#go eags!!!

[hischiersgirl]

gabe and james on the bench and gabe yapping ugh my heart cannot do this😣😣

i love them

[ipfy-dot-tif]

drew some fan designs :3

[tillman]

Can we all think about tthe guild rn I really wanna think about the guild rn

[fiapartridge]

YOU WEITE ABOUT MACKLIN

YESSS I LOVE THAT BOY

[etheries1015]

You were standing in the kitchen, your shirt exposing your shoulders whilst leaving a majority of your back uncovered. You were cutting up veggies for dinner, swaying back and forth as you hummed a tune that was stuck in your head, not realizing he was standing behind you and gazing at your figure lovingly, admiring your fluid movements...

Malleus

He smiles gently. He loves moments like this, walking in on you doing something so mundane made the rhythm of his heart even out with tranquility. Next thing he knew he was behind you, bending over to allow hands to wrap around your waist. You let out a startled gasp, halting your movements. Malleus then pressed his lips gently against your shoulder, planting a gentle yet warm kiss. You blushed and leaned your head towards his, chuckling at his sudden affection.

"You're skin looks soft right now...if you're not careful, I believe you may be eaten by a dragon," He joked. You chuckled and rolled your eyes, your hands continuing to work on the meal at hand.

"Would you like to help me?" You asked with affection in your tone, turning your head enough to give him a kiss upon his cheek. He smiled at this before standing up straight, heading towards his apron hanging up.

"I'd love to, dearest."

Lilia

The short Fae hovered over to you eagerly as you worked the veggies you cut into the pan, however you already knew his tactics. You turned around swiftly spatula in hand, quickly knocking whatever monstrosity was in his hand. You were successful and causing him to drop the strange shaker of spices he had attempted to sneak into your dish. He raised an eyebrow as you turned back around with the roll of your eyes before sneaking his arms around your waist and his lips heading towards the crook of your neck.

"You're getting better at that," He chuckled, "Although I'm feeling a little rejected! This meal could of course use some more ingredients...that dried lizard skin spice I acquired is supposed to be incredibly good for you. I was rather excited to try it..." You huffed in exasperation, not replying to his antics. You hadn't much of a reaction until you felt his teeth grazing your shoulder , biting down. You hissed slightly, giving him a side glare.

"What a glare! I couldn't help myself my little bat. You look far more appetizing than food right now..."

Trey

"Are you making dinner?" The voice of your loving boyfriend called out, walking over to you before putting on an apron and taking out various amount of ingredients. You glanced over at him before grimacing slightly.

"Trey..." You said hesitantly, "if you keep insisting on making dessert every night, I'm going to inevitably gain a lot more weight than I want to..." Trey looked startled at this, turning to you with eyes wide open with shock. He immediately rushed to your side, giving you a brisk embrace. His hands held you around your sides as he caressed your hips lovingly, planting a kiss on your forehead.

"Don't worry about that," Trey said, pushing his glasses up and onto his head , staring into your eyes with nothing short of affection, "What matters is you enjoy what you're eating. I won't force you of course, but if gaining weight is what you're worried about, get that out of your head right now." He used his strong arms to hold you tightly to his chest, his lips trailing kisses down your jaw. You smiled and hugged him back, taking in his warmth. He always knew how to make you feel loved as he whispered into your ear, "you're perfect..."

Rook

He spent a few moments simply basking in your beauty, staring at you with his hands folded leaning against the frame of the kitchen door. He could honestly stare at you like this all day, he never was bored of you in any way shape or form. He finally took a few steps forward into the kitchen, arms widening as if ready to give you a hug.

"Chéri," He called out. You gasped and dropped your spoon, turning around before your face lighting up at the sight of your loving boyfriend. You eagerly jumped into his arms, Rook catching you with ease and his lips pressing a firm kiss against your forehead. "Is that chicken fricassée I smell? My dear you know my heart~" You chuckled and looked up at the (rather dirty) male.

"How was hunting? Successful I presume?"He gave you a nod and hummed peacefully, leaning over to give you a kiss before your hands interupted him, your finger held up to prevent him from planting that kiss. "Great!" You said, "Which means you get to shower and clean up. You smell like rode kill." Rook dramatically tilted his head back and placed his hands over his heart, acting as if he were in pain.

"Oh you wound me!" He cried out, before chuckling and turning on his heel, "then I shall be quick! I wish to claim that kiss as soon as I can~"

----

Check out my masterlist!

[dumbslvtforethan]

∿ DEVOTED TO YOU ethan landry

— summary: ethan helps you relieve some tension

warnings smut, fingering, pet names, dom!ethan, sub!reader, innocent reader, implications of murder, lmk if i missed anything 1,215 words

navigation

𐙚 mdni!! ↓↓ 𐙚༘⋆ೀೀ

YOU’VE BEEN GRUMPY ALL DAY unsure of the reason but pondering the rush that filled your blood whenever you kissed your boyfriend, ethan, puzzled by this new different sort of heat that you've been feeling lately, your panties have been a little wetter than normal when you'd come home, you thought it was some kind of illness.

ethan on the other hand was far from innocent, he knew exactly what you were feeling. he liked having you as his little pet, after all, he looked huge beside you, making his desire of being inside you way more intense. you had very serious attachment issues, having to be close to him at all times to be fully fulfilled and happy. although he tried to use that as an advantage, you were not very fond to touch him sexually, whenever he'd take a step further in you would just push his hand away or make up an excuse, maybe it had to do with what you've been through, which, you never told ethan. it also didn't help that he looked giant beside you, he could easily crush you whole with his hand if he really wanted to.

although you were both happy with the relationship, ethan wanted to take a step further, he wanted to feel you, your body, but he never did, afraid it would crush your fragile melancholy. what you didn't know at the time was that his big hands would help cure your little "illness".

"alright, lets go home" he said taking you by the waist after you've given a bit of an attitude to mindy that was not very usual of you. "why" you whined in his arms not pulling him away just questioning his movements "baby come on" you gave in, following him to the door of mindy's apartment. the walk home was rather unusual. when a girl gave you a disgusted glance at you snapped "you look like a whore in that outfit" you yelled, the girl looked even more disgusted and a bit confused "yeah and your boobs look awfu- " your phrase got cut short when your boyfriend picked you up and put you over his shoulders, a thing that happened more often than you would think. "what is up with your attitude recently?" he questioned his sweet and fragile girlfriend that had recently developed a strange habit of taking back.

you were now sitting on ethan's lap reflecting about what just happened. he would never admit it but your usual straddle of his lap would always leave him rock hard, at first he would just try to hide it but after seeing that you were rather naive he never really hid it anymore. "are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he questioned after a long minute of silence "its just embarrassing" "why would it be embarrassing baby you can tell me everything" you sighed "its just, i've been feeling hot lately, specially when i see you or when you kiss me and when i get home and go to the bathroom im all wet down there" you started to sob in ethan's shoulder convinced that you were sick. ethan on the other hand had a huge smirk on his face, who would've thought that his ego would go up so fast in less than 5 minutes?

"where does it hurt baby?" "here?" he asked putting a hand on your stomach "lower" he lowered his hand playing with the waistband of your shorts "can i take this off?" you nod. that action reveals the sight of your glistening pussy, something he had never seen before but certainly fantasized about it. you unexpectedly take his hand and place it right on top of your clit, you throw your head back and moan at the slight touch. it was at that moment that ethan realized you had never been touched that that was probably the reason why you've always rejected him, rejected his touch. "lets go to my room" he said taking your hand and leading you to your room. he closed the door "do you wanna learn how to relieve this feeling baby? i can teach you" your legs trembled as you eagerly nodded you both sat in front of your mirror you infront of him. "open your legs baby" he whispered in your ear sending you shivers "theres a lot of ways to feel good, you can do it like this" he rubbed your clit fastly. you throwed your head back once again, "you can do this too" he put two fingers in, pumping them up and down "ugh" you moaned already cumming on his fingers releasing a week worth of a horny feeling. "do you want to learn more?" you nod eagerly.

and there you were watching him layed down on the bed with his glistening cock sprung out. "it wont fit ethan" you said concernedly examining his length "come on you havent even tried, you'll feel much better baby" he gestured you to come, you crawled on top of him and aligned his dick with your wet entrance. "just sit on it" and so you did. "e-etha-nn" you moaned the most pornographic sound you've ever heard "its too big, i cant do it" you only had his tip in, but you already felt so full "thats just the tip baby you're not even halfway" you sighed sinking down completely “there you go” he smiled “my pretty girl took all my cock huh?” you nodded. it was a burning pain at first, after all, practically half of your body was full of his dick. you layed down on his chest hugging him of exhaustion “you gotta move baby” he whispered in your ear.

you started to bounce up and down his dick, loud moans escaping from your mouth each time you made a movement, even the slightest one. you came on his dick in less than 5 minutes and ethan was loving it. he was loving the sight of you cockdrunk milking his dick, gushing out your pussy juices uncontrollably. he quickly switched positions, him being on top of you, he started to move his hips fastly “ethan!” you moaned loudly cumming for the second time of the night, only this time you didn’t stop, still gushing out cum. “im gonna cum baby” he said pulling out and releasing himself on your tits. he layed down beside you breathing heavily and hugged you “so how was it?” he was out of breath “amazing, can we do it again soon?” “of course” he got up and dressed “i love you okay but i gotta go, ill see you tomorrow” he gave you a kiss on the cheek and left

and now you were alone and missing your boyfriend, so you called him “babe?” you said “whats up baby?” he was breathing heavily “i miss you” your eyes started tearing up “remember that teddy bear i gave you? hold on to it, i just gotta do some important stuff here but once im finished i’ll come see you, i love you, see you soon” and with that he finished the call, sure you heard some screaming in the back and he was breathing heavily but ethan couldn’t even hurt a fly, he could never be a killer, right?

- @dumbslvtforethan on tumblr

a/n: heres the request for this one

[lostintransist]

Seamstress | Part 5

Check out part 1 here.

Every time John brought in a shirt, pair of pants, or suit coat to get fixed it got harder and harder to stop yourself from touching him. Touching him casually, obviously. You weren’t going to up and grope the man. But fuck you bet it would be as amazing as your dreams alluded it might be. He would probably, rightfully, hit you if you did. John seemed bashful around you and his body.

Watching him pull off a sweater in the colder weather became a fascinating trial of self-restraint. The man had a happy trail and a small bump of flesh pushing above the waist of his pants. You wanted to lick that happy trail until he gripped you by the hair and bite his stomach, just gnaw on it. Hair covered him, not an excessive amount but a light dusting that you want to pet.

The sweater he handed you had a hole in the cuff. After he graced you with a smile, that you returned by rote, he turned to the back room. Watching him slip beyond the door every time he came to visit made you want to follow him. Dammit, your new vibrator couldn’t arrive fast enough.

You lived life fine without sex or orgasms until one John Price looked so delectable you wanted nothing more than to sink your teeth into him and hold on like a bulldog. The vibrator would hopefully take the edge off the yearning and sand the edge of your annoyance with dealing with your mother.

She had been hounding you since you had left her house ‘in a huff’ about Christmas. You had managed to dodge her calls, replying via text that you were busy with work and couldn’t talk. Mid-November the damn nearly broke. She sent your father to the shop.

Looking up as the door bell dinged you smiled when you saw your father.

“Hi, Pops! Surprise to see you here.”

Finishing your current project to the point of being able to step away you joined him in front of the counter. After a quick hug, you gestured for him to sit down.

“What brings you by?” You look him over. He sits tall even with age dragging at his bones and color leeching from his hair.

“Your mother sent me,” he says in his quiet, firm voice.

That is all it took. Leaning back in the chair you cross your arms and your legs. The sour look on your communicates your displeasure. Feeling fifteen again sat uncomfortably in your grown body.

“I don’t have anything to say to my mother right now.”

Pops gave you a slow blink that told you so much. He didn’t want to be here, but for the sake of his marriage, he would. His wife bullied and nagged at him until he came to play peacemaker.

“She is upset that you are not talking to her, says you are avoiding calls about Christmas.”

“I am avoiding calls about Christmas. I already called Nana and I will be spending Christmas with her.”

Both Pops’ brows lifted, he spoke to his mother once a month when your mother went to visit her mother.

“If you don’t mind I’ll send her gift up with you then if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind that at all.”

“Why the distance with your mother?”

“She doesn’t listen to me, or like me. She is always siding with my brother in every disagreement and I’m done. I hate the way she treats me and unless she is willing to go therapy I don’t want to talk to her.” The words coated your mouth like vomit.

You had never said these things out loud outside of therapy. In therapy, you ranted that your mother hated you and regretted having you but that wasn’t something you were willing to dump on your father.

“She is upset about the silence,” Pops hedges.

“She makes me upset every time I see her so this feels fair.”

The look your father sends you sends you back to the age of seven as you hold out the broken porcelain doll you had been told repeatedly to not touch. Before either of you can pick the tug-of-war conversation back up the door bell dings. Looking up you can feel the weight of the chat with your father fall away.

John stands in the doorway, a wooden box tucked under one arm. He stomps his feet on the mat and lets the door fall shut behind him. Eager to escape the chat with your Pops you stand.

“John! I wasn’t expecting you today.” He had been yesterday and tended to keep anywhere from four days to three weeks between visits. If he would be gone longer he made sure to mention.

Smiling at nodding once at your father he set his box on the counter. Stepping around to your side of the space you examine the piece with your eyes like you do with clothing.

“I wanted to confirm you liked the design before I started to stain and line it.”

John turned the jewelry box around, watching your face as you examined each corner and the neat construction of it.

You glance up at him, the same look in your eye that you get before you start touching the clothing while he is in it.

“Can I touch?”

“Of course,” he nodded.

Damn if only he could get you to say that about him instead of objects. Any part of him. Really, even his pinky.

The man you had been having an intense chat with stood, drawing John’s attention away from you. The older man stepped around the counter, placing a hand on your back and a kiss to your hair. John’s stomach met the top of his boots.

“Goodbye sweetheart, I will call you later this week to finish this chat.”

“There isn’t anything else I have to say on the matter Pops. She can go to therapy or she can leave me alone.” You don’t look up from slowly rotating the piece in front of you.

“She’s still your mother.”

“And I’m still her daughter, not that that has ever gotten me a modicum of love from her.”

He hums in response, giving John a nod as he heads past him into the cold.

As the ding rings out in time with the blast of cold air you slump forward onto folded arms on the counter.

“John, would you lock the door please?”

Without question, he does as requested. Stepping back to the counter he looks you over.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He probes gently.

“No,” you bite the word out at the countertop.

“Can I show you more about your gift then?”

John knew how to push and when to pull away from the pain and try again later.

“There’s more?” Your head pops up, eyes filled with tears.

Pulling out each drawer he showed you the differences. Two drawers had inserts to increase the storage space. Three were empty and one had been left half filled with wood. Tipping that drawer to John you lifted a brow.

“I know you mentioned you don’t wear rings often but it felt odd to not give you any storage space for them. My mum had heirloom rings she held onto and hated having no good storage for them,” he explained.

Setting the drawer down gently you cover your mouth with one hand and hug yourself tight with the other. John is confused until you let out a small sob, and then he is terrified. What the fuck did he do?

“Sorry, ignore me,” you sob out.

Fuck off, that had no chance of happening. Stepping around the counter John doesn’t wait to ask you for permission, pulling you into his arms.

You cry until you can pull the reigns back on the overly large emotions and shove them back in the box meant for therapy. Leaning back you move away from John. His hands drop slowly, keeping contact with you until they hang at his sides.

“Better?”

You sniff as you tip your head back and forth.

“Meh?”

Looking away from his probing blue eyes you pull a tissue from your shelf. Carefully blowing your nose, because you’ve already cried on the man no need to make it worse by being loud now, you keep your eyes down.

“Why don’t you tell me about it as you finish looking it over? I have more to show you,” John picks up a drawer, rotating it between his hands.

Filling your lungs as deep as you can you try and think of a way out of this. Seeing none within easy reach you decide to get to know him better.

“How about a truth for a truth?”

He glances at you from below his beanie.

“I won’t be sharing any state secrets no matter how pretty you ask.”

His deadpan delivery shocks a laugh out of you.

“What would I do with state secrets other than give myself an ulcer?”

John has a big laugh. You love it instantly.

“Fair point that.”

You trade truths as he shows you how to access the portion of the box that holds necklaces. The top of the box shifts forward. The back wall can be lifted out if a necklace falls from the hooks he will install. You tell John of your rocky relationship with your mother, and he tells you of the distant but decent relationship he has with his siblings.

“You’ve really thought of everything haven’t you?” You start to slide the drawers back into place.

“I have a lot of time on my hands on missions,” he holds out another drawer.

“Can you tell me what this is?” You point at the joint of the drawer you had taken from his hand.

“The joint?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t look like most furniture I see nowadays. I’ve seen it once on my great grandmother’s dresser drawers,” you look to him.

Seeing the words form in his mind is fascinating.

“‘S called dovetailing. Bit more work but holds joints better than glue alone like most pieces are made with anymore.”

Brushing a finger over the joint you are amazed by the smoothness and dare you say softness of the wood.

“This is lovely John. Much better than I expected. You will tell me how much I owe you when this is all done?”

Watching his eyes crinkle is a treat, even if his expression says he thinks you’re being silly.

“Don’t owe me a thing. Let me use your shop for naps for the low price of a fix to the clothes I bring in? This is the least I can do. You don’t even badger me for state secrets,” he winked at you.

Your cheeks have to be blushing, thankfully you can’t feel the heat radiating off them. Focusing on putting everything away you start speaking again.

“I will be gone the week of Christmas. I am going to be up north with my Nana. Did you possibly want my number so we can coordinate a gift exchange?”

“Don’t need to get me a gift,” John eyes you with suspicion.

“And you don’t need to give me this well-crafted box for free but we find ourselves at an impasse.” You lift a brow at him, liking the drop in your stomach as he narrows his eyes at you. “Do you want my number?”

“Yes, give me your phone and I will text myself.” He shifts from foot to foot, eyes tracing your features.

You pass your phone, number pad ready. After he punches his number in he calls himself instead, the phone carrier-assigned tone ringing out from his pocket.

Taking your phone back you smile at the connection to him.

“There, now you can just text me if you need a nap instead of stealing your men’s clothes.” Glancing up at him you continue, “At this point, I’m almost wondering if you are causing more tears just to come see me.”

John felt the alarm bells go off in his brain. You were onto him somehow. Play it cool John, you can bluff a terrorist cell you can do it to one woman.

“And if I am?”

You have the cutest nose scrunch as if you don’t believe him.

“I don’t think you are but just in case you better knock it off before they start hiding their clothes from you.”

John laughs again, keenly aware that he hasn’t laughed this much since Roach got so tipsy trying to out-drink Gaz that he couldn’t stand right. Gaz had also promptly fallen over when trying to prove he wasn’t that drunk.

“I’ll text you. This,” he placed his hand on the box, “Will be done after Christmas. Want to get together for New Year maybe?”

