is Lee Juyeon. Last year his friends, Younghoon and Hyunjae graduated so now it's like all the confessions piled onto him.

“Flower delivery!” You knock on the classroom door, and the teacher inside gasps at the amount of carnations you and your fellow council member were holding.

“Oh my! Is there one for every student? Why is there so much?”

“All for Juyeon.”

“Oh..”

“We'll be back here don't worry.”

Valentine's Day was never your favorite holiday, why show all your love for someone on one day when you can do it every day?

The door to the student council room slammed open before you could even touch it, another annoyed and entitled student bursts out. Your friends inside sigh at the outburst.

“Oh Y/n! There's something up with this one flower” Yunjin beckons you to the table with notes and letters. “Did you plan on confessing to Juyeon today? Because if so, you made a mistake on the form.”

“Confessing on Valentine's Day? I thought you knew me by now. Let me see this.” Before you can take a look at the note, it's snatched out of Yunjin's hand.

“Eric?!? What the??”

“Oh uhm… I'll go and deliver this flower, hold up.”

“But you're on writing duty! Your handwriting's the best-”

“There’s two piles done!”

Eric runs out the door with the note, grabbing a red carnation to complete the set.

“It's everyday with this kid.. Sorry Y/n but, do you think you can go and bring him back. Easy way to get a small break from delivering flowers”

Yunjin looks at you with a pleading look on her face, and you send a nod and a thumbs up her way as you head toward the door.

Luckily Eric didn't wander far and good thing his voice carries across the hallway as you were able to find him quickly. Oh! He's talking to Juyeon..

“Dude! You're lucky I got a hold of the note before they did-"

“Eric? You keep on running off. What's the excuse this time.”

“Uhhh….” Eric's like a deer caught by the headlights as he thinks about what to say, “This is my excuse” He pushes Juyeon towards you and runs back to the student council room.

“Hi..”

“Hi Juyeon, don't worry, all of your flowers were delivered. You don't have to go home with like three piles of flowers-”

“This is for you,” The boy in front of you holds out the red carnation. He looks away from you with blushing cheeks and shy eyes. “Happy Valentine's Day, Y/n.”

"What the fuck???"

After the initial shock fades away, you find yourself softly smiling at the surprising actions of Juyeon. Hands reach out towards the flower in his hands, “Happy Valentine's Day, Juyeon. Are you free after school?”

“What?!?” His head flinches to your direction and his eyes widen, “Me? I mean, I think so.”

“Juyeon, do you want to go out on a date with me?”

He's left speechless at your boldness, his face almost as red as the flower in your hand.

“Of course!”

No.4: "Lee Juyeon always knows what you need."

Date: Feb 14th, 2022.

“Are you sure you can drive yourself back home?”

“Yes, hon, I'm sure. And I'm already halfway there!”

“Okay okay, just making sure..”

You were currently on your way home from work. Yes, you were working on Valentine's Day, unfortunate, right? Plans had to be rescheduled due to the sudden schedule changes your boss made without warning.

A bouquet of roses rested in the passenger seat next to you. Waiting to be gifted to your lover, “Juyo, When I get home, do you think you can-” Through the phone, a loud crash is heard, followed by a faint ‘oh no!’, “Juyeon.. Are you okay?”

“Sweetheart.. Why are the suitcases on the highest point of the closet..?”

“Because we never go any…where….”

“Oops…” Juyeon hangs up the phone right as you pull up to the house. Your keys rattle in your hand as you unlock the door, roses in the other hand.

Juyeon is nonchalantly sitting on the couch like nothing happened, “Oh hey! How was work?” He gets up to embrace you and plant a kiss on your forehead.

“Hon you can't just ignore what you hinted at just now.”

“Hinted?? What did i hint at? Ha.. Oh, wait! What's that over there??” Juyeon points to a random object behind you, and foolishly, you turn. The bouquet is snatched out of your hand, and Juyeon bolts into the kitchen.

