#frog.fiction

[phr0gie]

sleep softly, love; genshin impact

synopsis: how i think certain genshin impact characters would fall asleep next to you for the first time :)

note: hihi! so i finally feel like i’m caught up enough in genshin lore that i can start actually writing for it!! yay!! anyways, i’m sorry if my portrayal of them is a lil ooc, i’m still getting used to writing for them. still, i hope you guys enjoy! :D

pairings: xiao x reader, diluc x reader

tw: mentions of nightmares and death in xiao’s, mentions of alcohol and suggestive themes in diluc’s, ooc characters, mostly j fluff, not proof read (oops)

wc: 2k 

masterlist

xiao:

the first few times you bring up sleeping next to him he’s probably going to turn you down

you see, xiao doesn’t really need to sleep, nor does he want to

he finds the idea of lying in a comatose state for eight hours in complete darkness to be “weird” and a “waste of time”

and his opinion on the matter doesn’t change for a while

that is, until you confess to him you’ve been having nightmares

these nightmares were like nothing you have ever had before

they shook you to your very core and, rather than the dream just leaving your mind after you woke up, they followed you around for days

once you confide in xiao about these terrors, he grows very concerned

in the past he’s known people who have been plagued with nightmares as a result of a dangerous curse that, more often than not, ended in death

the thought of you, the person he cares about most, succumbing to such a terrible fate frightens him more than anything — not that he’ll ever admit this to you.

and so, reluctantly, xiao agrees to spend the night with you

just this once, to protect you

You roll over to face him and for a moment he panics. To Xiao’s knowledge, couples who slept together often cuddled with each other. While he did occasionally enjoy a few close moments with you, Xiao couldn’t say he was very taken with the idea of physical contact — especially in a situation that left him so vulnerable. To his relief, however, you stay on your side of the bed. Your hand rests on top of your pillow and slowly, almost cautiously you maneuver it so it’s lying a bit closer to Xiao — a silent invitation to hold your hand, is what the adeptus recognizes it as. This gesture was not foreign to him, you did things like this often. You always kept your hand outstretched to him. Even if he were to pull away or turn his back, your hand was still there. You were still there.

You roll over to face him and for a moment he panics. To Xiao’s knowledge, couples who slept together often cuddled with each other. While he did occasionally enjoy a few close moments with you, Xiao couldn’t say he was very taken with the idea of physical contact — especially in a situation that left him so vulnerable. To his relief, however, you stay on your side of the bed. Your hand rests on top of your pillow and slowly, almost cautiously you maneuver it so it’s lying a bit closer to Xiao — a silent invitation to hold your hand, is what the adeptus recognizes it as. This gesture was not foreign to him, you did things like this often. You always kept your hand outstretched to him. Even if he were to pull away or turn his back, your hand was still there. You were still there.

You roll over to face him and for a moment he panics. To Xiao’s knowledge, couples who slept together often cuddled with each other. While he did occasionally enjoy a few close moments with you, Xiao couldn’t say he was very taken with the idea of physical contact — especially in a situation that left him so vulnerable. To his relief, however, you stay on your side of the bed. Your hand rests on top of your pillow and slowly, almost cautiously you maneuver it so it’s lying a bit closer to Xiao — a silent invitation to hold your hand, is what the adeptus recognizes it as. This gesture was not foreign to him, you did things like this often. You always kept your hand outstretched to him. Even if he were to pull away or turn his back, your hand was still there. You were still there.

“Xiao.”

Your gentle voice catches his attention immediately. As he looks into your eyes all he can see is admiration, his heart clenches at the feeling it gives him.

“Thank you,” you say softly, “for being here for me like this.”

Xiao simply nods his head at you in response.

“Sleep,” he whispers, his tone commanding yet soft, “I will be here when you wake.”

He desperately wants to say more. To let you know that he would always be there for you, that no challenge would ever be too difficult if it was for you, that he would rip the moon from the night sky if it meant that you would rest a little easier. Yet, the kind smile you give him shows that he need not continue. You know he loves you, you have never once doubted it. You are aware of the burden he carries and how it affects him. You know that one day he will be able to share with you the confessions of love and vulnerability that are buried deep inside him. For now, this is enough. He is enough. And so, with a content smile you snuggle even further into your pillow.

“Goodnight, Xiao.” You whisper before finally closing your eyes.

Xiao stares at your resting form for a while. It is not until your breathing evens out and he is sure you are asleep do his eyes flicker from your face to your hand lying closely to him. All of the sudden, an overwhelming urge to hold you in some way overtakes the adeptus. Again, Xiao was not the biggest fan of physical affection, however, something about you looking as peaceful as you do in this moment evokes something from him. And so, he decides to finally accept your invitation. As his palm meets yours in a tight hold — not tight enough to wake you, of course — Xiao allows himself to indulge in the warmth and safety you provide him, just this once.

Neither of you have any nightmares that night.

diluc:

you and diluc are in a fairly new relationship.

having just started seeing each other a few months ago, it’s only natural to not have done anything too domestic quite yet.

not to mention, our ever stoic winery owner is a bit shy when it comes to his affections.

the two of your were every content with your soft, simple touches.

hand-holding, hugging, and subtle kissing kept you both very satisfied.

until you decide to get drunk at dawn winery.

your work has been k i l l i n g you recently

commissions are beginning to pile up, hilichurls have invaded the area you were supposed to scout next, and you couldn’t help but think that you were getting a bit rusty with your weapon.

all and all, you are very stressed out.

you desperately want a chance to relax.

originally, you had planned on just having a drink or two and ranting to your ever so reliable boyfriend.

however, a drink or two turned into three, then four...

before you knew it you couldn’t remember how many you had and it was rather late.

being the gentleman that he is, diluc forces offers you his bed for the night

seeing as you were in no condition to return home on your own, he has no choice.

it’s the responsible decision.

however, he’s still very flustered about the whole ordeal

Dulic thinks you are a handful. Especially right now. 

He huffs as he attempts to open his bedroom door one-handed. The other appendage preoccupied with keeping you slumped against his side so that you don’t fall over. 

“I knew you shouldn’t have had that last glass of dandelion wine.” He mumbles, gently scolding you. 

You simply blink up at him, a bored expression on your flushed face. 

“You sayin’ I can’t hold my alcohol?” you hiccup, “I’ll show you…” 

You attempt to push off of him, but his hold on you tightens. 

“No,” he grunts, “You won’t.” 

Finally the door opens and Diluc lets out a sigh of relief. Swiftly he lifts you up — earning a small ‘woah’ and a giggle from you — and carries you over to his bed. He then sets you down and turns to his dresser to get you some clothes to sleep in. He picks out a large, white, long-sleeved undershirt and. Your lips curl into a suggestive smirk and you chuckle. 

“Oooh,” you tease, “Master Diluc how bold of you, are you going to dress me?” 

The pyro user looks absolutely mortified but you pay no mind to it, too busy laughing and hiccupping at your own joke. A prominent blush grows on Diluc’s face as he shuffles over to you. 

“Of course not!” he stutters, dropping the clothing article gently on your head. He then grabs a pile of his own clothes and makes a beeline to the door. Just as he is about to exit he turns to you. 

“Wait here,” he instructs, “and try not to fall asleep yet.” 

And with that, the Diluc dashes down the hall, presumably leaving you to get changed. You do just that, tugging off your shirt and removing your bottoms. You huff as you lift your boyfriend's shirt up and over your head. As soon as the garment falls over your shoulders and past your knees, you’re hit with the rich scent of chestnuts and mahogany — the scent of Diluc. His undershirt is so baggy and so warm that you cannot help but feel at ease, Diluc always did have a way of making you feel safe — whether it was the hand he always places on the small of your back when he guides you around town or the look in his eyes when he spots you across the room, so sure that you’re the one he’ll always search for. The red-head returns a moment later clad in a dark, short-sleeved undershirt, similar to the one he gave you, and a pair of soft pants. In one hand, Diluc holds a fresh glass of water and in the other a pillow that seems to be smaller than the ones laid out in his bed. Diluc gently sits on the edge of the bed and pats the spot next to him, beckoning you to sit next to him. As soon as the bed dips with your weight, Diluc is handing you a cup of water. 

