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genshinluvr · 2 years

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Golden Hour

Pairings: Zhongli x Isekai'd!Reader

Summary: It's Zhongli's birthday, and you take him out to Liyue Harbor to celebrate it! You wake up before the golden hour to bake him a cupcake for his birthday, and you get your guts rearranged by Zhongli during the golden hour while the sun is setting. What a way to celebrate the former Geo archon's birthday.

Note: Because I am biased, I have decided to make Zhongli a birthday mini-fic that contains short smut at the end of the story. It's definitely not my best smut for sure because I am typing this at two in the morning with a forming headache 💀 Just a reminder that any [character] x isekai'd!Reader mini-fic is part of my ongoing Isekai'd!reader series and is usually around 5k words or less. These mini-fics are made so each man in the harem gets their own screen time with the reader; sometimes, some men will make an appearance, but not all the time. Every single one of my smuts, the reader is either a female!reader or an AFAB!reader, so please keep that in mind for future fics/smuts. Minors, DO NOT INTERACT! As usual, I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo). Only registered users on AO3 will be able to view all of my published works (idk when it will be unlocked for everyone, I hope very soon).

Warnings: Horribly written smut towards the end of the story, marking, biting, Zhongli's got a dragon-sized cock. Are we surprised?

Word Count: 2.8k

It is six fifty-eight o’clock in the morning. Usually, around that time in the morning, you would still be in bed, fast asleep until around nine o’clock. But today is different, and here you are in the kitchen, wearing your pajamas with fluffy slippers. You’re steeping tea, and the window in the kitchen gives a nice view of the backyard of the estate. The sun slowly rising makes the abode shine gold; it’s the golden hour, the time you would miss while sleeping and during the late afternoon because you’re holed up in your house with the blinds closed.

*DING*

You jump and place your hand over your chest, feeling your heart racing against your ribcage. You turn to the small cupcake sitting on the cooling rack. You hover your hand above the cupcake to ensure it’s warm and not hot. You grab the cupcake and begin to decorate it with frosting. After decorating the cupcake, you grab a tiny candle and stick it halfway into the cupcake. You search around for a match to light the candle.

After successfully lighting up the candle, you turn to the steeping tea and take the teabag out from the ceramic teacup. You toss the teabag into the trash bin and turn around to grab the teacup and cupcake before walking towards the entrance of the kitchen. You stop in your tracks when you see the door open and the person stepping into the kitchen.

Zhongli looks at you, surprised, and his eyes quickly land on the teacup and cupcake in your hands. While Zhongli is staring at the cupcake intently, you’re staring at him like a fish out of water with your mouth agape while trying to come up with something to say.

“You’re up early,” Zhongli says, looking over at the clock above the kitchen window. “You’ve never been up this early before unless it’s for school.” he raises his eyebrows at you.

You smile at him sheepishly. “Well, I am awake early today because it’s a special day,” you said.

You watch Zhongli approach you, closing the distance between you two and standing before you. No matter how tall you are, Zhongli always towers over you. He looks down at you and then at the items in your hands.

Zhongli strokes his chin. “A special day, you say?” Zhongli asks, gazing down at you curiously.

You nod and smile up at him. “It’s your birthday, Zhongli! Did you forget?” You ask.

“How does one forget an important day?” He smiles back at you, brushes your hair away from your face, and tucks them behind your ears. “Is that for me?” Zhongli asks, pointing down at the cupcake and teacup in your hands.

“Yes! They are for you! I got up early in the morning to bake some cupcakes for your birthday and decided to steep some tea for you before you woke up,” you said, placing the teacup down on the counter beside you.

Holding the cupcake up between you and Zhongli, you clear your throat awkwardly. How in the world are you going to do this without screwing up? You take a deep breath and begin singing happy birthday to Zhongli in Liyuen. You spent a few weeks (maybe almost a month) learning Liyuen just to be able to sing happy birthday to him with the help of Yunjin and Ningguang.

After finishing the song, you hand Zhongli the cupcake and watch him lift it to his face. Zhongli stares at the cupcake and then looks at you; the flickering flames of the candle make his amber eyes illuminate. Zhongli has always been a handsome man; whenever he looks at you, you feel breathless.

“When did you learn how to sing in Liyuen?” Zhongli asks.

You feel your face heat up and rub the back of your neck. “For a few weeks now, perhaps almost a month. Yunjin and Ningguang helped me learn, and who knew they’re such strict teachers,” you chuckle.

Zhongli smiles and caresses your cheek with his right hand while holding onto the cupcake with his other hand. “You did well,” Zhongli murmurs, stroking your cheek with his thumb.

You place your hand over Zhongli’s right hand. “Make a wish,” you whisper, smiling up at Zhongli.

Zhongli pulls his hand away from your face and clutches the cupcake with both hands. Zhongli then closes his eyes for a moment, and you watch him make a wish with anticipation. You wonder what Zhongli’s wish is about. Whatever Zhongli's wish is about, you hope that it’ll come true for him. Zhongli opens his eyes and blows out the candle. You cheer softly and clap your hands.

“I hope your schedule is clear today because I am going to be taking you out for your birthday! Just you and me!” You said.

“Oh? Is this a birthday treat for me?” Zhongli asks, taking the candle out from the cupcake and placing it on the counter before taking a small bite.

“That’s correct! You can continue eating the cupcake and drink up your tea. I will be changing my clothes and getting ready for the day!” You said.

You stand on your tippy toes and press a kiss on Zhongli’s jaws before walking out of the kitchen. After about ten minutes of changing your clothes, brushing your teeth, combing your hair, and putting on deodorant, you finally leave your bedroom and descend the stairs. Zhongli’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets when he sees you wearing traditional Liyuen clothes. Heat rushes to Zhongli’s cheeks as you walk closer to Zhongli and stop in front of him.

“Ready to go?” You ask, grabbing onto Zhongli’s hands and squeezing them lightly.

Zhongli smiles and nods his head, clearing his throat to make sure he doesn’t stumble over his words. “Lead the way, dearest,” Zhongli says.

You hold Zhongli’s hands and exit the estate with Zhongli by your side. The first place you decide to take Zhongli is Third-Round Knockout for breakfast. The both of you listen to Iron Tongue Tian tell a story about Ningguang while you and Zhongli ate delicious Liyuen dishes. You turn to look at Zhongli and notice sauce at the corner of his lips. You stifle your giggle and reach for the cloth napkin and pat his arm lightly.

Zhongli turns to look at you, and you wipe the corner of his lips with the cloth napkin. Zhongli’s eyes widen slightly, his cheeks turning bright red. Zhongli clears his throat and smiles at you shyly while you laugh under your breath and rest your head on his shoulders, squeezing his biceps lightly. How can a god be as cute as he is?

While listening to Iron Tongue Tian continue his story about Ningguang, you look up at Zhongli and make eye contact with the former Geo archon. Now it’s your turn to feel shy; you sit up and quickly look away, face almost as hot as the sun beaming down on the two of you. You reach for the teacup and take a sip nervously, feeling your hands tremble. Zhongli chuckles and wipes the tiny droplet of tea from the corner of your lips.

After breakfast at Third-Round Knockout, you and Zhongli take a stroll at Liyue Harbor while Zhongli tells you stories about his archon days. You walk beside Zhongli with your arm linked around his, your left side pressing against his right side. You two end up stopping in front of Jade Mystery after a certain gem catches Zhongli’s attention, making him stop his story short.

“You’re not going to be spending mora, are you?” You ask, looking up at your beloved boyfriend with your eyes narrowing.

Zhongli continues to look at the jade laid out on the yellow, blue, white and red cloths. “I am not spending any mora; I am just getting a closer look at the jades on the table,” Zhongli says. You can see the bottom of his lip slightly jutting out cutely.

You prop your hands on your hips and give Zhongli a skeptical look. “Oh? Is that so, my love?” You ask, pressing your lips into thin lines while staring at him suspiciously.

“That is correct,” Zhongli nods his head.

He walks up to Shitou and begins conversing with the boss of Jade Mystery while you stand in front of the table and look at every slab of jade. You stroke your chin and drown out the sounds of Zhongli and Shitou’s conversation about jade.

“Wonderful! That will be one thousand mora for the Noctilucous Jade!” You hear Shitou exclaim happily.

Your eyes widen, and you turn to look at Zhongli and Shitou, only to see Shitou talking to another customer. You furrow your eyebrows in confusion before turning to search for Zhongli. You nearly bump into his chest when you turn to the left; you look up at Zhongli and sigh in relief, letting yourself lean against his chest.

“What, did you think I was the customer?” Zhongli teases you while pinching your cheeks.

You nod your head. “Yes,” you breathe. “But I’m glad that you’re not the one that’s spending a thousand mora on Noctilucous Jade,” you said.

You didn’t want Zhongli to spend a single mora on his birthday because, well, you’re the one that’s spoiling him for his birthday! For lunch, you and Zhongli stop by Liuli Pavilion. As usual, the food is divine, and you and Zhongli have idle chats while eating lunch and sipping teas.

“This is spicy,” you mutter, poking the dish in front of you.

Your lips feel like they’re on fire, but you can’t stop eating them because they’re so delicious. Zhongli looks at you worriedly; his eyes zeroed in on your lips in particular. You sniffle and wipe your nose on a napkin, fanning yourself with your hand.

“Your lips are swollen, dearest,” Zhongli frowns, placing his chopsticks down on the ceramic plate before gesturing for the host to come over to the table. “If you’d like, I can ask the host to grab you a cup of cold water,” Zhongli offers.

You nod. “Yes, please,” you said.

The host gives you a cup of cold water, and you almost immediately down the water once the host places the cup in front of you. When the cold water touches the inside of your burning mouth, you nearly sob from relief. You set the now empty cup down on the table and lean back in your seat, sighing in relief.

“I think it's best for you to stop eating the spicy dishes,” Zhongli says, pushing the plate away from you. “Mayhaps you would like to try out the dumplings instead?” Zhongli suggests, grabbing a chunky dumpling from the container and placing it on yours.

“Yeah, I’ll try out the dumplings,” you breathed.

You’re about to grab the dumpling with your chopsticks when the sun shines through the windows, catching your eyes. You pause and look up, only to notice that the sun is beginning to set already. Wait, what? You look up at the clock, eyes wide. How long have you and Zhongli been eating at Liuli Pavilion?

“How long have we been here for? I could’ve sworn we had just arrived at Liuli Pavilion not too long ago,” you said, looking over at Zhongli.

“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, we did have a few rounds of food,” Zhongli gestures to the table.

On the table are a bunch of empty plates and bowls stacked on top of each other. In front of you and Zhongli are new main dishes and side dishes waiting to be eaten. You jolt back and blink, looking at the table and at Zhongli with an incredulous look on your face. Zhongli chuckles and sips from the ceramic teacup.

“Wow, time went by so fast, I didn’t even notice,” you said, shoving an entire dumpling into your mouth and beginning to chew on the delicious dumpling.

Zhongli sighs and gives you an endearing smile. “Dearest, please don’t stuff an entire dumpling into your mouth. You’re going to choke,” Zhongli chides.

It took you a while to chew and swallow the entire dumpling in your mouth. Once you consume the dumpling, you reach for your warm teacup. “Zhongli, honey, that’s not the only thing I’ll be choking on tonight,” you said calmly while sipping your tea.

Zhongli gives you a questioning look. “Pardon?” Zhongli asks.

You shake your head. “Nothing, forget what I said,” you wave off Zhongli’s question.

After wrapping up your and Zhongli’s lunch (and dinner because, apparently, the two of you had more than three rounds of food at Liuli Pavilion), the two of you leave the restaurant, and the sun is now starting to set. It’s the golden hour. You and Zhongli lean against the wooden railing at the Harbor, staring out to the waters.

“I’m not sure if we have time to go back to the abode. Would you be okay with spending the night in Liyue?” Zhongli asks, wrapping his arms around your waist.

You lean your head on Zhongli’s chest and nod your head. “Of course I am! As long as I’m with you, I’m content,” you said softly.

Zhongli kisses the side of your head and leads you to the nearest hotel in Liyue Harbor. Once the two of you get your room number, the key to your hotel room, and some privacy, everything becomes a blur for you two. The last thing you remembered was Zhongli pinning you against the door, marking up your neck with love bites.

“Oh, fuck! Zhongli!” You whine, clawing at his back as he plunges his cock into your sopping wet heat.

Zhongli buries his face into your neck and growls, his nails digging into your waist. Zhongli tangles his fingers into your hair and tilts your face up. You look up at Zhongli and press your lips against his. Zhongli ravages your lips hungrily, his canines nipping at your lips, your teeth clashing with his.

Zhongli grinds and ruts his cock in and out of your entrance, grabbing and squeezing your chest. Your legs tremble around Zhongli’s waist; Zhongli sucks on your tongue and presses his body up against yours, the tip of his cock kissing your cervix. You let out a choked gasp in Zhongli’s mouth, pulling away from the man above you.

“Zhongli, I don’t think I can last any longer,” You whine, clenching your jaws as you near your end.

Zhongli chuckles. “Already? But we’re just getting started, dearest,” Zhongli purrs. He continues to hammer his thick, long cock in and out of your tight hole.

“Just getting started?! It’s the evening!” You panted, digging your nails into Zhongli’s biceps.

Zhongli stops and looks out the window, the golden sunshine illuminating the bedroom and your naked body. Zhongli leans down and latches his lips onto one of your erect nipples, sucking and lapping at it.

“Dearest, the sun has yet to set. It’s still the golden hour,” Zhongli chuckles; he continues to lap at your erect nipples, making you shiver below him.

You stare up at the man above you and look between the cracks of the curtains. Zhongli is indeed correct. Between the time you and Zhongli checked into a hotel and now, only an hour has gone by. You look up at Zhongli with your mouth agape.