“Juyeon!-”

Laying across the kitchen table were rose petals. They formed a heart around an envelope and your passports. Inside the envelope was confetti and a printed out paper conforming the plane tickets of Juyeon and you to Italy.

“Don't worry, I contacted your boss for the days off. He's actually weirdly nice, asked me if I wanted a job.”

“You.. booked us a flight to Italy…”

“Yeah, sweetheart you've been working so hard these days. You were literally just on shift not even an hour ago, and it's Valentine's Day. My love needs a break, I know there's a bunch of stress bubbling inside that pretty head of yours.”

Juyeon pulls you closer to him, his hand stroking your head, “You've been doing so well, sweetie. I'm here whenever you need me.”

You bring your arms around his waist as you bury your head onto his body. “I don't know what I'd do without you, Juyo.. Every year, you always manage to show me up on Valentine's Day, though.”

“I think it's because I'm better, haha!”

“I'm throwing my luggage at you later.”

No.5: "Lee Juyeon loves you."

Date: Feb 14th, 2024.

“Why'd you ask me that question?”

Juyeon’s eyes start to waver across your face, his hands resting beside him as he leans back into his chair.

“No reason, it's just.. did you notice it yet? The flowers..”

Your eyes land on the flowers sitting on the side of your kitchen table. A mix of red and pink roses fill the vase. One flower sticks out from the rest, a red carnation.

A soft smile appears on your face, and fingers reach out to softly caress the flower. “The first flower you ever gave me.. How sweet” Your hand softly grabs a hold of the flower, pulling it out of the vase.

“No wait!-” Juyeon was cut off by the sound of something falling off the carnation's stem. His hands were quick to grab the object before you noticed what it was. “Uhm…”

“Juyeon… What fell from the stem?”

“What fell from what? Haha.. More like, what's that over there?!?”

“I'm not falling for that again.”

“Oh.”

Juyeon sighed and mumbled under his breath, “You know what, I was going to wait till after we finish eating, but why wait any longer.”

He stands up from his seat and makes his way around the table until he's right by you. The male grabs ahold of your hand as he takes a seat next to you. His lips softly make contact with your knuckles, and his eyes lock onto yours.

“Juyo..? What.. What is this..?”

“Something I've wanted for years, a romantic dinner in the house I share with the person I love the most.” Juyeon says with a soft smile, his thumb caressing your hand. “Can you believe it's already been eight years since I confessed to you?”

“Eight years already? That's so weird. It felt like only a few years ago. Maybe it's because when I'm with you, you always make me feel like a high school student with a crush.”

He chuckles at your words, “Valentine's Day has always been a special day for us, hasn't it? I can’t wait to spend more and more years with you.” Juyeon pushes himself off the chair and onto the ground on one knee.

“Your shoelaces are untied-”

“Juyeon I'm not wearing…shoes..”

Your words trail away from your mouth as Juyeon looks up at you and reveals the object he that hid from you, a ring. In his hands lay a sparkling and beautiful ring.

“What the fuck?? Juyeon?-”

“Ever since I met you in senior year, you've been the only person on my mind. My mornings start with you, my nights end with you, and my days are all about you.” His shaky hand comes back to your own, and he holds on tight.

“You are the light of my life, and I knew you were my one true love since you made that same reaction when I confessed to you. So… will you let me spend a lifetime with you by saying yes?”

By this point, both of your eyes are watery, but the love in each other's eyes is visible through the blury tears.

“Will you marry me?”

“Get out! Of course I will!!”

★☆★ AUTHOR'S GOODBYE = technically, its still valentines day… so i made it before the deadline hehe anyways thank you for reading i love yall and shout out to all the hotties out there mwah byebye

☆★☆ TAGLIST = @sanasour, @boomhoon, @loonaluvz, @deoboyznet

[mj-iza-writer]

Warning: Hanahaki disease. A fictional disease where flowers grow in the lungs and throat of someone who is suffering from unrequited love. This causes a long drawn-out death unless that love is shown back or a fictional surgeon can remove it. This would cause the sufferer to lose all love for that person who gave them the disease. Oh how I've wanted to write a story based on this since I've first heard about it. -MJ

Includes an aromantic asexual character.