“Drink,” he instructs once again, “so your hangover doesn’t kill you tomorrow.” 

You do as you're told, dutifully downing the refreshing liquid. The minute your lips leave the cup he takes it from you, setting it on his bedside table. Then, Diluc picks you up once more and positions you so you are laying properly on the bed. He pulls the covers out from under you and makes sure you’re tucked in well. 

“There,” he says finally, pulling the comforter up to your chin, “are you comfortable?” 

However, he does not receive an answer. You’re already half asleep, head slumped against the pillow, mouth hanging wide open. Diluc smiles in spite of himself. He should be mad at you, he knows he should. But, as you lay there with your hair a mess, wearing one of his shirts, in his bed, Diluc cannot help but fall even more hopelessly in love with you. Stroking your hair a few times, he finally leaves a light kiss on your forehead. Hesitantly, he gets up, being very careful not to jostle you. He’s about to head to his living room to sleep, but he can barely make it two steps away from the bed before a hand shoots out and grabs his wrist. He turns to see you, still snug in his bed, a pout adorning your features. 

“Where’re you goin?” You grumble out sleepily. 

Diluc looks at you curiously. 

“I’m going to let you sleep,” he whispers, “You need to rest.” 

He attempts to remove your hand but your grip only tightens. Suddenly you pull him down, your faces only inches apart. You wrap your arms around his neck and rest your forehead against his.

“Please,” you whisper, your voice soft — so soft that Diluc doesn’t think he would have heard it if he weren’t so close to you, “stay.”

The blush from earlier creeps back up Diluc’s neck and rests upon the apples of his cheeks. Hearing you plead for him like this evokes a sense of warmth within the pyro user. He’s never felt so wanted before you. Ultimately, Diluc gives in and indulges you — how can he not? Crawling into bed next to you, he stiffens when you rest your head on his chest and wrap your arms around his torso. Diluc stays up a little while after you doze off, admiring you. 

Diluc thinks you are a handful. However, he thinks he can handle it if at the end of every day he gets to hold you like this.

please do not steal or repost my work, thank you!

[phr0gie]

Blue Salvia - Albedo? Please?:]

delivery!

order: blue salvias (‘i think of you’) + albedo

note: hi there! thank you for requesting! i hope you enjoy this little blurb as much as i enjoyed writing it :)

cw: albedo pining after you, lots of fluff, a bit of ooc albedo probably

wc: 370

place an order | exit the shop

Blue is a color that Albedo has always been quite familiar with. He sees it everywhere; in the dark blue of a freshly crafted Desiccant Potion, in the faded blue of his pen when he runs out of black ink, in the misty blue of the eyes he sees blinking back at him in the mirror each morning. To Albedo, the meaning of colors — outside of a scientific sense — are not really something he considers to be important. Color was nothing more than a reflection of light, an indicator to see if an experiment had gone right. The color blue was no exception, nothing important enough for the alchemist to concern himself with.

That is, however, until you come around. You with your shining eyes and wide smile, you with your bright mind and caring nature. You are what Albedo would consider, for lack of a better word that he has yet to find, a plague on his mind. Every night the alchemist lies awake with thoughts of you, his heart hammering in his chest and his fingers twitching, aching to hold yours. When he paints, Albedo paints only you — scenes of you against the light blue of the sky, you roaming the sands of Falcon Coast with ocean-blue waves splashing at your feet, you amongst a field of wildflowers (all blues and purples). Yet, when you come to visit he quickly hides his pieces — panicked that you may know just how often he thinks of you. He doesn’t find this natural, this obsession he seems to have with you. Albedo searches and searches for a reason for his madness. However, for some reason, his calculations don’t make sense, his reasoning is off, and his experiments leave him empty handed. His confusion eats away at him. Why is it you that he thinks of? Why can’t he seem to stop?

It is when he sees you roaming the icey-blue tundra of Dragonspine, all bundled up with a red nose and cheeks to match, that Albedo finally understands. He remembers reading somewhere what the color blue stands for — serenity and stability, the same feelings he has whenever he’s with you. It is when Albedo sees you enter his lab and gaze at his latest piece — a water color painting of you frolicing in the snow, he doesn’t hide it, for he feels no need to anymore — that he realizes you are, in fact, not a plague to him or a problem to be solved. To him you are the color blue, to him you are love. A love so strong that it is overwhelming and almost unbearable. Even so, as Albedo stares at your flustered expression he simply cannot find it in himself to care about the repercussions love may bare — for if he can see you like this always, it would be worth every consequence.

“Is that me?” Your question breaks him from his epiphany. Your soft, gentle voice makes his heart clench and his stomach do flips. Yet, Albedo only smiles, welcoming this new, warm feeling.

“It is,” he responds, his nervous hand finally taking yours.

“It appears that I have been thinking of you quite a bit recently.”

please do not steal or repost my work, thank you!

[phr0gie]

𝓕𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓢𝓮𝓲𝓳𝓸𝓱 

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 1: 𝓡𝓮𝓭 𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓪𝓼

“you’re my number one, you’re the one i want. and i’ve turned down every hand that has beckoned me to come.” - geyser, mitski

��� synopsis: red gardenias are the symbol of secret love. y/n has been a cook for prince tooru and the rest of the oikawa family for their entire life. despite residing in the same castle, the two had never met. they lived in different worlds, so close yet so far apart. however, these worlds collide one night when prince tooru sneaks down to the kitchen for a midnight snack.

✯ note: this is it guys!! my first real post on this account!! i’m still exploring with my overall writing style and structure so please bear with me on that. remember, constructive criticism is welcome as long as you’re respectful about it! thank you so much to everyone who’s been patient in waiting for this series to come out, and h u g e thank you to my beta reader @ramunesuna​ !!! :)

✯ pairing: prince! oikawa x cook! reader

✯ tw: slight classism, minor character death mention, strong language, unresolved angst but in a romantic way you know, angsty prince oikawa hehe, kuroo makes a brief appearance lmao

✯ wc: 9k (oof)

✯ series masterlist | main masterlist

Ever since Y/n L/n was a young child, they had always been taught one extremely important lesson. There were two worlds; one full of luxury and opportunity, and another full of hardwork and perseverance. Y/n just so happened to be born into the latter, a servant of the royal Oikawa family. Their father, the head chef of the castle, had drilled this narrative into their head. “You must remember”, he would say. “In this life, to survive in our world we must work to appease those above us. It is our safest option. Their world is too far away from ours, they will forget we’re here. It is up to us to remind them.” And at that moment, Y/n believed this was true. Above them, they heard loud laughter and music from what had to be the royal family’s fifth ball this month. And, with their fingers growing wrinkly in the sink from scrubbing dishes, Y/n truly did feel as though they were in two different worlds. So close yet so far, only a story away.

A swarm of servants flooding into the kitchen had shaken them from their thoughts. Smells of wine and cake along with the sounds of sighs of relief and complaints of aching bones had immediately filled Y/n’s senses. Frantically their eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar figure amongst the crowd. Finally, they saw their target, an older man dressed in a white coat with a long white hat. They locked eyes and the old man relaxed immediately. He smiled warmly at them and they returned it almost instantly. 

“Ah, Y/n”, he said affectionately as he approached the young cook. 

“You look exhausted, Father”, Y/n chuckled. “Are the guests especially rowdy this evening?” 

