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azrielsiphons · 7 years ago

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Prequel: Azriel-Centric Stories Set Before ACOTAR (ch. 4.5)

This is a collection of interconnected short stories about Azriel’s life before any of the events of ACOTAR through ACOWAR.

CHAPTER 4.5: LENA (6.5k words)

Make sure to read Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10

Read the follow up fic, Shadows and Darkness: One and the Same

Time Frame: Immediately after the events of Chapter 4; 2 years before Rhys is made High Lord

Summary: With emotions running high and tense between Azriel and Lena after their mission together, Lena’s father allows her to come with him to the Summer Court for an event as a birthday present. Azriel is asked to accompany her.

(NOTE: DEFINITELY read Chapter 4 before reading this one... the other chapters can be read as standalones, but not this one. Enjoy!)

Azriel slept - hard. His heart weighed heavier than it had in a long time, the skin where she had laid her hand over his chest burning even hours later.

I’m sorry.

That’s what he had said to her. To her unspoken request as her lips hovered over his, to the way she looked at him as if he were the only thing that mattered in the world when that was far from the truth.

I’m sorry.

She would never understand how sorry he was. Sorry for being a bastard when she was a queen. Sorry for tainting her skin every time he touched her, held her. Sorry for letting it get so far - for not stopping it before now.

Sorry for loving her.

No, you’re not sorry for that, the shadows whispered.

Azriel groaned, pushing the shadows away with a thought and squinting his eyes against the bright light pouring in through his window. The sheets pooled around his waist as he stretched, his body aching for a million different reasons. The fights with the creature and with Rhys the day before being the primary.

The fights that Lena had saved his ass in.

Always fighting for you, the shadows pestered. And you so rarely for her. An uneven pair you two make.

Rolling his aching shoulders, Azriel combed his fingers through his messy hair. He dressed quickly, doubting he would get a decent day of rest despite getting back from the day’s previous mission so quickly. Lena and Rhys’s father would be back today and already have something in mind for him.

Realization clanged through him in a split second, his heart stuttering in his chest. The following day was Lena’s birthday - her twentieth. He had wanted to spend time with her, Rhys, Cassian, and Wren. He had already gotten her gift months ago - a custom made bracelet with the Illyrian symbols for strength and loyalty created out of the silver metal.

And now things were… he didn’t know what they were. But they weren’t in a position where that would be appropriate.

Azriel cringed, buckling the last of his leathers. He never thought the day would come that things with he and Lena would be this… strange. Tense.

And yet here they were. Both in a place where —

The sudden knock on the door had Azriel thinking for the briefest of moments that she had come to him. Had somehow felt what he was feeling.

“It’s an hour past sunrise, you prick,” Cassian’s voice rang out. Azriel heard Rhys chuckle as well. “We have things to do, get your lazy ass up.”

Azriel sighed, opening the door to see his brothers standing there dressed similarly. Cassian was smirking, and Rhys looked tense, to say the least.

“Well you look like shit,” Cassian said bluntly. “I expected your nose to be broken.”

“It was.”

“Lena fixed it?”

Azriel cringed. “No, I took care of it myself.” He looked over to Rhys. “No punches this morning, brother?”

“Well it’s not even noon.” The slightest of smiles graced Rhys’s features - so similar to Lena’s - before he looked down at his feet. “I’m not sorry, so don’t expect an apology.”

“I wasn’t.”

“But I admit that I could have gone about my anger… a bit differently.”

“Left hook instead of a right?”

“Azriel he’s trying to be serious,” Cassian cut in. “It’s very difficult for him, let him have his moment.”

“Fuck off,” Rhys snapped. Cassian only laughed, leaning back against the wall and crossing his ankles.

“It’s fine,” Azriel said quickly, silencing whatever Rhys had been about to say next. “I deserved it.”

Rhys’s eyes widened, but he cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes, you did. And I deserved the throttling I got from Lena, too.”

“And Wren?”

Rhys sighed, lifting his eyes to the ceiling. “Don’t worry, my mother was far worse than Lena. And they were both right… I tend to want to see her safe more than I want to see her do… anything else.”

“Just like your father.”

The air seemed to leave the room instantaneously as Cassian and Rhys whipped their heads up to stare at Azriel.

“Easy,” Cassian said calmly, holding his hands out between the two. Darkness rippled off of Rhys’s shoulders.

“Watch it, Az,” Rhys said lowly. “I admitted that Lena was right, that I need to do better—”

“Really? I didn’t catch that last part.”

“Well I do,” Rhys growled. He loosed a deep breath, rolling his shoulders. “I know I’m unfair, and I know I need to trust her more. Believe in her more, and tell her as much. It’s just… she’s so…”

“I know,” Azriel said softly. Rhys’s eyes met his with sympathy and… something else. “I want to keep her safe just as much as you do, Rhys. We both do.” He gestured to Cassian. “But she’s teaching me that… safe isn’t always best. And she’s capable. More than I thought.”

Rhys’s eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean?”

“Well she saved my ass yesterday.”

“Oh please, I punched you once—”

“No, before that. On the mission.”

Cassian barked a laugh. “Come again?” He asked.

So Azriel told them. About the mission — the bartender she charmed into revealing information, the magic she displayed fighting the creature, the tree that she misted to save the children. While he was speaking they walked to the training room, Rhys and Cassian offering questions at various parts.

“Well damn,” Cassian whispered as the story was finished and they approached the training room. “I certainly feel like an ass now. Sounds like she would make a hell of a spy.”

“Gave me a run for my money,” Azriel muttered, though a smile graced his lips.

Rhys was silent, his eyes churning in tune with his thoughts.

Cassian continued to ask questions about the creature until the trio heard someone in the training room.

“Well she’s up early,” Cassian remarked, glancing over to Azriel who had gone pale. “You alright?”

“Of course.”

He was lying.