"Master, their is a message for you", Whumpee handed an opened envelope to Whumper.

"For me.. how did it arrive?", Whumper sighed. It took a lot of work to get messages to their hidden home. Notes to them were never good news. Somebody desperately needed their services.

Whumpee poured a cup of tea for Whumper while they read the letter.

"Poor soul", Whumper set the letter down and reached for the cup.

"Is it... uh you know?", Whumpee knelt beside them.

Whumper cupped their face lovingly, "yes my dear.. Hanahaki disease. Our services are needed", Whumper sighed.

Whumpee nodded.

"Will you take this letter to Caretaker for me. I will work at packing my necessities", Whumper stood.

"Master may I come with you?", Whumpee followed, "I can help you and Master Caretaker."

"This is not a vacation, someone might be dying. Caretaker and I have to serve them and perform surgery. That may not even help them", Whumper frowned, "this is a somber time for this person and their family who are begging for us to come. Plus, who will be here to take care of my home?"

"Honey never goes with Caretaker, maybe they can watch over your home while we go", Whumpee folded the letter, "please Master it's an honor watching you perform your part of the surgery. It's an honor knowing that you, my Master, is saving someone."

Whumper sighed and thought for a few minutes.

Whumpee felt uncomfortable in the silence.

"Ask Caretaker what they think, and you ask Honey. If Honey says they do not want to take care of my home, then you may not go. I'm okay with it, and Caretaker has to agree", Whumper frowned, "you will be there to help us... understood."

"Yes Master... thankyou thankyou thankyou", Whumpee excitedly jumped up and down.

"Okay go on to Caretaker, hurry up", Whumper turned.

Caretaker frowned as they took the message from Whumpee.

"Goodness", Caretaker read it over, "yes we must hurry."

Whumpee nodded.

"Master Caretaker, Master Whumper has allowed me to come with both of you. They said that you have to permit it, and I must ask Honey if they would watch Master's home for me", Whumpee fiddled with their fingers, "would you allow me to go with you if Honey is okay with me going?"

"I don't mind if you come with us. You haven't come with us in quite some time", Caretaker nodded.

Whumpee excitedly smiled.

Honey had been listening in to the conversation.

"I'll watch over Master Whumper's home for you", Honey smiled, "I don't mind, and I can get complete peace and quiet if you go."

Whumpee excitedly jumped up and down again.

"Please let Whumper know I will down soon, you best get packed yourself", Caretaker smiled.

Whumpee followed Whumper and Caretaker into the home.

They were led to the bedroom of the ill person.

Whumpee took in the person on the bed. Their raspy labored breathing, pale skin.

The person violently coughed as Whumper and Caretaker set their things down. Vibrant flowers fell from their mouth. Blue, orange, yellow, red.

"Please help me", they gargled, "I can't breath."

"We are here to help you", Caretaker turned to them.

"But we must know first how this happened", Whumper frowned, "who caused you to contract the hanahaki disease. The surgery we perform is both drastic and could possibly fail if you are not careful."

The person winced as they turned to a family member who was in the room.

"Their was a person who came into our lives a few months ago. They caused my partner to fall in love with them to take our money. Once they got what they wanted they left. Around a month ago my partner started to cough up flowers. It took forever for us to find someone who could name the disease. Thankfully, they knew how to contact you. My partner hasn't been able to forget that person. They are still in love", the family member explained sadly, "I don't mind that they fell in love with someone else. They were enticed by them, I don't blame them at all. They need help. I don't have the money or anything to repay you, but we will find a way."

Whumper and Caretaker looked at each other.