Their father shook his head and let out a tired laugh. 

“That’s one way to put it, it’s truly remarkable how rambunctious some individuals get after a few sips of wine. Especially His Majesty”, he remarked. “After his second goblet I was afraid he was about to offer me a new position in the main house!” 

Y/n let out a loud laugh at this. The King was known to be generous with his power, however, once it was clear that he was having fun he became a bit too generous with it. After a few more chuckles Y/n let out a sigh. 

“I wish I could have been there to see it”, they muttered.

Their father let out his own sigh. “I know you do”, he said carefully, “but, I do not want to expose you to the stresses of working closely with the royal family too early. That simply would not be fair to you.” 

Y/n rolled their eyes, but still nodded in understanding. While they knew how cruel some noblemen could be to the lower-class, they still found it irritating that this would keep them from progressing with their duties; especially considering Y/n was to take their fathers place as head chef one day. 

“Besides” he added, “your time will come soon enough. After all, I am old and withered; I will not be around forever.” 

Y/n gasped at this. “Father!”, they yelled, hitting him lightly on the arm. “Do not say such things!” 

He merely chuckled at their reaction and pointed to a grand wooden clock that stood in the corner of the kitchen. 

“The clock strikes midnight” he yawned, “and we must be up early to prepare breakfast for His Royal Highness. Off to bed!”

 He then clapped, as if to emphasize his point, and walked toward the servants quarters. Y/n simply let out a light chuckle and followed him, trying to busy their mind with tomorrow’s meal preparations instead of thinking about the separate reality above them. 

On the other side of the castle, the Oikawa family ball had been coming to a close. His majesty’s coronation was but only two months away and, by tradition of the Oikawa family, a ball was to take place once every week before the occasion. Various Royalty and Noblemen had traveled far and wide for this night, decorated in the finest of silks and clothes, just to step into the family’s golden ballroom and catch a glimpse of the King's son, Prince Tooru Oikawa. You see, his majesty had created quite a name for himself. Throughout the land, he was known for his strategic mind and charming personality. He could dazzle any room he walked into and handle political matters with elegance and ease. This reputation caused his people to put him on a pedestal, genuinely believing that he would be the greatest ruler the kingdom had ever seen; leading them to create a nickname for the heir, “The Great King Tooru”. Yes, everyone was quite ecstatic for the heir to finally claim the throne, well that is, everyone but Prince Tooru. While he was an excellent strategist and an amazing speaker, there was something about the Prince that his subjects did not know. Prince Tooru had never had any experience outside of the palace walls. He had little to no idea how his people lived, what their biggest struggles were, what they thought could be improved upon within the kingdom. Hell, he had never even met his own staff! While charming and clever, his highness was nothing short of a perfectionist. He was dangerously ambitious and constantly craved improvement. So, whilst at his celebrations, he would present his confident, collected, charming self to the public, however, once the palace doors shut Tooru’s anxieties and worries would run rampant.

As the last of the guests exited the golden ballroom, Tooru’s honey smile melted into a bitter frown and his eyes were fixed on the door. His coronation was a double edged-sword hanging above his throne and he was Damocles awaiting his demise. The King noticed this and swiftly approached his son, patting a few times on the back. 

“Well,” He started, a soft, cheery tone in his voice. “It seems as though the guests had a magnificent time.” 

The Prince’s gaze stayed stuck to the door. “I want to stay the night in the village.” Tooru stated quietly, as if he were afraid the guests would still be able to hear. 

The King let out a long sigh and wandered away from his son a bit. “Tooru, we have discussed this matter before-” 

“How am I supposed to properly rule a kingdom I know nothing about?” He interrupted, finally turning his burning gaze towards his father.

“It is unfair not only to me, but to our people. They are expecting a ‘Great King’, but you are preventing me from becoming that for them!” 

The King simply put his head in his hands, clearly not wanting to discuss this any further. 

“Tooru, you simply do not understand.” 

“What?!” Tooru challenged. “What do I not understand?” 

“Enough!” The King shouted, rage and frustration clear in his tone. “You know exactly why you are not to leave the palace. It is not safe for you out there! I made that mistake once with your mother and I will not make it with you.” 

The King’s voice rang throughout the grand, golden walls of the main hall and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Tooru was taken aback by his father’s statement. When The Prince was very young his mother, the Queen, had been killed whilst she was on a stroll at the marketplace one day. Back then, it was normal for the royal family to visit their kingdom. However, it was apparent that the King, as well-liked as he was, still had some enemies. Apparently they had decided to express their distaste for him by murdering the one he loved most. The incident was sudden and unexpected, because of this the King was hit extremely hard by the loss. That day he swore that the royal family was forbidden from exiting the castle. The rule was only lifted when The King himself absolutely had to leave.

“Father,” He started, his tone calmer than before. “I understand your hesitation, but that was a long time ago-” 

“I said ‘enough’, Tooru. There is no hesitation, my decision is final.” The King then made his way up the castle’s grand staircase and towards his room, not wishing to continue the conversation any further. 

Prince Tooru stood in silence as he watched his father retreat. 

“Shit.” He menatlly cursed. 

Prince Tooru turned around and threw his fist against the palace door in anger. All his frustration seemed to bubble to the surface as he glared at the carved oak. Cursing once again he closed his eyes and rested his head against the door. 

“I must meet my people’s expectations of me, but how?” 

All of the sudden, a loud grumble ripped Tooru from his thoughts. He opened his eyes and placed his hands on his stomach. Tooru began to recall the fact that he had not eaten much at the celebration, what with all the mingling he had to do there was just no time. Normally, the prince would have just gone to his room and rang for a meal like he always had. However, this time Tooru decided against it. Maybe it was the angst he was feeling ordering him to act out, or maybe it was the fact that he had reached his limit with social interaction and did not want to have to deal with possibly having to be speaking with someone. Whatever the reason, Tooru felt compelled to venture to the kitchen on his own tonight. So, pushing his frustrations to the back of his mind, Tooru made his way to the main kitchen, blissfully unaware of the young cook still awake in their chambers. 

Y/n could not sleep. They tossed, they turned, they even took a walk around the servants hall! Yet nothing seemed to aid them. They came to the conclusion that their mind would simply not leave them to rest. Sitting up on their bed, Y/n looked out the small window across the room. Over the course of a few hours, Y/n’s thoughts had still not left the idea of the world above them and its inhabitants. Being eighteen-years-old, they were the youngest of all of the chefs and servants; meaning that they were the only one who had never been around the rest of the castle. 

“Oh no Y/n, you mustn’t!”, they would exclaim. “It would not be fair to subject you to such stress, you must wait until you are able to overtake your father!” 

Y/n rolled her eyes thinking about this. They tried to understand where the people around them were coming from, they really did. However, the idea of being stuck in the kitchen was incredibly frustrating to them. 

“What a load of horseshit”, they thought. “How am I supposed to be an adequate cook if I do not even know who I am serving!” 

A loud CLANG suddenly ripped Y/n from their thoughts. Alarmed they jumped and looked around their room. Quickly Y/n bolted from their bed and made their way towards the door. Slowly they peeked out into the servants hall. It was still as can be, no doors open and there was no sign of anyone else being awake. Suddenly a loud BANG followed by a male voice cursing “shit!” came from the kitchen. 

“A thief!” Y/n concluded. 

