#execution wasn't flawless but you see the vision right??

[adzowski]

Some more side portraits, Avatar edition :)

[fewblood]

Beware of the Shadow - König x Fem Reader - Part 2

I couldn't believe it; here I was, stuck in this mess, feeling I reached the gates of hell earlier than I should. This wasn't how I planned my fucking 'new start', and karma sure had a wicked sense of humor.

I got to my small bedroom to change and, without much conviction, I made my way to the gym. Or, more accurately, right into what felt like a death sentence. 

As I entered the empty place that reeked of sweat and musk, I quickly spotted König laying against the back wall, already waiting for me. 

Eager to reduce me to dust I see…

He dropped his gears for lighter clothes too, but his face remained hidden as always. He looked down at me for a moment, and I could only look back nervously. 

Focus—If I play this well, maybe I'll be able to get out of this without anything broken. 

Or not… 

I swallowed painfully, unsure of what to expect of my last moments. Should I try to get my way out of this? What's worse, being labeled as a coward or as a dead woman? The atmosphere hung in a hushed stillness, as if we were observing a moment of silence before my impending execution. 

His hoarse voice jolted me back to reality as it resonated through the gym and down my spine, sending unpleasant shivers.

"Let us begin. Make sure not to hold back, soldier." he warned as he promptly directed me into the ring.

Why am I doing this again…? 

Think… I could take advantage of his height, but still… König is huge—like huge huge. My head don't even reach his shoulders for fuck sake! How am I supposed to fight against that? 

I locked my gaze to his as I tried not to show too much of a defeated look. Yeah, let's put on a brave face for now… Something could work, but that would only be possible if he makes the first move. 

Yet, König stood perfectly still, appearing like those flawless Greek statues that convey pure strength through their very form. His muscles were accentuated by the snug fit of his t-shirt, the sight alone would dissuade anyone from even looking in his direction. 

Like all the other lucky people he sparred with, I was obviously shorter than him. That's nothing new. But I too had consistently faced opponents higher than me—well, maybe not that high...

He was calm, yet something was off. He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for me to make a move. But here I was, staring back at him like a mad cat ready to pounce, longing for him to engage. I waited. But nothing happened. 

I have to make him move, I have no other options.

… 

Ok, maybe I’ll die today, but I'll make this at least entertaining for the both of us. Resolved, I switched to a smug look, determined to make this act at least somewhat believable.

"What are you waiting for? Afraid to take on someone smaller?" I taunted.

I maintained my smirk as sweat beads formed on the nape of my neck. König's eyes remained fixed on me for a moment. He seemed tense, but his mood still remained mainly indecipherable.

"Nice try, but a true warrior knows when actions speak louder. I recommend doing the same." 

I felt my insides slowly twisting into a knot, acknowledging briefly all the anxiety I was desperately trying to ignore since the beginning of this ill-fated evening.  

I can do it. At least I have to try.

After taking a deep breath, I stared back, straight into his eyes, now full of a newfound determination.

"Of course." 

I waved two fingers at him as my smirk grew wider. 

"Bring it on."

König stood motionless as he watched my fingers move in front of me. He saw my hand gesture, he knew what it meant, yet he remained still. 

Although, I could see something flicker in his eyes. Was it anger? No, more like… annoyance. Understandable, given he brought me here to teach me a lesson.

I also noticed his fists slightly clench in my peripheral vision.

Huh… So my attitude might somewhat affect him.

I obviously can't win by force, so I have to think, and think well. My mind was going wild, racing with possibilities. I kept my grin on, but this time it was genuine.

"Come on, no need to be shy. I don't bite." I almost purred to provoke him again.

I hope I won't regret my words…

Shit, I know I'll fucking do, but at least it's working.

König’s eyes widened a bit at my words. He stood his ground again, yet I could feel it: despite his stoic demeanor, he was growing more and more irritated as the seconds ticked by. 

"Still hesitating? You're softer than I thought..." I chuckled.