"We will concern ourselves with payment once we've finished", Whumper turned to Whumpee.

"My servant here will be available to help us during the surgery. We require absolute privacy. No one can bother us while we work", Whumper sighed.

Caretaker stepped forward, "you must understand this surgery will remove all feelings you had towards that person. You will no longer feel anything for them. Remember though. Once you've contracted this disease, you can contract it again. If it returns, it returns faster and stronger. You might not have time for us to come."

The person coughed more, flowers cascaded around everyone's feet, "help me please", they pleaded.

Whumpee looked down and frowned.

"Masters, there is blood", Whumpee held up a petal.

"We need to hurry, they may have something punctured", Caretaker started to unpack their tools. Whumper followed.

Whumpee ushered the family member out.

"Wait", Whumper walked to the door, "are all of the flowers they've coughed out in this room. I must destroy all pieces of the disease."

"Destroy?", the person frowned.

"Yes Caretaker offers peace and comfort. I, on the other hand, have to destroy it. That is why many fear me, and many don't want to be with me. I destroy things."

"It's a hard job, but I wouldn't be able to do this without them", Caretaker sighed.

"The person we talked to said to keep all the petals and flowers together. They are all here", the person looked down, "what has my partner gotten themself into?"

"Something you should pray never happens to you", Whumper sighed, "we must begin, I will send Whumpee when we have finished."

Once the door was closed Caretaker stepped beside Whumpee and ran their finger along the door.

"My barrier is set. The room and all of us in here will now be made clean", Caretaker smiled at Whumpee. A bright light shown throughout the room and danced around the four of them.

Whumper was at their table setting up.

"Whumpee I need you to collect the petals and flowers from the floor", Whumper spoke over their shoulder, "I will destroy them at home."

Whumpee looked over the floor covered in colorful petals, "Master with yours and Master Caretaker's magic being used, do you think the veil is opened enough that I may be able to use some of my psychic abilities to help pick everything up?"

"Psychic abilities?", Caretaker looked at Whumper.

"Yes a few months ago they were playing while I was using magic and decided to copy me. They found they could do a few things themself. I have to be openly using magic though", Whumper looked at Whumpee, "I've allowed them to practice."

"You may try, just nothing to big. You may have a little boost since Caretaker is here", Whumper frowned, "be careful."

Caretaker had already closed the patients eyes. They were peacefully asleep and didn't seem to be uncomfortable.

Whumper held up two fingers and ran them down the patients chest and stomach. A cut followed the fingers down. Whumper then did the same thing to open the chest cavity.

"This is worse than I thought", Whumper frowned.

Caretaker and Whumpee both approached and looked.

"This was a stonger love then I care to admit to their partner. See the thorns, they've long stabbed through the lungs, they've climbed their throat both inside and out. Unfortunately they've also tangled into the ribs and spine. This is a mess. I'm surprised they're alive still."

Whumpee listened, "I never realized love could be so dangerous until I started serving you."

"Yes it is very dangerous. I'm glad I've never had any feelings of this type of love towards someone", Whumper sighed as they started to cut away the thorny stems.

"Master doesn't that seem weird that you've never experienced love before?", Whumpee began to concentrate some of their own magic to clean up the room.

"I've experienced love before. Their are different forms or love... I've just never had a romantic or honestly a sexual interest in anyone. I can still feel love for you and Caretaker and Honey. I can still love my family and friends. Their are so many ways to love, its not as limited as the world makes it out to be."

Caretaker watched Whumpee's confusion.

"Whumpee you love your Master right?", Caretaker smiled as Whumpee lost their concentration and dropped some petals.

"Yes of course", Whumpee nodded.

"Would you want to marry Whumper?", Caretaker chuckled.

Whumper looked at Whumpee for a second before going back to work.

"No Master, I wouldn't", Whumpee looked at Caretaker with puppy eyes.

"Well that is a different love then. You don't have a certain love toward them. But, maybe a family type love. Their are so many different forms of love."