They looked around for someone to emerge from their chambers to stop the intruder, but, unfortunately, it seemed that everyone was still fast asleep. Y/n had a decision to make; either go back to bed and risk the kitchen getting ransacked, or go stop the intruder and risk getting hurt. Sucking in a breath, Y/n carefully, as to not alert anyone of her presence, tiptoed out into the hallway and shut the door behind them. They grabbed a lit candlestick mounted on the wall and took one last look around. Quickly, yet quietly, they made their way from the servent’s quarters to the main kitchen’s entrance. Once they arrived, Y/n put their ear against the kitchen’s giant wooden door and listened for their target. Meanwhile, on the other side, Prince Tooru was searching the kitchen cabinets for a fresh loaf of bread he knew the head chef had just made that morning. However, being that it was so late, his majesty could hardly see a thing. Still he blindly searched, hoping to find the soft, sweet substance. His haste led to him bumping into a brass plate wrack, knocking over a row of porcelain plates. Y/n’s eyes widened at the sound of this and decided that now was the time to make their move. Quickly they flung open the large kitchen door. 

“Stop, thief!”, they yelled, charging into the room. 

However, what they saw was not at all what they were expecting. There, in all his glory, was a tall, young man hunched over the porcelain plates, attempting to clean up his mess. He wore an elegant silk tunic with matching white pants and a turquoise vest with elegant gold stitching swirled across the front. However, Y/n could care less about the man's attire. For they could not tear their eyes away from the crown atop his head. Golden with topaz and turquoise gems, the kingdom’s signature color and stones. The Prince felt a bit uneasy under the young servant's gaze however, he tried his best not to show it. Instead, he flashed them his signature, charming smile. 

“I am awfully sorry”, Tooru started, calmly and elegantly moving away from the broken plates. “It was not my intention to make such a mess, or to frighten you so. I was simply searching for a loaf of that delicious bread that was served this morning.” 

His words broke Y/n from their trance, as they finally realized exactly who they were speaking to. 

“Your Majesty!”, they exclaimed, knees quickly bending, hitting the floor to bow in reverence before him with their candle still in hand.

 It was a bit awkward, but what were they supposed to do? They had never been in the presence of royalty before! Tooru looked at the servant incredulously and suppressed a chuckle. 

“Your Majesty?” he questioned, amusement dancing in his tone as he approached them. “I am afraid you have mistaken me with my father, my name is Prince Tooru.”

 Y/n’s eyes widened and they gasped. “Of course” they thought bitterly, “Your first meeting with the man you’ll be working for and you soil it.” 

The young cook hung their head low, embarrassed and ashamed of their mistake but also afraid. Y/n had heard stories about servants who were killed for addressing their hosts incorrectly. What was he going to do to them?  

“Your Highness,” they started, their voice shaking slightly. “I give you my sincerest apologies. I assure this mistake will not be repeated.” 

This time, the Prince could not control his amusement. A sea of genuine laughter came tumbling from his mouth and Y/n could not help but be entranced by it. His laugh was smooth and warm, just like the cups of rich hot chocolate the kitchen had  prepared many times for the winter season. Snapping out of their thoughts, Y/n looked up at the laughing heir, confused. 

“Are you not angered?” they quietly asked. 

When the Prince kept laughing, the cook started to get frustrated. They were already embarrassed and now he was making it worse!  

“Are you mocking me?” they challenged, albeit against their better judgement.

Tooru simply shook his head and wiped a stray tear from his eye. 

“No no,” he started, letting out another low chuckle. “My apologies, It was not my intention to poke fun at you like this.” he assured. “I suppose I still have to get accustomed to being spoken to in such a formal way.” 

This confused Y/n. He was the Prince? Did not everyone speak to him this way? Noticing the young cooks' confusion, Tooru smiled and offered them a hand. 

“Here.” 

Hesitantly, Y/n accepted his offer and allowed themselves to be pulled up by the Prince’s strength, blushing a bit despite themselves at the feeling of his hand in theirs. After helping the young servant off the ground, Tooru turned back to the broken china and began to kneel down to pick up the pieces. 

“Oh!” Y/n exclaimed, quickly falling next to him, “Your Highness please, allow me!” 

The Prince chuckled again and shook his head. “No no,” he said, lightly pushing the servant away from the mess. “It is my mess, allow me to take care of it. Besides, it would be incredibly unfortunate if you were to get hurt due to my foolishness.” 

The young cook stubbornly stayed in place. This was their job after all, if they were incapable of completing one simple task then what use did they have? 

 “Well,” they replied quietly, a hint of annoyance in their tone. “At least allow me to assist you.” 

Not giving him a chance to answer, they quickly knelt across from Prince Tooru, sat their large candle next to them, and began to pick up the glass shards. Tooru exhaled and shook his head at this yet he did not stop them, assuming they already had their mind made up. Together, the Prince and the cook picked up the porcelain pieces in silence with a strange tension hanging in the air that neither of them could quite place. After a few moments, when the glass pieces were almost all cleaned, Tooru picked up a particularly rigid piece of glass and pricked his finger. 

“Shit” he cursed quietly, but not quietly enough to go unnoticed by the servant sitting across from him. 

Y/n merely scoffed and shook their head. “And you were worried about me injuring myself” they teased. 

The Prince was about to retort, but the crimson liquid seeping from his index finger caught him off guard. Glancing at his wound, the cook set down their glass pieces and began to stand up. 

“Wait here”, they instructed before quickly grabbing their candle and disappearing from the kitchen. 

Tooru complied and stayed sat in the dark on the wooden floor, cradling his wound and occasionally blowing on it to relieve some of the sting. After about two minutes, the large oak door opened and Y/n popped their head in to make sure the Prince was still there. Upon seeing him, they quickly made their way over and sat down next to him. Tooru noticed a thick white roll of cloth in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other. 

“Let me see”, Y/n whispered. Their tone was softer than before, more careful and concerned. 

He complied almost immediately, placing his palm to the ceiling so his cut would be on display. The young cook took his hand gently and inspected his wound closely. Meanwhile, Tooru gazed at Y/n and began to study them. This was his first time seeing them so close and the sight made his heart skip a beat. Their (e/c) eyes shined brighter than any gemstone in the candle light, their (s/c) complexion seemed to rival any deity’s, and the feeling of their hand, gently holding his, was softer than any silk that would ever touch his body. Prince Tooru Oikawa had charmed and dazzled dozens of fair maidens and bachelors across the kingdom, however, none of them had ever left them quite as enchanted as the cook sitting right across from him did.

“Fortunately,” Y/n started, breaking the Prince from his trance. “Your wound is not deep and there do not appear to be any shards stuck in the cut.”

The young servant briefly let go of him and Tooru found himself missing their touch. Y/n took the bottle of alcohol and poured some onto a piece of the white cloth, making sure they did not spill a drop onto the floor. Then, carefully, they took the Prince’s index finger and hovered the towel above the cut. 

“This may burn a bit” they softly warned, waiting for Tooru to acknowledge their words. 

Once he nodded in understanding, the cook gently brought the soaked cloth down onto the Prince’s wound. Tooru grunted at the stinging feeling and Y/n looked up at him sympathetically.

“My apologies, Your Highness” they whispered, stroking his arm softly as an attempt to calm him. “It will be over soon.”

Tooru blushed at the gesture and looked away, trying to regain his composure. After a beat of silence, the young servant lifted the cloth from the Prince’s finger and sent him a reassuring smile. In a flash, they grabbed the rest of the white cloth and began to wrap it around Tooru’s finger. The contrast of the burning sting the alcohol left and the coolness of the soft cloth made the Prince visibly relax. Smiling at this, Y/n finished winding the cloth.

“There,” they said, holding his hand up so he could see their handiwork, “it should be better by morning.”

As Tooru brought his hand in to admire the make-shift bandage, Y/n quickly gathered the rest of the glass pieces. Standing up, the young servant began to quickly dispose of the glass.  

“You know,” they said, wiping their hands on their night shirt. “The next time you feel peckish in the middle of the night, you need only ring for a servant. There is really no need to travel all the way down here.”