They stepped in, Lena’s frustrated grunts louder as she came into view. Azriel felt his mind go blank for a split second as he took her in: in leathers and a bind across her breasts, her dark hair in a braid cascading down her back. Stray hairs stuck to her face as sweat poured down her body. She was sword training, the sleek Illyrian blade cutting through the air as if an extension of her body. Her toned abdominals and arms clenched with every movement.

She was a vision.

With a whoosh of breath she spun and lunged, thrusting the sword forward and expertly cutting through the air. Cassian whistled lowly and Azriel tensed.

“Watch your back foot, you’ll get off balance,” Rhys called out.

Lena’s eyes rolled so hard Azriel wondered if it hurt. She stood to her full height, spinning the sword deftly at her side as she turned to face them. Her eyes went straight to her brother, not stopping on Azriel for even a second.

She gave Rhys a mocking smirk that would have sent any other males running.

“How’s your side doing, brother dearest? I hope it healed alright.”

Cassian coughed as Rhys narrowed his eyes. Lena only widened her grin as they all thought back to the previous night when she had had a knife at Rhys’s side and an arm at his throat.

“Just be glad I only felt like coming after Azriel last night,” Rhys hissed, but the words didn’t carry any real weight.

Lena scoffed, walking over to the wall and hanging the sword up on the wall. Azriel forced himself not to watch the sway of her hips.

“You’re an idiot,” Lena muttered, whirling on them once again and crossing her arms, pushing up her bound breasts. “You should have punched me, not him. And you—” Azriel started as she turned and looked at him finally, pointing. “Should have punched him back.”

“Well you went after him before I had the chance.”

“As if you would have,” Lena muttered without any bite. Azriel couldn’t help but smile softly, and Lena’s eyes brightened, her eyes following the motion of his lips. “Regardless, are you over your childish fit now?” She directed her attention back to Rhys.

“It is not childish to be concerned for your safety.”

“It’s childish to doubt me, you ass.”

Rhys closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. “Lena, I’m sorry for doubting you. You are strong and capable and I thank you for being there and saving Azriel’s ass.”

Lena whipped her head to face Azriel, her eyes wide. “You didn’t have to tell them that,” she said softly.

“I know.”

Hazel eyes met violet ones, the air crackling between them. With a sharp inhale she turned back to Rhys.

“You’re right, and you’re welcome,” she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I accept your apology. Now are you going to trust me to take care of myself from now on?”

“Are you going to trust me enough to let me know when you run off with Azriel in the middle of the night?”

A knowing smirk crossed her features and Azriel groaned as Cassian shook with barely restrained laughter beside him.

“Well Rhys,” Lena drawled, “If I let you know every time Azriel and I ran off in the middle of the night you’d never get any sleep now would you?”

“Lena,” Azriel groaned, pinching his nose with his index finger and thumb.

“I mean honestly Rhys, if I have to let you know about every single nighttime rendezvous Az and I have, we’ll need to set up some sort of daily calling card, or a calendar system, or—”

“Okay, okay,” Rhys interrupted, holding his hands out to cut her off. Cassian was choking trying to hold back his laughter and Azriel couldn’t have looked her in the eye if he tried. “I don’t mind what your night life is like in… that way, but please don’t talk about it, I’d rather not have that mental image.”

Lena and Cassian lost it while Rhys only walked over to grab a sword of his own, cursing under his breath about how the thought of his little sister having sex was too scarring and he hated all of them. Azriel followed promptly, not daring to look Rhys in the eye in case he believed Lena. If Rhys actually thought that the two of them were together… he didn’t want to think about the repercussions of that. For either of them.

It was when Cassian made a comment about how Lena should try some nighttime activities while flying that Rhys finally snapped, turning around and telling them both to be quiet. More bickering ensued and even though Azriel would rather the bickering not center around Lena’s sex life, it was… nice. Routine for them. The four of them fought often, but never like they had the night before.

“Cassian if you mention my sister’s breasts one more time, I’m not going to go easy on you,” Rhys snapped suddenly. Cassian bowed up, grinning madly.

“Is that a promise?” Cassian shot back, cracking his neck as he squared up against Rhys.

A heartbeat later they were grappling, swords tossed aside. Azriel chuckled as Cassian cursed, Rhys flipping him on his back. Lena’s eyes snapped over to his at the sound of his laughter.

Their eyes met, a moment passing between them full of questions. But the one that Lena asked was —

“Swords or sticks?”

Azriel blinked. “Sticks,” he said finally, his voice hoarse.

Lena only nodded, walking over to the wall with the weapons on it, giving Rhys and Cassian a wide birth. She grabbed two of the training sticks, tossing one deftly over to Azriel. He caught it easily, his eyes never leaving Lena’s form.

Lena led the way out of the room and onto the attached balcony, Rhys and Cassian’s grunts fading as they walked. Lena sighed, looking up at the sky and smiling as they stepped into the sunlight.

Azriel was watching her so intently he almost missed her whirling around and swinging the training stick right at his head. He blocked in time, but not well, stumbling to the side a step.

He cocked his head to the side at her and she grinned.

“Not fair,” he mumbled, knowing good and well that she knew he would be watching her instead of her movements.

“Don’t be so easily distracted.”

“Don’t be so distracting.”

“If I can’t use my beauty to unnerve you ridiculous males, what’s the point?”

Azriel pushed her stick away from his face, pacing around her. His eyes never left hers as they circled. He waited on her to strike - she always struck first.

She went for his legs, lunging deftly. Azriel parried easily. With a spin she was back on her feet and grinning wildly.

“Are we okay?” She asked. As Azriel took a breath, preparing an answer, she swung once again. He blocked. “After last night I mean.” Another swing, another block. She was playing with him. “Because we need to be okay.”

Azriel paused, taking in her sharp features. She was masking whatever she was really feeling, but it was clear she was worried.