Smiling at him you folded your arms and tugged the inside of your lip between your teeth.

“Yeah, that sounds good. Stay safe out there John.”

“Always do.” He left with a wave and a smile, unlocking the door on his way out.

Masterlist

[br4tphobia]

# — 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 !

𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ! : 1.6k wordzz, connie x black fem ! reader, shorttt, proof read? nah. reader is wearing a sundress obvi, petnames (princess, ma/mama, baby ) you/your pronouns useddd 𝐍𝐒𝟒𝐖 + unprotected sex (condoms yall condoms!!), con talks you through yo orgassmmm, smut with not much plot obvi, fingering (f received) boob suckinn, choking, cowgirl, tummy bulgeeee, car sex, missionary, and dirty talk as always!!

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 ! : oh did i tell yall this from experience? yhh 🥴 (NO THAT NIGGA DID NOT NUT IN ME.) @digitalreblogs here bby!!

a sigh fell from your lips, you miss him already and its only been an hour. you cant be this hooked onto this boy! right now, youre on the phone with your friend, liv. telling her everything that happened last night when he came over. until you get another notification from him, immediately making you smile.

“girl why is he tellin me to get readyyy!” you laughed at reading out the message connie sent you to liv. “girll get ready right neow!!”

“i sho am, hello??” you prop up your phone as liv watches your scavenge through your drawers and closet, you was becoming upset about having nothing to wear until you found this sundress, it was simple and cute, you could style it with anything. but you only threw a simple jean jacket ontop with your favorite fair of fuzzy slippers.

“oo shit girl you look cutee!”

“furreal? bc if im lookin bummy and you let me leave like this imma beat yo ass.” you’d pout, liv laughed. “puhleasee girl y’know i would nevaa”

“yeayeaaa..”

you stared at him coming closer on maps, which made your stomach sink deeper. “boo im kinda scared” — “why?? all that nasty shit yall did last night, you wasnt scared then?”

“girl. thats the point!” hearing another laugh from liv, “im sure youll be fineee.” — “girl i hop—“ the sound of your doorbell rung throughout the house, you swear your heart dropped to your ass. “what happened???” her eyebrows pinched together in confusion, “hes here girl.. ill call you back!” — “oh! ok have funnnn”

you both shared your goodbyes as you rush to the door, not hesitating to open it. “hey princess” a small smile was on his face, “hi con” he went in for a hug, your gladly took that offer, his cologne clouding your nostrils. he smelt good (like always.)

connie led you to his car, opening the door for you.

once he got in his eyes are immediately on you. the way the dress hugged your body perfectly, displaying every curve and dip. it wasnt long before he pulled over by a curbside.

you notice connie eyeing your beautiful physique again before unbuttoning his pants. “c’mere.” his voice was deep, seeing his semi-hard sitting in his boxers, which made you not hesitate to climb onto his lap, immediately having his lips touch yours. your tongue running over his as you both roam your hands on eachother. you feel his hands pull your dress up to your waist as he started playing with your clothed clit. humming out in pleasure. trailing down your neck with kisses, all you could do is grind on his lap waiting for the main thing you wanted. he knew it too although he wanted to make you wait.

“c-con..” his fingers playing through your folds making you choke on your words. “you can wait.” inserting his middle and ring into your slicked sex, earning a moan out of you. already going to work inside your walls, with his thumb reaching up to rub your clit. you reach your hand down to his now-hard dick, stroking him a few times, hearing connie let out a groan. his fingers still pumping and scissoring inside of you so good youre damn near riding his hand. letting out honey sweet moans in his ear, muffling them in the crook of his neck. you curse at his sly fingers bringing you closer to the edge with every flick of his wrists. “g’na cum already? youre getting wetter princess..” you felt embarrassed, how he could turn you into

“y—yes oh my god..” bucking your hips against his fingers eagerly for your orgasm inching closer to you, “cmon..give it to me, pretty.” his voice caressing your ears, hearing his cute sounds as you jerk him off slowly. “like that! shitt” your head flew back with a string a moans from your throat.

“a little more..fuckk” youre pulsing on his fingers, feeling your release coming. “make a mess, mama.” connies voice triggering your orgasm, gripping on his shoulders as he talks you through it. whispering sweet nothings in your ear while kissing on your neck. “fuck..con..” broken whines passing your lips, coming down from your high. “there you go..” his thumb still rubbing your pretty pearl, your cum stained thighs shaking from overstimulation.

“ready mama?” you didnt know what he was talking about until your felt his tip slide through your wet folds. a small gasp left your lips as you immediately hum a response. “words, princess.” — “mm…yes” you can feel him smile against your neck as he inserts his tip, holding a grip on your hips to help you sink down on his 7 inches, you both sharing a moan.

sitting there for a while to adjust to his size, his hands slid to your ass guiding you. “ouu shit..” your back arched, your breasts so close to his face. he just cant help but tug the upper part of your dress down and take a nipple in his mouth, suckling on it like there was no tomorrow. adding more sensations throughout your body, bouncing on his dick with his hand slapping your ass — he wishes he could see the ripples display like water waving.

“fuck...” your arms sat around his neck, head lowered right by his ear so he could hear all your sweet sounds he loves oh so much. the way your tongue carries the vowels of his name will never be attractive to him.

he started to thrust up into you a bit, his tip kissing your cervix sweetly as you already feel your second orgasm approaching. “shit g’na cum again ..” another pornographic sound leaving your mouth, along with your nipple leaving his.

“my godd..” you slow down, basically grinding on him to ride out your second high. “shit.. mama.” he’d groan with his head burried in the crook of your neck, feeling his breath fanning. he pulled away and pecked your lips before you started riding again, overstimulation clouding your mind, but it feels so good you cant stop.

“yo shit so creamy ma.. fuckk” groanin back into your neck as you continue your pleasing motions. you know hes about to cum by the way hes panting and getting louder. “cmon make cum princess..y’know how to fuck me..” moans and groans are sharing together throughout the car.

it wasnt long until you felt his cut spurting inside your walls drawn out with a groan. humming at the soothing feeling, cock warming him for a while before he slapped your ass. “get in the back.” a smile crept on your face as you pulled his dick out of you, seeing a thick ring around his shaft. a few droplets of his seed dripping onto the arm rest while climbing into the back seat before laying down. connie, who is trailing behind you.

“whatchu smilin fo’?” — “oh n—nothing..” he slid his tip inside you, causing you to choke on your words once again. a small laugh erupting from his chest.

his hips met the back of your thighs with your legs on his shoulders, “ouu shit..” gripping on his bicep with his strokes deep and slow, already hitting your g-spot deliciously. “you like that? when i fuck you deep like this?” your eyes rolling at his voice, “yes! yess fuck..” he leans down and touches his lips with yours, immediately swirling tongues around eachother, moaning in his mouth as you feel his thumb on your clit.

“oh shittt” muffled into his mouth, he pulled away and started speeding up his thrusting. aiming for the roof of your pussy, seeing a tummy bulge appear. your moans turning into a silent scream as you grip on anything in reach. connie only watches in awe on how he could please you so good.

only thing heard is the squelching of your pussy, along with small gasps and moans. he knew he was fucking you good and loved it, seeing every facial expression on your face. your brain feels like mush, your mind only on him and his dick. “mmm dont stop..! cumming again!” that signaled him to go deeper, with his hand slithering around your throat, holding a small grip.

“baby..baby! ohh my goddd.” — “i know, i know.” slowing down his thrusts, rolling his hips into yours with passion. “y’so wet mama..” followed with a small moan from him. you swear youre seeing stars, slurirng your inaudible words. “wanna gimmie one more? i know you can princess.” you hum out another response just you have your face grabbed, “words” — “y—yes.. i can.” your voice cracking as you focus on your pleasure. sticky lips parting to let out the sweetest sounds hes thriving on. running your hands over his skin layered with thin sweat ontop.

“fuckfuckfuck..” cursing at the rhythm of his pace, you can feel it near, its so far yet so close. “dont stop dont stop dont fuckin’ stop..” you both maintain eye contact, his are low — heart eyes would appear if they could. “you so pretty ma..” a another smile, showing off your pretty whites with your mouth forming into an ‘O’ soon from the spots hes hitting. “mmmfuhhck!” your wrap your arms around his neck, staring into his pretty hazel eyes.

“m’close baby..” — “yea? cmon princess, im there with you.” he switches both of your legs on his right shoulder, hitting the perfect spot you never knew existed. the wet sounds of your pussy growing louder by the second along with your whines. “hold out f’me.” — “i gotchu, mama.” cursing under his breath as he removes your arms and holds your hands. “a little more m’soso close..” your whole body feels like jelly, every stroke is like small sparks of electricity that pushes a moan out of you every time.

“shitshitshitt m’cumming..cum wimmie please..” pulsing around his dick, with the ring around his shaft thicker. he gave you a few more thrusts before sinking into you, you knew he was cumming the way you both shared moans together.

he kissed you, before he pulled out. “sorry. you look good s’all.” panting as you look at him with disbelief, only to see a goofy ass smile on his face.

[brummiereader]

MASTERLIST PREVIOUS PART

Uptown Girl (Part Five)

Summary: You and Tommy find yourself at a turning point in your relationship. But are your growing feelings for each other already at risk of danger when you learn of your brothers' scheming ways? And what does fate have in store for you when, in the heat of the night, somebody unexpectedly turns up at your house?

Warnings: Language, angst, smut (18+ MDNI)

Word Count: 5488

Authors Note: £940 in 1924 was worth £48000 in today's value.

"Fucking hell" Tommy mumbled to himself as he came face to face with your fathers glaring eyes on the walls of Arrow House, following him as he made his way down to the foyer. The grand picture enough to cause a burning paranoia to appear on his cheeks, that your dear father knew of all the filthy thoughts he'd fantasised about his beloved daughter, to relieve himself of tension every night as he painted his stomach white.

Sorry, old man.You've gotta go, Tommy said to himself, passing your father's portrait and the many other suspicious eyes of your family's ancestors. The large gaudy picture of your brother holding a bloody stag's head in one hand, and a cigar in the other, on his top priority of junk destined to find itself used as firewood at Charlie's yard.

But this one, this can stay, his eyes creased with a smile as he came to a stop in front of your portrait. The brushed strokes of an unmistakable furrowed brow, captured in your likeness, causing a small throaty chuckle to leave his lips as the sound of your voice down in the foyer welcomingly entered his ears.

" Thank you, Frances" you replied, leaving her to her daily duties as you turned to see Tommy greeting you with a toying smirk as he stepped off the last slab of wood.

Shooting him a playful smile, you turned on your heel for the secrecy of the library. The sultry sight of your swaying hips beckoning him to follow you as he surveyed the area for any peering eyes before he was hot on your heels behind you.

" Sleep well, darling?" You felt his raspy voice on the back of your neck, puckering your skin with his heated breath. His fingers unable to resist from threading through the rippled fabric of your flowing dress. Itching to feel the curves of your hips in his hands.

" Very well. Yourself?" You flirtatiously span around, walking backwards to the door. When a passing maid with a neatly pilled stack of laundered clothes in her arms had you swiftly swatting his needy touch away from her overseeing eyes.

Not that the entire staff of Arrow House wasn't already aware of your daily make-out sessions behind closed doors. Their discretion and loyalty, something you would both undoubtedly be grateful for if you knew your heavy petting sessions had been noticed. For you were still engaged to another man. The bells of your wedding day ready to be chimed in less than a weeks time.

" No" he grumbled with frustration at another night spent alone in his bed as he waited for her to turn the corner before opening the door of the study behind you. Ushering you and your accompanying giggles into the privacy of the four walls.

" Oh" you smirked coyly as he walked you backwards into the empty room, firmly shutting the door behind him in tune with the loud clicking of the grandfather clock before his wanton lips, craving with need, locked onto yours.

Unable to keep your hands off each other ever since the night you had shared both a passionate kiss and an impromptu dance under the dimly lit patio of your engagement ball. You had also been unconsciously stringing out the next steps in your relationship to the point where every waking moment in the notorious gangsters' day was filled with Tom Cat feelings about you.

As Tommy's tongue dipped eagerly into your mouth, a strangled moan left his lips as your nails raked through the stubble of his buzzed hair.

" Fuck, sweetheart" he left your parted mouth to see your eyes firmly shut with pleasure at the feeling of his fingers ghosting under your dress, eagerly roaming over the straps of your garter.

Teasingly prolonging his touch from venturing any further, you playfully pushed his needy fingers away with a smirk. Only to yelp in pain when Tommy snapped one of the buckled straps against your thigh in frustration.

" Ow!" you pouted, swatting him across the chest as he smiled into your mouth, soothingly rubbing his thumb over the reddening mark.

"Stop being a tease, Y/N. Could kiss it better, if you like?" he smirked as he pulled himself away from your swollen lips to see your full lashes looking up at him through hooded eyes. If butter wouldn't melt, he thought to himself at the prim and proper girl with one leg hooked around his waist in front of him. If only they knew.

As the unbearable ache you felt for each other, fueled further with each love bite, each igniting touch, came to a head. The answer as to whether today was the day the sexual band of tension would finally snap, plagued both your thoughts as your tongues intertwined in wanton need.

" Sissy?" Sissy?" Your brother called your name as Tommy pecked eagerly along your neck. Perhaps not.

"Fuck off" Tommy mumbled between breaths as your eyes flew open, and your distracted sensibility caught up with your flustered thoughts as you attempted to push the strong frame of the man nestled between your legs, and his growing desire pressed against your pelvis off you.

" Tommy, Tommy st..." You whimpered in both desperation for him to cease his explorations and continue until you was a pleading mess.

"I want you..." Tommy moaned breathlessly into your mouth, his hips grinding against you. The sound of you whining his name only creating more feverish need in him to hear you say it with him buried deep inside you. No more, Mr Shelby.

Pushing him off, Tommy grunted in protest, adjusting himself as you patted down your crumpled dress with only seconds to spare before the door flew open, and your brother walked in. Fuck sake. Was it a family thing? He really needed to change the locks.

" Johnathan" you said with flustered cheeks as your fumbling fingers adjusted your dress, trailing over a swelling lump on your neck. Tommy, your eyes flew to the culprit with a proud smirk on his face as you brushed your hair over the red marks of passion he'd left on your neck.

"What do you want?" You cleared your throat, as Tommy's fingers slipped behind you, cupping his hand around your bum. His mischievous roaming touch strategically hidden behind the shield of the large sofa in front of you, but nonetheless swiftly swatted away by your hand. Did he want to get caught?

" A word..." your brother's eyes darted between you and the reflection in the glass cabinet behind. Tommy's intimate relationship with you, not as discretely hidden as you had thought.

Oh, dear god, he thought to himself, swallowing the lump of stress in his throat. If seeing your passionate embrace the other night wasn't enough confirmation of your budding relationship, then this surely was. "...quickly!"

" Right" you furrowed your brow with suspicion at your brother's fidgeting demeanor and pitched voice as you turned to leave.

"Excuse me, Tom...Mr Shelby" you quickly corrected your slip up of name as your eyes widened in embarrassment at Tommy's unrestrained chuckling. His amusement with your small mishap not making the ordeal any easier for you to brush off as you hurried from the room.

" What...what are you doing?Johnathan!" You huffed as he pulled you around the corner, away from any audible ears or peering eyes.

"We have a problem" he stood in front of you, holding your arms in place, bracing you for the mess he had gotten himself into.

" I owe £940 to a man in Camden" your brother blurted out in a rapid ascension of mumbling words. " And if I don't pay it back by Friday...oh dear god..." His lip quivered at the stark warning he'd been given by the burly bearded man of many professions.

"Spit it out, Johnathan!"

"He'll take my family jewels instead" he whimpered with a nervous chuckle of uncertainty.

" We don't have any family jewels" you rolled you eyes, irritated by the grand story you assumed was yet another plan of his to cash in for a trip to the casino tables.

" Not those kind of family jewels, sissy. These!" He looked down at his trousers with a tearful sigh of desperation. " My legacy..." He sniveled as he stared down at his most cherished and soon to be chopped off possession if he didn't find a solution to his money problems.

" I don't have time for this" you pushed past him when he frantically fumbled in his suit pocket. Passing you the losing casino slip with the sum of money he owed to the winning hand scribbled on it.

"You've been gambling again...?" you scoffed in disbelief at you idiot brother now pathetically whimpering in front of you. " After everything Johnathan! Daddy, our home. Why?!"

" It was a sure win. Two aces, two King's. No...nobody ever plays a royal flush"

" But they did, Johnathan! Somebody did!" You shouted, your brain scrambling to find a solution as you paced back and forward in front of him when your brother's fooling words caught up with you.

" Hang, on. How is this my problem too?" You span around to him gulping down the words he couldn't bring himself to say to his dearest sister. " Johnathan?" You said, trying to capture his averting eyes and the impending answer he was reluctant to give. "Johnathan?!"

" Cal promised to pay off my debts with the guarantee you would go through with the wedding. A brotherly gift from him to me, if you needed any...any gentle encouragement" he let the truth of his devious arrangement slip, cowering into himself in preparation for your thundering voice of anger.

" You made a deal with him in return that I walk down the aisle?!" Your face reddened in fury, your pointing finger coming close to finding its way into one of his blubbering eyes.

" You're already planning to walk down the aisle, sissy! Aren't you?" he rose his voice in retaliation, weary of your wavering finger still hovering dangerously close. "This wouldn't even be a topic of conversation if you..."

" If what?" You interrupted him, your glaring eyes enough of a warning to him to tread carefully with his next words.

" Oh come on, don't think I haven't noticed. You and Mr kingpin! You're acting like a hussy" He whispered the latter of his insults, as you mustered all the restraint you possibly could from having to plan another family members funeral.

" Johnathan" you shook his shoulders, avoiding the subject of Tommy and what your feelings for him even were." You're my brother, don't tell me you don't know how I feel about, Cal" your eyes filled with sadness as Jonathan's darted away with a strained sigh. A poor attempt at facing the truth about your and Cal's precarious relationship and the controlling nature of it he and your Grannie had witnessed since the death of your father. " Please don't" a tear trickled from your pleading eyes over the curves of your cheek. Desperate for him to acknowledge the violent fate that awaited you if the news of Arrow House didn't return in your favour, and you would be forced to marry in a few days' time.

" How many times will I have to pay for other people's mistakes, Johnathan? I've given so much of myself already" you rubbed your welling eyes, your skin crawling with the ghostly memory of Cal's fingers kneading your flesh.

" I'm afraid you won't have a choice but to give a little more, baby sister. For all our sakes" he slumped into the chair next to him, relenting to the situation and it's only solution.You.

" For your sake, you mean" your face bubbled with anger, tears streaming down to the marble floor into a puddle at his feet.

"I love you Johnathan, but...you're on your own" you crossed your arms, raising your head away from the second male member of your family that had sold you to secure their own livelihood.

" Wait what?" Your brother's head bolted up to see you walking away. "You... you can't do that! We're family!" his eyes widened with the realisation that you wasn't willing to help him out of his self-inflicted mess.