Tooru smiled at this. “I suppose you are correct,” he replied as he regained his teasing façade. “However, the upper level of the castle gets so boring when you have lived there for nineteen years.” 

The Prince stood up and began to approach the cook. 

“Besides,” he continued, a large smirk on his face, “if I hadn't come I would never have gotten the absolute pleasure of meeting you.” 

He then grabbed their hand and left a feather-light kiss on the knuckle. Y/n attempted to fight the blush and smile creeping on their face.  

“Your recklessness will get you in trouble one day, Your Highness” they replied. 

Tooru simply smiled and shrugged. Suddenly the grand, kitchen clock chimed, signaling that an hour had passed. 

“The night grows short…” Y/n mumbled. 

The Prince’s smile dropped, yet he nodded understandingly. “I suppose I should be going then..” he trailed off. 

The cook nodded and watched him turn around to exit the kitchen. “Your Highness, wait!” they suddenly shouted. Tooru turned around, startled by their outburst. 

“If you come back tomorrow night, I will be sure to save you some of that bread.”

 Prince Tooru smiled brightly at this and bowed to them. “Until tomorrow then, my dear…” the Prince trailed off. A panic set in him once he realized he forgot to ask for their name. Noticing this, the young cook stifled a laugh. 

“Y/n.” 

Tooru flashed them an embarrassed smile. “Right,” he coughed, trying to regain his composure for the second time that night. “Until tomorrow, my dear Y/n.” 

With that, the two parted ways. Prince Tooru left the castle’s kitchen that night with an empty stomach; however, he did not mind, in fact, he barely noticed it due to the overwhelming fullness of his heart. 

Thus began Y/n and Tooru’s nightly routine. Every night at the stroke of midnight, Prince Tooru would sneak downstairs to the kitchen where Y/n would be waiting for him with fresh bread and warm tea. There they would do nothing but talk and share secrets they never thought they would. Y/n would tell him about their life. How they grew up, how they’ve never been inside the upper parts of the castle despite living there for so long, how they long to see how the other side lives. And, in turn, Tooru would tell them about his life. How his father ran the kingdom, how he was nervous to be as good a ruler as his father, how he wished to see beyond the castle to ensure that he could be a good enough ruler for his people. Tooru considered Y/n to be his closest ally and Y/n considered him to be theirs. However, there was always an underlying tension between them that neither of them had addressed, a boundary that had yet to be crossed. It was a feeling clear as day, yet neither of them could place what exactly this feeling was. So, through a fear of ruining their perfectly good companionship, both Y/n and Tooru kept this feeling to themselves, bottled up like a secret. These meetings continued normally for about a month until one day, the Prince came up with a plan. 

It was a warm day in the beginning of June. The clock had just struck midnight and Prince Tooru was on his way to the main kitchen, as always. With a skip in his step he opened the large oak doors and saw Y/n pulling a fresh loaf of bread out of the wooden oven. 

“You seem quite happy today, Your Highness,” they said, noticing his joyful demeanor, “did something good happen today?” 

The Prince merely groaned and made his way over to them. “How many times must I tell you, you are allowed to simply call me Tooru.” he quipped, sending them a false look of exasperation.  

The cook rolled their eyes, sensing the sarcasm in his tone. “You never answered my question” they retorted, a playful smirk on their face. 

The Prince gave them a confident smile, almost unable to control his excitement. “Well, if you must know,” he started, causing Y/n to roll their eyes again. “I have come up with a plan for you and I.” 

This caught the cook’s attention. “What do you mean ‘a plan for you and i’?” they asked.

 Tooru began to beam. “I’m so glad you asked.” 

He paced around the room as he explained his idea. “For a while I’ve been thinking about our situations. You wish to experience royal life and I wish to see the world. Well, it dawned on me today! We each hold the key to what we yearn for! You are able to come and go whenever you please, and I am constantly stuck in the castle.” 

Y/n nodded, attempting to keep up with this rush of ideas. “I suppose you are right, in a sense..” they mumbled, watching the Prince pace. 

“So,” Tooru continued. “I came up with a plan to help us both experience what we long for!” 

Y/n nodded, invested in what he had to say. “Well, pray tell,” they said a bit impatiently, “what is your big plan?” 

The Prince smiled, excitedly. “My father has gone to a neighboring kingdom for two weeks time,” he explained. “Whilst he is gone, I will accompany you on your visits to the nearby town during the day; there I may finally see how my people live and become a better ruler for them. Meanwhile, at nightfall, you will accompany me as my guest to my pre-coronation balls ; here you may finally get a chance to see and experience royal life! Don’t you see, Y/n? It’s perfect!” 

Y/n gave him a disbelieving look. A beat of silence passed before they finally realized he was waiting for their response. 

“Your highness...that idea is utterly mad.” 

Tooru’s smile faltered. “How so?” He inquired. 

Y/n shook their head and crossed their arms. “How exactly do you suppose this is to work? Won’t the townspeople recognize you? Your cover would be blown! Not to mention, I’m not sure the kitchen staff would take very kindly to me slacking on my chores to go frolic and play pretend.” 

Once again, Prince Tooru let out a dramatic sigh and leaned against the wooden countertops. 

“Oh sweet Y/n,” He said, a fake pout making its way to his features as he grabbed a slice of the bread sitting in between them. “You really have no faith in me do you?” 

Y/n gave him an inpatient look, signaling for him to get to the point. 

Tooru’s proud smirk returned. “I have arranged disguises for the two of us so we will be able to go out without being recognized!” He announced confidently. “You see, my plan is foolproof.”  

Y/n scoffed. “Good, it needs to be if you are the one orchestrating it.” They teased, a smirk of their own creeping in. 

Tooru gasped in mock offense as the cook let out a large laugh at his reaction. After a few minutes, the two stood in comfortable silence. The Prince climbed up to sit on the counter he was leaning on and bit into his bread slice. Meanwhile, Y/n contemplated his idea. As much as they enjoyed poking fun at him, Y/n knew that Prince Tooru was incredibly intelligent and they trusted his judgement completely. 

“You are sure that we will not be caught?” They whispered, breaking the silence as they went to sit next to the Prince. 

Tooru nodded his head and swallowed his bread. “Positive.” He assured, placing his hand overtop of theirs. 

Y/n blushed slightly yet did not pull away. Small touches like this became frequent throughout their meetings, however, that did not mean they ceased to fluster them. Another beat of silence passed before the young cook let out a shaky breath. 

“Fine.” They finally decided. “If you are confident in your plot, then so am I.” 

Prince Tooru beamed and slightly squeezed Y/n’s hand. 

“Wonderful! We will begin tomorrow morning,” He eagerly explained. “We will meet at the kitchen’s exit just before noon. I will supply both of our disguises and we can make our journey into town.” 

Y/n let out a nervous chuckle and shook their head.

“Your recklessness better not cause me my head, your highness.” 

Tooru gave them a bright smile and hopped off of the counter, extending his hand to help his comrade off the counter. 

“Dear Y/n, you worry too much. Have a little faith in a close friend.” 

With their agreement decided, the pair bid each other goodnight and hurried off to their quarters to prepare for tomorrow morning.

The morning sun slowly rose and shone upon the kingdom and its subjects. Neither the cook nor the prince had slept very soundly that night. Be it anxiety or excitement, neither party was quite sure. However, despite their tired state, the pair still found themselves at their arranged meeting spot and time. Y/n stood outside the door, the early summer sun warming their skin and cool breeze blowing across their face. The feeling was extremely calming. So much so, that they decided to lean themselves against the door and fully enjoy the serenity of the early June weather. Little did they know, Prince Tooru had arrived a while ago. It was a rare sight, seeing Y/n so calm and content, and Tooru was enchanted with it. In the month that the two had come to know each other, Prince Tooru had only ever seen Y/n with their guard up. Constantly stressed, on high alert. It was nice to see such a stark contrast, Y/n with their guard down. 