"I think I understand... thankyou for helping me understand", Whumpee smiled.

"You're welcome", Caretaker smiled before turning back to help Whumper.

"I'll be opening their lungs next", Whumper frowned, I could feel two strong flowers growing up into their airway."

Whumper and Caretaker did a final check before Caretaker closed the openings with their fingers.

Whumpee twirled their hands a few more times as the leftover flowers fell into their bag.

"Two bags full... this was a really bad case", Whumper frowned.

Whumpee nodded.

Caretaker completely closed the openings. The magic healed all without leaving a scar.

"You may go tell the family it is done", Whumper sighed, "I am so tired."

Caretaker leaned on the wall, "I'm afraid using that much magic is becoming a little much for the both of us."

Whumper nodded.

Whumpee stood at the door.

"Uh, Masters, the door still has a barrier. I can't open it", Whumpee looked at them.

Caretaker snapped their finger at the door.

"Sorry Whumpee", Caretaker smiled weakly.

"Hello the Masters are finished with the surgical removal of the disease. You may come back in now", Whumpee told the family and partner, "please don't overcrowd them. The Masters are very tired from the surgery, they will instruct you on next steps and promptly leave after."

"What about paying them?", the partner stood.

"The Masters don't receive payment from you for their services. It is paid later in time from the universe", Whumpee grinned, "they perform this surgery to help."

"But why?", the partner pleaded, "they deserve something for this... they saved them."

"Don't concern yourself with the details", Whumper came out, "we will receive our payment as it is supposed to be done. We were gifted with our abilities, and we would never seek payment for using them. The universe provides for us. That is all."

"Oh, uh okay", the partner looked down in disappointment.

"Come now", Whumper ordered weakly.

"Why are they so weak now", the partner whispered to Whumpee.

"The surgery takes a lot out of them", Whumpee replied.

"What exactly did they do", the partner looked over the ill person, "there's no scars or anything."

"Unfortunately we are not able to tell you that", Caretaker sighed, "they are better now. They will need time to rest and recuperate for a while."

They knelt beside their partner and took their hand, "will they be okay?"

"We took out every bit of the hanahaki disease. As long as they don't contract it again, they will be okay", Caretaker sighed tiredly, "just allow them to rest."

"Masters speaking of rest, I think it's time to leave so you both may regain strength", Whumpee interrupted.

"I think you're right Whumpee", Whumper nodded.

The person led them out, "thankyou so much. I can't tell you how much we appreciate you both. Are you sure I can't repay you in any way?"

"No, trust us, it will be taken care of", Caretaker smiled, "we are happy we could help you."

Whumpee sat against a tree and watched over Caretaker and Whumper while they slept.

They quietly braided blades of grass together while waiting.

Caretaker stirred first and looked up at Whumpee.

"Hello Master, how did you rest?", Whumpee whispered.

"Very well, I feel like some of my energy has been replenished", Caretaker sat up.

"I'm glad to hear", Whumpee nodded, "would you like some food?"

"No no, I'm okay. Honey said they'd make us a big meal when we returned. I'm about ready to be home", Caretaker sighed.

"Then let's get packed up and move on", Whumper groaned as they woke up, "I'm about ready for some home cooked food myself."

"Honey invited both of you over for dinner when we get their", Caretaker looked over to Whumper.

"Sounds good", Whumper nodded, "after that we can destroy these hanahaki flowers."

"May I help you Master?", Whumpee looked at the bags.

"I'd appreciate it."

"Alright let's get this area cleaned up, then we can go", Caretaker looked around.

It was late at night, Whumper and Whumpee had left Caretaker's home with full bellies thanks to Honey.

Whumper had now prepared a fire to destroy the flowers.

Whumpee sighed as they lifted one of the bags.

"It's so sad that flowers so beautiful come from an unfortunate disease. It's a shame we have to destroy them", Whumpee frowned as they watched Whumper fill the fire with wood.

