#cecaelia x reader

[viciouslyyearning]

Fuck it big beefy cecaelia named Akos supremacy

I'm specifically having thoughts about little differences between him as a cecaelia (octopus merfolk, tentacles instead of a tail and in my thoughts literally 2x the size of regular merfolk) and his darling lil mate the very much handsome merfolk that is you! Flowey and shiny tail and half his size! There have to be things between species that he'd have difficulty with!

Like... Say for merfolk, intertwining tails between a mated couple. It's the biggest display of vulnerability and comfort and trust cause your inhibiting yourself from swimming if you gotta GTFO! And it's very close physically some close friends or family might wrap around towards the tail fin but there's still freedom to move if ya gotta but mated couples (romantic or platonic tbh) wrap their tails as much and as closely as they can.

Akos doesn't have a tail. You do.

He'll find you staring at his tentacles while you're lounging in his cavern, tail flicking lazily with this silly smile as you're -what he can assume- daydreaming about something.

It isn't until he reads more on merfolks courting habits specifically that he realizes why. And he's both a bit heartbroken that he can't do what your fellow merfolk can with you but also absolutely beaming with pride and just so much love that you might even be thinking about him in such context.

It isn't until you find the slate he had been reviewing the topic on that he finally confesses his thoughts. Once you realize he knows what it means, you easily reply that you've already figured out a solution.

When you hold your arms out to him and give the simplest demand of "Hold me." Happily, he wraps his arms around your upper body, the quickest of his inky black tentacles circling around your tail as they always do. It isn't until you laugh to yourself that he begins to question what you're thinking.

Once you point out how his tentacles wrap around your tail, all you have to do is easily swirl your tail in similar motion and you're effectively intertwined.

Akos stares at your tail curled around his tentacles for a few moments before letting out a Shakey breath.

At your sudden concern he just breathes in relief and tucks your form back into his. He worries so much that you might miss out on something you'd find in a relationship outside of him. It just scares him but he won't admit it.

I also like to imagine that cecaelia have certain habits of their own, such as longer resting periods and higher intake of food. A creature twice the size of his mate might not notice that whenever he prepares a meal he gives them a portion as big as they are, or that every time they sleep together, they'll settle down with him certainly but always have something to occupy their time as he holds them and falls asleep, and once he awakens again they're already awake and fiddling with something else.

Once Akos finally does notice he begins to ask if you're feeling well. In his eyes you hardly eating or sleeping and that's not good.

He almost ignores your desperate "I'm fine!" For a full day, instead doting over you as if you were sickly. Once you finally make him realize,

One: you can't eat everything he gives you because the portion is bigger than your tail most days and your stomach just isn't that big, neither is your second stomach.

Two: you require far less sleep than a far bigger predator, your light and quick and don't burn as much energy hunting or swimming as opposed to him, so you'll happily lay with him every time you both rest but you can't sleep as long, you'll just keep waking up

Then he finally listens and calms down, just differences in species figuring it out and making it work I live for this shit

[vunblr]

Tangled (#5)

Pairing: Cecaelia! Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Warnings: 18+ only. Slight Angst. Fluff. Slow Burn. Eventual teratophilia.

Summary: Between fear and fascination, a solitary creature struggles to protect his hidden world -and himself- after an unexpected encounter with a curious human woman makes him question everything he thought he knew about trust, danger, and boundaries.

Word Count: 7.k.

Previous Chapter

It hurt.

The bite throbbed deep in her arm as a dull ache radiated up to her shoulder, and she was so cold. Once she started shivering, her body didn’t stop. Her wet clothes clung to her skin, heavy and chilled, sapping the little warmth she had left.

“I need...” Her teeth chattered as she spoke, breath puffing in short bursts. “I need to dry myself and change, alright? If not, I’m going to get sick.”

She wasn’t sure if he would understand, or if his mind was still fogged with the taste of her blood, but after a long pause, he gave a slow, reluctant nod and uncurled his fingers from her arm.

“Good,” she whispered, as much to herself as to him, before she pushed herself up and stumbled a little. Her fingers fumbled at her soaked shirt, peeling it off her skin with effort, since the fabric suctioned to her body.

Once she got it off, she quickly wrapped the towel around herself, but the shivering still wouldn’t stop. Her bra was next, the damp fabric was icy against her chest as she struggled to undo it with trembling hands.

She was dimly aware of his gaze following her every move. He didn’t look away.

But right now, she didn’t care. She was too cold, too lightheaded to bother with modesty.

Besides, her mind reasoned through the fog, his kind probably didn’t think much about nudity. Surely used to it, like creatures in the wild, like sirens and mermaids always told in stories, glittering tails, and bare skin, some accessories perhaps.

She told herself that again as she let the fabric drop and quickly scrubbed her skin with the edge of the towel, trying to rub some warmth back into her body.

But he kept watching.

There was a flicker of something in the way his eyes tracked her movements, a slow, deliberate study. His head tilted slightly as if seeing something he didn’t quite understand.

Because he didn’t.

Nudity for his kind -as she had guessed-, wasn’t special. Wasn’t private. It was natural. But in her… she was always covered. Always wrapped in fabrics and strange layers, and her softness was hidden from view. Seeing her now, vulnerable, nipples pert with the cold and her skin marked with his bite, it was different.

He stared longer than he meant to, drinking the sight of her body as if it were something forbidden. Something meant only for his eyes, though he couldn’t name why that thought nested heavy and possessive in his chest.

His tentacles shifted slightly against the stone, a faint echo of his thoughts, but he kept them to himself, restrained. He could still smell her. Her blood, yes, but also her, the scent that had first drawn him close. Now mingled with salt, with the faintest trace of fear and the iron tang of what she had given him. It curled inside him, deep and primal, stirring something that had little to do with hunger and everything to do with something else entirely.

She took a shaky breath, glancing sideways at him.

“Are you... feeling better?” she asked softly, voice hoarse from cold and strain.

His eyes locked on hers for a long moment, and then, finally, he gave a slow nod. She exhaled shakily and turned her attention to the first aid kit, moving clumsily but determined. "Alright," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to him, "Let's fix this so I can dress and not drop dead of hypothermia." She grabbed the bottle of alcohol and, without giving herself time to think, poured it over the bite.

"Fuck!"

The sharp curse burst from her lips, echoing in the cave, and for a moment he startled, drawing his brows together in surprise. His head tilted slightly, watching her as she hissed between her teeth, muttering another string of crude words under her breath.

He hadn't expected such fire from her.

Still, he kept silent, observing as she wrapped the wound in gauze with trembling hands, muttering about how she "should’ve known better" and "what the hell was she thinking."

Once done, she finally slipped on a sweater, and her shivering eased just a little as the dry fabric clung to her chilled skin. "Alright," she breathed again. "A little better." But as she reached for her leggings, realizing they were plastered to her skin like a second, icy layer, she cursed again under her breath.

She tried to peel them off with some effort, pulling at the waistband and wriggling her hips to shimmy out of them, but they wouldn’t cooperate. The damp fabric clung stubbornly to her, twisting and resisting every tug.

And all the while, he kept watching.

His gaze had grown sharper, more focused. He was watching her legs with undeniable interest, tilting his head slightly as his eyes followed the movements. She noticed, of course. It was impossible not to, though she pretended to focus on the impossible task of freeing herself from the wet clothes. Still, her cheeks heated slightly.

He had seen legs before, of course. Summer was full of women running along the shore, with their bare limbs glinting under the sun. And when he shifted -when he took on the human shape he loathed- he had a pair of his own. But this was her.

And her legs...

They fascinated him. The smoothness of her skin, the way they parted as she moved. He shouldn’t stare. His kind didn’t stare. But he couldn’t quite stop himself.

By the time she managed to peel the leggings down to her knees and tug them off entirely, she was panting, sitting half-wrapped in the towel, glaring at the offending garment like it was to blame for all her troubles.

"Goddamn leggings," she muttered darkly, tossing them aside.

Only then, noticing the weight of his gaze, did she glance back at him.

“What?” she asked, more breathless than she meant to be.

He blinked, and his tentacles gave a faint shift, but he said nothing.

There was no need to.

The way he was watching her said plenty.

And despite everything -the blood loss, the cold- her heart gave a traitorous little flutter. "Well, for as much of a curious creature as you are," she said, exhaling sharply, "I have to change my underwear, so turn around."

His head tilted slightly, watching her with sharp eyes.

She sighed and gestured firmly at her soaked panties, sensing her cheeks going warm again. "I'm not taking these off in front of you."

That made something flicker in his gaze, a subtle shift of understanding. Of course, his kind had their own way of keeping things private -concealed, protected within their bodies- but for a heartbeat, maybe he had been curious if she would treat it as casually as she had her top.

Her brow furrowed, noticing that flicker. "Oh, come on, you know what I mean. You have the same idea of modesty, don’t tell me you don’t."

His lips pressed together in a thin line. A little twitch of a tentacle gave him away. He had been curious at first, but now he looked like a kid caught with his hand in the jar.

"For God’s sake," she muttered under her breath, rubbing her temple before fixing him with a sharp look. "You're not going to see my- that. So either turn around or close your eyes. I don’t care which. Just... respect, okay?"

He huffed through his nose, a sound that might have been a sigh. Then, rolling his eyes in a way that feigned complete nonchalance -though she wasn’t fooled for a second- he turned his back to her. His shoulders shifted with the effort, and his tentacles dragged slightly behind him in a slow, reluctant sweep.

"Yeah, thought so," she muttered to herself, a tiny smile pulling at the corner of her lips despite everything.

He was quiet, not peeking, though she noticed the way some of his limbs twitched, betraying that sharp attention he couldn’t quite suppress.

She worked quickly, fumbling with cold fingers to get her soaked underwear off and dry herself as best she could with what little she had left. The wetness was clinging to her skin, and she gritted her teeth as she pulled on something dry, shivering all the while.

Finally done, she hugged herself and sat down on the driest patch of rock she could find. "Alright," she called, her voice quieter, more tired. "You can turn around now."

He turned smoothly, fixing her with an expression that was just shy of smug, though she could see the glint of amusement in his eyes.

She looked properly at him, taking in the mess of torn flesh and deep purples that still marred his skin, but at least now he didn’t look dead. Not like before. His eyes followed her closely, sharp as ever despite the sluggish way his tentacles curled against the rock.

"I’m going home," she muttered, shivering as she hugged herself tighter. "I need... a hot shower and... and lie down."

He blinked at her, and the weight of her words sank in his brain as he noticed again how exhausted she looked, the way her lips trembled from cold. Right. Humans only threw themselves into the sea in summer, and even then, briefly. She was in no state to be standing, much less after what she gave him.

His gaze dropped to her arm, where his teeth had torn her skin, marking her. He swallowed hard, and the shame knotted heavy in his chest. Maybe he had taken more than he should, no, definitely more. His jaw clenched, and without a word, he reached out a hand toward her, palm up, curling slightly his fingers as if unsure if she’d accept the gesture.

"Thank you," he said, in a low and rough voice.

She looked at his hand for a moment, then reached out and took it, he noticed her grip weak, but warm despite the cold seeping into her bones. "I’m glad you’re fine," she murmured, and she meant it.

He gave a small nod, though something flickered in his eyes, something unreadable. He didn’t let go immediately, and his fingers stayed around hers as if trying to say something he couldn’t put into words.

She squeezed lightly before pulling back, swaying a little on her feet. A million questions were buzzing in her head -what had happened, who had hurt him, what kind of enemies could do that to something like him- but this wasn’t the time. She was half convinced she’d pass out right there if she pushed herself to stay longer.

He knew it too. Watching her stand there, weak and trembling, made something tighten painfully inside him. She had offered herself to him when his own kind had only wanted to see him dead. And now she could barely stand because of that. Because of him.

"I’ll be back," she said softly.

His eyes met hers, dark and deep. "Rest," he murmured, in a low rumble.

----

The first two days after she left him in that cave, Bucky barely stirred. He slept, as his body devoted all energy to repairing itself, mending his muscles, scarring the jagged wounds, and regrowing the piece of tentacle. The frozen fish she had brought wasn’t the same as the living, thrashing prey he normally hunted, but sustained him.

By the third day, he could move -slowly, carefully- and though his limbs ached, the worst of his condition was behind him. His skin had sealed itself shut, though angry scars marred now his sides and his arms. He traced them absently. He didn’t mind them. Scars spoke of survival. Of strength. A warning to anyone foolish enough to try again.

Still, she did not come.

Five sunrises and sunsets passed without a trace of her, neither at his cave nor her usual spot near the shore. His eyes scanned the waves every time he surfaced, but her figure never appeared.

The longer he waited, the more restless he became.

Was she angry? Had she regretted offering herself to heal him? Afraid of what she had done? -what he had done- Or worse, had he taken too much from her? And now…

The last thought pierced deep in his chest like a shard of ice. His claws dug into the stone as he remembered her weak, trembling form.

By the sixth day, the question haunted enough at him to make him decide. He had to see for himself. When the moon climbed high in the sky and bathed the waves in silver, he slid into the water and swam, silent and swift, cutting through the dark sea like a blade.

Reaching the cliffs where her lair stood far above, Bucky hesitated for a breath, then he braced himself.

His skin tingled first, like thousands of tiny needles pricking over every inch of his body. His spine arched in a weird angle as the transformation followed its course. He clenched his teeth, and a low snarl ripped out of his throat as his muscles pulled and twisted, and his bones reshaped and grew.

His lower half, powerful and fluid as the sea itself, writhed violently, tentacles snapping and curling in agony as they shrank, fused, and tore themselves into a new form. Flesh molded into legs, the sensation was like molten heat in his veins, like razors under his skin. His lungs strained as they adjusted, and a sharp burn flared in his chest.

By the time he stood in the shallow water near the rocks, the moonlight illuminated his pale, wet human form. His legs trembled under him, not used to hold his weight, and he cursed low under his breath, leaning against the cliff wall for support.

It had been too long since he walked on two feet. He hated it.

The jagged rocks bit into his bare soles as he stepped forward, slow and awkward, but he didn’t stop.

He took the narrow, winding road she always used, the one he had watched her walk countless times from the water, seeing her figure become small against the towering cliffs. Now, every step was a struggle. His legs, still weak and unsteady, burned as he forced himself up the steep path.

When he finally reached the top, his breath was ragged, and his chest heaved with the effort. Her den -house, he reminded himself- was farther inland than he had realized, nestled between wind-battered trees and rock.

His naked skin prickled under the cold night air, and for the first time in years, he truly felt what it was to be cold. The chill seeped into the bones of this fragile form and he cursed as he instinctively wrapped his arms around himself, tightening his jaw as he pushed forward.

When he finally stood before her door, he stared at it for a long moment, suddenly unsure. His hand, pale and scarred, reached for the handle,  but when he fumbled to turn it, it didn't give in. Locked.

He growled low with frustration. His fingers trembled slightly as he pulled and pushed at it again, as though it would suddenly yield to his desperation. But it didn’t. With a hissed curse, he stepped back and looked around, circling the building with a hunter’s eye. Every window was shut tight, covered with wood panels. No way in. No gaps.

The wind whipped around him, and his teeth clenched against the biting air as he made his way back to the door. He stood there, staring, then lifted his fist and banged against it. Once. Twice. Harder the third time.

Nothing.

His brow furrowed, and his heart pounded harder now, but not from the climb. He leaned in, pressing his palm flat against the wood, and then knocked again, slower. Please.

Still nothing.

“Hey,” he called out, voice rough and lower than he expected. He swallowed and tried again, stronger.

“Hey!”

Still no answer.

He hesitated, then called her name, soft at first, as if unsure it would be right to say it here. He knocked one more time, then leaned his forehead against the door, closing his eyes.

Maybe she was afraid. Of course she should be, he thought bitterly, as he leaned heavier against the door. Who in their right mind would open to a stranger pounding at their home in the dead of night? And yet, a part of him still hoped.

Then the faint shuffle of movement inside. His head jerked up. A sliver of light glowed under the door. Something stirred.

A sharp click of a lock being drawn back made his muscles tense, but he stayed rooted. The little spy door creaked open just enough for a pair of familiar eyes to peek out, wide and cautious.

They stared at each other. For a heartbeat, neither moved, only silence between them as if both were unsure this was even real.

She blinked fast, as if trying to clear her vision as if he might vanish if she looked too long. But he didn’t. He just stood there, pale and silent and very real.

With a rasp of metal, she unfastened the remaining locks and opened the door with a creak that seemed too loud in the quiet night.

Her nightgown hung loosely from her shoulders, soft and rumpled from sleep, socks drooping around her ankles in old slippers. Her hair was a mess, but her eyes, wide with surprise, roamed over him slowly, taking in every detail she could.

The salt clung to his skin, and streaks of sand still stuck to his legs, calves to thighs, like he had dragged himself straight from the shore without even bothering to shake it off. He looked like something that should be part of the sea but now stood shivering on her doorstep, with dark and tired eyes.

She didn’t even hesitate, just stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. "Come in," she said softly, like her throat was too sore to be louder.

He moved past her, and the warmth of the house wrapped around him. She quickly shut the door behind them, wincing as a cough broke from her chest, deep and rattling.

He turned immediately, so close now, like he couldn’t bear to put distance between them. His body, tall and broad even in its human shape, nearly caged her against the door as he stared down at her, searching her face.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, in a hoarse voice, forcing her gaze to stay on his face and not slide down to- well, other human attributes he clearly hadn’t thought to cover before coming.

"You didn’t come," he murmured, in a low tone, almost childlike in its simplicity. His eyes were heavy with something like worry, something that twisted in her chest. "Me- I thought I hurt you bad," he added, almost apologetic, as if unsure if the words were even right.

Oh.

Her heart ached, just a little. He had come all this way, dragging himself in a form that clearly still pained him,  because he thought he was the reason she was gone.

She coughed again, sharp and cutting, leaning back against the door to steady herself. "I'm just sick," she said, trying to make her voice sound stronger than it felt. "I have-" she hesitated, knowing asthma meant nothing to him. "My lungs aren’t in good shape. And that dive... it didn’t do me any favors."

His eyes stayed locked on her, wide, dark, and so worried. All that cold sharpness she was used to seeing in him, was gone. He looked... lost.

"Normal people would just get a cold," she mumbled, trying to lighten it, but she could see that wasn’t helping. "I just feel worse, but I’ll be fine." Something in him seemed to crumble a little at her words, and she felt bad for it. "Let me..." she rasped, pushing herself upright. "Let me get you a blanket, alright? You’re freezing."

He opened his mouth like he wanted to protest, to say no, to be proud or stubborn, but his body betrayed him with a violent shudder as if all his strength was finally giving out now that he was inside, now that he was with her. With a small exhale that sounded almost like surrender, he stepped aside, giving her space.

She shuffled carefully toward the couch, holding onto the backrest for support, and grabbed one of the afghans draped over it, thick, soft, and worn from use. With a tired gesture, she motioned him over with her hand, a silent come here that he obeyed without question.

As he moved, still shivering slightly, she wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and, with a gentle but firm push on his chest, made him sit. He blinked up at her, surprised by how easily she handled him. She knelt in front of him, tucking the edges of the blanket closer around his body to keep him warm, and brushing her fingers against his chilled skin.

Only when he settled back against the cushions, adjusting to the warmth entering his body, did he notice the small, uneven squares stitched together in the fabric. His fingers ran lightly over the seams, following the path of color changes and shapes.

"You made?" he asked quietly, eyes wide with a kind of awe that made her blink in surprise.

"Yeah," she exhaled, sitting on the carpet, wrapping her arms loosely around herself as another wave of chills ran through her frame. "What I do on the shore... usually they're pieces of things. I finish them here, later. For me, or to sell."

His gaze lingered on the patchwork, gently rubbing a corner between his thumb and forefinger, as though the stitches themselves were something rare. "Pretty," he said after a pause, a faint, soft smile curving his lips, almost shy as if he wasn’t used to giving praise.

She smiled faintly, watching him, but his mind was already wandering. To sell, she had said. So she was a maker, a weaver of things. That much he had known, from all those hours watching her at the shore, seeing her hands moving fast with hooks and yarn. But now he understood that it was how she earned her living too.

His eyes drifted away from the blanket, scanning the room as if seeing it properly for the first time. Little pieces of her were everywhere; the curtains had a lace edging, delicate and clearly handmade. There were small woven mats on the floor, some with shells and stones embroidered in. Trinkets and small crocheted baskets on shelves, filled with things he didn't understand.

Her lair, he thought, amused for a moment at the word. A soft, safe place she had built for herself. And now he was sitting right in the middle of it, wrapped in her warmth. He wondered, idly, if she had more of these blankets in her nest. If she slept under them, bundled in soft, colorful things.

She stood up, grabbed another blanket, and wrapped herself in it, sinking onto the couch beside him with a sigh.

"You surprised me," she murmured after a moment, glancing sideways at him. "There were stories... but I didn’t know you could shift."

He just nodded, not offering more. His eyes flicked toward her, watching her face as she spoke, but his mouth stayed in a tight line.

"So you came because I didn’t show up," she continued softly, turning to face him more fully, "and thought something bad happened?"

He shifted uncomfortably, slightly hunching his shoulders, and gave a short, curt nod.

A small smile tugged at her lips, gentle and warm. "That was very nice of you. Thank you."

Nice.

The word caught him off guard. He had been called many things over the years, but nice had never been one of them. He didn’t quite know what to do with that word. His jaw worked, sharp teeth clicking softly in his mouth, an old habit when he didn’t know how to respond.

She noticed, but didn’t push. Instead, she shifted the conversation with a little grin. "Tell you what," she said, nudging his arm lightly. "If we don’t fix your situation, you’re going to be sick too. Why don't you get a bath, and I’ll find you some clothes to wear?"

He furrowed his brow, clearly confused. "Bath? I came... wet."

"Oh no, darling," she said, her smile widening just a bit, teasing but kind. "I mean a hot bath. Or a shower. To clean, and warm up your body. No offense, but you’re leaving sand everywhere."

His frown deepened, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Shower?"

She raised a brow, tilting her head. So he could shape-shift but clearly hadn’t spent enough time as a human to pick up on basic things -or, he did it a long time ago when certain things didn’t exist yet-. "A water spray to wash your body," she explained patiently. "It’s nice, you’ll see. Like rain, but hot."

"Don’t like rain," he grumbled, and his expression soured at the thought.

She let out a low laugh, shaking her head. "You’ll like this!" Pushing herself up with effort, she extended a hand toward him, waiting. "Come on. I’ll show you how it works."