Babied and pampered. For the first time ever, Johnathan would have to face his own problems. Alone.

"He'll cut me up into tiny pieces, sissy. Sissy!" He shouted after you as you left the vicinity and his pleading calls.

"Shit! Shit, shit, bollocks, balls, bloody shit!" His voice rose with each frustrated profanity as he stomped his foot. " Shit" he added one for good measure as his body slid down the side of the wall, looking at his crotch in defeat." Goodbye old friend"

" Bored" John huffed, tossing a small Grecian statue from hand to hand as he sat on one of the velvet sofas of your living room.

" Why don't you go outside and play, John boy. Leave us adults in peace" Arthur motioned with his hand to the door, with his head lulled back in the large armchair he had shot gunned.

" Shut up, Arthur" he huffed, launching the ornament one last time, before the head snapped off and tumbled onto the plush carpeted floors.

" Pillock" Arthur rolled his eyes, as his younger brother scrambled on all fours in search for the missing head. Ceasing the opportunity to give his second-youngest brother, and inferior in the pecking order a satisfying, big brother kick in the bollocks from behind.

" You ok?" Tommy quietly questioned as he walked behind you, his hands taking the opportunity to subtly trace along the tops of your thighs as his brothers stayed distracted with their bickering.

" Fine" you closed the pages of the book in your hand, settling it on the back of the settee in front of you as you pushed your hair from the flushed heat rising on your neck at the feeling of his hands slowly roaming further up to their final, and most desired destination.

" Ex..excuse me" you cleared your throat tucking the novel against your stomach as you made a beeline for the opposite side of the room, leaving Tommy dumbfounded with a stroppy frown of discontent at your sudden coldness with him.

With no intention of letting another layer of tension settle over the already torturous one currently demanding all the free space in his mind. Tommy strode after you. All under the watchful stare of his eldest brother, whose eyes and ears had perked up at the sight of Tommy's moody pout.

Love sick puppy, Arthur thought to himself, grinning with amusement as he closed his eyes.

" Beer money, champagne taste. Ay, Tom? Arthur chuckled, earning him a sharp punch to the arm as Tommy walked past. " I'll let you 'av that one, baby brother" he smirked as he rested his head back on his comfy cushioned chair, opening one eye to see John licking the head of the figurine in an attempt to stick it back on its owners body. Fucking hell...

" You're gonna have to convince me better than that, sweetheart" he leaned against the wall, taking the book in your hand. His eyes scrolling over the last page you had read as you turned your head to the weathered window beside you. " What did your brother want, Y/N?" His concerned voice probed as he looked up to see you nervously biting your bottom lip.

" Johnathan? Oh, nothing" you darted to a from his squinting eyes. A piercing stare that was as unconvinced about your response as it was that you held any interest in the story you had been reading.

Snapping the book shut, Tommy let out a stifled huff of frustration, deciding not to press you any further on family matters that were not of his concern, further putting pressure on the confusing web of feelings you both found yourselves in. The same feelings and its current status, he wasn't sure he even knew your stance on. Were you his girl?

" Hey" he said, shielding you from his brothers as he moved to stand in front of you. " Are we ok, Y/N?" he voiced with apprehension as he held the curve of your chin in his fingers, gently turning your head to face him. Feeling like a school boy in the throes of a new love, treading carefully not to fuck it up. Shit. Was he fucking it up?

" Yes..." you blinked up at him, resting your hand over his thumb, soothingly brushing against your skin. "...We're ok" your eyes darted to and from the small smile of reassurance on the corner of his lips. Your own giddy glow of excitement, blushing your skin like a rosy-cheeked girl talking to her crush for the first time.

" Right. I'm bored" Arthur bolted up from his seat, the quietness away from the noise and clanger of Small Heath starting to scratch away at his brain.

" Y/N, love. I don't know how you ain't gone stark bloody mad in this place" he said, adjusting his belt before giving a snoring John a sharp slap to the back of his head to wake him up from the doze he'd drifted in to.

If only he knew how close to madness you had truly gotten.

" Come on kids, let's go 'av some fun, ay?"

" So, what d'you think?" Arthur queried, smoothing the stray whiskers of his moustache down, sat in front of you in the passenger seat of Tommy's Bentley as you peered out the window at the sights of Small Heath.

Shifting in his seat, Tommy pulled his eyes away from the road to your reflection in the rear-view mirror as he nervously cleared his throat.

Bloody Arthur, he thought to himself, waiting on your answer as he watched your eyes dart back and forth to the bustle on the streets where he had spent his childhood years. He wanted to impress you, take you out for a night someone of your elegance was deserving of. A trip down to the piss-covered backstreets of Small Heath was not what he had envisioned when Arthur had suggested showing you some real fun.

" It's...its wonderful, Arthur! Your eyes beamed with excitement, engrossed in a muddy brawl taking place outside the safe confines of the car. The entirety of the ride into Birmingham having been spent in awe at the lawless world the Shelby brothers had grown up in. A far cry from that of your own. It's residents free from the burden of high society's scrutinising judgment. Free from the restraints of conformity.

"Wonderful...ay?" Arthurs' cheeks ballooned with laughter, straining to hold in his amusement as John's sputtering giggles escaped his lips in small sniggers until neither of them could refrain themselves any longer and the car filled with a burst of laughter.

"Bloody hell! Miss posh pants here, thinks Small Heath's wonderful! John chuckled in disbelief as Tommy caught your eye in the small mirror as you shrunk into your seat, blushing at your eager display of excitement.

" Just different, eh love? " Tommy shot you a wink as he pulled up outside the Garrison, putting to ease any embarrassment you felt from his bellowing brothers.

" It's definitely something" Arthur sniffed, surveying the area for any trouble before jumping out.

"Come on then, princess. Out you pop" the eldest Shelby held the door open as John scooted out next to you into the sludge of Small Heath, turning back to see you looking down at the muddied ground, thick enough for your pristine shoes to fall ankle deep into.

With the curious viewing party of the three brothers, looking down at you with creased brows and folded arms. Waiting to see if you were too posh to plod through the muddied earth with them. You hovered your laced heels over the thick gunk as a winsome smile of mischievousness etched on the corners of your lips.

Take that you old witch, you thought to yourself as you stepped out to join them in the trenches. Gone were your rearing days when Frances would quickly usher you into the kitchen to wipe away the dirt from your knees before the back of your Governess's ruler found itself bruising them red.

" Boys, shall we?" you raised a brow with a satisfied smirk, turning to each of them and their growing smiles of approval as they watched the mud-splattered bottom half of your dress sweep along the ground as you entered the Garrison.

" She's good'un, Tom" Arthur winked to his brother, giving him a firm slap to his back before following behind you and John into the dimly lit tavern of hearty laughter and piano music.

A good'un, Tommy smiled to himself as the sound of your giggles and Arthur's booming voice shouting drink orders drifted past him as the doors of the Garrison swung shut.

Just when he thought he knew you, you'd reveal yet another layer to your tightly shielded self. Kept hidden by your strong will and sheer determination. A determination Tommy was now adamant on matching. Set on further unraveling until he reached the very bottom layer. Your heart.

Thomas Michael Shelby was smitten. Absolutely, completely head over heals smitten, with you.

"Dance with me, Tommy" you bounded merrily into the foyer of your shared home, high on the many glasses of fizz you had consumed throughout the night as Tommy twirled you around with his finger, his cigarette loosely hanging from the growing smile on his lips.

" I don't dance, love" he spun you towards him until you fell into his arms and was met with his cocky smirk, playfully beaming back at you.

" Well we both know that isn't true, don't we?" You hummed biting your bottom lip as you removed the cigarette from his mouth, letting it drop to the marble flooring. What had gotten into you?

Leaning in, Tommy pressed an urgent kiss to your waiting lips. The lingering taste of the only bottle of champagne the Garrison possessed deliciously igniting his taste buds with every stroke of his tongue.

Fuck. He was desperate for you. Your subtle touches on his thigh throughout the evening under the guise of the table shielding both of your roaming hands, making his tightening trousers only more torturous.

" Y/N" he sighed, rubbing his hand down his face in frustration as you began the trek up the long stairs of your home, having pulled away from his embrace.

" You're enjoying this" he pointed to you, his eyes drifting to your sultry display as your hands glided over the wooden railings. Convinced that this torment you had decided to inflict on him was still in retaliation over his claim to Arrow House.

" Whatever made you think that?" you removed your hair from the confines of the pins delicately holding it in place as you strutted up the stairs, when Tommy made a foolish remark in jest. One he would find himself regretting almost immediately after.

" One man not enough for you to play with, eh?"

" What?" You span around, eyes widening in disbelief.

Shit. How much whiskey had he drunk?

" Was just teasing, darling" he sighed, reaching for your hand. "Y/N, I..."

" You think I'm playing with you?!" You frowned, snapping your head back to him. Swiftly slapping his hand away as your chest heaved with upset. " You think I want...him" you avoided his name, the mere sound of it now inducing a nauseated heaviness to settle in your stomach, having forgotten the dire circumstance you found yourselves in for the entirety of the night.

" Then what do you want, eh?" Tommy questioned in frustration, turning you around on the stairs to face him. "What are we doing, Y/N?" He held you in place, reaching his own limit with the precarious situation you had both created.

" Why did you have to ruin it, Tommy?" you looked up at him, furious at the reminder of the restraints still attached to you. "I just want to forget" your eyes pooled with tears as Tommy's chest filled with guilt, his hand slowly coming up to brush the tears from your cheek. "Make me forget..." your eyes held his longing stare as your fingers hovered over the buttons of his pressed shirt, slowly pushing them through each hole. "...please?"

Within seconds, his lips were pressed against yours, your hands clawing at each other's clothes as you stumbled up the remaining stairs, leaving a trail of garments in your wake.

" Tom..." You moaned, your bodies heatedly pressed against each other as your back hit the wall of the dimly lit hallway. His hands reaching under the frills of your dress, pulling your garter and everything attached to it down your knees until it hit your ankles.

" Not here" he pulled his lips away as his eyes darted to the glaring stares of your family's portraits. Saving you from their judgment before you let what was left of your ladylike reserves go, and finished freeing him from the tight restraints of his trousers.

Pushing the door open, Tommy held you tightly against his body until you thudded into the nearest piece of furniture sturdy enough to take the earnest fuck he was intent on giving you.

" You sure you want this ?" Tommy's voice shuddered as he watched your hand stroke down his torso. His mouth agape with anticipation as you gingerly dipped your hand into his briefs, blushing at the feeling of his hardening cock throbbing in your hand.

"Fuck, enough teasing sweetheart. Tell me" He moaned, desperate to finally feel you sheathed around him.

"I want you, Tommy" your noses bumped together as his hand flew to the wall behind you, steadying himself against the feeling of you stroking his cock within your palm.

Words enough to unleash the desire he had let build for weeks, Tommy crashed his lips onto yours, bundling your dress up around your waist as you propped yourself on the edge of the dresser, releasing his straining erection when the gravelly sound of a car pulled up in front the house and the sound of the bell rang.

" Yes, one moment!" Frances called out from the landing stairs, frantically pulling yours and Tommy's abandoned clothes into the wash basket in her arms as you both stayed oblivious to your unexpected visitors.

Ever the loyal housekeeper, Frances had no intentions of putting the growing relationship she had witnessed flourish in the last week at risk. One she and everyone else who worked at Arrow House, hoped would save you from the man responsible for the battered skin she had tended to countless times.

" One moment" she said as she reached the bottom step, burying the most intimate of your undergarments to the bottom of the woven basket.

" Tommy, Tommy stop!" You grabbed his face, pulling it away from the hardening nipple his lips were softly sucking on. " Oh god..." your head flew to the closed door as the sound of your brother and Cal's voices could be heard calling you name from the foyer.

" Frances. My finance?" Cal demanded to know as he threw his suit jacket into the pile of clothing in her arms.

" Sleeping. Mr Astor" she said as Cal furrowed his brow, pulling his pocket watch from his buttoned waistcoat.

"Nonsense! " he brushed off her response as Frances's panicked eyes darted to Johnathan when your fiance began the climb up the long winding stairs.

" She's such a bore, Cal. Let her sleep and join me for a whiskey, dear friend" Johnathan hollered up at him, attempting to save you from him discovering your love affair with the gangster he loathed.

He was your brother after all, albeit an annoying, insufferable one. But a brother nonetheless. One who under it all, under all his mistakes and stupid decisions, cared deeply for his little sister.

" Shh..." Tommy silenced your worries, pressing his finger to your wetted lips as Cal marched across the hallway, feet away from you.

" Tommy, wait..." You panicked, when a stifled gasp left your throat as the head of his throbbing cock pushed through your silky folds in one slow thrust, stretching you until he was fully enclosed.

" I don't wait for anyone, love" he whispered into your ear, holding the nape of your neck as your head lulled back in pleasure.

Resting his cheek on yours, Tommy gently rocked himself into you. Pupils blown with lust as he looked up to see your eyes firmly shut, basking in the feeling of his hips snapping into you and the shooting surge of pleasure your warmth sent straight to his cock. Fuck. You felt incredible.

" Sweetpea?" You heard Cal's voice call you as both your eyes, hooded heavy with desire, lazily looked to the door keeping him from finding Tommy fucking you with abandon.

"You're mine, Y/N" he whispered into your ear as his pace quickened. His cock twitching with every tightening muscles of you clenching around him. " Mine" he growled with a breathy possession, licking his tongue against yours as a languid moan escaped your swollen lips.

" Y/N?" Cal furrowed his brow. The unmistakable creak of his foot shifting closer alerting Tommy enough to silence your moaning with a hand to your mouth.

Fuck. You were too much for him, he thought to himself, watching you with darkened eyes eagerly sucking his thumb between your lips.

You had never felt as liberated as you did in that very moment. Your sexual awakening freeing itself with every pistoning thrust of his length. You couldn't get enough. You couldn't get enough of him.

" Tommy. I'm, I'm gonna..." you mumbled incoherently into the crook of his neck as you clenched with a warming ache.

" Cum with me, darling. Cum all over my cock" he groaned, his thumb slick with your saliva flying down to the swollen bundle of nerves brushing against him with every stroke.

" Cal, there you are, old chap. Whiskey?" Johnathan patted his back, ushering him away from the door his hand was seconds from opening.

Mouths agape in a delirious surge of pleasure, you breathed heavily into each other's lips as you let go and Tommys hips came to a stuttering stop. Your faces reddening, twisting in a desperate attempt to suppress the moans of ecstasy you mutually felt.

"Fuck..." Tommy gasped for air, looking down between you as his cock pulsed the last of his warm cum into you.

"You ok?" He breathed heavily, resting his forehead against yours as he brushed a lock of hair from you cheek with a smile not only of blissful satisfaction, but of adoration growing on the corner of his lips.

" Did you mean it?" You caught your breath, searching his glistening stare for an answer as he closed his eyes and softly left peppered kisses across your face until leaving a languid kiss on your lips.

" That you're mine?" He opened them, cupping the side of your face in his hand as you shyly nodded your head. Nervous you had misunderstood him, or worse, that his comment was mistakenly made in the heat of the moment.

" Always"

" One whiskey coming right up" Johnathan breathed a sigh of relief as him and Cal stepped into the neutral territory of the foyer.

" Scottish or Irish ?"Johnathan asked, walking into the parlor as your fiance came to a stop.

" Scottish" he said through the cigar sitting between his teeth as he searched in his suit jacket for his lighter on top of the basket of clothing France's distracted list of duties had forgotten to tidy away when the shine of a gold cufflink loosely attached to a man's shirt captured his attention.

T.S, the engraved jewellery read. Undoubtedly belonging to thee Thomas Shelby, he scoffed, flicking them with a finger to test their value. Real gold. What did he do? Steal them, he smirked when another curious item of clothing peaking under the arm of the white fabric caught his eye.

Pulling the lace underwear from within the bundle of men's garments, Cal's eyes widened, his jaw clenching at the unmistakable item of clothing.

His face twisting in fury, he brought the pair of lingerie scrunched tightly in his fist to his reddening face, sharply breathing in the sweet scent as his darkening eyes, deepening with an impending rage for its owner who had betrayed him, darted up to the ceiling. His loving, whoring wife to be. You.

NEXT PART

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[tsukimefuku]

The man who played with fire

After some drinks by yourself and getting frustrated with someone, you stupidly knock on Higuruma's door to test a theory.

To vibe: Misery - Maroon 5

Tags: +18 (!!!), WITH PLOT (there is always a plot), Jujutsu Kaisen, SMUT, f!reader, Higuruma x reader, some alcohol consumption,  he's so in love, she's so clueless, reader is being kind of an asshole, oral sex, cunt-locking, penetration, light f!top x m!bottom dynamic, involves some love-triangle classic shenanigans.

WC: 3.4K

Hey, this is actually my first smut piece! Hope you guys enjoy my filth. This is part of my "Jujutsu Partners Canon Divergence AU", a sequence of short stories and random drabbles for a Nanami x f!reader x Higuruma fanfic I'll eventually write (eventually). This is preceded specially by "Kindness and Sunflowers", link here. To see the ever-growing list of one-shots, please visit my masterlist :)  

Disclaimer: they’re NOT written and posted in chronological order of events. To see where this story fits in the timeline, please check the masterlist mentioned above.

Fair warning: I like writing characters being humanely assholes and clueless idiots. Be warned. 

"I can't believe this," you muttered to yourself. You were drinking alone at the bar, and the darkness served to hide your blushed-by-fury face. After what you called The Event, Nanami asked to talk, only to end up lecturing you about the shortcomings of a jujutsu sorcerer's life. As if you didn't know, given all the losses you had experienced over the years, precisely due to Tengen's established Jujutsu Society. "He can't be serious, lecturing me about this shit." Still talking to yourself, like a crazy person, you tried to let your anger go down with five cold pints of beer. It was definitely not working.

Your phone rang, and Nanami's name lit up on your screen, much to your annoyance. You immediately refused the call and flipped the phone down on the table, feeling all your rage bubbling up from the darkest depths of hell. You needed a release, any kind of release — an exorcism, most likely.

Or, you could try something else.

Peering around the bar, you started looking for someone that you could consider even remotely interesting — but no one, nothing, nada. Given this was a Tuesday night, there were only you and some monotonous people scattered around the murky lighting, encompassed by the noise of a few clicking glasses. 

That was when your phone started to rumble to the sound of some text messages, and you grabbed it ready to pitch the phone across the vicinity, believing it was Nanami again. But, much to your surprise, it was actually Higuruma texting you. You were so angry that you had completely forgotten to talk to him today.

He was basically asking how you were, given that you hadn't texted back since yesterday, and you were both chatting on a daily basis for weeks by this point.

That was when you had a greatly horrible (or horribly great?) idea. After all, how could a decision made under the influence, at night, while angry at someone you knew you had feelings for, be bad? This is fine.