“We’re okay,” Azriel said softly, worrying that his brothers would be eavesdropping like the busybodies they were. “I’m s—”

Lena swung — hard. Azriel leapt back as the stick flew at his chest, narrowly avoiding it. He brought his stick up just in time to block her overhead swing aimed right at his head. He glared in question.

“Don’t apologize to me,” Lena said lowly, her eyes darkening. She pressed down against his block, their bodies separated only by a few inches of space. “Not about that.”

With her this close to him, Azriel finally noticed the bags beneath her eyes — far worse than usual.

“Did you sleep last night?”

Lena huffed, shoving off of him. The heat from her body was missed the moment it was gone.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Lena continued, pointedly ignoring his question. “Not for taking me on the mission, not for Rhys, and certainly not for what happened on the balcony.”

Azriel loosed a breath, Lena’s stare touching something deep down in his soul. Pulling on something within him that he was afraid to feel. Just as he opened his mouth to speak though, Lena’s father stepped in the room.

Lena visibly paled, stepping around Azriel quickly and walking ahead of him into the main training room. Rhys and Cassian had already scrambled to their feet as Aeron strode into the room, head high and intimidation tactics suffocating.

He surveyed the room with nothing more than a nod. Lena slyly stepped in front of Azriel, a towel now in her hand as she wiped her face and neck.

“Father,” she said simply, partially hiding Azriel from view. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

Azriel knew how much she hated her father. He knew it all too well — had even kept her from killing him years ago. But he couldn’t think about that now.

“Well when you weren’t in your room I knew you would be wherever these three were,” he muttered, reaching into a pocket realm and pulling out a gray tunic. He surveyed Lena’s upper half before tossing it to her.

Lena caught the shirt, her body tensing at the implication. There was a pregnant pause before she finally pulled it on over her head. Rhys’s glare was boring holes in his father’s back.

“I have a surprise for you,” Aeron said suddenly, his smile wide and only somewhat worrisome. “I know your birthday is tomorrow, but I have a gift for you today.”

Lena froze, clearly worried about this surprise. “What is it?” She asked, her voice trembling only slightly. Azriel doubted Aeron even noticed, but he and Rhys and Cassian certainly did.

“Well as you likely know, the Summer Court is having its annual Tides Festival today. High Lord Narayan is insistent that all Court leaders and their families are invited and your mother and I wish for you to attend with us.”

Lena froze. “You… what?”

Her voice was small, her mouth parted slightly in shock. She had never been allowed to leave the Night Court, and only allowed to leave Velaris a handful of times. She had been begging for years to visit the other Courts when her father went on diplomatic missions.

“You’re coming with us to the festival,” Aeron said with a wide grin. “You’re going to be twenty and I’ll admit that I… I’ve kept you here for too long. Your mother is helping me realize that.”

Lena’s hands shook as she smiled, looking over at Rhys in disbelief. He looked just as stunned as she did. Looking back to her father she opened her mouth to say something, only to be at a complete loss for words.

Aeron grinned, clearly proud of himself. “You’re welcome,” he said arrogantly. Surveying Rhys and Cassian once more, he nodded and turned on his heel to leave. “Oh and you,” he spun back around quickly, pointing at Azriel behind Lena. Lena tensed. “You’ll be joining us as well. Be ready by noon.”

Azriel gave a respectful nod. With one last look around at the room, Aeron left.

The four of them stayed silent until they all knew Aeron was well out of hearing range.

“What just… happened?” Lena asked, looking over her shoulder at Azriel with wide, somewhat fearful eyes. The vulnerability on her face was enough to knock the breath from his chest. “He’s never let me leave the Court before.”

“Mother has to be the one talking him into this,” Rhys said quickly. “Don’t question it Lena, this is a good thing.”

“Don’t question it?” Lena snapped, whipping her head around to face him. “Rhys do you honestly think he doesn’t have some sort of secret motive? He’s probably planning to marry me off to one of the Summer Court Princes or—”

“We won’t let that happen,” Cassian snarled. With her back to Azriel, Lena couldn’t see the expression of pure rage on his shadowed face. “You’ll be fine, it’s just a festival. Your mother probably talked him into it.”

After talking for a few more minutes, Rhys was finally the one to convince Lena to take the offer while she had the chance. Azriel said nothing as she looked back at him once with an unreadable expression before leaving to go get ready. He watched her all the way out of the room, his heart lurching in his chest as she stepped out of sight.

Rhys sighed, running a hand through his hair before muttering something about going to talk with his mother before leaving as well. When both of the siblings were well gone, Cassian turned to a still frozen Azriel.

“What?” Azriel snapped. Cassian only chuckled.

“Still haven’t admitted it to yourself, have you?” He asked. Azriel said nothing. “Just be careful. You hurt her, I have to kill you. She hurts you, I have to kill her. I’m in a tough position, brother.”

With a clap on Azriel’s shoulder, Cassian gave him a sympathetic smile before striding for the door. Just as he reached it though, he froze as Azriel said softly,