He stared at her hand for a long moment before reaching out with a quiet huff of breath through his nose.

She led him gently by the hand, still wrapped in the blanket, toward the bathroom. "Alright," she said, flicking on the light with a soft click that made him blink. "This the bathroom."

He looked around curiously, eyeing the strange room with its bright tiles and mirror.

“And this is the shower.” She opened the curtain and turned the handles, causing the water to rush out from above. He startled at the sound alone, tensing his body, and the second the water burst to life and sprayed downward, he jumped back with a sharp hiss, all wide eye and defensive.

"Hey, hey! it's okay." she soothed quickly, holding her hands up. "It's just water. See?" She reached in and let her fingers run under the stream. "It comes out warm. Or, well, you can make it warm."

He didn't move closer, but he didn't back away either. His eyes narrowed, still suspicious, and then he sniffed the air cautiously.

"Look," she added gently, reaching for the handles, "This controls how hot or cold it is. This one," she twisted slightly the one at the left “gives you hot water, and this one is the cold water."

Tentatively, he reached out, grazing the stream with his long fingers. His eyes widened a fraction, then narrowed thoughtfully. "Hot," he muttered, a little pleased as if this was something he could appreciate.

"Exactly." She picked up the soap and handed it to him. "This is to clean yourself. You rub it on your skin while the water runs, then rinse it off."

He turned the soap in his hand like it was a strange rock, sniffed it, and made a face. "Smells weird."

"Yeah, but it works. Trust me."

She turned to the shelf and picked up a bottle. "And this is shampoo. You use it for your hair. You rub it in and rinse it out. And this-" she lifted a second bottle "is the conditioner. For after the shampoo. Makes your hair soft."

He looked at her, then at the bottles, and back to her again, clearly overwhelmed. "Too much," he grunted, frowning.

"You'll figure it out," she said, softer this time, trying to sound reassuring. "Just... do your best."

His fingers tightened slightly around the soap before he looked at her again.

"You stay?"

Her lips parted, caught off guard. "Well… it's usually a private thing," she explained, suddenly hyper-aware of how small the space was.

He tilted his head slightly as if considering that. Then, his gaze flicked toward the shampoo bottle. "Help," he said simply, though the way his eyes glinted suggested he knew he was pushing his luck.

She exhaled, shaking her head. "Ok, I’ll stay here sitting on the toilet, if you need company," she relented. "But I am not washing your hair there, it's not proper."

Like a creature like him would give a damn about propriety.

"If you can’t figure it out, I can help you later in the kitchen sink. But-"

Before she could finish, he shrugged off the blanket and stepped into the shower, completely unbothered.

Her brain took half a second too long to catch up, and in that half-second, her gaze dropped and…

Oh my god

Heat rushed to her face as she promptly yanked the curtain closed between them.

There was a sharp hiss of irritation and she saw his hand tugging the curtain.

"No! Don’t pull that or you’ll splash water everywhere!" she called, catching the fabric before it slid open. "Just… do what I said, alright? I'm going to get you some clothes, and I’ll be back in a second."

There was a pause, then a small grunt in response.

She remembered a box of old clothes -possibly Arthur’s or the last tenant- in the upper section of the bedroom’s closet. It had been tucked away but now seemed like the perfect moment to rummage through it.

Kneeling, she flipped the lid open and sifted through the contents. Most of it was outdated or too stiff from being folded away so long, but eventually, she pulled out a red henley and a pair of black sweatpants. They smelled a little musty, the way fabric does when left untouched for too long, but she grabbed a bottle of fabric refresher, giving them a quick spritz to make them more tolerable.

She didn’t bother looking for underwear. Somehow, she had the distinct feeling he wouldn’t want to wear any.

With the clothes in hand, she returned to the bathroom, settling back onto the closed toilet seat. “Alright,” she called over the sound of the water. “I’m right here. When you’re done, just shut off the handles and wait for me to hand you a towel.”

A grunt of acknowledgment.

She sat there, listening to the water run, idly picking at the fabric of her sleeve. After a while, his voice broke the quiet.

"Done."

She had a split second to react before she heard the curtain shift.

Thinking fast, she grabbed the towel, snapped it open, and held it up just as the curtain was yanked aside. The thick fabric stretched between her hands, covering him from the ribs down, effectively shielding his modesty.

He blinked at her, slightly surprised.

"Here," she said, firmly but without meeting his gaze. "Wrap this around yourself, then go to the bedroom. You'll find clothes there."

She turned on her heel before he could say anything else, slipping out of the bathroom and pulling the door shut behind her.

Let him figure it out from there.

----

He did as she instructed, stepping into the dimly lit room where the clothes lay atop a large, soft surface. It was covered in layered fabrics -those stitched squares she seemed to favor- and… in something else.

Her scent. It was stronger here than anywhere else.

Her nest.

The thought sent a subtle ripple of interest through his body, especially as he realized no other scent clung to it. No lingering trace of another human, no competing claim. Just hers.

But the clothes… those were different.

As he picked up the garments, an unfamiliar perfume clung to the fabric. Faint but there, something aged and stale, like it had been tucked away for too long. Beneath that, a lingering scent of an adult male, distant but undeniable.

Something in him bristled at the intrusion. His teeth clicked together in irritation, but he forced himself to put the clothes on. The scent was old and faded, and if he wore them long enough, his own smell would replace it, overwriting whatever trace of the other male that could linger on it.

He fumbled briefly with the fabric, getting a feel for it, but he wasn’t stupid, he figured out how to wear them well enough. The material was strange against his skin, it felt confining in ways he wasn’t used to, but it would do.

Once dressed, he went to the other room, finding her seated, coughing into her sleeve.

When she looked at him, two things stood out immediately.

One: Arthur’s clothes were definitely too small for him, stretching across his broad frame, and clinging in places she absolutely shouldn’t be staring at.

And two: his wet hair was a dripping mess, with strands clinging to his face, and the ends soaking into the too-tight henley, leaving a growing trail of water on the floor.

She huffed and grabbed a clean kitchen towel, stepping closer to drape it over his shoulders. He stilled at the touch but let her.

“That’s to keep you from getting everything wet,” she muttered, smoothing it down. “Did you even wash your hair?”

He looked at her, then simply said, “No.”

A pause. Then, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, “You do.”

She opened her mouth, then shut it. Technically, she had told him she’d help if he couldn’t figure it out. And since he was now standing in her kitchen, dripping on her floor, looking at her expectantly… she only had herself to blame.

“Alright, big guy…” She exhaled, gesturing toward the kitchen. “C’mon.”

He followed her as she led him to the sink, watching as she adjusted the faucet.

“It’s really long,” she remarked, barely brushing her fingers on his hair. “Doesn’t it get in the way? Feel heavy?”

He hadn’t thought much about it. It had been a long time since he last cut it, always with sharp shells, never bothering to care about evenness. It had simply been a necessity. But now, out of the water, yes, he could feel its weight. “Heavy.” He conceded.

She nodded. “I could trim it for you after we wash it if you want.”

His muscles tensed, just for a second. The thought of her holding something sharp near his neck sent a flicker of warning down his spine. He had lived a long time surrounded by danger, and he knew better than to let someone close with a blade.

But she had saved him. Given him her essence, cared for him when she had no reason to. If she wanted him dead, she could just have left him rot in that cave.

So, after a moment, he nodded.

She smiled, just a little, rolling up her sleeves. “Alright. Close your eyes,” she instructed as she guided him into place. “It might sting.”

He obeyed, and the next thing he felt was the warm rush of water over his scalp, and her fingers threading softly through his hair, untangling the knots with careful, patient movements.

----

She patted his shoulder when she finished rinsing the last of the suds from his hair. "Alright. Go sit," she instructed, nodding toward one of the chairs.

He did as she said, shaking off excess water before lowering himself onto the seat, with the damp strands clinging to his skin. He watched as she moved around the small space, opening a drawer, then a cabinet, before disappearing for a moment.

A cough echoed from the other room.

His jaw clenched. Right. She had gotten sick for helping him, and here he was, sitting there comfortably, being served like she was some kind of thrall.

When she returned, with brush and comb in one hand, and scissors in the other, he frowned and lifted one of his hands. "Rest."

She blinked at him. "What?"

He gestured vaguely. "You are sick. Rest."

A small, amused breath left her lips, though she tried to smother it. "I feel better," she reassured. "And cutting a little hair isn't going to kill me."

He didn't look convinced, and his sharp gaze flickered between her and the items in her hands.

She sighed, shifting her grip on the scissors. "How about this? Once I'm done, we can sit on the couch. And talk. Properly."

His brow furrowed. It felt like a bribe, one he wasn’t sure why she was offering. But she had already moved in front of him, kneeling slightly to meet his gaze. She held up the scissors, clicking them open and shut. "These are scissors. They cut through things, cloth, paper, hair. See?" She snapped them once more before setting them aside.

Then, she ran her fingers through his damp strands, gently working through some stubborn tangles. He stiffened slightly at the contact but didn’t pull away. She picked up the brush next, starting at the ends and working her way up in slow, careful strokes. "The brush gets rid of knots," she explained. "Makes it easier to manage the hair."

His lids drooped slightly as she continued, finding the rhythmic pull of the bristles oddly soothing.

Once she had smoothed out most of it, she switched to the comb, working through smaller sections. "This one makes sure everything's neat before I cut," she said absently, more focused on her task than his reaction.

He hummed low in his throat. This was... new. Different from his usual crude attempts at grooming.

She set the scissors down for a moment and ran her fingers through his now untangled hair. "How much do you want to cut?"

He considered, then lifted a hand to his shoulder.

"That’s a nice length," she commented.

Something warm bloomed in his chest at her approval, but he made an uninterested shrug.

She started cutting then, slow and methodically, with the snip of the scissors as the only sound in the room.

With each careful comb-through, and each precise trim, he felt a strange sense of weightlessness. His eyes grew heavier, as the gentle pull of her hands and the repetitive motions slowly lulled him. Before he realized it, his head had dipped slightly forward, and the sleep finally took over him.

She hesitated when she noticed, stilling the scissors in her hand. For a long moment, she just watched him.

The slight furrow of his brow had smoothed out. The corners of his eyes held the faintest wrinkles, softened by the rest, rather than tension. And the freckles, the small constellation near his ear.

Her gaze drifted lower, to the shape of his lips.

Handsome. So, so handsome.

She exhaled slowly, shaking herself out of it. Carefully, she made the last few cuts, finishing her work with a light touch to sweep away stray strands. Then, just as gently, she placed her hand on his arm.

He stirred at the contact, blinking groggily. His body felt oddly down by something unfamiliar, comfort. The notion hit him promptly. He had fallen asleep.

His breath hitched as he straightened, rolling his neck to ease the dull ache from the angle he had held his head. He had never allowed himself to such a vulnerable position before others, not on land, not in the depths of the sea. Yet, with her hands in his hair, smoothing, cutting, working with deliberate care, he had let his guard slip.

"All done," she murmured. pulling him from his thoughts. "If you want to see how it turned out, go check the mirror."

He sat there for a moment longer. Then, without a word, he pushed himself to his feet and padded toward the bathroom.

She watched him go, still brushing a few stray strands of his hair off her hands.

He hesitated just inside the doorway, eyeing the mirror with suspicion. It was strange, this human thing, a glass that reflected, capturing an image too perfectly. Some whispered that mirrors could steal a soul, trapping it within their depths.

The thought nagged his mind, but, she had one in her home, in a place she used daily. If it were so dangerous, why would she keep it so casually? And when he’d caught a glimpse earlier, nothing strange had happened. No shift in the air, no pull on his spirit.

Still, something in him resisted.

From behind, he could feel her waiting, watching, likely assuming he hadn’t understood her instruction. She had no idea of the war waging inside his head.

He exhaled sharply, steeling his resolve, then gave her a short nod before stepping inside.

He stared.

The face in the mirror wasn’t the shifting, distorted thing he had seen in water, nor the dull, vague glint of himself reflected in metal. This was clear. He could study himself the way he studied others.

His gaze traced his own features, the sharp cut of his jaw, the lines of his mouth. He bared his teeth slightly, then ran his tongue over one incisor.

His dark hair -shorter now- felt lighter when he moved his head. He cast it to the side, tilting his neck, watching the way the tendons shifted beneath his skin. He traced them with his middle finger. Would she find this appealing? Did it look… manly? He frowned, lips pressing together.

The mere thought irritated him. He shouldn’t care.

But he did.

Because that afternoon on the beach, before everything spiraled, before he had almost drowned in pain, she had let him sense her. Sensed him. And then, she even saved him with her own life force, offering herself freely. That had done something to him, crept under his skin like the tide creeping over the sand: slow, relentless, and impossible to ignore.

And now? Now, he found himself standing before this strange human glass, inspecting himself through her eyes, wondering if she would approve.

He tilted his head the other way, observing the length of his now-trimmed hair, and again, the sharp angles of his face, considering this unsettling, foreign feeling, this desire to be seen. To be… liked?

Then, her voice called out from the other room.

“Everything fine there?”

He blinked, startled, like he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t. One last glance at his reflection, then he turned away, stepping back into the warm light of her home.

Next Chapter

Taglist: @civilbucky @thatesqcrush @lonelyghosts-stuff @x-press-it @the-voice-beckons-below @angelilacsworld @dollface-xoxo @mcira @lazyneonrabbitt @vxllys @namjoohnie @sebastians-love @misspendragonsworld @thewriters64 @escapefromrealitylol @hi172826 @wintrsoldrluvr @reddesires @ruexj283 @buckvoidsyy @littlesuniee @kimberly-stocks @pandaxnienke

Dividers by: @/strangergraphics

[kiame-sama]

Similar question to the one with Drider!Rook on kissing but with the other Monster Boys

How would they handle me giving them a kiss on the cheek (Or even their mouth) only to take something from them in victory?

But it’s mainly to prove a point that I don’t need physical strength to win, but my cunning and intelligence (Like I take their Dorm Staff or whatever’s in their hand in triumph because I proved my point)

Honestly, Malleus, Vil, Leona and Azul would be the most impressed but would probably scold me if I did that with others (But their eyes are dilated)