"Are you busy right now?" You sent him, feeling the beer breeze warmly through your nostrils every time you exhaled. You have a crush on him, but that's it, this is fine. And oh, you did. Ever since you dropped him off in his apartment the night he was freed from Jujutsu High's headquarters, you knew that there was definitely something stirring up — at least from your end. Higuruma was drunk, he didn't make a move, and could just have been kind of clingy, to be honest, so you decided to let it go for the time being. Every time you got a little too excited to meet or talk to him recently, you reminded yourself very sternly you weren't a schoolgirl.

But you wouldn't let it go today, because today, you really wanted to know.

"Nothing, really. I just got home." Higuruma promptly answered.

"Can I come over?" You texted back, and locked your screen right after, instantly anxious and eager at the same time. What the fuck is wrong with me? What am I thinking? What am I doing? This can't be a good ide-

"Of course, I'd be delighted." He replied. "And then you could actually see the sunflower is doing very well, in spite of me."

You left the money on the counter and ran off, shushing your thoughts out loud.

***

This was a terrible idea, but I think I can just hang out for an hour, make small talk and then leave, you started to negotiate mentally with yourself right after the three knocks on the door gave some sanity back to your brain. 

However, after Higuruma opened the door and cocked his head to lean it against the door frame, you knew you were completely doomed. He had the top of his white shirt unbuttoned, his tie was hanging loosely around his neck, and his sleeves were rolled up enough for you to see his beautifully defined forearms. His hair had the perfect messy-I-just-got-home look to it, and you instantly wanted to drive your hands through his pitch black locks. 

Oh shit, you thought to yourself, feeling something stir up in your body — and it surely wasn't anger.

It must have been a moment, because he started to look a little puzzled. "Hey, come in." Higuruma said, as if he was repeating himself. Did you not hear him the first time he invited you in? 

"Of course. Thank you." You replied, looking down and hushing yourself inside his apartment. You could feel your face burning, and imagined how much of an idiot you were being right now for ever believing this could go anything but wrong.

"Are you okay? You seem out of sorts." He pointed out, closing the door behind him. "Can I get you anything? I got some beer from the convenience store, and there might be water somewhere in the kitchen."

"I'm fine, I just ran here to get some cardio." You clumsily replied, sitting on the couch. "I came from the bar, actually. Already drank some beers. No need."

Higuruma huffed out a soft chuckle, still a little confused, but now intent on prying. "You're not helping your case. You mean to say that you, a jujutsu sorcerer that exercises heavily, decided to get some cardio done while walking under the influence, from a bar, at night, to meet me?"

"Yes. That's what I meant. Quit prying." You responded, not knowing what the hell else you could say. Tell him that you came rushing just so you wouldn't have the time for second guessing on having s- no, you wouldn't do that.

"Hm." He hummed to himself, grabbing a can and sitting beside you, bouncing the sofa slightly. "I mean, I'm always happy to have you come over, but the only time you came here was to bring me drunk from a bender. And to get me flowers."

"Get you a sunflower, because yours had died." You corrected.

"Precisely, a sunflower." Higuruma replied, taking a sip from his beer. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I just wanted to see you." You said, earnestly. And deep down, it was true, if only half of it.

Higuruma immediately seemed content, even if he only had a small smile to show for it on his face. "Oh."

You were both silent for a moment.

"I never got to repay you for your kindness that day." He said, out of the blue, taking you by surprise.

"It was nothing." You said, shrugging. "I just got you home and gave you a flower."

"Oh, if I remember correctly…" He began.

"Do you remember anything?" You asked, mockingly.

He looked at you, slightly grinning, and continued. "You had to blow up my lock to bust us in. In some places, that would be considered a felony."

"You're saying I could get arrested for busting into a home while I'm with the man that lives there?"

"You also used explosives and damaged the door, let's not forget that." Higuruma said in a mix of playful and matter-of-factly.

"I couldn't ask, because you were completely wasted! Just getting your address was a pain in the ass."

He chuckled. "Was it?"

"Yes, it was." You replied, more relaxed, thanks to coming back to your old banter. This came for the both of you so naturally that you barely realized Higuruma had rested his arm on the sofa right behind you, leaning closer. "Higuruma, why did you drink so much that night?"

That question surprised him, as you could deduct from his eyes widening lightly. He put his beer can on the coffee table and ran his fingers through his hair, inhaling deeply. "I don't know. I guess-" he stuttered for a moment. "I guess I was just nervous to be out again, finally and properly going for a drink with..." his last word lingered on the air, as he unconsciously looked at your eyes, and then your lips, "with you all."

"Do you remember what you said when we got here?" You asked, shamelessly staring at his lips too.

"I believe I said, 'you are too kind'." Higuruma leaned over even further, and you felt his entire body go rigid for a second as you drifted closer to him, heat crawling all over your skin, putting your forehead to his. After some seconds, he rested the palm of his hand over your knee, and from how needy you felt for that man at that particular moment, even such a small thing was enough to make you trip over to the other side.

You immediately crushed your lips to his, putting your hands behind his head. You kissed him eagerly, letting out an extremely faint moan as you drove your fingers over his hair — he tasted like beer, his worn off cologne from the day was completely intoxicating, and you found yourself nearly lunging at the man like a starved animal. Realizing what just happened, you pulled back, starting to apologize, eyes wide and face completely flustered. "Higuruma, I'm so sor-"

Your apologies were cut short with his own lips now clashing into yours in a passionate kiss, as he pushed you under his weight to lay on the couch, his fingers interlocking in your hair strands from the back of your head. His hips effortlessly slid in between your legs as your hands made their way to brush his shoulders, and you let out another moan against his lips, this time much louder, thanks to the dry pressure of his now bulging pants against your clothed core. Higuruma groaned satisfied in response, tracing the outline of your mouth with the tip of his tongue. Your mind was becoming hazy, and he parted from your lips for a moment to gaze at your face. His eyes were locked on you, studying every feature and investigating for any sign of discomfort or second thoughts.

You caught up on that and made your way inside his slightly open mouth with your own tongue, intertwining it with his in between gasps and huffs. Now you separated just enough to breathlessly say, "Bed. Now."

You gasped against his mouth, before holding yourself throwing your arms behind his neck and locking your legs on his waist, grinding on him. He moaned loudly at this stimulation, before smiling sheepishly and putting both of his hands on the back of your thighs for support, knowing full well you meant for him to carry the both of you into the bedroom.

"Yes, ma'am." He replied, propping the both up and then lifting from the couch. Higuruma pressed open-mouthed kisses all around the nape of your neck, as he walked towards a dark room, parting his hands from you just to switch the light on. "I want to see you," he said, breathing heavily against your skin, as he threw you on the bed, climbing on top, one hand to each side of your head as he stared at you with a lustful look in his eyes. You instantly pulled his loosened tie to kiss him again, and he lost balance, basically falling with his body over yours. You whimpered at the feeling of having his now full-blown clothed erection grinding against your core, and involuntarily opened your legs to accommodate his hips over yours.

Higuruma started to take off his tie and shirt, and you followed suit, removing your top and bra. He basked on the sight of you, and cupped both of your breasts in his hands. His digits felt rough, and frictioned just the right amount against you, as he squeezed both of them, satisfied and reverent. His hands started traveling down your figure, contouring every curve, hill, and valley of your body, reaching the edge of your pants. "May I?" He asked, his face lightly blushed as he awaited your response. You nodded, and he promptly unzipped you, pulling your pants and panties down, the slight stimulation from the fabric sliding over your legs being enough to make you mewl with satisfaction. Every nerve in you was incandescent with absolute hunger for him.

You opened your legs, and he could see you were already completely wet from arousal. Letting out an audible satisfied moan, Higuruma began tracing your belly with his mouth, planting long kisses as he went down, leaving a trail of heat wherever his lips touched. As he got near your core, he kissed one last time one of your thighs, and sniffed on your folds. You smelled sinfully sweet, and he made no effort to hold back his eyes fluttering shut with pure bliss. "Could I, please?"

This was his prayer, the bed was his altar and he was determined to worship you.

Without a word, you simply grabbed the top of his hair and drove his mouth in between your legs, whimpering and mewling as his tongue started to rub against your clit. His chin would grind forward on your entrance whenever he changed the angle, and you involuntarily pushed yourself down when that happened. He noticed it, and slid his tongue inside you, eliciting a loud moan in response, with your walls clenching around it. He groaned back in appreciation, and his husky, low voice reverberated throughout your entire being. You arched your back, beginning to feel that familiar heat and fire pooling on your lower stomach.

"H-Higuruma... I-" You sighed, in between mewls and moans.

He immediately stopped and brought his face up to look at you. You let out a complaint sound, glaring at him to ask why he stopped.

"My dear, I'm literally with my face in between your legs, eating you out." He said, unfazed by your annoyance. "We're way past last names. Call me Hiromi."

Incredulous, you let out a mixture of a chuckle and a scoff, having the top inside of you wiggling its way out to the surface. You grabbed his hair strongly, and he cinched his eyebrows, cock twitching inside his pants, as the corner of his lips formed an open-mouthed smile. His eyes were softly resting on you, and he wouldn't mind if your naked, flushed body was the last thing he saw before he died.

"Shut up." You said, grinding your pussy against his mouth, and locking his head to your core with your legs tightly holding around him. Higuruma proceeded more eager than before, lapping at your clit relentlessly with his tongue, alternating with sucks that were having you seeing stars. He was absolutely pussy drunk with the heavenly taste of you and had, at this moment, relinquished any control, as he let you face fuck him chasing your release.

The heat came back again, and you closed your eyes, sinking the back of your head on a pillow. Waves were starting to form, and your orgasm hit you like the crashing water against the shore. You began to tremble and vibrate, coming hard in his mouth, and Higuruma feverishly drank you up, completely hypnotized with how amazing you tasted and felt, falling apart under his ministrations. 

Letting you finish riding your high, licking gently on your overstimulated core, he waited until you were barely moving before removing his own pants and climbing his way back on top of you. As he got close enough to your face, you looked at him, completely flustered and debauched, resting the palm of your hand on his cheek. "Higuruma, I want you inside of me." His tongue, albeit magnificent, just wasn't enough, and you could feel the same anticipation and neediness coiling in your stomach again, as the tip of his cock rested on your entrance.

He looked at you and grunted, displeased. "Hiromi." Higuruma reached to the bedside table and pulled a condom. The movement had him rubbing his throbbing length, already leaking with pre-cum, right against you, forcing him to let out a strained groan.

You gasped at the sensation and chuckled at his annoyance right after, suddenly locking his hips in between your legs, rolling you both so that you would be on top of him. "We'll see, if you ask nicely." You replied, locking him in between your arms, hovering. Higuruma's eyes instantly softened, and his cheeks took a pinkish-red tint. "You're bossy." He said, turning his head towards your wrist and planting a chaste kiss on it, lingering with his lips for a moment on your skin. "I like it."

You smiled, more pleased than you'd like to admit it, because the both of you fit so well it was astonishing. You never thought it would be happening like this, and for a moment, it felt so right you wished you could be here forever. But nothing that good ever lasts long enough.

Grabbing the condom from him with one hand, you motioned the other to grab his neglected cock. As your fingers grasped around his length, Higuruma let out a satisfied and urgent moan, slowly arching himself under your touch. The sight of him completely pliable to your will had you fluttering, as you began to rub your hands up and down, pumping his girth to pleasure him. Higuruma plastered his palms over the plush of your thighs, and groaned your last name, holding out on some kind of desperation. 

"'Way past last names', huh?" You scoffed, playfully, starting to slide the condom over his cock before he could hit you with any witty comeback. After, you positioned yourself above him, holding his length against your entrance, and started to slowly descend over it, feeling it thrust in you to the brim, stretching your walls as he bottomed out. You both let out a gasp, now connected, and you waited a moment to adapt and take all of him in.

"Come here." You said, pulling on his shoulder for him to sit up, so that you could feel and touch every inch of him. He obliged, and sat up, immediately driving his mouth to kiss your neck insistently, brushing the tip of his tongue on the edge of your jaw. Higuruma began to rock his hips, and you did the same, each in the opposite direction, so that his cock would slide in and out of your pussy easily.

You moaned against his scalp, and he held his hands to the small of your waist, leaning you backwards to suck on your breasts. The moment his mouth latched onto one breast, he rolled your other nipple between his fingers, eliciting loud moans and mewls from you. You had your head dangling back, as he began to thrust into you quicker and harder. He slid the hand previously on your waist to the back of your neck, and pulled you in for a kiss, taunting your mouth with his tongue. You opened it, and both your tongues intertwined, as he, now, chased his own release, panting and groaning into your lips. You weren't so far off, feeling the familiar coil tightening in your abdomen, yearning for release.

"Higu-"

"Hiromi, please. P-please... Please..." He implored and begged, kissing desperately your jawline. You lowered your gaze and met his eyes softer and more tender than you had ever seen, so urgently pleading for you to let him in, give him this inch of intimacy, and that was the moment you caved. You pressed your forehead against his, and started to cry out his name. "Hiromi... H-Hiromi..."

Letting out moans and groans in between the squelching from your juices, he pulled you impossibly close, eyes piercing and locked onto yours. This was the moment you felt more naked, bare and vulnerable the entire night, and the coil that had formed in your belly snapped, sending waves of pure pleasure from the tip of your head to your toes. Feeling your gummy walls clenching all around him, Higuruma also hit his orgasm intensely, thrusting into you fervently to ride off his high. He stopped slowly, ready to crumble underneath you at any moment.

"Hiromi-" You said, brushing your lips against his cheek, then under his ear. "Hiromi, Hiromi, Hi-ro-mi. Happy? Just for tonight, though."

Higuruma chuckled soulfully, realizing how much he absolutely loved the sound of his name on your tongue, purred through your whispered voice, reverberating on his flushed, sensitive skin. It made his body quiver and tremble with pure satisfaction. 

It was right there, at that moment, with his heart fluttering while you leaned back to gaze at him, stroking his hair strands between your fingers with a gentle smile, that he realized just how fucked he actually was.

Sighing softly and smiling back, Higuruma pushed his lips against yours. He knew that by playing with fire, he was bound to get burned, eventually — and burned he was.

[mozki]

adding on cos i was talkin abt this outfit . then im done xxx

praying 4 pixie protection from tomorrow for the next 4 days. love u pixxies please take care of me i will play nicely!!

[rybkart]

Based on a fanfic by @evilasiangenius loved it go check it out !

Hope I got the appearances right also azis dress is from 1300 bc not 1900 but oh well

Ps author thank you for spamming me I was smiling like an idiot for solid 15 minutes hope you like this

Fanfic link below:3

[mal3vol3nt]

I think ZKs really exaggerated Zuko and Katara’s relationship, and this is coming from a guy who actually really likes Zuko and Katara’s relationship, just not a ship (it’s not as toxic as some say, by the end of the show at least).

Isaw this one post about how Zuko and Katara have the most intimate relationship of The Gaang. How he’s the only one who supports her, understands her and validates her anger. Whereas Zuko is the only one Katara doesn’t have to look after, the only one she can depend on emotionally, the only one who she’s sees as an equal and matches her maturity.

I question this, because when did we see this in the show? Besides like 3 instances. ZKs act like Katara was never supported by Aang (or the others). I’m sure that everything they say Zuko does for Katara, Aang does for her and more. Everything Katara supposedly has in Zuko, she already has in Aang. I could list all of this, but this is already running long as it is.

What do you think?

This the full post: https://www.tumblr.com/theotterpenguin/738115696097116160/thinking-about-how-katara-is-the-only-person-zuko?source=share

not only are they exaggerating the depth of katara and zuko’s relationship, but they’re underplaying the depth of her relationship with literally everyone else. like they undermine how much all her friends mean to her by saying the guy she was on good terms with for like 4 episodes immediately became her closest companion and confidant

the only time we see zuko offer her support of any kind is during the southern raiders episode where he’s encouraging her to go kill the guy who murdered her mother. and he’s not doing it because he genuinely wants to be a supportive figure for her, but because he thinks this is what’ll get her to finally forgive him and stop treating him so coldly. and then the episode ends with him admitting that he was wrong in terms of what she needed—not violent revenge but the chance to let her anger out without compromising her morals in blind rage. other than that, we don’t see him act as a shoulder for her to lean on, and the one instance we do see him act that way, he’s bad at it and ends up realizing there are ways other than violence to move on from internalized anger

and sure you can argue that zuko still gave her the chance to confront yon rha even if she chose not to kill him like he encouraged her to, and that inandof itself is an act of emotional support, but the reality is he did that to get on her good side rather than to be a genuine friend. had she already been friendly to him, would he have ever brought up that he knows who killed kya? would he have even asked sokka about the day their mom died to get that information? in the show he only does this because he can’t fathom why katara is still mad at him when everyone else has already forgiven him. he wanted to speed up her process of forgiving him, so had she already forgiven him and they were friends, i doubt the whole “i can help you avenge your mother” convo would have ever happened because it wouldn’t have served him to do so. and in my opinion, any support that has ulterior motives and an end goal isn’t genuine support

but compare this to aang and sokka. we see these two go out of their way for her countless times throughout the three books, which makes sense considering the three of them are the ogs and went through everything together (incoming really long list lmao)

aang offers to take katara to the northern water tribe so she can learn waterbending under a master after knowing her for only a few hours at most. he also does this after she expresses her upset at being the only southern waterbender left. “katara! we’re going to find you a master!”

aang gives himself over to zuko and his fire nation crew to save katara and sokka’s village

aang completes all of bumi’s challenges to save katara and sokka

aang credits katara for haru’s sudden bravery in saving that old man. “wow you must have really inspired him”

aang and sokka willingly (and eagerly) participate in her plan to get arrested for earthbending

sokka comes up with the plan to get coal to the earthbenders so they can find motivation again, something that katara is very passionate about, thus showing his support in her goal

aang and sokka help fight the fire nation guards that are keeping the earthbenders prisoner, aiding in katara’s goal of helping them help themselves

aang weaves katara a brand new necklace after she had her mother’s stolen. this makes her smile

aang is quick to reassure katara when she begins to show signs of self-doubt at aang’s natural waterbending talent. “well you had to learn all on your own. i’m lucky enough to have a great teacher”

aang refers to katara as a waterbender, something that clearly means so much to her after she spent the whole episode insecure of her abilities

sokka steals the waterbending scroll for katara and aang to learn from

aang travels alone in search of medicine for katara and sokka, all while an entire nation is hunting him down with the intent to torture him to the brink of death, thus risking his life for their safety

sokka tackles aang after hearing katara’s cries of pain when he accidentally burns her. despite knowing and caring for aang, sokka can’t stand the thought of someone hurting katara even if unintentionally, especially with fire

aang explicitly states he will never firebend again after accidentally hurting her. he too can’t stand the thought of her in pain and hates that he was the one who hurt her (this is also him taking ownership of his mistake and punishing himself—for those of you who think he is never held accountable for his mistakes)

aang refuses to learn under pakku when he rejects katara and only lets up when katara tells him he needs to take this chance to learn waterbending

sokka is the one to suggest that aang teach katara everything pakku is teaching him, and aang loves this idea

aang cheers for her when she fights pakku. “go katara!”

