#her skin is supposed to look like gold hopefully that came through

[nixienewt]

Starfire! Kori my beloved <3

[thatonetargaryen]

The Wolf and the Dragon

Masterlist

Part 4: Dinner

Valaena entered her chambers, taking in the room. It was smaller than her own back home, but it would do for now. Red, black, and gold adorned every surface—Noxus colors. This was yet another reminder that her home was now a distant memory.

She bit the inside of her cheek as she set her stuff down. She lifted the curtains, and was met with the beautiful view of the city. Even from such a distance, she could she the people and shows—the colors and food vendors—everything was different. If she wasn’t who she was, Noxus would’ve been the first place to visit on her bucket list.

The room to her chambers doors were open-and in waltzed a blonde, heavy-set woman who was wearing a gold and red dress—traditional Noxian attire. She kept her head bowed and eyes low in respect. Valaena admired her physique, it seemed as if everyone in Noxus was jacked.

“Princess Valaena, I am to be your maid for the time you are residing here. I am at your beck and call. Whatever you need, any questions, and I will try my best to fulfill them.”

Valaena nodded at her words. “How generous of them…”, she said more so to herself sarcastically—knowing the woman was probably assigned to keep a close eye on her. She turned back to the maid.

“And may I have your name?”

“Anya, Princess.”

The princess nodded, noting her name in her mind. “Anya, do you mind running me a bath. I am in desperate need of one, as you can see.”

She nodded. “Right away, princess.”

Valaena was once again left alone, leaving her to swim in her own thoughts.

….

The next few days were pleasant for the princess. She hadn’t spoken to Ambessa since their first meeting, and Anya seemed to pop up out of nowhere and disappear in the night. Though, Valaena didn’t pay it much attention.

So far, her plan was smooth sailing. No word from the King has arrived, which was suspicious in itself.

Valaena thought about it often. How her father didn’t seem to care for her, how he had sent no word of her absence, as if the thorn in his side was finally gone. She tried not to dwell on it too much, but that was becoming harder to do each day.

The beautiful Noxian castle and flourishing gardens distracted her from those things. The guards kept a close eye on her, but let her be as long as she wasn’t causing trouble. The nobles threw her nasty looks, most deeming her untrustworthy.

She didn’t bother to ask where Ambessa was, or why they had yet to speak on this supposed ‘alliance’. It seemed she just had more important things to attend to. Hopefully she would leave her be for just a while longer—until Valaena came up with a plan to escape. She couldn’t stay here forever.

So when she was summoned to dinner with the General, hesitation and surprise was evident in her features.

“Summoned me to dinner?”, Valaena repeated what Anya had said. No council meeting, no hearings before the court, but a dinner.

“Yes, princess. It is about time we started getting ready. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to go in…that.”, Anya gestured to the simple tunic and trousers she wore.

Valaena ignored the comment and ran in fingers through her silver hair, obviously stressed. She mentally slapped herself for telling such a deep lie. Now, she had to defend her house and successfully form an alliance. Great.

“I’ll find you a dress to wear for this evening.”

Valaena cursed to herself. She was in deep, deep shit.

….

The baby pink and white flowy dress Valaena wore complimented her pale hair and skin. She left her hair to fall down her back, and jewelry adorned the top half of her body. She felt like a lamb being led to slaughter. But she was no lamb, she was a dragon, a nervous, scared, and mendacious one.

She approached the doors to the chambers she was summoned to. A guard stopped her. “State your business.”

“I was summoned to these chambers by the General for dinner.”

Without another word, he opened the doors, leading Valaena to her fate. Inside, was a large table with off-white and gold—hints of silver here and there. The room itself wasn’t large, but lavish, and everything seemed to fit in place. At the head of the table sat none other than Ambessa Medarda, dressed comfortably in a crimson and gold robe. A ring adorned her lower lip, and her dark hair was styled into a low bun. Valaena’s cheeks warmed at the sight of her effortless beauty, but quickly buried those thoughts as she bowed her head. “What do I owe this pleasure, My Lady?”

Ambessa turned towards the girl and leaned her head to the side with a slight smile, “Ah, I’d thought you’d never come. Take a seat, please.” Her offer sounded more like an order.

She took a seat at the other end of the table. A silent prayer was said, and she examined the dishes that were laid out.

At the center was a golden brown turkey, surrounded and stuffed with fruits and vegetables. Mashed potatoes, buttered bread, beef stew, apple pie, banana pudding, steamed vegetables…it all seemed too much for just two people. Valaena’s mouth watered, and she tried her best not to look greedy as she stuffed her plate.

The first thing she tried was the main dish, roasted turkey. The meat was moist and juicy, with the skin being flavorful and crispy. It was nothing compared to the unseasoned food of King’s Landing. The mashed potatoes were a whole other thing, having no lumps and melting on her tongue. The bread, oh the bread, was soft and—

“Hungry, are we?”

The question nearly gave Valaena a heart attack as she stopped eating. Ambessa simply grinned.

“I’ll be sure to give my compliments to the chef.”, she chuckled.

The princess straightened and cleared her throat, now being aware of how foolish she looked.

“I’m sure you didn’t request my presence to discuss how good the food is, My Lady.”

Ambessa’s amused expression faltered. “No, I didn’t. I called you here because I want to know your real intentions.”

Valaena stared, taken aback.

Ambessa continued, “We both know that I am not dumb. In fact, I am the complete opposite. I have already voiced my reasons for suspicion, but let me refresh your memory. You come here atop a dragon—careless as to who will see you. You speak of an alliance, yet you bring no offerings, unless you yourself are one, which, judging by your…demeanor, you aren’t. What I find suspicious of all is the fact that no word has been sent from the King over such a serious matter. So tell me, princess, are you simply taking refuge in my castle? And why Noxus of all places?”

Valaena was at a loss for words. This woman had just read her like an open book, as if she were telling the weather. Ambessa sat back in her chair with her arms crossed, no longer amused. She wanted answers, and she wanted ones now. And that’s exactly what the princess gave her.

“Yes,I-I didn’t come here seeking an alliance.”, she spoke just above a whisper.

“Obviously.”

“I originally left King’s Landing seeking shelter elsewhere after my father—the King—told me of his plans to give me off to a suitor in Piltover. There was so much pressure on me to marry, and he caved in like the coward he was. I had already lost all those I had loved, I had no real reason to stay. Not ever since my mother—”

Valaena choked back tears and her fists gripped her skirts. She hated how weak she looked—how inferior she felt. She roughly wiped her face, making her cheeks puffy and red.

Ambessa bit the inside of her cheek, and for the first time, in a long time, she felt something that couldn’t be put into words, but had forced itself down within herself. She empathized with the girl, knowing what it felt like to be given away as such a young age. She sighed, collecting herself and putting on that hard facade once more. “And you thought it safe to find refuge in Noxus?”

Valaena shook her head and allowed herself a small smile, which Ambessa admired from across the table.

“I hadn’t realized I landed in Noxus until your guards were chasing after me. I entered through the outskirts of the city, and sent away my dragon for a time.”

Ambessa pinched her nose, silently reminding herself to place more guards on the outskirts of the village to avoid instances like this.

Valaena licked her dry lips and sniffed, “What do you wish to do with me now, General?”

Ambessa contemplated. While the princess little benefit staying in Noxus, she wasn’t causing much disturbance. And her father hadn’t sent out word of her disappearance, seemingly being content with it. It had been almost two weeks since she left home. She gazed into Valaena’s lilac eyes, pleading with her not to be sent back. And with just one look, the General folded.

“I will not send you away, princess. You may keep your chambers in my castle. I expect no issues from you. Act as if you are not there.”

Valaena sighed in relief and surprise, a smile grazing her face.

Ambessa took a mental picture of the sight, one she would think about for endless nights to come.

[leahnardo-da-veggie]

Convenience Store Vampire, part 8

Part 1, Part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7

“Hush, Dave,” she said, in a most un-Vaceni-like tone. “Don't worry about him. His diplomatic pass will let him get through any situation. I've seen ‘im literally talk down an army with that pass.”

Wait, what? I turned to her and peered closer. Mrs Vaceni smiled at me innocently, a glint of gold in her eyes, and it dawned on me. “Hash! Oh, you wicked, deceitful, clever girl! Gods above, I didn't even suspect a thing!”

‘Mrs Vaceni' giggled, and her skin melted to become Hash, two heads shorter and half as wide. “Ah know, it's almost like I'm a godsdamn ‘shifter, Davie,” she said, grinning slyly. “Now, let's go check on our ghostie, neh?”

I nodded, and we both turned to the closet. It really was a miracle that nobody had spotted the ever-increasing pool of dark liquid around it. “You know… I could have sworn that ghost ectoplasm was transparent, not… Whatever the hells this thing is,” I said, peering at inky puddle.

Hash shrugged. “Who cares? We rescue the little bugger, we get ‘im on ‘is feet, and we go ‘bout our day,” she said matter-of-factly, and opened the door.

A miniature flood of that black fluid came gushing out of the closet, and I jumped aside to avoid staining my shoes. Hash poked her head inside, uncaring of the filth on her clothes, and hauled the ghostly exorcist out.

He was drenched in that liquid, a giant glob of goo and blackness that only vaguely resembled a man. “Somefin' went wrong,” Hash announced, her brows furrowed. 

“Yeah, I see that,” I muttered. The broom closet seemed fine, apart from a toppled bottle of cleaning fluid. “Say, what happens when chemicals touch a ghost?”

Hash gave me a horrified look. “How the hells should ah know? Dinnae tell me- Ah, shite,” she said, shaking her hand free of the goop. “Get me a tissue, Davie. A lotta tissue.”

“Mrs Vaceni is gonna kill me for this,” I mumbled as I pulled out a roll of kitchen towels. “Speaking of which, what happened to her? The real Mrs Vaceni ought to be here by now.”

“Oh, about that…” Hash made an apologetic face. “I mighta hit her with a sleepin’ spell. No biggie, tho; She'll be fine in six hours or so.”

Hopefully that would give me enough time to clean up this mess. I handed the roll of paper to Hash and extracted the mop from the closet. Much like everything else, it was coated in a layer of liquid, and I wiped it down quickly. “Wait, let me put the ghost in a container, so he does not mess this place up,” I said, hauling out our largest carrier box and placing it behind the counter. Hash placed the ghost in it and continued wiping him with tissue.

“Davie, I think we need some water,” Hash reported, as I finished mopping up the floor. The stains had mostly washed away with the remnants of the cleaning fluid, and I found myself eternally grateful for the fact that hardly anyone visited my store. Hash and the ghost could probably hide behind the counter, but it would be hard to explain the pile of black-stained tissues and the mop-bucket of goo. I supposed I could have claimed it was barbecue sauce.

“Ugh, alright,” I grumbled, emptying the bucket into the sink and refilling it with clean water. Hopefully the goo would not harden and clog up the pipes, or I was going to spend a very uncomfortable afternoon with the plunger. I brought the full bucket to her (without breaking a sweat or struggling, perks of being a vampire,) and poured the whole thing on the ghost.

The effect was instant. Black slime flowed off, and a translucent boy, perhaps ten years of age, was revealed. He opened his eyes and spluttered for air he did not need, batting the bucket aside and gasping. “You! Mo-Monsters!”

Hash and I exchanged an irritated glance. Both of us had dealt with enough speciesist exorcists for the week. “Listen here, exorcist,” Hash said, her voice stern, no trace of an accent. “We've just worked our asses off to rescue you from your own people. So kindly refrain from insulting us. Besides, you're a monster too, now.”

The ghost blinked, and looked down at his hands. The spluttering immediately started back up again. “What the hells?! I'm- this- This can't be happening! I'm alive, I swear! I can't be- Oh, hells no!” He batted at himself as though he could smack the ghostliness away, and burst into tears.

“Hey, kid,” I said, feeling sorry for him, “It's alright. Being dead isn't all that bad. You can dive underwater as long as you want, and nobody ever asks for your ID.”

The ghost glared at me. "Bring me a mirror,” he demanded. Hash pulled out a compact and passed it to him.

He gasped at the face in the mirror. “Why- Oh no, no, no! I'm twenty-seven, not seven! And my hair. Why is Ina punishing me like this?!”

Oh, yes. Did I mention his hair was pink? Not a neon pink, either. It was the colour of little girls' dresses, the shade of pink that peonies so often were. Baby pink, fit for a man who looked like one. 

You know, whenever I feel bad about my miserable existence, I think of him. I might be an ancient vampire working a dead end job, but at least I was not a pink-haired exorcist ghost.

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[creweemmaeec11]

Crystals can cut

Inspired by @the-modern-typewriter 's snippet "the best bad decision," over on her Patreon. I just loved the villain x "bad egg of the golden family," idea so much. Still not 100% happy with how it turned out but oh well. I've plans to continue it in the future :)

Emberly paced back and forth, feet padding across the cold asphalt in the ally of - wherever she had run to. Far away, that's all that mattered. Far away and deep into the twisting maze of the cities alleyways and into it's underbelly. Swallowed far into the shadow and dark, where monsters like her belonged- and more importantly- the shining lights like her family would never find her.

Again. She'd nearly lost control *again*. Her powers grew more volatile by the day, and she felt like a ticking time bomb. Slowly ticking down until it happened. Ka-boom. Until she slipped, and it all came into those bright lights and pure marble and gold trims and-

She let out some whimpering sound, choking on the tears she was fighting tooth and nail to keep down. Emotions raged war inside her, buzzing across her skin.

Any day now, she would lose everything and everyone around her. Not that she had much beyond materialistic things, but it was still all shed ever known.

Emberly angrily kicked a crate next to her with a shout of frustration, tears welling in her eyes.

She wasn't supposed to cry, her mother had told her, "Crying is pointless, it doesn't solve anything and only makes you look weak."

Her mother wasn't here right now.

Emberly's legs quivered before she crumbled down under her own weight, dropping to her knees.

What was worse, was all the crystals growing up out of the ground around her. Like stalagmites of opalescent glass.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Sobs tore through her, unable to hold it inside anymore. Her platinum blond hair fell over her shoulders and back. The clip that kept it in its usual high ponytail must have fallen out while she was running.

Pathetic. She was pathetic.

Unlike the rest of her family. The Larsens. They might as well have been royalty to the city. Her mother was the *mayor* for crying out loud! Her father was the *district attorney*! Even her older brother was one of the best detectives in the city, despite being only a few years older than her.

And then there was Emberly, who was pathetically crying in a dark alley on her knees, covered in whatever filth was on the pavement.

Crystals were beginning to grow off the nearby brick walls, crawling up their rough surfaces. The light of the dim lamp above her was starting to bounce off them, rainbow fractals reflected around, illuminating the dingy surfaces.

Ironic, almost, for something so beautiful to only be allowed to exist in the darkest of grimey damp alleyways the city had to offer.

Maybe she should just stay here. Freaks like her belonged in the catacombs of the city anyway.

Emberly pushed herself over, rolling to sit against the cold brick wall and off of her hands and knees.

Fingers clutched at her chest, gasping for air between sobs, but she couldn't stop. She didn't want to stop now. She just wanted it out. Gone.

Despite that, she managed to calm herself a bit, slowly getting her breathing back under control.

Even through tear fogged eyes, she could see the kaleidoscope of colours dotted around the walls.

Like the world's stupidest disco ball, that only continued getting brighter the more prisms it bounced off.

Impulsively, Emberly grabbed a rock, angrily hurling it up at the lamp where it shattered, broken glass raining down onto the ground in front of her.

She wanted to scream. Scream until her throat was raw and her lungs were bloody. It was-

"Who's there?" A voice demanded.

Oh no. She'd been too loud.

She sat frozen, listening to the footsteps padding closer across the cold gritty pavement.

As quietly as possible, Emberly pulled her knees up tightly to her chest, trying to make herself as small as she could. Hopefully, without the light, it would be dark enough for the person to be unable to see her in the shadows.

She should have expected that life would never make anything that easy for her, as the person who finally rounded the corner just so happened to be one of the only people in the entire city with the power to see in the dark.

Vivian Grimm. The apt name for the villain who practically owned the very alleyways they were in. She was probably the city's top criminal, controlling most, if not all of the shadows where lights like Emberly's family didn't reach.

That was certainly an ironic statement, considering the villain's superpower was controlling light. Said gift was what granted her night vision.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Vivian drawled, voice like velvet glass. So easy to listen to, honeyed and purring, yet it caressed with the edge of a knife. "Shouldn't you be getting your beauty sleep by now princess? How did you end up all the way out here?"

Princess. She bristled at the nickname. Used to mock what to others appeared a privileged and lavish life.

As if fancy clothes and a big house could solve all her problems.

"None of your business," Emberly tried to hiss, but the strain in her voice was evident, "Go away,"

"Come now," the villain hummed, though softer, stepping closer, wedge shoes clacking on the asphalt, "I can't in good faith leave a pretty thing like you alone in a dark ally, a big bad wolf might just eat you for dinner,"

"I don't need your help," Emberly growled, burying her head in her knees. It felt like a cowardly action, which was the opposite of what she was going for, but she was trying to keep the villain from seeing the evidence of her crying as she got closer.

"Says the girl curled up in a dark ally far outside her castle walls," Vivian returned smoothly, "Let's at least get some light in here shall we?"

Emberly realized what she meant only a second too late as the villain held her hand out.

"DON'T!!!" Too slow. The glowing orb appeared above the villain's hand, and rays of light bounced off the hundreds of crystals lining the various surfaces around the scene. It felt like standing in a room of ten disco balls. What could have been thousands of tiny rainbows bounced around every surface. Like a funhouse mirror maze of stained glass and kaleidoscopes.

It was blinding, somehow illuminating the entire ally brighter than normal daylight.

Vivian gasped, wincing at the sudden brightness before dimming her magic down to a soft glow comparable to embers, "What the hell..." she muttered in what could have been mistaken for 'awe' as her eyes traced the scene.

Her gaze fell, finally noticing the now illuminated tear tracks and red around Emberly's steel-blue eyes.

It clicked.

"Oh..." the villain muttered in quiet disbelief and what sounded suspiciously like sorrow. Sympathy.

Emberly angrily pushed herself to her feet, steeling her features as she brushed herself off.

"You're..."

"You've no proof," Emberly growled, clenching her fists.

"Easy,-" the villain tried,

"These were here when I got here," the girl snapped. Maybe it was a lame excuse but, Vivian didn't actually have any proof of the contrary. She began walking forward.

"Which brings me back to my original question," Vivian replied, sidestepping to cut the other off, "What it is you're doing here in the first place,"

Emberly went to shove past her, but a hand caught her arm.

In a quick few movements, Emberly whirled the other around, pushing Vivian back against a section of brick that was free of crystals, trying to avoid impaling her on the crystalline spikes.

The villain's eyes went wide in shock.

"I am not as helpless as I look," Emberly hissed.

This wasn't the first time she'd run off into this side of town, and it certainly wasn't the first time she'd had to defend herself here either.

Vivian's face shifted to a smirk, which was the last thing Emberly saw before her own world became a blur.

"I gotta say princess," the voice came from right in front of her. Emberly blinked, realizing their positions had been effortlessly switched, except the villain had her well and truly pinned, a forearm across her chest and both wrists trapped in Vivians other hand above her head.

"You're quite something, aren't you? You get more and more interesting by the second. It's been a while since someones managed to get the upper hand on me, even if only for a second. I'm impressed, didn't expect the kitten to have claws,"

Then her eyes seemed to flick down over Emberly's still tear-stained cheeks, and her expression softened.

"However," the villain sighed, slowly releasing the other's wrists and taking a step back, "I'd much rather talk than fight, I've no interest in hurting you,"

"And *I* have no interest in *talking* to you," Emberly bit back, glaring.

Vivian side-stepped again, as if to block the other girl's exit once more, yet she held up her hands in a peaceful gesture, "Then don't say a word, simply listen, I'll make it quick,"

Emberly crossed her arms, but made no other move to leave.

"I'll even talk in hypotheticals, if that makes you less-"

A sharp glare made her pause as she struggled for the right word.

"-flighty,"

Emberly rolled her eyes.

"Let's say, *hypothetically*, you did possess powers. It would be a safe assumption that due to your parents, everyone is ignorant to them, at least family wise. And, say this-," she gestured to the various crystals around the ally, "-was you. Your powers are unstable. I doubt I need to tell you they react to emotion,"

Emberly rolled her eyes again, before realizing the action basically confirmed what Vivian was saying. She stiffened.

"So, a tip; not using your powers is what's making them volatile. Use them a little bit, even small things. It will keep the glass from overflowing,"

"Okay, let's say *hypothetically,* everything you said was true. Why on earth would I believe you? I'm on the enemy team here. How do I know using my powers won't just make them harder to contain? The big media frenzy around if I were to slip publicly would probably benefit you more than actually helping me would," Emberly argued, pushing herself off the wall and jutting out her hip.

"As cliche as this may sound; it's because I've been there, and I would've given anything for a guide at the time,"

"Oh yeah, sure, cuz' light is definitely dangerous when hard to control,. Nobody likes impromptu shadow puppets "

"I blinded my own mother," the villain said sharply, glaring.

Emberly's eye's widened, nearly choking on air from the speed of the sudden inhale, "Oh- gods- I'm-,"

"Regardless," Vivian stepped forward and reached into her interior coat pocket, pulling out a small business card and twirling it in her fingers effortlessly, "when it works, if you decide you'd like some more advice, this is my personal number,"

Emberly furrowed her brows as she took the small card on something akin to automatic, "you're giving *me* your personal number? How can you trust I won't give this to my mother? Why do you assume I'll even take your advice in the first place?"

"Because," Vivian replied as she took a step backwards, pitch-black hair blowing in the sudden breeze, "you're desperate; desperate enough to try anything,"

Then just like that, the villain turned and walked away.

Emberly stared at the retreating silhouette for a few moments, before looking down at the card.

She wanted to crumple the card in her hand, rip it to shreds and maybe even step on the pieces on the way out.