Warnings; Several different Yanderes, yandere behavior, suggestive themes, kissing, thievery, if you kiss any of the monster-men you need to be ready to handle the consequences, mainly Dormleaders (Minus Kalim, because all you have to do is point somewhere and you can easily steal from him. You don't even have to steal, he would willingly give you anything you wanted the moment you showed interest. You'd have a harder time stealing candy from a baby), less thievery and more escaping in Vil's ficlet, use of gamer-tags in place of names for Idia's ficlet,

~~~~~~~~

"Hey, Riddle!"

The Unicorn glanced over his shoulder when he heard your happy greeting, smiling in response to seeing you walking over to him with a slight bounce in your step. Though he would never admit it, the way his heart seized whenever he saw you was both a painful yet wonderful experience. How he longed for you to return his affections and take your rightful place as his King of Hearts.

"Good morning, (Y/N). Have you been well?"

"Of course, but there was something I wanted to talk with you about."

"Oh? What would that be?"

"Come over here, so we can talk without shouting."

The red-maned Unicorn was bemused, yet complied with your request all the same. He would always do as you asked of him, even if it meant moving the very ocean by hand. You smiled in a way that was almost mischievous and Riddle vaguely wondered what it was you were playing at. When he approached, you looked up at him with a content smile that he returned in kind.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"I had some questions for you about Unicorns, actually. Unicorns are a myth where I'm from, so I wanted to see if you could clear up some of the misconceptions I might have surrounding Unicorns."

"I would be happy to teach you about Unicorns, (Y/N)! You can have the utmost faith in me to provide accurate information to your questions. What did you want to know?"

"Are you able to lay down without being injured? The closest we had to Unicorns was regular horses, and they rarely would lie down unless extremely comfortable, young, or ill."

"Of course I can! Here, allow me to demonstrate for you."

He moved his weight back to his haunches, allowing them to meet the ground as he curled one leg after the other beneath him. Once his equine half was settled on the ground, he was about to roll to one side to fully lay down when your soft hand cupped his cheek. Riddle was confused as to your interruption but his confusion quickly turned to shock when your lips locked with his.

An almost whinnying squeal left him, but he was eager to return to affection in kind. Even as he felt the crown of his dorm-uniform being lifted from his head, he pursued the kiss eagerly and chased your lips as you tried to pull back. You were only able to escape the Unicorn's desperate kisses by stepping back, as he was unable to get up as easily as he was able to lie down.

There was a clear red decorating the cheeks of the lovely Unicorn even as you grinned triumphantly and placed the golden crown atop your own head. Little did you realize how much this would actually impact the Unicorn you tricked. A certain darkness seemed to take over the bright blue eyes of the monster man as he gained an almost drunken smile.

"Prefect..." he breathed, "absolutely perfect. My wonderful King of Hearts... of course I'll marry you!"

"Wait, what-?"

The Unicorn stood now, almost invigorated as he easily caught your shoulders in his hands, pulling you back into another deep kiss. When he finally broke it, he was affectionately rubbing the side of his horn against your head with soft nickering noises.

"Didn't you know? Kissing and exchanging an article of clothing is akin to a proposal for Unicorns like me. You'll make a wonderful King, (Y/n). My marvelous King of Hearts."

~•§•~

The Nemean Lion was laying in the vast gardens of the greenhouse, resting beneath the large leaves of a fern commonly found in his homelands of Sunset Savana. He was somewhere between sleep and awareness when a certain scent on the air caught his interest. Without bothering to open his eyes, his ears angled around before pinpointing the location where the scent originated. Leona almost smiled.

It was clear to him that you were trying to be quiet and sneak up on the Lion that continued to lazily lounge as you drew close. The only true indication that he was awake and not sleeping was the almost imperceptible flick of his tail. He was almost eager for what you intended to do after your approach as he continued to flick his tail excitedly.

The moment you were within reach, the Lion proceeded to grab you and pull you into his arms. You had been under the impression that he was asleep, so when he grabbed you, you couldn't help but cry out in surprise and fear. Of course, Leona couldn't help but laugh at your response as he rolled to his side, laying next to you and propping himself up on one arm.

"You'll have to try harder than that if you want to sneak up on me, Mousey."

"I wasn't trying to sneak up on you."

"No? Then why were you trying to be as quiet as possible?"

"Because, I was going to do something else."

"Like?"

Your sudden kiss to his forehead made a loud purr erupt from the chest of the Lion. It was almost too easy to get Leona to let his guard down as your fingers began carding through his mane, scratching near his golden ears. That also gave you the opening you were looking for as you easily slid the dorm emblem off of the arm of the Lion.

However, when you tried to pull away to abscond with your winnings, the weight of Lion was too much to be able to wiggle away from him and from under his grasp.

"Nice try, Mousey. Now, you're going to lay there and be a good little pillow as payment for interrupting my nap."

"But you weren't even sleeping-!"

He was quick to place himself on top of your soft figure, grabbing both of your hands- making you drop the emblem- and putting them back in his hair. There was little else you could do but pet the Lion who began to doze while snuggling your much more fragile form. If you wish to play with Lions, you must be ready to face the consequences of your actions.

~•§•~

"Ne, Azul! The Human is here and says they want ta talk to ya!"

The Cecaelia glanced up from the contract he was working on as Floyd lazily called into the office Azul often occupied. Though he often didn't allow visitors on any schedule but his own, he would make an exception for the beautiful Human he adored.

"Send them in."

"Kay~!"

At least Floyd seemed to be in an affable mood for once, smiling and lazily walking off with the door left somewhat ajar. Azul would scold the Eel later for the blatant forgetful behavior, as it was rather important to close the door to Azul's office due to the many contracts stored within the room. Still, it was something he could bring up later.

Floyd returned to open the door fully, letting the Human into the room with a happy grin in their direction. He seemed to want to linger but instead closed the door and went back to whatever it was he did when he was not tormenting others. Perhaps he was just moving on to torment someone else or even his twin bother.

"(Y/n), welcome to my humble office. What can I help you with today?"

"Well, I was told that you were the one to go to if I ever needed anything others were unable to retrieve."

"You're... you're here for a deal? I would happily make any deal with you, dear (Y/n)! Name your desires and I will deliver as promised!"

He was thrilled to know you were seeking his assistance. He was the best bet most had, after all. Most would have to pay a rather steep price to be able to afford the aid of the Cecaelia on any given day, but he had already resolved to aid you for a much more generous and kind-hearted price than his usual rate.

What he wasn't expecting was for you to sit down on the edge of his desk with an almost coy grin, gazing affectionately into the eyes of the Octopus who now seemed nervous under your scrutiny. He would never admit it- excepting to Floyd and Jade who had already become wise to his affections- but Azul was madly in love with the soft Human of Night Raven College. The Octopus had been in love with the idea of Humans ever since he was a larvae, hardly hatched and struggling in the currents of the ocean.

The many depraved things he had written in his adoration of Humans would hopefully remain unviewed by the Human that now sat perched atop his desk. Of course, it did nothing for the suddenly dry mouth Azul now experienced as he tried to keep himself as composed as possible. Were he in his aquatic form, no doubt his tentacles would be all over the soft skin of the Human, tasting and kissing the flesh that seemed so ample and on display for his gaze.

"Wh-what- ahem- what was it you needed from me, (Y/n)-?"

A sudden warm and soft kiss to the small heart shape beneath Azul's right eye had the Octopus tensing up. He was completely flabbergasted and unable to say anything in response to the affectionate action, even as his hat was lifted from his head and placed atop the head of the grinning Human. The octopus was only able to blink one eye at a time from how scattered his brain had become as the Human hopped off of his desk and pranced to the door, hat still securely in place.

"That's all I needed. Thanks, Azul!"

~•§•~

"Would you stop moving, (Y/n)? Honestly, you are acting as if you have never modeled for us before."

You frowned somewhat at the gentle scolding of the handsome Harpy that was trying to finish stitching the hemming of the shirt you were wearing. Naturally, the Harpy would not be content with just a few outfits for your ensemble and called you back to tailor more clothing for you. Divus wasn't present at this fitting, but Rook was happily watching the Harpy circle you as he hand-sewed the clothes.

"Well, sure, but I wasn't thinking I was going to have to stand for so long. It's not exactly comfortable."

"Beauty is pain, my featherless darling. Pin feathers are annoying and sometime even painful, but they give way to the most beautiful feathers imaginable if left to grow. Patience is needed to truly appreciate the beauty of something."

"If you say so."

Vil smiled slightly at this, glad that you were somewhat compliant to his gentle attempts at giving you direction. He would certainly be far less patient and gentle were you anyone other than his beloved Human. He doubted he would even be so patient with Rook. To be fair, though, Rook hardly complained about much, even if the Drider wasn't particularly comfortable or at ease.

"What do you think of this top now it is cinched properly, Rook?"

"Travail merveilleux, roi du Poison. I was unsure about the draping of the garment, but as always you have a keen eye for such things. Mon Trickster does look divine."

You vaguely wondered, as the Harpy wrapped up his stitching, if you would be able to escape from the fashion inclined duo, and what it would take to achieve such a feat. It was while you were contemplating your daring stunt that an opportunity presented itself. Vil was holding up a new top that had yet to be fitted and was trying to see what color would look best on you when you caught the Harpy's hand and attention. He was clearly suspicious of your actions as he raised a single brow in question.

"You know, Vil, I think pink would look good on you."

"Pink? It depends on the shade of pink, but it would mostly clash with my feathers-"

A sudden gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth silenced the Harpy, a bright pink dusting across the Harpy's fair skin and highlighting the bright coloration around his eyes. Those violet orbs were wide with surprise and even Rook was taken aback at the bold action, unable to find words as you hopped down from the raised platform you had been on.

"Seems I'm right! Pink looks great on you. Thanks for the top, Vil!"

You were quick to abscond from the room as the Harpy held his cheek, still blushing a bright pink. Rook was enthused that you gifted the beautiful Vil with such a treasured sign of affection, trailing a finger down the ridge of his boon-companion's wings as he walked around the stunned Harpy.

"Rook, how do you think (Y/n) would look dressed in a wedding gown made from your silk and my feathers?"

"Absolutely divine, like you, Roi du poison."

~•§•~

"Why can't we just virtual visit class, HellKitty?"

"Because, Idia, you need to interact with the other students at some point. Push your comfort zone and be a student, for once."

Idia frowned as he hid behind his tablet, trying to avoid all of the curious looks he got from others in the halls. He was trailing behind you- more than a little unwilling on his part- to what was supposed to be his next class. If he had the choice, the both of you would be back in your dorm and just watching class through one of the cameras as you played videogames together.

Honestly, he was more than a little amused that you had adapted to the gamer-tag he gave you like your own name. Of course, it was no mistake that he chose the gamer-tag HellKitty for you. It was both a play on your ever faithful companion Grim the Hellcat, and the fact that Hellcats were ideal companions for Shinigami. As a Shinigami, why wouldn't he want you to be his Hellcat? Sure, you weren't actually a Hellcat, but you were raising one and that was good enough for him.

"-Idia? Idia!"

"What?"

"Were you even listening to me?"

"... would you believe me if I said yes?"

You sighed and stopped in the middle of the hallway, turning to face the tall student head-on. Naturally, the moment you stopped, Idia was quick to crouch and curl in on himself, wanting to seem as small as possible despite his already gargantuan stature. Only his own ancestor and the Kelpie Trey were taller than him, though not by much. This gave you the ideal opportunity to put your plan in motion.

While Idia was distractedly staring at his tablet, you reached up and cupped his cheek. The physical contact had the Shinigami looking at you with wide and confused eyes, his hair beginning to burn almost white in anxiety. Out of all the things Idia was expecting when you placed your hand upon his cheek, he was immediately error-screened when you pressed a warm kiss against his blue lips.

Could this possibly be happening? To someone like him? Was it even true, or was it a trick? If it was a trick, he never wanted to know because all he could think was how wonderful your lips felt against his somewhat chapped lips.

As you pulled away, Idia was finally able to get somewhat of a grasp on his own frantic mind only to realize he no longer has his tablet in hand. A quick glance around told him that you had his tablet held securely in your hands, grinning at him playfully.

"Alright, UnderworldBlues, if you can get through class without freaking out, I'll give you the tablet back, and maybe even another kiss if you behave. Think you can do that?"

"..."

"Idia?"

"..."

"Did you seriously just faint-?"

~~

You sat on the arm of the thorn throne of Diasomnia, the common room occupied only by yourself, Lilia, and Malleus. Silver and Sebek had classes, so they were not present despite the unusual temper Malleus had as of late. Lilia suggested the two of you should spend some of your down time with Malleus to try and lift his dour emotions from where they seemed to be stuck for the past few days. As Lilia was a trusted friend of yours and Malleus was a strong ally, you figured there was no harm in spending time with the two Fae monsters.

Malleus had calmed considerably with you and Lilia by his side, holding his dark torch-like staff in his gloved claws. He now almost seemed to be dozing somewhat, even as you glanced at the staff resting against his leg. Somewhere, you wondered how easy it would be to distract the Dragon and escape with the clearly important item, if only to break up the monotony of the moment.

Idle hands were the devil's playthings and you were certainly more than a little bored perched next to the Dragon.

"Did you need something, my (Y/n)?"

"Hm?"

"You keep glancing in my direction as if you need to say something or would like some kind of assistance from me."

"Not really. I was just wondering why you have that staff? I thought you didn't have a magestone weapon since you're a Dragon?"

"It is true, I have very little use for a magestone myself, so you have likely never seen it before. This staff is my magestone, you are correct. You are also correct in assuming I have little use for weapons. My fire and my claws are my weapons, most times."

"So, it wouldn't be a big deal if someone took it away, like it was for Leona?"

"Of course not. Strong and versed in magic as Kingscholar may be, he still does not have the same adeptness in-"

The green eyes of the Dragon widened in surprise as you leaned over, catching his lips in a tender kiss that left him breathless. Despite all of his power and his abilities, he was rendered mute and dumb from the sudden show of affection. He didn't resist the pull of his staff from his hand even as you pulled back to grin triumphantly. In fact, he didn't seem to have much of a reaction other than a vaguely humored grin.

Though it was quite a small expression on the outside, Lilia could see how Malleus prepared to pounce from the tension in the Dragon's shoulders, wings, and tail. You were far too interested in the staff that now sat in your hands- examining the green gemstone affixed in the top- to realize that the Dragon was not about to let such a small show of affection satisfy his sudden cravings. A sudden tug at the front of your shirt had you locking lips with the Dragon yet again, being pulled into the lap of the beast who seemed all too eager to take what had been offered.

"T-Tsuno-!"

"Hush now, my dear mate. You should know better than to tease a Dragon. Didn't you know that even one little kiss is considered enough invitation to mate?"

"But I-"

"You," he interrupted, "will not be going anywhere for the next few days. I intend to christen this- our first day as official mates- with many sleepless nights spent entangled in the embrace of passion. Prepare yourself, my soft little Human mate, because you may regret teasing me so callously."

[squidwen]

🐙After Hours with Azul

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Synopsis: You spend a lot of time at the Mostro Lounge, and Azul’s starting to wonder why. You’re not some creepy stalker girlfriend, are you? You two might be “official,” but you’re at the Lounge all the time!

However, Azul reckons there’s a reason behind it that’s deeper. More serious. After taking you to his room, the pair of you snuggle up, arms, legs, and tentacles, and Azul’s hearts simply can’t take the real reason behind your frequent visits.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

You preferred the Mostro Lounge after-hours. It seemed more like an actual Lounge, with nothing but the cool lights and the final tunes of the piano player on the stage. No one bothered you either. None of the waiters told you to leave. No one even offered to clear your drink and plate away. The staff cleaned their tables, hung up their aprons, and that was that.

Except for Azul.

He got up from the piano and crossed the Lounge over to your booth. Your breath hitched at his cool hand on your shoulder. You always preferred him without gloves. His hands were beautiful; long, slender fingers with a callous on his right middle one from years and years of endless writing.

‘Another evening claimed by my establishment,’ mused Azul.

At last, you moved. His words thawed you enough to stand.

Azul welcomed you into his arms. His other hand sparked against your ribcage as he rubbed circles into your back. Somehow his chilly touch melted you. You became almost gelatinous in his embrace, as if you were the octopus rather than the warm, sweet little human.

‘You’re coming here more often, angelfish,’ Azul said.

‘Naturally. The foods good and the music’s even better.’

‘I’m sure the music is not better.’

You pulled away.

Azul held onto you. ‘Sorry-’

‘You’re still doing it.’

‘It’s a bad habit.’

‘You need to stop thinking you’re not good enough.’

Your kiss on the shell of his ear silenced any protests. Azul shivered with bliss.

Everyone else had already left; there was no point in keeping up airs. Who would you be trying to impress? Azul was stronger than he looked. Although he masqueraded as a human, he still retained most of his cecaelian strength, and he lifted you out of the booth. You felt as though you were floating. You were as weightless as the exotic fish in the giant Lounge fish tank.

Azul tucked you into his chest, one arm under your legs and another under your back. You smelled his cologne; lavender and something that reminded you of the sea. The tips of his bangs tickled your forehead. Together, you slipped out of the Lounge and through the halls of Octavinelle, hiding around corners for the coast to be clear before ploughing on towards Azul’s bedroom.

A snap of the fingers and the door swung open.

A lilac bed, freshly made, beckoned you forward. Azul laid you gently down. The duvet and mattress moulded to your figure, gasping and depressing as you wriggled your shoes off. ‘I can’t believe you had the energy for that!’ you laughed. ‘After playing all night.’

Azul laid down beside you. His hands, warmed by your back and thighs, searched for yours and brought them to his lips. ‘It’s the nature of octopuses to be dextrous, my dear. Three hours of piano playing was nothing but a warmup.’

‘How modest.’

Azul reddened.

You kissed his nose. ‘Tell me more. If you can brag to anyone it would be me. Not that I need to be told about how amazing you are. You just carried me up to the top of Octavinelle as if it was nothing. I bet Jack couldn’t even do that.’

Azul, however, did not bring up anything. It still didn’t feel right to. Not with you. Not yet. He was still so new to this. He had never loved anyone before, and the pair of you had only made your relationship official a few weeks ago. Azul was trying to strike a balance between impressing you, and boasting. He wanted to seem cool, not conceited. You already accepted him for what he looked like… for some reason, but surely there was only so much you could take. You could tolerate ugliness, but vanity?

‘A good businessman never puts all his cards on the table,’ said Azul.

You rolled your eyes. ‘Business talk? Here?’

Shoot, Azul thought. Play it cool. ‘You are in the bedroom of the dorm leader of Octavinelle and the manager of the Mostro Lounge.’

‘I thought I was in my boyfriend’s bedroom.’ You started to pull away again. Azul gripped you tightly. His strong fingers were like suction cups. ‘Come on, Azul,’ you sighed. ‘If you’re a businessman, does that make me a customer? Or some associate? I know this is new to you. It’s new to me too. But just… let yourself be… well, mine. Even if it can only be in this room. I need that.’

You shifted closer to him and snaked your arm under his head. His ear rested in the crook of your elbow, letting your fingers fiddle with his hair. The fedora fell away. His locks were stringy from hours under a hat, but you didn’t mind. It was like his head was a giant snowdrop; the petals stuck together as it tried to bloom after a long winter.

Azul drew closer. The bed creaked.

‘My angelfish,’ he breathed.

You hummed.

‘Why do you stay at the Lounge for so long?’

Your stroking stopped.

Azul tensed. ‘If you don’t want to say then-’

‘No, no. It’s fine. It must seem creepy, like I’m some crazy stalker girlfriend who watches your every move now that we’re together. But it’s not. Seven, it’s not. I just… it’s just a soothing place. Some people like the library. Others like the park. But the Mostro Lounge is perfect for me. I’ve been going there all year just to unwind. You might not have noticed. You’re always so busy.’

‘No other reason?’

It was your turn to tense.

Azul detected it immediately.

Sitting up, his cerulean eyes pierced into you like icicles. He was the businessman again. All the tenderness had been leached out of him. Something was wrong. He knew it. Something he was determined to get to the bottom of. It wasn’t that he didn’t like you being at the Lounge. He loved it. Your presence always made him play better, and he was happy to smuggle you on-the-house desserts whenever he could. But you had been showing up too often, as if you were hiding, or escaping, something.

‘Let’s not have secrets from each other,’ he said.

‘Secrets?’

‘Please, angelfish.’ Azul blinked and his eyes became gentle again. The eyes of a lover; lidded and pleading. To prove that he was being open – and to give you permission to do the same – he lay down beside you again and transformed back into a cecaelia. His skin speckled with lilac until it was completely purple; his legs unravelling into eight black and purple tentacles.

Azul couldn’t meet your eyes as he transformed. It embarrassed him. He felt so grotesque. So hideous. But then, you came to him again, and wrapped your arms around his torso. The feeling faded. Azul took you into his arms.

The tentacles wound around your legs like ribbons around maypoles. Cool and slick; the suction cups kissing your exposed skin, making it prickle with gooseflesh. You stayed still to invite them higher. Azul delighted in the feel of you. You were more detailed when he held you this way. He sensed every inch of you. You were beautiful, and more tentacles came up to bind you.

Around your waist. Around your hips. Around your stomach. With ease, they pulled you in close to Azul. The cecaelia buried your face in his chest. You could hear his three heartbeats. They were fast. You couldn’t help but smile into Azul’s shirt.

‘Are you comfortable, my darling?’ Azul asked.

You nodded, too relaxed for words. Azul’s touch was velvety soft. All your dark bindings were gentle and plush, like a caterpillar wrapped in a chrysalis.

A final tentacle cupped the back of your head. You shivered as the suction cups kissed your scalp. The feeling wasn’t unpleasant, but it brought you out of your comfort just enough to feel like talking again. ‘What about you?’

‘I’m at my best when you’re with me,’ Azul said.

You melted a little more. ‘Same here. And I confess, that’s the reason why.’

‘Why what?’

‘I’m sorry. I know I’ve come on too strong and I’ve spooked you.’

‘No, not at all.’

‘I just…I… you know you’re my best friend.’

Azul’s heartbeats got even faster. ‘A-And you’re mine,’ he breathed. ‘The Leech twins… they’re not the same as you.’

‘The others aren’t the same as you either. Don’t get me wrong, Ace and Deuce are great, but they’re like twins, and Jack and Epel are dedicated to sports, and Sebek’s obsessed with Malleus. I sort of feel like I just touch-base with them, but I spend time with you. And even if it’s not “with” you, just to see you, hear you play, admire who my partner is, even just sit in your Lounge, is enough.’ You mustered the strength to crane your head back and kiss his jaw. ‘I’m millions of miles from home, but I somehow feel there when I’m with you.’

Azul had never heard anything like it. You were so sweet. So kind. No one ever complimented him without wanting his attention, or recognition; without wanting something in return. Octavinelle was full of sychophants, none bigger than the Leech twins, but you… you were as pure as driven snow. You loved every inch of him, inside and out; something Azul had thought was impossible for him to find. To deserve.

His tentacles bundled you up even more, pressing you in close until it was almost uncomfortable. His suction cups kissed you. Thousands of kisses. Small pecks, until the tentacle cupping the back of your head lifted you to Azul’s lips.

Velvet. Smooth. Soft.

When you broke away, you were both breathless, and exhaustion descended upon you. The night had been long; the conversation hard. Azul loosened his grip on you but kept his tentacles in place. He could think of nothing sweeter than to fall asleep to the feeling of you, and you didn’t mind. You had never been so comfortable; so warm and welcome.

With a final kiss, you snuggled into your cecaelia and drifted off to sleep, lulled by the rhythmic thump of Azul’s heartbeats.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Author note: Well hey! It’s been a while!

I hope you enjoyed the fic! I had to write an Azul one after being away for so long! He’s by far my fav character, and it was his birthday recently so I think we’re all in Azul-mode atm.

If you liked it, please like, comment, and share.

- Squidwen

[aventurineswife]

A Refuge Beneath the Waves

Summary: Sunday seeks solace after a stressful day of diplomatic negotiations. You, a cecaelia with a penchant for playfulness and wisdom, guide him to your secret undersea sanctuary. Amid bioluminescent waters and coral cove serenity, you remind him of the beauty in stillness and the importance of connection, fostering a moment of quiet intimacy between two kindred souls.

Tags: @spinnyboination, Merman!Sunday x Cecaelia!Reader, Fluff, Comfort, Gentle Intimacy, Slow Burn.

The ocean was a symphony, humming its ancient melodies as bioluminescent trails wove through the undersea world. The water shimmered with life, flickering gold and silver as creatures danced through coral and kelp.

Sunday swam with fluid grace, his tail glinting faintly in the dim light of the abyss. His halo, glowing faintly behind his head, illuminated his features in ethereal hues as it pulsed in rhythm with his thoughts. The weight of the day lingered in his mind—a diplomatic encounter gone awry with a neighboring pod, his efforts to broker peace once again met with mistrust. He sighed, pausing mid-swim, his wings twitching faintly in frustration.

"Trouble in paradise, little dove?"

Your voice, warm and tinged with mischief, echoed through the currents. Sunday turned, his eyes meeting yours. You drifted closer, your cecaelian lower half—moving effortlessly through the water. Your eight tentacles, each tipped with bioluminescent patterns, shifted lazily as you watched him with a crooked smile.

"Nothing unusual," Sunday replied softly, his wings fluttering slightly behind his ears. "Merely the usual dance of ideals and realities clashing."

"Ah, the plight of a dreamer," you teased, circling him playfully. "You're far too good for them, you know. Not everyone appreciates the grandeur of harmony."

Sunday chuckled, the sound soft and lilting. "And yet, I cannot abandon the dream. It's... complicated."

"Complicated is just another word for interesting," you countered, stopping in front of him. "Why don’t you let me distract you for a while? You look like you could use a break."

"I—" Sunday hesitated, but your warm gaze melted away his resistance. "Perhaps you're right."

You beamed and reached out, gently taking his hand in yours. Your fingers were webbed, the faintly translucent membrane between them glimmering faintly. Sunday’s touch was cool and calming, and you felt the faint hum of his energy through your skin.

“Follow me,” you said, tugging him along.

The two of you swam together, weaving through the towering kelp forests until you reached a secluded cove. Here, the ocean floor was a mosaic of colorful anemones and gently swaying sea fans, their hues amplified by the glow of the moonlight filtering through the water’s surface above. You guided Sunday to a smooth rock outcropping, settling there as your tentacles curled beneath you in a comfortable nest.

Sunday joined you, folding his tail beneath him. "This is lovely," he murmured, gazing around.

“Isn’t it?” you said, leaning back on your arms. “This is my little sanctuary. A place to just... exist. No politics, no expectations.”

Sunday sighed, his wings relaxing as he mirrored your posture. “I envy that simplicity sometimes.”

You glanced at him, the golden glow of his eyes softer now, contemplative. “You should visit more often,” you suggested. “You don’t always have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s okay to just... be.”

For a moment, Sunday was quiet, the rhythmic sway of the water filling the silence. Then, he gave you a small, genuine smile. “You always know how to bring me back to myself,” he said.

“Someone has to,” you quipped, bumping his shoulder gently.

The two of you stayed there for a while, talking softly about everything and nothing. Sunday’s voice was like the melody of the ocean itself, and you found yourself drawn to his thoughtful words, the way he painted pictures of his dreams and fears. In turn, he listened intently to your stories, his eyes never leaving yours.

As the hours passed, the tension in Sunday’s frame seemed to dissolve. He leaned back against the rock, his wings fluttering faintly as he gazed at the play of light on the water above.

"Thank you," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the gentle hum of the ocean.

"For what?" you asked, turning to look at him.

"For reminding me of the beauty in stillness," he replied, his gaze meeting yours. "And for always seeing the best in me, even when I doubt it myself."

Your heart fluttered at his words, and you reached out, brushing a strand of silver hair from his face. "That’s easy," you said with a smile. "There’s so much to see."

Sunday’s halo pulsed faintly, its glow a soft, warm gold. He reached out as well, his fingers grazing yours, and for a moment, the ocean seemed to hold its breath.

And in the quiet, beneath the dreaming waves, you found something more profound than words—a connection that needed no explanation, only the quiet truth of its existence.

[eldritchpotato]

Octopi and the Castaway's Cry 5

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

It had been over a month and a half since you had been rescued from that miserable island, it seemed ridiculous to be going back. But the morning your campfire’s smoke had been spotted and your sea monster had slithered away back into the ocean as humans arrived to rescue you was the closest thing you had gotten to a goodbye. It simply would not do in the long run.

After your “encounter” in the water the two of you had only become closer. She apparently knew how to build a fire, something utterly humiliating considering she had to go out of her way to even be in an environment to do so. But burnt fish had never tasted so good.

She spent nights snuggled up with you, keeping you warm as best she could.

Her company could never been enough to make you want to stay forever but it had made the following days almost enjoyable. She had shown you around the island, brought you increasingly interesting meals, even built you a far better hut. She courted you, and you did your best to do the same.

The fact you had not had the chance to say goodbye had only made your return more inevitable. This time though you were on a boat. Once you had gotten back to the mainland and had managed to figure out where you had been it seemed almost silly how remote it had felt.

The wind sails through your hair as you speed towards the island now visible in the distance. Swallowing the lump in your throat you slow the boats speed and stear it towards shore.

Everyone thought you were nuts for wanting to go back but they didnt know who waited for you.

Turning off the engine and tossing the anchor over the side you kick off your clothes and dive into the water in nothing but your bathing suit. You need to round the bend to make it to where your camp was. Despite your best efforts you don’t make it that far.

A familiar red blur barrels into you so fast that she sends you tumbling through the water. Just like your first meeting she drags you to the surface.

“Hey,” you giggle, wrapped up in her tentacles as she keeps you afloat.

She thrills happily, nuzzling into you. Her tentacles are already familiarizing themselves with every inch of you, slipping under your one piece. 

“I missed you too,” you grin.

She holds her wrist up proudly, showing you the bracelet you had made for her out of some torn fabric and shells.

She’s so proud it’s adorable. You hold up your arm showing the tattoos you got over the last sucker marks she left you with. She stares in wonder, tracing the smooth skin of your arm.

You tug her back to the boat, she is hesitant to let go of you but she doesn’t have to. You reach up and grab one of the camping waterproof barrels. You pat it before pointing towards shore. She nods and tugs it into the water with a tentacle. You grab the other and together you carry your camping supplies to shore.

That evening after a big dinner involving lots of human foods, some of which more appealing to her palate than others, you retire together into the large tent you had brought.

She hasn’t stopped touching you since you’ve arrived, you know what she’s desperate for. She fucks you, filling every hole you have to offer with her tentacles, relishing in your cries and moans. You cling to her just as tightly, desperate to imprint her into your body.

A cheap camping tent feels like luxury compared to your last accommodations. She cares little for blankets, happy as always as long as she can wrap herself around you and hold you close.

Neither of you sleep, you can tell you leaving was hard for her. You won’t be able to stay forever, but you promise to come back again and again. All you can do is trust her and hope she understands.

But at least for the next few days you're all hers and there’s nowhere you would rather be.

[thesexydancingcrepe]

Mermay Romance!

🐙 🌊 🐚 ❤️ 🐒 🏴‍☠️

This is mad late! 😅 but I still really wanted to post this

While fishing, Nine gets dragged into the ocean by a strange creature he has never seen! 🐟 🐙

He tells his dad only for him to decide to take her home and wife her 🏡 💖 the Monkey King is quite strange 😉

[snoopledrooplecheesedoodle]

Can I request something for yandere merman Kakyoin? :>

My idea is he not actually a merman but a sea witch with octopus body, just like Ursula in My little mermaid. He use his potion to turn into a merman to attract his darling because he know their darling will be afraid of his real form. He want to capture darling to be his mate forever.

Well that's my idea, feel free to be creative with the plot :D thank you so much

Never thought our boy who looks like Ariel was Ursula the whole time... now that I think about it Hierophant Green works perfectly with this. Kakyoin is a mimic octopus which allows him to change his skin and body to look like other things, which combined with magic you really don't stand a chance. This is from Kakyoin's perspective mostly. Reader is gender neutral but more feminine presenting because who doesn't love a pretty enby. I also do masc and andro too but why not mix it up. If you want a particular gender don't be afraid to ask!