Zhongli lets out a laugh and slams his dick deeper into you, burying his cock as deep as he can. You wailed and writhed beneath Zhongli, your legs flailing the deeper he buried his cock inside of you. Zhongli growls and buries his face between your neck and shoulders, biting down on your neck hard.

“Ow! Zhongli!” You squeal, clawing Zhongli’s back, leaving a trail of angry red marks on his back. Zhongli presses the bulbous tip of his cock against your cervix, feeling your walls pulsing around his cock each time he thrusts into you. Zhongli pulls away from your neck and licks up your blood, his amber eyes glowing and horns sprouting from his head. You notice Zhongli’s arms have also changed. From his mid-shoulders to his fingertips, there is an ombre of black leading to gold. You lift Zhongli’s arms to your face and stare at them in awe.

“They’re glowing,” you whisper, unaware of the glowing symbol on your lower abdomen close to your right hipbone.

Zhongli wraps his arms around your waist, pistoning his cock repeatedly. You bury your face into Zhongli’s chest, a string of soft whimpers and moans coming from your mouth each time you feel Zhongli slide into you. You rock your hips against Zhongli’s hips, rubbing your aching, swollen nub against his pubic bone, sending shockwaves of pleasure down your spine.

“Oh, fuck,” you let out a shaky whisper, feeling a knot beginning to form in your lower stomach. You tap on Zhongli’s arms weakly. “Zhongli, I don’t think I can last any longer,” you gasp, melting in Zhongli’s arms.

Zhongli tilts your head to the side and starts leaving hickeys behind on your neck, shoulders, and collarbone. “We have all night, dearest,” Zhongli whispers. Zhongli nibbles on your earlobe and squeezes the globes of your ass, burying his cock inside of you. “After all, it’s only the golden hour. We have plenty of time,” Zhongli purrs into your ears.

Note: Definitely not my best smut for sure. I really hope that my future Zhongli smut will be better because I do have a Zhongli smut idea in mind since early April of 2022, but I never got the chance to type it out because I kept changing the idea 🥲 Maybe it'll be published sometime in 2023; not entirely sure when, but hopefully soon. I have a new taglist! It's more specific this time compared to last time (kind of). If you want to be in the new taglist for certain fanfics, click the link [here]. Please make sure to allow people to tag you in posts, or else you won't get notifications if I do tag you in future fanfics. Anyway, for those who are new here or are returning readers, I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!

Taglist for my mini-fics/all of my fanfics: @kazuhamuse, @chirikoheina, @yoru-trash, @kwelibeeery, @yumakj, @deartoru, @luminarymoonlight, @ins4nebish, @honeybedo, @exhaustedcommunist, @jadedist, @mompt2, @living-my-best-life5, (if you're not notified when tagged, please make sure to allow people to tag you in posts, or else you won't receive notification on being tagged in fanfics 🥲 and please check if the spelling is correct, along with symbols and numbers)

Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^

#Genshin impact x reader #Genshin impact imagine #Genshin impact fanfiction #Genshin impact smut #Zhongli x reader #Zhongli imagine #Zhongli fanfiction #Zhongli fanfic #Zhongli smut #Zhongli x afab!reader #Zhongli x afab!reader smut

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brightlilith · 8 months

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Blue Sea - 1

Mastelist - MCU Mastelist

Blue Sea - Masterlist

Request open Buy me a coffee

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Pairing: Bucky Barnes x retired spy!reader

Summary: Following the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes is trying to adapt to a normal life, but is forced to join forces with a retired CIA spy to stop an old enemy seeking revenge. They certainly don't like each other, but they have incredible chemistry.

Warning: Violence, fighting, possible angst and fluff stress, post-traumatic stress, death, messy psychological, and more will be added later.

A/N: Who doesn't love an enemies to lovers? English isn't my first language, so I apologize for any grammatical and spelling errors. Constructive criticism and supportive messages are always welcome, it motivates me to keep writing. Let me know if something is wrong, my dm is always open. kisses💋

Like, comment, and/or reblog I would be very grateful 🩷

The beach stretches out before me, empty and serene. The sun sets on the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and red. The waves gently break on the shore, creating a soothing sound that seems to dance to the rhythm of the wind. Birds gracefully fly over the water, occasionally diving to catch fish. It is a place of tranquility and solitude.

With my eyes closed, I allow myself to get lost in my thoughts, trying to make sense of the things that trouble me. The waves and the wind whisper comforting words, as if trying to console me. I am completely absorbed in my own mind, trying to find answers to difficult questions that continue to torment me.

Suddenly, I am brought back to reality by a familiar voice. I open my eyes to find my therapist, Dr. Raynor, sitting across from me. We are in her office, where there are only two chairs and a simple table between us. The blue walls convey a sense of melancholy that makes me uncomfortable.

I feel pressured and exposed, even though I know the intention is the opposite. The room seems small compared to the vastness of the beach, and the atmosphere is stifling. The presence of my therapist makes me feel vulnerable, and the idea of sharing my deepest thoughts and emotions with her makes me uneasy.

As she starts talking, I try to make myself comfortable in the chair, but the feeling of discomfort persists. As she tries to encourage me to share, I feel like a caged bird, wanting to fly back to the deserted and lonely beach. The room is a contrast to my refuge on the beach, and I long for freedom and open space.

"Are you okay?" Her voice was calm.

"When am I okay?" I lift my head to look at her.

"I don't know, you tell me." She smiles gently.

"Never."

"Are you doing the exercises I mentioned?" she asks.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't need to." I sigh. "I'm fine on my own."

Dr. Raynor stares at me for a few seconds before jotting something down on her clipboard, it's not a good thing I would say, I just sigh and close my eyes trying to go back to the beach, but it didn't work. My phone started ringing, its annoying sound made me want to throw it away.

"You should answer that," she said without taking her eyes off the clipboard.

"I'm fine." I rested my head on the hand that was propped on the arm of the chair.

She looked at me with a quizzical look, sighed, and reached out for the phone.

"It's Sam." She said after I handed her the device.

"Good for him."

"You don't even have 10 contacts here." She scrolled through my phone.

"Maybe because some are dead and others are missing, what can I do?" I replied sarcastically.

"Why are you here, y/n? What is your purpose?

"I'm on probation, and I want to get rid of you." I smirked sardonically.

She looked at me in a way that I understood she would jot that down, but I just shrugged, it wasn't the first time. She handed me the phone back, and when I looked at it, I realized that I had not just one call from Samuel, but several... but the message he sent me caught my attention.

What the fuck.

#bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes #bucky x you #bucky fanfic #james bucky buchanan barnes #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x f!reader #bucky barnes x fluff

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crushsblogstories · 1 year

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Camping Trip - Part 2

WARNING(S)!

None of these are my characters!

I came up with the plot.

Suggestive themes?!

Potential small inaccuracy! Though the exact date s'mores were invented is unknown, the first formal recipe is recorded in the 1927 book. Anne with an E takes place in the early 19th century so they might’ve had or might not have had s’mores, but there is still a chance they did. Actuall Inaccuracy! I mentioned a flashlight very breafly during a 'scary story'.

Pronouns! Not specified

||Wordbank:|| Knickers - Shorts || Trousers - Pants||

PART 1 [] Current: PART 2 [] PART 3

-After Arriving-

My POV

We arrived at the forest and walked a short way to a nearby river. Anne, Diana, Josie, and I had shared a carriage, whilst Tillie, Ms. Stacy, Charlie, Ruby, and Moody shared another. The rest of the boys had stuffed in the third carriage (Poor Gilbert). When we departed I remembered the misfortune of Jane, not having been able to come because of a slight cough her parents were worried about.

Finally taking in the river, I almost gasp a–“Wow” breathes Anne, seemingly having read my thoughts. “It’s so- so-” “Romantical?” Diana butts in seeing Anne at a loss for words, “Breathtaking?” Ruby chimes, “Pretty” Tillie finishes in a dazed manner causing us to laugh. “Not exactly.. I believe I am finally at a loss for words” Anne says, looking back at the stream. “Peaceful.” I say, smiling at the sight, “Huh?” says Anne, turning to look at me along with the rest of the girls. “Peaceful,” I repeat, turning to face them as well, “You don’t always need fancy or large words to describe something. I find this scene peaceful” I repeat once more, looking back towards the river, “It’s soft like the dazed state of having just woken up, and calming like reading by a warm fireplace in the dark of night. Peaceful.” I finish. “Y/N…” I turn my head to the sound of Ruby saying my name, “That was.. Beautiful” finishes Diana, Tillie and Anne nodding in agreement. “Oh!- I-” I am cut off by the sound of someone clearing their throat. “Alright everyone. Time set up camp. Pitch your tents and afterwards I’ll need two volunteers to help me with gathering wood and stones for the fire. Understood?” Ms. Stacy explains, receiving nods and yes’s as a reply.

I set up my tent rather quickly, finishing even before Ms. Stacy. As a result, I decided to help the other girls with their tents as they seem to be struggling. I help Tillie first as she is a quick learner and could help someone else soon after. As I thought, she understood quickly and went to help Ruby. Finished with Tillie, I go over to Anne who was struggling the most. “Hey Anne. Need any help?” I offer, “Hm? Oh! Yes please.. I don’t quite understand how these ropes tie into things. No pun intended.” There is a pause before we both burst out laughing. It may not have been that funny but we enjoyed the joke nonetheless. I crouch down to assist Anne and explain where everything goes.

Just having finished, Gilbert approaches. “Um… Y/N?” Gilbert utters, “Yes?” I turn to be met by his gorgeous eyes. “Do.. Do you um.. Need any help with your tent?” He asks, rubbing his neck. I can tell he just wants to spend time together as we didn’t get much time to talk this morning, none at all actually, but there’s one problem… This isn’t my tent. “Oh! Um. I’d love that but…” I trail off not wanting to upset him. “But…?” He repeats, staring intently, “This is not my tent. It’s Anne’s. I finished pitching mine a while ago, it was the first one up.” I say pointing towards my tent. “Oh..” He says disappointedly, “Yeah.. Sorry for bothering.” He turns to walk away but my voice stops him, “But! Anne and I just finished and we’ll need food right? I heard Billy bragging about how he’ll catch a big enough fish for everyone to eat. I doubt that will happen, or that there’s a fish big enough for that here, but if we give it a go we might have a chance at survival.” I laugh, so does Gilbert.

-A Short Minute Later-

We reach the not-so-far river in less than a minute as it’s only a few meters from where we set up camp. Just as I go to say something, we hear an all too familiar voice. “AHEM. Your attention please.” ‘Wow.. The first time I’ve heard Billy say please..’ I think, rolling my eyes in the process “I will help all, and any people who might need help catching fish,” He continues, gathering everyone's attention while some stand closer to hear better. Whilst Billy rambles about how he’s ‘super good at fishing’ I realize he keeps glancing over to me. I think Gilbert seemed to notice as well because he randomly grabbed my hand and kissed it softly. I look over at him and he flashes me a quick, seemingly genuine smile, though I can tell he’s annoyed.

Not seeming to be aware of, though simultaneously breaking the tension, Josie walks between Billy, Gilbert, and I, standing herself in front of the river. “I think I get it… Do we just.. grab them?” Josie says, playing dumb as she reaches in to ‘grab a fish’. SPLASH! Josie falls into the shallow river with a screech. Instead of helping Josie, Billy attempts to stifle a laugh.

Knowing full well of Josie's plan, of which is not working, I go to help her. Walking up, and reaching out a hand. “What. Are. You. Doing?!?” Josie, whisper-shouts, “Helping you.” I whisper back “He’s obviously not going too…” I add. “Ugh” Josie silently groans, she grabs my hand and.. SPLASH! She pulled me in too! ‘UGH! Why do girls like Josie feel the need to act like a damsel in distress all the time and push aside the people who actually try to help!?’ I internally complain.

All of a sudden, Billy doesn’t find the fact Josie fell in so funny. He straightens himself up, clears his throat, standing tall and begins to walk over, Gilbert having started walking a couple seconds beforehand, “You were saying?” Josie whispers, as impertinent as possible. I roll my eyes, ready to help myself up when two hands reach out, preventing me from getting up, but offering assistance instead. I look up, sun shining bright in my eyes, to barely see Gilbert and… Billy?? I look over to Josie and she looks furious. At both me, and Billy.

Turning my attention back to getting up, I grab Gilbert's hand, him pulling me up with little to no effort. “Thank you.” I say with a slight nod, directly to Gilbert, making direct eye contact as I don’t feel like dealing with an angry Josie Pye. Gilbert smiles in response as I turn to Billy. I may not like him as a person, but I will still be polite and have matters with him. “Thank you.” I say, “You’re wel-” He starts with a visible smile, of which I’ve never seen unless with mal-intent, but I cut him off. “Thank you for offering your hand, though Josie fell in first and is still sitting in the water. You were the closest to her though only came to help me after I fell in.” Billy’s almost-smile faltered.

There was a pause. A very short but awkward one. To cut the tension you’d need a very thick saw. Finally, the pause was over when Billy nodded with a slight hum, and went over to help Josie out. “Oh! Why thank you Billy!” Josie said, now out of the water as if the whole ordeal hadn’t happened right before her eyes and her plan hadn’t gone to pieces. Everyone went back to their respective tasks and fun though I could tell Josie was fuming, along with Gilbert. Though he hid it much better.

Me and Gilbert reached where Ms. Stacy had set up the fishing materials, it consisted of nets, wooden spears, and a large tub, assumingly for the fish. I understand why there were no fishing rods as the water is shallow.