“I admitted it to myself a long time ago.”

~~~~~

“Go change.”

“Father—”

“This is not a negotiation Lena, now go change into the dress you were given.”

“This is ridiculous, I’m being respectful.”

“Respectful? You should be showing respect to our Court, not theirs.”

Lena was fuming as she stared her father down, refusing to cower or give in. Azriel stood behind her while Wren stood behind her mate, watching the argument go down and wondering which of them would blow up first.

While Azriel, Wren, and Aeron were all wearing blacks and silvers in their dress, Lena was wearing a light blue dress that hugged the curves of her torso before billowing out in a silky skirt at her waist. Her golden brown shoulders were bare and Azriel’s eyes kept flitting to the soft skin.

“This is your first visit to another court,” Aeron said roughly. “I suggest you listen to me not only as your father and High Lord, but also because I have quite a bit more experience at intercourt relations than you. You are the Daughter of the Night Court, not the Summer Court. You will wear our colors.”

“I am no less your heir if I wear black or blue or green,” Lena seethed. “And perhaps my lack of experience is a good thing. There has always been underlying division between all of the courts because of this exact kind of isolationist attitude. Why don’t we try to embrace the Summer Court’s culture rather than overlooking it?”

“You are being prideful and—”

“Pride is the exact opposite of what I am being!” Lena shouted. Azriel tensed, his shadows hovering over his blades. No one interrupted Aeron and certainly no one spoke to him that way. Lena was playing with fire. “Pride is what divides these Courts, Father.” Her voice dropped to an almost whisper. “There will come a day when another war is fought and if we don’t start playing nice with the other Courts now in preparation for that day, we might not win next time. I will sacrifice my Night Court pride for the sake of Prythian because that is the greater good. Honestly, Father. It’s just a dress, but… it could be much more.”

Aeron was silent, but Wren was beaming with pride over his shoulder. Azriel’s shadows swirled around his knife as Aeron’s glare hardened impossibly further, but then—

“Fine,” Aeron muttered. He turned and offered Wren his hand for them to winnow, and the second he wasn’t looking Lena looked over her shoulder and grinned widely at Azriel, winking at him before turning back. “We’ll winnow just outside the city where one of Adriata’s princes will greet us. You,” he looked at Azriel, “Don’t leave her side.”

He took Wren’s hand and then Lena’s, huffing as she smiled up at Azriel before lacing her fingers through his own. He cringed at the sight of her skin against his, but then they were being flung through darkness, air whipping all around them as they Aeron winnowed them to the Summer Court.

They landed on soft grass, the sunlight almost blinding. Azriel blinked, moving to release Lena’s hand but she only gripped tighter. He looked down at her only to be struck stupid.

Her mouth was parted in awe, her eyes shining. Her hair blew back, the skirts of her dress billowing around her as the wind from the ocean kissed her skin. Azriel knew she was looking out at the ocean and the city, but he couldn’t be bothered to look away from her for even a second.

He wanted to see her with that expression every day of his life.

“It’s… beautiful,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“Why thank you,” an unfamiliar male voice called out. Lena whipped her head around, still clutching Azriel’s hand tightly in her own. Her mother and father had already greeted the male. “Welcome to Adriata,” he said kindly, his dark skin and bright smile glowing in the sunlight. “I am Solomon, Prince of Adriata. And you must be Lena, Daughter of the Night Court.”

Lena blushed visibly, squeezing Azriel’s hand once more before releasing it and stepping up to Solomon, letting him take her hand and raise it to his lips. Azriel tensed.

“Please, just call me Lena,” she said politely. “I’m not one for titles.”

“Ah, an informal diplomat, finally,” Solomon said exasperatedly. “I’ve been waiting all my life for someone like you.”

Lena laughed lightly, a smile that reached her eyes taking over her face. Azriel could only watch where he stood.

“My daughter is here as a visitor for the festival,” Aeron cut in haughtily. “Not a diplomat.”

Lena shrunk, the smile on her face disappearing as if she had been struck.

“Not yet at least.”

Azriel didn’t realize he had spoken the words aloud until Lena whipped her head around to face him, eyes wide. He could feel Aeron’s glare on him, but he only had eyes for her.

“Well when the day comes that you are here in your full capacity, I greatly look forward to it,” Solomon said quickly, breaking the tension between them all. “Come. Let me show you my city.”

Solomon offered his arm to Lena which she took with a smile, letting him lead the group into Adriata. As Azriel took a step though, Aeron was in front of him with a hand on his chest and death in his eyes.

“Remember who you are, boy,” he said lowly.

“Aeron,” Wren snapped, putting her hand on her mate’s arm and pulling him none too gently. He let go quickly, spinning on his heel and stalking after Solomon and Lena.

Wren looked over at Azriel with a heartbreaking expression. He knew how much it hurt her to be in the position she was in; to have a mate who didn’t respect their children or Cassian or himself, who she counted as her own children. She deserved better.

He offered her his arm with a small smile. She took it gratefully, patting his hand as they strode after the rest of the family that would never quite be his.

~~~~~

After a courteous introduction to High Lord Narayan, an intense yet exuberant male, Aeron gave Lena permission to peruse the festival. He tried to insist that she go with Solomon and not Azriel, but a few minutes of her exceptional charm on Narayan had him telling Aeron that the festival was to be experienced, not toured. Aeron caved with a grimace and a glare at Azriel.

Lena was a bundle of energy. The moment they stepped out of the Prince’s palace and onto the street, she was everywhere. Azriel trailed behind, always keeping an eye on her but letting her flit about and try every bit of food she came across, buy at least three pieces of jewelry from various vendors, and dodge little children running about.

Her smile never left her face. Azriel didn’t think he had ever seen her this happy.

“Hey!” He looked up at the sound of her voice to see her standing in front of another vendor of some sort, gesturing wildly for him to join her. He smiled softly, striding to her side. “Pick one,” she said bluntly, gesturing to three different rings of flowers. He raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Just pick one,” she repeated, giving him a look that said he better do it. With a sigh, he pointed to the ring of white flowers. She grinned wildly, handing the vendor three coins with a smile. She picked up the crown and plopped it on top of Azriel’s head, maneuvering it through his hair. When she pulled back she couldn’t help but laugh at his annoyed expression.

“I thought I was picking for you,” he deadpanned. Lena only laughed harder and he groaned. “Lena I have a reputation.”

With a roll of her eyes and a fond smile, she reached up and grabbed the flower crown out of his hair, placing it on her own head.

“Such a spoil sport,” she murmured, smiling up at him from beneath her long lashes. “Imagine if Cassian and Rhys had seen you. You would make all the Illyrians jealous.”

Azriel chuckled, hands folded behind his back as he walked alongside her.