the general is only able to trigger aang into the avatar state after he is made to believe that katara was buried alive, showcasing once again how much he cares about her safety

aang pushes katara out of the way of falling rocks when the aftermath of appa getting burned causes the tunnel to cave in

aang refers to katara as ‘sifu’ after she made an offhand comment about him never calling her that. this makes her smile

aang turns away from cosmic power immediately after he sees a vision of katara in danger

aang lets her go so he can unlock all his chakras and save katara from impending doom against azula, zuko, and the dai li

aang eagerly participates in katara’s plan to perform ecoterrorism and calls her a hero

aang also eagerly participates in helping her scare off the fire nation general as the painted lady. sokka participates as well because “i would never turn my back on you”

sokka has a talk with toph after she blows up at katara for her motherly-attitude (and while i definitely have issues with this episode i still think it’s important that sokka sought out this conversation to sorta defend his sister and help toph see where katara is coming from)

aang and sokka hug and comfort her when she breaks down crying after becoming a bloodbender

after knowing her for so long (his whole life in sokka’s case—he’s her fucking brother) and witnessing the kind of reaction she had to bloodbending, aang and sokka both tried talking her down from killing a man. this is a 14-year-old girl in pain. the same 14-year-old girl who put her life and freedom at risk to save earthbenders from their metal prison and sobbed when she was forced to bloodbend to save her best friend from dying again and delayed their group’s traveling to relieve a fire nation village from fire nation pollution and control, was now demanding to kill a man in cold blood. aang and sokka were supporting her full on during this episode because they knew, more than fucking anyone, that killing yon rha would only hurt her once she came down from her blind rage. and to add even more proof of their unwavering trust in her to always do the right thing not just for others but for herself, aang allowed her to take appa to confront the man. appa, aang’s lifelong companion and animal guide, his only living reminder of his culture and pacifistic people, and who aang had suffered a painful separation from. aang trusted her with appa to go on this mission. because he trusts and supports her

———

now onto the claim that zuko is more mature than everyone else and therefore matches her in maturity. i just bust out laughing LMAO

for starters, let’s not act like katara is the epitome of maturity. yea, she’s the mom friend, but she’s still a kid and acts like one. yall just refuse to acknowledge the moments where she makes mistakes as her acting her age and being human. instead yall hold these mistakes over her more aggressively than the other characters or yall pretend they don’t exist in favor of idealizing her so she fits into your “she’s so mature and is a mother figure to everyone” role (her telling sokka “then you didn’t love her like i did”, blowing up at aang for picking up waterbending so quickly, antagonizing toph out of pettiness by making fun of her blindness—“too bad you can’t see them toph!”, etc.)

zuko is a whole other story lol. that boy wouldn’t know maturity if it hit him in the face, and when you compare his behavior to other characters in the gaang it becomes all the more obvious (incoming another—shorter—list)

aang when presented with his mistake in “bato of the water tribe” -> he accepts the consequences—katara and sokka leaving him—and admits he was wrong. he doesn’t blame anyone else nor does he beg for forgiveness or try convincing katara and sokka to stay. he accepts he was wrong and lets himself sit with the consequences of his actions. from then on, we never see aang selfishly hide information from his friends again

katara when presented with her mistake in “the waterbending scroll” after yelling at aang -> she apologizes immediately and punishes herself by handing the scroll over to him, claiming she wants nothing to do with it. she recognizes the mistake and quickly accepts a self-punishment to regulate her own behavior

sokka when presented with the issues of his sexism -> he gets on his knees in front of suki and respectfully asks that she train him, using the word ‘honor’ to communicate his sincerity. he admits his faults to her at the end of the episode and his behavior is different from then on. he reflects on a part of himself, deems that he needs to change, and then makes those changes without having to be forced into doing so or guided repeatedly into making the right choices along the way. he arrives there by himself after being presented with evidence that proves his original way of thinking wrong

now compare that with zuko’s journey of unlearning his prejudiced ways

when he is shown extreme kindness by song and her mother, he repays them by stealing from them

after having been on a good-streak while living in the earth kingdom, zuko sides with azula the moment his integrity is put to the test in front of the avatar, betraying his uncle in favor of “his honor”

when iroh stops talking to him, zuko screams at him and places blame on iroh for this change in their relationship

when mai is seen talking to another guy, zuko storms over and throws that guy across a room. she, understandably, breaks up with him

when katara gives him the cold shoulder, zuko demands “what’s your problem?!”, asking how it can be that she still hates him but everyone else has forgiven him, as if he hasn’t given her—and everyone else—plenty of reason to be distrustful of him for lifetimes to come

when aang is goofing off instead of training, zuko—instead of communicating—attacks him with blasts of fire, forcing aang to retaliate

the only reason why zuko is given this extreme maturity label is because his worldview was challenged and changed. whereas the other characters in the gaang already had correct worldviews and didn’t have to go through a series-long redemption arc to become good people. they were already good people, so their mistakes and shortcomings are held to higher standards than zuko’s because his are viewed as stepping stones to a pending redemption. never mind all the times in which he backtracked and hurt more people. those times were all “necessary” for his redemption to happen and be well-done. yall can excuse all of zuko’s flawed behavior by saying “but he was redeemed! that wasn’t really his true self!” and all that bullshit, so everything he does that’s good post-redemption gives yall this delusion that he was always this good person who is capable of making mature decisions (never mind the fact that he is still incredibly immature post-redemption and still has a long way to go in terms of unlearning his prejudices by the time the show ends)

in conclusion, yall have a weird obsession with isolating katara from all her relationships with the other characters in favor of making her zuko’s one and only, and yall have deluded yourselves into thinking either one of them are incredibly mature

that’s all i gotta say ✌️

[pinky27freak]

\•~{Overblot Vil X Yuu}~•/

\•~{Sweet dreams my queen}~•/

I watched silently from a corner as the chaos unfolded before me. Vil, had over blotted after Rook and Kalim had stopped him from poisoning Neige with cursed apple juice and was currently talking, (more like threatening), with Kalim, Rook, Ace, Deuce, Epel, and Grim. He’d already released the poisoned gass and was about to strike when Jamil rescued them on the magic carpet, whisking them all to safty. Well, except me. I still stood there, shirt over my mouth trying to figure out if I should run or not.

“Rrrrrraaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Vil screeched at the top of his lungs. “Those incolent cowardes fools!! They shall not live after seeing me like this!! No one who sees me like this will live!!”

“Yeah….. I should probably go……” I thought, turning around.

“But, I might make an exception for you, Miss Yuu.” Vil's voice deepened as it carried to my ears, making me freeze in my tracks. I turned towards him, locking eyes with him when I came fully around. His dark look gave way to a smirk as he approached me, as I slowly backed up. I wasn’t really good at being all tough when people overblot, the reason why is because no matter what I know I’m completely helpless against them, so I couldn’t help but do what most antagonist x protagonist situations usually do. I back my stupid little ass right into a corner.

“My, my, my! Why so frightened my little potatoe? Have you finally realized my power now that I’m hideous and disformed?” His smile was a sickening evil sweet one as he looked down at the cornered pray, a.k.a. myself, with a unreadable glint in his violet eyes.

“I already knew you were powerful before this. I just didn’t care cause I knew you wouldn’t hurt me then.” I answered, swallowing as fear grew in my chest. How funny that I would one day fear my crush.

“And what about now?” He asked, bending more to my height, placing both hands on either side of my head. The fear in me grew as he did this, taking hold of my heart and making it beat so loud I swore he could hear it.

“I-I don’t- I don’t know.”

“hmhm, you are so cute when your scared.” His voice somehow softened as his cold gold claws ghosted my jaw and neck, finally resting on my shoulders. “It makes me want you more than I did in my weaker form.” My body stiffened as his warm breath kissed the side of my face.

“Vil…”

“Yes my queen?”

“Pl-please, stop. This isn’t you. These are not your thoughts it’s just the blot.” My voice cracked as I sank deeper into the corner. “Please for both are sakes.” My voice cracked again as I looked down to the floor. It hurts, somehow I’d grown feelings for him, and just like always, I kept them to myself because I feared rejection and the fact that he was way out of my league. These words that he spoke, each one drove a nail into my chest, hard sharp and precise with their aim. Nothing, no pain I’d ever felt had felt like this. Sharp and twisting mean and deadly, this was the pain of having the person you love telling you that they liked you when they were drunk, high, or not in their right mind.

“Its just the blot? Are you sure it’s just the blot my queen? Haven’t you ever heard that drunk talk is sober thoughts? Because this concept is the same in blot, blot talk is normal thoughts my dear girl.” He smirked devilishly down at me as his right hand ghosted my neck and jaw again before grabbing my jaw, the cold gold metal sending chills down my spine as he forced me to look up at him. “Do you really believe your own words, my beautiful queen?” He whispered the tips of his claws gently caressing my uper cheek.

My hand gripped the eage of my shirt, tighter and tighter with every word. And I thought Azul had a way with words….. But this!? This was just plain torcher! Abuse even! Well maybe… But can’t he- right he’s in blot……. Uggggg!!! Vil!!!! Just stop messing with my heart! Stop messing with my emotions!!! Please!!! I-I ahhh!!!!!!!

“Yes! Why would you ever call me queen and beautiful! You think I’m nothing but a hick from the sticks! I heard you say that Vil!! I heard you that night talking with Rook about how much of a disgrace I was to Pomefiore for even stepping foot in it! Why - why would you ever call me beautiful?! That’s how I know it’s just the blot you, Barbie doll!!!!” Hot tears streamed from my eyes as my composure broke into pieces. I hate people seeing me cry, but all I could do was cover my face with my hands as I tried to wrangle my feelings back in and thank Rook for getting me waterproof mascara and eyeliner. A minute of silence passed before he spoke again.

“Look at me, Yuu.” Vil's voice was stern and cold as he tugged my jaw upward. His grip tightened on my jaw when I didn’t obey him. “Miss Yuu, lower your hands.” His voice was now laced with frustrated anger, and this time, I obeyed him, lowering my hands to my chest and keeping them there. “Good girl.” He pured, sounding very much pleased with me.

“Vil, please just poison me and go.” I said, all emotion draining from me. He smirked.

“Oh trust me my queen, I will.” His smirk then faded replaced by a frown. “However before that I need you to believe me that I do want you. But it seems that you have convinced yourself that I don’t.” His face contained a unreadable expression. “Thus are the souls who are beautiful but can not believe it. Such a shame in deed.” He let go of my jaw but still looked down on me. “That night if you remember was almost half a year ago, my opinion has changed greatly since then, I have come to know you more, the girl that you are. Beauty is only skin deep for some people, for others, like you, beauty goes all the way to the bone. It’s not just your looks that are beautiful to me, your personality and quirkyness are also high on my list. Those things I was not aware about back then. Just like you weren’t aware of your crush on me.”

My stomach dropped as my eyes stared in horror.

“How did you-“

“Dear, I know by the way you act.” His eyes softened. “But I hope you know I’m not acting when I do this.”

Grabbing my face with both hands, he pulled it into his own, and my lips collided together with his in a kiss that I had never had before. It was so sweet and soft, bitter and hard, it was pure poison to us both, yet like with most poison, neither of us wanted to stop it. We wanted more. He started moving his lips, trying to get more of me than what he already had, and I him. My hands found their way to his hair, his glorious gorgeous gold and amathist colored hair, so smooth and soft to my inexperienced hands, like silk it was to them. My back became flush with the cold stone wall behind me as he tried to pushed himself further into my small frame, the crystals in his armor poking me dangerously near my stomach and liver but I didn’t care. I had his soft poisoned lips on mine. My first kiss. So poisones it made my stomach flip like a gymnast. But why would I care? No one ever cares about the after effects of something so dangerous.

“Vil…..” I couldn’t help saying his name. It was like my body acted on it’s own in that way. Having the feeling of his lips vibrate under mine with just his name, the feeling it gave me was so wonderfully undescribable.

“Yes my princess?” He pulled away, though are noses were only a inch apart. I just stared at him, even in this form he was still the most beautiful person I had ever seen, even though he drove me crazy.

“I love you Vil. The fairest one of them all.” I said looking at him directly in the eye. “Your so beautiful.” He studied me for a moment, his grip tightened on my back and waist as my eyes became droopy.

“I love you to my queen. But for now-,” He paused as my eyes stared to close. “Sleep my dear, when you wake up you will be mine, so rest while you can, I’ll go take care of those insolent cowards.”

“My body, I can’t feel it!” I looked up at him. “Crap! My eyes, the lids are so heavy….. I-I can’t, my mind….. so foggy….. Vil, w-what… h-have you…. Done to……” That’s when Yuu's thoughts stopped, her mind went black, and consciousness faded from her into nothing as the deadly poisoned queen went limp in her Kings arms. Vil carefully held her bridal style as he walked to NRC's dressing room and then laid her gently on one of the couches.

“Sweet dreams, my queen.” He murmured, brushing away some of her locks and kissing her gently on her forehead before leaving for his battle.

[feelo-fick]

thanks for tagging YIPPEE

took maybe a little too much time considering which ones to use (<- loves icebreakers like this) HUEHSUAHE

@floralstorms @eddie-roo and anyone else whod like to join!!

Another Tag Game!

Post 9 pictures from your phone to describe yourself, then tag 9 people.

Thank you to @hawthornsword for the tag!

No-pressure tagging: @norcumii, @darthlivion, @madamtrashbat, @hjbender, @lazaefair, @bolithesenate, @boxonthenile, @trudemaethien, @mandalorianbrainweasel, and anyone who wants to play!

[b0xerdancer-writes]

Paper Faces on Parade

Tamlin x Reader

Summary: Tamlin was once mates with Rhysand's younger sister, but in his eageness to properly court her he did not see his father's deception and almost got her killed. Rhysand let him live upon realizing it was a honest clouded judgment error but that Tamlin would have to spend the rest of his life making it up to her, though when she believes Tamlin to have given up on her she begins moving on with Azriel yet Tamlin threatens to envoke a blood duel over her.

Prompt: Masquerade

Warnings: Heavy descriptions of violence, Blood duel, Wing cuting, murder, assassination attempts, depression and self deprecation. Mor x Elain because no one can stop me. Im sorry i hurt Azriel in this (not really). implied smut.

Word Count: 14,265 Yep this is a beast.

Notes: Phantom of the Opera was my inspiration from this prompt so uhhhh I nerded out a bit combining two of my favorite hyperfixations. its about 14,000 words/39 Pages of me being a phantom nerd. Msquerade from royal albert hall and Devil take the Hindmost from Love Never Dies are quoted here highly recommend those songs btw. Not proofread at all, I think i caught most of the plot holes/contradictions though.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hybern had finally been defeated and all of Prythian was celebrating, the high lords especially. Even with the tragic losses they were planning a ball or some kind or an event to celebrate what they had overcome. It had only been six months of peace when Rhysand suggested a masquerade ball in the court of nightmares.  Tamlin was less than pleased with the idea but he knew Rhysand’s little sister, his mate would be there so he agreed to attend. As far as anyone knew he had always had a thing for her, no one was quite sure what it was, save for Rhysand; it had started as children when he had taken her under his metaphorical wing. He had taught her everything he had known about music after the female had taken an interest in it. Her presence left a throb in chest and sorrow in his heart.

In truth they had been incredibly close before her family was murdered by his father. He had been bitter at how they had left it, she had been screaming, crying, and punching his chest; he couldn’t blame her it was partially his fault, he misunderstood his father’s intentions. He had asked his father for permission to court the female and his father had requested he speak to the girl's father for permission, he had said that they were staying at an illyrian camp for several weeks.

So he replied to Rhysand that he would attend, his heart yearning for the princess of night; little did he know the princess of night had recently gotten engaged to the spymaster without telling anyone, everyone knew they were flirtatious and close but knew not of the truth behind their relationship, two that as far as anyone knew had never and would never find their mates.

+

The day of the masquerade approached faster than Tamlin thought possible, he had a mask of his beast form crafted and set off for the night court, he decided he would travel with Lucien who was adorned in a new fox mask that showed his mixed court lineage: gold like his own with a crown of sun rays; both males wore regal clothing. Lucien, who had adopted some of the Day Court traditions, was draped in white robes while Tamlin was in a deep emerald green suit adorned with a long one shoulder cape that dragged the ground behind him, a gift for the Night Court tucked under his arm that was tied with a velvet bow and would be reminder of the history the two courts had before the first ultimate betrayal between the two current high lords. 

+

Rhysand and Cassian had spent the entire evening of the party setting up, Rhysand was dressed up as the suriel and Cassian as an attor.

“Rhys this is going to be a fucking splendid party.” Cassian cheered.

“The prologue to a bright new year.” Rhysand agreed.

“It’ll be a night, they’ll be impressed.” Cassian offered.

“Well one does one's best.” Rhysand mused and offered Cassian a drink from his desk. 

“Here's to us and to the Night Court.” They cheered clinking the glasses together.

“A toast to victory, what a pity that Tamlin will be here.” Cassian and Rhys joked between each other.

The boys  set off from the office to gather their dates, Nesta was dressed in a Black Gown, adorned with a silvery shawl and mask while Feyre was in a shimmery sheer black dressed made to look like bat wings with tiny ones on the back of her dress, a silver, crown and mask like Nesta’s.  While the group was still gathering in the living room of the estate house the ballroom in The Court of Nightmares was beginning to flood with partygoers and performers, dressed in an array of costumes and colors, in all sorts of fabrics from scratchy tulles to  shimmering satins and silks. By the time the inner circle, minus Azriel and his date that is, flooded into the ballroom. The party was in full swing with everyone excited that the wars were over for the time being and there was no looming threat in the distance for once, every face within the palace of the Court of Nightmares was a different shade and anywhere one could look another mask answered back. 

Colors painted the normally dark court brilliant whether it be a flash of mauve in its pale purples or a splash of puce that echoed like a blush across its wearer, greens and blacks washed the room with the reminder of life and shadows or like that or precious onyx and emeralds, traces of rouge mixed between painted lips and intricate brilliant silks and satins, beautiful blues like sapphires or the skies offered cool tones to the room offered a refreshing sight, yellow fabrics imported from day court that could only make one beam, reds from autumn that were so rich and vibrant it could make ones head spin. The entirety of Prythian had dressed to the nines with intricate costumes and masks themselves, masks of jesters, comedically painted versions of The King of Hybern, ghouls, geese, dramatic caricatures of the human queens that one could almost find offensive, faces of beats from all across Prythian were a common sight in the ballrooms. The sheer assortment of colors and facades could leave one guessing as to who was who, to some it was a challenge or a race per say to outdo each other with the complexity and grandiose of one's own costume. Everyone seemed to be drinking up the attention and the lights, a mix of champagne glasses and civil chatter or music and a full dance floor; it could only be described as a spectacle but as much as it was a sea of smiles it was a pool for gossip, those lingering in the shadows seething with peering eyes as a male danced with a female someone else favored or those in their circles of chatter breathed lies into existence. 