“Angelic.” That was the term Tooru thought best fit them at that moment. 

After a few moments, Tooru decided that, while he was relishing the sight in front of him, they had to be going soon. Quietly, he tiptoed his way over to Y/n, who still had not noticed he had even arrived. A smirk played on Tooru’s lips as he appeared behind them. Carefully he raised his arms and placed them on Y/n’s shoulders, shaking them as he did so. 

“Surprise!” He shouted in their ear, causing Y/n to flinch and smack the Prince against his head. 

Y/n gasped as they realized what had happened. 

“Your highness!” They exclaimed. “Are you okay?” 

Tooru laughed and stumbled over a little bit. 

“You pack quite the punch, don’t you dear Y/n?” He teased. 

Upon realizing that he was fine, Y/n rolled their eyes and lightly smacked his shoulder. 

“You fool, do not scare me like that again!” They scolded. “I could have hurt you!” 

Tooru gasped in mock offense. “How rude, Y/n!” He whined, trying to banish the smile growing on his face.

Y/n rolled their eyes and began to walk ahead. “Are you ready to venture on, your highness?” 

Perking up, the Prince rushed to catch up with them. Together, the prince and the cook made their way into town. It turned out, the “disguise” Tooru had brought for himself was a simple blue hood along with a plain white shirt and brown pants that he had undoubtedly taken from the servants quarters. While it was simple, it was a relatively good costume. He genuinely did look like a regular townsperson rather than a prince. Once the pair arrived, Prince Tooru immediately ran off on his own to mingle with the townspeople. To Y/n’s surprise, he was actually very good at speaking to his subjects. He had told them that he was a simple traveler and asked for them to tell him more about the kingdom. This way, the Prince was able to learn more about the issues going on as well as experience them first hand. As it turned out, the kingdom was experiencing issues that he had never even learned about. Seeing the way he interacted with his people sparked a new sense of admiration in Y/n. Beneath his confident, cocky façade, Prince Tooru was a leader who genuinely cared about his people. Y/n could not help but smile at the sight of him listening intently to what each person had to say, knowing that he would remember each encounter once they returned to the palace. As the day continued on, Y/n showed Tooru around the town. They took him to the best fruit venders, the sweetest farmers, and the finest tailors the kingdom had to offer. With each stop Tooru grew more and more in love with his kingdom and the people in it. After walking away from a vegetable booth, Y/n noticed that the sun would be setting soon. They stopped momentarily whilst Tooru kept walking. 

“Wait.” Y/n said, grabbing the Prince’s wrist to halt his movements. “Before we venture back to the palace, there’s one more thing I would like to show you.” 

A soft smile took over Tooru’s features and he moved his hand to entangle his fingers with theirs. 

“Well, what are we waiting for?” He smiled, 

Y/n grinned and tightened their grip on his hand ever so slightly. Then, with their hands still intertwined, Y/n began to lead Tooru to the edge of town. The Prince could not help but smile softly as the cook excitedly dragged him to their destination. Upon reaching the edge, the two walked on a dirt trail for a little while until they were met with a small, well kept garden. There was a small river flowing nearby and a large assortment of various wildflowers scattered about. However, what really stood out were the giant bushes of red gardenias that seemed to cover the entire area. Prince Tooru looked around in awe at the beauty of the secret garden.

“I discovered this place about a week after our first meeting.” Y/n said, carefully sitting on a small wooden bench right in front of a gardenia bush. “It reminded me of you, in a way.”

The Prince’s gaze shifted to the cook’s at this. He moved to sit next to them, his eyes wordlessly urging them to continue. Having gotten the message, Y/n shifted and gave Tooru a nervous smile.

“It served as a nice, comforting escape from everyday life. A paradise, even.” 

Prince Tooru’s face flushed at this. The explanation was a bit vague but he didn’t ask them to elaborate any further, they didn’t need to. Tooru understood. This was a confession. He carefully placed his hand atop of theirs, as he had many times before, and squeezed it gently. A secret confession of a love returned. 

“I feel the same way, thank you for bringing me here, Y/n.” 

The two sat in a comfortable silence with their hands interlocked. And, as Y/n rested their head on the Prince’s shoulder, Tooru could not think of any other place we would rather be. 

As the serene moments passed the sun began to fall, causing a hazy orange atmosphere to surround the garden. The shade from the trees covered Y/n’s face as they opened their eyes. Noticing how late it was getting, Y/n turned to tell Tooru that they should take their leave soon. However, the sight they were met with caused any words they could have uttered to be caught in their throat. Next to them, the setting sun hit the Prince’s face perfectly. His eyes were closed and his head was tilted back in relaxation. The golden hues made Tooru’s hair look warm and soft. 

“Just like hot chocolate during the winter time.” Y/n recalled with a smile.

Suddenly, the Prince’s eyes opened slightly. 

“You know, staring is considered to be quite rude, my dear.” Tooru quipped, his lips curling into a smirk. However his expression was different from his usual, cocky, exterior. There was an underlying softness in his eyes and a faint blush on the apples of his cheeks. It was not hard to tell that this was a side of him only reserved for those close to him. While the rest of the world saw Prince Tooru’s confident façade, Y/n was the only person who got to see the genuine, soft side of him. The thought made Y/n smile.

“Night grows near, we must venture back to the castle soon.” Y/n whispered, fearing that if they were any louder the calm atmosphere would crumble like glass. 

Humming in agreement, Prince Tooru stood up and stretched his limbs. “Shall we then, my dearest Y/n?” He smiled, offering the cook his hand. 

Y/n accepted his offer with a content smile. With their hands intertwined, as they always had been, the two made their way back to the palace. 

Upon their arrival, Tooru removed his hood and snuck Y/n past the knights guarding the castle’s entrance. The two then scurried up the grand staircase, towards the grand hall where the royal family’s rooms were located. Y/n looked around the hallway in absolute awe. They had never been in such an elegant place before. The white marble floors were freshly polished and the golden columns seemed to sparkle. The walls were hung with beautiful family portraits that seemed to come alive on the canvas. Y/n’s gaze had been fixed on one specific portrait with a golden frame with carvings of vines etched on the sides. The painting featured a young Tooru smiling brightly and standing next to a slightly older girl, who Y/n presumed to be his sister. Behind them stood a tall man with a confident grin, who they were able to recognize as the King, and a slightly smaller woman with a kind smile that Y/n did not recognize. All of the sudden they felt two strong arms wind around their waist as well as the weight of someone’s chin resting on their shoulder. 

“This is one of my favorite portraits.” Prince Tooru whispered in their ear.

The cook’s face began to flush red, they had never been this close to the Prince before and the contact was foreign, however it was not unwelcome. In fact, it was almost comforting, being in his arms. 

“It was painted a week before my mother passed.” He continued, his voice dropping ever slightly. 

Y/n blinked, unsure of what to say in this situation. They never really knew their mother. She had died giving birth to them, so there were really no memories left of her to miss. 

“How did she die?” They awkwardly asked, mentally screaming at themselves for asking such a question. 

“I mean-” Their attempt to fix the situation was cut off at the feeling of Tooru tightening his hold on their waist.

“It’s okay.” He reassured, taking a deep breath. 

“My mother was assassinated while she was in town one day.”

Y/n’s eyes widened as they turned their head to look at the Prince, who’s gaze was still fixed on the painting. 

“Her death is one of the reasons I have been forbidden to leave the palace.” He continued. “I suppose my father fears I will meet the same fate she did.” 

A long moment of silence passed. The tension in the air was thick enough to run a blade through. 

“Do you miss her?” Y/n mumbled carefully. 

Tooru’s grip on them tightened once again. 