"Yes", Whumper nodded, "the more vibrant the flowers, the more love that person held for the other. If their are a lot of thorns, the person of interest had bad intentions toward the other", Whumper reached for the bag, "I didn't want to tell the victim or the partner this, but the victim felt a huge love for this stranger. It could have easily led to an affair."

"Why didn't you?", Whumpee listened, "their partner should have known that it was that deep don't you think?"

"My job isn't to fix a relationship, just to remove a disease and save their life. My magic isn't meant to tangle with the heart strings, and it's a messy chore to do that", Whumper dumped the first bag into the flames, "also Hanahaki surgeons are rare, that is why most of us are immortal. We forget what mortality feels like. Things like relationships and love... well, we forget how those work after a while. One can't help if they dont know the feelings behind it. It is not our job, though, to give you the easiest answer."

Whumpee nodded and handed the second bag to Whumper.

Whumper dumped the flowers, "I appreciate all of the work you did for us. You were very helpful."

"Thankyou Master", Whumpee stood up a little straighter with the praise.

"Don't worry about the couple, though. I removed all feelings they had for the stranger. They must now find it in their heart to love their partner", Whumper sat down by the fire.

Whumpee knelt beside them, "what if they don't though. The partner worked so hard to find you and Master Caretaker. What if all is lost in their relationship?"

"Best case is they part ways and both find someone they will truly love... worst case is we have to go do another surgery", Whumper sighed, "no more troubling yourself over this... understand. It is out of our control what happens."

"Yes Master", Whumpee whispered.. still not settled on the relationship.

"Come sit down. Let's watch the fire for a few minutes", Whumper grinned.

Whumpee sat down next to Whumper and let Whumper pull them close and place their arm around them.

"I know your brain is still worried, but please understand that as a magic user, you still will not be able to control everything around you. You may feel more powerful as you learn and grow what capabilities you do have, but even then it will still feel limiting", Whumper turned to Whumpee, "that's what my Master told me."

Whumpee nodded and yawned quietly.

"I'm sure you're tired. Go ahead to bed", Whumper watched them, "I'll sit out here for a while longer to make sure the fire goes out. The petals should be gone now."

"Yes Master, thankyou", Whumpee stood, "goodnight Master."

"Goodnight", Whumper smiled.

Whumper watched as Whumpee's candle darkened inside the house. The fire had also smoldered itself and died out.

Whumper looked up to the stars and sighed.

"My heart breaks for anyone who lays in bed at night and wonders why they weren't enough for the one person they would give the world to. That could ruin a person."

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.

@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived

@sacredwrath @porschethemermaid

@monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz

@bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13

@notpeppermint @cyborg0109

@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots

@whumpbump @everythingsscary

@skittles-the-whumpee @expressionless-fr

@theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee

@candleshopmenace @whumpanthems

@lavndvrr @ivymyers

@starfields08000 @a-living-canvas

@lumpofsand @watermeezer

@indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains

@3-2-whump @risk606

@electrons2006 @paperprinxe

@whumprince @kaz-of-crows

@mis-graves @decaffeinatedtimetraveler94

@sausages-things

[heeseung64]

PERSPECTIVE

𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬.

SERIES, SMAU, ENEMIES? MUTUAL FRIENDS, MUTUAL PINING, COMEDY, ANGST, SLOW BURN. MDNI.

contents.

04. SORRY?

written part below <3

the party was packed, the house was filled with students of all sorts: the rich, poor, classy, trashy- the originals and the those who are firstly setting foot into the famous mansion that was owned by some random somebody.

y/n hugged a few familiar faces as she paced herself up the stairs, her phone in hand as she weaves through, trying to find the right group. "jungwon!" she yells through the music, catching the back of her friend to turn around, jumping and patting her back. "you're here! c'mon, beom's got u a shot!" he laughs, grabbing her wrists before leaving her upon the mezzanine that overlooked the whole ground floor.