“The only thing the other Illyrians have to be jealous of me for is that I get to spend so much time with you.”

Lena froze, looking up at Azriel with a much more serious expression. He looked down at her, already regretting the words.

“Why did you say that before?” She asked softly, the sounds of the festival fading away. “About me being a diplomat one day. My father looked like he wanted to kill you.”

Azriel searched for the right words. “I just… said it. I shouldn’t have, I’m sorry. Even though I did mean it.”

Lena smiled softly, the ocean breeze blowing at her back. Without thinking, Azriel reached forward and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She grabbed his hand in her own before he could pull away.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her gaze piercing.

Before Azriel could think of what to say or do next, a female burst out of the tent they were standing by. Instinctively, he pulled Lena behind him by the very hand she had been holding. His other hand hovered over his knife.

“You,” the female said gravely, pointing at Lena over Azriel’s shoulder. She was fae, dark blue swirls covering her skin. Wiry hair spilled over her shoulders and hid part of her face. “I felt you…” she whispered. “Come. Come, come.”

Without another word, the female rushed back inside her tent. Azriel looked over his shoulder at Lena, her free hand clutching his shoulder.

“She’s harmless,” a vendor called out from the other side of the tent.

“Who is she?” Azriel asked gruffly, all business.

“A seer. She can tell you your future. If you can decipher through the madness, that is.” The vendor looked at Lena. “It seems like she saw yours. I promise she won’t hurt you. She’s just a bit intense.”

“Thank you,” Lena said kindly. She nudged Azriel’s back. “Come on, let’s go in.”

“Really?” Azriel asked, every instinct within him telling him that he didn’t want to hear what that seer said. But there was no way in hell he was letting Lena go in there alone when the female had been that intense.

“Yes, come on!” She said excitedly, grabbing at his hand and pulling him towards the tent. He sighed, but let her lead him.

Like you always do, the shadows whispered.

They stepped into the tent slowly, the only light coming from the few holes pierced into the top of the tent. There was a round table set in the center, the blue-haired female sitting down expectantly.

“Sit, sit,” she said quickly, gesturing to the table. “Shadows and darkness, one and the same,” she murmured as the pair sat down slowly. Lena looked over at Azriel quickly before looking away. “Only one can survive without the other…”

The female trailed off, staring at Lena intensely. Azriel stiffened.

“So,” Lena said, smiling kindly. “You said that you… felt me? What did you mean?”

The seer grinned widely. “I felt you the moment you arrived. Darkness is heavy.”

Lena’s smiled dropped instantly.

“It’s so heavy,” the woman murmured. “Glittered hands press against the light only to burn with darkness. Stars fall, crash to the ground in a raging fire.”

The seer turned to Azriel and he almost growled. She only smiled.

“Scarred hands, forever afraid of that which can burn… Too afraid to catch the star as it streaks across the night sky…”

“Okay that’s enough,” Lena said abruptly, her kindness gone. She stood up only for the seer to reach out and grab her hand so quickly even Azriel didn’t catch it until it was happening.

Lena gasped, but as Azriel lunged to rip the woman off of her, he was met with Lena’s outstretched palm. He stopped immediately, but held his knife at the ready.

“The fight will never be fair,” the seer said darkly, staring into Lena’s eyes. “When red stains white you must stand in the black of the night. Chains of despair a monster will make… But while you remain in the shadows, there is a tomorrow to be won.” She leaned in closer, her face inches from Lena’s. “Wings of night so easily torn… kiss the sky while you can, my dear.”

Azriel’s hand clenched his blade as the seer leaned in and kissed Lena on the cheek, who was trembling profusely.

Without a word, Lena ripped herself away from the seer and stumbled out of the tent. Azriel was up and beside her in a heartbeat, an arm around her trembling waist as he led her quickly away from the vendors and towards the shore. She was breathing heavily as they finally got away from the sounds of the festival, but her power was beginning to flare and they were in a dangerous spot for that to be happening.

If Aeron or Narayan felt her power… he couldn’t quite think about that.

He was silent as he sat her down at the beach’s edge, tucking her hair behind her ear once more as he knelt before her.

“Lena,” he said softly as her power continued to pulse through her. It made his own siphons flare and only then did he realize that her dress matched the stones perfectly. “Lena, look at me.”

She did, but the panic still lingered. He put his palm on her cheek, leaning forward and pressing his forehead to hers. She shook her head, starting to say that she didn’t want to hurt him, but he only murmured, “I’m here.”

Lena’s breath caught in her throat for a split second before she released it slowly. The power that had been stretching out from her pulled back in. Her breathing slowed, matching Azriel’s deep, intentional breaths. The air between them mingled and her eyes fluttered shut.

“I’m here,” Azriel repeated, caressing her cheek with his thumb. She laid her own hand over top of his.

A few more seconds passed before Azriel finally pulled away, worried that festival goers might come wandering by. He sat next to Lena, their hips an inch apart as she stared out over the ocean.

“When she touched me,” she spoke a moment later, “I felt… cold. Like there was ice in my veins, but it was dark. Not my darkness. Different.”

“She’s a con,” Azriel muttered. “Says things just to make a coin—”

“No.” Lena shook her head. “I felt it.” She turned to meet his eyes. “Something’s going to happen, Az. I don’t know what or when, but… something bad.”

Azriel could only stare. Her normally bright eyes dimmed and he knew he would do anything in the world in that moment to make sure she never looked like that again.

Pushing away his shame and guilt and fear and shadows, Azriel reached out and took Lena’s hand in his own. She started, looking down at their interlaced fingers — a connection he never initiated.

“When it comes,” he said softly, “I will still be here. I will always be here.”