“Sometimes.” He replied, sounding like he had more to say. 

Just as Y/n was about to encourage him to continue, a loud GONG! shattered the atmosphere surrounding them. Frantically looking towards a giant grandfather clock at the end of the hallway, Tooru noticed the time. 

“Damn.” The Prince cursed, releasing his hold on the cook. “We are going to be late!” 

Together, the two briskly made their way towards the Prince’s chambers. Once inside, Tooru closed the door and locked it. Y/n looked around the room and noticed two outfits neatly laid out on a giant, white bed. The Prince grabbed the pile to the left and ushered the cook behind a large, blue velvet curtain. 

“Here.” He instructed, handing them the clothes. “You may change here.” 

Prince Tooru quickly shut the curtain and fumbled around the room to get changed himself. Y/n began to disrobe as they admired the garments they were given. They were made out of the finest turquoise-colored silks and were decorated with beautiful golden accents. As Y/n pulled the garments over them, they were met with a softness they had never felt from clothing before. Moving around they noted how the silks seemed to sway and how the jewels seemed to glisten. 

“Y/n!” The Prince called out. “Do you require any assistance?” 

“No!” The cook replied quickly. “I am finished.” 

Immediately, the curtain opened and Y/n took in the sight of Prince Tooru. He was wearing a silly button up shirt with a light blue-green vest and golden trousers as well as his usual golden, topaz encrusted crown. Y/n noticed that their outfit seemed to mirror the Princes slightly, what with the colors and the overall style. 

“You look very elegant, your highness.” They complimented with a shy smile. 

Tooru on the other hand was absolutely stunned. Before him he saw what he thought had to have been a deity. The way the colors complimented Y/n’s complexion and how the garments clung to their features in the most flattering way left the Prince speechless. It was at that moment, Tooru truly realized how deep in love he was falling for the cook. 

Y/n shifted under his gaze, a bit nervous that he still had yet to say anything. Noticing this, the Prince mentally kicked himself. 

“My dear, you look….” He trailed off, finding it hard to regain his composure. 

A slightly cocky smirk made its way to the cook's face.

“My my your highness.” They teased. “I believe this is my first time seeing you at such a loss for words. Do I entice you so?”

A light blush dusted Tooru’s cheeks at their jests. A soft grumble tumbled from his pretty lips as he lightly hooked his fingers to the back of Y/n’s hair, pulling them until their faces were merely centimeters apart. 

“Do not tease.” He warned, darkly and with seduction dancing in his tone. 

A heavy blush settled on the cook's face. However, before things could escalate any further, the gong! of a clock echoed throughout the room, signaling that it was really time for the pair to go. Pulling away with a satisfied smirk, Prince Tooru held out his arm for Y/n to take. Wordlessly they accepted, hooking their arm around his and allowing the Prince to lead them to the ballroom. 

As the pair entered the ballroom, Y/n could not help but be astonished once again by their surroundings. The room was ginormous. The marble floors and golden walls mirrored those of the great hall almost exactly, the only difference was that throughout the ballroom, several marble statues of various greek gods were scattered throughout the floor. With a large orchestra in the corner of the room playing a familiar tune Y/n had only heard from the castle’s kitchen and various couples already waltzing around the dance floor, Y/n had easily guessed that the part was in full swing. Prince Tooru chuckled lightly, amused at the cook's obvious admiration. 

“Shall we go and mingle with the guests?” He suggested, leaning in closely to their ear so that Y/n could hear him over the boisterous music. 

The cook gulped harshly. They had forgotten they would have to interact with an abundance of such high class individuals. Sensing their nervousness, Tooru reached to grab Y/n’s chin with his thumb and pointer finger. 

“You will do great.” He reassured. “They will adore you almost as much as I do.” 

His words made Y/n relax a bit and instilled a newfound confidence within them. 

“Alright.” They stated, determination laced in their voice. “I am ready, let us go forth.” 

Smiling proudly, Prince Tooru led the cook to the dance floor and the night truly began. As the hours passed by, Y/n and the Prince danced until their feet ached, joked with guests until their voices got scratchy, and drank various types of wine until their heads got dizzy. Y/n could not think of a time when they felt more alive. The night had been a huge success. That is, until Tooru had to part from them for a moment to have a conversation with another leader. 

“Just remain here until I return.” He had told them, his hands holding theirs. “Tis only a conversation about a treaty between our lands, I shall only be a few moments.” 

And with that, he left a feather-light kiss against Y/n’s knuckles and disappeared into the crowd of nobles. As soon as he left, the entire atmosphere of the room began to shift. The previous excitement that filled Y/n’s veins had passed and been replaced with an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. Looking around the room, Y/n had only one thought in the back of their mind; 

“I do not belong here.”

Feeling out of place and judged, Y/n frantically searched the room for someone familiar to them. They found themselves searching for the warm eyes of their father in the sea of people but, unfortunately, it was no use. Y/n felt hopelessly alone. 

“Perhaps a little fresh air will do me some good.” Y/n decided, making their way towards an exit that led to a balcony just off the side of the ballroom’s entrance. 

Exiting the crowded ballroom, Y/n leaned against the railing of the balcony. As the cool summer’s night air danced lightly across their face, they took a deep breath and attempted to relax. 

“I just do not understand you Tooru.” 

A deep voice interrupted Y/n from their thoughts. Searching for the source, their eyes landed on a balcony only a few feet away from the one they were on. They spotted Prince Tooru standing next to a taller man of whom they had never seen before. The man wore a black button up along with a dark red vest and black trousers. He had spiked black hair and atop his head sat a cold, ruby encrusted crown. Y/n had no doubts that he was also royalty and concluded that he must have been a friend of the Prince. 

“You are going to be King soon, the Great King I might add.” The man continued, a hint of annoyance in his tone. 

“Are you not worried about who will succeed you afterwards?” 

Tooru rolled his eyes at this, his signature unbothered smirk making its way to his face as he turned away from the other prince. 

“Kuroo” He started, his voice calm and collected, a stark contrast against the man’s (now known as ‘Kurro’) brash tone. “It is as I keep telling you, I need not worry about a successor. It is already set in stone that my nephew will be the next heir after I.” 

The response had only seemed to aggravate Prince Kuroo even further. 

“Even so.” He argued. “Would it not be nice to settle down with another? Find someone to spend your days with?” 

This question caused Prince Tooru’s smirk to fall and a far off look to gather in his eyes. There was an intense moment of silence between the two royals.

“I cannot afford any distractions.” Tooru said finally. “My kingdom is my first priority, you know this.” 

Kuroo had let out an exasperated sigh. 

“So, you will never be wed?” Kurro asked, defeated. 

Tooru instantly answered, the hard, far off look never leaving his face. 

“Never.”

Something about this conversation struck a chord within Y/n. They were unsure if it was the intensity of the situation, the amount of wine they had taken in, or the fact that (up until recently) all of their feelings had been bottled up. However, as soon as the words left the Prince’s mouth, Y/n let out a quiet, choked sob. Their emotions had moved to the forefront of their mind as the harsh reality set in. 

“Of course.” They thought, tragically. “We were never meant to be in the first place.”

Bringing a hand up to their mouth, as to not let out any more miserable sobs, Y/n promptly exited the balcony and made their way to the exit of the ballroom. Making their way through the crowd of drunk, dancing nobels, they successfully reached the front gates of the castle and continued walking. They walked, and walked, and walked, until suddenly their steps turned into sprints. Y/n thought they must have appeared to be insane, running through the town in fancy clothes, sobbing their heart out. Nevertheless, they ran. They ran until their legs had reached their destination, the garden they had visited earlier that day. With a heavy heart, Y/n took a seat on the bench they sat on earlier that day with the Prince. 