"Y/N!!" a drunk beomgyu errupts amongst the crowd, giving her a peculiar shot full of random liquor for her to ingest. "yuck, th'fuck did you put into this?" she coughs, "i don't know, jake mixed it. he always sucks." he slurs, making y/n giggle. "where's jake?" she asks, causing him to smirk- giggling out his mind. "he's over there, i'll bring him to you but don't fuck yet-" "beomgyu you're drunk as hell." y/n retaliates, laughing at his demeanour. y/n wasn't the type to mess around, and yes- although she has had previous relationships, it was all platonic, she believes the right one would spark up her flower- like her friends would joke.

y/n follows beomgyu to the open lounge, the chill acoustics ricocheting off the urban walls, and the sound of the party slowly diminishing to foreign music as they further deep down the hallways. "oh my god, y/n!" a voice emerges from the loud beat. it was jake, his voice with a hint of alcohol, sounded so sweet to y/n she couldn't help but grin, hugging the guy as she greets him back. "hi jake!" she laughs at his jumpy attitude, unaware of the others in the crowd.

"shots babe, shots!" sunoo grabs her hand from the chatter, bringing her to the crowd that has gathered for the plethora of shots that fill the corners- unaware of the person who bought them mentally crying. jungwon rises from the crowd, his grin wider than ever, a familiar hint of mischief as he puts his shades behind his ears,

"this is a game of russian roulette! most of these are vodka, some of these are tequila- and some," he pauses as he watches everyone around him eager to listen.

"moonshine, brewed by our own jay." to which the group cheer.

his moonshine must be strong. y/n smiles as they each go for a shot. just after the first hand takes one, the rest follow, and y/n finds herself reaching for the second last one. as she reaches for the shot, a hand takes over the last two in one swipe. "what the fuck!" y/n groans, looking up to see the man she didn't want to meet at all, sunghoon.

"why did you steal my drink?" y/n comes up to him, arms crossed as she perfectly could've had the opportunity to get wasted. "i just saved you from jay's moonshine and you're being ungrateful." sunghoons lips soak in the last drop of the shot he took. "get off my dick. i'm just trying to enjoy the party." y/n replies, sighing as she turns around. y/n begins to walk the corridors before being yanked in the arm by the same man. "why are you telling me to get off your dick? huh?" he breaths down her.

the dimly lit corridor only shone the light on his pale face, flustered and blushed at his cheeks and lips, and his eyes intense staying on her.

"look, i only--" he pauses to sigh, "i only took those shots so you can hear me apologise to you sober, but these damn shots are all moonshine." he groans, looking at the ground.

maybe he is a nice guy. y/n scoffs, feeling a part of her stomach churn as she looks at his body being defeated by the effects of alcohol.

"fine. do it, apologise." y/n replies, but to no avail, sunghoon responds blandly,

"wait i'm tired, maybe later."

dumbfounded, she finds sunghoon turning into a sleepy mess in under seconds. the two shots were enough to make him defeated instantly, and his whole mind was shaking, wanting to drink water and ice and lay on the rink.

"i'm not gonna talk to you til you apologise." she groans, watching sunghoon lay back on the wall in front of her. "take me.. water."

"huh?" y/n furrows her brow.

"water. and ice rink. i want. please.-"

"i am not taking you to the fucking ice rink i came here to p-"

"please." he whispers, breathing into her space before collapsing his torso into her arms.

i fucking hate this guy. y/n could all ever think; as she was taking him out to the ice rink.

_______________

inbox for taglist <3

[vivakitkt]

I love you, why can’t you love me?

Synopsis: You love Xiao. But how will it take for him to notice you? Then a chance to end your feelings for him. To relieve yourself from the pain. Do you take it?