It was as if you could see the air change around him, how the shackles of control were on the verge of giving in. He just needed one last push, something that would make him want to shut me up badly… So, I took a deep breath as the thrill made my heart pound louder and louder.

"Come on, big guy!" I shouted, "Cat got your tongue, or are you afraid a woman might show you how it's done?!"

König stayed still and yet, just as I feared he might, I could tell his lips curled up into a dark smile. 

In an instant, he stepped forward with fire in his eyes, his anger turning into rage. He seemed furious at himself for falling into some stupid mind games, but his frustration could not stay contained anymore. He lunged forward, his fist flying towards my face.

Yes, now! 

In one swift motion, I squatted as much as I could and slipped between his legs. He tried to close his thighs on me, but I violently kicked the back of his knee with my forearm right before he could react. 

It luckily made him lose his balance, so I sprang back behind him and pulled his arm in an arm lock, ignoring the throbbing pain I got in my own after the blow I just gave him. 

He grunted in pain as he bent down, his hurt knee on the ground. As I pushed myself on his back, I immediately felt the immeasurable strength under there. The description of him being a "muscle mountain" felt pretty accurate, at least as much as I wished it didn't. 

I'll have to anticipate all of his movements, otherwise, if he manages to catch me, I'm fucked. Even all my years of practice could find themselves useless when faced against such an opponent.

Although my movements were a surprise attack, König surely had been anticipating something like this. He winced as I put more pressure on his arm and back. Still, he tried his best to fight through it.

His strength is undoubtedly prodigious, but still: it doesn't mean he's immune to pain. 

He let out a loud roar as he attempted to break my stance, his free hand reaching for me. 

If he could just get one good grip, I would be terminated. 

Expecting such a reaction, I managed to avoid his big palm but shit—that was close.

I tightened my grip and forced his other knee on the ground with a strong foot kick. This allowed me to firmly plant both of my feet on his calves and keep them grounded, exerting all my weight on them like my life depended on it. Even though, in this moment—it kinda did.

Grumbling in pain, König placed his free hand on the ground to resist being pushed down further.

Despite my best efforts to pin him down, even with only one hand to support him, it still proved impossible.

I need to neutralize him in some other way, and quickly!

König suppressed his grunting; he wasn't giving up too, not that soon, not like this. His free hand reached for me again, searching for my arm… 

...and he found it.

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Previous part ● Table of content

[zaidshair]

It was like Zaid read Tej's mind - "Yeah, go on then. Waste your time, yeah. You wouldn't have the imagination for an installation of this calibre." The bitterness dripping from his tongue like sand, salt, and seaweed - a potent blend that Zaid tasted only a few months ago. Pounding and flailing in dark sea water, calling at Tej, and howling for their poor little -

Someone trapped in the galley gave a paltry effort to freeing him on Tej's command. Yeah, such leadership, our Tej. Always one step ahead of himself, and everyone else. A trait that used to fill Zaid with wonder and admiration - how thoughtful Tej was, how he made considerations and concessions for Zaid's needs, with a knowing and insightful gaze that could see through the thickest walls - Zaid's included. Tej was strong and magnificent, a stunning soul to match his stunning looks.

(When things started to fall apart between them, Zaid thought he'd found the truth: Tej didn't have any crystal-clear, 20-20 vision on the world. He was just a glass. Tej was a teardrop of mercury, that reflected the world around him. All mirror, no substance. And dangerous to hold onto so tight.)

All these terrible thoughts swam in Zaid's head about Tej, until he watched Tej himself slide into the ocean water, pushing someone else towards the escape. Swimming towards Zaid. His hero, his saviour! His protector, his steady rock with a mind's eye like no one else in the world. Zaid reached for him, all gratitude and sorrow. "Yes, pyaar. Come here. You won't leave me, yeah? If my life ends here, then you'll be right -"

Are you fucking lying to me.