The inner circle had been spread out across the grand event but had finally pushed their ways through the crowds towards the throne dias, the only place that was really empty in the crowded underground palace. Rhysand who leaned comfortably against the throne in which Feyre sat finally eyed the Shadowsinger, dressed to mimic his own high lord, and his sister ,who he had a gown custom made for to look like the night sky above Velaris even her small tiara mimicked the three stars that sparkled above the city of dreamers, push through the crowd; he offered them a curt nod as the two joined the dancefloor. With the event as grand as it was in attendance it was no surprise that one would feel themselves being watched but even if you would try to run and hide from the lingering stares there was always some other pair of eyes that would find you in the new location. 

Mor had offered Elain her arm as a way to escape the sheer amount of eyes that lingered on them when they stood on top of the dias. Mor had dressed herself in a spectacular red, black, and gold dress that reminded herself of the faire hosts on the continent and she had helped Elain into a more modest pink priestess like costume dress. Elain’s laugh was melodious as Mor spun her around in her arms at the base of the dias. 

“What a night!” Mor had exclaimed as she had pulled Elain into her from a spin.

“What a crowd!” Elain had countered bouncing on the toes of her flats with a happy smile on her face as she looked up to Mor. 

Cassian and Rhys had overheard the two fewmale’s exclamations and retorted back with their own remarks. “Makes you glad we hosted it!” Cassian exclaimed as he took a drink from the champagne flute he held in his hand. 

“Makes you proud,” Rhys offered as he clinked his glass against Cassian’s own flute before taking a sip. “With all this creme de la creme.” 

Nesta had snorted, offering her own two cents “They’re watching us watching them.”  

“All our fears are in the past!” Elain and Mor had cheered and giggled as Mor swept Elain into a dip.

“Six months,” Rhys had started before being interrupted by the rest of the circle. 

“Of relief,” Feyre had offered as a fill in.

“Of delight,” Nesta raised her glass towards Amren in silent cheers.

“Of mother sent peace.” Amren had raised her own glass back towards Nesta proud of how far the female had come.

“And we can breathe at last.” Elain and Mor had sighed happily, as Mor pulled the shorter female in for a chaste kiss. 

“Here's a health” Cassian had announced before downing his glass and motioning one of the staff to bring him another glass.

“Here’s a toast to a prosperous year.” Feyre smiled, content in watching her family’s cheerful demeanor as they celebrated. 

“And may its splendor never fade.” Amren had finally turned to fully engage the conversation.” 

With a final round of cheers the dias emptied as the inner circle all moved to do their own things, Azriel and his darling shooting star moved towards one of the drink tables and away from the center of the dancefloor.

“Think of it!” She mused. “A secret engagement! Look, your future bride! Just think of it!”  She giddily offered a champagne flute to Azriel who offered a small smile back to her.

“But why is it secret? What do we have to hide?” Azriel had countered taking a sip from his glass, pulling her close to him with a flirty smile.

“You promised me,” She whined.

“You promised me.” Azriel pouted as he leaned in to kiss her. 

“No, Az, please don’t they’ll see!”  She squirmed trying to pull from his grasp.

“Then let them see,” he groaned. “It’s an engagement not a crime. Starlight, what are you afraid of?” 

“Let’s not argue,” She countered, trying to dismiss his questions.

“Let’s not argue.” Azriel agreed, taking a sip from his glass and releasing her waist. 

“Please pretend.” She begged.

“I can only hope I’ll understand in time.” Azriel sighed.

“You will understand, in time that is.” She held one of his hands in hers with a thankful smile.

Rhysand had found the two by the table, Feyre having moved to dance with her sister, Rhysand interrupted the two with a small nod towards Azriel and pulled his sister onto the dancefloor. The pacing of the dance had changed and both Rhys and Az were separated from their starlight as she was surrounded by a gaggle of females. Azriel had begun moving through the crowd till she could see him, he offered her his hands but just as their hands touched she was spun into the arms of another dancer; Azriel groaned, pushing himself through the crowds till he reached the beverage table where Rhysand now stood pouting and began to antagonize the high lord to go fetch his own sister as everytime he attempted to they were split up again. 

The music swelled and swirled as she was forced towards the front of the room, closer and closer to the dias, the music began to quicken and darken its pace, Azriel had noticed where she was heading and pushed through the crowds to catch her again after Rhys had shrugged him off.  He managed to just catch her and she pulled him into the final few spins of the number, the two smiling happily between each other as Azriel lifted her by the hips into a spin as the number began to swell for a final time, the rest of the inner circle somehow having found their way to the front beside them, as the music spun into its ending and the next song was beginning no one seemed to mind or recognize the music as a darker intro played.

She had froze in place, the familiar tune echoing in her ears as the rest of the inner circle turned to chatter amongst themselves.  Clicking of heeled boots made her heart race and fear began to slowly fill her chest; she was sure she was the only one who could hear the male’s gait and have it memorized so thoroughly, Rhys was the one to notice the change in his sister’s behavior and moved to question her. Though as he followed her gaze up to the dias he no longer needed an answer as to what was wrong. 

Tamlin had decided to make a dramatic entrance, as he was known for now, and while it was admittedly hard for him and Luicen to set up, it was worth it now to see the faces on the Inner circle and the rest of the Prythian’s high lords. He had handed Lucien a stack of music sheets and a heavy pouch of gold to bribe the musicians into playing for his introduction, a song he knew that would only matter to her: the song they had been writing together when the mating bond had snapped in place between them, their song. It admittedly was a bold move on his part, but he was planning on sweeping her back into his arms and declaring his intentions to her in front of the entirety of Prythian. Or at least that's how he had imagined it while talking to Lucien, he planned to beg for her forgiveness for everything that had happened to her family when she was younger, make a grand reveal begging for the girl to come back to him and pleading with her to accept their bond.  He had not expected for her to be on Azriel’s arm but then after all he wasn’t quite sure what he expected after all this time had passed, it was go big or go home with the gestures he figured.

Everyone had frozen as he leaned on the black stone and metal throne, a snarky smile on his face as he saw Azriel pale, saw his star’s eyes widen, saw Rhys move towards him before stalling just a few steps in front of the rest of the inner circle. They had been expecting him, just not like this, this was borderline disrespectful towards Rhysand and Feyre but he wasn’t here for them he was here for his darling mate. Feeling the tension of  their high lord and his inner circle  the entire gala ran quiet.

“Why so silent good messieurs?” he took a step away from the throne, straightening his stance and watched as Rhys ushered the entire room back a step.

‘Ahhh that explained it’, Tamlin considered their reactions before deciding on one reason as to why they would be reacting the way they were. ‘They don’t trust the reason I’m  here, they are so used to there always being a threat around the corner that they must think I'm here to ruin their celebration of peace.’

“Did you think I wouldn’t show up Rhys? You act like I’m not one of the Lords that helped usher in this peace.” Tamlin joked, though his tone suggested otherwise.

He took a single step down the dias and while addressing the entirety of the room he opened his arms with a smile. “Have you missed me, good messieurs? I have brought you an announcement.” 

It was true, he was so busy trying to figure out Hybern’s plans he had turned down countless invites to balls and galas and then after it was found out he was playing host to Hybern the invitations had stopped coming in completely. After he had helped Feyre and everyone escape Hybern’s war camp and it was made common knowledge he was playing double agent people were still hesitant to trust him and while invitations did start coming back in he often put them off to work on restoring his court instead. 

“I figured it would be best to announce myself here, at such a grand celebration, where everyone could see what it means to me.” He smiled brightly, his emerald eyes glinting in the faelight gleaming from the grand chandelier.

“I advise you to hear me out, my meaning should be clear. I intend no malice here.” Tamlin raised his hands as if to calm the crowds.

Rhys seemed to relax as Tamlin made his intentions aware, Tamlin gestured for his darling star to step forward Azriel’s brows furrowed and he tried to pull her behind him but all he could do was reach out for her as she shook his hands off and stepped past Rhys to lock eyes with Tamlin. Tamlin took another step down the dias and extended one hand out for his star to take, when she complied he pulled her tight against him. 

He dropped his forehead to touch hers, and he sighed as if it was the first breath of fresh air he had taken in in a very long time. “Our souls still sing as one, you never rejected me?” 

She took a sharp breath in. “How could I? I only ever heard bad or negative things about you but through it all you never once closed off the bond, but you never reached out for me either.”

Tamlin tensed as he smelt the underlying cool musk scent that he was familiar with as the Shadowsinger, mix with her own soft night wind scent. “You smell like the Shadowsinger…”

Azriel reading the situation with a negative connotation rushed forward to pull her away from the High Lord of Spring. Rhysand’s eyes widened as he processed the news of his little sister and old best friend having a mating bond the two had never consummated or had never been closed off or rejected like he had assumed it had been after everything that had happened; his attention had flitted from the sweet and sincere scene on the dias to Azriel ,who’s movement was rage filled and volatile in stark contrast to his normal behavior, before the male could pass Rhys took hold of his arm. The shadowsinger turned to look back at Rhys with a pained snarl on his face that softened when he saw the look in Rhys’s eyes, a plea to not make this any worse as they both knew Tamlin was not an honorable male and she was in so much danger being that close alone that if he were to walk up there Tamlin might very well sweep her away and start the next war to keep her as his. Or that was how Azriel perceived it, Rhys however wasn’t sure the exact clarification for how he meant it but he knew it was probably a good thing he didn’t let Azriel march up there; Rhys knew Azriel fancied his little sister and just wasn’t good at proclaiming it, he knew that the chance of Az saying ‘Fuck it’ and  storming up there with his rage scrambling any clear thinking would end up in one of them declaring a blood duel.

Azriel had been asking Rhys for weeks now for permission and advice on properly courting her, it was a ploy Azriel had ran by her as a way to keep the rest of the circle out of the details of their relationship, instead hiding the true nature within bedroom walls. It had been sudden for Azriel, his Starlight had been down in the dungeons on order of Rhys while he was out; he had just been coming back in from a mission and was about to start writing a report for Rhys when she was on her way out. She had stopped at the basins to wash some blood off her hands and Azriel didn’t know what quite compelled him to stop but he was glad he did so now, she had looked up at him with eyes sparkling like the stars and a happy smile on her face as she welcomed him back; his eyes widened as he took her in and his heart ached, he wasn’t sure what had changed between now and the last time he had seen her weeks ago, maybe it was the fact she was one of the only ones who genuinely responded to his letters more than the basic check ins he did with his brothers. Whatever it was though, Azriel knew he needed her close to him then and there, he had thanked her for keeping the dungeons in check for him and offered to take her out for dinner on the Sidra. That was how it had started over a year ago now, after the war with Hybern Azriel had proposed to her but confided in Rhys that he wished to simply court his sister, other than that to the inner circle they were simply flirting but did not necessarily belong to one another.

When Azriel had stormed into his office the first time begging Rhys for permission to court his younger sister and if he was allowed how should he go about doing so Azriel hadn't let Rhys get a word in before he had worked himself up and left the room apologizing profusely, it was probably for the best in the worst possible way because if Azriel had let him speak Rhys would have quizzed him on where this sudden romantic interest in his sister was coming from and probably denied the male outright. Rhys was over protective of his little sister, more so than he probably needed to be but no one was complaining so who was he to judge, Rhys had assumed Azriel was too worried and anxious to actually act on asking her out.  He knew Azriel cared about her more so than was probably good for the spy master and he had every intention of telling the spymaster it wasn’t a good idea if Az ever made his way back into his office, which just hadn’t happened yet so Rhy bid his time separating them if Az ever got too close to her for his liking.

It wasn’t that Rhys had anything against Az and her being together and honestly they would have made a cute couple but Rhys knew more than he probably should have, she was his sister after all and he was the one who had carried her half alive body from the cabin where she had been left on death’s doorstep ripped apart and bloody; it was one of the only things he could never forgive Tamlin for in all honesty, she had trusted him, he had trusted him. He hadn’t thought much of it about a week before the attack on her, his mom, and their other sister, when the she had winnowed in from the spring court drunk on Spring wine way after their father had already turned in to bed for the night; she had been rambling, hardly able to fly in a straight line when she had landed on the balcony and Rhys inwardly groaned as he pulled her up the stairs towards her room.

It was only after the door had clicked shut and he had sat her on the neat padded couch and asked the house for water did he think to ask her what had led to the late night drinking spree.

“Alright fess up, what got you in the drinking spirit?” He had asked placing the glass of water in her hand before standing up and moving towards the girls dresser and sifting through it looking for a pair of the girls silk pajamas.

“Tam-” She had started but was interrupted by a hiccup as tears started bubbling in her eyes.

Pulling out the pair of black silk pjs Rhys’s brows furrowed, a growl threatening to spill from his throat. “What the fuck did he do to you?”

“No, no, no Rhys… its not like that!” she pulled her knees into the couch and turned herself around to look over the back of the couch at Rhys as he walked back over pajamas in hand.

“Then how is it?” Rhys’s voice softened. “I thought you had music lessons with him today?”

“I did,” She confirmed. “We were working on this piece together, he was teaching me how to write music and well, we just kept moving closer and closer as we worked on the song.”

“And?” Rhys prodded sitting the pajamas on the coffee table.

She shifted back to face forwards with a pout. “It was going really well, he was super proud of the progress we had made on it. Like I said we kept getting closer, well when we wrapped the song up he just. Well he just leaned forward and kissed me!” Her voice was raised in a ‘can you believe the audacity of that man’ tone.

Rhys laughed. “You decided to drink because you were upset he kissed you?” 

She shot him a look that read ‘Why the fuck would I do that dumbass’ “Mother no! Let me finish Rhys!”

He had to refrain from laughing again at her attitude. “Go right ahead.”

“Thank you!” she huffed. “Well, when he kissed me I felt this like spark in my chest and I knew what it meant, he felt it too I think ‘cause his eyes widened and then he deepened the kiss and mumbled something about thanking the mother it was me as his mate. He was so excited he offered to take me out drinking as a celebration. We ended up calling it a night so I just winnowed back, took me a couple times believe me but when I finally made it back into the court I flew the rest of the way back up here. Cold Night air is not as sobering as you would think.”

Rhys smiled and patted her shoulder. “Well then congrats on finding your mate dear sister, with Tamlin of all males as well  there couldn’t be a better match. Get some rest, don't forget we have to fly out to Windhaven tomorrow afternoon.” 

“Yeah, yeah get out so I can go to bed.” she waved him off, grabbing the folded silk pajamas from the coffee table and making her way into the attached bathing room.

Rhys left to his own room and found himself at a writing desk he had tucked into the corner, writing to Tamlin his own form of congratulations; after all he had already considered the male a brother and now even more so if he was actually to be mated to his sister.

When the morning came she barely remembered the interaction with him, and had practically begged him to keep it a secret until her and Tam had a chance to talk. He had agreed as they flew out then winnowed into the camp grounds, Rhys wished he could have frozen those moments in time; when everything was happy and alright, when he didn’t get hung up on what could have been like those powdered icing sugar cookies he got from the bakery a block over from the river estate that had opened recently: his youngest sister would have loved those, she had one of the biggest sweet tooths around.

Five days had passed and he was needed back in Velaris, leaving the rest of his family in Windhaven but something just didn’t sit right with him like an anxious pit in his stomach. He should have told Azriel and Cassian to be on guard or something to have patrols out in the area around the cabin but for some reason he didn’t and now he blamed himself for so much. 

Rhys had woken up that night as his father stormed in the air buzzing and electrified with palpable energy. “Up boy, hurry get dressed. Something’s happened. I have already sent word to Windhaven to check we will meet them there.”

Rhys paled and his stomach dropped as he threw his leathers on half haphazardly. In all honesty he had barely slept maybe ten minutes here or there, he had just drifted off for maybe fifteen or twenty minutes finally when that door had swung open; in all honesty Rhy should have been exhausted but the adrenaline pumping through his system was convincing him otherwise. 

The night was a blur painted in red for him, when he had gotten there Cassian amd Az were sitting on a rock with their hands in their hands, they had been sleeping in the barracks recently in some way to show the others they belonged here just as much as they did, both males perked up when they heard the sound of Rhys winnowing back into camp.  They offered him a pitiful look that worried Rhys, his eyes darted between them and the door and just as they were beginning to stand Rhys took off in a full sprint towards the slightly ajar splintered door; he heard his father’s voice call out for him but he was through the door and standing in a pool of blood before any words processed in his head.

It was a mess, the table had been flipped and chipped on the counter the chairs were thrown across the room and had splinters or pieces missing, broken ceramics and wood chunks from dining sets were scattered across the floor; the living room was a mess in its own the couch had been flipped, wood pokers strewn across the floor in front of the fireplace with one tipped in blood and tossed to the other side of the room. By the cauldron Rhys was going to be sick if it wasn’t for the adrenaline pulsing through his body right now, blood was absolutely everywhere: splatters pools, streaks, handprints, you name it; What Rhys found the worst was the two bodies slumped over in the kitchen, absolutely brutalized in gouged scratches and gaping wounds. Rhys stilled, two there was only two in here his mom and the youngest sister both of whom where half dressed and had bones sticking out and gaping gashes in their back where their wings had been, he realized how bad the attack and assault had been due to the tear tracks and the disorder in their undressed states. 

An alarm was going off in his head. Where was his other sister? His eyes scanned the room as a sob bobbed in the back of his throat, they were born only a year apart and had grown up incredibly close together they acted as if they were twins despite the fact they weren’t. She had been here when the attack had been sprung he deduced, there were three plates made at the table and two others off to the side just in case Cas and Az decided to show up to eat with them instead of in the main house. She had been the person in the living room he reasoned based on the fact the bodies were in the kitchen, she would have been relaxing on the couch when they barged in and put the couch between her and the attacker she had taken the fire poker as a weapon, she wouldn’t have been able to get up to her room where her actual weapons were.   Yet her body wasn’t down here and there wasn’t a significant amount of blood in the snow, only the pool right outside the doorway, then his eyes landed on the footprints leading up the stairs and the small drops of blood trailing up the stairs.

He had never booked it up a staircase faster, his eyes following the trail on the floor; had the attackers still been there he would have been a goner, he stopped as he came face to face with the slightly ajar door to his sisters room. The boys bunked together which left her to bunk with their youngest sister and their mother had her own room; A small bathing room was at the opposite end of the hallway, he had to swallow an anxious breath as he pushed the door open slowly.

He had wanted to sob, the room was barely touched except for her, laying on her stomach on her bed, like care had been taken with her; the same scene as her mother and sister in the severity of the wounds on her back, Rhys would thank the mother everyday that while he was observing her she wasn’t in the same state of undress and that he was able to catch her weak breath. Her face was looking at him and yet her eyes were weak and open a small weak smile graced her face as she let out a small bloody cough, she had tried to call his name but all that had come out was a wheeze and more coughing that swept her into unconsciousness. Rhys’s brain went from being on a stall to being in overdrive as a sob wracked his body, he hauled her up into his arms as gently as he could and took off back through the halls of the cabin and down the stairs out into that frigid cold air.