And yet...

She tucked it away.

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[raewritez]

Enough | Sokka

based on this request: You want requests? I have an idea/request if you don't mind and are still accepting them, if not I’m sorry. Maybe “friends to lovers/teammates to lovers” where Reader joins the team from Ba Sing Se and while they’re preparing for the invasion, or beyond, Sokka and Reader fall in love, or start to fall in love? I hope that makes sense. Thanks! Your writing is all wonderful! <3

word count: 3.6k

The last thing you'd expected was for the Avatar to break into your house.

You'd been upstairs in your room when you'd heard a ruckus from down below, drawing you to your feet with nervousness and light footsteps. Who was it, burglars? You made your way down the stairs, body pressed against the wall. You heard muffled whispering.

"We can't just break into random houses, Sokka!"

"Well, what else are we supposed to do?! Do you have any better ideas?"

Silence.

"That's what I thought, Aang. Just trust the process."

You peered over the corner, catching sight of the intruders. A boy, a bit shorter than you, stood awkwardly in the corner of your living room. He was dressed in yellow and orange robes, his head decorated with a blue arrow. Huh. Beside him, pulling the curtain back cautiously to scan outside, was a boy seemingly about your age. He was tall, tan skin and dark hair, dressed in a sleeveless blue tunic. You didn't peg these guys as particular threats, so you stepped down.

"Uh, hello?"

They spun around with a yelp, assuming defensive positions. The taller boy held something in his hand - a boomerang? He narrowed his eyes at you.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

"Um, this is my house? Who are you?"

He lowered his arm, glancing around sheepishly. "Oh, uh, sorry. We needed to hide."

You raised an eyebrow. "Hide? Hide from who?"

The younger boy spoke up. "The Dai Li."

You furrowed your brows. "The Dai Li?" You questioned, confused. "Why would you need to hide from them? Did you, like, break the law?"

The older boy crossed his arms. "What? No!"

"Then why are you hiding?"

"Because they're after us!"

"Why would they be after you if you didn't break the law?"

"Because!" He was flailing his arms now, and you almost chuckled with amusement. "They - they're bad guys!"

You looked at him flatly. "That sounds like something a criminal would say."

He groaned. "Ugh, ok, ok. Once we know they're gone, we'll leave."

"Are you sure? I was gonna invite you for some tea and cookies," you teased. He glances back, as if seeing if you were serious, before turning back grumpily.

The younger boy scratches his head awkwardly. "Um, anyway, thanks for not kicking us out. I'm Aang."

You chuckle. "Yeah...no problem. I'm Y/n." You aren't quite sure why you're having a conversation with the guys who just broke into your house, but they seem nice enough. The older one's a little grouchy, but for some reason you feel safe.

Aang smiles brightly. "Nice to meet you. This is Sokka," he says, nudging his shoulder.

Sokka glances back at you. "Hey." You offer him a wave.

"So...why are you hiding in my house?"

Aang glances at Sokka, and it seems like a silent argument passes between them. Sokka shakes his head, Aang gives him an imploring look, and Sokka glares. Then he throws his hands up, mumbles a "Fine", and Aang turns back to you with a grin.

"Well, you see, I'm the Avatar," Your eyes grow wide. "And we're trying to get some important information to the Earth King. But the Dai Li don't want us to, so they're kinda chasing us."

"You're the Avatar?" You breathe. He nods cheerfully. "Wait - so, why are the Dai Li chasing you? Shouldn't they be helping?"

"Yeah, they should," Sokka says. "But they decided to, you know, not."

You're confused. The Dai Li are the highest level of protection for the people of Ba Sing Se. Why wouldn't they help the Avatar? You look around the room, spotting the closet near the door. An idea pops into your head.

"I can help." They both turn to you, looking skeptical. "I mean I can help you get out. Without being noticed."

They look at each other, hold their gaze, then turn to you and nod.

///

"I look ridiculous."

You stifle a laugh, taking in Sokka's appearance. "I think you look great. And it'll help you get by unnoticed, so that's what matters."

He's dressed in your father's trench coat, a heavy, brown beast of a thing that's so long it pools at his ankles. He's also sporting a dashing top-hat; the brim so wide it effectively shelters his face. He glares.

Aang comes bouncing in, dressed in a hooded cape that provides coverage for his tattoo. He stops short when he sees Sokka, doubling over in laughter. "Oh, you look great, Sokka."

Sokka groans, slumping over. "Let's just get out of here."

You lead them out the front door, scanning the road for any sign of threats. You step out, the boys following in tow, and walk as confidently as you can past the agents lining the street. Eventually, you successfully make it out of the middle ring. Sokka immediately sheds his disguise.

"Well, here you go," you say, looking around. Although only one ring above you, the Upper Ring is much nicer than you're used to. "Good luck with the Earth King."

Aang's eyes grow wide. "Wait! You should...you should come with us!"

You tilt your head. "Come with you where?"

"Back to our place! You could meet our friends!" He nudges Sokka, who appears disinterested. "Right, Sokka?"

Sokka's eyes snap to yours. "Oh, uh, sure. I guess."

You're about to politely decline, but Aang is staring at you so hopefully that you can't turn him down. You smile softly. "Sure, Aang."

"Awesome! Let's go."

You're led through the cobblestone pathways, eyes trailing after ornate carriages and towering buildings. Soon, you reach their house. The home of the Avatar. Sokka walks up and turns the knob, jumping back in surprise. In front of him stands a girl, not much younger than you, with her hands on her hips and her eyes bright with anger.

"Where have you been?!" She demands, dragging him inside by his collar. "We've been worried sick! I mean, you didn't even leave a note, didn't say anything-"

"We're sorry, Katara," Aang intervenes, hands raised in peaceful greeting. "We got caught up."

It's then that her eyes fall on you, gaze softening into uncertainty. She looks at Sokka expectantly.

"Oh!" He exclaims, stepping back and gesturing towards you. "This is Y/n. She helped us get away from the Dai Li."

The girl, Katara as she'd been called, offered you a slight smile of gratitude. "Thank you for helping my idiot brother."

You chuckled, grinning at the look of betrayal Sokka gave the girl. "It was no problem."

She nodded, extending her arm. "Do you want to come in?"

You glanced towards Aang, who was smiling excitedly. "Oh, yeah, sure."

You stepped inside, feeling a bit awkward. You didn't really understand why Aang wanted you to come so badly, but it was a kind gesture nonetheless. You scanned the interior; emerald walls adorned with gold plating that was probably more expensive than your whole apartment. You fidgeted your fingers, standing by while Katara and Sokka bickered about responsibility. A slam startled you out of your thoughts.

"Who's this?" A girl stepped out of the - hole? Yeah, hole, she'd just kicked a hole in the wall. Katara paused her lecture.

"Toph, this is Y/n. She helped Sokka and Aang with the Dai Li."

"Cool." She yawned, walking past you and plopping on the couch.

"We need to get to the Earth King," Sokka said, assuming a demeanor of focus and determination. "If the Dai Li aren't going to help us get to him, we'll have to do it ourselves." He briefly explained his plan, something about breaking into the fancy party that was happening later that night. They came up with roles, with guidelines for what each person should do, working together like a well-oiled machine. You felt out of place, you didn't know what your purpose was here. Aang turned to you, smiling softly.

"Y/n, you in?"

You stared. You couldn't comprehend the reason this boy had so much faith in you, the reason these kids were so willing to let you in on their scheme after just meeting you less than an hour ago. You didn't understand why you trusted them, either. You smiled.

"I'm in."

///

That was your first mistake.

When you'd agreed to break into an Earth Kingdom party with the Avatar, you didn't think you'd end up having to flee your home. You sat upon Appa's back, knees pulled to your chest as Ba Sing Se grew smaller. Sokka was steering, and the rest had their heads tucked into their hands. Except for Aang, who was lying unconscious next to Katara.

You'd remained in the city with Katara as the rest of the group separated, happy to spend some time with your newfound friend. It was then that things got messy; you found out the Fire Nation had infiltrated the government, the local tea-boy was actually a banished prince, and you found yourself in the crystal catacombs as a battle went on around you. You'd been there with Zuko and Katara, and you weren't sure exactly what'd gone down between them but it was obviously something serious, and you'd been there as he joined his sister - Azula. She was pretty scary.

You fought the best you could, your unpracticed earth-bending not doing much damage against the Dai Li agents, before Aang was struck by Azula's lightning. Now, you sat atop his sky-bison, mind racing and body numb from the shock of it all. You were in way over your head.

The five of you met up with Sokka and Katara's dad after dropping off the Earth King, because, you know, he was just casually there, too, boarding a Fire Nation ship as a means of disguise. Sokka introduced you to his father, Hakoda, who welcomed you with a warm smile and a firm handshake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Y/n. Sokka's told me a lot about you. You two must really get along well," he said when Sokka was out of ear reach, voice laced with mirth. You flushed when you registered what he was implying; the mischief gleaming in his eyes. You frantically tried to put a sentence together.

"Oh, we're not - he doesn't...I mean we do, but not like-" He cut you off with a chuckle and a friendly pat to your shoulder.

"I'm just teasing. Come on, let's join the others."

You sat with your friends and the Water Tribesmen aboard the steely deck, huddling with Toph and Sokka for warmth. Katara went downstairs to heal Aang, who had yet to wake. Your meals mainly consisted of rice as it was too risky to stop and buy more supplies. You were still dressed in your Earth Kingdom clothes; green-tinted pants and a tunic, feet clad in worn-down boots. Not ideal for posing as a Fire Nation soldier.

You were still in shock, you supposed, at how quickly things changed and how fiercely your life was ripped from you. I mean, just a few days ago you were a normal kid living in the middle ring of Ba Sing Se, where nothing remotely exciting ever happened. Then, the Avatar and his friend had broken into your house and now everything was different. You weren't upset, it was just a lot to process. You were worried for Aang and a bit overwhelmed at the reality that seemed to be your new friends' normal. So when everyone else returned to their rooms for sleep, you made your way to the overlook.

The moon beamed down over the sea - ivory light caressing the waves and kissing the surface. You breathed deeply, inhaling the cool night air that smelled of salt-water and a freedom you'd never experienced. You sat there, slightly chilly from the cold, when a warm presence took place by your side.

You glanced up, seeing Sokka's skin glowing under the starlight. Woah, had he always been this pretty? It was probably just the moon...that and your sleep deprivation. Yeah, that was it.

"What're you doing up?" He questioned, eyes cast out to the horizon. His hair was loose from its usual ponytail - wolf-tail, as he'd passionately pointed out to you days earlier - the dark locks flowing freely about his face. You tore your eyes away, following his stare.

"Just couldn't sleep," you glanced over. "You?"

He sighed, leaning against the metal. "Me neither. Just worried."

You turned to face him, face softening into concern. "About what?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "About Aang. About the Earth Kingdom...just...everything."

You moved closer, resting your forearms against the edge of the ship. He pressed his shoulder against yours.

"I get it. I am, too. Everything that's happening is just...crazy. There's no way I could've even imagined it."

Sokka tilted his head towards you, blue eyes glimmering with compassion and softness. "Yeah...how are you doing? I haven't really asked, I mean, this must be kinda shocking for you."

You snorted, nodding your head. "Well, yeah. But it's ok. I'm not the one who has it worst right now."

"Sure, but you can still talk about it. You can talk to me...if you want."

You smiled up at him, his face shadowed by the abyss of the night. "Thanks."

He offered you a grin before staring up at the sky. "You know, that's my first girlfriend," he said, pointing at the moon.

"The moon?" He nodded. "That's...rough."

///

It was finally here. The day of Black Sun.

You'd be lying if you said you felt totally prepared, but with some rigorous earth bending lessons from Toph and sparring with Sokka, you felt more confident in your abilities.

A finger poked your cheek. "Hey, are you listening?"

You glanced at Sokka's teasing grin, scratching the back of your neck sheepishly. "Uh...yes?"

"Really," he said, moving to stand in front of you. "What did I say?"

"Something about...food?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "It's ok, I'll tell you later." He looked behind him, taking in the sight of the preparing fighters and looming submarines. He took your hand in his. "Are you ready for this?"

You sigh, squeezing his fingers between your own. "Ready as I'll ever be."

He smiles down at you, and the look in his eyes is pure adoration. He reaches to tuck a stray piece of hair behind your ear. "You know, I'm glad I broke into your house."

You snort, swatting his hand away. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks a lot, nerd."

He chuckles. "Hey, I know you're glad, too. Otherwise, you never would've met me and would've been miserable and bored your whole life."

You laugh, but it's probably true. You and Sokka had grown much closer over the past weeks, days spent in playful conversation and evening strolls, in play-wrestling and heads rested on shoulders. You were the one he came to when his mind was troubled, when his energy was too spent to conjure any jokes. Yeah, you were glad, too.

You were called into the submarines - Sokka's invention, something you were unfathomably proud of - and off you went. Into the Fire Nation. Your arrival went mostly smoothly, disregarding the few punctures in the submarine walls, and you ran out of the carrier with the earth at your fingertips. Aang had flown off to fight the Fire Lord, and it was up to the rest of you to deal with everyone else. Your heart pumped loudly, blood rushing in your ears and adrenaline flowing in your veins. You raised your arms, summoning the ground upwards to knock out a few soldiers.

"Y/n!"

You turned around just in time to see Katara swoop down on Appa, Sokka and Hakoda climbing up with her. "Come on!" she yelled. "We're going to take out the soldier's battlements."

You nodded, running towards the bison and pulling yourself atop the saddle with help from Sokka. Appa lifts off, reaching between the battlements.

"Katara and I will take the one on the right," Hakoda said, his voice one of a true commander. "Sokka and Y/n, the left. Let's go."

You climb the battlement, hoisting yourself inside through the window before scanning the room. Pointed outwards is a sort of cannon, aimed perfectly towards the group of fire benders that were advancing towards your friends. You step forward, trying to figure out the mechanics while Sokka climbs in. "Oh-ho," he says, taking note of the projection of the cannon. "This thing is just begging to be fired."

You nodded, toying with the controls. Sokka stepped behind you. "Here, I'll show you."

He placed his palm over your hand, guiding it to where it needed to be. From his pocket he pulled a match - where did that come from, anyway? - and nudged it between your fingers. "Light it up, Sunshine."

You place the tip to the ignition, Sokka aiming the cannon. He pulls you back against him, arms wound tightly around your waist, and you cover your ears. The canon booms, sending out a flurry of smoke. You rush forward, fearful of the damage you might have just inflicted, breathing out when you see that it only landed between the soldiers and your friends. It didn't hit them, something you were a bit grateful for, but it allowed the fighters to evade the onslaught. Sokka chuckled in your ear.

"Not bad, not bad."

"You did all the work."

"That's not true! You were vital."

You shake your head, fighting off a grin. "Ok, we should probably get rid of this thing now."

"Agreed."

You climb back out the window, jumping onto the ground with a thud. Breathing deeply, you concentrated your mind on the earth that lay below the battlement, and with a flick of your wrist, it crumbled. From the cliffside it fell, effectively ridding you of one other thing to worry about.

Sokka let out a low whistle. "Impressive."

You turned to him, out of breath. He stepped closer, brows knitted in slight concern as he lifted your chin with his knuckles. "Hey, you ok?"

You nodded, swallowing and trying to rewatch your breath. "Yeah, still a little new to this."

His thumb stroked your cheek before he moved his arm, placing it over your shoulders. "Come on, just stay with me."

You did, gladly.

///

So...things didn't exactly go as planned.

It turned out that the Fire Lord knew all along about the invasion, and Aang never had the chance to fight him. You'd come face-to-face with Azula again, something that made your blood boil. You'd had to leave - leaving the adults behind while the kids climbed aboard Appa's saddle. You were all exhausted, slumped over and falling to your knees when you finally reached the Western Air Temple.

You tried to mull your sadness; that guilty feeling that it was you who should've been left behind instead. You knew everyone was hurting - some in ways you couldn't really fathom. Aang felt like he had failed - again - and he went to bed that night with a half-hearted side hug and tired eyes. Toph felt weak, something she hated more than anything in the world. And Sokka and Katara...they'd lost their dad again.

So when you saw Sokka on the mountainside, head held in hands, you felt that he was more important. You plopped down next to him, his eyes snapping up and softening when they laid on you. No words were spoken; they didn't need to be. Instead, he sighed, pressing his cheek against your shoulder. You ran your fingers through his hair, soothing him with your touch. You only halted when he laced your fingers with his own, pulling your hand to his lap and tracing patterns across your skin.

"It's not your fault, Sokka."

He nodded against you, but you heard his sniff. You straightened up, his head begrudgingly lifting from its place against you before you cupped his face with your palm. "It's not," you implored, desperate for him to stop feeling so down on himself. "None of us could've predicted that they knew. And with Azula...she knew what she was doing. None of this is because of you."

He glanced away, blue eyes brimming with the tears he'd fought so hard to keep at bay. He dipped his head in silent acceptance, nuzzling against the warmth of your palm. You smiled sadly.

"It's not over, Sokka. There's still hope, now more than ever. And I know we'll figure it out."

He raised his gaze, and it seemed like his soul was carried in his stare. Slowly, enough so that you thought you imagined it, his eyes drifted down to your lips. He leaned in slowly, bringing his calloused hand to brush back your hair. You were frozen, as if one wrong move would shatter you from this dream. His palm was warm against your cheek, and his nose bumped your own. Your eyes met his, close enough together that it was a bit funny to look at, and he offered you a silent question. You answered with your lips against his.

He breathed against you, fingers carding through your hair. His lips were warm and oh, so soft, and they moved against yours with ease. You wound your arms around his neck, bringing him closer. He was warm, and he was familiar, and he was safe. You pulled apart when your lungs ached for air, peeling your eyes open with effort. He was looking at you, and you were looking at him, and suddenly a grin broke out across his face. He laughed breathily, nudging his head into the crook of your neck. You laughed with him, holding him tight. You sat there together for who knows how long, melted in each other's embrace under the light of the moon. He pressed soft kisses against your neck and whispered thanks into your ears. You responded with a peck to his tanned cheeks. You were right, he knew. It wasn't over. There was time left, and there was hope. Wrapped in your arms, he was sure of that.

[watchyourbluesturngolden]

the shrooms cafe

part 1- watermelon tea with strawberry boba

hello everyone 🥺 this is the first series i've ever done so i'm a little nervous but i'm so excited because I really like this story!!!

this is the first part, and I have literally no idea how long it will be because I don't have a solid plan/outline yet! so feel free to send little concepts or things you would like to see included 🥺 i can't guarantee they will be added but i'll definitely try my best :)

shrooms cafe masterlist

my masterlist

warnings: none

word count: 2k

"Stella, we have to leave in 10 minutes!" You called up the stairs. "Come down so you can eat breakfast!" "Yeah Stella, hurry up!" Seraphina yelled from her spot at the dining table. She was finishing up her fruit loops with a grin on her face. "You're going to make us late!" As the youngest, she often liked to bother her sisters. She was only five, just starting kindergarten, but she was already a master at getting under their skin.

"Sera, don't antagonize your sister, please," you reminded her. "She's not going to make us late." Sophie rolled her eyes. "Seraphina, you're so immature." Despite only being 11, Sophie was clearly the mother hen. You sometimes joked that the girls didn't even need you; Sophie would take on the role of their mother with no problem. "Besides, you were the one who made us late yesterday." "It's not my fault I couldn't find my purple socks. What was I supposed to do?" "Maybe wear different socks?" Sophie suggested smugly. "You know I need my purple socks, otherwise I can't write my words!" Sophie rolled her eyes again. "You don't need a certain color socks to write." "Yes I do!" You smiled to yourself, turning back to the fridge as the two bickered. You pulled out the ingredients you would need to make their lunches, then reached up on your tiptoes to get their lunch bags from the top of fridge. "Okay girls, what kind of sandwiches do you want today?" "Peanut butter and jelly!" Seraphina said excitedly. "Why did I even ask?" You smiled. "And Sophie?" "Turkey please, but I can make it myself," She said, sliding off her chair and bringing the breakfast dishes to the sink. "Thank you, love," you said, leaning over to kiss the top of her head. "You are such a big help in the mornings, I don't know what I would do without you." "You would have a real handful dealing with those two," She said matter-of-factly. "That I would," you laughed, handing her a butter knife. "Stella!" you called again. The 8 year old came running down the stairs, carrying her backpack and another bag. "Did you forget I have dance today?" "I did not forget," you reassured her. She liked to plan things, and got worried quickly if she wasn't kept in the loop. "I'll pick you up at the door by the playground, does that work?" "Actually, I was wondering if I could walk today? A bunch of my friends do, and I feel kind of weird having my mom drop me off." "That should be fine," You nodded. "But stay with the group, don't go off by yourself." "I won't," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "You're so overprotective." "Oh yes, I'm so sorry for trying to keep you safe," you laughed. "Now what do you want for lunch?" Once everything was ready, the four of you made your way out to the car. Stella climbed into the back, and Sophie helped Seraphina get buckled. Even though the three of them bickered a lot (as sisters often do) it wasn't hard to see how much they loved each other. "Everybody buckled?" You asked, looking behind you. When you heard a chorus of confirmation, you started your playlist and smiled when the opening notes of Adore You filtered through the speakers. It was easily one of your favorite songs, and the girls liked it just as much as you did. It wasn't a long drive to the cafe; it took about 15 minutes if traffic was good. The girls' school bus stopped about a block away, so they walked there together every morning. Then after school, they would come back to the shop and read books or finish homework until it was time to close up and go home. You parked in the lot behind the shop, helping the girls out of the car and making sure they had all their things. Seraphina held out her hand, and Stella grabbed it to help her jump over a puddle on the sidewalk. Sophie gasped excitedly. "I think that was the biggest jump you've ever done!" The girls promptly launched into a discussion about who could jump farther as you unlocked the door. As soon as it was open, they made their way over to the mushrooms to find some books for the day. Their voices filled the shop as they chatted about school and the cute boy Stella liked and the kitten they had seen outside their house the other day. You went about your morning duties, flipping on the lights and starting up the coffee machine. You also turned on the oven, preparing to bake the muffins. (They were frozen- who has the time to bake them fresh? Certainly not a mother of 3.) Once the kitchen was ready, you went over to the radio and tuned it to a familiar station, the soft

music adding some pleasant background noise. "Okay girls, it's time to get to the bus stop," you said, leaning over the counter to speak to them. "Don't forget, I'm walking to dance," Stella said, pointing at you as she walked to the door. "I won't forget," you said, pointing back at her. "Have a good day!" "Bye mom," Seraphina waved her small hand at you. "Bye honey, bye Sophia," You smiled, blowing a kiss to the three of them. "See you later!" Once the three of them were gone, you went around to the shelves and straightened up, getting ready for your first customers.