“What tactic do you think we should use?” I ask, turning to Gilbert who I now find behind me, looking off across the river in thought. “Gil?” I called, “Hm?” He hums, turning to face me, “Oh! Sorry, could you repeat that?” He asks, playing it off. “Do you want to use the nets or the spears?” I repeat. “Net seems more efficient but spears would be more fun.” He pauses and smiles, “Spears” He finishes still smiling, though I can tell something is wrong. “Gil..” I step closer, only a few inches away. Before continuing, I reach my hand up to cup his cheek, “You ok? You know you can tell me if somethings up. Especially if you’re upset in any way.” I say, starting soft but firming my tone at the end a bit so he knows I’m being genuine. “I know.” He says lightly, tilting his head into my hand and reaching his own up to grasp it. I stare into his eyes worriedly for a moment. Hoping he’ll tell me what is bothering him, what I can do to help. I sigh, choosing to pretend as if I’m not worrying, and to wait until he’s ready to tell me.

-Campfire time-

The sun has set and the stars start creeping out. Everyone is gathered around the fire on logs or on the ground, Moody is sat beside Ruby, both of whom are blushing, avoiding eye-contact, Ms. Stacy is sat on the left end of said log opening a bag of marshmallows to pass around.

On the log to the right of them, Tilly, Diana, and Anne share a log. Continuing to the right, Gilbert and I sit on a log, my head resting on his shoulder as I sit in the very middle of the chopped tree. And the final log has a still angry Josie on the left end and a seemingly nervous Charlie on the right staring directly at Tillie.

Everyone is engaging in conversation, Charlie asked Tillie to go on a stroll with him to which she agreed, and Josie began mumbling to herself of what I believe to be angered statements a while ago. The only silence of the night being mine and Gilbert’s. It was comfortable yet I was still waiting for him to tell me why he was so bothered. I obviously knew it was jealousy, which I must admit was kinda hot, but he usually isn’t as bothered about it and just teases me with ‘I’m glad I got to you first’ or ‘See? You’re so beautiful even ______ wants you!’. This time it was different though, it made me nervous.

“Gilbert?” My voice was soft and quiet though I still saw him jump slightly. “Yes darling?” He replied, “Come with me.” I whisper, grabbing his hand and leading him into the forest. We walk about 7 minutes away from camp in silence. “Is everything alright?” Gilbert asks once we stop by one of the many tall trees. “No, because you aren’t telling me what’s bothering you. I understand if you’re not ready to tell me right this momment, or you never will, but I worry.” I reply, he pulls me closer and kisses my forehead before resting his hands on my waist, “Sorry, it’s just. Billy.” He said. I guide Gilbert to sit under a tree with me, “You never let him get to you. What’s different now?” I ask, confused.

“The whole ride here all he could do was ramble about how lucky I am to be with you and how pretty you are. At some point he even started talking about your figure. I had to change the subject to be about him because he wasn’t interested in any other topic.” Gilbert goes quiet and I turn his head to face me, “Gil..” He cuts me off, “And I won’t say you’re mine because that is objectifying and I would never do that to any woman but I just love you so much and I couldn’t stand him rambling on and on about you and he’s such a—!” I cut him off with a kiss. “I’m yours and you are mine” I reassure with a smile, earning a smile back.

“Want me to prove it?” I ask, my smile forming into a smirk. Gilbert nods eagerly as I begin kissing him, I climb onto his lap to close the gap between us as he pulls me closer by my waist. “I love you Gilbert.” I reassure, he simply smiles back though I know he isn’t upset anymore. We stay like that for a couple of minutes before Gilbert pipes up, “Love, as much as I adore this, we have to head back.” I pause for a moment. “But I don’t want toooo.” I cuddle closer to him as I complain, “Alright, I guess we’ll miss out on s’mores then.” Gilbert says with a smirk, I immediately jump up. “Well?! What are you doing sitting there?! Let’s go!” I begin walking off back to the camp as Gilbert jogs up to walk by my side laughing. “I love you, you know that?” He asks, “Mhm. I love you too. But I adore s’mores.” I say cheerfully, earning a laugh.

-Back at Camp-

Me and Gilbert walk back to camp hand in hand, giggling and laughing. “Oh! Just in time! We were about to make s’mores!” Anne says, being the first to notice me and Gilbert and causing everyone else to look over. Aside from Tilly and Charlie, who are smiling at each other holding hands (very adorably I might add). Me and Gilbert move to sit down in our previous spots on one of the logs. As we do, I feel eyes lingering on me, it’s Billy. I pretend not to notice and pay no mind to it.

Marshmallows and twigs are passed around, and people begin to make s’mores. “Oooh! Oooh! Why don’t we tell scary stories?!” Diana pipes up, “Oh! Yes that’s a great idea Diana!” Anne adds. “I’ve got one, but you girls might be too scared to hear it.” Billy says, causing Ruby to shriek and hug Moody tight to which I smiled at. Billy then goes on to tell the worst, least scary, dumbest, story I’ve ever heard,

“Once upon a dark night, there was a boy named Billy. He went out hunting for some dumb fox but ended up getting lost in the forest. Then, suddenly he heard a sound! He screamed, and yelled, and ran! And he found his way back home. But he never found out what that sound was…” As Billy spoke, he tried his best to sound ominous and creepy, throwing in hand movements here and there, but the story was just so bland and stupid that no one was scared, not even Ruby. “AHHHH!” Josie screams, clinging onto Billy helplessly. This act caused me to roll my eyes and rest my head on Gilbert’s shoulder, just observing everyone’s reaction to the situation.

Billy looks to me and sees my unbothered face, he looks a bit disappointed but switches to facing Josie and smiling. The smile is so obviously fake but as they say ‘love makes you blind’ so Josie’s face lights up when Billy says, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” 'What a fake' I think to myself. “I’ve got a better story.” Gilbert states, attracting the attention of everyone, and a glare from Billy. I lift my head off Gilbert’s shoulder and shift to face him, knees touching. “Well? Go on.” I smile.

......

“...As she opens the old rusty door, hearing it creak, a shiver runs up her back and her flashlight shuts off. The room is pitch black, even the dim light of the hallway she once stood in not being enough to illuminate her surroundings. She steps in the room, hearing water dripping. 'It's an old house.' She thinks, paying no mind. That’s when her flashlight flickers for a moment. She swears she had just seen a pair of eyes. The flashlight flickers once more, were the eyes getting closer? No. It had to have just been her imagination. The flashlight turns on completely and she’s met with the sight of her best friend, he’s hanging by a rope, tied to his neck. Suddenly, the realization hit her, it wasn’t water dripping she heard, it was…‘AHHHHHHH’ She tried to scream but her mouth was covered by old, dirty hands. The last thing she saw was a figure running past her now fallen, and flickering, flashlight, and hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at her…”

Gilbert finishes his story, an ominous and spooky atmosphere lingers. Diana and Anne are clutching onto one another, Josie is practically on the verge of sobbing into Billy’s arm, Ruby's holding onto Moody, of whom is trying to act heroic and brave though seems almost just as scared, Tillie was surprisingly into the plot whilst Charlie looks completely traumatized, Ms.Stacy looks concerned Gilbert knew such a story or came up with it himself due to all the gore, and I was doing my best not to laugh at everyones reactions.

"Well. Um. Let's head to bed, shall we?" Ms.Stacy says, beginning to pack everything up. "Goodnight my love." Gilbert says, softly pecking my lips. "Goodnight Gil." I smile.

To be continued? (Let me know!)

Thank you for reading! Feedback is much appreciated though you are not obligated!

Requests are open here!

#anne with an e #gilbert x reader #x reader #camping #gilbert blythe #gilbert blythe x reader #part 2

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ivyprism · 5 months

Text

The Cursed Beings: Manticore (Elpis x Reader)

Warning: Manticore, kind of scary, scars, flirty, etc.

"This is torture!" You shout as you walk. Dusk looks over and rolls his eyes.

"I could show you actual torture… We have to split up here." Dusk places his hand on his hip as he looks over at Dusk. You huff at the skeleton before heading into the trees. You dislike the fact that it is so silent. This was awful. Your body tenses when you hear a gentle snap.

"Gotta go, gotta go…" You start whispering when you believe you feel a tail touch your leg. You tighten and jump as you stumble and fall to the ground. You gasp in pain as you hear a gentle giggle. You stiffen up as your gaze meets a pair of deep crimson eyes. You become pale when you notice the scar on its right eye.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing all by your lonesome….?" The creature purred as it moved closer. You might call the voice deep and masculine. It raises a paw as you flinch, but you feel it barely brush something.

"Wh…Wha…" Your mouth opens and closes like a gaping fish. It chuckled and nonchalantly shook a leaf from its paw. You focus, and you can tell he's a manticore.

"You got some leaves in your hair. Now, are you going to answer my question or am I going to have to repeat myself?" The manticore quietly circles you. It's tail dragging lazily on the floor. You gulp as you watch him circle you.

"M-My uh- my team was doing some research on the legends of these parts..." You sputter out and he hums. He leans towards you his eyes glowing. You blink as he looks more skeleton than Manticore. The manticore chuckles before he pulls back. He was standing on his hind legs, he looked like a very tall skeleton. He sits down in front of you. He raises one leg and rests the other down. He puts his chin on his knees.

"Is that right…? Well, you are looking at one." The manticore smirks, making you blush. He was undeniably attractive.

"Oh, one of the legends…? No way… They existed centuries ago." You spoke shakily as he hummed and leaned against his hand.

"I am Elpis… Sounds familiar…?" Elpis, the manticore, smirked as you tensed. How was this possible? It should not be. He shouldn't be…

"Y-Yes, but h-how…?" When you ask, Elpis hums and gestures to his cursed form. He smirked slyly.

"I'm cursed." He leans on his leg, smirking. He appears to shrug slightly in reaction to your stare. "So, got any questions, or are you going to keep staring?" Elpis makes jokes while he glances at you.

"I-I didn't actually think-" you begin, but he appears to giggle slightly. He leans his head against his hand.

"Yeah, yeah, now with the questions." Elpis seemed to be encouraging you to talk. You blink, but you grab your notes and stare at him intently.

"Uh- okay... What are you? How did this happen? And um... Are you the only one?" You ask. Elpis hums as he stretches a bit. His wings spread a bit as he does so.

"I'm a skeleton manticore. Gods happened. Also no, I am not the only one." Elpis chuckles as he leans on his hand.

"Uh… So- so were you always…?" You couldn't find the perfect words to say when you asked. Elpis observes you silently.

"Do you mean I was always a skeleton manticore? No, I was a regular person many years ago… But I don't remember how I used to look so I'm just a manticore now." Elpis shrugs and rests back against the tree. He crosses his legs crisscross-style. "Well, I guess I have some things to do. But…perhaps we can meet again?" Elpis grins as he pokes your nose. He returns to his manticore form and does the cat stretch before flying away.

"Wait- ah… He's gone…" You blink as he flies away… It can't get any worse than this. You couldn't feel the other two sets of eyes on you.

--------

Part 2: The Cursed Beings: Mantidrake (Benoit x Reader)

#sdfihoiegh #the adventurers of millenis au #cursed skeleton boys #cursed fell sans #angels fall au #cursed fell boys #elpis x reader #manticore #scary #scars #flirty #hehe #nightmare sans #dreamtale

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sollucets · 1 year

Note

Your new sanray fic is just wow!!! It's so so so good!!!! I am in love! But as a desperate person I have to ask. Can you imagine writing like a tiny happy end for them? The hurt no comfort is killing me.

honestly nonny,,, i’m not sure i can right now! i think i’d rather leave it up to canon & then write fixits if i don’t get what i want. as it stands pre-release i'm not even sure what i'd do about the mewray dynamic yet (i do have thoughts, though.) but,,,, for u, lovely, i can perhaps write a moment of peace from the past

(700ish words, t rating for implied sex, absolutely no editing ✨)

💜

“Hey, what do you think of this?” calls San from his place on the balcony.

Ray makes an offended noise on principle; he’d been having a very nice mostly-naked mostly-nap despite both his original intentions and the best efforts of San’s awful couch, and he doesn’t appreciate being roused. Still, he obligingly lifts his head enough to see San giving him his shitty puppy eyes through the sliding door.

He’d dragged an old wooden stool out there before Ray had started drifting, putting on headphones and starting to mess around with his phone and his writing notebook. He usually gets like this once they’re done and his clingy period is over, all energetic and eager to do things. Ray is never going to understand.

He’s comfortable enough here and so pleasantly sleepy that it’d be easy to ignore him, but San didn’t bother to put his shirt on when he’d gone outside and Ray still aches in the best possible way, so he supposes he might owe him one.

With a groan, he levers himself upright and pads over to the balcony in his boxers, slipping on a loose pair of San’s sandals on his way out. “What?” he asks, yawning.

“Do you think this looks good?” San asks, frowning down at the notebook he’s wiggling in Ray’s direction. “I just finished this draft.”

Instead of taking it, Ray circles behind him on the stool, noting with pride the red lines down the lean muscles in his back. “You look good, all scratched up,” he says, and watches with a smirk as San tries to pretend he’s not pleased.

Coming closer, Ray hooks his chin over San’s shoulder to stare down at the notebook. It’s full of guitar tab, with San’s spidery handwriting marking notes and lyrics in the unorganized way he tends to do it all across the page.

“You know I can’t read that shit,” Ray tells him, bringing his arms up and looping them under San’s to connect in front. He still feels a little clingy, probably since it hasn’t been that long, and San is warm and has a nice chest.

“Yeah, yeah,” San says, his voice vibrating against Ray’s skin. “I’m asking about the lyrics, not the notes.”

Ray, who had been forced to learn violin as a child and in retribution did his best to forget everything he’d learned as an adult, has very little music knowledge. He does always like San’s songs, appreciates how his voice fills the room and the movements of his pretty fingers on the guitar.

This one looks just about the same as usual, lyrically, all edgy and longing. “It’s good,” he says lamely, and nuzzles into San’s neck in apology before adding, “Shouldn’t that rhyme?”