When his feet sank into the snow outside  everything happened so quickly he could barely remember screaming that she was still alive, that they could still save her if they got her to Madja in time.  He knew their father had taken her from his arms and was gone within the minute, his knees had given out and it had been Cassian and Azriel that had caught him.   When he had finally made it back into Velaris the next night he refused to leave her bedside even when Madja advised that he should just let the girl rest, it took his father waltzing in with that dark look in his eyes that made Rhys finally step away.

The firm hand on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts, his fathers hardened steel eyes met with his own. “I found out who it was.”

“Who was it?” Rhys’s voice was hoarse; he had barely said a word in the last 24 hours and any use of his voice was from screaming or crying.

“Spring court.” His father had told him and he had to take a moment to make sure he had heard his father correctly.

“Spring court?” Rhys had double checked.

“Yes, you seem surprised, has something happened?” His father had asked quizzically.

“I just don’t understand why Tamlin would have helped do something like that.” Rhys looked down with his brows furrowed.

“Look son, I understand you both have been friends for an incredibly long time but-” His father had started before Rhys had interrupted him.

“No, it's not for that reason!” Rhys had barked out with more venom than he had intended.

“Then for what reason do you mean boy?” His fathers gaze hardened.

“Just,” He sighed. “I don’t see why Tamlin would attack his own mate at all, especially when they both came across as happy about it.” 

“She's his mate?” His fathers eyes drifted to her sleeping body.

“She had just found out before we left, Tamlin was planning to ask his father for permission to court her properly.” Rhys mumbled.

“You know this how?” His father had asked.

“She was drunk the night before we left, spilled her guts about it to me. Her and Tamlin had gone out for celebratory drinks, after I had put her to bed I wrote a congratulatory letter to Tam and he had wrote back thanking me and asked me to keep it quiet, he said he was going to ask his father to properly court her and if he got permission there he was going to come to you to ask. I told him we would be up in Windhaven if he needed to find us to get your permission or if he needed to run away.” His voice was shaky as he stumbled to recall what the letter he had received from Tamlin had said.”He said he loved her and he was bound and determined to court her either way, even if he had to run away. Something had to have happened.”

“Possibly, I’m sure something happened or there was a lie somewhere along the way.” His father offered him a sympathetic nod in comfort. “Either way we head out tonight, you can deal with Tamlin and I’ll deal with his father and brothers.”

“Okay.” Rhys nodded.

“Be on the balcony just past midnight.” His father had turned to step back out of the room, his hand falling from his shoulder. 

The air hung heavy as he returned to his seat beside her bed, if he stayed standing he would begin to pace while thinking about what he would say to Tamlin tonight although he knew no matter what it would end in blood and violence.

+

When night finally fell, Rhys was leaning in the archway of the balcony before even his father had made it downstairs; he had spent too much time being able to brood on the situation and now his entire being was pure rage, he fully believed Tamlin had been lying to him about the entire situation now, that was why he had decided to go out to drink and that he just had to pull her along with him to not arouse suspicion. 

His eyes almost seemed darker than his father’s did when the older male finally had joined him down stairs, one set of darkened steeled violet eyes met another in an unspoken vow on how the rest of the night would go.  His father, the only one able to winnow in and out of the mountain palace’s wards, took the male by the shoulder and winnowed them as close to Rosehall as they could without setting off the wards and silent alarms, due to the estate having frequent visitors you could walk through the wards but not winnow and it was considered a ‘safe guard’ though it was one of the weakest safe guards Rhys had seen.

Getting into the estate was rather simple, it was late enough even the servants would be asleep and they had a tendency to not lock the door, Tamlin had told Rhys that once and in turn he had made a note of that to his father; as they snuck around the side of the estate ducking under window sills in case any late night wanderers or the heir and his father decided to get up for a late night wander, with a silent nod they tested the handle on the servants quarters door and stepped inside to a silent house. The servants quarters were easy to sneak through without a care for exactly how silent they were, it wasn’t until they reached the main hall that they tested every step with a soft foot before putting any pressure on a floor board, any noise could give their position away. He felt the familiar knock of his father’s clawed hands on his mental shields and accepted him in with a questioning look.

‘You take care of Tamlin and I will deal with Verdanon and the others. We split up at the top of the stairs.’ His father’s voice was stern in his head.

Rhys simply nodded following the older male’s steps, turning down the left hall as his father went down the right hall; Rhys looked over his shoulder watching as his father passed the empty room’s of Tamlin’s long dead brothers without a second thought, he turned back towards Tamlin’s door at the end of the hallway. His steps weighed heavier and heavier as he approached the familiar oak carved door, his thoughts drifted as his hand fell to the iron door handle a scratching sound on the other side of the doors followed by a frustrated growl and the soft sound of something with scarce weight hitting the floor caused the hair on Rhys’s neck to stand on end. 

He straightened his stance, he could hear the creak of his father opening the door at the other end of the hall ever so softly, turning the iron handle and inching the door open till he could see Tamlin stationed at his writing desk with his back to him and his head in his hands. 

Before Rhys could take another step into the room he was startled by Tamlin calling out to him. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to show up here.”

Rhys stepped into the room, forgoing any thought of being quiet as he heard the beginning of a struggle down his father’s way. “And here I am.”

His voice was venomous towards Tamlin and in all honesty he hadn’t meant it to be so dark, he couldn’t claim to know the whole story; it hurt him more when he saw Tam flinch in his seat.The flinch had his gaze sharpening on the blonde male and he strode forward quickly, unsheathing his dagger with full intent of sinking it into the blonde. 

Hearing the familiar sound of metal being wielded against himself Tamlin rose quickly from his chair, the light wooden thing clattering against the glossy hardwood floors as he turned to block Rhys’s attack with only a letter opener. It bought him just enough time to try and grab ahold of Rhys’s wrist with his free hand, even though the attempt failed miserably and the dagger had sunk against the bones in his arm. His eyes widened, and breath trembled as he took in the emotions etched into Rhys’ very being. 

“Rhys!” He called out with his voice wavering. “Please talk to me about this, I swear to you I had no idea what my father was planning to do!” 

“Don’t lie to me Tam.” Rhys had growled, pressing the blade hader against the bone of the blonde’s arm. 

“I’m not Rhys,” Tamlin swallowed a shallow breath, the edges of his vision beginning to turn white with pain. “I promise if you ask me for all the details of what happened I won't lie to you.”

The weight of the words hung in the air as Rhys’s gaze narrowed, without removing the blade from the male under him he extended his non dominant hand in an offering. “If you do lie I won’t hesitate to kill you I can promise that.” 

Tamlin nodded, dropping the letter opener and shaking the ravenette’s hand as magic sizzled in the air around them  settling into a small shooting star pattern; instead of the regular black ink bargains and promises normally settled into the one that seared itself into their skin was nearly white in color looking instead like a scar on their arms, a metaphor maybe Rhys thought now for the scar the damage of that night had done on their families. Rhys ground his jaw as he pulled the sword from its spot embedded in Tamlin’s arm, the latter flinching at the grinding noise as it was pulled from the bone.

Tamlin moved to pick up the chair as Rhys sheathed his dagger and noted the fact his arm was taking a moment to seal up, probably due to the damage to the bone, as his blood dripped against the floor he offered the chair to Rhysand. Tamlin sighed and leaned against the ornately carved wooden poster of his bed letting the raven haired male adjust and fixate his violet gaze onto his own green ones.

“You know the details of how we found out so I will spare you the details of that for times sake and instead will start us with dinner the next day if that is alright with you.” Tamlin had offered Rhys a chance to rebuttal even though it was more of a statement.

“That's fine with me, get on with it.” Was the responding growl.

“Like I told you I was ready to completely flee this court if it was necessary, Rhys, please don’t give me that look.” Tamlin had looked up at the other male with a miserable pleading look in his eyes. “I love her mind you, I’d still walk out of here if I didn’t have a clue how tonight is going to end.”

“If you love her, why would you hurt her like that Tam? Can you answer that question? She still hasn’t woken up, I hope you know that.” Rhys’s gaze was hardened into a glare that had the blonde sinking against the post to drop his head defeatedly into his knees.

“I tried to protect her the best I could at that moment in time, I wish I could have done more but all I could do was carry her upstairs so she couldn't see the carnage or her mother and sister.” Tamlin had sighed, the disappointment in himself obvious as he sank to the floor.

“You were the reason she made it upstairs?” Rhys questioned and Tamlin nodded.

“Yeah, but I should start at that dinner, not in the middle of it all. Please give me this one thing, Rhys.” Tamlin asked and Rhys could see the swirl of sorrow deep in those emerald orbs.

“Get to it then.” Rhys barked and Tamlin nodded.

“I was nervous, I stayed in my room the entire day trying to think of how to ask for her to my father whilst being surrounded by my brothers.” Tamlin had rested his arms over his knees fiddling with one of the several rings on his fingers with a sad smile on his face. “When I was called down for dinner I was so nervous I could hardly sit still, we always go by birth order for events of the day or subjects we wished to discuss so I of course was the last one to get asked. Normally I turn down the invitation to scramble back to my poetry books but they all turned to look at me when I had said actually I did have something I wanted to ask about.”

Tamlin let his head fall back against the wooden post. “They were surprised but were more than happy to let me have my piece, I started it with an upfront statement,  That I had settled on a female I wished to court, my father asked me who of course and I said her name that she was actually my mate and we both were aware of it but I wanted the chance to properly court her.” He broke up his sentences with a scoff. “I should have known better than to believe he would have been okay with it from the get go, should have figured there was something off when he said he'd ask your father and that should have been the end of the conversation but no I had to push it because I knew you all were not available in Night Court. I told him you all were going to be in the Illyrian mountains at the camp instead that your mother had a cabin on the far outskirts of the camp and that you all would be staying there and we needed to send the letter there instead. A couple days later he told me he had gotten a letter inviting us out there to meet with you all and that afternoon we set out to head towards your court.”

“You didn’t think anything of simply being informed of the letter and not seeing it with your own eyes?” Rhys had frowned at the blonde’s lack of consideration.

“I was too excited with the prospect of being able to properly court her and wedding bells on the horizon at the time to see the cloud of deception hanging above me.” Tamlin bit his tongue to prevent himself from getting snappy.

“Figured you smarter than that Tam.” Rhys taunted.

“We will see about that on the day you find your mate Rhys.” Tamlin countered with an eye roll, continuing with his story before Rhys could interject with another comment on his actions. “We made it out to the camp, I figured you were going to be there. Honestly I didn’t know you and your father had headed back to your estate yet so I thought nothing of it when my father simply knocked on the door. Your mother was the one to answer and my father was pushing inside with a blade drawn quicker than I realized, I stood in the doorway frozen as I realized he had lied to me. He attacked your mother and youngest sister first took their wings, and then he attacked her she had put up the most fight, had been yelling at me the entire time to step in but I could feel her fear and it doubled my own I couldn't move until my father dragged her over to me and dropped her at my feet saying I needed to finish her. He moved into the kitchen where you mother and baby sister were, when I realize what he was doing I pulled her into my arms and under the disguise I wanted her privately to myself so I could really cherish her I carried her up to her bed and sat with her, I cried and begged for her apologies told her I didn't know he was going to do what he did and that it was all my fault for not seeing through his lie. She reached out to touch my cheek, told me it was okay she wasn’t mad at me, and in turn I told her I would spend my whole life trying to find a way to make it up to her.” Tamlin’s voice quivered as he hurried to sum up the story, wiping a tear from his cheek that he hadn’t even realized he had shed. 

“I mean that Rhys, even if making it up to her is staying as far away as possible.” Tamlin mumbled looking up to Rhys who actually had pity in his eyes for the male.

“You truly didn’t mean for what happened to happen?” Rhys scowled. 

“It truly was not my intention, I figured by bringing her upstairs she would have the best chance to make it through, that by doing so she would have some chance to survive so that at least that way she didn’t have to watch her mother and sister be slaughtered; I knew if she stayed downstairs he would make sure her life was ripped from her, he had already taken her wings and there was enough blood on me for him to believe she was dead.” Tamlin sighed.

When no stinging came from the tattoo Rhys decided he was satisfied with the answer. “My father has slaughtered your brothers and no doubt is working on your father now. If my father survives the fight you will have to make yourself nonexistent and flee into hiding, you will never be able to see her again as long as he lives and I swear to you I will do my best to keep her from you even if the opposite is true. You have hurt her in a way I as her brother can not forgive, even if she does the second she wakes up I still will not; You will have to earn her trust all over again and until I am convinced you have redeemed yourself I won't allow you near her.”

“Those are terms I can agree to.” Tamlin looked up at Rhys hopeful.

“I will not make it into a bargain for your sake, it will simply be of my own determination if you have redeemed yourself in my eyes and I will not lay out the terms for what that entails.” Rhys stood from his chair and extended a hand to Tamlin who took it in kind to stand from his position on the floor.

Rhys pulled Tamlin into a half hearted hug, catching the blonde off guard. “For everyone's sake in this, I hope you do manage to redeem yourself. For what it’s worth Tamlin, you had always made her happy.”

Tamlin felt his heart shatter as Rhys’s words sank into his chest, that one word destroyed his world: had. Tamlin decided that one word would haunt him until he felt himself a good enough male to finally attempt to redeem himself for her. Though no words were spoken further as screaming and clattering spilled into the room from the hallway on the other side of the door, there was an unspoken acknowledgement between the two of what was to come. 

It was the last time Tamlin and Rhys had really seen eye to eye on anything, Tamlin never felt like he was worthy of trying to redeem himself and then everything with Amarantha had Tamlin feeling disgusted in himself, he let his self hatred for what he had allowed of his court, of his people, of his friends, and of himself outweigh the thoughts of redemption for all of the above. He drowned himself in paperwork, in Lucien’s understanding on nights they would get drunk and miserable about loves lost to them, in Feyre so he could forget what he should have had. His distaste in himself turned him uncaring and cold, he found himself unable to care for the once human girl because she would never really have his heart. He threw himself into trying to be enthusiastic with court relations and wedding planning where he had almost snapped Ianthes head off for how pushy and annoying she got to him, he didn't honestly care about the wedding it wasn’t her, the one he really wanted to be going through this with. 

When Rhys came to collect Feyre from the wedding Tamlin hated how thankful he was to the ravenette and wanted to turn in on himself for how hopeful he had gotten that Rhys might have dragged his sister along for show. When Feyre ran off to join Rhys’s side after nights of Tamlin being haunted with memories of his inability to protect dear little starlight caused him to lash out at her and seal her in the estate, Tamlin hated that he had taken his inner grievances out on her. He hated that when she had finally returned but fled with Lucien that he understood why both left him, even after everything he had been through with the day court's heir. It wasn’t until he had caught a glimpse of her after the high lord’s meeting where he had been so cruel did he remember why all of this was happening in the first place, all he had seen was a passing glimpse of her and those terrible scars on her back that his cold, calculated, purposefully arrogant, and admittedly self detrimental walls shattered again yet even more painfully this time; he wanted to call out to her to drop to his knees and beg for her to forgive him for every callous action he had taken but he couldn’t, no, he wasn’t worthy in his own eyes to have her own eyes land on him, it was the one sided interaction that had catapulted him into trying to claw his way back out of the pit he had dug for himself. It wasn’t until rhys walked through the archway she had just disappeared across that Tamlin realized he had been staring at the spot she once stood, all Rhys had offered him was a raised brow as he approached and a touch to the shoulder; Rhys knew he had seen her that her very presence had been enough to shake him at his core.

“I think I’m ready to start to redeem myself for her.” Tamlin’s voice was hoarse and it even shocked himself to feel how close to tears he was.

“Then do your best to earn it, for her at least.” Rhys nodded and patted the spot his hand rested at tamlin’s shoulder.

Tamlin moved to turn to walk back down the steps and back towards the other camp he hated so violently but could not do a thing about it, not yet, at least he had offered the plans to the other lords.

“Oh, and Tamlin,” Tamlin was caught by surprise when Rhys called out to him and he looked over his shoulder turning slightly to look back at the male who had a small smile on his face, his arms crossed, and the slightest teasing head tilt as he watched the blonde male walk away. “You were right.”

Tamlin’s brows furrowed. “What?”

“What you said all those years ago, about the idea of marrying your mate clouding your brain. I get it.” Rhys offered the oher a nod as Tamlin let out one sad, dry, laugh to himself.

“I told you so.” Tamlin had muttered as he turned away from the other male and slipped out the castle’s walls. 

The two had been against each other for so long that they both had forgotten what it had been like to banter with the other. Rhys’s soft smile turned into one of sadness as the doors closed behind his old friend, he looked down at the floor before turning to join his family in the courtyard that conjoined their rooms all together. He watched his sister play Azriel in chess from a spot leaning against a column, Tamlin realizing he had to change for her was the first positive mark in his book and he knew more were to come if such a fleeting glimpse was enough to move the male the way it did. 

Rhys knew she still cared about the blonde it was evident in the way she wore the emerald Tamlin had sent Rhys him home with the night they both became highlords to give to her, around her neck; Rhys didn’t think she had taken the thing off except for the one or two times the clasp had broken in the hundreds of years since. 

His belief of where her affections still truly lie was only solidified the night Elain had been kidnapped and Feyre had gone undercover to return her with the aid of Tamlin. When they jumped the cliff one of Hybern’s archers had shot an ashwood arrow right into his ribcage while he was still in beast form; it had rendered him unconscious and trapped in his form. She had rushed out of her tent at the commotion and her face had paled when she had seen the great beast with laboring breaths, Rhys had frozen on his spot as she pushed through the crowds to drop to her knees and began immediately assessing his wounds; processing there was no bane in his blood she had screamed at Rhys to give her his dagger and when Rhys didn’t move she was rushing over to take it from off his waist. When medics finally caught up to the scene she was ordering them around as she rolled up her sleeves and muttering apologies to the male as he was slipping the dagger into the skin either side of the arrow to cleanly remove the barbed edges without the ash wood splintering inside of him. When she had tossed the arrow off to the side and his body finally caught up with the removal of the arrow the medics were hauling him off to the tents and she rushed off to her tent to clean the blood from her shaky hands. He had gone to check on her that night, finding her absent from her tents and instead in the private medical tents crying over the blonde male; Rhys simply sighed before turning to leave without saying a word or even alerting her to his presence.

Everything since then had been leading up to now and somewhere deep in his chest he knew it was coming and expected it but could see how violent the situation could turn at any second with two males vying for the same female's attention. Rhys would never admit outloud if he had to choose between the two males on who he would have her married off to that it would be Tamlin, Azriel was a good male and less temperamental but he had females throwing themselves at him and he liked to toy with that fact and he had no doubt that she would get hurt if he decided to take that toying a bit too far; Tamlin though had only ever held any interest in two females, her and Feyre, but Rhys, Tamlin, and Feyre all knew it was simply forced and situational with her after the truth was revealed and while he was temperamental Rhys had seen her calm him plenty of times when they were younger. Plus Rhys had seen how Tamlin had worked his ass off after that night even restoring the entire Spring Court and Rosehall by himself, he had worked for this, he had worked to keep the unspoken promise between the two.