-----

After the lunch rush had dwindled down and the shop was nearly empty again, you were getting ready to go on your lunch break. You had just leaned down to grab a sandwich from the deli case when the bell above the door jingled, alerting you that a new customer had come in. You straightened up, your eyes going wide when you realized who it was, but you quickly fixed your face and smiled. "Welcome to the Shrooms Cafe!" "Hello," the man smiled back, speaking in a deep British accent. "I saw your sign for boba tea, and I've been looking everywhere to find some. You're the third shop I've been to today, so I'm really hoping you're not sold out like everywhere else," he grinned, coming closer to the counter. "No, we're not out! What kind did you want?" You asked. "Um... probably should have thought about that before I came in," he laughed nervously, looking at the menu above your head. "Oh, don't worry about it, we're not busy right now," you said reassuringly. “Take all the time you need.” He smiled gratefully, stepping off to the side while he read the menu. Meanwhile, you fidgeted with towels and wiped off the work surfaces and tried to pretend you weren’t staring at him. Who could blame you, really? Harry Styles had just walked into your coffee shop. Who wouldn’t stare? “I think…” he spoke again, breaking you out of your trance. “I’ll do the watermelon tea, with strawberry boba, please.” You nodded, laughing lightly. He quirked one eyebrow, smiling along with you. “What’s funny?” “Oh, no, it’s just… of course you would order the one with watermelon.” “Oh,” he smiled, and you thought you detected a hint of a blush on his cheeks. “I guess I do have a bit of a reputation with fruit, don’t I?” “Just a little,” you grinned. “One watermelon tea with strawberry boba, coming right up.” After ringing up the order, you quickly got to work. Instead of his real name, you wrote “watermelon man” on the sticker on the cup. Hopefully he would appreciate your little joke. “Here you are,” you smiled. “I hope it’s good, seeing as you worked so hard to find some.” “I’m sure it’ll be amazing,” he laughed, grabbing a straw from beside the cash register. You also noticed he had dropped a generous tip into the jar, probably while you had been busy making the drink. “Have a nice day,” you smiled. “You as well,” he said with a small wave before he made his way out the door, sipping his drink as he went. You sighed, shaking your head with a small grin as you grabbed the sandwich from earlier and went to a table for your lunch break.

-----

“Hi mom!” Sophie yelled, holding open the door for Seraphina. “Hi girls!” You called from the back corner of the shop. “I’m by the mushrooms!” The girls quickly found you, Seraphia hugging you and Sophie situating herself on one of the short stools. “How was your day?” You asked. “Good! I gave my report on monarch butterflies and guess what Mrs. Wilson said?” Sophie asked, leaning forward. “What did she say?” “She said it was the best report she had heard all day. She waited until the other kids left so they wouldn’t feel bad, but still,” she said proudly. “Oh wow! I’m so proud of you,” you said, moving over to hug her. “What did I tell you? You can do anything you put your mind to,” you smiled. “Including writing the best report in the whole class, hmm?” She nodded happily before turning away from you to pull a book off the shelf closest to her. “Which one are you starting now?” You asked, leaning over her shoulder to see the book she had. “Anne of Green Gables,” she said. “Oh, I loved those books when I was your age,” you smiled. “I think you’ll really like them.”

She nodded, already immersed in the book. You turned back to Seraphina, who was pulling her folder out of her backpack. “And how was your day, miss Seraphina?” “It was so good, look!” She handed you a paper with two gold stars at the top. “My teacher gave me two gold stars. She said my writing was very good!"

"All that practicing we did must have worked, then!" you said, beaming as you looked at her letters. They were still wobbly, but a huge improvement over how they had been at the beginning of the school year.

She nodded. "And then I colored this picture for you!” She handed you another page. This one had a drawing of you holding hands with her, Sophie, and Stella. The three of you had big smiles and lots of adorable little details. Stella had her hair in a bun and was wearing ballet shoes. Sophie was holding a book in her free hand. Seraphina had drawn herself wearing a shirt with a cat (her favorite animal) on it, and she was wearing her purple socks. Lastly, there was you, holding a cup of coffee and wearing a shirt with a big red heart on it. “Since you like coffee so much,” she explained. “It's beautiful,” you smiled, hugging her. “We’ll hang it on the fridge when we get home, okay?” “Okay,” she agreed. “Why don’t you find a book and read with Sophie for a little bit? We have just over an hour, then we have to go get Stella from dance.” She nodded, handing you the papers and her backpack before running over to the shelves. She grabbed a picture book, settling into the red cushion in the tree and beginning to flip through the pages.

----- “Alright girls, it’s time to pick up Stella,” you said as you wiped off the counter one last time. You had already turned off all the machines and packed up everything else for the day. You flipped the lights off on the way out, smiling a bit when you saw the hand painted sign for boba tea in the window. Harry came into your mind again, with his easy smile, his kind words, and his blushing laugh. You really hoped you would see him again, even though you knew you probably wouldn't. Your shop wasn't very big or well known. How likely was it for him to come to the same little shop in the middle of London again? Still, it didn’t hurt to hope. Maybe he would decide to try the other flavors and stop in again. Your smile spread even further when you started your playlist and Lights Up was the first song to come on. Apparently, it was going to be hard to forget about him.

[taehyungsgrowl]

uhhhh duncan in prison angst 👀👀

hey 👋🏽

i’m sorry this took me so long to answer! but i did make a lil moodboard to go w it :•)

also i've written quite a bit of angst lately so this will be a little angsty, but also smutty.

long distance(?) old school version of sexting, really

hope y'all enjoy!

(yes, i did just discover the indention feature!)

warnings: angst if you squint, h*rny love letters, prisoners cat calling y/n, aaaand smut

word count: 3.5 k (i really don't know how this was supposed to be less than 1,000)

i don't love how this came out but the idea kept floating around in my head so i wanted to share!

Y/N didn't think what started as a harmless little experiment would show her just how powerful words could be.

She scrolled through row after row of photos on the 'write a prisoner' website on a boring evening just for something to do. And now each time she got a letter in the mail from him, her stomach would flutter.

Her finger stopped mid scroll as she came across the photo of the scruffy faced man with cheekbones carved by the gods and eyes clearer than the skies.

Duncan Shepherd.

Her eyes scanned his profile, learning that he was being held in a minimum security prison out of D.C for numerous white collar crimes, including bribery and extortion. He listed his interests as fine arts and finer wines. He'd be out for parole soon but was looking for a way to pass his time in prison.

Out of the hundreds of prisoners Y/N had scrolled past, none of them held her interest like Duncan.

It started off innocently enough. She grabbed a piece of paper from her drawer and her favorite pen and wrote him a simple introduction letter. Even if Duncan didn't seem like a dangerous or violent criminal, she felt a sense of adrenaline in writing him.

Duncan,

I hope this letter finds you well. I like to imagine you get a lot of mail sent to you. I read on your profile that you're a fan of the arts, I'd love to know more about you and what kind of art you enjoy. Truth is, I don't even know why I'm doing this, but figured prison must be lonely so I hope this helps pass the time.

I included a print of one of my favorite pieces of art to hopefully liven up your cell.

All the best,

Y/N

Y/N knew it wasn't much to start off with, but she had no clue what to send to a strange she knew next to nothing about. She printed off a print of one of Monet's Water Lillies and sealed it in an envelope with her first letter.

She let herself forget she sent the letter, not making any expectations. For all she knew, Duncan Shepherd wouldn't even reply to her. It would be hard to imagine that other people browsing the site would ignore Duncan's profile. His beauty, even in a mugshot was beyond compare.

But before long, she'd gotten a beat up envelope in her mailbox from none other than Duncan Shepherd. Excitement buzzed around her as she took a seat in her bed and tore it open.

Y/N,

Thank you for the lovely picture. I've got it hanging above my bed as a reminder of things I loved about my freedom. My mother has an original piece hanging in my childhood home. I remember staring at it for hours, enthralled by the beauty of it.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the print in your envelope.

You know what they say about great minds.

Sometimes I wonder if my family would have let me pursue the arts if I'd be where I am today.

But I am eagerly counting the days until I am able to stroll through a museum in Paris again.

I am dying to know more about you. Tell me what makes up Y/N.

At the bottom of the sheet, was a rough sketch of a garden Duncan had drawn out for her.

The letters continued like that for a few weeks, slowly learning little bits and pieces of each other through writing.

She'd learned a lot about him very quickly. He told her about how troubles with his app and his powerful family led to him going to prison. And he also told her about all of the things he loved to do. Much to her surprise, she had more in common with him than she thought she would have,

Y/N,

We've been writing to each other for some time now and I must admit, curiosity is killing me. Not to mention, I do believe it's unfair that you've known what I look like from the start.

Tell me, did my photograph have anything to do with your interest in me?

I'd love to see you Y/N.

Y/N re-read the letter over and over trying to justify the butterflies in her stomach at the idea of Duncan thinking about her. Wondering what she looks like.

Duncan kept every letter Y/N had sent him using them as a way to fuel his daydreams of the woman behind the letters.

-

Y/N dug through her things in search of an old polaroid camera she had. - she thought Duncan would appreciate the use of instant film. Even if she felt a little silly doing so, she did her hair and makeup and searched her closet for the perfect outfit. In some way, this would be like Duncan's first impression of her. Little did she know, she'd already made a huge first impression with him.

She settled for a deep burgundy silk tank with a cowl neckline. She tossed her favorite leather jacket over it and put on her favorite dainty gold necklaces, letting them rest above her cleavage.

She made a little set up by the window in her room, where the light came in just right for a photo, and propped the camera up on a pile of books before setting it on an automatic timer to have it snap the photo of her.

She stared at the photo, smiling - happy with the results.

Y/N sat at her desk, writing him another letter and including her photo along with it.

-

Duncan opened his new letter from Y/N letting the photo fall from the envelope. He picked it up and stared in awe. He couldn't even focus on reading the words on the page as he stared at her picture.

In his mind, he expected her to be beautiful but was blown away by her photo.

He kept it safe, tucked under his pillow. He would take it out every night to look at it until he fell asleep dreaming of her.

Duncan saw her face... eyes clenched shut... pouty lips formed into a perfect "O" as her thighs surrounded his face.

He saw his hands traveling up her legs... kissing up her bare stomach... kissing her lips.

Everything felt so real.

Duncan woke up in a hot sweat from his over realistic dream. He could almost imagine her taste on his tongue.

The moon shone into his room giving him a sliver of silver light and he pulled her photo out, tracing his finger over her face.

He turned on the little lamp at his desk and sat down to write her back.

I can't tell you the time, but I believe it's past midnight and I can't sleep without dreaming of you.

Forgive me if I'm being forward, but I can't get you off my mind.

What I would give to be with you now...

Y/N, I want to feel your skin on mine. I imagine what it must feel like to have your lips pressed against my own.

I can't stop myself from thinking of all the ways I want to make you mine.

D.S.

--

I want to make you mine.

Y/N kept going back to those words.

If it weren't for the prison bars keeping Duncan away...

Her daydreams of spending the afternoons sipping coffee and strolling through colorful cities with Duncan began to change after the last letter. Knowing that he wanted her sent shivers down her spine.

I can't stop thinking about you either... Especially your last letter.

I want to know all the ways you'd make me yours.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it as well. I'm counting the days with you until you're able to get out and do just that...

Y/N colored her lips with her favorite lipstick and kissed the bottom of the page, leaving the perfect kiss mark on it.

She had unlocked something with Duncan with the last letter. Ever since he and Y/N started to exchange letters back and forth, he hadn't even bothered to open mail from other admirers. He only had eyes for Y/N.

Y/N.

Wish you could hear how your name falls off my lips as I chant it over and over when I bring myself relief - picturing your lips around my cock.

God.

It's hard to think clearly when you're on my mind.

You want to know of all the ways I'd make you mine? My hand would fall off by the time it took to write out each and every way I'd do that, sweetheart.

For starters, I'd love to skin my teeth into your skin. Leaving sweet love bites along your neck. Would you like that?

I wouldn't want you to worry about a thing.

You'd let me take care of you, right baby?

Maybe I'd tie up your wrists to make sure you keep still while I work on making you cum.

I hope you know I plan on keeping these promises the moment I get out.

Y/N touched herself as she read Duncan's letter again. His words making her pool between her legs. She dipped her hand into her panties and imagined everything Duncan described that he'd do to her.

Y/N wanted to do something special for Duncan.

She changed into a lacy lingerie set and grabbed her old camera again. Her heartbeat was beating fast with excitement. She held one hand up with her finger on the shutter and pointed it towards her bottoms. As she dipped her free hand into the waistband of her panties, she took the teasing shot of her hand inside her underwear.

Her cheeks felt hot as she took a look at the photo.

She took a few more. A few more teasing pictures - like the one she took wearing her leather jacket barely covering her - along with more R- rated photos.

She grabbed her small stack of photos and tied them with a piece of ribbon in order from least to most risque and added them to the letter she sent off to him.

Do you know what you do to me?

My letters make you touch yourself? What I would give to be able to see it in more than just your pictures. To be able to hear you for myself.

You don't know how much I loved your photos. You make my cock throb, thinking of just how much I want to fuck you.

I need to see you. Hear you.

How would you feel about coming to see me?

I can arrange with my assistants (the ones not in prison) to arrange a flight for you...

Please let me know what you think.

Love, D.S.

Love D.S.

-

"Shepherd. You got a call," the guard buzzed Duncan out of his cell and took him to the phone booth where the phone was waiting for him.

He wasn't expecting a call from his lawyer until later this week so he wasn't sure who would be calling him. Not like he and his family were on great terms at the moment.

Y/N tapped her foot anxiously on the other end of the call, trying to fight the nerves off.

"Hello?"

His voice was lower than she expected.

"Hi," she spoke barely above a whisper. "It's Y/N," she continued.

"Y/N? Y/N? Oh my god." Duncan smiled in a way he hadn't since he stepped foot into prison. "Your voice!" he laughed, "I'm hearing your voice! Wait, how? I - why? How?" he was at loss for words at the surprise.

"I hope it's okay. I called the office where I send my letters to and asked to call you," she bit her lip. "I like your voice."

Duncan chuckled, shaking his head. "Wow. It's so good to hear yours."

They knew they didn't have much time but they were both so wrapped up in the fact that they were hearing each other for the first time.

"I, uh, also wanted to talk to you about your... proposal from your last letter... about visiting you I mean." she paced back and forth in her room. "I'd like that. A lot."

His cheeks would be hurting from how hard he was smiling.

"You've got it, baby. We'll make it happen, I promise."

There was a brief pause, "Don't know how I'm gonna control myself when I have you in front of me, princess."

"Two minutes, Shepherd," the guard called over making Duncan roll his eyes.

"I have to go soon. But include your info in the next letter and I'll have my lawyers work something out with you, okay?"

"Okay," she smiled. "And Dunc, it's so good to hear your voice too,"

"You'll call me again?" he asked, desperation almost bleeding into his tone.

"Yes. I promise."

"Good." he grinned. "I'll talk to you soon. Bye, baby."

-

Over the next few weeks, Y/N and Duncan continued to have phone calls more often, but their letters never stopped. He got in touch with his attorney and passed along Y/N's information for him to follow up and help arrange a trip for her.

Before she knew it, she was being flown out in a first class seat to D.C.

They had her stay in a luxury suite the night before she got to finally meet Duncan.

The morning of, Y/N had piles of clothes tossed around the room as she searched for what to wear.

She'd known Duncan and his taste pretty well from his letters and phone calls to know what he liked. Y/N put on a baby pink silk mini slip dress that tiptoed the line between streetwear and lingerie, and strappy heels.

"Damn, baby. Haven't seen you around here..."

"Are you here for me?"

Along with countless other cat calls flooded her ears as the guard led her to Duncan's cell.

Duncan heard the commotion down the hall and he knew Y/N would be there any second. He frowned, wanting to take her away. None of those creeps deserved to even look at her, and here they were harassing her. It was his fault for bringing her there. He tried to tune them out, wanting to be okay when he saw Y/N.

Y/N was standing behind the guard as they came to Duncan's cell.

"Follow me, Shepherd. You both have an hour," the guard let Duncan out and he could finally lock eyes with Y/N.

She froze, finally seeing. His photo on the website did him no justice. The piercing stare of his eyes couldn't be recaptured on camera. His pink, full lips were even prettier in person.

"Hi," Duncan broke the silence between them. He was handcuffed immediately so he couldn't touch her the way he wished he could have right away.

But they were taken to the parloir where they would finally have some sense of privacy. Duncan's lawyers had worked out for this conjugal visit. They might have slipped the guards a few extra bills to ensure Duncan and Y/N had extra privacy for a moment. But Duncan had been a model prisoner (in one of the comfiest prisons in the country), so the guards had no reason to say no.

"One hour." he reminded Dunc, as he removed his handcuffs and left the room, leaving Y/N and Duncan alone.

"You're here," he closed the gap between them and embraced her. She smelled even better than he imagined.

"Duncan," she smiled with tears in her eyes, "I can't believe it's really you," she giggled.

"It's me," he pulled back, holding her hands as he admired her. "God, you're gorgeous."

Y/N couldn't help herself. She threw her arms around Duncan and kissed him.

Duncan stumbled back a little before steadying them. He cupped her face and deepened the kiss. He could feel her pulse quickening under his hand.

"God, can't believe you're here," he mumbled against her lips.

It'd be so long since he'd be this intimate with anyone - let alone someone he liked so much. He tried to push back the thoughts of the ticking clock counting their time and the cold industrial feel of the room they were in.

"I'm here... I'm yours," she tangled her fingers in his hair before kissing him again.

Duncan led her to the table, setting her on top of it. He towered above her, his hands on her thighs, slowly inching up her dress. She was everything he imagined and more.

"Open your legs for me," he instructed, parting them open.

He lowered himself until he was face to face with her dripping cunt. Her panties, if they could even be called that - they were a piece of barely-there cloth - were soaked. Duncan pressed her lips to the wet spot on her underwear and kissed it slowly, letting his tongue poke out through his lips and coat them with his saliva as well.

"Taste so sweet," he murmured, pulling her panties aside and putting his tongue on her wet pussy.

He lapped her wetness with his tongue, letting it massage her clit. Sucking and kissing her - watching how every move he made caused a different reaction from her.

Y/N tried to keep quiet, biting down on her lip to stifle her moans.

Duncan peeked up at her, holding in her sounds. He remembered the way the other prisoners hollered at her.

"I wanna hear you, baby. Please," he begged. He kissed along her thighs, "Want everyone in this god damn prison to know you're mine."

Y/N let the sounds she was holding in fall freely.

"Duncan. Duncan..." she called his name over and over getting closer to the sweet relief his tongue promised.

"Cum for me, sweetheart."

Duncan felt her heels digging into his shoulder blades as she trembled, finishing on his lips.

"Good girl," he praised, kissing along her thighs.

Duncan stood up as Y/N watched him with her hands pressed on the table, leaning back slightly to watch him.

"What?" Duncan chuckled, slowly undoing his jumpsuit.

"Just can't stop looking at you! You're real!" she laughed.

"Sure am," he grabbed his shaft, closing the gap between them. "I don't know when we'll be able to see each other.. like this again," he leaned down to kiss her. "Wanna make sure I make you feel good,"

He rubbed the end of his cock against her pussy. "Are you ready?"

"Waited so long," she whined, nodding her head.

Duncan pushed inside her, slowly. Savoring the way he stretched her open.

"Fuck," he groaned. "You're so tight," he panted, feeling her clench around his length.

He focused on the way he snapped his hips into hers, keeping a steady pace trying not to finish before she did.

But it had been so long. It had been a long time coming for this moment.

His head was in the crook of her neck, panting heavily. "Fuck, baby." he sunk his teeth into her soft skin. "Gonna cum," before he could finish his statement, he shot his load into her.

He stayed inside her as he rode out his orgasm.

Flushed Duncan faced her; embarrassed for finishing before he wanted to. "I'm sor-" she stopped him by pulling him in for a hard, deep kiss.

She pushed his hair out of his face, bumping her nose with his, "Nothing to be sorry for."

She had Duncan lay on the floor, using his jumpsuit to hold his head up, and then straddled his waist.

Her silky mini dress was bunched around her hips. Duncan found himself getting hard again as she climbed on top of him.

"Thought about doing this for so long," she kissed him. "Can't tell you how often I touched myself reading your letters... thinking about riding you," she sighed, positioning herself over his cock and sinking down.

She rode his cock, bouncing up and down his length. Her nails dug into his chest as she used it for support. The curve of his cock hitting her core made her eyes roll back with each roll of her hips.

Hot sweaty bodies had the coldness of the room forgotten.

Y/N grabbed Duncan's hands, intertwining their fingers, "Gonna.." she started, her legs shaking as her movement got sloppier.

"Me too," he grunted.

She felt Duncan fill her to the brim for the second time.

After a few moments of stillness, Y/N finally stood up, helping Duncan up with her. Her legs were shaky and Duncan helped her sit down.