“It doesn’t have to,” he says, in that slightly condescending but mostly earnest way he gets when he’s talking about the stuff he really genuinely likes. “There’s dissonance in that part, and the theme is about struggling with something, so it’s supposed to match.”

Ray leans even more of his weight on San’s back, trusting him to catch them before they overbalance. “What do you even need me for, hm?” he asks, a little sleep-slow. “You think it’s good already. Did you just want to hear me say it?”

“You said you were coming next week,” San retorts, but Ray’s got his number.

“You just like it when I tell you you’re a good boy,” he singsongs. “Don’t fish for compliments, it doesn’t suit you.”

“Asshole,” San snaps, and a moment later Ray feels a pinch on his side.

He yelps, flinching away from it without actually disconnecting from San, and shifts his hands up to twist one of San’s nipples in revenge. “Dick,” he says, laughing as San tries to get away from him without toppling off the stool. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“You’re lucky I’m cute,” San tells him, and he can’t actually argue with that without disparaging his own taste.

“Get up,” Ray orders instead. “Play the chords for me.”

“Now you’re interested?”

“Just do it,” Ray says, and he does, laughing.

#my fic tag #only friends #only friends series #i wrote this in notes app and didn’t get on desktop to check so if the formatting is fucky im sorry #this time featuring: more headcanons to be disproven!!!#anyway i hope this makes up for the pain a lil bit ✨#nonny #rowan asks

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asnowfern · 1 year

Text

The Writing's On The Wall - Chapter 5

Summary: She's a demon, he's a hunter. Their fates intertwined after a chance encounter. Can Nesta and Cassian overcome all odds to be together? Ancient Chinese wuxia AU setting/Inspired by the Legend of the White Snake.

Read: AO3 | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

A/N: To make up for the lack of update last week, I have combined chapters 5 and 6 into a longer one. I would also like to emphasise that I have nothing but respect for the Tibetan community. The implications of Cassian and Emerie's history is fiction and is intended to reference a fictional warrior tribe in the Himalayan alps near Tibet. From my very brief research, I do not believe that the Tibet/Tubo empire had warrior tribes and hence chose to create a fictional one, based on Illyria, for Cassian and Emerie. It is not my intention to be disrespectful and I truly hope it does not come off as I am.

Chapter 5: 坚持就是胜利 (To persevere is to win)

NESTA

Gwyn and Emerie stared at Nesta with slacked jaws as she relayed their battle with Briallyn to them. A stunned silence settled over them as they processed her tale.

"Can I see this pendant?" Emerie asked after a beat, a curious glint entering her eyes.

Nesta fished it out from underneath her robes and pulled it over her head, immediately missing the constant warm presence of the gem.

Emerie gave a small gasp as she gingerly took the pendant. Her hand shook slightly as she leaned the stone on her palm and used one finger to stroke the smooth surface almost with reverence. To Nesta's surprise, a gentle sad smile graced her features and her eyes turned suspiciously bright.

"It's a betrothal necklace," she said softly, her voice dropping to a bare whisper, "It's rarely used in my village but it is customary for the male to gift a necklace to the female when he states his intentions. But these matching protective necklaces are very, very rare. The ultimate act of devotion - connecting and protecting each other, regardless of distance."

Nesta remained silent as her brain raced to retrieve the memory of Cassian giving her the necklace - revisiting how he brushed aside her questions.

"And the explosion?"

Emerie shook her head, bringing the necklace closer to inspect it, "I've never heard of such incidents. It might be a result of your imbued flames in his pendant, compounding the protective charms within the pendant."

"Your flames and scales are an integral part of you. You might have imbued more of yourself than you thought when you burnt it into his gem." Gwyn added, bending over to observe the necklace and admired how the stone glistened in the light, "It's beautiful."

Nesta nodded numbly as she took back the necklace and stared into the pendant.

Humans couldn't be trusted. They lie, they deceive, they betray. And they did it with no remorse when it comes to each other, let alone with demons.

Except Cassian, her brain reminded her. Good, kind, selfless Cassian.

As if on cue, the pendant glowed warmly in her palm. Everything alright? It seemed to ask. Nesta gripped it tightly before hastily stuffing it deep into her sleeves, not ready to wear it just yet. Not until she finished absorbing the recently gathered knowledge.

A gentle comforting hand over hers, its presence warm and soothing. Nesta looked sideways to Gwyn's reassuring smile but found herself unable to conjure a smile in return.

"That man cares for you more than anything in this world, Nesta."

Nesta swallowed thickly but said nothing, grateful when her friend did not probe further.

***

The following weeks fell into a routine. Nesta, now joined by Gwyn, would come down every morning to help teach the children, alternating easily between martial arts and reading classes. She and Cassian interacted as they always had before the attack. He would tease her and she would respond in kind. Every night, she went back to the hut with Gwyn. She didn’t seek him out and he kept his distance. If that bothered him, he did not show it.

“How did you turn shifu’s sword on him during your sparring?” Suzie asked, frowning at the sword in her hand after Xian disarmed her once again. “Is it a different style?”

“Cassian and I don’t follow the same style but the principles are the same,” Nesta tilted her head in thought, moving her limbs to adopt her usual stance, “as a female, turning your opponents strength on themselves and maintaining agility are crucial skills.”

She demonstrated, taking a step inwards to swing her foot at Suzie’s standing leg and knocking her off balance, her arms stretched out to catch the younger human as she fell. “Always judge the space between you and your opponent and when the opportunity strikes, use gravity to aid you.”

She smiled as she saw Suzie processed her explanation, her hands and legs twitching as she ran through the move in her head. She was not surprised when Suzie's next move sent one foot flying through the air towards her leg. Nesta allowed the strike to hit before shifting her body weight and flipped around so that her front was to Suzie’s back, her sheathed sword flat against her neck.

A heated intent snapped her attention away from her next instructions to Suzie. Her chest tightened at Cassian staring at them from across the courtyard. His gaze felt hot enough to brand and hold her in place. Except, Nesta is no ordinary female, demon or not. She turned her focus back on Suzie and pointedly ignored her co-instructor for the rest of the session and left the building afterwards.

Cassian followed her out to the woods, maintaining a careful distance between them. She paused as she reached a field of flowers, turning to face him. His eyes were wild, pupils blown wide open as his breathing became quick and shallow.

"Cass-"

He cut her off, covering her mouth with his. Demanding and desperate. His arms pulled her up and closer as she parted her lips and invited him in. His kiss conveying all that he wanted to ask but knew she was not ready to answer. Why? Why did you take off the necklace? Why didn't you seek me out? Why? Why?

But beyond that felt like a hurt that she did not expect. Why do you still doubt me?

Nesta pushed herself back to put distance between them, abruptly breaking the kiss. Her eyes downcast as she tried to ready the words, sharpened and primed for attack. Words that she held back when she saw the vulnerability on his face.

"You found out about the necklace," he reasoned, his hand moving to grasp where his necklace hung beneath his clothes, "That's why you took it off."

"Why?" The word slipped between her lips, "We barely knew each other."

"No, we didn't," he agreed, slowly stretching out his hands towards her, giving her the opportunity to pull back from him before he gingerly held his hand against hers "But I already knew then that you were important to me. Even before I remembered."

"Remembered?" She echoed, her gaze fixed on her fingers which folded to interlace with his, a calm settling within her as his warmth seeped through.

"Do you remember a rainy winter afternoon on the stone bridge from about ten years ago," he continued gently, his thumb brushing circles on her skin, "You gave coins and food to a homeless man, instructing him to use it to feed the other homeless children?"

"Wha-" Nesta began to ask as her brain brought up images of a dishevelled man shaking underneath a straw coat - How she watched the day before as he gave whatever limited food he had to the other children with him, hazel eyes that twinkled only as he spoke to them. How the same set of eyes sharpened and chased away a cloud of despondency as she addressed him. How it disappointed and warmed her to never see this man sitting listlessly, lost in his hopelessness, on the bridge again.

And suddenly, it was like a fog had lifted.

His mouth pulled into a small shy smile, "You saved us. Not just me but Suzie and Xian too." He tugged her hands towards his face, pressing his lips to her knuckles, "I didn't give you the necklace to propose or bind you. It was just a way to know when you need help. But then I got the chance to know you. Your strength and kindness and wit."

He pulled her hands down to his chest once more, letting her feel the organ beneath the flesh beat wildly, "I meant it the other day. This beats only for you. There will be no one else for me. Forever."

"Forever," she agreed, continuing after a beat, "For either of us."

Cassian's face split into a smile, a light so bright that it stole her breath away. He leaned in and captured her mouth as his own. She sighed as their hands separated, her hand winding around his neck as strong arms circled her waist. His tongue easily slid through her parted lips to taste her, groaning as he did so. The kiss felt timeless, endless. Their limbs entangled until she couldn't differentiate where she began and he ended. A cycle of hands, tongue, teeth.

Then a shrill scream and a low guttural growl pierced through the air.

They reluctantly pulled themselves apart, the unwillingness she felt reflected on his face. The edges of his mouth lifted into a familiar smirk as he readied his sword, the promise clear in his eyes. We'll finish this later.

Nesta ignored the heat that pooled in her.

They sprinted in the direction of the attack, their speed enhanced by their qigong. A heavy weight dropped in her belly at the sight that greeted them - two monstrous creatures surrounded a mother and her young child. The mother cried desperately as one creature effortlessly swept her away and used its other claw to lift the child into its mouth.

Saliva dried in her throat. They wouldn't be able to reach there fast enough. Even a well aimed throw of their sword wouldn't guarantee the child's safety.

Nesta tightened her jaw as she made her decision. She snapped her head towards Cassian who threw her a look of understanding - Go.

Nesta flew across the stream that separated them, a stream of silver flames shot out of her hands towards the monster and severed its arm. The child screamed as he fell. Nesta pushed out more qi to quicken her pace, catching the child just before he plummeted into the ground.

She gently let the child down and shoved him behind her to face the creature. She lifted her sword, imbuing it with flames. Her blade arced through the air and cleanly cleaved the creature's torso in two. Cassian did the same with the other demon, the bright red jewel in the pommel shone bright and true as he ran his blade through it.

Nesta took a long exhale as she swung her sword out in two strokes to fling off the blood. Her gaze flicked towards the mother and son they rescued, her fists clenched tightly at the fear present in their eyes as the mother pressed her son tightly into her chest.

She didn't need to guess why. The extensive use of her powers would have shed the glamour and betrayed her true identity. It didn't matter if she only exposed herself to save them. There would be no gratitude or even discretion. The fear said it all - Monster.

Cassian's large hand enveloped hers as he looked down at the pair. The gesture sent the message loud and clear.

"You're safe," he promised them, willing his voice to be low and comforting, "Nothing will hurt you now."

The mother trembled but her eyes shone with a protective glint, her voice shrill in panic as she exclaimed, "W-we can't know that. Who's to say she didn't want us for herself."

Nesta felt the grip on her hand tightened as Cassian's face hardened at the comment. His next words came out in a soft but dangerous tone, "She saved you. Not because she needed to but because she's a good person."

The woman scoffed in derision, "She is not even a she. It is a demon."

Cassian visibly bristled next to her, his anger rolling off him in waves.

Oh, for fucks' sake.

"Enough" she announced haughtily, "My actions speak for themselves. We are done here."

She stalked off with her head held high, hearing a soft curse from Cassian as he followed her, leaving behind the woman still sputtering demands for help from the hunter behind him.

"She's going to tell the other hunters," Cassian said after they have moved far enough to be alone, "and he will come with his army."

"I know."

They headed back to the house in silence, the thick veil of unease hovered over them.

***

"No," Gwyn said crossly, her arms similarly crossed in front of her chest, "I'm not leaving you to face him alone."

"I wouldn't be alone," Nesta reasoned, tilting her head towards Cassian, "Cassian will be with me. He knows the hunters. Their tricks and strategies."

Gwyn's face crumbled a little, "He's targeting you because of me."

Nesta pulled her arms over Gwyn into a hug, "I would done it many times over if it saved your life. Besides, he would never stay away from a trophy kill like this. You know that."

Her teal eyes glistened as she returned the embrace, promising, "We will be right back after the kids are safely hidden within the forest's magic."

"I know," Nesta agreed.

"Where are we going!" A young voice interrupted loudly. The four adults whipped their heads towards young Ivy standing by the door with Suzie and Xian. The rest of the children stood curiously behind them.

"Someone bad is coming for Nesta," Cassian explained as he gestured them into the room, opting to tell them the truth, "Gwyn and Emerie will bring all of you somewhere safe where you wouldn't be hurt in the fight."

"Why would anyone dare to attack when you are around?" Ivy asked incredulously.

"Because you're a demon," Xian declared as he stepped forward, nodding at Nesta and Gwyn, "and so are you."

Nesta and Gwyn stared at him slack jawed while Emerie beamed with pride from behind.

"You were always gifted at reading auras." She commented with a smile.

"Did all of you know?" Nesta asked in disbelief.

"We do and we don't care," Suzie said openly, moving forward to hug Nesta, "You are our shijie and nothing will change that."

Nesta felt the back of her eyes sting as an excitable Ivy pulled Gwyn in and jumped into the hug, her small arms barely able to cover all of them. Before she realised it, Nesta was engulfed by the presence of all the children. Her heart warmed as she swallowed the lump in her throat, her spoken gratitude lost in the affection.

Finally, she looked up to look in their earnest faces, "This is why you guys need to go with Gwyn and Emerie. She will guide you to our home where the magic of the forest will protect you. Where you will be safe from the crosshairs."

Ivy opened her mouth to argue but Suzie placed a stern hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "We understand but promise that you will come back to us. Both of you!" She demanded, throwing a fiercely protective look at Cassian.

"We will," she replied, a little too quickly. A fact that did not go unnoticed by the teenager who frowned slightly. Nesta's face softened as she continued, staring at her head on, "I can't promise you that but I can promise you we will fight our damn hardest to do so."