Zaid's mouth snapped shut as he considered this, watching Tej dive underwater. Of course he wasn't lying, that other bloke confirmed - the mixer pinning him was too heavy. Zaid watched Tej below, tempted to just...press his hands down on Tej's neck. Dig his fingers into those taut, sleek muscles and hold him down. Tej might struggle, like - like she'd struggled. Like she'd tried to fight for survival too. It'd be so fitting for them all to drown here, each of them fractured, alone.

Tej broke surface, hair tossed back and chest expanding with air, like a flawless model in a cologne advertisement. The little whirlpool swelled nearby with a terrible sucking sound, a harmony to the shifting groans of this...ship, or whatever they were in. Wordlessly, Zaid dug into Tej's shoulders, but not to push him back under. Use him as a brace to give himself some wiggle room. All the while, staring directly into Tej's eyes, unwilling to break the contact until Tej did first.

Or perhaps Tej would just see through him, like Zaid was the glass.

With a loud CLUNK, Zaid gasped as his leg was freed. Numb like deadweight, but at least he could move. "You did it!" Zaid exclaimed. Of course Tej did it. Tej always executed tasks intentionally and exceptionally, from his gorgeous paintings to mind-blowing sex. Tej never got anything wrong, never made any fuck-up he didn't want to make. Tej, always right because being wrong was too crippling to his roiling, beautiful, tragic ego.

Zaid pushed Tej towards the shelving, half-expecting the other to resist out of pure obstinance. "Go on, you climb up first, yeah? I'll be right after you." And then, in a fit of compulsion, Zaid held Tej's face still between his hands, and forced a kiss on Tej's salt-brined mouth. "I knew you wouldn't leave me."

Funny that one of the last times he saw Zaid, they both cried for help. Someone to help them, the entire world having crashed down and trapped them on a beach. 

He used to cherish every thought that revealed itself on Zaid’s beautifully expressive face. Knew every shape his body could bend in, couldn’t keep his hands off the guy. Would have jumped in the water and traded his own life for Zaid. Now, he hesitated. 

To see his ex in this flipped over kitchen turned Tej into a piece of uranium radiating poison into the atmosphere. Tej actually considered walking away, driven by a renewed boost of energized anger. 

Did you do this? His eyes pinched around the corners for a moment. Tej let one dry laugh fly before he gave a flat answer. “I wouldn’t waste my time.” On you, the implication. Although it would make for an excellent art installation, a darkly poetic revenge. Zaid locked away in a grotesque glass cabinet that filled to the brim with water several times a day. 

Tej tried to shake off these delusional ideas that seeing Zaid sparked. “No one comes up until he can move.” But maybe trust was low. The water agitated more by flailing people trapped below than by the tilt of the boat, and it was difficult to see what kept Zaid stuck. 

Tej helped another person out of the kitchen while a woman in the water screamed, ‘We can’t do this! The water is rising too fast!’ Still, a third person dunked under once in a sad attempt to assist Zaid, but immediately surfaced empty-handed. ‘It won’t budge, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!’ 

Fucking hell, what was wrong with these idiots? 

After waving a few others over to assist at the door, Tej found himself climbing down into the kitchen. Maybe even pushed by an invisible hand down, because his stomach clenched to think helping Zaid was a betrayal to a little girl. Their little girl, the one they searched for the last time they were together in water. (His upside down thinking, to match the slant of the room).

He swam over as the last bumbling person to try a rescue headed in the opposite direction towards escape. "Are you fucking lying to me." Was this Zaid's trick, did he have those same diabolical thoughts as Tej?

Under the water, there was a mixer and heavier box that wedged Zaid tight against a supply cabinet. Tej worked quickly with regret he'd picked up smoking in the last six months, because his lungs already threatened to fail him.

It was strange timing that the water poured faster and heavier into the small room. More groans of steel were heard on a deck somewhere below them and a splintering of wood. A whirlpool began to form in the middle of the galley.

Tej thought he'd opened enough space for Zaid to wiggle free, and burst upwards out of the water. "Try moving now, because Zaid-- we gotta get outta here. Sounds like the ship is breaking open under us."