Merrow=Nonbinary mermaid

Reel You In

You were perfect...

Bright (e/c) eyes, wide smile on your plush lips, shiny (h/c) hair

A true gem, a real pearl if you will

His treasure

His pretty little merrow

How did he mean you in all your divinity?

Kakyoin was taking stock of his ingredients, after all his magic still required special herbs and items of the deep. His green and white striped tentacles filtered through the vials and drawers. He was low on whale fat and Leviathan scales. Kakyoin sighed it would take him ages to find these rare ingredients. Leviathans aren't usually fond of getting rid of their scales. He'll have to scour the specialty market for these ingredients. The unfortunate thing is it only opens when the ocean is darkest. He gathered his cloak off the large mer skeleton it was hanging off of. He put on his cloak and swam into the darkness.

The market was full of sketchy characters per usual, nobody good came to the Night Market unless they were desperate. It was swarming with thieves, witches, and the usual assortment of outcasts and criminals' merfolk told stories of to make their fry behave. Of course, he was one of them so there was no room to complain. He was browsing the stalls when a heavy force knocked into him. His amethyst eyes filled with annoyance, someone was already trying to rob him, and he just got here. He snatched his satchel back and glared at the offender who apologized?

"I'm so sorry sir, I wasn't watching where I was swimming. Did you lose anything from your bag?" Intriguing. Looking at the figure in front on him he could tell they didn't belong. (h/l) (h/c) styled with a pretty white ribbon (if bald or hijab its tied around your neck). Wide (e/c) orbs full of innocence he'd not seen in a while (your innocent compared to him bro). You were very attractive in his eyes as it's not often to see someone be so decent in his line of work.

"Sir? Sir? Oh no did I hit you too hard?!" The merrow's worried voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Oh, no I'm fine no harm has been done. Mx. ..." You laughed which was a genuine laugh, not one full of malice, just pure joy. Kakyoin wishes he could capture that laugh and put it in a jar. "(Y/N) my name is (Y/N)." Oh, they were so trusting, the naive little thing. "Kakyoin, but you may call me Noriyaki." (Y/N) grinned at this and swished their shiny tail back and forth. "Okay Noriyaki it's so very nice to meet you! Oh no I need to go before the market closes! See you, Nori!" The cheerful merrow swam off leaving Kakyoin paralyzed in awe. Suddenly, finding those materials didn't seem so interesting.

Kakyoin hadn't slept well in a while, thoughts of a special little merrow kept him awake. Your beautiful face invaded his dreams, your laugh haunted his every waking moment, your coquettish smile taunted him so. Oh, you had no idea how much you drove him crazy! He had been neglecting his work to watch you from his seer glass. You were even more irresistible in your day-to-day life.

You were coming back from shopping eagerly talking to yourself about the new tops you bought when you bumped into a cecaelia. You were rather clumsy, weren't you? Now you would apologize profusely and offer this merfolk your aid. What shocked Kakyoin was when you froze at the sight of the person before you and swam away in a panic. How unusual of sweet little you. What could cause such a reaction? He hadn't seen you act so rashly even with the most intimidating fish folk but this ceacaelia made you swim away with fear he has never seen before. Does it mean?

No

NO.

You were afraid of cecaelia.

You were afraid of him.

Kakyoin's fantasy of finding you again and courting you was ruined, all because you were afraid of cecaelia. He was spiraling fast. He smashed bottles and flipped his cauldron over in a fit of rage. He never hated having tentacles in his life but now he wanted to rip them all off. His blue blood leaking from his hands reminding him of his physical imperfection. If only he was born a merman like you... then I idea struck him.

Maybe reaching you wasn't impossible.

Pain, throbbing pain was all Kakyoin felt. His tentacles felt like they were ripped clean off, but it was worth it for the emerald and silver fish tail he had now. Kakyoin was stumbling around like a guppy trying to get used to their fins for the first time. It was taking some practice, but he was getting used to it. Soon he'd be perfect. Perfect for you. Once he's reeled you in, he'd show the real him, but by then

You can't escape

Kakyoin was positively giddy with all the feelings of love he felt for you. All he needed to do was find his beloved but make it seem like a coincidence. After all, you were naive but a bit skittish. All the more reason to keep you safe from dangerous creatures of the ocean and take a delicate approach to get to you. After observing you for so long he knew where you liked to go and when. By now you would be gathering human trinkets at the abandoned ship you frequently explored. He couldn't care less about humans and their dirty little tools, but you loved them so and he loved you. He received a particularly shiny trinket from a recent customer (victim), a shining bejeweled brooch. Something irresistible for a little merrow such as yourself. Kakyoin could practically see the big sparkling eyes you would make at such a priceless treasure.

Kakyoin swam over to a lopsided piece of wood to hide behind and think of how to approach you organically. Muttering to himself plan after plan unaware of the curious merrow eyeing the distressed merman. Kakyoin felt a tentative tap on the shoulder. He flushed as he made eye contact with his darling, who smiled so brightly at him. They were so beautiful when they smiled so sweetly at him. "Did you need help-oh you're that guy from the market um... Norisaki?" You remembered him... sort of. What a wonderful thing!

"Noriyaki, I'm surprised you remembered me." Kakyoin chuckled to himself. You smiled at him before blushing slightly. "It's kind of hard not to since our meeting was so embarrassing." You were the type to allow embarrassing moments to dwell in your head long after they occurred. It was quite cute. "It's quite alright neither of us were truly harmed. Are you usually so hard on yourself?" Your flushed face grew even more red with the last sentence. "Um...I hold my silence?" Kakyoin laughed at your meek response.

"That's quite alright... you know between you and me I happen to come to this sunken ship for human treasures." At the words "human treasures" your eyes lit up like bioluminescent phytoplankton at the thought of finding a kindred spirit. "I didn't know other merfolk liked human things, most of my friends call their things garbage." You looked down sadly as you finished your sentence, tracing the water rotted wooden beam in your hand. Kakyoin placed a hand of yours and stared at you with his mesmerizing purple eyes. "Some people don't understand something's value if it isn't immediately obvious." Kakyoin pulls out the glimmering brooch that shone in the filtered light of the ocean, bringing out the (e/c) of your eyes.

"It's absolutely beautiful." You marveled at the brilliant emeralds and rubies that made up the serpent pendent. In all your trips here, you had never found something so opulent before. Only thing close was a rusty spoon. Kakyoin noticed your eagerness with a tender smile. "You can have it if you want." You looked curiously at the merman seeing if he was being serious. "I'm not going to bite you; you can take it." Kakyoin smiled as the merrow hesitantly took the brooch from his outstretched hand. Yes, everything was going to plan, he imbued that brooch with magic so he could track where you go. Like the serpent in mythology, Kakyoin was not to be trusted.

"Thank you so much Nori!"

"You're welcome, my darling."

His plan was working smoothly as you were practically eating anything he told you straight from his palm. You were so sweet and trusting, it made his heart melt from fervent worship. He adored you more than anyone ever could, that alone should make him worthy of you. However, his fish disguise wore off after 48 hours and he'd be put through hell again to bring back the illusion. It wasn't the slightest bit healthy to keep this act up, but it would be all worth it in the end. When he had you safely in his arms.

His precious little mate

He'd find a way for you to have children, through magic or adoption. That way when you accept him you would be fully bound to each other. Forever. A blue flush covers his faces as he giggles to himself, oh you two would have so many wonderful years together! Just you and him and no one else.

Of course, there were a few road bumps Kakyoin needed to face first.

Your friends were skeptical of his intentions towards you as he looked familiar to a certain sea witch who was known for taking advantage of the poor souls who came to him out of sheer desperation. He couldn't let them continue to poison your mind with their deceitful words (where's the lie tho?). His amethyst eyes glinted with sadistic glee as one by one your friends were placed under his thumb as they came to him for help for problems he caused.

Poor darling, you had no idea why all your friends suddenly disappeared without a trace. The towns people became suspicious of you, thinking you were the reason all these merfolk disappeared. You were ripe with insecurity for Kakyoin to harvest. You fit perfectly in his arms as you sobbed about how life seemed to dole out more that your fair share of problems. "Kakyoin I don't know what I've done to deserve this, do you think my friends hate me?"

Hate you? No one could be capable of hating you, and the wretches who do will be swiftly dealt with. "They aren't worth your tears; good friends wouldn't disappear without telling you. Besides I'm here with you, aren't I?" You gave him that adorable grin that he loved so much. "You're right I have you."

Kakyoin was positively giddy as he swam around his lair, cleaning as best as he could. He convinced you to seek out the guidance of the Emerald Sea Witch, and you took it like the naive, trusting little thing you were. He couldn't wait to show you his real form and seal your souls together via contract. Humming a hypnotic tune to himself and swaying his tentacles sensually, he heard a sweet little frightened voice call out. "Hello, I'm looking for the Emerald Sea Witch."

Kakyoin swam to the darkest corner of his shadowy lair and grinned to himself. His hard work was paying off. Now to reel you in. "You've come to the right place little merrow." He purred sweetly to you. You looked confused as you heard the familiar voice, why did the witch sound like your friend. "My friend told me you might know about the recent disappearances of the merfolk."

He couldn't hold back his chuckle, he had to restrain himself from holding you in his tentacles and peppering you with kisses. You were just too precious. "You'll have to be more specific darling; merfolk are always going missing." You back into the merskeleton where he hangs his cloaks, causing you to squeak with fright. He should have put that away. You were trembling with fear, yet you balled your shaky fists with resolve. Turning to the direction Kakyoin was lounging you spoke shakily. "The merfolk who went missing were my friends, I would like to know if they are alive." The last part made your voice crack with sadness. Seeing you waste your tears on such scum made his cheeks color with rage.

Patience

Kakyoin steadied himself and spoke once more.

"I'll make a deal with you little merrow, I'll find your friends and even let you see them..." Your eyes lit up with glee before turning a bit skeptical. "What do you want in return?" Kakyoin smiled widely in the dark, just a little bit more and you'll be in his tentacles. "I want you to give me rare treasure." The treasure he was referring to was you, but he knew that you would foolishly think the pendant would suffice.

"Deal."

"Excellent, just sign here." Kakyoin snapped his fingers and a golden contract appeared in front of you. If you were smarter, you would notice the fine print entailing that the treasure in question, was your soul bound to his for eternity. You took the quill without hesitation and signed your name on the dotted line.

He did it!

You were his!

"Now where are my friends?" Kakyoin rolled a single vial to you, inside were the trapped souls of your friends crying for you to help them. You gasped in terror and attempted to flee. Two tentacles wrapped around your waist and pulled you towards him. "Not so fast my dear you haven't finished your end of the deal; I want my rare treasure."

You sobbed in terror at the appendages you hated your entire life, octopus were your kind's natural predator. "Take it, just let me go." You grabbed the broach out of your worn satchel and threw it in the witch's direction. "I thought you'd be smarter than that (Y/N)." It clicked as to who was the sea witch. "No." You wanted to curl up into a ball as Kakyoin laughed at the misery in your voice. "Now (Y/N) is that anyway to speak to an old friend."

Kakyoin stepped into the glowing light the cauldron produced making you cry out in fear, anger, and betrayal. "You're not my friend, you lied to me!" You pulled further a the grasp of the tentacles attempting to escape the red head, but he pulled you closer and nuzzled his face into your neck. "I know that I have been a bit dishonest with my method of courting you, but I promise to be more honest in the future." "People will come looking for me and you'll be sorry then!" Kakyoin looked you in your frightened (e/c) eyes and frowned. He then plucked the white ribbon from your hair and sent a magical current towards the town.

"No one will look for you if they think your dead my treasure." Kakyoin cooed gently. "Now then lets finish this courting process, I want us to officially become mates." This statement caused more sobbing from your end as a silver collar appeared around your neck.

"Why?" Was all you could muster. Kakyoin swayed hypnotically with you in his arms. "How couldn't I when you reeled me in."

Sorry if the ending sucked I just wanted to make room for new requests and start working more on my reincarnated sins posts and a cult village story with my own yandere ocs. I hope you enjoyed

[coldsaladpainter]

anyone know where I can find this Cecaeli shigaraki x siren!reader fic! 🥺🥺where siren!reader gets stuck under a boulder and shigaraki comes in to help her. i remember reading it not too long ago ,but can't seem to find it!! 😭😥

[joideka]

The ninth chapter is finished, we're in the home stretch!

[viciouslyyearning]

Oh to be a handsome little merfolk living happily under the waves of the sea.

Watching how the other merfolk disperse or silence themselves at the mention of the sea witch who lives far away in a hidden cavern. Only whispers of a broken riddle as the map of how to find him.

They say those who are brave, can. And those who are lucky, leave with their greatest wish granted to them. At what cost however? As the unlucky never return.

You are of some luck, both good and bad to have been swimming amidst the kelp beds when you see him for the first time.

And he was something to behold, black tentacles sprouting from his waist where your tail was. Stout figure covered in intricate golden markings along skin, and long white hair flowing around his form. He looked nothing like your fellow merfolk, who's agility and speed gave way to lean and lithe form, no. This was a massive man who's greatest assets looked to be strength, with the form to match.

Your curiosity grew as you watched the creature, noting how he muttered to himself over the different ingredients he must have been looking for, and as you saw his dark eyes you realized that your prior thought had been wrong. He was strong, that was certain. But this creature's greatest asset? Was intelligence.

Hiding within the vegetation along the sea floor, you simply watched the cecaelia with wide, intrigued eyes. Waiting till after he was gone to finally swim up and away yourself.

After that you kept an ear out for the cecaelia. Hearing every time one would seem desperate enough to search for him, watching as some returned proud and gleeful, others with some reluctance, and most, didn't.

The common theme between all of them that you could understand was there was a greater price to pay than expected.

The proud didn't realize what they might have lost, the wary knew all too well, and the others you had no clue.

You could almost taste fear in the salty water whenever he was mentioned, never by name, however.

One day, by your unknown state of luck, you saw him again. Along the reef where many merfolk will sell their wares and creations he was there, perusing a keeper's hand grown clams, ignoring the keeper who was hiding behind his own tailfin.

He was quiet in his search, selecting three with great care before leaving a generous portion of coin on the keepers counter as the merman wouldn't dare look the cecaelia in the eye.

The cecaelia seemed unbothered by such treatment, leaving you feeling a certain sort of empathy. You remember the days that most merfolk would almost ignore you for being different in personality and appearance.

This creature was such a mystery! Generous, and reserved, and intelligent, and capable, and possibly dangerous, gah! Why did he have to make it so hard on you?? Couldn't he be good or bad acting to easily let you know if you should squash those feelings you had begun to notice in your chest?? The nerve.

It takes another few days for you to make up your mind to satiate your curiosities and feelings. If you can find him by the riddle those who have been whisper, then you can speak with the creature and decide if it's worth anything at all.

After all, even he must be lonely, yes?

It was no easy venture, finding someone smart enough yet stupid enough to remember the words and to be willing to share them took effort, as did following the directions within those hidden words.

After a length of time would pass, you would be swimming along the bottom of a hidden trench in the sea floor, only accompanied by the occasional eel or slug.

And yet, you saw it. A deep crack in the stoney walls of the trench that widens into what would be a doorway for something over twice your size... Which the sea witch was. With any hesitation having long left you, you swam carefully towards and through the makeshift doorway. Eyes adjusting to see a cavern with makeshift shelves, lined with various oddities and ingredients, few set along the shelves, apart enough that their faint glow lit up the walls, hard rocks lining the ground and ceiling.

You swam slowly and carefully as to avoid any possible injury, wondering if the massive cecaelia could wander through with ease or as much difficulty as you were maneuvering with.

"I would be a poor host should I not greet you at the door." Spoke a strong voice from the shadows, you flicked your tail down, stilling your motion as you looked around. "However-" the voice called once more as the giant cecaelia moved into the dim light, tentacles carrying him easily as he moved to tower over you in the cavern entrance way. "-Had I been aware of your coming, I could have prepared, so I can't quite say I've been a poor host if I wasn't aware I was one. Wouldn't you say?" The words held no malice though there was something guarded in the way he watched you.

Your tail flicked nervously as you found your words, "My intention was not to cast you in such light, nor to enter unwelcomed. I... Wasn't quite aware that this was your home," you smiled sheepishly, hand resting upon the gills of your neck for a moment to stop yourself from continuing.

The sea witch watched with a more relaxed demeanor, granting a small grin as he gestured further into his home. "I suppose when put like that I can't mind. Come, you deliberately sought me out, did you not? Come further in and tell me what it is you seek."

You stalled for a moment, realizing he was waiting for you to move as he would not turn his back to you. Curious indeed. With no outward malice, you felt comfortable enough to flick your tail and move forward once more, swimming past the cecaelia and further into the cavern, you noted that the rocks smoothed and disappeared, leading to soft sand along the floor.

The sea witch followed you closely, stopping as you did in front of his makeshift table.

You turned with a slight startle, noticing how close he was, or at least it felt like it, with how his tentacles splayed out along the floor, they could easily reach out and wrap thrice around you at minimum. Though they remained as relaxed as he appeared. "I must confess, I am here for my own curiosities, not for something of a physicality."

He paused, settling down at the table and resting his arms against it, leaning towards you. "And what curiosities are you to indulge in here?"

Following his lead, you relaxed against the tabletop, trying to ignore the warmth in your cheeks and neck as well as your ear fins nervous twitching. "Curiosities of you..."

"I'm sorry?"

You watched the incredulous look upon his face with confusion. Surely you weren't the first to take an interest in the man. Tilting your head, you watched carefully as you chose your next words one by one. "I am curious of you, I've seen you multiple times before. I've felt certain ways at the simple mention of you and with you only coming around every so often I decided to find you myself to learn more about you and decide what to do with these feelings of mine."

The sight of such a powerful looking creature covering his mouth with a dark purple flush covering his round cheeks was quite a sight. Especially once you realized that his tentacles had curled up, making him look smaller than before.

You smiled easily and patiently as you waited for a reply.

"I...-" he cut himself off. Shaking his head and finally looking away from you, to the ground. Eyes going from something warm to cold, almost cruel. "Have you come to humiliate me on behalf of some sorry fool who thinks me to blame for their misfortune?" His quiet voice turning into a snarl as he bared a row of fangs you hadn't noticed before.

You jolted back, confused and concerned now. "What could you possibly mean by that?"

The creature shifted to height once more, no longer settled but looking between a mix of agitated and hurt. "Just what makes you think I'd believe for a moment that such a handsome little merfolk like yourself would express such interest in this monstrosity?! There are plenty of other mers of your own size and almost of your own beauty to settle with, not some-" he raised a hand, attempting to accentuate his point before letting out a deep sigh, closing his eyes and lowering once more.

You stared for a moment, caught between flustered over the manner in which he referred to you, and feeling sorry that he didn't believe you. Slowly, you swam upward, to be at eye level with him, as soon as the water current from your movements reached him you saw him almost flinch back.

That wouldn't do.

Slowly, gently, you took his far larger hand in your own, raising it up to hold as you waited for him to open his eyes.

Slowly, he did, turning to look at you with such an open expression you couldn't help just how soft your own voice had grown. "I am here of my own volition because there is something about you that I wish to know more of." You watch as the flushed look returns to his face, feeling the warmth emanating off of his form. "I have seen your intelligence, I have seen your quiet, I have seen your generosity and gentle hand, even when ignored so blatantly." You lean closer, less than a tail away and able to feel the water shift where his tentacles have risen and circled around you, almost close enough to hold. "This, is why I am here. To learn from you what I could only learn by spending time with you, if you'll let me?" You question softly.

The cecaelia stared intently, eyes never leaving your form, he can smell a lie, and there isn't a single one. A cautious voice rises from his chest. "If this is what you truly wish, I would happily welcome your company for as long as you care to return. However, such a deal even if this nature, requires something in return."

"I'm ... Afraid I don't have much," your voice wanders off

The water tenses as his voice grows stronger, more certain in his words, "I find that this will be easily granted by you, should you wish strongly enough to do as you've said." You feel his hand in yours finally grip yours with a gentle strength, almost refusing to release as he slowly pulls you closer, massive form almost encompassing you as his confidence returns in full force. "A kiss." His breathing deepens as he watches your response.

You can practically feel the intensity of this creature in just his gaze alone. You've already learned something new. He is very intense. That intensity might manifest in whatever deals he creates but in this moment it is focused entirely on you.

With that thought in mind, you move suddenly and without warning, allowing you to catch him off guard. With a strong push of your tail you've made yourself close enough to grab his face with your free hand and press your lips to his, closing your eyes and feeling his entire body jolt before melting into your far smaller form, happily.

It only last a moment before you pull away with a small grin, hand still resting on his cheek. The expression of surprises and genuine warmth catches you off guard.

"Akos."

You tilt your head at his response.

"I give you my name, Akos. You wanted to learn more of me, the first thing I can tell you that no one else knows is just that." He speaks easily, arms moving to keep you close.

"Akos," you mutter quietly, delighting in how you can see him shiver despite trying to hide it. You lean closer once more, watching his eyes close as your nose bumps against his, lips slowly finding their way back together as you speak. "What else will you give to me?"

A quick breath catches in his throat as he feels your lips move over his with your words. Trying and failing to at least keep his tentacles from holding onto your tail as well.

"Anything," he breaths, finally pulling you close enough to be pressed against his form. "Everything."

[vunblr]

Tangled (#6)

Pairing: Cecaelia! Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Warnings: 18+ only. Slight Angst. Fluff. Slow Burn. Eventual teratophilia.

Summary: Between fear and fascination, a solitary creature struggles to protect his hidden world -and himself- after an unexpected encounter with a curious human woman makes him question everything he thought he knew about trust, danger, and boundaries.

Word Count: 8.6k.

Previous Chapter

The warmth of the room contrasted with the dampness on his skin as he stepped toward the couch, moving cautiously, still adjusting to the feel of a body that wasn’t entirely his own. The fabric of the clothes she’d given him clung to him uncomfortably, scented with something that wasn’t his, or hers.

She sat perched on the couch, watching him with a small, tired smirk. “Well, now that you probably won’t get sick from your little adventure of coming here in your birthday suit-” she paused when his brow furrowed, then sighed. “It’s a saying. Forget it.”

His eyes roamed over her body, noting the slight rasp in her voice, the way her shoulders slumped just a fraction, the way her eyes weren't bright as always. His fingers curled at his sides. She had gotten sick because of him.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, patting the space next to her in invitation.

He hesitated before settling beside her, though he didn’t lean back. “Fine.”

She studied him for a beat before lowering her voice. “Does it hurt? To… shift?”

Silence. His jaw tensed, and for a moment, he didn’t answer. But then, finally, a quiet, reluctant-

“Yes.”

Her brows knit together. “Then why did you?”

His gaze flicked toward her, with something guarded in his expression. “I told you. You didn’t come.”

Oh.

She tilted her head. “Did you miss me?” she prodded, with a teasing lilt in her voice.

“No.” The answer came too fast, too sharp. But the way his mouth pressed into a thin line told her otherwise.

She hummed, not calling him out on it, and he shifted beside her, exhaling sharply through his nose. “I was… concerned.” His voice dipped lower. “Humans are weak.”

Her lips twitched, but she didn’t get the chance to respond before his hand moved -slowly, deliberately- toward her arm. He gave her time to pull away, but she didn’t. Instead, she watched as he lifted the sleeve of her nightgown, revealing the marks on her skin. His bite.

The wounds had already healed, but faint scars remained, barely visible yet undeniable proof of what he had done. His thumb ghosted over them, tracing the small punctures with a strange sort of reverence.

She wasn’t sure how to react. Just days ago, she never would have imagined this: having him in her living room, touching her like this. And despite everything, despite knowing what he was, she couldn’t ignore the simple, undeniable truth.

He was beautiful.

Now even more so, with his freshly trimmed hair framing his sharp features.

“Well,” she said softly. “You can see now that I’m okay. You didn’t hurt me, Bucky. I’m just sick.”

“Because of me,” he muttered, still staring at her arm as if willing the marks to disappear.

She sighed. “You didn’t compel me to enter the cave. Or to dive into the water.”

At that, his head lifted, piercing blue eyes meeting hers. “Why were you there?”

She arched a brow. “Unlike you, I did miss you. And I wanted to know if you were still there.”

His lips parted slightly as if caught off guard. Missed?

Why?

All he had done was lurk, watching from the shadows, offering little more than curt responses and wary glances. The only real exchange they’d shared -one he barely understood himself- was that moment on the shore, when he had let her unknowingly court him.

His grip on her wrist tightened slightly. “Why?” His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant.

She held his gaze. “Well… I got used to having you there. And when you weren’t, it felt… lonely.”

Lonely.

The word struck something in his chest, something foreign, curling in the spaces he never thought had been empty.

His fingers loosened on her skin, but he didn’t pull away.

He should.

Because this was dangerous. Because her presence, her warmth, the way she looked at him… it was doing things to him, unraveling things he wasn’t sure he could afford to let loose.

His kind did not need.

Did not want.

Did not crave.

And yet, as he looked at her, at the way she sat close but unafraid, at the fading marks on her skin that tied them together in a way he hadn’t expected-

He knew that was a lie.

His voice was quiet when he finally spoke.

“…You shouldn’t.”

He exhaled through his nose, with something between frustration and resignation flickering across his face. His fingers twitched against her wrist before he finally let go, pulling back slightly.

"Why shouldn't I?" she pressed, tilting her head as she studied him. "You’ve been there almost since I got here. Damn, I think you’re the one I’ve spent the most time with since my arrival. It makes sense."

His jaw tensed. "Because I'm not like you. Because… of what I am."

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t recoil. Just held his gaze. "Would you hurt me intentionally?"

The answer came without hesitation. "No."

She smiled then. "There you have it."

He stared at her, with something unreadable in his expression, like he was trying to understand how she could say it so simply. Like trust was an easy thing. Like he hadn’t been raised on the knowledge that anything weaker than you was prey, and anything stronger would tear you apart.

His lips pressed together. "Stubborn woman." He watched as she pressed a hand to her chest, waiting for a coughing fit to pass.

"Hey…" she rasped once she caught her breath. "You're talking almost fluidly now. Why is that?"

He shifted, clearly uncomfortable, with his fingers drumming once against his thigh before stilling. "Shifting… somehow makes it easier the longer I maintain this form."

"I see." She nodded, filing that information away. Another cough bubbled up, and she barely caught it behind her fist.

His eyes flicked to her throat, then her chest, then away. "Do you have medicine?"

“Yeah,” she sighed, leaning back into the couch, exhausted. “But what I really need is rest.”

“I should leave then,” he said reluctantly. He had followed the pull of wondering about her, needing to see her with his own eyes, to confirm that her absence wasn’t because of him. Or at least, not entirely. Now that he knew she was alive, and relatively well, he shouldn’t linger. Shouldn’t disturb her peace.

Besides… He wiggled his toes, with a strange, unwelcomed sensation. In this form, he felt incomplete. Vulnerable.

She chuckled lightly. “You just got here, and now you’re running off?”

His jaw tensed. “I don’t run. You need rest.” He repeated it, softer, as if trying to convince himself. “I shouldn’t be here.”

“Why not?” She frowned, pushing herself up slightly against the cushions. “You’re welcome here. You came all this way just to see how I was. You even went to the extreme of shifting to reach my house. I’m not going to send you away just because I have a cold.”

Welcome.

She said it so simply, like it was obvious. Like it made sense for him to be here, in her space, wrapped in clothes that weren’t his, stuck in a form that felt unnatural.

His fingers curled into the fabric of his borrowed pants, restless. The feeling made his skin itch. Wrong. Incomplete. This body wasn’t his. This place wasn’t his.

But she was looking at him expectantly, waiting.

“What would I do here?” he asked at last, hesitantly.

She tilted her head, considering him for a beat. “What about doing me some company? And... talk a little.”

“…About what?” he asked cautiously.

She hesitated, then drew her knees up slightly, folding her hands over them. “What about what happened to you? Who hurt you?”

His jaw worked, and the muscles twitched along his cheek. He didn’t look at her, not fully, as his gaze drifted just past her, staring into something she couldn’t see.

“I don’t…” he started, then faltered, exhaling slowly, as if trying to collect himself. His eyes dropped to the floor. “My own,” he finally said.

She froze. Her stomach twisted. “Oh god…”

So there were more like him.

It wasn’t the fact itself that shocked her, more that she hadn’t truly considered it until now. That he belonged to something. Or had. That he’d been hurt not by humans, but by those meant to be kin.

“Why?” she asked softly, scanning his face for answers he didn’t offer.

But he was already retreating. His shoulders hunched inward, and his spine curved slightly as he folded into himself, as he could disappear in the space between them. His mouth opened as if to speak, then closed again. When he finally spoke, the words came clipped.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

There was a flicker of something like shame in his eyes, quickly masked, but she caught it before it vanished. He looked away as if the words might crack something open.

“I know I owe you,” he added after a moment. “You saved me. But… not now. Later.”

She nodded in understanding. “Okay.”

A beat passed.

“Should I be worried?” she asked carefully. “About them? Hurting you again… or coming here?”

His gaze snapped back to hers then, sharp. “No.”

There was finality in that word.

“They can’t.” he added, quieter this time.

The way he said it didn’t invite questions.

She tucked her legs beneath her, turning slightly toward him on the couch. He looked awkward perched there, with his shoulders stiff, and hands resting too carefully on his thighs like he wasn’t sure what to do with them.

Her voice was quiet when she asked, “Is it hard… living in the sea?”

His brows drew together, faintly puzzled by the question. “No.”

She tilted her head. “Really?”

He hesitated before elaborating. “I don’t perceive danger… not like you do. My kind is one of the dangers.”

That should have made her uneasy, but the way he said it, it wasn’t boastful. Just matter-of-fact. Like gravity.

“What about sharks?” she asked, trying to picture it, picturing him in the vast darkness.

A faint twitch crossed his mouth. Not a smile, exactly. “They’ve learned not to engage with my kin.”

Her mouth parted slightly. He wasn’t bragging. He was just stating the rules of the deep. She wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders, not out of fear, but wonder.

A beat passed before she asked, “Do you remember the first time you saw land? People?”

His eyes flicked toward the covered window, where the moonlight spilled through the cracks in the wood.

“Yes.” A pause. “Too bright. Loud.”

She nodded, imagining the sensory shock. After dark water and silence, the sharp light, the clamor of human life.

“And the people?”

He looked back at her, for a long moment. Then, quietly, “They seemed… incomplete.”

Her breath caught a little at that. “Incomplete how?”

He didn’t answer at first. Just watched her. His gaze dropped briefly to the curve of her shoulder, the place where fabric met skin. Then he looked away again, staring at his hands.

“I don’t know,” he murmured. “Too much missing.”

“You mean the…” she gestured vaguely, in the direction of his legs.

He gave a single nod.

“How is it like?” she asked, with curiosity. “I mean… I can’t imagine trying to coordinate even one more limb.”

“You just do,” he replied, with a small shrug.

She gave him a dry look. “That’s not helpful.”

A faint huff of amusement escaped his lips, almost a ghost of a chuckle. “They are like arms. Legs. You don’t think about moving yours. You move.”

She opened her mouth to argue but paused when he held up a hand, moving his fingers slightly, mimicking the movement of the suckers. “Also… I can smell with them.”

Her brows rose. “The suction cups?”

He nodded again.

“Really?” she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “How does that work?”

He looked thoughtful for a second. “I smell through my nose, mostly. But if I want… I can use them too. Same for tasting.”

Her mouth parted in amazement. “Taste? Like… licking the sand?”

His nose wrinkled in offense. “I don’t lick the sand.”

She bit back a laugh. “But you know how it tastes.”

He didn’t confirm or deny it. Just gave her a flat look.

“I said it’s when I want to,” he muttered.

She grinned. “Okay, okay. So when do you want to?”

A pause.