"You better!" she demanded with silver lined eyes.

***

"It's time," Cassian announced solemnly, her hand slipping into his as he took what felt like a last glance back at the house.

The weight of the pit in her stomach seemingly doubled and twisted Nesta's insides. It was just another fight. Yet, she couldn't escape the feeling this was a fight that would not come out victorious.

She turned to look at Cassian, a hand unwittingly raised to caress his cheek and take in his features. The scar cutting through his eyebrows, the striking hazel eyes that always seemed to see through her, his sharp cheekbones and chiselled jawline.

It was silent when she leaned in to slant her lips over his and it was silent when he pushed her against the wall and kissed her so thoroughly it wiped all worries from her mind for a blissful moment. And it was silent when it ended and they came crashing back to reality.

"Cassian, I-" Nesta started but found the words stuck in her throat. "I-"

"I know" he murmured into her hair as he nuzzled it. The gesture was so tender and loving that it felt like her heart could combust.

When Tomas came with his small army of hunters, it was to the sight of Cassian and Nesta standing side by side, hands interlaced. A united front.

"Well, well, well," he greeted, the tone sleek and oily, "The Lord of Bastard shacking up with a demon. I can't say I'm surprised."

Cassian's smile was cold and humourless as he returned the greeting, his chin dipped in mock respect, "My fellow hunters, I must have missed my invite to the party."

Tomas sneered, "You can't call yourself a hunter if you're siding with a demon. Word has it that you sided with it when it attacked an innocent woman just yesterday." He spat the word like she was something filthy and unholy. Which, according to him, she was.

Next to her, the muscle in Cassian's jaw feathered. Just for a flash before it was gone in the next moment.

First, we sow doubts

He barked a laugh in disbelief as he asked, "Is that what saving people's lives is called nowadays?"

"You mock her? The poor woman was terrified," the monk said, his haughty features full of self-righteous indignation. "Your pet demon terrified her."

Again, he spoke of her like a mindless creature. Like she wasn't here and Nesta had enough of it.

"I did nothing to the woman and she knows it," she said sharply, she focused her gaze on him, pointed and predatory, "In fact, you know it. You're here only because I stole from you and lived to tell the tale."

The hunter gave a loud mock sigh, "Well, since violence is the only language you demons understand." His face twisted into a cruel smirk, "Violence is what you'll get."

The taut atmosphere snapped as Tomas's hunters swamped the both of them, battle cries echoed through the air.

Cassian and Nesta stood back to back with their weapons unsheathed. The silver flames in her veins thrummed under her skin, beckoning to be released. The pendant against her chest practically vibrated with qi.

When we fight, we stick together. They will try to separate us, to distract us. Just focus on offence, I'll cover you. I've got you.

Nesta unleashed her flames to whip at their enemies, working in perfect tandem with her blade. Behind her, Cassian flanked her rear, easily cutting down hunters who wanted nothing more than her death.

But no deaths.

No fatal attacks. A condition Cassian was not initially in favour of but eventually agreed. They already thought her a murderous being, she needed to be better.

Tomas flew towards her, striking fast with his staff. Nesta gritted her teeth as she settled back into a familiar parry. From her peripheral, Cassian was single handedly fending off a squadron of relentless hunters. Individually, they were no match for him and they knew it. But they had the numbers and would wear him down with time.

She had to get back to him.

Despite that, the fight stretched and Nesta grew impatient, her anxiety building up. She gathered her qi transformed into her large snake form and effortlessly blew them away with a gust of wind.

Except it was a mistake. A trap sprung the moment her form was released.

Golden light surged from the ground and caged her in when she transformed back. Her entire form seized in white hot agony.

"I'm afraid you will find this much harder to get out of." Tomas taunted. She stretched out her senses, scouting for the vulnerable points in the cage structure but there was none to be found. Tomas's eyes gleamed with triumph, enjoying the sight of her trembling in pain.

"NESTA!" Cassian roared from a distance, his attacks now turned ruthless as his blade ran through his enemies. There was no more mercy to be had. Slash, dodge, jab, block. Nesta could do nothing but look on helplessly.

Nesta's heart leapt to her throat as she saw the impending strike towards him. The shout to warn him left her one second too late. Their screams resonated through the air together - Cassian's in pain, Nesta's in heartbreak.

The golden trap shattered into dust as her flames, fuelled by her rage, surged through her. Blood roared in her ears as it swept through the field, razing everything and everyone. Her brain barely registered the screams her fire elicited.

If a villain is what they want, a villain is what they will get.

Nesta floated calmly in the sky as her fire spread from the battlefield into the surrounding woods. The emptiness in her grew with every second as the flames continued to ravage and consume.

"Nesta, you can stop now." A gentle voice said to her.

Stop? Why?

Copper hair and teal eyes swam into her vision. Friend, a part of her recognised.

"Nesta," the voice pleaded, soft hands cupping her cheeks to turn her sight on the speaker.

Nesta blinked.

The world rushed back to focus. She looked down at the field of ashes beneath her. Bile coated her tongue at the scent of burnt flesh permeating through the air. She was a monster.

She turned her head stiffly to Gwyn. Her friend's face was full of compassion. Compassion that she did not deserve.

"Cassian" she croaked, her heart ripping at its seams.

"Emerie's got him. His injuries are serious but he will live." Gwyn cooed as she wrapped her arms around Nesta comfortingly and she descended the both of them back down to Earth.

Her pendant warmed as her feet touched the ground. I'm okay.

Nesta could have sobbed. She made to raise her hand to clutch at the stone and send qi through it.

But she couldn't move a limb, there was something in her restricting her movements and paralysed her. Although that didn't make sense. The fight was over. Nesta looked down at her abdomen, at the staff that protruded from it.

Oh.

Her vision went black. The last image in her head was the self-satisfied grimace of Tomas Mandray. His final move before his body succumbed to his burns.

***

CASSIAN

"Stop moving." Emerie admonished as Cassian struggled to get up for the third time.

He glanced around their surroundings desperately but was unable to see past the smoke that blanketed over them. He sent one more desperate pulse of qi into the pendant, begging for a response.

"Nesta" he called out, his voice weak and raspy as he tried not to pass out from the pain, "Something is very wrong."

"Then I suggest you stop moving so I can bandage your wounds and prevent your organs from falling out," she replied exasperatedly, winding white cloth over his gaping hole in his torso. Cassian hissed as the bandage tightened over his bleeding body with each later.

"Are we done?" He asked petulantly as Emerie wound the cloth again. She rolled her eyes at him as she tied a single knot, tightening it roughly.

"Ouch!"

"Now, you're done." She announced, ignoring his exclamation. She hauled his arm around her shoulder, "This will be challenging but you gotta hold on to me as I wouldn't be able to hold you and my cane."

They huffed in effort as Emerie hoisted them up and limped them across the battlefield and over the corpses towards Gwyn and Nesta, the weight in his belly multiplied with every painful minute.

It finally crashed when he laid eyes on Nesta, lying on the ground, ghostly pale with the monk’s staff pierced through her body. His legs gave way and he collapsed despite Emerie’s support.

He choked a sob as he belly crawled his way to her, his bandaged wounds rubbing against every crevice of the cindered ground. The physical pain dwarfed by the emotional pain.

“Nesta” he whispered into her scalp, a sacred plea for her to wake up. Hot tears leaked out as he buried his face into her hair and let out a guttural sorrowful growl.

“We can still save her.” He heard someone say behind him.

He lifted his head to locate the origin of the voice.

“She’s a demon,” Gwyn explained, “So long as her physical form is still around, we can save her. Keeping her in the Leifeng Pagoda would keep her in stasis until we find a way to heal her.”

Cassian didn’t need to hear more, he gritted his teeth as he cradled the Snake Demon in his arms and attempted to stand, ignoring the pain that threatened to tear his body apart.

“Oh Cassian, know that I am not sorry for this.” He heard Gwyn say before the back of a sword came hurling towards his face and darkness swallowed him whole.

***

Cicadas buzzed in the distance as Cassian blinked awake. He stared blearily at the stoned ceiling of his room as he waited for the events of what had to be a hell of a night come back to him.

One blink, two blink, three blink. Nothing.

He sighed heavily as he curled his belly to sit himself up only to be met by blinding pain erupting from his abdomen. All at once, the memories flooded him. Kissing Nesta in the field of flowers. Saving the mother and her son. Tomas Mandray and his army of hunters. Nesta lying fatally injured. Gwyn saying that she could be saved.

Cassian groaned as he forced himself up, his body screaming at him in protest. He barely made it halfway across the room before his legs buckled and he fell loudly to the ground.

Quick steps accompanied by clickety taps of a cane rushed over before Emerie’s exasperated voice reached his ears, “Oh for gods’ sake.”

“Nesta?” He asked quietly as he sat slumped.

“In Leifeng Pagoda. Gwyn has been scouring all over for a cure but…” She trailed off, uncertainty coating her silence.

“She wouldn’t find one. This is something only the Heavens can give,” He finished. His brain raced. If Heavens is where he had to seek help from... “Lhasa. I need to go back to Lhasa.”

“They could kill you.” She pointed out sharply.

He shrugged, not caring in the least. “They can try.”

“Don’t be reckless.” She snapped, continuing as she gestured ruefully at her permanently damaged ankle, “I will accompany you as your escort. After all, I have already paid the price for leaving.”

That stopped Cassian in his tracks, knowing what such an offer meant coming from Emerie. His composure cracked. “I can’t ask that from you.”

Emerie snorted, “It’s not a question. She’s my friend too.”

It was another month before Cassian was well enough to make the journey back to Tibet and another tiring month of travelling before they were allowed entry into the city with Emerie’s access. Cassian looked up at the high stone walls of the Potala Palace, his long underutilised lungs expanded to take in the thin air of Tibet.

“Cassian,” a low voice rumbled from the shadows of the entrance, “You were told what would happen if you were to return to Tibet.”

Despite the threatening nature of the words, Cassian grinned widely. The dark form stepped out of the shadows, a genuine smile adorning the handsome features of the male, violet eyes twinkling.

“My prince,” Cassian gave a respectful deep bow, “Or should I say, my emperor?”

“How about brother?”

The two long separated friends greeted each other with tight hugs and a pat on the back.

“Come,” Rhys said, gesturing him and Emerie into the grand hall of the palace, “Let’s chat in here.”

With a simple snap of his fingers, the guards and maids of the palace began to scurry out of the room.

“It’s good to see you again, brother. Although you must know how this would go down if the tribe chiefs hear of your return.” Rhys said seriously after the hall had been vacated. “It must be serious.”

Cassian sobered up and nodded along, “It is. I have a favour to ask,” and began his tale.

Rhys leaned back into his chair as he popped a small cake into his mouth. The servants had come in with tea and cake sometime in the middle of Cassian’s storytelling. Rhys concluded, “So you want entry into the most sacred place in all of Tibet and China?”

Cassian nodded, knowing the big ask of his request, “Just once then I’ll leave and never step foot in these sacred lands again.”

Rhys nodded, “It would have to be just you.” He dipped his head in apology at Emerie, who simply shrugged and leaned back in response. Too used to the systemic misogyny in her life.

She sipped her tea and retrieved a book out from her sleeves, “I’ll wait here.”

Rhys led them down into the sprawling underground tunnels beneath the palace. Cassian whistled lowly as they made their first turn in the tunnel, “So the stories of the underground palace are true?”

Rhys’s lips twitched, “Careful, Cass. One more question and you will be bound to the Tubo royal family forever.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time” he drawled.

“Such insolence” Rhys tsked.

After what felt like an infinite number of turns (in reality, it was only about twenty. Cassian had counted and memorised every turn), the duo found themselves in front of a large wooden red door. He turned to Rhys, his head bowed, letting the royal enter first.

Rhys shook his head, “Only the worshipper is to enter.”

At those words, the doors creaked open and bright golden light shone through the cracks. Cassian inhaled deeply and stepped in.

His eyes widened impossibly large as he took in the Goddess which stood in front of him. He fell to his knees, prostrating himself. “Guanyin niangniang,” he whispered in reverence.

The Goddess of Mercy looked down, fixing her assessing gaze on him. “Rise,” She said after a moment.

Cassian raised his head but remained on his knees. His whole being paralysed in the overwhelming presence of Guanyin. He began speaking, hoping desperately that his good intentions would come through, “Guanyin niangniang, I am here today to humble myself before you and seek your mercy, your compassion to provide me aid. My love, Nesta- ”

“The White Snake,” The Goddess cuts in sharply.

He swallowed thickly, pressing forward, desperation leaking into his tone, “Yes, the White Snake. She was gravely injured in battle and now lies in the base of Leifeng Pagoda. Her injuries are so severe that she needs divine assistance.”

The White Snake in her perceived devastation killed over a hundred lives and destroyed acres of forest and the life that it supported. What makes you think she is worthy of salvation?” She demanded. “So long as the pagoda remains standing, she will lie there forever more.”

Cassian kowtowed, his forehead pressed hard into the floor as he begged, “Please. It was all because of me so let me take on her sins and atone for them. Anything to save her.”

He held his breath as the Goddess paused. His heart thundered in his chest. The air around them thickened with swirls of divine qi. It pressed down and suffocated him. Still, he held on, holding firm against the divine assessment.

“Fine, you may atone for her behalf.” She agreed, pausing once more at Cassian’s exhale of relief. “She will be released once the atonement of sins has been completed. Until then, the demon will remain ”

He kowtowed once more, opening his mouth to thank the Goddess profusely.

“Just know this, hunter.” The Goddess’s tone shifted to one of caution and sagely advice, “There wouldn’t be enough good deeds that you can carry out in this lifetime that can redeem her. You may never see her again in this lifetime.”