“How could I have been so naive?” Y/n thought bitterly as they buried their face in their hands and began to sob. Of course they could have never been, they resided in two completely different worlds. It was unknown to the cook how much time had passed before they began to hear footsteps nearing their location. Y/n quickly looked up and was met with a rather disheveled-looking Prince Tooru. 

“I thought I would find you here.” The Prince whispered, afraid to startle the young cook. “Why did you run off? I thought we were having a lovely time.” 

He sat down and reached to place his hand atop of theirs, as he always had, only for Y/n to flinch and remove their hand from his reach. This had puzzled Tooru. He tilted his head and looked at them with confusion, silently urging them to explain their behavior. Y/n let out a sigh and shifted away from the Prince slightly. 

“Tooru..” They trailed off, trying to find the words to explain the situation. 

The Prince was taken aback. Y/n had never addressed him by his first name before, and the sound of hit caused his heartbeat to speed up ever so slightly. 

“What are we doing?” Y/n asked, sadness deep in their voice. 

This has perplexed Tooru even further. 

“What do you mean, dearest?” He asked, genuine confusion evident on his face. 

At that point, all of Y/n’s frustration and sadness had begun to bubble over and pour out violently. 

“What are we doing?” Y/n repeated harshly. “Surely you do realize that we cannot be together, we can never be together! There is no future for us, you made that clear in your conversation with your comrades!”

Tooru sat there in shock. He had been unaware that they had been listening in. 

“Besides.” Y/n continued, letting out a shaky breath. “You and I were never meant to be anyways. We are too far apart, from different universes.” 

A choked sob left the cooks lips as they hopelessly avoided the Prince’s gaze. 

“So tell me, your highness, what are we doing?” 

A long moment of silence passed through the garden as Prince Tooru processed what he had just heard. In reality, Y/n had simply left the conversation too early. After a little more arguing, Tooru had confessed to Kurro that he had fallen for one of his servants and, following his coronation, he had sworn to find away for the two to wed. Prince Tooru loved Y/n more than he had loved anything else. After realizing he had not been the best at accurately expressing that, his heart broke like the porcelain plate that cut his finger when they first met. 

“Y/n..” Tooru mumbled, scooting closer to the cook. “Y/n, look at me.” 

He grabbed their face gently and, hesitantly, they let him. Prince Tooru’s eyes were filled with concern and love, while Y/n’s were filled with tears and devotion. 

“Y/n L/n.” Tooru whispered, his voice soft and full of complete adoration. “I am completely, hopelessly, irrevocably in love with you.” 

Y/n’s eyes widened. They put their hand on Tooru’s wrist and pulled back from him a bit, as if to inspect him to see if he was lying. Yet, when Y/n looked into his eyes, all that could be found was pure, sincere emotion. 

“I love you so much, my heart aches.” The Prince continued. “I will not rest until we do have a future together. If I am to spend my life with anyone, it has to be you. ” 

A moment of silence passed before Tooru leaned in cautiously, giving Y/n a chance to pull away. However, without a second thought, they leaned in, connecting their lips in one fluid motion. 

And, as the two lovers shared their first kiss in a garden of red gardenias, a sense of hope began to bloom in their hearts. A hope that maybe, just maybe, the universe could allow these two worlds to collide. Just this once. 

[phr0gie]

and for you, my dear, 100 roses

hello my dear friends! it has come to my attention that this blog has gained 100 followers!! i am so incredibly grateful to anyone who enjoys and supports my work, despite this being a rather small account. 100 is a milestone i never thought i would hit, so, once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

in celebration of this milestone, i have decided to open a little flower shop called 100 roses! they say that flowers are a universal language, specifically a language of love. who knows, perhaps your floral purchase will result in the blossoming of a new romance!

the rules of this store are rather straightforward; simply select a flower and a lover, place your order here, and wait for yours truly to hand-deliver it!

and now, without further ado, the shop is open!

what would you like to do?

take a step inside! exit!

select a flower;

aster - the symbol of love and daintiness

red camilla - ‘you’re a flame in my heart’

white camilla - ‘you’re adorable’

red carnation - ‘alas my poor heart, my heart aches’

white carnation - innocence and pure love

pink carnation - ‘i’ll never forget you’

white clover - ‘think of me’

edelweiss - devotion

fern - magic and the bonds of love

forget me not - memories of true love, ‘do not forget me’

heliotrope - eternal love

ivy - friendship and marriage

white jasmine - sweet love

lily of the valley - sweetness, purity, pure love

morning glory - affection

myrtle - good luck and love in marriage

red rose - love, ‘i love you’

white rose - ‘i’m worthy of you’

blue salvia - ‘i think of you’

red salvia - ‘forever mine’

dwarf sunflower - adoration

red tulip - passion, a declaration of love

yellow tulip - ‘sunshine in your smile’

violet - loyalty and devotion

yarrow - everlasting love

select a lover;

haikyuu:

a lover from karasuno

a lover from seijoh

a lover from fukurodani

a lover from nekoma

a lover from date tech

genshin impact:

a lover from mondstat

a lover from liyue

a lover from the sky (a god)

please do not steal or repost my work, thank you!

[phr0gie]

close; t. yamaguchi

“oh, the whole world it is sleeping, but my world is you.” - bloom, the paper kites

✯ synopsis: you are in love with tadashi yamaguchi, especially in moments like this.

✯ note: hello all this is my love letter to tadashi yamaguchi. if u didn’t know, i’m a yam stan till the end. this is incredibly self-indulgent, but please enjoy anyways :)

✯ pairing: yamaguchi x reader

✯ tw: tooth-rotting fluff, self-indulgent yam cuteness, barely any editing (we die like men)

✯ wc: 445 (short & sweet)

✯ main masterlist

As the sunrise greets your eyes with a morning kiss, an indescribable sense of warmth floods your entire being. You go to stretch but your movements are restricted; a weight bores heavy on your chest, you realize. Looking down you see him. The angel that is Tadashi Yamaguchi. The one you are lucky enough to call your boyfriend. Your hand finds it’s home in his mess of grassy-green hair and you begin to admire him. His rosey cheeks, his soft skin, his absolute galaxy of freckles. Your fingers delicately trace the marks on his shoulder, attempting to connect the dots and form orion’s belt. Your actions earn you a sweet giggle from the boy, who was trying very hard to keep quiet.

“I knew you were awake.” You smile, moving his bangs from the front of his eyes so he could open them.

And when he does you are not disappointed. As he flutters his lashes ever so slightly, you are met with the most beautiful set of almond eyes you have ever seen. They hold such a feeling of softness and love and contentment when he’s around you. One look at them and you swear you can feel yourself falling all over again. Tadashi looks up at you, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

“What time is it?” He yawns, ignoring your statement.

You reach towards the nightstand to grab your phone.

“Almost 6:30.”

Tadashi audibly groans and tightens his grip on your waist. He sits the both of you up and readjusts you so that you’re laying on his chest this time. You try to get up, but he doesn’t budge.

“Tadashiii..” You wine slightly, still attempting to break his hold. “I wanna get up and do things.”

You squirm and squirm but still he does not move a muscle. His arms are secured around you and bound together like a lock, keeping you against him.

“Just five more minutes, babe? Please?” He pleads, his lips hovering your ear.

The feeling sends shivers down your spine. You roll your eyes and cuddle into him, being rewarded with a light kiss on the forehead and a small “thank you”. In reality, you knew he was asking for more than just five minutes, yet you decided to indulge him anyway. You never really could say no to Tadashi. You would do anything for him, just like he would do anything for you.

“Love you so much, Y/n.” He says sleepily, already starting to doze off as his cheek rests against the top of your head.

With a soft smile you nuzzle yourself even further into his chest.

“Love you just as much, Tadashi.”

please do not steal or repost my work, thank you