So as the reality of the situation currently on display for anyone in Prythian to see Rhys’s mind was going a thousand miles a minute as Azriel struggled against his hand and Tamlin’s eyes sparkled sadly as his green orbs took her in that close to him yet she smelled like another male.

Rhys’s nostrils flared and his head snapped towards him as he had to bite his tongue and grind his teeth when Azriel’s voice rang out against the murmur of the crowd. “She is to be my bride, take your filthy hands off her.”

The entirety of the inner circle’s attention stilled on the aggravated male whose wings were flared in a posturing behavior to make himself seem larger than the blonde male. Rhys’s eyes flicked over to the blonde male and his sister whose eyes had dropped to the floor and carried a self disappointed sadness in them from where he stood. 

Tamlin’s eyes steeled on the angry illyrian and turned to the female in his grasp, his thumb and forefinger coming to rest under her chin as his voice was soft and sympathetic. “Look at me.” When her eyes rose only to his lips he sighed. “In the eyes, darling.” 

Rhys watched as her entire posture changed, Tamlin offering her a small smile as he mumbled a small bit of praise her way, “There she is.” 

Azriel fought and yelled against him, even turning threats towards Rhys himself when he refused to let him pass, the two on the dias having an unspoken conversation; their eyes weren’t glazed over so Rhys knew the conversation wasn’t in their heads simply reading the others emotions in each other's eyes and over the bond, the two seeming to come to some understanding as she was the first to move.

Cupping one of Tamlin’s cheeks, the blonde nuzzling against her soft touch her voice was weak and she was clearly on the verge of crying from whatever Tamlin had shown her. “Oh, Tam…”

Tamlin simply pressed a kiss to the palm of the hand she held his face with but the action had Azriel pushing through Rhys’s hold, Cassian realizing at exactly the same time as Rhys both males struggling to get any kind of grasp on him as he surged forward. The sudden violent movements had her startling and her eyes glazed over for a split second as her pupils shrunk, Tamlin felt whatever emotion she had sent down the bond as he growled and pushed her behind him getting between her and Azriel. The Illyrian had no intention of hurting her but she was always one to easily panic at sudden violence that was directed in her general vicinity, well at least after a similar sudden wave of violence had cost her her mate and nearly killed her. The growl was a warning for the spymaster, as Rhys and Cassian managed to barely keep a hold of him, indiscernible threats and promises of violent actions fell from the winged males tongue.

Tamlin simply tucked the small female closer into his side and raised a brow above those hardened emerald orbs. “Is it to be a blood duel then spymaster?”

The hair on the back of Rhys’s neck stood up at the sincere threat that hung in the air, knowing as much as he loved Azriel Tamlin was a high lord, who was fighting for his mate and that was a monster one would not truly wish to push into a blood duel. “Azriel.” His voice was a sharp chastising warning to the struggling shadowsinger.

Something in the way Rhys had hissed his name had Azriel coming back to his senses, watching the way she desperately clung to the blondes emerald vest with shaky fingers.

He looked to the ground for a second before meeting the green eyes of the High Lord, his wings tensing closed behind him. “She looks for sympathy, I give her sorrow. She asks for honesty, I’ve none to borrow. She needs a tender kiss, begs it of me, in turn I give her ugliness so why does she love me? She yearns for higher things, things I can’t give her. The rush her song brings, the one you wrote with her, I can’t deliver that. Even when she plays and soars above me, I try to clip her wings and shut down whatever it is she's playing; can you answer me then why does she love me? I've tried to get her to leave the hurt behind even when I knew not the reason behind it.” 

Tamlin sized him up with a simple rake of the emerald orbs over the muscular figure of the shadowsinger, fully ready to pounce if the other male agreed to the duel, making sure he had one hand to steady her and calm the panic that slowly rose in her chest that he could feel echo in his own like a whisper. Rhys and Cassian exchanged looks past Azriel, questioning looks between eachother as a silent question of ‘Did you know about this?’ was exchanged, only for the looks to turn worried as Azriel slowly pushed their hands away and rolled his shoulders to stand at the base of the dais.

“She wants the man I was, supportive and caring, at least she thinks she does, She needn’t bother when I was acting like she was overly fragile and would shatter at the slightest touch. In reality beneath the facade I wear for her, that's nothing like me, just cruel, protective, and obsessive in all honesty. She knows little of what I’ve done to others but knows how I allow females to flirt with me at her expense. So what about you Tamlin, what makes you so deserving of her?” Azriel hissed, with a roll of his shoulders, Rhys and Cassian ready to pull Azriel back away from the dais if he seemed like he was going to storm up the dais at the blonde. 

The two offered another hiss of his name in warning and he looked back over his shoulder at them. “What it's not like he’s any wortheir of her than I am, he may be a high lord but I am not afraid of him.”

Tamlin straightened his posture, but angled his head lower like a predator would do when assessing if he should pounce on his prey now, it was clear where this conversation was going and what Azriel would decide on. He pulled her hands off him so she could take a few steps back from the possible fight that was to break out, and took a step down the stairs causing Azriel’s head to snap back in his direction.

“Not afraid of me you say, yet no one asked if you were in the first place.” Tamlin growled. “You think yourself more worthy of her, that you own more of her heart than I do?” 

“She is my finance,” Azriel hissed right back at him.

“She is my mate.” Tamlin countered, that rumble deepening in his chest.

“Your bond may speak to her, but her heart will always be mine.” Azriel snapped venom on his tongue, “I was the one to help her with rehabilitation while Rhys threw himself into new high lord duties.” 

“You think so?” Tamlin chuckled a dark teasing tone to it as he sneered down at the shadowmaster. “You really think that? That she would belong to you with all your… flaws. Dare I call them that instead of other things.” 

Azriel straightened as Tamlin took a few steps around him down the dais like an animal circling its prey; when Tamlin had become high lord the significance of the fact that habits of a predatorial beast carried over into his regular fae form from his beast form and stuck with him more and more as the years went by and he let the savagery take hold of him, as much as he had tried to lessen the evidence of that fact some habits stuck and he couldn’t unlearn them permanently having just become instinctual. 

Tamlin hissed as he circled behind Azriel and back up the stairs of the dais. “Look at you, indebted to your high lord for pitying you,  a cruel torturer who makes up for the abuse he suffered in his childhood by taking it out on those his highlord orders him to torture for information, it’s almost pitiful. Answer me boy, Shall we settle this with a blood duel? Let fate and the mother guide us here and let the cauldron take the hindmost?”

Azriel tensed at the turn of phrase, he recognized it from the human/fae war as something that was said to keep armies moving together at the same pace. ‘Cauldron take the hindmost’ it sickened him to hear it again a wish for the cauldron to enact its will on any who fell behind and could not support the cause, yet it enlightened Azriel to the fact Tamlin viewed this as a declaration of war.

Azriel scoffed, Hazel eyes sharpening on the beast like emerald ones in front of him. “Look at me? No. Look at you, a foul beast, traitorous, unlovable, who hurts anyone who gets close to him because he is an unworthy feral beast of a high lord who was never supposed to even inherit the title he was given. Call the stakes then, I’ll partake. May the Cauldron take the hindmost.”

Azriel and Tamlincould hear the audible gasps and disappointed sighs around them but were too focused on one another as Azriel climbed a couple steps to stand toe to toe with Tamlin.

Tamlin, brushed the mask from his face tossing it to the dark high lord who fumbled trying to catch it all of a sudden. “Then we shall duel tonight, for the hand of the Princess of the Night Court.” 

Azriel and Tamlin were getting snippy back and forth, yet Azriel nodded. “Tonight is fine. Draw the line.”

Tamlin tilted his head in a cocky manner, taunting the raven haired illyrian. “Is she yours or mine? You’ll lose tonight.”

Azriel hissed back. “I won’t lose.”

Tamlin puffed his chest out a mimic to the illyrian’s earlier wing posturing. “If you lose, you leave her be, you will never speak to her again and we will leave from here she may speak to anyone else from the night court but not you.”

Azriel agreed yet again, “Fine! And if I don’t? If I win?”

Tamlin scoffed. “The opposite will apply to me, i’ll never speak to her again and will close off the bond. I will never step foot in this court again unless strictly on business with Rhysand.”

Azriel nodded, stalking to the far side of the platform and stripping any excess accessories from his figure so they wouldn't get in the way during the fight, at least it wasn’t to the death like blood duel’s had a tendency to be. “Then let’s begin.” 

Tamlin moved to shake Azriel’s hand after discarding the eccentric cape and accent pieces, signifying the rules being set in place. Both men nodded with the agreed upon statement of “May the Cauldron take the hindmost.”

Tamlin went to step away, to move to his side of the platform, looking to Rhys to signify he was to be the mediator here, but as Rhys began climbing the stairs Azriel snapped, pulling Tamlin to him with a low warning hiss. “You think fate is in your favor? You think you are in control just because of a damned mating bond? You can't cheat on this one even if you tried.”  

Tamlin countered with a growl, more calm and collected than the other male. “This duel,” He scoffed. “All the rules have been rearranged, every move is riskier.”

Azriel pushed him away and rolled his shoulders, shaking out the aggravated nerves in his body with a quick stretch of his wings before they settled back against his back in a tense manner. “I will gladly bet against the bond, fuck it I’d even double down. Fate has redesigned itself before.” He had raised his voice, gesturing to Feyre. 

Tamlin simply took a deep breath, letting Rhys come to stand in between them in the center of the platform as he moved to take the waistcoat off as well and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Fate is on my side, it led me to her long ago and has always continued to do so. It will do so again today.”

Azriel was getting frazzled at the blonde's simple and collected exterior. “ I’ll wager that when this duel is done, I’ll have won her from you then.” 

Tamlin snapped dismissively over his shoulder as he turned back to face the male across the room from him and nodded towards Rhys. “Either way.”

Rhys looked to Azriel who gave him a frantic nod, Rhys sighed as he rolled his shoulders back and spoke loud enough for the crowd to here him. “May the Cauldron take the hindmost.” 

Both males lurched forward as Rhys stepped back to let fists fly at each other, eventually Azriel had Tamlin pinned to the ground with his knees either side of the blonde’s ribcage and trying to barrel down on the blonde’s face though many attempts failed and collided with the stone and tile floor leaving his fists a bloody mess.

“Her heart belongs to me. The engagement has secured that.” Azriel had yelled only to be stunned by Tamlin’s cocky smug smile.

“Are you sure?” Tamlin had flicked his tongue over his busted lip with a cocky laugh and a knowing smile plastered on his face.

“What?” Azriel had faltered.

“Are you so sure?” Tamlin reiterated, slowing down his speech mockingly as he  held Azriel’s wrists who struggled to reel back to throw another punch at the blonde.

“What do you mean?” Azriel's question was quick and clipped as if thrown off by Tamlin’s prideful ego in his questioning of Azriel and the lord’s mates bond.

Tamlin was quick to flip them, pinning Azriel under him the same way they had just been only with Azriel’s hands pinned under Tamlin’s knees. The blonde leaned back a smirk on his face as he pointed towards the girl curled into Rhys’s side, she could tell Tamlin was pulling punches, he knew he had won even before offering the duel, he could see it in her eyes and feel it in the bond.

Tamlin leaned down to grab Azriel by the collar. “The necklace that she wears, such a design is strange to see, wouldn't you agree? The color isn’t a standard one used in this court, it's representative of something else, of someone else that isn't you. Isn’t the color of your siphons and that you choose to represent yourself with a dark blue? That's a far stretch from green isn’t it?” 

“No-” Azriel had started a snarl on his lips. “Rhys gave her that.”

Tamlin snarled back with a smirk. “He gave her that for me, the night we both became High Lords an unspoken promise between us solidified in the emerald she wears around her neck. Doubt yourself now boy, If I wasn’t worried about her being upset I’d have had this duel be for your life.”

Both males snarled at one another in the face of truth, yet it was Azriel who continued to taunt Tamlin even though he couldn’t get out from under the Spring lord. “I call your bluff and we will see who wins out once and for all.” 

Both of them growling in eachothers faces. “He who wins, wins it all.”

Yet it was Tamlin who slammed Azriel’s head back against the tile floor by ravenette’s throat and hissed lowly “May the Cauldron take the hindmost.”

It was then as Azriel struggled to breath under the blonde’s grasp that the female the entire fight was over rushed forward. “Stop! Stop it both of you!”

Tamlin sighed, smiling and released the Illyrian’s throat as his wings thrashed beneath them both. Tamlin moved off of the illyrian, staying on his knees with his hair a mess and back straight as he looked up at her, an adoring look on his face as he caught his breath. Azriel rolled  onto his stomach and into a push up as he coughed and tried to regulate his breathing head weakly lifting to watch her take Tamlin’s  face into her hands.

Tamlin’s eyes sparkled as she cupped his face. “The duel in your honor has pleased you then?”

She smiled and laughed, “You always were a show off who was eager to please.” Before leaning down to pull him into a kiss.

“I’ve missed you, you asshole, making me wait so long I feared you had given up and moved on.”She chastised him.

“I could never truly do that, you are my only, you should know that my dear.” Tamlin crooned back trying to lull her to lean forward and give him another kiss, when she relented he hissed as the adrenaline wore off and the busted part of his lip stung. 

She sighed running her finger over the clotting blood, watching as his brows furrowed for a split second before his magic started kicking in to heal the cut. She hummed softly, “Stand and we will leave to get you cleaned up.” 

She offered a nod to Rhys who was checking on the defeated Illyrian on the ground, Rhys nodded back at her as he patted the coughing male's shoulder and back. Tamlin had rose wobbly to his feet, chest still heaving as she placed her palm to his chest an unspoken sentence asking for just a moment; Tamlin nodded and she stepped away and pulled a second necklace from its hiding spot below the neckline of her dress, slipping it off the small silver ring inlaid with the blue cobalt stone dangled on the chain and she hung it around the illyrians neck with an apologetic smile. The illyrian let a sob wrack his body and Rhys offered her a sad smile, knowing what he was about to say would probably hurt his brother more but Rhys knew the seriousness of this situation, he would be discussing matters of a wedding and a mating bond with the blond soon enough. 

His eyes flicked over to Tamlin, who now had a worried Lucien rushing to his side. “You may both stay here for the night, come the morning we will discuss matters of your mateship and wedding, the town house is yours for the night and the rest of us will be at the river estate if you need us.” 

The high lord had since tucked the female into his side, Lucien standing on edge with the waistcoat, cape, and mask in his arms, offering them to Tamlin Lucien dismissed himself. “I’ll be at my apartment then.” before he was trailing off down the hall to a winnow safe room.

Rhys made a gesture for the two to leave and she nodded, pulling Tamlin down the hall Lucien had disappeared into just a few seconds ago, pulling him into a small circular room the inner circle used to flit in and out of the court of nightmares. The chilly night air nipped at her collarbone and shoulders as she rushed him into the townhouse that her family rarely used anymore. Neither spoke a word, both nervous and on the edge as she ushered him through the door once the wards had unlocked to let them pass. 

Dim faelights lit the house in a soft yellow light fitting for the time of night, Tamlin stayed close behind her as she stepped into the memory filled living room and ran her fingers nervously over the carved wooden backing of the couch but stilled in the doorway to observe the silent house littered with some of Feyre’s paintings; taking a sharp breath she turned to look at Tamlin with a pleading look. Tamlin smiled back at her taking a few steps to close the distance, cupping her face in his hands for a change he pressed his forehead against hers and let his eyes flutter closed simply appreciating her presence.  

“I can’t cook for you since we should wait till we make it to Spring to-” She had started rambling nerves getting the best of her, yet Tamlin simply hushed her with a kiss.

“I’m not worried about that right now love, It's been hundreds of years since I have simply got to appreciate you, your presence, your very being. Let me simply hold you like this for a minute.” He sighed letting his shoulders sag as any and all tension left his body. “Plus I had plenty to eat at the ball, so I'm not really hungry, rather exhausted actually.”

She nodded quickly pulling him close to her to rest his head in the crook of her neck and let him pin her against the back of the couch, the sentiment was there but it caused Tamlin’s nostrils to flare, his pupils to find themselves in a slit like state, and a growl at the back of his throat. “You still smell like him, as much as I’d love to continue this I need to scrub his scent from your body before I lose my composure, well any I still have at least.” 

She straightened her back, a mix of aroused and startled at his possessiveness over her. “There's a bathing room attached to my room if you wish to follow me up the stairs then.”

He nodded, taking a slow step backwards to let her move freely towards the stairs, instead she entwined her fingers with his own and pulled him up the stairs behind her. Towards the end of the hall of doors was a door decorated in decorative ivy and faelights, she stopped to push the decorated door open and smiled as the faelights flickered to life within her room. The room Tamlin realized was decorated like how Rosehall used to look, oak walls a contrast to the normal darker wood if not stone walls that were normal in the Night Court, dark emerald green curtains covered the door to the balcony with more of the false ivy and dangling soft lights. Emerald Green seemed to be the frequent accent color in the room, the silk sheets topped with golden furs, the curtains, a throw blanket over a loveseat in the corner, even a rug on the floor was reminiscent of his court and Rosehall. 

Tamlin’s brows furrowed as she moved to toss the silk shrug style stole onto the small loveseat. “You made it look… It looks like the old Rosehall?”

His eyes that had been scouring the room fell to her figure that was pushing through a door into the attached bathing chambers, they stilled at the sight of the deep scars visible due to the open back of her dress. 

“Yes, I did, it just felt right. Some memory of that place before the darkness touched it needed to be preserved.” She smiled at him in the mirror as she wiped away the kohl lining her eyes.

Tamlin’s steps felt heavy as he took a few steps forward as his calloused hands fell to the small of her back and his head dipped to press his forehead between her shoulders sighing as his voice came out a weak whisper. “You are too good for me, you know that right?” 

The tender touch to her back had caught her off guard, her breath hitching as his head came to rest against her. “Tam-”

He sighed, his breath brushing against the sunken scars on her back and finding her eyes on him he offered a mischievous glance from behind her shoulder.  “I mean it Starlight and,” He leaned back down to pepper kisses across the indentions. “I will spend every day of the rest of our lives making it up to you.”

She turned around in his hold, pulling him down for an actual kiss; he smiled through it before sighing as he pulled away to rest his forehead against hers. “Don’t try and distract me here! I mean it and I intend to start with that promise tonight.”

Her brows furrowed in a teasing and playful manner she scolded him. “Tamlin!”

He chuckled as he scowled at her. “Not like that silly girl,” He stopped for a split second to consider his words. “Okay, perhaps like that but I should first ask if you've any body lotions. I intend to offer a massage first and then mayhaps I’ll make my downfalls up to you by devouring you for a few hours.”