Cassian’s heart squeezed painfully, an ache that he would never escape from.

He raised his head, still wanting to express his sincere gratitude to the Goddess, “Then I will continue to do so for the next lifetime and all my lifetimes after that. Never stopping until she is redeemed.”

“Very well. It is done.”

A/N: Please don't hate me. I had to. Translation Notes: 雷峰塔/Leifeng Pagoda - An iconic tower that sits located on Sunset Hill south of the West Lake in Hangzhou. 觀音娘娘/Guanyin niangniang - Goddess of Mercy

The heavy doors closed with a resounding thud, sealing their fates.

#nessian #nesta x cassian #nesta archeron #cassian #nessian fic #Wuxia AU #There is still one final chapter I promise

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cactusspatz · 1 year

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April recs

In a shocking turn of events, I'm posting my recs EARLY this month instead of procrastinating! May the Fourth be with you!

About half the stories in this set are Star Wars, because I finally watched Andor and it was AMAZING; the other half are DCU, because I am predictable when sick (Tim + Batfamily h/c my beloved). Plus a Leverage/Old Guard crossover!

STAR WARS

To Climb by Nock_and_Bolt

“Climb,” Kino urged others to escape a prison he never would.

“Climb!” Nemik screamed past multicolored explosions and his own crushed spine.

“Climb!” K-2SO’s voice juddered out over the intercom, punched from mechanical lungs by blaster fire.

And what else could Cassian do but be borne up by the bodies of those that had gone before him?

Brutally good, full of the parallels and motifs in from Andor, all woven into Cassian's final climb in the tower at Scarif. It WILL make you cry in the best way.

Coping Mechanisms by mosylu (Cassian/Jyn)

It takes a heat wave for Jyn to notice that Cassian never, ever goes barefoot.

Intimate and sweet if-they-had-lived look at Cassian's trauma from the Narkina 5 prison.

Kino Lives by ad_asterism

Set at the end of Andor Episode 10: "One Way Out". Kino fucking gets to live.

Look, a girl has needs, and those needs include reading every single Kino fix-it for Episode 10 on AO3. This was my favorite by far, I think maybe because it *doesn't* involve Cassian? The episode ending was the right ending for that arc in Cassian's story, but this fic picks up the thematic threads and weaves them into off a very Star Wars escape for Kino. It could use some more love - possibly the very basic title and summary kept people away - so don't forget to comment!

No Survivors by elwenyere (Cassian/Melshi)

It had been three standard years, two months, and twenty-five days since Melshi had made himself walk away from the man he’d known as Keef Girgo.

Great mid-mission reunion for Cassian and Melshi, their slowly growing attachment and exploration of Cassian's trauma are beautifully written, and the plot starts to poke at the roots of Rogue One.

Personal Effects by mosylu

Spies travel light. Even so, Cassian Andor left things behind.

A neatly drawn outsider-POV character study, as the Rebels clear out the belongings of the Death Star's dead. This fic's older, but felt very matched in tone with Andor.

A Proud, Unpleasant Sort of Man by angel_deux (Han/Leia, Cassian/Jyn)

It takes Cassian Andor and Han Solo an embarrassingly long time to realize that they aren't each other's rivals.

Funny and sweet post-Rogue One everybody-lives AU.

DCU

Inscribed on Body & Soul by drowningfire

Jason Todd died knowing he was loved. His resurrection took even that from him. Turns out he came back to life needing saving just as much as he did when he left it. Thankfully the Bats and Birds have always specialised in impossible rescues. And while love can't fix everything having proof of it can't hurt.

AKA In a world where the names of those who love you inscribe themselves upon your skin, Jason's resurrection plays out a little differently.

Lovely platonic soulmates AU with lots of feelings and angst for everyone in the family, just the way I like it.

of crime lords and literature by adelfie

Gloved fingers close over Tim’s throat and slowly begin to squeeze.

“Jason!” he gasps, choking. “Have you ever read Macbeth?”

The Red Hood stares at him like Tim just slapped him with a fish.

With his grades slipping, Tim worries Bruce will take Robin away. So when the Red Hood breaks into his room with the intent to kill him, Tim decides it's a good idea to ask him for help on his English homework. It works. And then it doesn't. And then Tim solves a mystery and almost dies anyway.

The summary makes this sound kinda cracky but I actually loved the plot. (Tim, how is your life just SO disaster? It's really a talent.)

Little Red and the Big Bad Hood by CrzyFun

Olivia Draper had been a good idea at first. She could pass for older than Tim could pull off while masculine and women really could get into places easier if they had a pretty face. With makeup and some stylish-yet-inexpensive clothes, Olivia could pull off most undercover ops. She was Tim’s Matches Malone.

Then Hood had shown up on the scene.

Charming AU with tons of identity porn as Jason grudgingly big-brother-adopts genderfluid Tim while he's undercover.

For the Sick and Dying by GoAwayOlivia

It’s been a while since Jason has felt this bad. He’s used to being bruised and aching, used to broken bones and lacerations of all sizes and depths, but it’s been a hell of a long time since he’s been sick, and he’d honestly forgotten how much it sucks. His family isn't exactly helping matters.

In which Jason is hilariously dramatic about being sick. I enjoyed the hell out of this while actually sick, but I think the appeal is universal.

The last (but certainly not least) story I have for you is a delightful Leverage/The Old Guard crossover, which was the funniest thing I read all month.

The Fountain of Youth Job by BazinMousqueton

The Leverage: Redemption team are hired to investigate Merrick Pharmaceuticals following a suspicious death in South Sudan. They embark on a con, infiltrate Merrick’s HQ… and find some unexpected prisoners in his research lab.

This one is more accessible for Leverage-only fans than TOG-only fans, I think, but it has a pitch-perfect grasp on the Leverage crew (Redemption era) and a great con setup - which gets partially and hilariously derailed when they find Joe and Nicky.

#may the fourth #may the fourth be with you!#star wars #andor #rogue one #cassian/jyn #cassian/melshi #han/leia #dcu #batman #batfam #leverage #the old guard #monthly recs #fic rec

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thevhagarwriter · 1 year

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Grandma Violence - I.III.

[Dragons, Death and Daemon]

Chapter III - Unnecessary Tension

Vhagar quickly hid behind one of the larger rocks of the cave system as she spotted Meraxes and Balerion sitting outside, blocking the entrance.

The large, black dragon was purring - a low, rumbling sound that sounded like distant thunder. His long tail was wrapped around the younger dragon who looked up at him with a teasing smirk. Vhagar suppressed a growl of annoyance. She just woke up and was practically starving, but she couldn’t leave the cave without interrupting these two lovebirds.

Swallowing thickly she stared at the large fish bones next to Meraxes, trying not to drool. Did Balerion catch that for her?

Vhagar knew that spying on others wasn’t really polite, but so was blocking the exit and leaving her hungry!

“Is there a particular reason you are so nice to me, Balerion? One might think you are even trying to court me.”, chirped Meraxes and the older dragon purred even louder, looking at her with large and surprisingly gentle eyes. “And what would you say if I was?”, he rumbled and the silver dragon laughed…as much as a dragon could laugh. “I would be very much flattered to have gained the attention of such an imposing man. Though I have to wonder how a humble, little dragon like myself has been able to catch the eye of the Black Dread himself.”

Vhagar rolled her eyes, this was just embarrassing to watch. Of course Balerion was interested in Meraxes - he was currently the only male living and obviously preferred to mate with an adult dragon instead of waiting if one of the unhatched eggs would maybe hatch into another female dragon - in which case he would have to wait decades before the hatchling would reach maturity. “You underestimate yourself, Meraxes.”, answered Balerion and Vhagar huffed quietly. She definitely did not. “You are fierce and strong and powerful. You are as beautiful as the moon rising above the ocean and as ferocious as an autumn storm. If they call me the lord of all dragons you shall be my lady.” Vhagar gagged. Where the fuck did he even learn these words?

Meraxes was purring now as well and she entwined her tail with his. “And what about my sister?”, she asked and Vhagar’s hidden ears twitched. Why did she bring her up now?

“What about her?”, Balerion asked, amused.

“If you admire my ferocity and strength…well I just have to wonder how you feel about my sister. Compared to her strength I am a mere rabbit.”, Meraxes teased and Vhagar crouched deeper behind the rock, embarrassed.

“That may be so…”, Balerion admitted. “But compared to your beauty, Vhagar is nothing more than a snake groveling in the sand.”

Meraxes narrowed her eyes. “Care to elaborate?”, she said, though it was just barely above a hiss. Balerion huffed, ignorant to the other dragons changing mood. “While your scales gleam and glitter like polished silver, hers are just a dull copper. While your eyes are seemingly made out of pearls, hers are just bunched up moss. While your horns and back crest stand proud and tall, she seemingly doesn’t have them at all…Honestly, I sometimes wonder how you two could be born from the same clutch.”Vhagar usually told herself she was above such things, above such comparisons. After all, she was stronger, faster and more savage than her sister. In a fight she would always come out on top, but still… Vhagar couldn’t help herself but sometimes feel self conscious about her more snake-like features. Yes, her coloring was much more subtle and she didn’t have the horns and large spikes that set dragons apart from other reptiles - but that didn’t mean she liked it pointed out to her… especially by Balerion. She sighed deeply. She never had the intention of being his mate, but she had hoped to at least be respected and acknowledged by him as a fellow warrior. Well, it seemed like Meraxes was still the only person in this world who cared for her - but what else was new?

Suddenly she was ripped away from her thoughts, as Balerion roared out in shock and anger.

Vhagars heart nearly stopped and fire started rising in her throat as she watched her much smaller sister shoving the black dragon to the ground, biting and ripping at his head.

Balerion tried to push Meraxes off him, but her tail had bound his legs together as she continued attacking him. A loud cracking of bone later and Meraxes released him, jumping high in the air and throwing something on the ground, directly in front of Balerions form.

Vhagar needed to stretch her neck a bit to identify the long, sharp object lying in the sand - and when she did, she couldn’t help herself but purr.

Meraxes stayed in the air as Balerion stared at her, flabbergasted as his eyes jumped between the bone and the silver dragon.

“Now that you yourself are one horn shorter, you are probably more understanding of my sister now, are you?”

—

Vhagar had stayed a couple of more days in Dorne, thinking and planning until she had to admit that brooding alone in the desert wasn’t going to make any of her plans come true on their own.

Many more marked boulders had found their place among the central three outside of her cave, surrounded by dozens of charred bones, beaks and hooves.

Unfortunately the old dragon had to finally accept that she needed to gather more information and that came with its own problems.

Vhagar knew that there was nothing to do about Aemond right now - he most likely wasn’t even born yet and even if, he would be nothing more than an infant and unable to meet with her. But she had ideas for her other two goals - but these ideas needed the cooperation of other dragons, which meant she had to, well, talk with them.

It’s not that the other dragons didn’t like Vhagar - quite the opposite in fact. After Aegon's conquest she was the second largest and second strongest living dragon - rising to the top after Balerions passing. The younger dragons looked up to and respected her and Vhagar could work with other dragons when needed.

But she never initiated contact or made actual friendships with her comrades - their relationships were strictly professional and focused on the task at hand.

Vhagar, though she hated to admit to it, didn’t know how to talk with the others and was scared of behaving oddly or accidentally insulting them. It was strange, really. She was the dragon of queen Visenya Targaryen, one of the most deadly creatures in the entire world and she still couldn’t hold a conversation to save her life.

Still, there was no way of getting around that anymore. She needed the help of the other dragons and if they didn’t listen to her words, they would listen to her claws.

—

It took nearly a week to reach Dragonstone and the more closer she came, the more nervous she grew. The last time she had seen this ancient castle was in the afterlife and there it had luckily been deserted.

But now this wasn’t the case of course. Fisher boats and trade galleons rode the waves below her as she advanced towards the island.

Taking a deep breath she already smelt the scent of fish, coal fire and horse dung - mixed in between the unmistakable, ashy scent of dragons.

Vhagar swallowed thickly, trying to decipher the individual smell of each present dragon, but falling to do so.

She wondered what would happen if Caraxes and Daemon were at Dragonstone. Would she lose her temper and attack them, killing the Targaryen on the spot? No, no, she would have to pull herself together!

Vhagar had recognized early on, that she couldn’t just kill Daemon at first sight - no it either had to be another dragon or it had to look like an accident - preferably both.

If she would straight up murder the brother of the king she would probably have huge difficulties to come in contact with one of his sons. And she would have Caraxes swear vengeance on her for his rider and she knew from her past life that she would have trouble defeating him without herself gaining serious injuries - she also just didn’t want to fight with Caraxes in general. He was a good lad and she would hate to have to kill him again.

Coming closer to the island, she could already hear children yelling and crying out, dogs barking in alarm and horses panicking. Following the scent of her fellow dragons, Vhagar flew northwest to the steep, stony cliffs of the coast and the huge caverns underneath.

The castle didn’t interest her - if Daemon was there, she should stay away for a while and she didn’t care for any other human currently living in the huge towers. And it's not as if she would fit into the courtyard anyway.

Landing on the rocky beach she already heard the confused, but excited chirping of her brethren. The beach was big enough to fit a whole tournament ground on it, but parts of her tail, wings and feet were still bathing in the salty water.

The caves below and inside the cliffs were natural, but there was an obvious sign of human hands, who had widened the entrances and smoothed down the walls, ceilings and grounds.

Vhagar smelt her, before she saw her and she immediately relaxed.

From one of the exits crawled a she-dragon that looked so much like Meraxes that it hurt, her scales as silvern and her features as elegant as her mother’s were.

“Oh, hello Vhagar, it has been quite a while since you have visited Dragonstone.”, hummed Silverwing and greeted her by touching Vhagar’s snout with her own.