She reached into her purse for a rag she brought. Duncan took it from her hand and got on his knees again. He cleaned their cum off her thighs, stopping only to give her small little kisses on her legs.

He heard Y/N sniffle and looked up, concern painted across his face. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Is she regretting it? He thought.

"No! Of course not," she sniffled again, "I just wish... you could come with me. Leave this place with me."

"Oh, baby," he stood up and kissed her forehead. "Soon. I promise," he tilted her chin up to kiss her.

And Y/N knew he meant what he said. Soon they'd be able to be together all the time, but it still broke her heart to leave and have to see him stay behind the metal bars.

tags:

@desertsunflower00 @celestialrequiem @dhampiravidi @ritualmichael @blakescoven @dark-mei-rose @xavierplympton @langdonswhoreprobably @feralthoughtdump @wroteclassicaly @melodylangdon @bloodcoatedeclipse @kitty4860

bonus: screenshot from a very good point drunk!anon made vkfsjk

[sapphosthoughtsandwritings]

Hungry Eyes - Bucky Barnes x insecure!Reader

Warnings: insecure thoughts, slight body dysmorphia

Type: fluff, song fic

Word Count: ~2.1k

A/N: this is one of the first fanfics I’ve ever written (we don’t speak of my middle school fics I wrote), so I hope it turned out okay! I of course had to use this song for Bucky ;) I’m always open to feedback!

---

It's not just an end one

That's not the mambo

Looking in the mirror, the curves of your body were illuminated by the dress you’re wearing for another one of Tony’s parties. You were never one for parties or big gatherings, but Natasha had somehow roped you into attending this one. How? Well, she knew your biggest weakness: a certain man with a metal arm. You’d had a daydream in mind for a while: a night to dance with Bucky, slow and romantic; you were a sucker for cliche things. But why would he like someone who looks like you?

It's a feeling, a heartbeat

Ga-gonk, ga-gonk

Close your eyes, ga-gonk

Don't try so hard

You entered the limo waiting outside the tower, face starting to flush as your thoughts began to bombard you. ‘Why did I ever choose this dress in the first place? It doesn’t flatter me at all. How bad do I look? Is my makeup too much? Does my body even look okay?’ It all was becoming too much, your eyes swelled with tears, heart beating faster with your increased anxiety, but it was too late to turn back now. You’d just have to suck it up. Hopefully you could avoid seeing Bucky and just hide out in a corner, alone. You shut your eyes tightly, feeling the car stop, signifying that you had arrived, your heart now sinking to the bottom of your stomach.

I've been meaning to tell you

I've got this feelin' that won't subside

You exited the limo, silk dress falling softly at your sides, a stark contrast from your hands that rested clenched at your side. Taking a deep breath, you walked through the tall glass doors of the luxurious ballroom. The room was gorgeous, shining brightly with white marble floors, gold accents along the walls and windows, several chandeliers hanging from the obscenely tall ceiling, illuminating the room in a heavenly glow. You hoped the beauty of the room would distract your teammates from your own looks. Pushing your way through people, you glanced across the room to a large, stainglassed window, and in front of it was no other than your crush. If your cheeks weren’t red before, they sure were now. Your clenched hands now starting to sweat, heart beating even faster. ‘Gods, I hope he doesn’t see me, I hope he doesn’t come over here.’ You could handle watching him from afar, but if he came over to talk, oh you’d surely make a fool of yourself, which would only feed into your anxiety more.

I look at you and I fantasize

You're mine tonight

You meandered around for a few minutes, chatting with people here and there, occasionally peaking over at Bucky. Taking your gaze away for a few minutes, you made your way over to one of the bars, sitting down in a rather uncomfortable, backless stool, looking over the different drinks the gala was offering. Combing a hand through your hair, sighing deeply, you ordered a shot of whiskey, knowing you’d need something strong to get you through the night. Quietly thanking the bartender, you took a sip of the golden drink, feeling the sting deep in your throat. It helped ease your anxiety, but your mind never stopped imagining what it would be like to dance so close to him, to feel his warmth, a comfort you longed for so deeply.

Now, I've got you in my sights

With these hungry eyes

One look at you and I can't disguise

Bucky took another sip of his champagne, trying to look engaged in the conversation that was happening, when really, his attention was focused on you. Quick glances your way turned into minutes of staring. You completely enamored him. He thought you were beautiful in every possible way: how your eyes light up when you’re passionate, the softness of your skin, the way your voice sounded like honey, the gentle aura that always surrounded you, he could go on forever. He absolutely loved you. But how in the world was he supposed to tell you that? 

I've got hungry eyes

I feel the magic between you and I

“You know, if you don’t ask them out, I might just have to do it myself”, Natasha said, bringing Bucky out of his thoughts and back to the conversation at hand. “You wouldn’t”. “Try me”. He sighed heavily, rubbing his temple slightly, knowing Natasha was serious about her offer. Shuffling his feet a couple of times, he set his glass down on a nearby table, then made his way over to the bar you were at. He could hear his heartbeat ringing in his ears. ‘Nat’s gonna pay for this one’, he thought to himself. Watching you tilt your head back to take another shot of your whiskey, his mouth became dry. How was it that you made just drinking look so beautiful? “Hey doll, mind if I join you?” Your heart skipped a beat and you jumped slightly. Looking up at him, you were lost for words, feeling your body heat increase immensely. “Oh, uh sure!”, you gave him a soft smile. He returned it, sitting in the barstool right next to you, allowing you to breathe in his cologne. 

I want to hold you so hear me out

I want to show you what love's all about

Darling tonight

There was a moment of silence between the two of you, not wildly uncomfortable, but the nervous tension was palpable. You finally got the courage to turn your head slightly and get a better look at him. And oh lord, did he look a hell of a lot better up close. Long hair slicked back, a dark, almost black, red suit, with a lighter red tie to match. The suit must have been tailored to him, it fit his muscles too well to not be. Bucky caught your gaze, and you quickly looked back down at your drink, hoping he didn’t notice. As the next song started playing, the atmosphere in the room changed, and Bucky let out a soft gasp. You glanced at him again, his face now lit up with joy. “What is it?”, you quizzed. “This was a popular jazz song in the 40s, one of my favorites actually”, he smiled happily, turning his full attention to you, cheeks lightly dusted pink. “You think I could have this dance, doll?”, he asked, hand outstretched to you.

Now, I've got you in my sights

With these hungry eyes

One look at you and I can't disguise

You swore your heart stopped beating. He wanted to dance, with you? It was almost too good to be true. But Bucky wasn’t the type to joke about these things. You couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across your face, as you gently placed your hand atop his much bigger one. “Of course you can”. He bit his lip slightly, wrapping his hand around yours, leading you to the middle of the dance floor. His metal arm dipped to wrap around your waist, bringing you closer to him. Having a soft grasp on his bicep, you let him lead, as you both started swaying to the song. 

I've got hungry eyes

I feel the magic between you and I

I've got hungry eyes

“You know, you look gorgeous tonight sugar”. Lifting your gaze up to meet his, he looked at you with a certain glimmer in his eyes. Sucking a breath in, your grip on his bicep tightened a little. “You really think so?”, your voice was quiet, somewhat doubting what you just heard. His face crinkled a little, looking at you with a bit of disbelief. “Of course I do. I don’t think my eyes would lie to me sweetheart”. You were sure your face was as red as his suit now. “Thank you, you look pretty good yourself”. He chuckled lightly, intertwining his flesh hand with yours. “Well thank you, doll”. 

Now I've got you in my sights

With those hungry eyes

Now, did I take you by surprise?

Without thinking too much, you placed your head on his chest, sighing contentedly. This was perfect, a scene straight from your dreams, you could live in this moment forever. Bucky pulled you in closer, if that was even possible, rubbing his thumb across the back of your hand. He kissed the top of your head, as the world around you faded away, it was just you and him. You heard him breathe deeply, as he dipped his head down closer to your ear. “Would you believe it if I told you that I’d had this exact moment in my dreams so many times?”. You licked your now chapped lips, gazing up at him. “I would, cause I’ve dreamt of this so many times too”. You saw him smile, as both of you stopped dancing momentarily.

I need you to see

This love was meant to be

The world seemed to slow around you two, his flesh hand travelling up your arm, finding its place under your chin, tipping your face upwards. Your breath caught in your throat, your now free hand gently grasping the overcoat of his suit. His tongue traced his bottom lip, icy blue eyes boring into your own, his thumb tracing just below your lip. “Can I kiss you, Y/N?”. You swallowed thickly, your head feeling hazy, you nodded. “Yes, yes you can”. Within an instant, he closed the gap between the two of you, rough lips melding against your own. Your right hand went from his bicep up to the back of his neck, while your left pulled him closer by the jacket. Turning your head slightly, you deepened the kiss, feeling his metal hand tighten its grip on your hip.

 I've got hungry eyes

One look at you and I can't disguise

I've got hungry eyes

You both continued kissing, slow and gentle, until someone nearby cleared their throat. You pulled away reluctantly, finding Tony being the culprit of ruining the moment. “If you lovebirds keep making out, can you at least not do it in the middle of the ballroom? Get a room at least”, he raised an eyebrow, looking amused with himself. Bucky sent him a glare, letting out a frustrated huff. You giggled at his frustration, grabbing his right hand. “C’mon Buck, I’m sure there’s a balcony or somethin’ more private in this place”, you said, dragging him towards the edge of the ballroom. His features changed quickly, mesmerized by your form as he followed behind you.

I feel the magic between you and I

I've got hungry eyes

Walking around with him, you found a hallway leading away from the party, and at the end of it, surely enough was a pair of French glass doors leading to a balcony. Bucky picked up his pace, skipping a bit so he could open the door for you. “After you, sweetheart”. You giggled, feeling your face flush for probably the hundredth time of the night. “And they say chivalry is dead”. He smiled proudly, following after you into the clear night air. You walked to the railing, elbows resting on the cool metal. Looking up at the star lit sky, you breathed in deeply, feeling yourself relaxing in the comfort of finally being alone with Bucky. He circled around to your left side, leaning on his side against the railing to look at you. “It’s beautiful out tonight, isn’t it?”, you said quietly, eyes twinkling in the moonlight. Bucky hadn’t stopped looking at your face, chin resting on his hand, giving you the sweetest heart eyes ever. “Not as beautiful as you”.

Now I've got you in my sights

With the hungry eyes

But did I take you by surprise?

You rolled your eyes at his cheesy remark, but you couldn’t shake the smile that remained on your face. Turning to face him, you placed your hands on his chest, looking up into his eyes. “So, does this mean we’re, like, a thing now?”, you asked, feeling the nerves in your stomach return. He wrapped his arms around you, brushing some of your hair behind your ear, his touch lingering on your face. “I sure hope so doll”. Leaning down, one hand in your hair, the other around your lower back, he swooped you into another kiss, this one more passionate than the first. Your arms wrapped around his neck, smiling into the kiss, feeling your worries transform into butterflies fluttering throughout your body. God, you could definitely get used to this.

With my hungry eyes

I'm dizzy, hungry eyes

Now, I've got you in my sights

With my hungry eyes

[analviel]

BAD BAT: an old thing I found in one of my notes, just wanted to share, not gonna continue it at all, I have no idea what I had planned for it.

Tim needed to do something.

Anything.

Anything but sit in front of the Bat-computer, staring.

Oh god.

Oh, god.

Tim needed to do something. Now.

But he couldn't because blood was rushing in his ears and his mind was sluggish, a desperate attempt to protect himself as his world crashed around him not for the first time.

This time, he didn't, wouldn't, have Batman beside him.

Because Batman-

Because Bruce-

Tim stared and stared and stared and all the evidence stared back.

The face of Richard Grayson, Jason Todd, and Timothy Drake stared back.

Robin stared back.

And of course Tim's mind had already made the connection, had already completed the picture, had already matched it to reality and filled in the blank spaces he hadn't even been aware was there.

Oh, god.

Combined with his sickness that had him benched for the night and the sudden, shocking, knowledge that Batman had killed his parents, had killed Robin's parents, Tim staggered to his feet and off his seat, socks slipping on the cool cave floors as he stumbled towards the nearest bin and upended his dinner. And lunch and breakfast and the other dinner until he was left dry heaving and crying in the Batcave over the stink of his vomit.

Oh, god.

Tim needed to do something.

Tim needed to start thinking of what to do.

The action was easy, instinct, trained. Retrieving one of his Robin storage from his jacket, Tim scrambled back to the computer to fumble with sticking it in, copying the entire file and all the incriminating evidence.

Methodically, he returned it back to its previous encryption, erased the backdoor he made, and burned every hint that he'd even come anywhere close to the file. So very, very aware of the chill of the cave, cold fingers digging in his inside, and senses peaked for any presence in the cold, cold cavern.

Now what?

Tim stared at the black of the screen of the Bat-computer and missed the light.

Shock, he distantly thought. He was in shock.

Robin- Tim stared down at the gold chip in his hand. So tiny. So harmless. And now it contained everything that could make or break.... a lot of things. A lot of people.

Oh god. Where was he going to go?

Oh, god.

Did he want to go?

Because Batman-

Because Bruce-

Bruce is Tim's father. The only father he's left.

And-

And maybe he's wrong.

(Denial.)

Maybe someone was trying to frame Batman. To turn his own family against him and what kind of son was Tim if he let himself be fooled so easily.

This couldn't....

This couldn't be right.

Tim took a shaky inhale.

Shook his head.

But if it was right then his current train of thought was all wrong.

Tim....

Tim was always left with the hard decisions wasn't he?

This wouldn't be the first time and he had the sinking feeling it wouldn't be the last.

So with an exhale, Tim yanked himself into the backseat of his mind and let training and objectivity slide in the slot of the driver.

In Tim's hand was evidence that Bruce Wayne, his adoptive father, had orchestrated the death of Dick's, Jason's, and Tim's parents deaths.

And just putting those in words, even just in his mind, almost had him with the knee jerk reaction to crash his mind just to stop thinking about it.

Now Tim didn't know what to do but he, undoubtedly, had to do something. Anything.

Well, anything that hopefully wouldn't get him killed by the man he considered his father-

Bad Tim. Don't think about that. Not now.

Later.

Who was he supposed to go with this information?

Alfred?

..... Tim didn't know. Everything he knew about Alfred said that the man would've never condoned this if he knew.

But everything Tim had known about Batman said the same.

Tim was too scared to be wrong and maybe even more afraid to be right.

Oracle? No.

Babs was a badass but she was vulnerable to Batman. She might be able to help, distanced from the situation as she was, certainly would be able to make better decisions than Tim currently could, but Batman could get to her -and it was easier to think Batman than Bruce- and Tim didn't want anyone hurt, least of all her.

Wether this was real or not and regardless of the growing part of him that wanted to shut it all out.

Tim was running out of time.

His mind was working against him.

And wasn't that a chilling thought because suddenly the word brainwashing and reprogramming-

Not now, Tim.

The sound of footsteps, faint and purposeful, was like a shot through his chest.

Tim stuffed the stick in a skin coloured garter pocket wrapped around his calf.

"Master Timothy- My goodness, young man."

Oh yeah. He didn't just feel sick, he probably looked the whole shebang.

He turned and he was vaguely glad that he didn't need to fake a smile or what when Alfred crossed the distance between them with a pinched expression, because he really didn't think he could put up any expression other than shock. And that he could barely hold up as it slowly gave way to despair and- and just an amalgamation of emotions he couldn't start even naming much less dealing with.

Alfred rested a hand on his forehead, "Young man, how long have you been down here? It seems your cold has worsen. Hardly a surprise when you spend your time down in this damp basement."

Who was he supposed to go to?

Tim had only a handful of options.

Alfred, Barbara, and-

And Dick.

Oh, god, did Dick know?

He tilted to the right and Alfred caught him, lips pursed. Everything feels like it's trapped behind murky water.

"I think that's enough. Go up to your room now and rest, Master Timothy."

Dick would've warned him, right? If Dick had known, his big brother would've told him, right? He wouldn't have let this happen.

Dick was-

His big brother.

Dick wasn't his only brother. Wasn't the last option.

Jason.

Oh. It's weird to attach that label to that name.

Weird.

Not bad.

The older boy -man? he's never quite sure what to call them, neither word sounding right- never really acknowledge him as such, it was probably beyond presumptuous for Tim to think of him like that even in the quite of his mind, but....

Tim's head shot up, almost headbutting Alfred.

"You're right, Alfred. I'm- I'm going to go up."

He ignored how weak his voice sounded and moved away from the butler towards the manor, just barely managing not to break into a run.

Then he was breaking out into a run once he's out of sight, past the many rooms and halls of the Wayne manor, and throwing open the door of his room. Without a single pause, he picked up random semi-presentable garments off the floor and wiggled out of his pyjamas to put them on, digging around his closet for the black box containing his customised watch to strap on his wrist, and grabbing his skateboard, a sticky note, and a pen on his way out.

Tim slapped a 'do not disturb, sleeping' note on his door. Fifty-fifty that the warning would be heeded, every second would count.

Tim turned on the micro computer in his watch as he snuck out of the manor and past the grounds, using the shadows of the night and his innate predilection for stealth to his advantage.

~*~

A banging on the door had Jason grabbing a gun, Kori standing at attention, and Roy training an arrow at the window.

They were in one of his safe houses in Gotham, a short stop to pick up some supplies, patching each other up from their latest mission, before they're going straight back to the base.

No one should be knocking on this apartment.

Jason exchanged glances with the others and slowly approached the door-

"Please! Jason, I know you're in there! Please, please open up! Please, oh god, please open up!"

Robin.

He'd know that voice anywhere, practically his largest trigger for the Pit Madness-

He sounded desperate. In fact, if he was hearing right through the hardwood, the boy was practically sobbing.

Already knowing who it was, and feeling a trickle of worry in the back of his head despite himself, Jason sped up the rest of the way and pulled the door open to see Tim Drake in all his civilian teen glory. Pale, red rimmed eyes, and choking on his breath.

Out of his armor.

Defenceless in front of Jason.

Not Robin.

The boy didn't even wait for an invite, stumbling inside and grabbing the door out of his hands and slamming it close behind him.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing kid?" Jason growled, letting all his menace fill the air.

Roy raised an eyebrow.

It was strange to see Jason being like this with a kid.

But Tim Drake was different.

No, not really. Jason was just a hypocrite who didn't do what he preach and wasn't actually all that better from those scums he put bullets in.

And Tim- Tim just stared.

So miserably it was the only thing keeping the green at bay from flaring as it usually did around his replacement.

That and the fact that, this time, if Jason was going to do something, he'd have to look Tim Drake in the eyes.

"Did- did you know?"

The question was so quiet he almost didn't catch it with his thoughts still swirling.

Jason blinked, "What."

And Tim sobbed, sliding down to the floor in a breakdown and Jason's mind blanked.

And for the first time in a very long time, Jason thought where was Dick?

(The last time he thought that, he was in a warehouse and a crowbar was falling on him.)

"I-" Hands came up to wipe at the tears in vain, "It was my fault. If I didn't- dad, and mom, they- and Bruce-"

Tim made some sort of keening sound and, yeah, he wasn't going to get anything out of the kid in his current state.

And Jason was hyperaware of his teammates behind him, waiting for his lead.

Jason dropped in a crouch barely an arms length away. The kid didn't even flinch, didn't make any indication that he was aware in how much danger he was currently in.

His cheeks were flushed and he was sweating in a way that had Jason suspecting that his temperature was higher than normal.

"Kid.... Tim...." it was a challenge to keep his voice at least not aggressive. The boy choked on another sob, blue eyes purple in the dim lighting as he looked at him, and oh, fuck, he was hyperventilating.

Jason needed him present.

And there was only one sure way he knew to do that.

"Robin. Calm down." He said in that exact same pitch he did.

But to Jason's confusion and actual rising concern, rather than freezing and gradually falling back to trained breathing, Tim paled -how that was even possible with how pale he already was, Jason didn't know- and reeled back in horror, chest stuttering.

Shit.

Jason watched him.

He shook his head, but at least his eyes seemed more present now, "Don't- don't call me that, please."

Well, if he hadn't already thought so before, now he knew with certainty that it was Bruce that got his Robin running towards his homicidal predecessor.

Go figure.

"Hey, kid. Tim. You need to calm down. Mainly, because you're not gonna get out whatever you came here to tell me or whatever, and partly because I ain't promising I'm not gonna get violent if you keep wasting my time."

.... It was exactly what he wanted to say, but as usual, something in him got a bit complicated. Not quite regret.

But closest he was probably going to get.

He felt that around Tim a lot.

Tim hiccupped, finally falling back on training to shove aside the hysteria. Then he pulled himself to his feet, eyes staying locked on Jason's and completely ignoring the two.

He presented him with something gold and Jason looked at it with a raised eyebrow as he straightened himself.

"I-" he cleared his throat, "I don't know- Just. Jason, you need to see this- no, I mean, you need to leave Gotham, immediately, and then read it. Everything. Don't- Don't come back until you do, please. That's-"

He ran his hand through his hair the second he was sure Jason wasn't going to drop the stick, looking torn between being as far away from it as he could and snatching it back.

He exhaled a gust, deflating, staring at the older boy morosely, sparing a glance at his friends.

"I don't know what to do, Jason. I- I don't have anywhere else to go. I don't think...... I don't want to think anymore, please. I'm sorry. I could be wrong, I'm probably wrong, I'm being stupid and just overreacting and- and I don't know what to do when I get back. I don't know if anyone else knows, if Alfred-" his voice hitched, "Or, Dick, or- or Superman, I just. I just don't know-"

Jason watched the teen practically break in front of him and in a split second decision, he telegraphed his actions.

And pulled Tim Drake into a hug.

"Calm down. Calm down. Breathe."

He didn't coo, and his voice wasn't designed to be soothing. It was almost a demand actually but it worked and Tim stopped babbling and after a few minutes of complete silence and Jason's hand awkwardly drawing circles on his back, their breathing were in sync.