Lena could only inhale shakily as she scooted closer and rested her head against his shoulder. They stared out at the ocean and both hoped and prayed that his words were true.

~~~~~

Upon returning to the Night Court and giving the briefest of overviews of the trip to Rhys and Cassian — minus the visit to the seer — Azriel whispered in Lena’s ear to meet him on the roof of the House of Wind in an hour. She gave him a curious look, but nodded all the same.

An hour passed and Azriel was already waiting as she appeared, the night sky a stunning backdrop to the sight of her wings outstretched as she flew to meet him. She landed gracefully, a smile on her tired face as she looked up at him.

“Well? What are we doing up here?”

Azriel only grinned, surprising even himself. But that seer had spooked him too — more than she knew. And if he had been that disturbed, he knew she was more so. And he would be damned if he let her birthday be ruined.

“Well it is officially,” he paused, looking up at the moon’s place in the sky. A few seconds passed and Lena giggled at his raised finger, indicating her to wait. “Officially your birthday,” he finally said, looking back down at her. She was staring at him with something he didn’t want to name. “And I have a gift for you.”

“Oh do you?” Lena asked playfully. “And what might that be?”

Azriel inhaled deeply, pulling out what he had been hiding behind his back.

Lena laughed, covering her mouth with her hand as he produced two of the flower crowns from the festival.

“You got me two?” She asked excitedly, reaching for them. “Az, you didn’t have to—”

“Not so fast,” he said pulling them out of her reach. “Pick one.”

“What?”

“Come on, pick one.” He held them out, one purple and one white. Lena huffed, rolling her eyes good-naturedly as she pointed at the white one. Azriel grinned, leaning forward and placing the crown gently on her head. “Perfect,” he said softly.

“And the other one?”

“Well this one,” he said, rolling his shoulders and swallowing his pride, “Is for me.”

Lena barked a laugh, throwing her head back as Azriel coolly placed the crown atop his head. He couldn’t help but smile widely at the sound of her laugh, the sound that haunted his best dreams.

“I thought you had a reputation,” Lena said through her laughter.

“Yeah well,” Azriel shrugged. “You’ve always seen past it anyways.”

Lena smiled, shaking her head as though she wasn’t sure any of this was real. He felt the same. With another chuckle, she looked up at his crown with a huff.

“It’s crooked,” she murmured, reaching up to adjust it. Azriel leaned down as she fixed it, his eyes trained on the curve of her mouth and the dimple in her cheek from where she was still smiling.

Because of him. How could the Cauldron have damned him and blessed him so perfectly?

“There you go,” she said softly, settling back down from where she had been standing on her tiptoes. “So… what now?”

“Now,” Azriel said with a soft smile and wild shadows. “Now we’re going to fly.”

“Fly?” Lena asked, her brows drawn together.

“Fly,” Azriel repeated. “That seer gave you a bunch of bullshit, but she was right about one thing. We should kiss the sky while we can.”

With that, Azriel leaned forward and pressed his lips to her cheek chastely, throwing caution to the wind for this one night even though he knew he would regret it all in the morning. When he pulled back, Lena was staring at him like she had never seen him before, and he wasn’t sure if she was breathing.

Afraid he himself would chicken out if he asked what was wrong, Azriel extended his wings and shot up into the sky.

“Are you coming?” He called down.

It took Lena a moment to shake out of whatever stupor she was in, but seconds later she had extended her own wings and was chasing him into the night.

They flew until the moon fell and the sun rose. Shadows and darkness, one and the same.

#acowar #acowar fanfiction #azriel #azriel fanfiction #acomaf fanfiction #my writing #prequel project by moe #i love lena so much #i cry #if yall knew the plans i had you might cry too #PLEAAAAASE REBLOG AND SHARE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK #I literally read every comment and reply and all the tags when people reblog okay and they all make me emotional #have a great day and enjoy friends

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blueshipstealstars · 7 years ago

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wake up kisses pressed gently to the column of A’s neck or the underside of B’s jaw morning kisses; gentle and lazy, humming in contentment, limbs still tangled together, hands wandering over soft exposed skin, stay in bed kisses, mischievous and deep, punctuating flirtatiously whispered bargaining wordscome back to bed kisses left on A’s neck and shoulder unhurried and tender, with arms wrapped around A’s waist heated kisses with gasps in btwn ^w/ an f/o of ur choosing?😗

Omg I was like WOW WHERE DID ALL THIS COME FROM until I scrolled back to remember those kiss asks I reblogged and OK LETS BREAK THIS DOWN SO I DONT MESS UP OR SOMETHING JKDSHJKDG

And all I can say is

What if I did VARIOUS FOs??? Is that legal??? Too late my blog my rules I guess-LET’S GO!

Also this post is fucking LONG I apologize like 20 times

Prompts:

wake up kisses pressed gently to the column of A’s neck or the underside of B’s jaw.

morning kisses; gentle and lazy, humming in contentment, limbs still tangled together, hands wandering over soft exposed skin.

Stirring under the safety net of warm blankets, she pushes her head out into the crisp air of the morning. Snaking a hand out over to the nightstand, she pulled her phone to her and let the charger pull off with a gentle clatter as it hit the floor. Pausing when the man beside her seemed to stir slightly at the sound.

After a momentary pause, she released the hold her teeth had on her lips during that brief pause. Breathing out her nose in a sigh of relief she unlocked her phone to squint at the bright screen while checking her messages.

Absorbed in the chain of emails, she didn’t register the movement next to her until the tickling of Klaus’s sideburns brushed against her cheek as he kissed blindly at her neck to say hello. Pulling the phone to her chest in reflex, Dakota muttered out a hello. Her tone slightly rough thanks to her throat just finally waking up alone with the sleepy redhead who was wrapping his arms across her waist.

“Did I wake you?” She asked stretching her arm to place the phone back onto the stand before twisting around in Klaus’s arms to face the drowsy man.