“Uh…yes, I guess I was gone for some time.”, she answered and Silverwing purred. “Are you hungry? The castle keepers have just brought us our midday meal, I’m sure between me and Vermithor there will be some scraps left for you.”

Vhagar thought about declining but she couldn’t deny that the journey had left her quite hungry. “Yes...uhm, thank you.”

Silverwing nodded enthusiastically and returned back into one of the caves. Vhagar tried to follow her but was quickly met with the unyielding stubbornness of stone.

While her head and neck fitted through the opening, her shoulders crashed against the cliff, loosening the dust of the ceiling and covering her with it. Vhagar sneezed loudly, making the entire tunnel system shake. Silverwing let out a surprised hiss, before turning around and facing the bigger dragon. “Oh, I forgot how tall you are! Are you stuck?”, she asked in concern and Vhagar grimaced, wiggling herself back to the beach, making more gray dust snow.

Silverwing followed her shortly after, but sneezed much quieter and more ladylike, while Vhagar shook the stone powder from her head.

“F-forgive me…”, muttered the older dragon. “I didn’t mean to nearly crush your home.” “Nonsense!”, said Silverwing with a small laugh. “It was my fault for not thinking about your height. You just wait here and Vermithor and I will bring the food outside.”

Vhagar stepped from one leg to the other. “You really don’t have to, I can hunt later and - “, the older dragon stopped as the younger one vanished again inside the cliffs.

Vhagar’s tail punched into the water behind her, spraying the cold sea water on her back and therefore making her even more nervous. She never quite knew how to act around Meraxes’ children. Silverwing and Dreamfyre looked so much like their mother that Vhagar almost talked to them like she talked to Meraxes. But she couldn’t do that. To Meraxes she had been the younger sister, the hatchling in need of protection and help. But to the younger ones she was the queen of all dragons and was expected to be guiding, strict but wise and confident.

But that wasn’t her. Visenya had been all these things, but Vhagar was not her rider.

The accomplishments of their riders had pushed her and Balerion into these expectations to be just like them, but only the Black Dread could live up to the strength, intelligence and influence of Aegon Targaryen. Vhagar was like all of her riders but like none of them as well. To be honest, Vhagar herself didn’t really know who she was and what her place in this world was - a world so grand and rich in opportunity for seemingly everyone but herself.

The dragon snapped out of her brooding, as Silverwing returned - her snout full of food which she gently put down on a huge, smoothed out stone, so that it would not touch the sand.

Behind her followed her mate Vermithor, who delivered the rest of the meal. “Greetings Vhagar.”, he rumbled so quiet it was nearly inaudible.

Vhagar nodded politely before she eyed the food. The oxes, horses and goats had already been freshly slaughtered by the castle humans and if her sense of smell wasn’t failing her, they were all rather old animals as if the butcher hadn’t come for them, natural death would have killed them soon after anyway. “Heh, so they are giving you the leftovers?”, she huffed and Silverwing looked at her in confusion. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean?”, she asked, but Vermithor was quicker than Vhagar. “She means that she thinks we are entitled to the best and freshest food, although it is obviously the most efficient way to make us eat the aged animals before their corpses go to waste.”

Vhagar stared at him with displeasure and he met her gaze, unfazed. “Well, are you going to refuse our hospitality or not?”, he whispered and Vhagar quickly looked down. If she were a human she would have been as red as Caraxes in embarrassment and anger. That little shit! Who did he think he was talking to?! She is the biggest and strongest dragon of them all and he couldn’t scold her like a little hatchling.

Still, she knew that she was deep down embarrassed for not having to say anything in her defense and that she was jealous for not having Vermithors elegant and regal aura of authority. Next to him she always felt like a brute. “Well, if it’s alright with you, Vermithor, I think we should give Vhagar the honor of starting the meal.”, Silverwing quickly defused the situation and Vhagar blinked slowly at her in gratitude.

“Agreed.”, said the bronze dragon, his hostility melting away as quickly as it had appeared.

Vhagar straightened up and channeled her fire in her throat. She would gladly use her full force to show Vermithor who was the true monarch in this gathering, but she was also aware how ridiculous and childish it would look if she burned all the food to ashes in front of them just to prove her point. After all, she still needed something from the pair, so she lessened the heat of the flame and covered the meal just long enough to burn the hair and skin to a crispy black, but leave the meat and bones juicy and edible.

After Vhagar took a large ox from the pile, the other two followed, taking small bites while the older dragon ripped the limbs of her food, covering her snout in soot, grease and blood.

“Well, Vhagar, where have you been all the time?”, Silverwing asked and she answered between bites. “Nowhere in particular…Stormlands, Reach, Dorne…” The silver dragon opened her snout again but Vermithor said something into her ear that Vhagar couldn’t hear, and she closed it again.

The three ate in silence till everything was gone and Vhagar had licked her snout clean. “So you’ve been in Dorne, hopefully not causing any diplomatic incidents?”, Silverwing joked and Vhagar sighed wistfully. “No, not this time. Though I wouldn’t mind having another opportunity to burn some of these bastards again.”

Silverwing raised her scaled brows while Vermithor tutted disapprovingly. “There’s already war at the Stepstones and last we’ve heard it is not going well. You shouldn’t wish for violence when you are already on the receiving end.”

“I am not receiving violence right now.”, Vhagar countered and Vermithor sighed. “This isn’t about you alone. You can’t fight a war with only one person.”

“Are you doubting my strength?”, she growled. “No, but I’m doubting your abilities to incorporate a defeated Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms and sign treaties that would insure a lasting peace between the princedom of Dorne and the kingdom of Westeros. But I assume these are not your intentions anyway, are they? You just want to kill innocent people who have never even seen a dragon and were therefore definitely not at fault for Meraxes’ death.” Vhagar stared at him in annoyance as steaming hot air blew out of her nostrils. She wondered why Vermithor didn’t bond with Daemon, as both of them really knew how to get under her scales!

“Your mate was talking about war on the Stepstones?”, Vhagar gritted out between her teeth and Silverwings sighed sadly. “Yes, I fear so. Daemon Targaryen and the Velaryons have decided to drive out some Essosi pirates who had nested there, but it somehow escalated into an actual war between Westeros and the free cities.” Vhagar hummed in response. Of course she had been aware of the war, but she didn’t know the details. If Daemon was involved in the fighting, there would be an easy chance of killing him and framing the Essosi.

“Well, Daemon and Caraxes should settle this quickly, shouldn’t they?”, Vhagar asked, but Silverwing shook her head. “No, I fear not. For some reason this war has raged for quite some time now and there doesn’t seem an end in sight. My poor Seasmoke, he and Laenor have to fight as well and you surely know how much he hates to fight these battles.”

Vhagar cocked her head. “He does? I have to be honest, I’ve never met someone that dislikes fighting as much as you do, Silverwing. We are dragons after all, fighting is in our nature. Why else would we have claws, teeth and fire?”

The younger dragon shrugged. “Who knows? Of course I can fight, but I just don’t enjoy it as much as you and Vermithor do. I don’t mind hunting, but burning down hundreds of men and horses - much more than I could ever eat before they start to rot - it just feels wrong to me.”

Vhagar looked at her in thought. Did Meraxes ever feel the same way? Was she killed because she wasn’t aggressive enough? Vhagar herself couldn’t quite comprehend Silverwing’s feelings. She loved to fight and kill - it’s all she ever knew and all she ever could. She couldn’t exist without violence and if she was unable to obliterate her enemies, what would be left of her? Just an old, ugly and useless dragon.

“And you said that Seasmoke feels the same?”, she asked and Silverwing nodded. “Yes, he just wants this whole affair to end quickly.” “If one faction leader were to die, his wish would be granted very soon…”, Vermithor added softly and stared Vhagar deep into her eyes as if to taunt her, as if to challenge her.

Vhagar huffed. That man was far too smart for his own good.

#vhagar #hotd #hotd fanfic #asoiaf #house of the dragon #fanfic #grandma violence #vermithor #silverwing

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thededebean · 2 years

Text

I work as a office administrator for a budding tech company downtown and have to dress up fancy for work everyday and go to the office. It's nice to come home to my boyfriend everyday but I am extremely jealous as he works mostly from home.

Xander had recently started working at home after switching careers last month into sales. He doesn't really have a background for it but honey, he could sell water to fish.

When he's not out making connections, he's at home in meetings. I've never seen him in action but I can only imagine they're a snoozefest.

Monday through Friday the same thing for both of us. Wake up, get ready for work, do the job, spend our evenings together. It was starting to become a bit monotonous.... Not us. But the day to day.... We were still very much red hot about each other.

One Tuesday, I just didn't feel like going to work after I already left the house.

In the interest of safety I drove with my driving slippers on in the car but brought with be my stilettoes.

My boss always appreciates me wearing them around. He says it "boosts morale."

Who's morale? I am certain it's not Stacy... My slightly prudish but closest co-worker. It's a male-dominated industry. Not Hard to put two and two together. The men like it.

I am also wearing a white button up top and pencil skirt that might just be a bit too short for the office. Complete with a deep slit up the back hem.

I like the attention at garners me. It's all pulled together with fishnet stockings.

This outfit might be cliche for someone in my profession but I know what I like.

I pull back into the driveway of our house and see my loves truck still there.

I exit the car with my slippers still on, wondering if I can sneak in the house without him knowing. Maybe I can listen in on a Zoom call he has.

I walk around and let myself through the back door. Careful not to make much noise.

I spot him on the other side of the dining room focused on the screen. He must be on camera today as he has a button-up shirt on. He hasn't noticed me yet.

I hike up my skirt as to not crease it, get down on all fours and scurry underneath the table.

I rest my butt on my heels and smile at the sight in front of me. Xander's only wearing underwear on his lower half.

I feel so naughty being under here, staring at his muscular body. Listening to the drone of the chat. I wonder what I want to do next.

After studying him and listening in for a few minutes, he starts rubbing his thigh and abdomen. This is how I know he liked to 'warm himself up.'

Slowly I started to see his jiggly cock tent up in his boxers.

This must have been one incredibly boring meeting. But the last thing that I was right now was incredibly bored.

He continues to rub his abdomen lower and lower. He was definitely teasing himself. In turn this was teasing me.

As I sat there watching Xander move his hands over everything but his torso and cock I was becoming incredibly turned on. Not knowing how I would surprise him by my presence while still lurking underneath the table. I figured maybe it was a good time to play along with him.

After all I didn't want to disrupt his call by startling him. Certainly wrapping my hands or my lips around his cock would cause him to jump.

I adjusted myself under the table and further hiked my skirt up around my hips. I unbuttoned my shirt which uncovered my tits... perfectly inside my lacy pink, see-through bra.

Now I sat on my bottom. Widening my legs exposed the intentional and purposeful slit in my stockings right at my pussy. I joined Xander in rubbing my own thighs and tummy as well. Occasionally tracing up to the fabric over my nipples.

Xander suddenly shifted in his seat, and I heard him clear his throat. I then watched his hand move into his boxers and pull out his cock. He must have used his other hand to tilt the video screen upwards slightly. He has a massive cock. No doubt it might have been caught on camera had he not adjusted it.

I then find myself circling my growing wetness just as Xander began to stroke his cock.

He was being so naughty. It was such a turn on. He's just trying to keep focused on the meeting by entertaining himself.

All I can see is the length of his penis. The head is sticking straight up over the tables edge. I bet it's covered in his precum.

I tried to silently slide my finger up and down my lips. But I am so wet so it's making gushy sounds with my motion. Being in this position is so risque.

After a few long minutes, I notice Xander's other hand creeping below the table. He grabed his balls with one and continues to pull on his shaft with the other. His fondling is making a rhythmic pulsing sound. Hopefully that's not coming through on the audio.

I start to roll my hips into my hand circling my clit. It's hard to stifle my moans. My breathing is becoming shallower. I was enjoying my voyeurism a little too much.

Suddenly Xander says "Sorry gentleman, I'll be right back, nature calls." I then hear him shutting the laptop lid yet he stays seated in the dining room chair. Pumping on himself faster and faster now.

After a few seconds he lets out a breathy groan and continues to pump on his stick.

He tenses up and points his cock in my direction as if it knew I was here.

I slipped my middle finger into my hole, knowing what was to come.

Xander keeps rubbing his ridgid cock then suddenly he is shooting hot strings of cum all over me while I feverishly continue fingering myself. Pushing some of his juice inside of me no doubt. String after string covers me from my nipples to gash.

Lost in the moment, I let out a gasp when I find Xander making eye contact with me. He was now peaking at me under the table. He looks me up and down and then grins as he sees his cum all over my pussy as my fingers continue dipping inside.

I let out an innocent sound. I've just been caught!

Hmm, I wonder when he found out I was down here.

#story

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residents-of-the-darkforest · 2 years

Text

Trying To Comfort You, Idiot (short story)

“Can I come in?”

Myrtlewing looked up with surprise at Aldereyes. “Since when did you ask to come in here? I thought you just barged and claimed a nest.”

“Are you sick often?” Briartalon coughed. Myrtlewing passed her the herb poultice he had been working on. She swallowed it gratefully, and with difficulty.

“Uh..no,” Aldereyes replied. “I just check in, make sure our herb stock is–er–strong.”

Smooth.

“Everything looks fine to me,” Briartalon said hoarsely, rising. “Thank you, Myrtlewing,” she added to the medicine cat before slipping from the den.

Aldereyes came to a stop beside Myrtlewing. “Is she okay?”

“She has a cough,” Myrtlewing told him. He knew his tone suggested it was more, and it was. Briartalon had been visiting his den often. She never got worse, it was always just a cough–but those were often accompanied by a pained chest, and her visits grew more and more frequent.

But Aldereyes didn’t seem to notice it. “And…you?”

“What?”

Aldereyes sighed and rolled his eyes. “I saw Gorsedaisy visit yesterday. I figured you needed space, considering….how she can be.”