"... Thank you." Tim said to his chest, and fuck, the kid was short and so fucking small how did he not bleed out-, "Thank you, Jason. I'm going to go- go home now."

And because, well, he didn't really know what else to do, Jason agreed and sent him out, letting him go back to the manor.

He'd regret that later.

~*~

Dick stared at his phone with a frown, worry churning in his gut.

3p.a.;bst¿!

Seemingly a random keyboard smash text from an unknown number, but was actually one of the many protocols of the contingencies his little brother absently rambled about during late nights hanging out, one of the many codes he'd memorized, not quite humoring Tim since anything was possible, but not one he'd ever worried about in their immediate future.

Batman was compromised and likely going after Dick for whatever reason.

And okay, yeah, Dick was concerned but not harried, since if it was really bad then another protocol would've been activated. Mind you, the Batman being compromised was truly something to be concerned about, but it seemed whatever was happening didn't pose the risk of Bruce dying.

That said, Batman was compromised and last Dick knew, Tim was with Batman.

And now Dick had no choice but to trust that Tim knew what he was doing and was somewhere safe for them to regroup.

Not that it stopped the familiar stone in his chest whenever he worried about his little brother -little brothers.

Dick grabbed his emergency pack and prepared to leave, for Nightwing to disappear while they fix this.

Sorry about the big block but I'm... trying to figure out how to do the read more thing on mobile.

[cassianwithamessybun]

elucien one-shot

Another Elain and Lucien one shot. I feel like Elain is super depressed. Ummmm so that’s basically what this is. It is from her POV and it is semi sad so yeah. Hopefully I will make another happy one soon. But I feel like their relationship is super depressing. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, it just makes me sad they are not together. anyway I hope you enjoy!

————————————————

Elain spotted Lucien sitting in the foyer basking in the sunlight that was streaming in from the windows.

The light made his red hair sparkle in gold hues, and made his skin seem to glow.

She wanted to keep this picture in a safe, quiet place in her mind.

Why? She didn’t know, but seeing him content— calm made her breath easier.

Which used to infuriate her, but lately she’s been too tired to feel anything at all.

She no longer gave a shit about anything, and that was the only reason she stepped into the foyer.

His head whipped and his eyes locked on her sensing her presence. Though he had likely known she was there long before she stepped into the room.

The mating bond had been what led her here to him anyway.

She said nothing as she strode towards him, her steps eating up the space between them.

She sat down in the chair across from him nearly four feet apart.

Likely the closest they had been since the first day they met.

He looked at her for a moment too long. As if fighting some internal battle on if she was real or not.

Still, she said nothing that would help with his confusion. She only looked at him.

She felt something through the bond: Sadness? Uncertainty? Maybe both?

But she sighed in contentment because she felt something and even sadness and despair was better than nothing.

Lately The only feelings she could get these days were the ones Lucien accidentally sent through the bond.

That was the sole reason she was here.

“Elain?” She watched his mouth move and letters and words came out, but she did not hear what he said.

Words, she thought, were such dangerous creatures. Single syllables could create emotions and break hearts-- 

My heart belongs to you.

I don’t want it. Grayson’s words had cut so deeply into her-- sliced so thoroughly that finally, she was pushed over the edge of despair into emptiness. 

Oblivion.

She was blind to all other feelings.

“Elain?” she heard him this time.

Fidgeting with the Iron band around her finger that now felt like a weight, she lifted her chin and met his gaze with her own.

His eyes, one russet, and one gold met her own brown.

Elain frowned. She had never liked her eyes much. There was no depth in the color brown, but there were stories and emotions written in Lucien’s eyes.

So many emotions laid bare she had to turn away.

“Why is it that you feel so deeply?” her voice strained under the weight of a thousand tears yearning to fall.

He looked at her then, most likely coming to the conclusion that she was just a dream.

“I don’t know,” he paused as if weighing how truthfully he should answer.

But Elain supposed she didn’t deserve the truth anyway. Didn’t deserve anything at all.

“I think it is because I hope too much,” each of his words sent a ripple of agony down the bond.

“What is it like,” she breathed looking down at her hands-- at the iron band, “to hope?”

She no longer Blocked her tears. They streamed down her face dropping on the floor like a rain shower in the middle of April.

She used to love spring.

She felt Lucien’s hand brush her hair away from her face tentatively, and lightly not wanting to spook her. If only he had known how little she cared about her life and well being, that if someone decided to end her… she wouldn’t stop them.

She closed her eyes and marveled in the touch.

“It’s terrifying,” he wiped away one stream of tears, “hope brings on so much pain, and breaks your heart with disappointment.”

He wiped away the tears on her other cheek and she shuttered, still keeping her eyes closed.

Maybe if she didn’t see him, she could pretend that this was all a dream. A mere figment of her imagination.

“Then why,” she sobbed, “why would you ever open your heart to so much pain?”

She opened her eyes to find him on his knees before her.

“Because there is a slight chance that instead of pain you will find the reprieve of happiness, of life, and love. So I leave my heart open Elain, I hope because maybe through the sea of darkness I will find the light.”

She watched tears slide down his perfect face as he rose and rested his forehead against hers.

There. The bond sparked.

A kernel of light in the sea of darkness.

She touched his cheek, wiping away his tears.

She had never seen a male be so vulnerable before.

and until right now, she had never found crying to be a thing of beauty.

She fell out of her chair and to her knees so they were now level and looked up at him.

Looking at him now was like looking at a thousand suns: too bright to remain looking at, but too beautiful to turn away from.

Through all this pain, this darkness… She thought she would be fine.

She assumed time healed every wound, but it didn’t.

So Elain looked at Lucien—her light, and saw all the hope laced in his eyes despite everything he had endured and said quietly, “I don’t even need happiness, just a little less pain,” her lips trembled with a force that tore up her heartstrings.

She was destroying herself from the inside out. 

“Pain is only what you allow it to be,” his thumb ran soothing strokes across her cheek, “but, I find it hard too,  Elain. Sometimes the pain is so unbearable it’s hard to breathe--

“But I want to breathe!” she sobbed, “I want-- I want to breathe Lucien.”

“I know,” he murmured, pulling her to his chest, “I know,” and his voice sounded like it had been coated in honey. So thick with emotion.

So she tugged him closer to her feeling the bond glow even brighter with the action.

She took a breath. Then another.

And another.

Lucien smelt like cinnamon, apples, and the sparks of a fire.

She breathed him in again deeply, grounding herself.

she felt safe and warm-- two very dangerous feelings.

So she quickly pulled out of his grasp and stood up, feeling so cold at the loss of his touch.

And what she felt through the bond then, was the most devastating, and heart-rending thing she had ever felt.

But at least it was a feeling. She wasn’t stupid enough to start something with Lucien.

She had learned her lesson. She would never open her heart again.

Love was just the first step, and pain would always be the end result.

so love was an emotion she wouldn’t allow herself to feel.

Pain, she decided, was less dangerous than love because there was no hope in it.

So she walked away. Feeling every painful pull at the bond, leaving Lucien in the foyer, not stopping as her heart crumpled inside her chest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@shadowhunter2003

[fivelakesinwriting]

Out of Character (Rafe Cameron) Part 13

Author's Notes: I'm sorry it's been so long since this was updated, but I promise it's been on my mind. I'm hoping the next one is just gonna be BANG- BOOM! Keep you on the edge of your seat. Please let me know what you think if you have a moment, this story is like my baby. Thank you xoxo

Warnings: Angst, Swearing, Violence, Mentions of drugs.

*My work is not to be transferred, copied, translated or reposted to any other sites without my permission. Please see my masterlist for all other works and warnings. Thank you! xoxo

The Mercer house was quiet, and all the lights but one were off. Not even the porch light was on to light his way, but JJ knew the property like the back of his hand. He had been around there too many times to count.

JJ crouched down around the neatly trimmed hedges and flower beds at the edge of the property, his hood pulled over his head and his camouflage mask pulled over his mouth. He stayed low in the bushes as he waited for that light to go off, his breath low and steady.

"What the fuck are you doing? He will kill you." A voice whispered harshly behind him, strong hands on his shoulders.

"John B, don't sneak up on me like that." JJ breathed out, his hands reaching back to grab his friend's wrists off his shoulders.

"I saw you try and sneak out earlier, figured you would be coming here. Try something stupid or heroic." John B mumbled as he crouched down in the bushes with JJ.

"Why can't stupid and heroic be the same thing?" JJ asked as he kept his gaze on the light in the Mercer house.

"Not if it gets you killed by your hookup's dad."

"She's not a hookup, man. She's my -" JJ stopped, his bottom lip tucked too tight between his teeth as he thought about all the things Gemma could be to him.

"She's what, JJ?" John B questioned firmly, his voice getting too loud for JJ's liking in the silent bushes.

"Last time I checked she was Rafe Cameron's girlfriend. Not yours. So I don't know what you're doing here with a crowbar, dressed up like a bank-robber." John B continued as he pulled at the top of JJ's hood.

"Stop, alright. I didn't ask you to come here with me. So if you're gonna do this now, then leave." JJ snarled as he grabbed at John B's forearm to stop how he grabbed at his clothes.

"I don't want to watch you get tossed away in juvie or watch Anthony Mercer put you in the ground because of some girl, JJ." John B replied as he grabbed at JJ's shoulders, giving him a firm shake.

"Shut up. The light's off." JJ whispered, his hand covering John B's mouth while the other pointed at the room on the first floor of the Mercer house.

"What light?" John B grumbled into JJ's hand as he looked back towards the house.

"Anthony's office. He's going to bed, or at least he's not downstairs anymore. It's quiet on the Western front. I'm going in. Keep watch out here. Sometimes he goes out for a cigar at the end of the night." JJ muttered as he grabbed the crowbar at his feet and made his way towards the the side of the house, where the lattice he so frequently used waited for him.

"JJ, the house faces the East! And what am I supposed to do if I see him? JJ, answer me!" John B called out with a harsh whisper through the bushes.

"Don't wait for me." JJ replied under his breath as he hooked the crowbar high on the lattice and began to climb, stepping over the board the had begun to wear beneath use.

JJ reached the top of the lattice where her room was, placed the crowbar gently on the flat roof and looked inside the window to see Gemma laid on her bed reading a book by a headlight. He rapped his knuckles on the windowpane softly, then brought his fingers to his lips when she spotted him.

"I'm breaking you out." He whispered as he held up the crowbar.

She mouthed "loud" and pointed to her ears as she climbed off the bed and walked towards the windowsill to stand in front of where he crouched.

"I've done it a hundred times. He won't hear it. Stand back though." JJ mumbled as he hooked the claw of the crowbar into the first nail that held the window sealed, and started to pull.

Gemma took a step back from the window, and plugged her ears waiting for something to break as JJ twisted and pulled at the nail stuck in the wood. He tugged the first one out with no issue, holding it up in triumph before he tossed it off the roof.

As JJ worked on the second nail, Gemma hurried around her room quickly packing a bag with the essentials for the next day or so. She had no idea where JJ was taking her - she assumed John B's.

"Psst. JJ! We gotta go, man." John B called from the grass, his feet sinking in the freshly watered flower beds.

"I'm not done yet." JJ replied impatiently as he wiggled at the nail, using all his strength to tug it out.

"Okay, well. The light just turned on again, and a car is pulling up. So we have to go." John B spat as he shifted his weight in the mud.

"I'm not leaving without Gemma. Would you leave without Sarah?" JJ sighed with frustration as he finally pulled the nail out. He breathed heavily through his nostrils, his eyes flickering to the girl in the window.

One more to go.

JJ heard John B curse under his breath, but he didn't protest any further. JJ hooked the crowbar in the third and final nail and began to pull. It felt easier than the last one and he sent a small, silent prayer up to whatever was above and yanked. He let out the smallest triumphant laugh when it came out, almost like a knife through hot butter. He pulled the window up and reached for Gemma's hand.

"Let's go, pretty girl. Get your things, I'm taking you home with me." JJ smiled as he reached into her bedroom, the cool air conditioning, courtesy of the Mercer's generator, hitting his skin.

Gemma slung her backpack of her shoulder, grabbed JJ's hand and let him pool her out on to the flat roof through the window. JJ wrapped an arm around her waist tightly, keeping her close as he looked over the edge of the second story, thinking about his next move.

"John B, catch." JJ grabbed her bag off her shoulder and tossed it off the side of the house to John B waiting in the mud.

"The lattice won't hold us both at the same time, so I can't put you on my back. I'll go down first, watch how I do it, and then I'll brace you on the way down. I won't let you fall." JJ whispered as he placed a hand on her cheek then quickly made the move to crawl down the lattice. He knew they were pressed for time, and was surprised Anthony had not come up to check on Gemma already.

JJ quickly crawled across the roof towards the lattice and began to make his way down, careful of the worn beam, then hopped down into the mud with John B.

"You're a fucking idiot." John B muttered under his breath as he pushed Gemma's backpack into JJ's chest.

"Just keep watch, man." JJ grumbled as he slid the bag over his shoulders, then held his hands up to brace Gemma as she slowly made her way down the lattice.

"You've got it, baby. Just a little further. Watch that one there, it's almost broken." JJ coaxed, his hands outstretched as far as he could in the event she fell.

He grabbed her hips when she was within arms reach and pulled her down, placing her feet on the grass and away from the mud. He took a large step out of the flower beds and grabbed her hand.

"We gotta go." JJ breathed out as he looked around the still dark property.

"Yeah, we do. That car is coming up the driveway really fast." John B stated as he pointed to the end of the driveway, bright lights illuminating their faces.

"That's Ward's car." Gemma muttered with a squeeze of JJ's hand as she tugged him back towards the brush he had come in through.

"Why the fuck is Ward coming here so late at night?" JJ questioned as he pulled his mask down off his mouth.

"I don't know, but we have to leave. Now. I don't trust whatever him and my dad are doing. JJ, please." Gemma begged as she continued to walk backwards with a tug of his hand.

"Yeah, let's get the fuck out of here." JJ grumbled as he began to walk quickly with Gemma towards the brush, tugging John B by the collar of his shirt.

As the three young adults fled the property, the lights behind them flicked on, illuminating the property.

"Maybank! Routledge! I see you!" Anthony Mercer yelled from the porch just as Ward Cameron pulled the SUV up to the front of the drive.

"Go, JJ! Go!" John B yelled as the three of them took of running into the brush, Anthony Mercer's yells a distant cry beneath their feet.

JJ pulled Gemma through the brush as quickly as he could without dragging her, John B pulling up the rear. The three of them ran as quickly as they could away from the Mercer house, JJ leading the way towards the back roads where, hopefully, Anthony wouldn't think to come after them.

"JJ, that was by far one of the stupidest things you have ever done." John B panted as they ran out onto a gravel road and slowed to a walk. John B grabbed at his sides, pinching at a cramp as he hitched at the waist.

"I'm not just gonna let him keep her in there. He had three huge nails in her fucking window. He was on patrol, and who knows what shady shit he's doing with Ward Cameron." JJ replied with a huff as he tugged his hood off his head with his free hand, and let go of Gemma's hand.

"I'm just saying you're being reckless, JJ." John B stated as he stood up straight once more and looked at his best friend, then the girl standing behind him. He didn't want to put Gemma in an awkward position, but he had been put in the most awkward position of all just then.

"We're so passed reckless, J.B. This whole summer so far has been reckless. You dating Sarah Cameron? Reckless. Us going after the gold on the Merchant? Reckless. Wake up, man." JJ glared as he ran his hands through his hair then turned on his heel quickly to start walking again.

John B pursed his lips as he looked from Gemma to the spot JJ had been standing. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as the guilt began to set in his gut. He gave a soft nod at the girl before he began to walk again, kicking the gravel along the way.

They heard the sounds of the engines before they saw them. The familiar engines of the dirt bikes revved throughout the brush but no one could see them. Gemma reached for John B's sleeve, clutching the boy close.

"You hear that, right?" Gemma muttered as she tugged the curly haired boy close, her fingers digging into his skin over his sweater.

"Yeah. I do." John B nodded, his head on a swivel as he narrowed his eyes to try and see better in the dark to try and find the source of the noise. John B stopped walking, letting Gemma squeeze the life out of his forearm. If he was honest with himself, it made him feel a little comfort in that situation as the engines approached.

"It's probably nothing. Just kids." Gemma whispered as her fingers reached down for his wrist, and gripped.

"JJ, do you hear that?" John B called as he balled his fists, his heart beat so loud in his ears he almost didn't hear JJ respond with a gruff yes.

JJ stopped in his tracks a few feet ahead of them, the bikes so close they could hear the gravel being crunched beneath the tires. JJ turned around in time to see the headlamp of the dirt bike come at him straight on, his instincts telling him to swing the crowbar at the oncoming bike. He swung, two hands on the bottom of the crowbar, like the baseball bats his cousin taught him to swing, and hit the motorcyclist off and into the ditch.

"Oh, shit! Damn, Country Club. You good?" The other bike stopped, removed their helmet and revealed Barry. His silver tooth gleaming in the late night moonlight.

"What the fuck, Maybank! You could've killed me!" Rafe Cameron roared while he pulled himself up from the ditch, tugging his helmet off his head and tossing it aside.

"Me? What the fuck are you two doing out here? Rolling up on unsuspecting pedestrians in the middle of the night, Cameron? Shit's creepy, dude." JJ replied as he extended the crowbar towards the taller boy's chest to keep him at a distance.

"Got a text from my dad saying a bunch of Pogue scum were trespassing on the Mercer property again. Destroyed the windows and kidnapped my girlfriend." Rafe snarled as he knocked the crowbar from JJ's hands and took the few steps towards him to stand toe to toe with him.

"So you and your boyfriend rode up to - what? Kick my ass again like you did at Midsummers? You're predictable, Rafe." JJ scoffed as he pulled his hood off his head, his eyes scanning over Rafe Cameron. There wasn't much of a height difference between them, but Rafe used his height to his advantage. His chest puffed out, arms flexed to seem intimidating - and to anyone other than JJ Maybank, he would be.

"Gemma, get your shit. We're leaving." Rafe growled as he kept his eyes fixed on the blonde boy in front of him.

"No. You're not taking her anywhere. Especially not with your dealer buddy. That's insane. Why don't you come the fuck down from your high, and you two can fight this out tomorrow. You know where I live, right?" John B stated firmly, shaking his wrist free from Gemma's death grip to stand between the two boys.

John B wasn't Gemma Mercer's biggest fan, nor did he like Rafe Cameron. At all. But he wasn't about to let the girl his best friend had fallen disgustingly in love with get on the back of a dirt bike with her actual boyfriend, who was seemingly high on coke, and ride off into the night. He and every one around them had made that mistake with Gemma and Rafe too many times.

"Oh, Routledge. Perfect timing. My dad wanted me to let you know that he has something you've been looking for, and he wanted to thank you." Rafe replied with raised eyebrows and a grin as a slapped a hand on John B's shoulder.

"What is he talking about, J.B? What does Ward have?" JJ asked, his heart racing as he looked from Rafe, to John B and over to Gemma who stood a few feet away still. She looked so small, so scared over there.

"The gold. JJ, he took the gold!" John B cried as he tugged at his hair then turned to his best friend, his hands on his shoulders.

Rafe pinched his nostrils as he walked away from the two Pogues as they yelled back and forth about a plan. He made his way over to his girlfriend, who still cowered in the darkness near the opposite side of the road away from the raucous.

"You okay?" Rafe questioned gruffly, his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. Are you? JJ hit you really hard."

"I'll fucking live. Let's go, Gemma. I've got a place for us, just us." Rafe nodded as he reached his hand out to her, palm up showing his scrapes from the fall.

Gemma gently placed her hand within Rafe's bloodied one, letting him pull her towards his bike. She looked over at JJ and John B who were still in a full blown panic over the location of the gold. Rafe pulled his bike upright again, handing her the spare helmet then helped her on the back of the bike.

"Wait! Gemma, you can't leave!" JJ cried as he ran after his girl through the dust kicked up from Rafe's back tire.

"Tough break, Pogue. He took your gold and your girl? Shit." Barry scoffed with a shake of his head, kicking up the stand of his bike and then taking off without another word to the two boys still stranded in the brush.

Hotties:

@babeyglo @sodasback @stilynskii @cooper8224 @lovelyxtom @multisimpinghoe @chicagoblackhawkslover96 @whcclxr @pogueslandia @afuturemilf @barrysjumpsuit @fashion-fasting @starkey-babie @beauvibaby @soph0864 @rottenstyx @plutooryectors

*tag list is open, please let me know if I forgot you or you would like to be added/removed from particular posts. I've removed the people that don't pre-populate :(

Please let me know what you think if you have a moment! Thank you so much xoxo

Requests for OBX ARE OPEN!

[diaryofabeautyfiend]

Plain Gold Ring

(Part 2)

You left a few minutes before he did. He ran up to his place to change. The two of you had already showered together. You had meetings all day and so did he. You agreed to meet for lunch.

Your thoughts drifted to him all day. His strong hands and the spice of his skin were all you could think about. You should have felt guilty but you didn’t. You two really seemed like you connected on a deep and spiritual level. You told yourself not to be naive. Men who cheat never leave their wives. You were a means of escape for him. You decided to proceed as planned and move forward with your Chicago interview.

At lunch Andy came bounding into your office. Before you could even hand him his fork he had his hands on you. “I can’t focus. You’ve been in my head all day.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah? You thinking of my cock?”

“Your cock, your hands…fuck…your tongue.” He slipped his hand in your panties to find you already dripping.

“Shit, baby. I have to be inside of you. This is gonna be quick.” He slammed his hips into you a few times before you both completely lost it. He eased you back down peppering kisses on your neck and chest. You readjusted your panties, smoothed your hair and sat down at your desk to drink some water.

“Oh my goodness are you going to stay like that all day?”

“Like what?” You knew exactly what he was talking about. You just wanted to hear him say it.