“With prey. Food. And…” He trailed off, clearly debating the last part. Then, reluctantly, “To know others. Recognize.”

Her smile faltered slightly at the shift in tone. “Like… scent memory?”

He gave a short nod.

She sat back, trying to imagine what it would be like, to feel someone’s presence not just through sight or sound, but in a physical, chemical way. It was intimate. Far more intimate than anything human.

“Did you… do that with me?” she asked quietly.

He didn’t answer. But his eyes held hers for just a moment too long. Long enough to say yes without a word.

She recalled the cave, the moment she’d gripped his tendril like it was a hand, before she’d run back home to get the supplies.

“And… do you have or had any human friends?” she asked, tilting her head.

His shoulders stiffened instantly and he averted his gaze.

“No.”

Just that. A wall built with one word.

She winced inwardly. Okay, touchy subject. She tried to steer the conversation to safer waters, nudging his leg gently with her knee, and offering a crooked smile.

“Well, now you do,” she said, “And I don’t have any other cecaelia friends, so, we’re each other’s first.”

His head turned toward her slowly, with his brows furrowed like he didn’t quite understand the framing. But then, something flickered across his face. Confusion, maybe. Or surprise. He didn’t smile, not exactly, but the tension lifted from his jaw.

“Firsts,” he repeated under his breath like he was tasting the word. Testing the idea.

She nodded, grinning now. “That’s right. So you better not ghost me.”

He blinked. “I am not a ghost.”

Another small laugh bubbled from her lips. “It’s a saying.”

"I don’t like your sayings," he grumbled, casting her a sideways glance.

She only smiled wider, clearly unbothered.

But inside, something warm bloomed in his chest.

Her first.

He was her first of something. Her first cecaelia friend. Not that it must be special since the natural course of things would be that she never met one, but… still. The first creature from the sea she had talked to, trusted, and even bled for.

It made him feel pleased, in a way that startled him. He was marked by her in a way that no other had done before. He looked away before she could catch the subtle shift in the corner of his mouth.

She was about to say something else, -maybe tease him again, or ask another question- when her phone suddenly rang.

The shrill sound cut through the silent room, making him flinch. His shoulders jerked slightly and his eyes darted to the source of the noise like it had personally threatened him. She reached for the device and checked the caller ID, already sighing.

“It’s Arthur,” she mumbled, more to herself, before picking up. "Hey."

Bucky watched with narrowed eyes as she lifted the small glowing rectangle to her ear. His gaze flicked between her face and the phone, with confusion etched across his features.

He tilted his head, listening.

A male voice came through the device, distant but unmistakably real, and something shifted in Bucky’s expression. His brow furrowed, and his jaw tightened, as he straightened slightly where he sat.

“What are you doing?” he asked, low but insistent.

She paused, turning her head slightly toward him. “Talking with someone. I’ll explain later.”

On the phone, Arthur’s voice grew more pointed. "Who’s there?"

She glanced at Bucky before answering. “A friend.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes.”

There was a pause.

“Do you have a man from town and didn’t tell me?”

Her mouth opened, then closed again, and she could feel the irritation creeping into her tone. “He’s not my man, and- you know what, Arthur? You heard that I’m fine. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to let my throat rest.”

Another beat of silence. Then, Arthur’s resigned, “Sure... whatever you say. Love you.”

She rubbed her temple. “I love you too.” Then she ended the call and dropped the phone beside her with a groan, rubbing her eyes.

Bucky was still watching her.

She lifted the phone slightly. “That was my cousin Arthur. We use this device to talk to people far away. Like... sending a voice across the wind.” She wiggled the phone for emphasis, and he looked at it warily, still not entirely convinced it wasn’t some form of magic.

“Why call?” he asked, narrowing his eyes again.

“Because he knows I’m sick,” she said with a small shrug. “He worries.”

He hesitated, and then his voice came quieter, more strained. “Is he... special?”

There was a flicker of something strange in his expression, too subtle to be called jealousy, but definitely discomfort. She tilted her head, puzzled.

“Why would he care if you were with a man?” he added. The words slipped out faster than he meant them to. He glanced away immediately like he regretted asking.

She blinked at him again. “He’s just a little protective. Always been.”

“Why?”

“Because we love each other-”

“Love,” he repeated, cutting her off. His eyes darted to hers. “So he is special.”

There was a pause. She studied him for a moment, then smiled gently.

“Bucky... not like that. He’s my cousin,” she repeated, slower this time, hoping it would land better.

But he kept staring at her, unmoved, and his brow furrowed slightly, not in confusion, but calculation.

“We don’t… get involved romantically with our cousins,” she added, feeling the strange need to clarify, even though it should’ve been obvious.

“Why?” he asked flatly.

She blinked. “Because it’s weird as fuck,” she said, with a half-laugh, half-groan. “And wrong. It’s just... not something we do.”

He didn’t look particularly convinced. “Our numbers are low. Pairing within the clan is sometimes necessary.”

She stared at him. “Wow. Okay. Well… this is not one of those cases. Arthur’s basically like a brother to me. Protective, annoying, nosy. That’s all.”

His jaw ticked slightly, but the stiffness in his shoulders loosened just a bit. “Good.”

“Good?” she echoed, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t like the way he asked if you had a man,” Bucky muttered, barely above a growl. “Like he had a right to know.”

“He’s just nosy, and he worries,” she said with a small shrug, trying to brush off the tension. Then, with a teasing lilt, “Why, are you jealous?”

Bucky's face didn’t change much, but his jaw worked slightly. “No,” he said coolly. “Just don’t like the idea of you telling him I was here,” he muttered, as the crease between his brows deepened.

She gave him a flat look. “You were the one who spoke and made yourself known, remember?”

He pouted, almost childlike. “Still.”

She chuckled. “Anyway, he just thinks I’m starting to socialize. Assumes you’re someone from town, so it’s fine.”

His gaze didn’t waver. “Why does he care if you socialize?”

She blinked at him, caught off guard by how talkative he suddenly was. “Wow. You really got into the spirit of conversation, huh?” she teased with a dry smile, then let her head rest back against the couch cushions with a sigh. “Arthur doesn’t want me to be alone. I moved here with no one around, and he worries. Thinks I should blend in, and make friends. That kind of thing.”

He was quiet for a beat, considering. Then, softly, “Why are you here?”

“Oh. Um… my lungs. They were getting worse in the city, with too much pollution, and too many meds just to breathe properly. It wasn’t sustainable. My doctor suggested trying the coast. Cleaner air, more stable conditions.” She glanced around the room with a faint smile. “Arthur had this place sitting empty, and since I can work from almost anywhere, I figured, why not?”

"And... has it helped?" he asked finally, voice lower, more tentative.

She gave a small smile. “Yeah. Surprisingly, yeah.”

“So you’ll stay,” he said, more a statement than a question.

She looked at him for a moment, then gave a soft shrug. “I guess so.”

A sudden, loud growl echoed from his stomach. He scowled instantly as if feeling betrayed by his own body. She bit back a laugh.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Shifting… does that,” he muttered, clearly annoyed by the human form’s demands.

“Well,” she said, pushing herself up from the couch with a small groan, “I can’t cook you much. I need to go grocery shopping. I’ve only got some crackers, bread, and a couple of apples left.”

He blinked, clearly unfamiliar with the offerings. “Don’t know what any of those are. Don’t you have more fish?”

“You ate it all,” she said, raising a brow at him. “And, to be honest, I don’t particularly like fish. Besides, I really don’t think you should eat raw meat like this, it could make you sick in that body.” She moved toward the kitchen. “Let me make you some toast with butter and cut up an apple. You’ll survive.”

He frowned deeply, clearly dubious of her idea of food. But before he could protest, she added, “You won’t know if you like it unless you try. You liked the strawberries, didn’t you?”

He hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod. His pride didn’t let him say it out loud, but he had liked them, maybe a little too much.

“Good. Then trust me.”

----

He ended up eating half a loaf of toasted bread and two whole apples.

At first, he just watched her prepare the toasts, waryly. The first time they popped from the toaster, he hissed low, tensing instinctively as if ready to strike. She jumped too, startled by his reaction, and then burst out laughing. He narrowed his eyes at the appliance, clearly offended by its unpredictability.

But after a few more jumps and cautious glances, he stepped in. “Sit,” he ordered, nudging her lightly by the shoulder. “You said you need rest.”

She blinked in surprise as he took over at the counter, mimicking her earlier motions with tentative, then increasingly confident hands. His brows furrowed in concentration as he used far too much butter, slathering it on thickly. When he brought three toasts to her, he offered one toward her mouth.

“Eat. You need to get stronger.”

She stared at the glossy, golden surface. “Honey, this is butter with toast, not toast with butter,” she chuckled.

“I like butter,” he grunted, clearly unbothered. “Why can’t I eat it alone?”

“Because you’re going to get sick.”

He growled under his breath, sitting beside her with his own stack. “Everything makes humans sick.”

“Not everything,” she argued, taking a bite anyway if only to appease him. “We’re just not meant to eat half a stick of butter in one go.”

He shrugged, unconvinced, already sinking his teeth into another overloaded slice. The toast crunched loudly, and his eyes fluttered slightly in pleasure, he’d never say it aloud, but the warmth, the fat, and the strange comfort of it was addictive.

“You’re not what I expected,” she said after a moment.

He swallowed. “What you expected?”

“Not this,” she smiled. “Definitely not this.”

----

They did small talk for a while longer, little things, mostly. She explained what toast was actually supposed to look like, and he insisted butter was in the superior food group. He asked what an apple tree looked like, and she tried to explain the better she could. It was easy, surprisingly so. The words flowed easier than they had before, and his posture slowly relaxed, like he was forgetting to stay on guard.

Eventually, she stood, feeling her joints protest just a little. “I’ll make some tea, you want a cup?” she asked with a yawn, stretching her arms over her head.

He shook his head no, tilting his head back against the couch, with his eyes following her for a beat longer than necessary before they slid shut.

By the time she returned, with the mug steaming between her hands, he was sound asleep. His head was tilted against the backrest, his mouth slightly parted, and his brows unfurrowed for once. Peaceful.

“Oh well,” she whispered with a fond little sigh.

Carefully, she set her cup down and tiptoed closer, picking up the throw blanket from the armrest and draping it over his frame. He didn’t stir, only shifted slightly, with a little breath slipping past his lips. The edge of his fingers twitched once before going still again.

----

He stirred slowly. It took a moment for his body to remember itself. Too warm, too heavy, the limbs wrong in ways that made his muscles twitch in protest.

Then he remembered. The shift.

His face scrunched as he stretched his arms and legs. There was a faint ache along his spine and a vague pressure low in his belly.

He frowned, sitting up.

He needed to relieve himself.

He scanned the room, narrowing his eyes at closed doors, appliances, and strange boxes with buttons. None of this made sense. The human way didn’t make sense. And he wasn’t about to risk desecrating some water-holding contraption she might scold him for.

So, barefoot and silent, he padded toward the front door. He then stepped just past the edge of the fence, into the sparse brush, and did what came naturally.

He didn’t just piss, he marked. He exhaled softly as he did it, the scent was sharp and unmistakable, meant for any creature lurking to catch. A signal, primal and unambiguous. This place is claimed. She is not alone.

It wasn’t dominance. Not exactly. It was insurance. For her.

Once done, he crept back inside, closing the door with careful fingers. Curiosity pulled him toward the kitchen. The strange devices called to him, he already knew the toaster. The kettle earned a more cautious inspection. He sniffed it. Snorted. Left it alone. A few lights blinked at him from the oven panel. They meant nothing. Numbers, yes, but not ones he understood its purpose.

Then, something tugged him again. He moved through the hallway quietly, pausing before her bedroom door. It was cracked open. Just barely.

----

The first threads of sunlight filtered timidly through the wooden panels that covered her windows.

He had been standing there for a while. Still as a statue. Watching.

At some point, he’d allowed himself to move closer. Now, he stood right beside the bed, drawn in without even realizing it. She lay half-turned toward him, with her features softened by sleep. He studied the curve of her nose, the softness of her lips, and the subtle shifts in her expression as she dreamed. A twitch of her brow. A small sound caught at the back of her throat.

He could have watched forever.

But watching wasn’t enough.

He leaned in -slowly, cautiously- and let his face hover just above hers. Close enough to catch her warmth. He then tilted his head and gently pressed his nose into her hair, breathing her in.

Her scent had already marked something inside him. It was more subdued now, faded by illness and sleep, but still hers. Still her. A hum rolled low in his throat, entirely involuntary.

He wished that he was in his true form. That he could really sense her. Letting the suction cups along his limbs explore and catalog every nuance of her skin, her essence. That he could taste the delicate balance of her chemistry, the things no human nose or mouth could detect.

But this body was dull.

Blunted.

It left him chasing ghosts of sensations he couldn’t quite hold on to.

Maybe… maybe that was for the best.

Because if he could -if he had his full senses, his true body- he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself. To hold back from exploring her the way his kind did, from knowing her in ways that weren't meant to be rushed or taken without care.

So this dull, limited form -this shell- was also a cage. A cage he hated for keeping him from her… even as he relied on it to keep her safe from everything he didn’t yet know how to control.

She stirred suddenly, shifting with a faint sigh and rolling onto her back.

The motion startled him.

He’d been far too focused, hovering too close, with his nose nearly buried in her hair, so entranced by her that he hadn’t noticed the change in her breathing pattern. His instincts screamed too late. His body jerked back, and one foot slipped on the edge of the small carpet by her bed.

Without the stabilizing limbs of his true form,  there was nothing to counterbalance the stumble.

He landed hard on his ass with a muffled grunt.

She blinked slowly awake, pinching her brows together as she tried to piece understand the thud that had pulled her from sleep.

“…Bucky?” she murmured.

He froze, caught between wounded pride and the inexplicable desire to disappear into the floor.

No words came out of his mouth at first. He just sat there on the floor, caught in that awkward half-sprawl, glaring mildly at the treacherous little rug.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, with her voice thick with sleep as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“I thought you called,” he said, far too quickly. A lie, delivered with the stiffest casual tone. “But I slipped on this thing.”

She looked down at the rug, then back at him with a soft gasp. “Oh! Are you alright?”

“Yes,” he muttered through gritted teeth.

Another lie. His ass hurt like hell. So did his pride.

They eventually ended up having breakfast at the kitchen table. As she buttered a piece of toast for herself, she glanced at him. “So… what are you going to do now?”

He finished chewing, swallowed, and then answered flatly, “Go back to the sea. I only came to check if you were still alive.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile. “Thanks, I guess.”

He tilted his head slightly. “And you? You’ll rest?”

“That’s the idea,” she nodded, taking a bite. “But I have to go grocery shopping first. I’m out of everything.”

He frowned at that. Something about the image of her wandering the streets alone, still sick and tired, didn’t sit right with him. Against every ingrained instinct, caution and the nightmare he was forced to endure-

His mouth opened before his brain could catch up.

“I’ll go with you.”

She looked up from her mug, surprised. “You will?”

“Just... to carry your things.”

That wasn’t it. Not really. He could admit it to himself now, if only barely. What had driven him to her house in the first place wasn’t just concern. It was the pull of something older, instinctive. His kind didn’t attach easily, but once they did...

He shifted in his chair, restless. Everything in him resisted the idea of walking into a town. Exposing himself. After what had been done to him, he had no reason to trust anyone with legs. For years, he hadn’t. And yet…

He looked at her.

She blinked at him, still drowsy from sleep, and then smiled.

He swallowed hard.

“I just don’t like the idea of you going alone,” he added, quieter now.

Not because she was helpless. But because she mattered.

Then-

“Are you sure?” she asked, eyeing him with hesitation. “You don’t exactly like people. And… what if someone realizes-?”

“Do I look less than human?” he interrupted, flatly.

She hesitated, looking at him. No. He didn’t. He looked… unfairly human. Muscular body, strong jaw, that soft hair. Even hunched a little with discomfort, he would draw attention whether he wanted it or not.

“Handsome bastard,” she added, mostly to herself.

He blinked.

“Unless…” she paused, thinking it through. “We drive to town, I go in and grab you something more appropriate, you change in the car, and then we go shopping.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “You’d… do that?”

She gave a small shrug. “Well, yeah. You came all this way, in a form that clearly makes you uncomfortable, just to check on me. The least I can do is help you look less like a tourist who lost his suitcase.” She smiled, already getting to her feet. “I’ll grab my keys. You, uh… maybe tie your hair back or something. Less sea-witch, more… vaguely feral man.”

He looked at her, unsure if it was meant as an insult or compliment.

----

As they stepped out of the house, she said again, “It’ll be easier to bring the groceries back with the car,” and then stepped around the side of the cottage. “And… for you to change, too. It’s more discreet.”

He followed, slow and silent, until she reached a blue-grey tarp tucked between the cottage wall and a hedge of wind-battered shrubs. With a grunt, she yanked it free, revealing an old hatchback hidden beneath.

Bucky stopped a few feet away, staring.

It didn’t look alive, but it didn’t look dead either. Just dormant. Waiting.

The shape, the shine of glass and metal, the strange bulges and grooves of its design, it all pulled uneasily in his chest. It resembled the deep-sea carriers he’d once been forced to attack. Bulky mechanical things that pulsed through the water like beasts, cold and full of purpose. Man-made. Mindless.

“You okay?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder as she unlocked the door.

He clenched his jaw. “Yes.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press. Instead, she opened the passenger door and pushed the seat back as far as it would go to accommodate his frame. “Alright then. Hop in.”

He approached slowly, feeling the muscles across his back tight with restraint. Getting inside felt unnatural, like crawling into a shell that wasn’t his. The space was tight, and the materials were foreign. The moment she started the engine, the vehicle gave a low growl and vibrated beneath him.

He flinched, nearly imperceptible, but she noticed.

He hated that she noticed.

He hated it more that he couldn’t control it. That his body reacted like he was prey, not a predator. Not a male. And somewhere inside, that old fear echoed: that showing anything less than strength would ruin the way she saw him. That it would dim something in her eyes when she looked at him.

He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to be small to her.

Then, her hands settled on top of his, squeezing gently.

“Everything’s fine,” she said. “You’ll enjoy the ride.”

His gaze dropped to her fingers, to the little arch of her thumb resting against his.

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

But he didn’t pull away.

----

She returned to the car with a paper bag full of clothes, balancing it carefully against her hip as she approached. Sweatpants -one size up this time- a couple of Henleys in darker, subdued tones, and a pair of plain sneakers that felt sturdy and big enough for someone like him. She parked on an empty street tucked between rows of quiet houses, far from curious eyes,

“I’ll wait out here,” she told him, “Let me know when you’re done.”

He didn’t answer, just took the bag with a slight frown, already tugging at the contents with stiff hands.

She leaned against the car, with her arms crossed, and her eyes on the street. In the background, she could hear soft grunts of frustration, the rustle of fabric, a muffled growl when something didn’t stretch or bend the way he expected.

It took him a while.

Eventually, a soft knock came from the window.

She turned to see him gesturing for her to step aside. Wordlessly, she opened the passenger door and moved back, watching as he slid out of the car still tugging at the waistband of the sweatpants, with the hem of the shirt twisted just slightly off-center. But the clothes fit. Perfectly, even. It was the way he wore them that made them look borrowed.

“Well, looks like I got the size right,” she said, offering a small smile.

He gave a noncommittal grunt, glancing down, down to where the sneakers sat on his feet, with the laces untied and flopping.

“You didn’t tie them?”

A brief pause. “Didn’t know how,” he muttered. Defensive.

“That’s alright. Let me help.” She crouched before he could argue.

She took one foot gently, adjusting the tongue of the shoe before pulling the laces tight. Her fingers moved looping, crossing, tightening, until the knot held firm. Then the next.

“There,” she said softly, glancing up as her fingers lingered to correct the skewed hem of his shirt, smoothing it down over his side. “Now you’re officially dressed like a local,” she stated, stepping back just enough to look him over.

He kept watching her in that unreadable way, quiet and unmoving.

“Well… hmm. Let me fix your hair a little and then we’re ready to go. Somehow you managed to make a nest in there.”

“Is it necessary?” he asked, eyeing her hand like it was some unpredictable force.

“Yes. Come on, bow a little so I can reach you.”

He hesitated, but then slowly inclined his head, lowering his body enough for her fingers to slip into his hair. Her touch was gentle, raking through the tousled waves and smoothing them into something more presentable. But to him, it was something else entirely.

Her collarbone was just there, close enough to breathe in, and despite himself, he leaned forward just enough to catch her scent again. It was familiar now, soothing. He urged his body to stay still, to keep his hands at his sides and not do something reckless, not reach for something he wasn’t sure he should want.

 “There.” She pulled her hands back from his hair, satisfied with her work. “You look very good. We’ll have to be careful or some ladies might whisk you away in a minute.”

He tensed, straightening up as if preparing for a fight. “H-how?” he asked, alarmed. “Can you get captured just by shopping? I thought humans were gregarious, do they prey on one another?” he furrowed his brows. Another reason for going with her then. Who would’ve thought the risk of abduction still applied, even in this form?

“No, no, Bucky,” she said quickly, chuckling as she placed a calming hand on his arm. “It’s just a saying. A joke. You look so handsome that some woman might want to steal you away to…” she waved her hand vaguely, “you know flirt, whatever.”

His shoulders relaxed, but only slightly. His brow still furrowed as he processed the idea. Not prey then. Just... female attention.

He didn’t know if that was better.

Still, he gave a small grunt, flicking his gaze to her hand, before going back to her face. The idea of being wanted wasn’t exactly bad, but it was unfamiliar. Untrustworthy. Not if it came from strangers.

----

The store was, thankfully, more or less, quiet.

Off-season calm meant no lines, fewer eyes, and soft overhead music that Bucky visibly hated. Still, he followed her closely -almost too close- sweeping his gaze over every aisle, item, and person with that same tension he carried like armor. She noticed how he looked at everything with a concealed sort of awe: the shelves stacked with glimmering packaging, the rows of colorful produce misted gently by overhead sprinklers, and the refrigerators full of a variety of drinks, meat, and ice cream.

But when people came too close? Something shifted.

It started when a man -mid-thirties, flannel shirt, and a polite smile- asked her if she knew whether a certain brand of coffee had caffeine-free options. Bucky stepped in subtly, not touching, just standing there between them in an off-putting way. The man blinked, muttered a quick “Never mind,” and walked away.

Then a scruffy teenager, seeing her stretching for a jar, stepped in and plucked it down easily. “Here ya go,” he offered with a grin.

Before she could thank him, Bucky was beside her again, frowning. “You should have asked me for help,” he said. Not rudely, but not friendly either.

She looked at him. “You were comparing cereal boxes.”

He didn’t reply, just took the jar from her hands and placed it in the cart.

But it didn’t end there, oh no.

She was browsing the canned goods, scanning for a particular tomato brand, when a man in his forties strolled past. Stocky, bearded, a fisherman. He paused when the scratchy voice from the overhead speaker garbled something about a discount on paper towels and chicken thighs.

“God,” he said, half to her, half to the aisle. “I’ve heard toddlers with better diction.”

She gave a polite little laugh.

Before she could reply, Bucky stepped into view interrupting with a loaf of bread in his hands like he was presenting an offering. His tone was clipped. “Is this the one I ate last night?”

She blinked, a beat too slow to answer.

The man chuckled, awkwardly now, and shuffled off down the aisle.

She turned to Bucky with a look.

He shrugged, no trace of guilt. “Wasn’t sure if it’s the same.”

And then, at the dairy section, it happened again.

A young clerk with tired eyes and a company vest stood stacking yogurt cups, glancing over as they passed.

“If you like strawberry,” he said, lifting a container, “this one’s on sale. Two for-”

“She doesn’t need that,” Bucky said without hesitation, still walking.

The clerk looked between them, unsure if he should apologize.

She managed a tight smile. “I’m so sorry, he hasn’t had his coffee yet. I was planning to buy, so give me two, please.” It wasn’t true. She didn’t even like that yogurt brand. But the poor clerk looked so bewildered, that she felt bad for him.

As they turned the corner of the aisle, she bumped her elbow gently against his arm. “What’s with you?” “Nothing.” “Are you going to be rude every time a man breathes near me?”

He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze. Were his reactions really that blatant? Maybe they were. He hadn’t meant to come off like that. But every time another man stepped into her space, addressed her, even so much as looked at her too long, something in him responded, tight and instinctive, sharp-edged and old. His mind might understand she was human, and that this was how humans interacted, -casually, easily, unguarded- but his body didn’t care. His instincts didn’t care.

Where he came from, a lone female didn’t go among males without protection. Without claiming. Without risk. That kind of exposure meant vulnerability, and vulnerability invited trouble. It was an old truth carved into the marrow of his kind. And seeing her move through this strange space, surrounded by strangers, with no scent marking her, no sign she was spoken for, unsettled him. Made his skin itch. Made his teeth ache.

“You came to help, and I appreciate it,” she said, in a low and pointed voice, snapping him back to reality. “But try not to be… whatever this is. People will talk. They probably already are, the first time I show up with someone, and it’s a man who doesn’t live here?” She glanced at him, a little exasperated. “Let’s not add ‘rude city guy’ to the gossip cocktail.”

He cast his eyes down. “Sorry,” he muttered, barely louder than a breath, and it came out small, like a scolded child who didn’t quite know what he’d done wrong, only that it had upset her.

She felt her shoulders drop. Great. Now she felt bad for him. Maybe she’d been too harsh.

It had been pretentious of her, to assume she understood what was going on in his head. The truth was, she didn’t. Not really. She had no idea what it took for him to come here, into a world so loud, so fast, so unlike anything he was made for. Every beep of a scanner, every flickering light, every person who brushed too close must feel like an assault to the senses. Even if the store was mostly empty, to someone like him, it probably felt like a crowd.

He was trying. Trying, in a body he hated. Trying, for her.

She let out a breath and reached out to lightly caress his arm. His muscles were tense under her touch like he expected another scolding.

“It’s okay,” she said gently. “Just… try not to do that, hm?” Her fingers lingered a moment longer. “We’re almost done.”

His eyes lifted to hers. The look in them made her chest pang a little.

His gaze lifted slowly and there was something in his eyes she couldn’t quite name, something like uncertainty as if he were trying to gauge whether the moment was truly mended or if it was just a lull in the storm.

He gave a faint nod, still silent. It wasn’t quite agreement, not yet. More like… understood. Or maybe I’ll try.

Her fingers slipped away, but he didn’t straighten immediately. His eyes lingered on her hand as if he hadn’t expected the soft treatment. He was still adjusting to the way humans did things, how they clashed and then carried on. In his world, mistakes could cost everything. Here, she touched his arm and told him it was alright. Forgiveness came easily to her.

“…I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” he said after a beat. His voice was low, almost careful. “I didn’t like the way they looked at you.”

She tilted her head, parting her lips to speak, but he went on.

“They don’t know who you are. What you are. And they get close like they’re allowed.” His jaw twitched. “It’s wrong.”

Something about the way he said what you are made her stomach flip a little, though she wasn’t sure why. He hadn’t meant it badly, if anything, it sounded reverent, like he held her in a place so high that anyone stepping into her space without invitation was committing a kind of trespass.

She exhaled softly and looked ahead down the aisle.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s finish this before you scare the dairy guy again.”

----

As expected, Bucky carried nearly all the grocery bags himself, handing her only the lightest ones. Once everything was loaded into the trunk and they were back on the road, she slowed in front of what looked like another small food shop.

“Wait here,” she said, already unbuckling her seatbelt.

“No, I-”

“I’ll be right back,” she cut him off, shutting the door before he could protest.

He frowned, watching her rush inside. He didn’t like being left behind like some pup waiting for its mother. Sitting idle while she disappeared from his view scraped against every instinct he had, especially in a place he didn’t know, in a body he didn’t trust.

But she returned faster than he expected, slipping back into the driver's seat with something in her hands. She passed it to him, a paper cone filled with hot, golden-fried fish.

“These are for you,” she said. “I figured you might be hungry. And… as a thank you for helping today.”

Bucky stared at the cone of fried fish in his hands like it was some kind of offering from a foreign god. It smelled good -really good- and the heat of it warmed his palms through the paper.

She glanced sideways, putting the car in gear. “They’re called whitebait. Tiny fish, fried whole. I figured you would like them.”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he brought one to his mouth and bit into it cautiously. Crunchy. Salty. Delicious. His eyes widened slightly, and she caught the flicker of real surprise across his face.

“They’re good, right?”

He gave a small nod, chewing another.

They drove mostly quietly, interrupted only by the occasional crunch as he devoured the cone, clearly doing his best to savor it despite the speed with which the pile was disappearing. She peeked at him once, watching the way his shoulders had dropped a little, less tense now that he had something warm in his hands and belly.

“You didn’t have to,” he said finally, mouth full of crispy fish.

She kept her eyes on the road. “I wanted to.”

----

By the time he finished the last of the fried trait, he was licking the salt from his fingers with a kind of slow, thoughtful intent she pretended not to notice. When he finally looked at her, his expression was unreadable again.

“Thank you,” he simply said, but the words felt with a certain weight on them.

“We’re even now,” she replied with a casual shrug, trying to keep her cool. But a small, foolish smile tugged at her lips anyway.

When they reached the cottage, he was out of the car before she even opened her door, unloading the bags again like they weighed nothing. Once inside, he followed her to the kitchen, but instead of leaving the bags for her to handle, he started unpacking them one by one.

“Sit. Rest,” he said, not unkindly, just firmly.

She opened her mouth to protest, but his tone brooked no argument. So she watched from the table as he moved through the kitchen, opening cabinets, and studying shelves. He didn’t recognize most of the items -his brow furrowed now and then at jars with strange labels or boxes with too many colors- but he pressed forward anyway, letting his instinct guide him. When he couldn’t figure something out, he asked. When he could, he made a decision himself.

There was something oddly graceful about it, this strange, out-of-place man in her very human kitchen, moving with an uncertain certainty, organizing things he didn’t know the name of because helping her mattered more than understanding.

Eventually, the time came for him to leave.

He stood by the door, looking somehow both settled and restless.

She followed him out to the porch, wrapping her cardigan tighter around herself against the breeze, not quite ready to let the moment end. “I could go with you,” she offered gently, half-hopeful. “At least until the shore.”

He shook his head. “You’re still not well,” he said. “And… you shouldn’t see me change. It’s not-” He paused, pressing his mouth into a hard line. “It’s not something I want you to see.”

The way he said it, she didn’t argue.

Instead, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, warm and familiar. Friendly. She told herself that’s all it was. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I mean it. And… when I feel better, I’ll go back to my spot.”

He didn’t move at first. But then -hesitating, resisting- his arms came around her too. Solid and careful. Protective. It took everything in him not to clutch her close and never let go.

He held her for a heartbeat longer than necessary. And then another. And then, finally, he stepped back, as if releasing her warmth required effort.

Without another word, he grabbed the bag to put the clothes after stripping and started walking down the path. She watched until he disappeared beyond the curve that led to the beach, staying at the door for a while, crossing her arms over her chest, not from the cold, but to hold his warmth against her.

And out there, just beyond the dunes, he let the wind rise around him, and the pull of the water to call him home.

Next Chapter

Taglist: @civilbucky @thatesqcrush @lonelyghosts-stuff @x-press-it @the-voice-beckons-below @angelilacsworld @dollface-xoxo @mcira @lazyneonrabbitt @vxllys @namjoohnie @sebastians-love @misspendragonsworld @thewriters64 @escapefromrealitylol @hi172826 @wintrsoldrluvr @reddesires @ruexj283 @buckvoidsyy @littlesuniee @kimberly-stocks @pandaxnienke @ladypncl @homiesexuallaj @kulteule

dividers by @/strangergraphics

[kiame-sama]

Humans Are Extinct (Yandere!TWST x Fem!Reader) Monster AU pt 6

(Quickly running out of Monster men drawings to use as my chapter pictures. May be a hot minute until I get the next chapter out since my laptop can barely stay conscious long enough to draw another one and I want to only use the monster AU versions of the characters for this series.)

Warnings; multiple yanderes, platonic yanderes, romantic yanderes, monster AU, eating Humans mentioned, more AU history, Cater is not having a very Cay-Cay day, food is an excellent way to bring groups together, Fauns, Satyrs, Kelpies, Crow Fae, Unicorns, Water Nymphs, vampire bats, dragons, cervitaurs, Raiju, Mermen, Cecaelia, Gnolls,