Warnings: angst/ maybe comfort, !hanahaki reader, reader is implied as adepti(immortal, etc), not proofread

A/N So I wrote this at 11pm on new years eve yes i dont sleep but yea finally finished this :') first time writing a piece with a specific character in it. One of my longer pieces as well. Might write pt. 2 👀 Hope you enjoy it!!<3333

Part 1(this story is pt 1) Part 2 Part 3

Loving Xiao was hard

He was closed off, only becoming "close" to the few who he could feel as ease with. Although you tried your best, cooking his favorite dish, almond tofu, being nice to him, taking care of his injures even with his stern protests. But it never was supposed to be you was it.

You were waiting for him at Wangshu inn. Trembling from the frigid cold, clenching onto the thin blanket you were keeping around yourself from the breeze.

Dont want to catch a cold, you told yourself. Not to mention already that you were feeling a little sick in your throat, coughing up more frequently than usual.

It was getting pretty late, you wondered, where could he be?

His food would be getting cold soon and plus it wasn't like him to stay this late without sending you a message. You couldn't even feel his presence around the area.

Should you go and try to find him? Yea. Maybe you should. You know, just to make sure he was okay. As you quickly turned into a puff of smoke, leaving your previous spot into the sky. Soaring through the clouds, you finally spotted the green flash of his teleportation.

As you started to drift down onto solid ground, a few feet away from Xiao, you noticed another person with him.

Huh? Was that the traveler? What was Xiao doing with them? You questioned while staying behind a tree to hide yourself. Xiao was probably just helping them out! Of course he was, the travelers was a nice person anyways. Its not like Xiao had feelings for them or something. Right?

But why was he blushing like that? And smiling like that? You've never seen him like that before despite knowing him for centuries. Did he actually have feelings for the traveler?

I mean, of course who wouldn't? With their courageous personality, outgoing self, and impressive battles. And to top it off, they were good looking. Who wouldn't like the traveler?

It made no sense at all to hate them. You were just being dramatic. All of sudden you started to cough, hard. So you quickly took a step back and disappeared again into a cloud of smoke.

The very next day, you were feeling uneasy. Maybe it was because of the events that took place but also because of that cough that almost gave you away. So you decide to have some tea with Zhongli, to ask him some questions and to chat of course!

Heading over to Liyue Habor to meet with him, you couldn't help but notice the lack of flowers around the area. Although Liyue had beautiful mountains and incredible sunset views, there wasnt a lot of flowers around. A few in the habor but none except for the sweet flowers you saw. Maybe you should talk about it to Xiao or Zhongli.

Finally you arrived and quickly saw the ex-archon with the funeral director Hu Tao.

Ah y/n, what a pleasure, Zhongli spoke, what brings you here?

Oh is this a friend of yours Mr. Zhongli? Hu tao teased, I guess I'll see you later then! She waved goodbye, leaving you and Zhongli both alone

Shall we go for tea? You asked the calm man

As you two made it to a table, you set out the tea and poured some of the rich tea into the porcelain cups.

For you and Zhongli, it was easy for you two to start a conversation. After all you had been with him very early on since he started his archon days. Even being with him when he took Xiao in as his own. However, your peaceful conversation suddenly took a turn as you started to cough hard once again like last night. But this time blood and...flowers dropped out of your mouth.

Y/n! Zhongli shouted, Someone send a doctor! As you closed eyes from the unbearable pain.

You woke up in a bed as you started wrinkle the sheet and proped yourself up with your elbows. What happened? Huh? A sheet of paper writtern, hanahaki disease. As soon as you read that, a doctor entered the room along with Zhongli. The doctor then slowly told you of your disease. A disease where a person who feels unrequited love, will cough up flowers. The only two end results of this disease would either be that the other person returns the feeling or......death. One other possible cure was a surgical removal but the victim will forget the feelings held for their beloved.

Forget their feelings? So you would forget about Xiao. All of the years spent with him, the memories, and all of the small moments when he let his wall down. Would be gone at the expense of you living. Should you get the surgery to forget your feelings about him? Or love him till the day you die?