“With my cum dripping out of you? Don’t you want to clean up?”

“I’m good.” You winked at him and handed him his lunch.

He chuckled, “There goes the rest of my day.”

You had easy conversation for the rest of lunch. You asked him about Jacob and how he seemed to be coping. He was happy to talk about it. It was evident he adored his son. And there went the guilt bubbling up again. He could see it in your face. “Is this weird for you?”

“A little. Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

“We don’t have to talk about him.”

“It’s ok. I like hearing about your life. Besides I brought him up. I just want to be sure I’m not reading too much into this. Like we’re just friends who fuck right? I don’t know if I’m trying to catch feelings.”

He was a little offended but couldn’t express that to you. You had sex the second day that you had known each other. That was clearly not something he did nor did he take it lightly. He meant what he said. He really liked you. He would just have to work hard to show you how much. For now, he would follow your lead.

“Oh yeah. Of course. Friends who fuck sometimes. No feelings to catch.”

You went about the rest of your day and got home at a respectable hour. While you were at your mailbox in your building you noticed Lori and Jacob coming in. You smiled and turned quickly to get to the elevator. You realized a lot of people likely knew who they were and made it awkward like you just did. You just couldn’t leave well enough alone and went back to introduce yourself.

“Hi. I don’t mean to interrupt. Are you Lori Barber? My name is Y/N. I work with Andy.” She looked relieved to hear your name.

“Of course! Y/N. So nice to meet you. Andy told us all about you. This is our son Jacob.” He waved to you and you very awkwardly waved back.

“Well I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say hi.” She looked like she wanted to talk more but you hightailed it out of there up the stairs. You felt like an asshole. She looked like a perfectly nice person. If you weren’t fucking her husband you’d probably be friends. Damn it. You couldn’t do this with Andy. As much as you wanted to, knowing Lori was in the same building was too much for you.

That bottle of red on your counter was calling your name. You ordered dinner and prepped for your interview. Hopefully you’ll get a decent offer and out of here before you make a bigger mess.

——————————————————————

While you were in the bath Andy texted. You didn’t respond. While you watch tv he texted again. No text back. After the third unanswered text he called.

“Hey, Andy.”

“Are you ghosting me?” He sounded like he was joking but not really

“No. Just busy. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Too busy to see me?”

You wanted to say yes. Yes you were far too busy to spend time with a married man. You wanted to tell him go back to his wife. But you didn’t. “Of course not. I’ll unlock the door.” You were a goner.

A few minutes later you heard him calling your name. “Bedroom.” you called out. You had been crying about it all night but you have to end things before it gets serious. Even though you weren’t really dating and you said no feelings, you knew yourself. Under the facade of an overly ambitious lawyer you were a hopeless romantic. In the very short time you’ve known Andy he’s been a great guy. The fact remained, he was kind of your boss and very much married. You couldn’t continue.

“Hey. Are you crying? What’s wrong?” He sat on the bed and pulled you into his lap. You sobbed harder. “Y/n. Baby? Talk to me.”

“I met Lori and Jacob. He really has your eyes. We can’t do this, Andy. I know you and Lori are going through a rough patch but I can’t do this.” He was crestfallen. He rubbed your hand while you talked nodding where appropriate. When it was finally his turn to talk, he didn’t trust his voice to be strong.

“I know we just met, Y/N but, I’ve never cheated on Lori. Not ever. I slept with you because I liked you from the first moment we met. I know you said no feelings but, I feel like if you weren’t on the verge of caring, you wouldn’t be crying over me right now.” He was right. You felt all the things you weren’t supposed to feel.

You stayed up talking for a few more hours and ended up falling asleep in his arms. When you woke up the next morning he was gone. It was just as well. You got your notes together for your interview and called in.

The whole conversation was amazing. You and the managing partners really hit it off. They were younger than the partners at your current firm. A lot of women on the senior team. Not twenty minutes later did you friend text you to say they wanted you to take a trip out to Chicago.

When you got into the office you asked Caitlin to clear your schedule for the rest of the week and booked your flight. You were due in court so you grabbed your bag and badge and headed out.

——————————————————————

You were one of three attorneys on this case. Today was the voir dire so all you’d be doing was taking notes on possible jurors. One of the team members was unable to make it so Andy filled in. It was a pleasure watching him work. This part of the legal process was generally pretty boring. Watching him was like theater. You were fawning all over him like a school girl. It was frankly disgusting. At the end of the day Andy called a team meeting to compare notes and start working on court strategy.

You worked through dinner. All of you were exhausted by the end of the night. Since you were leaving the next morning, you handed your coworker Jeremy all of your notes and went to your office to pack up.

“Y/N, can you be in a little early tomorrow? I want to run through a couple of things.” Andy called from your doorway.

“Sorry. I’ll actually be in Chicago. Family emergency. I put it on your calendar this morning. Jeremy has all of my notes. I’ll be out of pocket for most of the trip. Shoot me an email if you need something. I’ll try to get back to you.”

He frowned and let out a deep sigh, “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how important this case is. Can the trip be rescheduled?”

“I’m sorry. It can’t be. Jeremy is up to speed on everything. He’s done just as much leg work as I have on this case. You’re in good hands.” You patted him on the chest and excused yourself.

——————————————————————

Andy got home and grabbed a beer. Jacob was sitting at the table finishing some school work. “How is your new job, Dad?”

“Good. Everyone there is really nice.”

“Mom and I met Y/N at the mailboxes yesterday. She’s pretty.” Andy was surprised that Jacob even noticed you. He’s always staring at his phone.

“Yeah. She’s pretty.” He ruffled Jacob’s hair. “What are you working on?”

Lori came in to grab a water. She looked like she was running on the treadmill. She hadn’t found a good route around the neighborhood yet. “Hey. I didn’t hear you come in. We met your coworker. She was really sweet.”

“She’s the one who put you in touch with Linda Raymond.”

“Oh. That was nice of her. We should have her over for dinner. I remember when I was single I had nothing but wine and old Chinese in my fridge. I’m sure she’d like a home cooked meal.”

Andy was irritated with Lori’s assumption. “She’s a grown woman. I’m sure she feeds herself.” He knew you did because he’s been in your fridge.

“Well anyway. I’d like to thank her. I’ll send her a bottle of wine. Maybe you can ask her assistant what she likes.”

“She drinks Cabernet.”

He got up from the table and changed into his gym clothes. There was a really nice gym on the bottom floor of the building. He had every intention of going there but he couldn’t get you off of his mind. You mentioned all of your family lived down south. What kind of emergency could you have in Chicago. Maybe it was a guy. You didn’t mention one. He didn’t ask. He wouldn’t be surprised if you had a booty call in Chicago. You were distracted all evening texting someone. He pushed the button for your floor.

——————————————————————

Your flight was early so you started packing when you got home. Half way through your wine fueled solo dance party, Andy was at your door. You were a little tipsy and feeling bold so you answered wearing only a tshirt and panties.

“Evening, Andy.” You opened your arms to welcome him inside.

“Evening. Do you have a minute?”

“Sixty an hour, sir and they’re all for you.” He followed behind you to your bedroom.

“Are you drunk?”

“Not yet. But! The night is young.” He watched you dig through your closet selecting dresses and shoes. Nothing very casual.

“You sure do dress up for a family emergency.” You rolled your eyes at him.

“What do you want, Andy?”

“What’s in Chicago?”

“What’s with the questions?”

“Why are you answering my question with a question? Nothing more suspicious.” Fucking lawyers.

“What do you want, Andy? I won’t ask again.”

“You. I won’t see you for a few days and I’ll miss you. If you are going to see a guy, as I suspect by the amount of lingerie you’ve packed, I want you to remember how good you have it at home.”

Your cheeks heated and your cunt started paying attention. “So demanding, Mr. Barber.” You patted him on the head and attempted to walk away from him. He grabbed your hips and ran his hands under your tshirt over your bare belly. “Andy, we agreed.”

“No, you agreed. I did not. I still want you.” His index finger stroked the wet spot on your panties. “Looks like you still want me too.” Your eyes fluttered closed as you leaned into his touch. He nuzzled your clothed pussy nipped and sucked. His hand rubbed broad strokes over you before he pulled them down and began flicking his tongue over your clit. You let out a low moan of appreciation. “Want me to stop?”

“Andy…” He cupped your pussy and slipped in two fingers grinding the palm of his hand against your clit.

“What’s that, honey? Answer me. Do you want me to stop?” His body was pressed against yours.

“No. God no. But you have to. Your wife…”

“Don’t worry about her. Worry about yourself. Do you want me to stop? Tell me to stop.” he growled into your ear. He pressed his erection into your hip she continued finger fucking you.

Your head went blank and your pussy took over again. “Don’t stop. Please, Andy. Never stop fucking me.”

He spent the rest of the night squeezing every last ounce of pleasure from your body. You showered and ate a very late dinner after which you fell asleep watching a movie. This was a level of bliss you had never enjoyed in your whole life. You were falling in love with him. Fuck your stupid feelings.

Your very full bladder nudged you awake. As you slipped back into bed, Andy’s phone screen illuminated the very dark room. You went to turn it off and saw several missed calls and texts from Lori.

You felt like you were doing something horribly wrong. Not like you could see anything she said. You weren’t sure if you should wake him. But, what if it was an emergency? Something could be wrong with Jacob. You nudged his shoulder but he didn’t budge. This man slept like the dead.

“Andy? Wake up.” you whispered in his ear.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Lori keeps calling. I wasn’t sure if it was an emergency.”

He grumbled and scowled at the device. “It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.”

“It has to be something or else she wouldn’t have called you so many times.”

“I missed counseling tonight. She’s pissed.”

“Go home, Andy. I can get myself to the airport.”

“No. I’m with you tonight. She’ll have me the rest of the week. Come back to bed. Please, baby. I have to get my fill of you before you leave.”

You had a choice here. You could get back in that bed and spend the rest of the night with this beautiful man. You could feel happy and loved and ignore the fact that, two floors up Lori was likely pacing the floor. Or, you could tell him about Chicago and be done with this mess. You chose option B. It was going to hurt like hell but you had to rip off that bandage.

“What’s in Chicago is a position with a major firm. I’ve already had my first interview. They asked me to fly out for a few days. They’ll make me an offer and I’m going to accept.” He was silent. “Say something. Please.”

“I think I’m falling in love with you.” You smacked him in the face with your pillow. “Ow! Hey! What the fuck?! Stop it. Y/N stop! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

You were pissed and on the verge of tears. You switched on the bedside lamp and paced the floor mumbling to yourself. “We’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks. Fuck you. You aren’t falling for me. You’re in love with the fantasy that is our relationship.” You took his left hand and pointed to his wedding band, “As long as this is on your finger, you belong to Lori. You will never be mine. Go home, Andy. I’m going into that bathroom. When I come out, you need to be gone. Who the fuck says they’re falling for someone right before they get on a plane?! You’re almost guaranteeing it will crash.”

That stupid wedding ring. He never took it off. It must be graphed to his skin by now. You felt it when you held hands. It pressed into your breasts when he grabbed them. He was never aware of it but you always were. Painfully aware.

After a few minutes you heard your front door slam. You popped a nerve pill and got back in bed. Fuck Andy fucking Barber for being so perfect. Fuck your stupid pussy for getting you involved in the first place and fuck your stupid heart for feeling anything. You cried yourself to sleep.

——————————————————————

At six am Andy stood in his floor to ceiling window drinking his coffee. He saw you pacing the street waiting for your Uber that was five minutes late. The guy didn’t even take your bag. The car sped away taking his whole future with it.

He couldn’t fathom why you had such a soft spot for his wife. You had from the first time you met. You got her a job and went on a one woman crusade to save their marriage. He guessed you just felt like she had gone through enough. Andy hadn’t really forgiven her for almost killing them in that crash. She didn’t forgive him for his father’s involvement in Jacob’s acquittal. There was no going back. He filed for divorce the next day. Whether the two of you got together or not, he and Lori were done.

——————————————————————

When you got home you went to the mailbox first. You had a few magazines stacked on the table. You guessed no one wanted to steal your copy of Forbes. You saw Lori and smiled. Your earbuds were still blasting away so you didn’t immediately hear her talking.

“I’m so sorry. Did you say something?”

“It’s ok. I’m used to it with Jacob. I said I never got to thank you for passing on my information to Linda. I got the job.” (you already knew) “Anyway. I wanted to invite you for dinner sometime as a thank you.”

“I appreciate it. You really don’t have to.”

“Nonsense. I can use the company since Andy moved out.”

You dropped your things and cursed under your breath. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s ok. It was a long time coming. Let me know what works for you. I’m good anytime really.” She got onto the elevator and you stood in the lobby frozen.

You didn’t want to let Andy know you knew right away so you just sent him a quick message. “I’m back.” When you got back into your place your phone rang.

“Did you take the job?” He hadn’t even given you a chance to say hello.

“I did. They need me there in a month. Taking on a class action. I’ll wrap up what I can here and then I’m gone.”

“And I can’t convince you to stay.”

“It’s a really impressive offer. I can’t pass it up.”

“I filed for divorce.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” (No you weren’t)

“So I have a month to make you fall in love with me.”

“Andy…”

“Can I come over?” Say no. End it. Absolutely not.

“Sure. No physical contact.”

“I’ll be a perfect gentleman.” Now if you could only say the same for yourself.

[lyranova]

Children of the Future:

Chapter 15: Herz

Hi guys! Here’s chapter 15 I hope you all enjoy I’m sorry its taken so long to post, but hopefully chapter 16 will arrive much sooner! Also a long awaited character shows up along with a surprise one hehe!

Taglist: @eme-eleff @crazyclownthanos @simpingforthisonedeer @thoughtfullyrainynightmare @bowandcurtsey @flow3rbudz @ckjwnnbc @elysianluv @melissa-novachrono (apologies if i forgot anyone or if you want to be added please let me know!)

Word Count: 3,355

Warnings: None

———

Asta and Noelle followed behind Brielle as she led them through the Northern Woods. Noelle glanced over at Asta, he seemed to be taking the news they had children together in the future pretty well. She had figured he would have screamed and freaked out like normal, but instead he was confused for a moment and then accepted it. She accidentally let out a soft laugh which caused Asta to turn and look at her.

“ What’s so funny?” He asked with a frown, Noelle’s face turned a slight shade of pink before she made a ‘hmph’ noise and turned away.

“ N-Nothing, don’t worry about it!” She told him, she may’ve finally admitted her feelings for him to herself but that didn’t mean she was about to admit them to him. She had been trying to get better about telling him things and being nicer to him, but some habits were hard to break.

“ Ok…” Asta replied in slight confusion, Noelle could be so weird sometimes. Asta turned his attention back to Brielle who stopped and began to look around.

“ What’s wrong Brielle?” He asked as he and Noelle came to stand next to her, the young girl looked around the area with a frown.

“ Ah man I can’t remember where I woke up!” Brielle suddenly shouted loudly, causing a few birds to fly out of their nests at the noise. Noelle groaned a bit, ‘Great. She’s just as loud as Asta.’ Asta walked up to Brielle and patted her on the head.

“ It’s ok! I’m sure it’ll come back to you, I’m not very good with directions either!” He told her with a sheepish laugh, the young girl looked up at him and smiled cheerfully.

“ That actually makes me feel a lot better,” she laughed. “ thanks for cheering me up da-, I mean Asta.” The girl mumbled sadly, she had to get used to calling him by his name.

Asta and Noelle shared a look for a moment, it had to be hard on her, she was only 12 at the oldest and was already going through so much. She had been sent back to the past, she had lost her sisters, and now she was with the people who would be her parents someday. It was quite amazing that the girl hadn’t been overwhelmed by it all yet.

“ Oh! I think it was this way!” Brielle suddenly shouted before running in the direction she pointed to. Noelle and Asta quickly followed behind her.

——

“ Y’know, this would have been a lot easier if Captain Yami had come with us.” Noelle grumbled as they continued following Brielle.

Captain Yami had decided that he was going home after he took them to get Brielle, he told them that he trusted them to get her sisters and come back in one piece. He gave them a communication device just in case they needed him, but he doubted they would.

“ Yeah, but I think the Captain’s tired because of all the kids showing up and he kind of deserves a bit of a break from it all don’t you think?” Asta asked with a nervous laugh, Noelle made another ‘hmph’ noise before tossing one of her pigtails over shoulder.

“ I suppose he does deserve some kind of break.” Noelle agreed when suddenly, Brielle let out an excited shout and took off running, Noelle and Asta quickly followed behind her.

“ This is it! This is where I woke up!” Brielle said excitedly as she turned to face her ‘parents’. Asta and Noelle looked around the area with wide eyes and their mouths slightly in surprise.

It was an empty space with small tree’s standing in a circle, just like what Gauche and the Captain had described. Were these portals of some kind? Asta and Noelle looked at each other. This was very odd, especially considering Aloys, Gauche and Grey’s ‘son’, had woken up in the Eastern Woods while Brielle had woken up in the Northern Woods. Did that mean there was a circle of tree’s like this in the Southern and Western woods as well?

“ I’m going to call the Captain and tell him about this.” Noelle said as she pulled out the communication device to call their Captain when suddenly, two loud high pitched screams could be heard from deeper in the woods.

“ What was that?” Asta asked with a frown before Brielle gasped.

“ Mizuki! Kaiyo!” She then took off running in the direction of the shouts, Asta quickly following behind her as did Noelle. She would have to call the Captain later.

——

Noelle, Brielle, and Asta stood in shock at what was before them.

There in the center of a clearing, stood a sphere being held up by 6 legs, 2 of those said legs were swinging wildly about, trying to defend what was inside the sphere. Noelle frowned, not only did the ‘monster’ look familiar, the magic it was made of felt familiar.

She watched as tree’s were being knocked down left and right, the ground was being ripped up as the ‘monster’ walked around. Asta looked and saw a young girl trying to get the ‘monster's’ attention and he quickly ran towards her. He pulled out one of his Anti-Magic swords and quickly blocked the attacks the ‘monster’ had aimed at the girl.

Asta grabbed the girl around the waist and carried her behind a tree as Noelle used her water magic to try and distract it. As Noelle’s spells hit their target she noticed they seemed to bounce straight off and a ‘tinging’ sound was made, she frowned a bit, but the more she actually looked at the magic, the more she began to recognize it.

This was Mercury Magic, just like her mother and eldest brother’s magic.

“ Hey, are you alright?” Asta asked and he looked at the girl in front of him; she had short silver hair, green eyes, and was wearing a calf length light purple/pink dress and gold sandals. The girl looked around the tree and watched as the ‘monster’ continued to throw spells at Noelle and Brielle.

“ I’m fine, I didn’t need you to rescue me, I could have saved myself!” The girl snapped before turning to face him, when she did her eyes widened in recognition and she tilted her head.

“ Dad?” She asked tentatively, Asta smiled brightly but it was a bit sheepish as he couldn’t really get used to them calling him ‘dad’.

“ Not quite, I’m Asta. Your dad’s past self.” He told her with a sheepish laugh, suddenly the girl's eyes narrowed at him.

“ That explains why you look so young.” She muttered as she looked Asta up and down, he looked at her in surprise.

“ Hey what’s that supposed to mean?” He shouted indignantly, his voice laced with irritation and slight disbelief.

“ That you’re old.” The girl stated matter of factly, there was no denying she was Noelle’s daughter, she acted a lot like her.

“ Hey that’s just mean-!” Asta started shouting before he was suddenly cut off as the young girl wrapped her arms around him in a hug, he sat there in surprise for a bit before his arms instinctively wrapped around her.

“ Please,” the girl begged softly. “ Please help Kaiyo, she isn’t doing this on purpose, she just can’t control her magic. Please da-I mean Asta, please help my sister!” The girl cried as she gripped Asta’s Black Bulls robes tightly in her fists, she looked up at him with pleading eyes. Asta nodded and he smiled softly at her before patting her gently on the head, as he opened his mouth to respond he noticed something move out of the corner of his eye.

“ Kaiyo stop!” Brielle shouted as she came to stand in front of her what they now realized was her sister’s out of control magic.

It seemed like everything, including time itself, froze in place. Noelle and Asta stood there watching as Brielle stood her ground, her arms stretched out as though she were trying to block her sister’s path. The two Magic Knights looked at each other, neither one really wanted to attack the spell, especially since they couldn’t see where Kaiyo was inside the sphere.

Suddenly, one of the spell’s ‘legs’ reached out and grabbed Brielle around the waist, lifted her off the ground, and threw her into a nearby tree. All within five seconds. Asta, Noelle, and Mizuki all stared in shock at what just happened. Brielle sat against the tree, her head laying on her chest. Whether she was conscious or not they didn’t know. Asta gripped the handle of his sword tightly in his hand before running towards the spell.

“ Why did you attack her?! She’s your sister!” Asta shouted in anger as he slashed and cut off one of the legs.

“ she isn’t doing this on purpose, she just can’t control her magic.” The young girl, who Asta assumed to be Mizuki, words suddenly popped into his head and it made him hesitate. So Kaiyo, the girl trapped inside the sphere, was like Noelle and couldn’t control her magic? If so, then why didn’t she have a magic item that helped her like Noelle did?

As Asta got lost in thought the spell decided to take full advantage and attempted to swing at him before it stopped just short, Asta quickly moved out of the way and frowned. Why did it stop? Was Kaiyo taking control back?

That's when he felt it.

He turned to look where Brielle had been sitting and his eyes widened. This presence felt dark and ominous but also familiar in a way. He watched as a faint red and black glow began to ooze off the young ash-blonde girl. He looked over at Noelle and he could see the fear and confusion on her face, she began to back away from Brielle. The young girl suddenly lifted her head, her eyes looked cold and distant.

“ Herz.” As soon as the words left her mouth a figure began to appear at her side. It started out as almost a smokey figure before it began to take shape.

“ About damn time kid, I’ve been waiting.” The figure spoke before it finally came into full view.