~~~~~~~~

Lunch finally rolled around and you were surprised that Ace and Deuce had actually taken Trey's words seriously and accompanied you to classes. Ace had loudly complained about his volunteering for a little bit but once he saw how many students actually took an interest in you, he stopped complaining and started viewing the task as a kind of important role only he could do. Naturally, Deuce was far less irate about the situation though there were times he almost came across as a punk when it came to others trying to harass you. Both had adjusted well to being around you and come lunch Deuce was actually taking pride in explaining things to you.

"-and that's what makes Fauns different from Satyrs."

"So Fauns are the nicer version of Satyrs?"

"For the most part. Satyrs are known for being loud and always wanting to fight-"

Ace cut Deuce off, shoving an uncooked carrot into the Faun's mouth to silence him. You had seen the two interact and you got the distinct feeling that the Faun and Satyr had more of a brotherly relationship with one another. Where they both had different personalities, when they did agree on something it was practically a law to them.

It was fascinating to hear that these monster men had similar names to the mythical creatures from your world and you wondered why such an overlap existed. Maybe the Humans from your world did interact with this world in the past, or maybe it was just a coincidence. Still, it seemed almost too close to be mere coincidence.

"Anyway, now that Dunce here is done talking-"

"You know my name is Deuce-"

"Like I said, now that Dunce is done talking, I have questions for you, (Y/n)."

You almost laughed at the back and forth banter of the two Goats- Faun and Satyr respectively- as their voices fumbled over one another. Truth was, you had been expecting far more questions than the few they threw at you between classes, so now was as good a time as any to ask.

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"So, you don't have magic? Like, at all?"

"No magic whatsoever. Where I came from, magic is a myth and no creatures have magic."

"Okay. But how do Humans survive? No horns, no claws, nothing to protect themselves from bigger creatures."

"We make weapons. I know you all have bows, arrows, and knives, we have the same. Guns too, but I haven't seen any guns used here."