He shook his head silently before letting his hand slip under her shirt and run his fingers across the bareness of her back. “No…But I should get up soon…” He sighed out almost seeming a little disappointed that he would. Dakota took it more as a reluctance to leave the peace and warmth of their shared bed rather any actual dread for the day. Klaus was Klaus and he loved what he did for a living. Though, was a little unfortunate to him that it did mean he was going to have to give up these extra few minutes of gently running his fingertips over Dakota’s skin soon. Which was something he did disapprove of.

Dakota couldn’t help the gentle fraction of laughter that left her lips before tilting her head up to plant a small kiss onto Klaus’s face. The action getting the man to finally open up his sleepy viridescent eyes and stare down at her with content shining brightly in them. The expression on Dakota’s face could only be described as pure adoration as she quietly smiled while running her fingers over Klaus’s burning and fiery hair, straight down the rough trail of his bold sideburns. Shifting herself closer, she carefully pressed her lips against his, fingers slipping down into the crook of his neck. A low hum of approval rumbled from Klaus’s throat as he nudged his head forward into the kiss before breaking it gradually. He raised a hand to gingerly cup the side of Dakota’s face as he begun peppering her face with slow and tender kisses. Each one eliciting a small breath of laughter to bubble from Dakota’s throat.

“I can’t tell if you’re trying to wake me up or just prolong getting out of bed yourself, Klaus,” she teased faintly to earn an equally low chuckle from the affectionate man.

Feeding his broad leg through her own pair under the sheets, Klaus pulled Dakota close as he placed another kiss onto the top of her blonde head. “Perhaps it’s a little of both…”

Prompt:

stay in bed kisses, mischievous and deep, punctuating flirtatiously whispered bargaining words.

“Ashi, let go.”

“Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut you donnnnnnnnn’t havvvvvvveeeeeee toooooooo gooooo.”

“Hizashi.”

“PLEAAAAASE.”

Dakota looked down at the blond man wrapped around her waist line like some loud and whiny meat belt. She sighed as she glared across the room at nothing in particular while this noisy grown ass man drawled out in anguish at the thought of her leaving him alone in their bed.

“Weren’t the things that professional, adult, heroes made a fuss about was like-crime rate or how many cats are stuck in trees? Not their partner having to get ready for work.” She spat with practically no trace of venom behind her words as she turned herself slightly to glare down at this man child who was whimpering in the most obnoxious tone while he rubbed his cheek into the cloth of his own tee that covered more than just Dakota’s torso.

“But you told me you weren’t REALLY needed for that meeting! Come on, please stay home? It’s my day off and I wanted to spend it with my little sweet pea, baby girl, sunshine, PLLLLLLEEEAAAAASSSSSE, BAB-!!” The loud, ear ringing whines were cut off by a sly placement of a hand over Mic’s mouth.

Pulling the hand away and pulling herself free, Dakota quietly warned him with a dry, “Enough.” Resulting in a very pouty hero as he puppy dog eyed his girlfriend while she shifting through her drawers. The thick of silence hung between them while she tried to find a top worth wearing.

And Dakota was the one to break first as she glanced over her shoulder over at Yamada who was looking at her with an utterly heartbroken expression.

Damn him…

“Ashi, come on…stop giving me that look…” she sighed with clear regret as she walked back to him and their bed to run her hand through his golden locks in hopes to relieve some of that sorrowful expression across his face. Seeing as it did little to change things, she crotched down to the level of the bed to rest her cheek on the sheet so she could stare at her pouting boyfriend. “Sunshine, please don’t make me feel guilty for wanting to work.” She asked hoping he would acknowledge it was little unfair to make her feel guilty over not wanting to just skip out on tasks at work just to goof off. Even if it wasn’t something mandatory.

Warm air was pushed out of his nostrils as he nodded slightly in understanding as he proceeded to inch closer to place little kisses onto Dakota’s face. She let her face turn into the mattress further as she let out a trickle of laughter slip past her lips. Eyes crinkling shut as a wide smile grew on her face, “Hizashi…” she breathed out through giggles as he continued his peppery assault on her skin. To gain more leverage, he propped himself onto his elbows as his kisses grew more bold and begun to trail down the side of Dakota’s neck on a mission to sneak nip her exposed and warm flesh.

Pulling herself away from the bed and his devious little mouth, she shot a glare at him as she tried to surpass a lingering smile as she tried to scold him earnestly, “Don’t bite me, geez! Gonna make me regret feeling bad for yo-” Real deja vu struck her as he pulled the same move when she used her quirk on him but instead of using his hand he used his lips to silence her. Cheeky bastard probably knew the comparison was clear as he held the sides of her face to quickly deepen the kiss to his own liking.

Not there was exactly complaints on Dakota’s end, even after she pulled free of their lip locked embrace. Resting her forehead against his, she folded her arms over the top of the mattress to sigh in defeat. She really didn’t want to leave him for some mild mannered meeting…

Rubbing his face against the side of her cheek, Yamada hummed out softly as a clear warning that Dakota’s quirk has faded before he spoke into the crook of her neck, “Is that a sigh of defeat I hear~?” He teasing tone lanced with a hint of hopefulness. “Come on, babe, you know you just wanna crawl back into bed with me, please?” He jumped right back into insisting that his option was superior and really, she couldn’t argue with him honestly. But she didn’t want to flat out admit it even when she was pulling herself off the floor just so Yamada could snatch at her waist and pull her right back down into the bed with a loud combined “OOUFF!” She chuckled out a small sigh while she felt the man wrap his arms under and around her before littering her skin with more small pecks of affection.

“See, it’s just easier to give into what you really want to be doing~” Dakota scuffed at the underlying suggestion that was punctuated with a rather sultry look as he rested his ear against her chest.

“Geez….You’re so greedy, aren’t ya?” She remarked running her fingers through his golden locks as they draped over her shoulder before pulling him into another delightful kiss.

come back to bed kisses left on A’s neck and shoulder, unhurried and tender, with arms wrapped around A’s waist.

heated kisses with gasps in between, hands tugging at clothes and exploring skin, bodies pressed close. giving in.