It was a young woman. Her skin was pale grey, her hair dark black and pulled into a loose ponytail, her eyes were a bright red as the pupils were cut into slits making them appear catlike. She had small horns on either side of her head and had a long thin tail. The smile on her face appeared cold and very menacing. Asta and Noelle stared at her.

It was a Devil.

The spell suddenly launched numerous attacks towards the Devil, who only stood there and watched as they approached her. She suddenly held out her hand and all the spells collided against it, but she didn’t look hurt or phased at all.

“ Counter Magic: 15%.” The woman said and instantly the spells she had ‘absorbed’ were sent back towards Kaiyo’s spell and instead of hitting the sphere, it took out all 6 legs in an instant. Asta and Noelle just stared in shock, what the hell was going on? The sphere Kaiyo was in suddenly landed on the ground with a loud thud.

“ You might want to hurry and slice it open before it grows new legs.” The devil told Asta as she looked over at him, Asta nodded and quickly rushed towards the sphere. He had no idea where she was, but he figured cutting the top off would be the safest bet.

As Asta sliced the top part of the sphere, the rest of it seemed to melt. Noelle walked towards Asta and in the center of what used to be a sphere made of Mercury, sat an ashen-blonde haired girl who had her hair tied up in a small ponytail and was wearing a pair of dark blue pants and a white shirt. The girl opened her eyes and looked at both Asta and Noelle.

“ Mom? Dad?” She asked softly, the two Magic Knights looked at each other for a moment. They would have to explain for the third time that they weren’t exactly their parents.

“ Kaiyo! Are you ok?” Mizuki shouted as she ran towards the young girl, Kaiyo turned towards the sound as tears welled up in her eyes.

“ I’m fine Mizuki. How’s Brielle? Is she ok? Did I hurt her?” Kaiyo asked quickly as she looked around for her sister. Asta and Noelle turned to look as well, and saw the Devil holding Brielle by her shirt collar a few inches off the ground.

“ Brielle!” They all shouted in unison before the Devil dropped her onto the ground next to her sisters.

“ Can’t you be just a little more careful?” Brielle whined as she sat up on her knees and began to rub the back of her head, a small bump had begun to form from where she hit it against the tree. The Devil rolled her eyes.

“ Nope. Now, tell me, what the hell happened here?” The devil glared down at the young girls, who quickly moved to sit on their knees just like the Black Bulls did when Captain Yami was scolding them.

“ W-Well,” Kaiyo started sheepishly, the tears that had formed in her eyes earlier now beginning to fall. “ I was going to try and make a bird or some other type of creature to fly us to the Capitol so we could find Brielle, but I lost control of it. I’m so sorry!” The young girl cried as she buried her face in her hands. The devil sighed before turning her attention to Brielle and Mizuki.

“ And you two, what were you two idiots thinking?! You both could have gotten seriously injured or worse killed!” The devil scolded them, Brielle suddenly raised her hand.

“ Um I was injured?” She pointed out.

“ Exactly, and you should be thankful I was able to slow down your speed otherwise you would have been knocked into quite a few trees and you would have injuries far worse than just a bump on the head!” She shouted at the girl, Brielle and Mizuki looked down at the ground in shame.

“ We’re sorry.”

“ Yeah you should be, not only because you three idiots woke me up from my nap, but now I get to explain to your parents and Uncle just what happened here today and I can assure you, they won’t be very happy!”

“ Um, actually our parents are over there.” Brielle said, suddenly pointing towards Noelle and Asta, the Devil turned to look at them and frowned. She leaned in a bit closer as though she were wanting a better look.

“ No way. There’s no way you’re-.” The devil suddenly looked down at the sword in Asta’s hand and began to study it. For some reason she was acting as though she didn’t believe that it was the girls ‘parents’.

“ You’re both way too young to be Asta and Noelle Silva, they’re both super old!” The devil exclaimed in shock. Asta began to shout about how this was the second time today he had been called ‘old’ today and he didn’t like it one bit! Noelle sighed before hitting Asta on the head.

“ Well that’s who we are, except I’m the only Silva. Asta’s just…Asta. Anyway, who are you supposed to be? The girl’s nanny or something?” Noelle asked as she crossed her arms, the Devil glared slightly before that cold smirk appeared on her face again.

“ Hmph, I’m not the girls ‘nanny’ or whatever. You can call me Herz, and I’m Brielle’s devil, which you would both know if you were her parents.” Herz said as she crossed her arms as well, Brielle suddenly made another ‘umming’ noise. “ What is it now Brielle?”

“ Um, well, it’s a lot to explain.” The girl said sheepishly before she began to explain to Herz the entire situation.

“ While she’s doing that, I’m going to inform the Captain that we found the girls along with a guest and that we’re headed back to explain more.” Noelle whispered, Asta nodded and kept his eyes on the girls as Noelle walked away.

He wasn’t sure if he trusted Herz or not, sure she might be Brielle’s devil, but that didn’t mean she had good intentions. For all he knew she could be like the Devil’s that had possessed the Dark Triad, but for now he would wait and see what kind of Devil she turned out to be.

———

Julius stared intently at the wall across from him. He was doing his reports like Marx had asked him too when his mind began to wander, there was this weird feeling he had been getting right before a child would show up and he was beginning to feel it again. He sighed softly, he thought Brielle Silva was going to be the last one. But it appeared he was wrong.

“ Lord Julius, you’ve spaced out again.” Marx said as he came back into the room with more papers. Julius blinked and turned his attention towards the blue haired man and he softly smiled.

“ Ah sorry about that, I was just thinking about the children.” Julius admitted with a nervous laugh, Marx frowned a bit.

“ Oh? What about them?”

“ I’m just, hm, I’m just trying to figure out why these kids are appearing. There have been one or two a day for the past week, and they all seem to be coming from the same time period. So, what on earth could be so terrifying in the future that it's driving their parents to send them back to the past?” He muttered the last part more to himself. Marx put a thoughtful hand under his chin.

“ Maybe war? Or famine? Or the kids could have been playing with some magic item and got transported here by mistake?” Marx asked thoughtfully. When Julius went to open his mouth Marx cut him off. “ Maybe they decided to blame it on their parents because they were scared of getting into trouble?”

Julius frowned thoughtfully for a moment, Marx made some compelling points. War made the most sense though out of all the options, but even if it was war, who would they be fighting that was so terrible that they had to send their children back to the past in order to protect them?

“ Sir,” a magic knight shouted as he ran into Julius’s office. Julius stood abruptly and looked at the man.

“ What is it?”

“ We have an intruder inside the castle! Apparently they’re a spatial mage which explains how he got in, luckily we were able to apprehend him without difficulty. He…He’s a bit of a coward.” The magic knight muttered as suddenly shouting could be heard behind him.

“ Please let me go! It was an accident I hadn’t meant to just pop in here! I can assure you this will never happen again! Please please let me go! I’m too pretty to be tortured and I’m too young to die!” The young man shouted as he was dragged into Julius’s office. Julius and Marx blinked.

The young man had shoulder length pink hair that was partially tied into a ponytail. His suit was a mixture of burgundy and black, his eyes were a light purple color as well, but what really stood out was the robe he was wearing. A Black Bulls robe to be exact.

“ Oh great, another child. I’ll go call Captain Yami again.” Marx said with a defeated sigh, he could already hear the Black Bulls Captain yelling at him already. But Julius held up a hand.

“ Actually, why don’t you just call his parents directly? Yami deserves a break don’t you think?” Julius suggested kindly, Marx frowned but nodded with slight relief washing over his face. He walked away to go call the Black Bulls hideout and Julius turned back to look at the pink haired man.

There was something different about this child, the weird feeling Julius had a moment ago had disappeared the minute he saw him. What was so different about this child?

——-

Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a good day~!

[revengeisourlullaby]

If I Never Knew You Pt.4

Pt.1   Pt.2   Pt.3   Pt.4   Pt.5   Pt.6

Warnings:18+, angst, secret relationhsip, kinda royal au, arranged marriage plot

a/n: Part 4 everybody! I will be posting part 5 this evening bc this one is kinda fillerish so I don’t wanna leave y’all hanging for too long. If you wanna be tagged let me know! I’m sorry it gets a little bit more angsty before its resolves, but I promise it will resolve. 

Word count: 1.7K

Loki x female!reader

Sun shone through the arches in Loki’s bedroom, the fresh Asgardian air whirling through the room. You rolled on your side to get a look at your lover to see if sleep had evaded him yet. His eyes were still closed, lids flickering back and forth causing a smile to form on your face because you were wondering what he could be dreaming about. 

You returned to your back staring at the ceiling imagining that this atmosphere of serenity would soon be all yours to have until the end of days. Closing your eyes you tried to relish in it for a little while longer, but your thoughts would soon be rapping at your fantasy. Eating away at you with shame, guilt, and unfortunately a heavy dose of fear.

You grabbed the top silk sheet and pulled it over your exposed body. Sliding to the edge of the bed, you hang your head in disappointment. Knowing that in a few hours you would have to fight not only for your freedom but for your love. It was a nightmare come to life but you had to remember that nothing worthwhile in life came easy and if that meant losing in one aspect or another you felt that you could muster the courage to go through with it. You turned your head to gaze at Loki still sleeping and with a snap of a finger, your worries seemed to pale.

He was your strength, your rock, your whole world. He taught you more than you could ever have hoped to learn and most importantly he taught you how to be annoyingly persistent to get the things that you wanted in life. Not to say that you gave up easily but he showed you how to weasel your way into ensuring you got what your heart desired. Life is full of losing but he showed you how to make the best of it.

“Perhaps we should get someone to make you a personal statue of me so you can stare at it as long as you want.”

Loki’s voice pulled you from your thoughts and you felt heat rise up in your face.

“My apologies, I was just lost in thought. Didn’t mean to be staring at you as you woke up.”

Loki chuckled, finding your fluster endearing in the situation. Sitting up in the bed he patted the space on the bed where you were laying through the night. You scooted back into the bed making your way to Loki where he wrapped his hands in yours and stared at you. 

A gentle seriousness cast upon his face.

“Understand that by mulling over the situation you dread to confront, you will make it harder in the process to assemble the resolution you seek. You mustn't fear what you fear, but rather take it head-on like a bull. And with the stubbornness you harbor, I know you have it in you.”

You snorted a little extra air out of your nose at his ending comment. Knowing he was always at the receiving end of your stubborn nature. At first somewhat annoying but became something he loved about you in a little time.

“I would run to the edge of time for you Loki. Even though it’s just my childhood home I’m going to have to run in and declare my objections, love, and fears to the people that brought me into this world. It feels like I’m running into a rabid lion’s den, but I would be lying if I didn’t say the preemptive catharsis I’m feeling is liberating.”

You squeezed his hand and looked up at him, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes soft. It looked as if he was about to cry.

“Not for nothing but I always figured I would be alone, especially in a romantic fashion. Then you came quite literally out of nowhere and I never grasped the thought that finding you in that garden a year ago would make that fear wither away. For that, I am eternally grateful to you.”

Your eyes and face softened from its initial confused form to that of warmth and admiration. You even failed to realize the tears beginning to prickle at your water line. Not of sadness but rather pure happiness. At this moment you knew that Loki was the soulmate you were meant to meet in this lifetime. The words he spoke struck a chord within you because you too felt the same way. 

That loneliness was just a card in your deck you were left to bear, but Loki let the hopeless romanticism within you survive the trials of life.

“Eternally yours, Loki. I am eternally yours. Through all either of our falls, we are each other’s stone. Let’s rewrite this acrid end and finally enjoy our story.” Loki’s hands wrapped around your face, looking into your eyes searching for any falsity in your being and he found none. 

You brought your hand up to his face and moved a strand of hair out of his face, allowing for him to be on full display to you. You opened your mouth to say words but they fell off, afraid that they would feel foreign on your tongue. You tried again and Loki’s mouth parted at the same time.

“I love you.” The words echoing from being said at the same time. The meaning ringing throughout each of your ears becoming fully aware that the truth was being shared between the two of you. Loki placed a tender kiss upon your lips and you relished in the sincerity of it. Pulling away you decided there was no better time than the present.

“I suppose I should be heading back home to face the one last hurdle for us.”

“Right. Let me fix your dress for you.”

Standing up from the bed you waltzed around the rail of the bed and found the shredded pieces of fabric that once was your dress.

“You sure you can magic this back together?”

You cocked your eyebrow unsure of the possibility of the repair of your dress. Opening his mouth, nothing but a squeak escaped from his throat realizing the predicament you two were in.

“I may have another idea. Just wait here for a moment.” Loki got himself dressed and left his quarters to head somewhere you knew not of. Before he left he turned his head behind the door to look at you.

“Help yourself to anything in the bathroom and get ready otherwise besides your clothing.”

You nodded your head and waved him off to wherever he was going. Walking to the bathroom you stared at your reflection in the large grandiose mirror that adorned one of the walls. You were glowing. Your eyes actually held something other than resentment and fear. You looked like yourself. 

Something you hadn’t seen in years. Smiling you finished getting yourself ready and when you were getting ready to turn on your heel you heard the door open. Stopping in your tracks you hid in the corner, but soon hearing Loki’s voice you released a sigh of relief. Stepping out of the bathroom Loki had a midnight blue dress draped over his arm.

“I figured my mother would’ve had something she could spare and she did and I feel that it will suit you just right.”

Tentatively you reached out to grab the dress from his hands

“And you’re sure she’s okay with this?”

“Yes darling, she’s the only one besides Thor that is aware of what’s going on. I can’t wait for her to meet you. Now, go ahead and try it on.”

Rolling the dress up in your hands you pulled it over your head and wiggled your arms into the sleeves. 

Letting the dress fall down to the floor after fitting it over your torso you were in awe. The color complementing your skin, the sleeves falling off your shoulders and the gold accents on the neckline was much more beautiful than what you were imagining.

“You look stunning. Well, you always do but especially today.”

“Thank you, Loki.”

You smiled and wrapped your arms around Loki’s neck.

“Wish me luck?” “Luck is for losers, I’ll wish you strength and perseverance.” “Good enough.”

Standing on your toes lightly you brought yourself to his lips and shared what you were to find out to be the last tranquil and harmonious kiss. You pulled away and smiled at him. Bending over you grabbed your satchel and shoes that you threw into the room earlier yesterday. Walking to the door, Loki sped up behind you to open it.

“What are you doing?”

“What kind of man would I be if I let my lady not only walk alone but to open her own doors?”

“Chivalry isn’t dead!”

You smiled at him knowing your sarcasm was endearing. Walking you out to the front of the palace where you came in yesterday you turned to look at him and little worry apparent in your features. You reached for his hand squeezing it in your own in search of some type of reassurance. Loki reached for your other hand and turned you to face him fully.

“Whatever happens Y/N, I’ll always be with you. Forever.”

Placing your hand upon his cheek, you thumbed his soft skin and placed a strand of hair behind his ear. Sighing you found your fire once again and you looked at him. Silently letting him know that you were ready.

“I’ll see you, hopefully, this evening Loki...and hopefully with good news.” 

Removing your hands from each other you walked down the steps and your feet crunched the earth beneath your shoes. Getting one last look, you waved at Loki and you began the walk back to your home. Preparing for the worst but foolishly wishing for the best.

[kim-monsterlings]

Vardelk - M Goblin x GN Reader // SFW

The pictures do not belong to me. I only created the mood board. Do not repost my work anywhere.

Content: SFW/Orange, mild fae trickery, swearing, a rude goblin, mention of past heartbreak + cheating, alluding to past sex, one cute lil kiss - if there is anything below which needs to be mentioned here in future, let me know!

Wordcount: 2256

Notes: so... this isn’t really the prompt (and knowing me I will be writing the prompt again because I can’t help myself, and creating Huddle Haven just has so much opportunity for cuddly monsters) but I read it and my brain just ran off with it and thus, Vardelk was born. Credit to @monsterkinkmeme​ for the original prompt!!

Masterlist

"Nobody else is available," Lacey said. Her keen, fae-folk eyes fell to where your knuckles cracked in the uncomfortable silence. "He looks so sad. Just for an hour? He told me to find someone for him, and, well," she drew in a breath. "I'm trying."

Huddle Haven was always busiest on the weekends, though tonight was one of the busiest evenings you had ever seen. The ache in your chest reminded you that this weekend had just followed Valentine's Day. Most of the patrons crowding the small café now had come with broken hearts, from failed dates and relationships ended only a day prior, and you had told Lacey - you had, you remembered, even texted her, that more volunteers were needed for today.

You were only supposed to be staff behind the counter, helping clean and take orders, sometimes assisting in the baking, not one of the volunteers for dates. No less being a human, and not what the customer had come for.

"Double pay "

"Lacey-"

"Permanently."

Fae could only articulate the truth. If she truly offered you double pay, a permanent rise, then Lacey now was beyond desperate. In bringing you out to customers - hardly presentable under the guise of a date, too, then the patron had to be more than just “sad.”

Her unwavering resolve made you frown. "Are you trying to trick me into this?"

"Permanent double pay raise," she said - a deliberate avoidance, then she pursed her black lips, the same glossy colour as her gossamer wings. "I would owe you a favour, too."

"Deal."

Lacey’s jaw fell baring sharpened teeth, her eyes sparking at the weight of the binding deal. Though, you wasted no time on the burden of the oral contract, nor on what you could claim from it, already passing over your sugar-stained apron. An exchange of forced smiles worsened the knot forming in your stomach.

"He's in the corner booth."

Chest tight, you nodded, whispering, "what-?"

"Goblin."

It wasn't like you were seeing anyone. You hadn't for a while, and the nerves forced a lump to your throat. The only real reason you were against this was a panic beginning to cloud your thoughts. He must have come with a broken heart, and you weren't so sure how much help you would be, rusty as you were.

Lacey's gentle nod was a push out of the kitchen. The sight already overwhelmed you; booths filled mainly with couples, though some sat as more, partners hurt by another in a polyamorous relationship leaving. Today wasn't the first time you had seen someone crying on a volunteer’s shoulder, though admittedly the first time you had seen both a tiefling and harpy cry here.

The goblin in question wasn't visible above the booth until you squeezed by an octomer - one you had seen surprisingly frequently, well-versed in walking on tentacles curled together in an effort to find a mate - before hesitating just before the table to steady yourself.

Lacey was right; he looked miserable, and bitter. From first impression alone, the atmosphere he exuded was one you were reluctant to disturb, and served only to lock your body tighter. Even still, he had made an effort; smart clothes, a black shirt crisp against his dark green skin, trimmed gold at the collar like his thin septum ring. Another two gold rings sat at his thin lips, gnawed at now by sharp teeth.

He might have looked miserable, but when he looked up, the softening of his face softened yours, too, and he looked cute, with his bright eyes rounded and long ears twitching; before he scowled, and turned back to staring at his hands.

"May I?" The goblin tipped his chin, though didn't say a word, so you sat slowly and introduced yourself. In silence, too, waiting for the goblin to say anything.

Only after a minute of silence did he grunt, "Vardelk."

"So," you hummed, and his face fell. Questions raced through your mind, but each seemed too cliché, too date-like too soon. Some came to Huddle Haven for comfort, for a distraction or a date, but if you had to guess, his deadpan stare wasn't one of wanting a date. "Have you been waiting long?"

Vardelk only shrugged one light shoulder, but his eyes narrowed. They ran over you in a way that had you squirming and struggling for words.

"Are you hungry? Their sundaes are good. Cakes, too, but I prefer the brownies. Hot chocolate over coffee," you mumbled, itching to draw a response, anything from the pensive goblin, but nothing worked. With nothing coming to mind - and in a last ditch effort before you began to ramble all the more, you asked, "what brought you here today?"

Vardelk's nails tapped at the faded cloth. "You work here, don't you?"

For such a sudden change in conversation, albeit a one-sided one, you stared at him for a second before your thoughts caught up. In the moment that passed, he scoffed, and his sharp eyes pierced you. They struck you like Lacey’s had, narrowed and biting.

"They had to pay someone to sit with me, huh? Forget it. Fuck this."

Guilt twisted at you when he began to shift out of the booth, but you made no move to stop him, only speaking quietly. "We ran out of volunteers. They didn't anticipate it being so busy. I'm sorry. I usually only work in the kitchens."

His dark eyes rolled and his voice hardened. "You didn't anticipate monsters having their hearts broken? Typical. Never the humans."

The initial shock of him realising that you were, in fact, human, wore off fast. Unhindered pain replaced all guilt and lodged at the back of your throat, but your words held steady and hopefully, hit as hard as his stare. "I first came here like you months ago, not for a job, but because I'd had my heart broken. By a drider, by the way," you added, and Vardelk had the nerve to shrug. "I sat with-" breath rushed from you at the memory of the day warmed in the hug of a volunteer. "He was a minotaur, and he sat with me as I cried. We went out again on a real date. For a while, actually. Until I finally put out, as he so eloquently said, because apparently broken-hearted people make for the best fucks. So no, it isn't only monsters, and our time is up, I think."

The sting blurring your vision wasn't worth the glimmer of regret on the goblin's features. He didn't deserve to know the hell you'd been through, and you were almost from the small booth when a soft touch caught your hand.

Needless to say, you snatched back from his touch, unashamed of the tears now brimming when you finally met his dark stare again. Thick ears you had earlier thought of as cute twitched back when his shoulders hunched over.

"I'm sorry."

It was your turn to don the mask of an empty expression, voice blank. "Thanks."

“We were together a year,” Vardelk whispered. Blunt nails tapped at the cloth as he cleared his throat. “Someone else was in our bed. Goblins can’t be enough for anyone, apparently. That we wouldn’t ever be enough. I’m quoting,” he said then, finally looking up.

His eyes were misty, too. "You left?"

Vardelk's smile was pained. "The offer of an open relationship didn’t appeal after being cheated on."

"Human?" His small chest puffed out and he sunk back with a weak nod. "I'm sorry, too."