"Wait, what is a gun?"

"Basically an automatic bow that fires little pieces of metal using explosive powder that needs a spark which launches the metal through their target."

Ace seemed almost excited by your vague explanation of a gun, opening his mouth to ask you another question. His voice died in his throat as his gaze locked onto something behind you, prompting you to turn around to look at whatever it was that had unsettled Ace.

Standing not too far from you was the large figure of the Horse-man Trey. Ace told you he was a Kelpie, but you just couldn't make that connection seeing as he looked like a big white horse and not a water kelp-horse like Kelpies were supposed to be. He was clearly making good on his threat to check in as he approached you with a patient smile on his face.

"Hello (Y/n), have Heartslabyul's first-years been adequate guides for you today?"

"Yes. Grim doesn't even have to try half as hard to keep me safe now and I haven't been late to any of my classes other than the first one."

Trey gave a genuine smile at this, nodding his head as he was pleased to know his choice had been a good one. Seeing the centaur made you wonder about Cater and what may have become of the air-head student. In some ways, you worried asking would have a negative effect, but you were so curious you couldn't help but inquire about him.

"So... What happened to Cater?"

"He is being dealt with by the Headmage. He's lucky he isn't going to get expelled for what he did, but once the Headmage is done with his punishment, he's going to be turned over to Riddle."

"Is Riddle mad about all of this?"

"Well... I actually haven't told Riddle yet. He has a short fuse and isn't going to take Cater's actions well, especially since he asked both Cater and I to protect you if we happened across you. Odds are Cater is going to be collared and kicked out of his room for the foreseeable future."

This made you frown in contemplation at the prospect of the Red-haired student being punished too harshly. Though you were upset Cater took photos of you without asking and likely set several poachers on your trail, you didn't want harm to come to him. Sure, he was stupid and made a stupid choice, but he shouldn't be hurt or kicked out of his home for it.

"... If he is kicked out of his room, is there anywhere else he can go?"

"No. Riddle is very strict about rule-breakers being banned from the dorms so long as they have one of his collars on, and most other dorms aren't keen to house a student that isn't theirs. He's probably going to be sleeping in the Heartslabyul lake if Riddle doesn't ban him from there too."

The morality of the issue weighed on you and made you worry about the ditzy redhead. Though you didn't really trust Cater or his clearly impaired decision making skills, you still felt like he deserved basic decency despite his actions. You knew firsthand how the creatures that lived around campus were genuinely terrifying and dangerous, so you didn't want him thrown to the metaphorical or actual wolves.

"Can... can Cater stay in my dorm?"

Your question earned you several dubious looks from the Goats and Trey as if you had grown another head or said something unhinged. Even Grim had to pause his hesitant raw veggie medley- the only thing the cafeteria served today- to stare at you in surprise.

"You- you want Cater in your dorm? Why?"

"Well, it wasn't like he knew what he was doing was bad, and I don't think he should be left outside for his poor choice."

"(Y/n), do you realize how vicious poachers are in Twisted Wonderland? You will be hunted every moment of every day because Cater couldn't keep himself from posting you to that stupid Magicam app he is obsessed with. The second you are unguarded you will be attacked. The Headmage is even considering assigning Sam and Vargas to your dorm just to make sure poachers can't get in, or even moving you to Diasomnia so Malleus can protect you. I don't think you understand just how seriously we need to take your safety."

"I'm just a Human though, I'm not a princess or someone important. Why all the fuss?"

Your comment made Trey let out a long and exasperated sigh, his gaze leaving your confused form as he tried to keep in mind just how new you were to their world. Humans were never just Humans in Twisted Wonderland, and them simply dying out has made a far felt ripple in the history of every known species. For so long, so many species had adored and tried to protect Humans, but even they couldn't save the fragile species from the hunger so many magic users had for their very flesh.

Most things in the technological realm and cooking realm- pastries and phones included- only existed because Humans led the way to them being invented. Even now, technology has been mostly stagnant for over a hundred years with only the Shrouds having any aptitude as far as advancements were concerned. Trey himself had Humanity to thank for his family's bakery and the many cuisines local to the Queendom of Roses.

"(Y/n), Humans have never been 'just Humans' to us. Maybe to Sunset Savana, but never to the Queendom of Roses. Even Briar Valley had laws in place to protect your kind from everyone else. I get you may not understand it, but compared to most other species, Humans were better than most in the emotional and critical thinking department. It was Humans creating new inventions, coming up with unique ideas, and above all else, peacekeeping between the various species and races to the point they were called Beast-Tamers. Most wouldn't even speak to their Fae counterparts until Humans got the two to interact amicably."

You were somewhat surprised to hear all of this, having been under the impression that Humans were mainly pets to the other species. It was interesting to hear what Humans were credited for and that despite all they did to help, they were still hunted as food until extinction. The few from Savanaclaw you interacted with had been both sides of the spectrum of threatening you or being peaceful to you and it made you wonder just what kind of species were still keen to get a taste of your forbidden flesh.

"Honestly," Trey continued, "I wouldn't be surprised if several Kingdoms and Queendoms sent ambassadors to take you away from Night Raven for your own safety. I just know the international law makers are going to have a field day the moment it becomes common knowledge that you're here."

It made sense that Trey was stressed about this, you knew from your own home how aggressively endangered and near-extinct species had to be protected, but you still felt Cater shouldn't carry all the blame. If it wasn't Cater, it would have been someone else. Just because he was the fool to do it first didn't mean that others wouldn't have tried or succeeded in the same endeavor.

"Still, if he gets kicked out of the dorms tonight, will you at least tell him I will let him stay with me?"

"If you really want me to," he sighed heavily, "I guess I can tell Cater about your offer. I won't tell Riddle though, knowing how that Unicorn is, he will actually harm Cater for even thinking about taking shelter with you after what he's done."

~•§•~

"HE DID WHAT?!"

Riddle was beside himself with rage and even stomped his hooves against the marble floors of the Headmage's office, almost cracking the stone with his rage. Cater was trying to sink into his chair and hide from the Sophomore Housewarden who was beyond the point of furious with the water Nymph. Not only did he get a dressing-down from the Headmage, but he was going to be thrown at the mercy of his own Housewarden who was known for being an absolute hard-ass on rule breakers.

"It wasn't like I was trying to target her! I just-"

"SILENCE! YOU WILL SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO, CATER DIAMOND!"

The firm tone Riddle used made Cater shut his mouth and bow his head, trying to avoid upsetting the Unicorn further. There was no way he would be able to go back to his room at this rate and odds are he would be sleeping in the forest if Riddle had anything to say about it. Plus, he still had that essay to write for Trein that was due tomorrow.

"He apparently took a selfie with (Y/n) and posted it to Magicam with hashtags indicating she is Human. By the time I got him to delete the post, it had been downloaded several thousand times. Since then I have already received a call from the Royal Sword Academy Headmage to confirm a Human lives here now, and what we as the heads of our schools can do to protect her. No doubt representatives from Briar Valley and the Queendom of Roses have already been dispatched and will arrive on the island soon enough, not to mention how many poachers are likely on their way here as we speak."

Cater knew how upset Riddle was given the fact the Unicorn's horn was humming loudly with magic and the Unicorn himself was a bright red. Things really weren't coming up Cay-Cay today.

"OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

~•§•~

You felt a bit more comfortable with the school as a whole by the time classes had finished for the day. Practical Magical Theory was an interesting class, even if you really didn't have the faintest idea what they were talking about. According to Ace, you were lucky you didn't have Flight Class because there was a high chance you wouldn't be able to participate in the class itself. Still, you were happy to have a moment to let things settle down for a bit.

Ace and Deuce walked you to your dorm, but had been called to Heartslabyul by a quick text from Trey, leaving you alone in the dorm with Grim. Despite the beginning of the day being an absolute wash, the rest of the day hadn't been too bad. It was around this time you decided you may as well start on making some dinner. You could hear Grim's stomach growling already as you both went to the kitchen.

"Are you gonna make something good like you did for breakfast?"

"I'm going to try to."

"What are you gonna make?"

"Well, I was thinking we have the stuff here for a really nice soup-"

You were promptly cut off by the Kitchen door swinging open with a loud bang. Clearly, you were going to have to tell the professors or even the Headmage Crow about securing that side door given how it had already been used twice by others seeking to get into your dorm. Luckily for you, those that walked through the door had at least two familiar faces in the group.

"Sorry for interrupting," Lilia called out, happily making his way over to you in an almost bouncy gait, much like a bird hopping around, "hope you don't mind I brought Malleus, Silver, and Sebek too. I heard one of the Heartslabyul students blew the whistle on you being here in NRC. Figured you could use a bit of extra protection in case any poachers try their luck. Besides, the nest here is just as big as Malleus' nest in Diasomnia."

It was then Malleus spoke, his voice a deep rumble in his chest as he looked over you.

"They will not lay a hand upon my hoard without paying with their lives for such a transgression."

It was clear the Dragon was not happy with the events that took place and he seemed to be quite content claiming you as one of his Hoard. When Lilia explained it to you last night, apparently the moment Malleus decided he was adding someone to his Hoard, he became extremely attached to that person and would even become violent in their defense. Given the way others talked about him, he must have been a genuinely frightening and powerful person to command such fear and respect.

"... So does that mean I'm making soup for all of you or..?"

"If you don't mind. I certainly want another bite of your cooking, (Y/n)!"

Lilia took his perch back on the counter and swung his feet, seeming rather impish and almost childish in his behavior. You just shrugged and nodded, gathering enough ingredients to feed the group several times over. Your hope was that there would be some left over for you to take during lunches. As nice as it was to have raw foods once in a while, you'd rather your meals be cooked.

Grim clearly only trusted Lilia and sat next to the Bat to watch you bustle around the kitchen. He even let out a soft purr when Lilia began to pet his forehead and ears. Where you would have scolded them for sitting on the counter, it wasn't like you didn't have enough counter space already. Starting the broth and preparation was rather simple for you and it was clear those standing around you were keen to watch you prepare the soup.

"(Y/n)," Grim meowed, "where did you learn to do all this fancy stuff?"

"Humans usually cook their food. So I just learned while growing up. Of course there are some things you can have without cooking, like a sandwich or a fruit salad, but most big meals are better cooked. Now, that doesn't mean every Human can cook well, but most are good enough at it."

"So does that mean I can have more of the food you cook?"

"Like a bigger portion? No. But you will always get to have some of whatever I make, okay?"

Grim purred loudly at this, his face lighting up with an excited smile. Clearly the little creature was pleased with your arrangement even if it meant he had to go to boring classes with you. The food was absolutely worth it and he got to sleep in a mountain of pillows and blankets after a long day. It was all way better than the hole in the ground he occupied when he wasn't actively running for his life before he met you.

Once you got most of the soup started, you knew it just needed to be covered and cooked, listening idly to Lilia talk with the others about the events of breakfast and the Gnoll that invited himself in. It was when you finally got this moment that you took a good look at the other two visitors who were either Silver or Sebek, seeing as Lilia didn't point out who was who.

Much to your surprise, one of them reminded you of the Kelpie and Unicorn you had met earlier but he had an obvious three point antler rack attached to his head. His lower half was that of a reindeer and was fairly fluffy compared to the short coats of the Kelpie and Unicorn. Part of you wanted to test if he was as soft as he looked, but you figured it would not be considered appropriate to pet him.

The second new face was an almost canine like man with pale green hair that was slicked back and spiked up at the ends. His eyes were intense as was the apparent scowl that held his features, two sharply pointed dog ears atop his head. Bright yellow-green eyes tracked your every move and regarded you with as much curiosity as you regarded him. The similar medium length tail fur swayed lazily as his tail slowly began to wag when you looked at him.

The soup was beginning to smell rather good and it was clear four of the five others in the kitchen were taking note as they occasionally sniffed the air. Lilia, Grim, Silver, and Sebek were clearly keenly interested in the scent but it was Malleus' behavior that caught your attention. Instead of sniffing or lifting his nose as the others did, his forked tongue slowly slid from between his lips like a snake as if he were tasting the air. You almost laughed at the oddly reptile behavior before his gaze suddenly snapped to the door of the kitchen.

Standing in the doorway was a curious looking man that seemed to have fins on the sides of his head. His almost scaled skin had a kind of faint green tint to it with intense blue undertones, his eyes being two different colors with the right one being a pale gray and the left one being a bright gold. Atop his head were tousled blue-green locks with a singular black stripe that crossed over his forehead above his left eye.

"Oya, it seems I'm not the only one with culinary interests. Apologies for intruding, but the lovely smell drew me in. Would you mind telling me what it is you're making?"

You were surprised to see the almost Fish-like man despite how polite he was being with you. Instead of hopping in to defend you, Lilia looked at you for what you wanted to do with this interloper. Malleus seemed rather keen to rid you of this newcomer's presence but you held up a hand to stop him from acting. Part of you worried this new visitor was dangerous, but because he was wearing a school uniform you figured he was just another student.

"Soup?"

"... May I ask what kind?"

"Only if you tell me your name first and what you were doing around my dorm."

"Ah, forgive me. It seems in my haste to get to the heart of the matter, I forgot my manners. My name is Jade Leech, I'm the Vice-Housewarden of Octavinelle. I'm going to assume from your appearance you are the highly talked-of Human now living on campus. Azul informed us that you would be remaining here for the time being. As for what I was doing, I am rather interested in the foods that grow wild above water, so I was out gathering some mushrooms to sample."

He lifted the foraging bag that hung over his shoulder, showing you the contents within. He was right in that he had gathered up a fair few number of mushrooms and there were several that you actually recognized. You were no master of mushrooms- of course- but you still recognized a few species that were safe for you to eat, seeing several button mushrooms among the many gathered.

Those would be great in the soup you were making, and it was early enough that you could add them right in and they would cook just fine.

"Okay, Jade. I believe you were at least out gathering mushrooms which is innocent enough. I'm actually curious if you wanted to trade for some of those button mushrooms you have, they'd go great in the soup I'm making. In return I'll tell you about it and you can have some to eat if you'd like."

Jade actually seemed to brighten up at this, his smile becoming less strained and his expression smoothing from the stressed way his brows had been pulled together. It was almost as if he had been wanting to ask for some soup but was far too polite to actually inquire. He nodded and set his bag on the counter, letting you pick out the little rounded white mushrooms from the selection he gathered.

"I'm quite partial to the cuisines the different kingdoms have to offer. Rare as it can be to find those who are masters of their craft, I would still like to sample the meals above the ocean waves. I would be grateful for whatever knowledge you can share with me. It isn't every day that someone adept at cooking graces this school."

"Hey," Grim interrupted loudly as you set to dicing the mushrooms, "that's my Hooman you're talking to! She only cooks for me, but I'm kind enough to share with all of you. Don't forget it, got it?"

Jade gave a rather patient simper to your primary companion, resting his right hand over his heart in an almost polite gesture.

"But of course. I'm simply interested in learning to make such meals for myself. I'm certain Azul and Floyd would be keen to taste such a wonderful smelling dish."

This seemed to satisfy your little companion as he nodded with a pleased smile, watching you add the mushrooms to the rather large pot you decided to make the soup in. Thankfully it was a cauldron type pot made for cooking soups over firepits. The fire so dutifully warming your meal crackled pleasantly even as you stirred the bubbling mixture.

"Do you want to ask them to come over, Jade? I made way too much. Honestly, everyone here could all have a bowl, a second bowl, and I would still have enough soup for the rest of the week. I think I went a little overboard in the food department. Should have probably started with a smaller pot, but we're already this far..."

Jade seemed surprised at this, but nodded respectfully and pulled out his phone. You were curious just what Jade was as you really hadn't seen many fish-men during your day, but you weren't going to ask him. If he wanted to tell you what he was, that was his business. Didn't make you any less curious though.

"If you're certain? I'm sure Floyd will be thrilled to have something new to try. He doesn't like some mushrooms, but I don't believe he has tried the ones you've selected, and he certainly hasn't tried cooked mushrooms yet. Azul may try to heckle you into a deal, however. He is always looking for new ways to improve the Monstro Lounge."

"Yeah, of course I'm certain. I offered, didn't I?"

He nodded and began tapping away at his phone, but Lilia seemed rather keen to speak up. The Bat had been listening keenly to the conversation and felt he needed to make himself clear to the notoriously crafty student.

"If Azul threatens (Y/n) or tries to force her into a deal, we will have more than a few problems, understood?"

"He is aware. Believe it or not, those of us from the Coral Sea are actually quite fond of the legacy of Humans. Even Floyd has been babbling excitedly about meeting (Y/n) here."

"That's right, Humans were popular among the various merfolk kingdoms. You all even have a famous story involving the mermaid princess falling for a Human and joining him on land."

"Yes. She struck a deal with The Sea Witch to gain legs she could use to dance for the Human man she fell in love with, too bad the deal didn't hide her gills or fins though. Still, the Human loved her."

You listened to the conversation as you stirred the soup, glad that all of the flavors seemed to be coming together rather well despite the large amount of food you found yourself making. Judging from the conversation Lilia and Jade happened to be having, Jade was a Merman of some kind and apparently Mermen were one of the 'safe species' for Humans to interact with. Though you knew not to judge an individual by the species, it did put you at ease to know he was one of the safer ones.

It was as you were taste testing the soup that the door to the kitchen once again flew open as another visitor invited themselves in. It was offical now, four times proved it was far too easy to get into your dorm through that door. Maybe Lilia would be able to fix it for you, or Malleus seeing as Lilia said it was the Dragon who had mostly fixed up your current abode.

"(Y/n), you're an absolute angel! I thought I was going to have to sleep in the woods once Riddle temporarily banned me from Heartslabuyl! He won't even let me sleep in the lake even though I'm a Lake Water Nymph because of what happened. You believe me when I say I didn't mean to put you in danger, right?"

Cater had thrown himself at your feet, holding onto your legs as if he were some abandoned pet seeking shelter from a blizzard. Around his neck was a thick metal collar that extended out to the sides in black and red colors, forming a heart-shape that locked in the front with a golden and black padlock. He was careful not to get in the fire that was dutifully cooking your soup even as he groveled at your feet.

"O-oi! What's the big idea with everyone coming in that door? It's dangerous to leave that thing unlocked."

"That's what I'm saying! So much for protected and safe with that thing in here."

You couldn't help but slightly grin at Grim as he voiced your own concerns out loud. Lilia simply regarded the door, snapping his fingers to close it as a large metal bolt affixed itself to the door before clicking into place.

"There. Now it can't be thrown open anymore. But why is Cater here? Cater, when did Riddle collar you and why?"

Cater seemed to realize there were others standing around you as he suddenly straightened up, clearing his throat and taking several steps back from you. He tried to play off the desperate display he had just shown and was failing miserably. Cater looked much worse for wear than you remembered him being and you genuinely began to hope the Unicorn hadn't actually harmed the ditzy redhead.

"Well... I may have 'accidentally' posted a picture that told everyone that (Y/n) was a Human and was on NRC grounds, but I totes didn't realize it would put her in danger! Honestly!"

Lilia's bemused smile almost instantly fell away into a glare as he regarded the man standing by your side. You added a bit of salt to the soup as you wated, watching the thick broth bubble and roil with vegtables and diced meat. There were a lot of things you could do in that moment, but something told you it was best to let Lilia handle this situation.

"And what did you think was going to happen, Cater?"

"Tbh, I thought that I would just get a follower count boost and everything would be fine. The Headmage and Riddle sure made it clear I was wrong for thinking that. Lessons learned!"

"It only cost us the safety of the last Human left in Twisted Wonderland."

"I said I was sorry!"

Everyone except Cater seemed to be exceptionally upset as they all glared at him, making him duck behind you as if you were the best shield from their rage. You just let the tall student try and fail to escape the ire of the others. For once, a polite knock came at the kitchen door, breaking off the aggressive staredown taking place.

"Hey, why are we here, Azul?"

An almost sing-song voice hummed from somewhere on the other side of the door, prompting Jade to walk over and open the door for who you assumed to be the two he was talking about. In strode a rather lovely looking man with snow-white hair and shining mauve blue eyes hidden behind thin framed glasses. Around his face were lovely and intricate black markings that reminded you quite a bit of the tentacles of an octopus. Behind him lumbered a rather tall man who almost looked identical to Jade if not for the swapped eye color and slight difference in height.

"We're here because Jade told me there is a profitable venture to be had and I am not going to miss out on this chance to make the Human's acquaintance, Floyd."

The shorter one hummed in a smooth voice and you almost giggled at the rather fact-of-the-matter tone that the white haired one spoke with. You felt it was safe to assume the rather lovely man was Azul and the near identical to Jade fish-man walking with him was Floyd.

Floyd almost made a show of sniffing the air, following his nose to where you stood in front of the pot of soup, watching him curiously. Once his gaze fell on you a wide grin overtook the slight frown he had been pouting with. You could see the way his eyes trailed over your figure due to the bright yellow of his right eye highlighting his pupil as it darted up and down.

"Ne ne, what is such a cute little Shrimpy doing this far above the water? You're so small I just want to squeeze ya."

He took a single step towards you and this seemed to be enough for the two- Silver and Sebek- to suddenly intercept him with swords drawn, creating an 'X' that blocked the tall Merman from approaching further. It was more than a little surprising to see weapons suddenly drawn, but maybe you shouldn't be all that surprised. Lilia did say he came over to guard you again and even brought the others for the same purpose.

"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt them, I just want a little feel on if Shrimpy is as soft as they look!"

"Floyd, that's enough. She was polite enough to allow me to invite you and Azul over and she is quite the rare specimen, you can't threaten her so casually and expect those guarding her to not be upset."

"I didn't threaten, I just said I wanted a big ol' squeeze."

"Same difference where you are concerned."

"Eh, you're so boring sometimes, Jade. Anyway, what is Shrimpy making over there? Smells good~!"

You were stunned at the almost aggressive behavior from Floyd given how calm and level headed Jade had been thus far. Maybe it was just a quirk of Floyd's to be a little more hands on than others. It honestly made you glad to know your self-appointed guards took their task seriously as they still refused to let the large Merman near you. Speaking of your guards, Floyd didn't seem put off by their aggression in the slightest and almost seemed amused by them as if it were all one big game.

Tension was thick in the air as the almost aloof Floyd smiled at you, watching you grab several bowls and begin ladling out ten total servings. You were not really all that surprised when there was still more soup to go even after you filled enough bowls for yourself and the ever increasing number of guests.

Maybe you were right to make so much after all. Hopefully your surprise guests had all shown-

"Why is the door locked? Hey, Human, I smell food in there! I already ate all the Dandelions from this morning! Can I have some of whatever you're making? Please? I'm starving out here."