It was rare for Grimmjow to wake up before her. It was EXTREMELY rare for the man to just get up without shaking her to wake as well. But there she was, lying in bed alone, the one side of the mattress still radiating with warmth of another. Flatting the folds of the sheet under her fingers she looked at the ceiling wondering where the temperamental man had wandered off to.

Sliding out of bed and pulling on a sweatshirt to cover up, River pattered her way slowly out of the bedroom. Roaming around a bit while rubbing a tired eye she overheard a familiar clinking in the kitchen and turned to glance into the space to spot Grimmjow knelt down in front of an open fridge with a usual scowl on his face.

His glare of concentration was interrupted but the sudden movement in his peripheral causing him too look away from the dim fridge lighting. A brow raising as he stared straight on at the pale legs before him. His eyes slowly trailing upwards without hesitation before frowning more when River promptly crotched down next to him with a disapproving but knowing look. “So what are you looking for?” She asked choosing to ignore his blatant attempt at getting a nice eagle view of what was concealed under that drab sweatshirt.

Looking back at the fridge almost pouting in annoyance he mumbled, “A drink.”

River gave an audible “Ah” before shuffling closer with a few little hops. “Yeah we might be out of what I think you are looking for. You wanted more of that root beer stuff, right?” She asked directly with an upward tilt of her head that caused her pinkish locks to sway a bit from their messy, bedhead formation.

She frowned at the click of his tongue as Grimmjow turned his head away from her and at the open door and its contents in annoyance. He was never one to like not getting what he wanted…But it seemed he wasn’t so worked up over it at least.

“Ya know, you CAN just go to the corner store to get more if you really want it now. It would just take a few minutes. And no I’m not getting it for you I hate the stuff.” She remarked coldly when the man looked back in her direction ready to propose she fetch it for him instead. River was not his errand girl and she was going to stomp that thought out before it even left his mouth.

“Nevermind…” He huffed out glancing back at the fridge eyeing the other options laid out before him as he shifted a bit to the feeling of River leaning against him. Quietly, she wrapped her arm around his bare waist, fingers brushing the hem of his hollow hole as she rested her cheek on his shoulder to idly glance at the contents as well. Turning her head to press a small kiss into his skin before mumbling, “How about you just come back to bed and we can sleep until I have to leave for work? I like the sound of that.” She sighed pleasantly at the thought of returning to the comfort of her own bed. Grimmjow joining her was an extra bonus she was completely in for adding on.

His sharp eyes looked the various objects in the fridge up and down while he weighed his options while his arm that was previously trapped between his side and her’s now snaked it’s way out between them and around River’s waist as well to mimic her own gesture. But it didn’t take much for his hand to shift down a bit to cop a feel for what was hidden under that baggy sweatshirt.

Grinning proudly at the small yelp that pierced the silence of the little kitchen he finally made up his mind and stood up, taking River with him. Arm still wrapped around her waist as he effortlessly lifted her to the point where her feet barely even grazed the cool tiles of the floor, he tugged her to have torso meet torso before wrapping his other arm around her and under her butt. “Why are you giving me that damn look? I’m doing what you wanted.” He huffed annoyed at the apparent frown across River’s face as he walked them both back towards the bedroom, her legs wrapped around his waist slightly.

“You and I both know you didn’t need to carry me back. I’m not a toy to just take where you please.” She scolded at his dominate behavior, which only got that vicious smile to broaden.

“That so?” He stopped just before they reached their destination as he gave her a curious but somehow still amused look. “Then tell me why you never seem to mind it when I carry you while we’re both busy yanking clothes off and practically eating each other’s faces off huh?”

There she went, face lighting up like a stop light as she stammered awkwardly while trying to retort back something mildly clever or rude in response to his blunt remark. “S-SHUT UP OK;; THAT’S…JUST…UGH;; P-PUT ME DOWN, ALRIGHT?” She scrambled while trying to push and pull her way out of his grasp with little success. Especially when he turned them both to press River’s back against the wall, effectively caging her in as Grimmjow leaned over her with a far too wide grin and spark in his eyes.

“I’m just stating fact. You can’t lie about shit like that and we both know it.” He teased again as he brushed his thumb over the skin of her exposed thigh before nudging his head against hers in a strangely affectionate manner. Especially when he was pulling hard core predator mode with that intense gaze of his…River sighed before she just leaned in and briefly kissed his lips before retreating to the safety of the wall behind her. “Don’t go lording stuff you’re just as into and enjoy over me. It’s annoying, Grimm.” She huffed with a slight frown under all that pinkish red that covered her face.

Needless to say her complaint wasn’t really considered as much as Grimmjow practically ignored it in favor of meeting her lips again, a hunger felt with each passing second as he practically started to try and devour her. Holding onto her legs, he pressed his body against hers to a point the wall whined at the weight being put on it. Fingers sliding up and under the frail line of panties hidden under the layer of sweatshirt as River tugged her face away from Grimmjow’s to suck in a breath full of air, the crisp intake causing a slight buzz as sharp teeth made a home against her neck. “Grimm…” River warned as her fingers itched to touch more of him while they traveled across the area of his sides and back.

Basking in the chip like sound that came from his partner, he sighed out against the reddening marks he already made on her. “Yeah, yeah.” He grumbled before hoisting her up more and taking them both into the bedroom next store. Not bothering to kick the door shut behind him before dropping them both onto the welcoming cushion of the bed to continue where they left off.

#Anonymous #answered asks #meme #ask meme #SLIGHTLY NSFW???#a little?#mostly for the last one???#idk #also this is rusty af like wow I have never wrote and shared this much???#ack #ship: liquidinstinct #ship: dapperstationary #ship: silentsound

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