Little could be said beyond your whispered apologies. There was little you wanted to say. Silence in your booth was nothing in the warmth of Huddle Haven, soft laughs echoing among deeper conversations at other tables. This weekend would be the hardest, not only with the rush of heartbroken patrons, but the reminder of your own pain, thanks to your “date.”

"Do you… do you want a brownie?"

"Me?"

Vardelk's smile was small, but it was there. "Hot chocolate, maybe?"

With an equally tentative smile, you said, "your treat for being an ass."

Then to your surprise - and relief, the goblin grinned, small legs tucking beneath him on the cushioned booth when he reached for a menu. Your rambling hadn’t fallen ignored, as Vardelk ordered a salted caramel sundae from Lacey, then, smiling, two hot chocolates and a brownie for you.

"Let me clarify first," you said. Vardelk’s ears drooped with his body shrinking back, and you spoke softer when his hands fell beneath the table to wring in his lap. "This doesn't have to be a date. Do you want to talk about it, or do you want to be distracted?"

With the desserts laid down, Vardelk brightened. "Distract me."

So you did. Obviously, a little unfortunately, Vardelk was aware of where you worked and how you were paid to accompany him. Under your careful shift in conversation, you learned he worked only across the road in a small flower shop, one he loathed more than anything at this time of year; as much as you hated the crowding in your café.

“I’d never been interested in coming here before... before yesterday, but,” Vardelk sipped at the hot chocolate, frowning at it. “People rush here. I see it all the time, coming to buy flowers then crossing the road. I don’t like blind dates. Never have,” he bit out. "They only start in disappointment and end in wasted time."

“I’m not disappointed.”

Vardelk rolled his eyes, but you only laughed, even after inadvertently calling this a date.

Until today, dating, the mere thought of it, sickened you, and with good reason, too. Even this had come at the coercion and bargaining of a fae, which said enough about your aversion to dating.

But something about Vardelk made your cheeks warm. The longer you sat with him, the easier conversation flowed. He was prickly and pessimistic, but you laughed, and his smiles grew until enough time passed for you to return the favour - you had been a little bit of an ass, too - and you shared churros together. Over the second dessert, small mannerisms began to warm you to him, your stomach fluttering with each eye roll. His earrings would clink when his head tilted, or when they trembled and tucked back at his embarrassment, or how when he was listening, really listening, he would draw his lips rings between sharp teeth and hum quietly. It was endearing to see his legs swinging gently beneath the table, too.

Huddle Haven closed at seven. Not late, but it wasn’t a bar, only a café, and any later welcoming the heartbroken would have the café open infinitely. Lacey came when Vardelk was absent from the table with the reminder that you were still on shift, and would be staying behind as usual to clean with everyone; "so don't get any ideas about leaving just yet," she'd said, her feathered eyebrows raised, but with the way she nudged you, there would be more probing for gossip about your forced date than any cleaning.

The goblin stood tucked into the wall beside you, bundled beneath a thick coat and a scarf almost his height. He was the last to leave, and reluctantly so, scuffing his heels and fiddling with the frayed ends of his sleeves, enough that you had to turn to hide your smile when he fumbled buttoning the coat, too.

"I know I was a prick," he began, and there was no avoiding the warmth to his eyes when he looked up. He stood a couple of feet smaller than you, the difference in height more obvious when he looked down again. "But I want it to be a date. To have another date."

The inclination to continue this into the evening shocked you, the want to agree on the tip of your tongue, but you couldn’t. As much as you longed to, you whispered, "I'm not looking to be a rebound."

Vardelk flinched. He began to deny it, words stuttered and softening into whispers, before biting down on his lip with a sharp nod. This was your first date in a long while, and after a reluctance to pursue any relationship for as long a time. He had been in a year long one, too, and if he only used you to move on once you had grown attached, your heart couldn’t take it.

But...

Beyond the resurfaced pain, the initial spat and his outwardly cruel demeanor, the afternoon together had been pleasant. For the first time in a long time, you wanted to go out again, to spend time with someone knowing you could be more than just friends, and you wanted that to be with him.

And he was cute.

"Come back in a month," you said. Vardelk's teeth caught at his lip ring when he choked, a nod shaking his gold earrings. "I'll say yes in a month."

The goblin came back the next day, a small smile enough for you weaken into accepting the bunch of flowers, and he returned each week with a brighter bunch. Keeping your word was a struggle, and on the second week you may have bowed to kiss him that night, just once, and Vardelk tucked a flower against your ear when you crouched, promising you would be worth the wait.

A month to the day of meeting, you saw him leaving the florist, and met him outside with a smile as big as his.

[exquisitley-obsessed]

Fiancés, Firebirds, Foxes and Fawns: 3

Author: @exquisitley-obsessed​

Summary: A few weeks after Briallyn's attempt at uniting with Koschei, Lucien opens the door of Lockhart Manor to find Elain, cold from the rain and holding a note from the High Lady of the Night Court demanding her to assist Lucien in building alliances with the human councils. Forced to work together by their exhausted High Lord and Lady, Elain is able to convince anyone to do anything, while Lucien has the acquaintances to go anywhere he likes. Together, they attempt to unite the fae and mortal lands and unravel the deal made between Koschei and Vassa, while Lucien remains haunted by his own promise to Elain's father. ELUCIEN, POST-ACOSF

Pairings: Elain x Lucien, Elucien

Warnings: None.

A/N: This is going to be a long, slow burn fic (hopefully)

MY MASTERLIST

THIS FIC’S MASTERLIST

AO3

Chapter Four: Playing House

“Who could be calling this time of night?” Vassa rose from her chair, her skirts flowing to the floor.

“Trouble?” Lucien shrugged.

“We can only hope,” Jurian grinned, leaping to his feet with newfound excitement.

“I sent the maids to bed,” Vassa moved to peer out a window where she should’ve had a clear view of the porch, but nothing could be seen through the black rain, “Should I wake the house for guests?”

“We don’t know if it’s a guest, might be something more fun,” Jurian was still grinning wolfishly, now bouncing from one foot to the other, “So…who’s going to open the door?” Both man and male turned to look at Vassa who only scoffed in response.

“Ugh - why me?”

“You’re the queen, princess.”

“How are you going to call me queen and princess in the same sentence?”

“It’s an oxymoron.”

“Oxymoronic more like.”

“Oh Mother, I’m surrounded by children,” Lucien groaned, running his hands over his face.

“The only children in this room are you two. Afraid of answering a door for Cauldrons-sake,” she huffed as she waltzed into the foyer, embellished with russet wood and crimson carpets, Lucien and Jurian on her tail like puppies.

She’d just reached the towering oak doors when something whipped her around, pulling her by her outstretched hand. Turning, Vassa came face to face with Lucien whose eyes were stony with determination.

“I think not,” was all he said, his other hand resting on his belt where his silver sword of Autumn was permanently strapped.

“Why?” Vassa huffed, feeling her heartbeat quicken in response to the intensity of Lucien’s gaze.

“You’re insane if you think I’m going to let a queen open the door to an unexpected guest in the middle of the night, in the middle of a storm, whilst unarmed and being tracked by a Death God.”

Vassa’s wide eyes just drank him in, before looking down at where his hand was wrapped around her wrist. He dropped it instantaneously, as though she had burned him.

“So he does have balls,” Jurian cooed from behind them, but to Vassa, he was long forgotten.

“Fine,” Vassa took a step towards the Fae Lord, allowing her voice to drop a few octaves as she refused to break eye contact, “Go ahead.” She just about purred before turning and walking back to wait at the base of the stairs, missing the confused look on Lucien’s face as he turned to the door.

He should’ve been able to smell whoever was on the otherwise of the door, as well as the Belladonna’s which sat in clay pots on either side of the entrance. But all Lucien was getting, was the smothering dew of the rain, wet overturned earth and the neither-here-nor-there scent of furious winds. He could however hear a soft murmur of voices, from the pitch, female, before a second, shy knock beat on the wooden door. Two heartbeats, and that was it, all the information he could glean given the storm and inches of brick which separated him and his ‘guests’.

With his hand on the door’s iron handle, Lucien’s body felt alive and electric, like a drawn bow ready to fire. There was something in the air, a moment of calm before the storm. Without dwelling on it any longer, Lucien rose to is full height, one of his greatest assets even against other Fae, and yanked the door open.

“Hello?” A small, quiet voice. A voice that haunted his dreams.

***

Touch her. No, don’t touch her. She doesn’t want to be touched. But it is normal for people to touch, people touch all the time, a hand on a shoulder is no affront. Just touch her. But you have no reason to touch her.

That’s what Elain smelt like, or something similar, he supposed.

At first all Lucien could see of Elain was her big eyes, peeking over her purple cloak like beacons. But he’d recognise those eyes everywhere, sometimes it felt as though they were in his room, watching him. She seemed to still as he caught her eye, him standing in the warm orange light of the house, her shrouded in darkness and mystery.

At first all Lucien could see of Elain was her big eyes, peeking over her purple cloak like beacons. But he’d recognise those eyes everywhere, sometimes it felt as though they were in his room, watching him. She seemed to still as he caught her eye, him standing in the warm orange light of the house, her shrouded in darkness and mystery.

In response to the cold and the rain, Elain’s cheeks had flushed a healthy rose. Her eyes were wide, and Lucien could see how the water had darkened and elongated her lashes. If Elain were this beautiful when she was fae, Lucien couldn’t comprehend how magnificent she must’ve looked like a human. Surely there had been suitor after suitor, clawing for a minute of her time, or even a handkerchief or a pearl. Anything of hers to prove to themselves that such beauty was possible – that she was somehow real.

It wasn’t until Lucien had stuttered a meek ‘come in’ when he noticed the second bundle of a person over Elain’s shoulder. When they came into the light of the foyer, Lucien had recognised her as one of the shadow wraith’s that often accompanied Elain in the Night Court. Which one, he could not tell, but she was lesser fae, and lesser fae were always welcome in his home.

Lucien was sure he was in a state of shock, his ears were ringing faintly as Elain entered a polite discussion with Jurian who was smiling enough for the both of them. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, convinced that if he even blinked for too long then she’d disappear, back to the Night Court.

Lucien stood lamely to the side, his posture rigid. Vassa remained at the base of the stairs, whatever her countenance was to Elain’s arrival, he didn’t care for it. As Jurian chatted, Elain had pulled back her hood to reveal her hair of deep gold, soaked entirely, as though she had just arisen from a bath. Lucien dug his nails into his palm.

She was so beautiful, and it hurt to wonder how the Cauldron had ever, at any point of time, believed him worthy of being considered a perfect equal to such a creature.

“Ah, might this be the letter?” Lucien forced himself to tune into the conversation.

“Yes,” Elain’s gentle voice washed over him, lapping across his skin and like magic, it began to soothe him. “From the High Lady of the Night Court. I am to be staying with you for some time it seems, an extra hand to deal with the councils. If that would be alright?” Her voice, unlike Jurian’s or Vassa’s, was consistently soft, and in a strange way, it gave her an aura of power. As though she need not speak too loudly or rush her words, as she knew the world would be listening anyway.

“Ah,” Jurian plucked the sopping note from Elain’s palm, and though he really didn’t care, Lucien watched with intent at how Jurian avoided touching any part of Elain’s skin. Instead, he grabbed the letter’s corner and held it out as it dribbled rainwater across the red and gold carpet.

“Oh, um,” Elain seemed to flush, “I promise you it was a note from Feyre. The lettering might be a bit…illegible.”

“I think we can take your word, Ms Archeron.”

“Elain, please,” she whispered politely with a small curtsey that clearly came naturally. Lucien was so taken aback by Elain that he barely had time to recognise that Jurian was putting on a big show of good behaviour for his mate. If Elain had been anyone else, and if Lucien had been back in the Spring Court manor wearing his fox mask, he would’ve winked and told Elain that she was pretty enough to go where she pleased since kings would most likely fall to her feet anyway, but he just bit his tongue and cocked his head.

He needed to say something to her, he needed to be able to look into those eyes. What was she really doing here? Had Feyre truly sanctioned this? She’d said High Lady, not High Lord. Why had she come in the middle of the night? Why was she here, why was she really here?

“Let me take that for you,” was all he ended up saying, looking from Elain to her cloak then back to her eyes.

Some part of him hated seeing Elain in damp clothes with her hair dripping. It reminded him too much of the first time he’d seen her, as his mate, after she’d just been through the most traumatic experience of her life. He wished nothing more than to wrap her up into his arms and send wave after wave of warmth through her to dry her clothes, to make sure she was never cold and shivering again.

Elain seemed to stare at him for a moment, and Lucien wondered if she could possibly be just as taken aback by him as he was of her. How many of these moments, these little pauses between words, were genuine? And how much of it was the drive of the bond?

“Thank you,” She whispered, her hands reaching up to undo the clasp at her neck. As she did so, Lucien adverted his eyes. Something about seeing Elain remove an item of clothing, even a sopping cloak, felt too much like an invasion of privacy. And then she was holding her cloak out to him, and he just nodded at her, allowing his lips to turn up at the corners as he took the damp material, making sure not to accidentally touch her bare hands.

Behind Elain, the twin appeared to cock her head and glare at him, her message clear – ‘and what about me, huh?’ Lucien ignored her as he folded the cloak over his arm and took a step back towards the wall.

“Well, welcome to Lockhart Manor, Ms Archeron,” Vassa then announced herself as she strode forth from the base of the stairs, her posture stiff and elegant. This wasn’t Vassa speaking. This was a queen. “We have spare rooms in abundance which you’re more than welcome to settle into, since the maids are asleep right now please allow me to take you to your quarters.”

“Oh, um, thank you,” Elain nodded and smiled politely, a faint flush spreading on her cheeks, one that threatened to bring Lucien to his knees.

“No luggage, or are you not staying long?” Vassa inquired innocently enough, and had Lucien tore his eyes away from Elain for just a moment, he would’ve seen the slight glint in the queen’s eye.

“My sister will winnow me my bags tomorrow morning. You see, it was paramount we left the Night Court at a certain time. Unfortunately, this was our best window for travelling, but Feyre insisted you would be awake given…” given Vassa’s curse, her inability to see sunlight with human eyes.

“Are you in danger?” Lucien couldn’t bite his tongue as something began to rise within him – Terror? Anger? Worry? Elain’s big eyes drifted back to his, and once more she seemed to pause before speaking.

“No,” she breathed. Her voice was just a petal in the wind. “At least, only in danger of Nesta finding out I’m missing.”

“You didn’t tell her you were coming here?” If Lucien wasn’t mistaken, that might just be a slightly mischievous glint alight in Elain’s eye. The idea of Elain deceiving her viper of a sister to come across the world to stay with him, seemed far too good to be real, and Lucien couldn’t stop the small grin that pulled at his lips.

“Well, you must be tired after such a journey.” Lucien wished Vassa hadn’t spoken because it pulled Elain’s gaze from his. Lucien also suspected that little travelling had been done since Elain’s companion was a shadow wraith, and able to travel the world via the shades. “Please, let me show you to your room.”

Lucien hated to see her go, as she politely curtseyed to the queen before following her up the stairs and disappearing down a corridor which led to the western wings. It was only when she was, in fact, out of sight, that Lucien felt the reality of her presence collide with him like a pile of bricks.

Suddenly, he was breathing too quickly, no, too slowly. His body was overheating, and his heart was racing. All around him swirled her scent and every cell in his body was screaming at him to follow her up the stairs, to keep her in sight and never let her leave it. Keep her warm, keep her safe.

“Careful Luce,” Jurian’s voice called him back to reality, and he found Jurian peering at him with that god-damn, shit-eating, all-knowing grin, “She’s going to want that back,” was all he said as he nodded at the sopping cloak Lucien had clutched against his abdomen. The rainwater soaking through his linens, and making him shiver.

***

“You say your sister sent you?” Vassa was leading Elain and Nuala down a series of hallways. Elain liked the manor, one she would’ve adored when she was human. There was a crimson carpet that bled across the entire house, embellished with threads of sparkling gold. Deep brown wood covered the walls in panels, and there were candles here, not faelight, which cast the hallways in a warm, watery glow. It felt so familiar, in such a painful way.

“I wanted to be of some use to my sister following Briallyn, she thought I could be of use in working with the human councils given I…well, I…”

“Used to be human?” The queen’s voice was slightly monotonous, almost sounding as though she were somewhat bored, that these things happened all the time.

“Yes,” Elain nodded furiously. She’d been so caught up in the idea of seeing Lucien again that she’d practically forgotten Jurian and Vassa.

“Well, after a good night’s rest you might be able to catch me before sunrise and we can discuss where you’d be most useful.”

“Yes, thank you…what kind of work is there?”

“Meetings with councils and human lords, establishing positive relations between fae and humans which, considering humans were enslaved to the fae a few hundred years ago, isn’t the easiest relationship to manage. There’s also work to be done regarding the human armies, and not to mention the other human queens. We could also use with someone prepared to travel to establish trade routes between the mortal lands and the Spring Court, though, really all of this pales in comparison to cleaning up the mess Briallyn left behind.”

Elain blew out a breath. There was so much going on in the world, in the mortal lands alone, and her family had hidden it all from her. Or had they hidden her from the world? It didn’t matter, she was here now, and she was prepared to make herself as useful as possible.

“Where can I find you, to talk tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll most likely be in the dining room, taking breakfast with Lucien and Jurian.” The Queen swung a hard left and Elain stumbled slightly as she tried to follow.

“Okay…thank you, for everything.” Elain put on her best smile, but the queen wasn’t looking at her.

“You were quite sick the last time I saw you,” was all the queen said in response, and Elain felt as though ice had been poured down the back of her dress.

“Yes, I was,” Elain said quietly, her eyes meeting those of Nuala’s for a fleeting moment. God, where was her room?

“You’re better now?”

“Yes,” Elain practically whispered, not interested in being reminded of those torturous months post-Cauldron. Especially when, technically, she was still in them.

“Good,” Vassa said, and Elain couldn’t read her tone, but then, “Here are your quarters, Jurian’s rooms are just down the hall. If you wish to find me, or Lucien,” she paused slightly, “Then you can find our rooms in the East wing. Just ask a passing maid and they’ll lead you to us.”

Something ugly reared its head inside Elain as Vassa referred to her and Lucien as an ‘us’. And if Elain wasn’t mistaken, judging by the glint in Vassa’s eye, the language had been intentional. But Elain knew this game, knew how to play a courtier, how to manipulate a crowd with a smile.

Interesting, some part of Elain perked up. Maybe she’d gotten herself into more than she was expecting by coming to Lockhart Manor. Or maybe, it was a really, really good thing she’d come at all.

“Thank you,” was all Elain said, letting nothing pass her courtly smile. “For everything.”

***

Nuala had her own room but had stayed with Elain for a while after Vassa’s departure, perhaps reading the slight tension in the Acheron’s shoulders as she perched herself at her room’s vanity. If Elain was rational, then she would be obsessing over Vassa, of what she said and the look in her eye as she spoke. She would try and unfurl the dynamic she was to expect at breakfast tomorrow, when the world was still dark.

But she was thinking of him.

Lucien was different here, and Elain realised that she’d never seen him out of the Night Court. In fact, all at once the chaste meetings they’d had thus far seemed entirely, hilariously inadequate.

He was otherworldly, something about him seemed more fae than the others, even the Illyrian’s with their beautiful wings. Lucien was fire and light in form. His hair, no mortal could even imagine hair like that. In fact, Elain was convinced that even Feyre couldn’t capture it’s essence in her paintings. It was ever-changing, always moving and shifting colours in the light, almost as though it were alive. When she’d first seen him in the Night Court it had been a paler, autumnal orange with what seemed to be streaked with glittering gold. But here, by the candlelight of Lockhart manor, it was the red of rust and blood.

His skin was made of tan plains that rose and fell over the contours of his body in a way that reminded Elain of the deserts she’d seen drawn in adventure books. And then there was his impossible height, taller than everyone, including those back at the Night Court, only beating Cassian by an inch. He had a presence in a room like no other, he demanded intrigue and interest, with his mismatched eyes and brutal scar.

Maybe Elain had only been so nervous of Lucien because of that reason. Because she was used to seeing men who appeared to have not quite come into their bodies, their chins loose with excess skin, their hair wiry and coarse. And Lucien…Lucien looked as though he’d had hundreds of years to hone his body. Tall and sharp, standing with a poise that reminded Elain of a blade. His eyes alert and always moving, and a mouth that quirked to the side, as though there was always some dirty joke resting on the tip of his tongue.

Guilt moved through Elain in a wave. First, guilt over Graysen, then guilt over Azriel. Both men whom she’d also found to be beautiful, in their own ways. The innocence of Graysen, which in hindsight, proved to be a hilarious interpretation. The mystery of Azriel, the way that even when she was convinced he wanted her, she was never entirely sure.

Perhaps it wasn’t guilt that washed through Elain, but rather dread. Because here she was, again, and all she could hear was her mother’s voice echoing in her mind – Foolish girl. Foolish, foolish girl. Her mother would tell her that she never learns.

Or maybe she wouldn’t. She’d only admitted to herself that Lucien was attractive, his eyes searing, looking every bit of the fae prince as he swung open the door, backlit by gold and red light. And the bond was supposed to make her find him attractive, right? She could consult the book she’d brought later. Because that was the problem – what was real and what was the bond? Did Lucien truly care for her? Would he have even looked her way if the bond hadn’t existed? No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t be convinced. Lucien was suited to the bold courage of Nesta or even the quick-wit of Feyre. Elain was brutally soft. Men like Lucien didn’t care for the delicate - right?

“I’m sorry to take you from your sister, Nuala,” Elain whispered, as her friend began to comb through her dripping hair.

“It’s no problem,” Nuala’s voice was like velvet, and in the mirror, Elain could see her eyes were soft and her mouth turned up at the corners. “Sometimes getting away from family can be good for you.”

Elain hummed in response as Nuala began to knot her hair into a crown of elegant braids so that her hair would dry with a curl.