Peaking through the windows to the kitchen was a familiar grizzled muzzle of the Gnoll you had met that morning. Ruggie was staring with those unsettling bright blue eyes and you were unsure if you wanted to laugh or scream. You scolded yourself in the back of your mind, remembering that animals would often return to places if they were given food prior and no doubt the Hyena man sought to do the same.

"Should I let him in, (Y/n)?"

Lilia asked, eyeing the lock on the door as Ruggie began to loudly whine and cackle for attention. You just sighed and nodded, knowing the Hyena wasn't going to leave now that he knew there was food ready and waiting just inside.

"May as well."

The Gnoll was quick to enter once the door opened and he happily grabbed one of the ten bowls, immediately scarfing down the soup without even glancing at the now large group of men standing in your kitchen. You didn't bother offering a spoon to Ruggie as it was clear he didn't need or want one. Despite the odd group that had gathered under your roof- technically it was the school's roof, but now wasn't the time for semantics- they all seemed keen to dig in when you passed out the bowls.

Getting yourself a bowl- seeing as Ruggie had taken one of the ten- you were able to finally take in the meal of your labors. It wasn't half bad and those button mushrooms added just the right earthy flavor that really brought the soup together. All of your visitors clearly liked the soup as well and Grim was the first to ask for seconds.

"Miss (Y/n)! This is a fantastic meal! I don't think I've had such flavors in anything I've eaten before! I would only think a meal from my liege could possibly taste better!"

"Sebek," the white haired one interrupted the shouting one, "you don't need to yell at her."

"I'm talking at an adequate volume, Silver. You dare say this meal isn't divine?"

"That's not what I said at all."

Lilia giggled as the two odd characters argued, hopping off the counter to serve himself another helping of the plentiful soup. Despite the absolute lack of respect for your personal space they all seemed to share, you couldn't help but smile as well. The many men you had met were odd and so unique in many ways but none of them actually seemed all that bad once they relaxed and got talking.

Maybe these monsters weren't as monstrous as you thought when you first met them. Hopefully their worries of poachers would just prove to be worries, but you knew you weren't truly safe yet and anyone could be a threat if they genuinely wanted to be. You just hoped there wasn't another shoe waiting to drop on your peaceful evening.

~•§•~

"Trey?"

"Yes, Riddle?"

"Invite (Y/n) to tomorrow's Unbirthday party. It has become rather clear to me that no one can look after her the way the Queen demands, so I will step up and take on that task."

"Riddle..."

"She will be safe with me, I will do whatever it takes to ensure it."

[eldritchpotato]

Octopi and the Castaway's Cry

Getting tossed overboard in a powerful storm is a death sentence. Or it would have been if something beneath the waves had not come to your rescue. At a glance she’s beautiful, look a little closer and the horror becomes apparent. But she’s sweet beneath the surface, just as eager for company as you are. It gets lonely stranded on a tiny island.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

Content Warning: tentacle sex, female reader, eating raw fish, survival situation.

There’s probably some irony in the fact you managed to cling to your phone throughout your dance with death.

Now the cracked and thoroughly waterlogged piece of junk acts as the closest thing you have to a mirror on this shithole of an island.

Two days, it’s been two days since the storm rocked you overboard. Two days since some kind of guardian angel pulled you to shore.

Your new home is a rickety assembly of sticks and palm leaves. It blocks the cold night air but hardly keeps you warm. Despite your efforts, fire isn’t something you’ve been able to replicate.

Food is your current dilemma. The freshwater from the small spring is the only reason you’ve made it this far.

You’ve walked the whole island several times, and the only animals you’ve seen are a few crabs but you’ve heard birds. Unfortunately, you have neither the equipment nor expertise to hunt either nor could you even cook them if you did.

All you’ve had to eat was a soggy granola bar and the meat of a sad-looking coconut.

You can only hope people are looking for you. Fortunately, the privacy of the island is perfect for the occasional breakdown.

You’re returning to your hut after drinking your fill of water, your feet slipping on the hot sand, when you spot it. Hair and pale skin in the shallows.

Your stomach twists into a knot as you squint against the glare of the sun to take in the woman in the water. Is she dead? Another tourist tossed overboard in the storm?

Running, you stumble through the sand before splashing through the water. The woman moves, her porcelain skin glowing under the sun, her matted dark hair a mess of seaweed.

“Hello?” you call hopefully, the water almost up to your knees as you get close.

She raises a hand in response, a controlled gesture that confirms she is both alive and not in the process of drowning. There's something odd about her, though you can’t put your finger on it. Only her shoulders are out of the water and she’s so pale, you don’t slow your awkward run through the water.

Because you’re searching her face for signs of any kind, you notice her eyes first. At first, you realize there is no iris; her eyes are entirely white. It's not until the water is too high and you're too out of breath to run that you realize she’s watching you with slitted horizontal pupils.

It's not until you’re too close that you realize that that's not possible, that something is wrong beyond a haggard woman lying in shallow water.

Red moves in the water around her as she pushes herself up. She’s covered in barnacles, her lips blue, and the claw of a crab pins the hair out of her face. But the final straw that makes you turn and run for shore is the mass of tentacles writhing beneath her. It is the way the forgery that is her mouth and nose open into the plates of a beak, her face splitting open like the bud of a flower to reveal the maw within, that makes you run like your life depends on it. As far as you know, it does.

You don’t sleep a wink that night, not with the beach so close to your hut. Not with that thing just through the trees. Not that you would have slept much anyway, you can’t sleep and shiver at the same time. But the sea monster is objectively something to freak out over far more.

A tentacled mermaid thing wearing a human face to disguise its beak. That's the best description you've managed to come up with.

But the more you mulled this thing over in your head the more you remembered the flash of red below you as the waves tossed you, the stabilization that you could almost attribute to something grabbing you. The guardian angel that gave you the strength to surface and make it to the island. Maybe it wasn't an angel, maybe it was… an octo-mermaid-squid-thing.

At some point, exhaustion must have taken you as you woke up the following morning to rain drenching you and your clothing that had just begun to dry. You scramble to gather your few belongings and try to tuck them away from the rain but the trees aren't thick enough to block out the rain. You quickly give up and begrudgingly heading inland to get some water. You only slip on the muddy ground twice but it's still enough to be covered in mud.

You're on the verge of tears by the time you get back. Exhausted, cold, hungry, and somehow already thirsty again. Day three on this God-forsaken island. Optimism is the last thing you are feeling.

You pause, a frown of confusion flickering across your features as you notice the two fish lying on a flat rock beside what’s left of your hut. Someone left you food. If only you could figure out how to start a fire.

[bluessmutifyplaylist]

Separate Yandere Malleus (Hubby), Rook (Hubby), Leona (Lazy), Jamil (Babygirl), Azul (Babygirl), Jade (Menace), Floyd (Menace) and Sebek x Female!Tanjiro Reader SFW and NSFW please?

She’s kind, helpful and supportive, always willing to help others and she doesn’t expect anything in return? How cute (Naive), and after getting a taste of her kindness and care, he’s not going to let her go (And is now very territorial/protective of his soon-to-be wife/wifey)

Why can I see Floyd saying ‘Wifey’? (Rook would just make poems upon poems about how much he loves calling her his ‘Darling’ or ‘Wife’ and would violently tremble in joy if she just looks at him Top Tier Romantic/Stalker)

Sorry if that’s a lot, I’m a little knew to asking about Smut Requests (But I love my Twst Men so much, especially Malleus, Idia, Rook, Jamil and Azul, they just need hugs)

This is SMUT, and consensual, despite being Yandere.

Warnings: Yandere, Stockholm Syndrome(?), naive reader, creampie, breeding(?), unprotected sex, all characters are adults, sex with the intention of having children, slight dumbification, Malleus has 1 dick (sorry monsterfuckers), somnophilia in Malleus’s

Leona Kingscholar

You supported him even in his darkest moments, no matter if he was rude to you back. You were there, and the way you would take Cheka when he wasn’t feeling super great really had him appreciating you in a way that he never thought he could before. So, once you had graduated, he asked you if you would marry him.

Of course, this comes from a much darker place in him. He was never going to let you go, even if you refused him. Luckily for him, though, you were in tears as you accepted his proposal, happy to be marrying the love of your life. You were wed rather quickly, with it being a small ceremony, and it was the first time you had seen Leona cry because you just looked so beautiful walking down the aisle. That moment was one you would cherish forever. 

Now, your wedding night was a different story. With how hard he was thrusting up into you, making you see stars. You could feel his cock pounding your insides, and you were thanking every god in existence that you married this man. You were two orgasms in already, and you were approaching a third, while he still had his first to go.

“Look at you, my naive herbivore being fucked dumb.” Just hearing those words made you falter and stutter your movements, but it didn’t stop Leona. He was making you ride him through your orgasm, and you were so sensitive. He let out a groan as he came inside you, saying, “I’m not stopping until you are filled with my cubs, baby, so you better keep going.”

Azul Ashengrotto

He knew you were the one when he showed you his cecaelia form for the first time. Instead of being disgusted or even afraid, you used a gentle hand as you played with the tentacles that were pulling you closer and closer. Eventually, you found yourself face-to-face with the Housewarden, and you threw your arms around his neck as you pulled him into a kiss. He immediately reciprocated, and he laid claim to you that night.

Years later, you both were married, and he was a successful business owner. You were in the upper-middle class of the ocean, and you both were talking about starting a family. You were already his housewife, keeping the house clean because you both agreed on it (and because he didn’t want you going anywhere that he didn’t have control over). 

You weren’t about to complain, though, because he had you in the missionary position. It’s a bit basic, but fuck did it feel good. He was desperate; desperate to fill you up, desperate for you to feel pleasure, desperate to push himself to another climax despite the overstimulation. Your legs locked around him as he started releasing ropes of cum inside you, and you had the orgasm of your life.

“I love you, honey~” Your voice was strained after about two hours of moaning. He laid down next to you, and you laid your head on his chest. He started drawing patterns on your back, and he said I love you in return. You leaned up and gave him a kiss on the lips, and then trailed it down his chest… lower and lower, until round 2 was started.

Jade Leech

You were his the day you burst into Azul’s office and demanded that your friends be let go of their contracts. Hardly anybody would have that amount of confidence, and he found himself obsessed. He’s stalking you, he’s making sure his brother knows that you are his territory and his alone. You could always smell that he was there, as he didn’t know about your keen sense of smell. But, you didn’t mind it.

Years later, you both were married, and it was an interesting marriage. Your in-laws absolutely adored you, Floyd tolerated you, and Jade was still as obsessed with you as he was back in your NRC days. In fact, he wanted to give you a reason to stay forever, so he brought up the idea of having kids. You had many siblings back in your home world, which you never found a way back to, so it was understandable that you would want a big family yourself.

So, that’s how you got here, you being folded in half, your legs being pressed to your shoulders as he pounded you into oblivion. For the past 4 hours, you have been in every conceivable position you can think of, and this was going to be your final one. If you wanted a big family, that is exactly what you were going to get.

“Darling, how many kids do you want? Do you have an exact number? Or am I going to fuck you and keep you full of children until you say that you don’t want anymore?” Just the thought of having so many kids made you orgasm. You realized that you wanted to be with this man for the rest of your life, and you wanted to be surrounded by a family that the both of you created, and you were definitely going to enjoy the process to achieve your newfound dream.

Floyd Leech

He claimed you as his also the day you walked into Azul’s office, as no one ever had the courage, bravery, or stupidity to do it. When he went to squeeze you, you wound back enough to headbutt him, making him drop you. From that point on, you had become his new obsession. You were the only one who could beat him in a fight, so it was kind of obvious that this would happen.

As much as you Floyd simps would probably want to be married to him, he’s just not that big on marriage. He’s not that big on commitment in general. However, he knows that he’s committed to you because he wants you to be committed to him. Plus, any thoughts against marriage flew out the window when he saw you stretching and yawning.

Hours later, your neck was covered in bite marks, some a bit bloody, but he just licked it all away as his cock was buried inside your cunt. He had cum inside you about 2 times by now, and your muscles were sore from being contorted into a multitude of different positions. He had a newfound need to make you his little wifey who was stuffed with his kids 24/7.

It wasn’t until there was a bit of a bulge in your stomach from all the cum he had released when he pulled out of you. You were on the verge of unconsciousness, but you felt his arms wrap around you and pull you close. His body was warm, the final lull to sleep that you needed. It was a rare but sentimental Floyd, where he watched you, in such a vulnerable state… marriage is the best option to make sure you are his.

Jamil Viper

You were the first thing he could actually call ‘his’. He did not have to give you to Kalim, and he was never going to let that happen. In fact, during his overblot, he made his feelings known to you by keeping you at his side. However, you wanted your Jamil, not the one controlled and bound by the ink. After, in the infirmary, he asked if what you said still rang true, and that was where you had your first kiss.

Skip to years later, and you both were married. He still works for the Al-Asim family, but you couldn’t ask for a better husband. He has told you about his hesitancy towards having children of his own, as they would most likely serve the Al-Asim family as well. You understood, but you still wanted to have children with him. He told you that you could have one child for now, and see where it went from there.

Round 1 started right then and there, in your kitchen. He bent you over the counter, railing you from behind. Before, whenever you both would have sex, he would use protection. This time, though, he went in raw, and it was the first time ever that you both truly felt each other, and damn did it feel euphoric. You couldn’t even think anymore.

Of course, this was not exactly a fitting place if you were going to conceive your first child. So, he picked you up into his arms and carried you to your shared bedroom once you had your first orgasm of the night. There were many more to come (get it?) and you were barely getting started. You will not be able to walk for two days, and you will be walking out with hickies… mostly in between your thighs.

Rook Hunt

When he first discovered you, he immediately started stalking you. However, he wrote you sonnets, limericks, and poetry of other sorts for your eyes and ears. He sang your praises, and to lastly win over your heart, he serenaded you properly, under your window. You told him to wait there, and you ran downstairs and glomped him, making out with him on the ground. If it weren’t for his desire to make your first time special, you would have probably conceived a child right then and there.

However, he did wait until marriage… which was less than a year after you graduated. He had a steady income, and he already had a cottage in the forest in the Shaftlands. He always had a fantasy of a big family in a cottage, being a hunter and having his beloved wife by his side as an equal in the home. He cherished you, making sure that he provided for you in every way you needed. You became a housewife, as you would like to be there to take care of your children.

Speaking of, not a single night has passed since your wedding night where you haven’t fucked like rabbits. Sure, you both were still young, but you had been talking about this since you both were in NRC. You felt like you were ready to take on the challenge of rabbits. So, every night, you were filled with his cum. You were claimed as his, with all the hickies all over your body, with the sinful stretch his cock always seemed to give you… it was heaven in Twisted Wonderland.

It did not come as a surprise that you fell pregnant merely a few weeks after your wedding. The news made your beloved hunter so excited. Now, you could never leave him for your world. You had children that tied you to him. During your pregnancy, he is a devoted lover. He makes sure all your needs are met, and that includes the needs that are in the bedroom.

Malleus Draconia

You were his first friend outside of his retainers. You showed him kindness, and you were not scared of him at all. That alone made his draconic instincts want to kidnap you and keep you all to himself. However, he was able to hold off just a little, and you came to him on your own. The rose you had presented him with remains preserved, even years later, as it is a token of your love for him. He was a bit delulu, but aren’t we all?

It was a big request to ask you to marry him, as you would become the queen of a great nation of mostly fae folk. However, you were up to the challenge, and the people loved you. However, there was great pressure for an heir. Again, you were up to the challenge, but you discussed it with your husband first. You both concluded on a large family, so that the children wouldn’t grow up isolated (and totally not because Malleus wanted to see you round over and over again).

That night, all the staff had been advised to vacate the corridor in which your shared chambers resided, as you were not able to quiet yourself. You went a total of 8 rounds, one of which you were passed out for, but gave him the ‘okay’ to fuck you through that brief nap. Any chance of walking was out of the question. You could barely lift your head, and you had to be tended to by maidservants for a week. Unfortunately, Malleus couldn’t tend to you himself, as being the King meant that he was busy.

The entire realm rejoiced at the news of your pregnancy, and you had the world’s best doctors at your disposal. Everyone was concerned about making sure that the heir survived to take the throne, but they were also a tad worried about them being half-fae and half-human, as it meant that their lifespan would be shorter than a typical fae’s. Neither you nor your husband cared, however, as you were just happy to start a new chapter of your lives together.

Sebek Zigvolt

His pride denied him the pleasure of accepting his feelings for you in the first place, and he instead wrote anonymous poems for you that he would leave at your desk. You had no idea who it could be, so when someone claimed it was them, Sebek shouted that it was he who wrote the poems and not the plagiarist. He looked like he was about to fight the poor unfortunate soul, but you placed a kiss on his cheek, telling him that you accepted his feelings and not the other person’s.

About the topic of marriage… he would prioritize being a knight first. However, when he sees a time in his career, he will definitely get married to you. He enjoyed that he was in Briar Valley often and he just needed to train new recruits, and he would return home to you cooking dinner. As for children, the topic would blurt out of his mouth as you voiced your sadness about being lonely. You loved the idea, and as irresponsible as it was, the way you looked at him with newfound dreams in your eyes, he carried you to the bedroom and started right away.

You had discovered that Sebek had a hidden breeding kink, and he loved seeing your face as he came inside you over and over. The husband you thought you knew was giving into the primal instincts deep within him, and you were loving it. His fangs had made their mark all over your neck and shoulders, claiming you despite the ring on your finger showing you were taken.

The Zigvolt family, as well as Lilia, Silver, and King Malleus, were all excited when you announced your pregnancy. However, only the two of you would know what sinful things took place for this to happen. Know that this is not your only child, even if you don’t actually have another one. He wants at least two, and he is willing to adopt.

[blues824]

Octavinelle x Siren!Reader

Gender-neutral reader.

Azul Ashengrotto

Alright, so when he saw Jack Howl carrying you with a tail inside the Lounge, he let out a gasp of shock. He led the First Year to a moonpool that was within Octavinelle. You let out a gasp of bliss as you felt your scales being rehydrated by the water within the pool, a feeling that Azul knows all too well.

The cecaelia knows that sirens tend to lure in their prey by their voice, so he tries to leave as fast as he can. However, you started speaking to him almost immediately, inviting him to swim with you and that you would be so lonely and cold without his arms wrapped around you. The poor man was so red in the face and his heart was pounding against his ribcage.

You were promising kisses and a future together, which was all he wanted. He closed his eyes and saw the two of you living under the sea, a ring on your finger. It almost made him melt, but he knew that he could not give in. He pushed up his glasses and continued making his way back to the Lounge. However, the vision would not leave his mind.

Throughout the entire week, your singing voice had been ringing through his brain. His heart fluttered whenever he thought about answering your calls for him. On the 7th day, the calls became too much and he went to the moonpool where you currently resided. You were waiting for him.

Your calls continued, and Azul entered the water. His merform was the first thing you noticed, and you called it absolutely beautiful. Needless to say, he was lost in the sea that was your voice, and his tentacles wrapped themselves around your torso as he was further lost in the kiss you had given him.

Luckily for the two of you, this happened at 12:01 am, and thus Azul was safe from being trapped in your spell. However, you emerged from the water with suction cup marks all over your midsection. The poor octopus merman was so embarrassed, but you placed another kiss on his lips and reassured him that it was perfectly alright. 

Jade Leech

He took you from Jack’s arms, feeling quite possessive all of a sudden after seeing you in a tail in the wolf man’s arms. He could feel your scales drying out, so he made quick work of his feet and dumped you in one of the many moonpools within the Octavinelle dormitory.

As he turned to leave, you reached out and grabbed his arm before pleading with him not to leave. He smirked before teasing you and saying that you were not very smart if you thought that your siren speech would get to him. Well, spoiler alert: it did and now his heart is beating harder than a Looney Tunes character.

Azul had to make sure that he was alright before he let the tweel get back to work again. He proved sufficient enough, so he continued for the entirety of the week. But, the cecaelia could clearly see that Jade was gritting his teeth whenever he was speaking with a customer. This continued for the entirety of the week until he was given the weekend off to try and get out of your spell.

On the 7th day, the temptation became too much for Jade. Your singing has been running circles in his brain. So, he quietly exited his room and started making his way to you. He noticed that the moon seemed to be lighting the path so he can make his way to his beloved, and he took it as a green flag rather than a red one.

When he got to the moonpool, he immediately went into the water and started shifting into his mer-form. Almost immediately, he heard a whoosh in the water and knew that it was you. You swam up and wrapped your arms around his neck as you greeted him. It didn’t take long for the loving look in your eyes to both figuratively and literally drag him underwater as you gave him a kiss.

Fortunately, it was past midnight. The next day, Jade was only a tad upset that you no longer had your tail since that meant you wouldn’t be able to go swimming with each other the way that two mer-people would. However, he was glad that he was no longer under your spell. It would have been disastrous otherwise.

Floyd Leech

The second he saw you in Jack’s arms with a tail rather than two legs, his boring and dull day suddenly got much more interesting. This man was not paying attention to any warnings as he took you into his arms and carried you to the moonpools so your scales wouldn’t dry out. On the way there, he was stuck under your siren song.

As a result of this, he very much wanted to join you while you were swimming. He almost did, but Jade was there to drag his brother off and lock him in his dorm room. Floyd was struggling against his brother’s arms and yelling to let him go. Any struggle was in vain, as he was still stuck in his own room. The door was locked from the outside.

Azul and Jade tried to explain that the influence  your siren song had over him was dangerous, but Floyd was not listening. His heart was screaming at him to go see you, to kiss you. He just needed to be with you. For the entirety of the week, he would wrestle his boss or his brother in order to escape and get to you, but each time it has failed.

Now, in a haste to get the tweel locked away, they had forgotten about the window that was in Floyd’s room. To be fair, he had also forgotten about it until he realized that he had bedsheets and could climb down quickly because of a rope climbing exercise in Coach Vargas’ PE class. So, he did it and was now technically a fugitive.

This mofo ran as fast as he could to where you were swimming. His little shrimpy was just so cute with a tail! He joined you in the water and immediately wrapped his long tail around yours. You returned the tight embrace he had given you by placing the kiss he had been longing for upon his lips.

The next day, you were thanking the stars above that Floyd was just his usual level of clingy rather than stuck under the spell. He mourned the loss of your tail like it was its own separate person. Real tears were shed. You had to comfort him and say that you would go swimming with him soon to make him feel better. It worked, and he was back to his giddy self.