Myrtlewing shrugged. “Rolled off me like a duck’s back.” His lip curled upward in a momentary flash of amusement, remembering how hot and bothered the elderly she-cat had become.

Aldereyes narrowed his eyes in confusion.

“Water?”

Aldereyes, still seeming confused, shook his head. “Is it smart for you to be in here so soon? This is where he….”

Was that why Aldereyes was being so weird? Because Myrtlewing’s mentor died the other day? “This is also where I heal my Clanmates,” Myrtlewing told him firmly. He didn’t want anyone to suggest he move. This was the most secluded place in the camp. He needed it.

“That’s true,” Aldereyes conceded. Then he fell silent, shuffling his paws on the floor.

Myrtlewing didn’t know why he was suddenly so awkward–perhaps it had to do with Hickoryskip–but he did know that he didn’t like it, so he decided to lighten the mood with a joke. “So, still keeping my flower?”

Aldereyes stiffened. “I am.” Then he went back to shuffling. At last, he said, “ever caught fish?”

“Fish?” Myrtlewing repeated in distaste. “Ever chewed your own tail?”

“Eating fish isn’t painful.”

“It’s painful to my tongue.”

Aldereyes nudged him. “I’m trying to be nice here!”

“Why?”

“Because–” Aldereyes cut himself off. Again, why? “Because your mentor just died,” he went on in a much softer tone.

‘So?’ Myrtlewing almost asked before remembering that that was, in fact, something he should be upset about. He ducked his head, staring at the ground. “Okay,” he agreed after a moment. “Maybe I do need to do something to get my mind…away.” He gestured around the den. “Being here is probably not helping.”

Aldereyes nodded. “Fresh air will do you good.”

“Only one problem.”

Another sigh. “What?”

“Where are we supposed to find fish?”

==================

--Aldereyes cuts himself on the ‘because--’ because he was going to say something like ‘because that’s what mates do.’ He cut himself off since he’s not 100% sure he wasn’t mistaken with Myrtle’s intention, and because the ‘mate’ word still feels weird to him.

--Some Briartalon just so she doesn’t seemingly retire (or die) out of the blue.

--I’ve said before that Alder is very bad with emotions, and that especially comes with comforting others.

#myrtlealder #myrtlewing #aldereyes #briartalon #hickoryskip #gorsedaisy #wc #wcoc #wc oc #warriorsoc #warriors oc #warriorcats #dark tales #wc dark tales #dark forest tales #myrtlewing story #aldereyes story #alderstar story

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imaseawitch · 2 years

Text

I am deep in the depression mines lately. There have been days this very week where I could barely get out of bed. My floor and my dishes and my laundry paint the picture that these words can't perfectly convey: I'm not okay.

But some days are good.

Today, I got up early to take my husband to his first of two shifts today. I got home and checked most of the things off my checklist. The fish got fresh water, the cats are fed, and I managed to cook some rice with veggies that will last us a few days. I even tidied a little before my appointment at 2. It was a job interview (a 2nd interview no less) that I feel confident about, and even if I don't get that job, I feel it was great practice for the interview on Thursday, for the job I really want.

Since I'm unemployed, we're currently relying on just my husband's income. We don't have much, but just enough extra to buy groceries for my recently unemployed cousin who supports his mother. I picked up my sister in law, and we shopped for him together, thinking about what we know about him to create the perfect list. He can't cook, but we got him a salad mix, dinosaur chicken nuggets, fresh fruit, a vegetable platter, a frozen lasagna, and even some strawberry yogurt covered pretzels that he's been craving for a snack. My sister and I grew closer because of our shared love for him, and we grew closer to our love for him. We got coffees together on the way out of the store.

We got to his apartment just as he was coming back from a job interview. The timing couldn't have been better--we literally recognized his car in front of us as we pulled into the parking lot. We had thought we'd miss him. (In all honesty, half of the reason I brought my sister was to speak Spanish to his mother if he wasn't home.) But we gave him the groceries in the parking lot, giving our cousin hugs, and he was able to walk into his home with dignity. He doesn't have to tell his mom he couldn't afford their groceries this week.

I dropped my sister off at her home, and made it right on time to the dinner at my dad's house, with the siblings that I grew up with. My dad's house is always plentiful, in food, drink, and arguments. But tonight we had fun. After dinner (and a little bit of wine), we playfully went around and ranked who we could beat in a fist fight.

We decided to duke it out honorably: "sumo" matches. First you bow, then hands on shoulders. Push against each other, and the first to step out of the area rug loses. All of my siblings put me down as the easiest to beat (I'm not what you'd call athletic and all my siblings are the type to train up for half marathons and beyond), but after I pushed two siblings out of the ring another cried "Anyone wanna rethink their rankings now?!" My 66 year old father was slightly miffed that no one would challenge him, but the bruises on my arm tonight make me glad he didn't enter the ring. We don't play to lose.

Oh! And it snowed! Thick fat flakes like we rarely see here where we live, but only in the air, resting for a moment suspended on the tips of grass blades, but not sticking to the still warm pavement. Beautiful, but safe to drive in, like my cherry red Prius.

Then I picked up my husband from work. He ate leftovers from dad's and we listened to music for hours. Music we've both heard before, switching off song choices, staring at the lyrics, pausing frequently to discuss. What does this mean? What is the intention? What is the impact?

Now I can hear him snoring gently beside me. It's way later than I wanted to be up, but I can't help but smile and record today's events so I can remember:

Some days are good.

#me #today was a good day #yeah a good day involves kicking my siblings asses in a physical competition #also for the record I ranked us all correctly #I knew I'd be right in the middle

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elsanna-secret-santa · 2 years

Text

The Coronation

For Basil

***

Anna knocked on the door. ‘Elsa? You awake?’

A groan emanated through the heavy, wooden door. ‘Go away!’

Anna tried the doorknob. It was locked, which wasn’t too much of a surprise at this point. Anna stood in the plush, rich corridor outside Elsa’s room for a moment, looking around.

She sighed and fished in her apron for a flat piece of steel she’d made herself in the smith a very long time ago. Anna knocked on the door. ‘Elsa? You going to let me in today?’

Another groan. ‘Go away, Anna. I don’t wanna.’

Anna puffed, looked up and down the hall to confirm she was alone, and shrugged. She pushed her little tool into the gap between the big doors and with barely a rattle or a scrape, pushed open the lock.

She let herself into the frigid, bright blue room. It was dim, curtains drawn across the huge window and fire burned out.

Elsa was in bed, under a pile of blankets. ‘Nooooooo,’ she moaned, as Anna let herself in.

Anna closed the door behind her and put her little prybar back into her apron. ‘Princess Elsa, you need to wake up,’ she said, folding her hands behind her back.

‘I should have you executed or something,’ Elsa whined, pulling the covers over her head. ‘A lowly servant broke into my room, no doubt intent on assassinating me to stop my coronation to forfeit my kingdom to…’

‘Who would your kingdom be forfeit to, highness?’ Anna asked, rocking back and forth a little by the door.

Elsa swung off the covers in a big wave, sitting up out of bed. ‘I don’t know,’ she whined. ‘Someone evil, I’m sure.’

Anna took a step toward the bed. ‘Perhaps I’m an agent of chaos?’ she suggested. ‘Intent on starting a civil war among your lords?’

Elsa pointed. ‘Exactly, an agent of some far-off kingdom, sowing discord and strife. Very execution-worthy.’

Anna took another step toward the bed. ‘Oh, but which kingdom am I an agent for, highness?’

Elsa rolled her head back, staring at the bright blue hangings atop her four-poster bed. She groaned. ‘Probably the one to the east, that’s nearby?’

Anna took another step closer to the bed, nearly at its edge by now. ‘Am I perhaps an agent of your geography teacher, highness? Here to test you?’

Elsa spluttered into a laugh.

Anna jumped onto the bed and wrapped her arms around the naked and chilled princess. Anna showered her face and neck with little kisses.

‘Oh no,’ cried Elsa. ‘The assassin has gotten me. Soon I will be head.’

Elsa let Anna push her down into the soft mattress and shower her with kisses and wandering hands. She smiled and sighed and, soon enough, reciprocated the kisses and wandering hands, frustrated by Anna’s layers of dress and apron.

‘Why are you wearing so many clothes?’ Elsa whined, making no effort to remove any.

Anna kissed her on the nose. ‘Because it’s always freezing in here and embracing you in the morning is like embracing a snowman who has frozen solid overnight.’

‘Snowman?’

‘Snowwoman, then,’ Anna smiled, kissing Elsa’s chilly nose again. ‘You need to get dressed.’

***

Anna had been six years old to Elsa’s seven when she was first given the role of maid to the princess of Arendelle. Anna had been born in the castle, the child of a cleaning maid. She had been helping her mother to clean for about a year before receiving her new assignment.

She had thought it a coincidence that her mother had departed the castle not long after her move to Elsa’s room. At the time, Elsa’s room had been painted and papered in greens, and decorated with family portraits and wall-hangings embroidered with scenes from Arendelle’s history.

Anna had lived in Elsa’s room for some three years, having a wonderful time.

She waited on the princess, of course. She helped to groom her and dress her and accompanied her everywhere. She was little Elsa’s littler shadow. She ran messages and errands, she fetched meals and snacks.

Anna didn’t mind the work, of course. She was a born servant, or born a servant as the case may be. And this job came with far more bonuses than being a cleaning maid ever had.

She got to stay in a big, cosy room with a girl pretty much her age. She got to eat much nicer food, given to her by Elsa. She got to meander around the castle doing nothing a lot of the time.

And, most important, she got to play with Elsa’s magic.

Since Anna was nine and Elsa was ten, there had been a question pressing vaguely at the back of her mind. Perhaps it had stopped pressing a few years ago, but perhaps not.

How much did anyone care about her?

Elsa got a free pass on this question, of course. It wasn’t like Anna had never accidentally hurt the little princess while they were playing. But it would also be fair to say that Anna got hurt far more often.

It was all accidents, of course, and nothing particularly serious. The worst that ever came out of it was that once Anna couldn’t walk for a few days. Elsa had stayed in her room and pretended to be sick until Anna recovered.

But then, when Elsa was ten years old, they had been out playing in the main dining hall, which had been cleared in preparation for some event or another. It had been late, and clearly they had been making too much noise.

Elsa’s mother, a tall and lovely woman who ignored Anna almost entirely, had wandered into the dining room. ‘What’s that racket?’ she had wondered.

Elsa had turned and, quite by accident of course, struck her mother in the left shoulder with a swish of icy power. Queen Iduna had shrieked and fallen to the floor.

Anna and Elsa had rushed over to see what the damage might be. Iduna was clutching her arm to herself and moaning. Anna had recognised the bright, icy stain on the woman’s dress from so many of her own clothes.

She hadn’t dared touch the queen, of course, so she’d leaned over to Elsa a muttered. ‘Remember how to do it?’

Elsa had nodded and stepped around to her mother’s side, kneeling to apply her cold little hands to the injury. She could have quite easily fixed the situation, something she’d quite gotten the hang of after years of accidentally freezing parts of Anna’s body.

But Iduna had shrieked again and pushed her own daughter away.

Elsa had tumbled to the ground and Anna had rushed to comfort her. Elsa had started crying.

Finally, King Agnarr had arrived with the guards, demanding to know what had happened. Iduna had explained, and Anna hadn’t been able to say anything in Elsa’s defence, of course. Elsa had been too busy crying to explain.

It had been so deadeningly late that Anna was nearly asleep when the King crouched before her. ‘I’m sorry, Anna,’ he had murmured. ‘You’re not going to be able to stay with princess Elsa any longer.’

Anna had started crying.

Agnarr had put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Peace, peace,’ he had murmured. ‘You will still be her maid. But I’m afraid it may be too dangerous to put her in a room with another person.’

Anna had shaken her head, but she was too tired and stressed and shocked to say much of anything.

***

Anna pulled Elsa out of bed. Elsa was, not surprising Anna, naked and freezing. She was glorious, pale and lovely and perfect as always. Anna gave her a few more kisses around the neck and shoulders for good measure.

‘I don’t need to get out of bed, Anna,’ Elsa whined, entwining Anna in her cold arms and not really trying to drag them back to the bed.

Anna kissed her on the nose again, which required her to go up on her toes now that they were both standing. ‘You do need to get out of bed, highness,’ Anna informed her. ‘You need to eat and be seen and go to your dress fitting.’

Elsa went ‘urg’ and deflated. ‘Why can’t you just make my dress? I don’t need some pompous crone poking me with needles.’

Anna started waddling them toward the wardrobe. ‘Because it’s for a very special occasion, highness,’ she said. ‘And that pompous crone has very impressive credentials.’

Elsa went ‘urg’ again, and flopped around as Anna tried to dress her. This was certainly not the first time Elsa had done this. Anna had her dressed quickly enough, sprinkling in some more kisses on the way to help the process along.

‘Now it’s time for breakfast, highness,’ Anna announced, grinning.

‘Noooo.’ Elsa deflated again, whining and reaching out toward Anna.

Anna let herself be pulled close, and was not surprised when Elsa dipped her to plant a much more lingering and severe kiss on her.

‘Alright, fine,’ Elsa sighed, standing up and straightening her bodice slightly. ‘I hope you know the world is hell for me.’

Anna nodded along. ‘And for me, highness.’

Elsa blew a raspberry at her, leaned down to give her another solid kiss on the mouth, and strode to the door. But then she stopped, hand reached out to the doorknob and about to emerge into the world.

‘Do you think it would be funny if I announced I was going to marry you at my coronation?’

‘Perhaps you are the agent of chaos.’ Anna grinned. As unrealistic as it was, she did like it when Elsa said things like that.

***

Anna had hated her new room, of course. She was in a little room by herself, not so far from Elsa’s new, bigger, sturdier room. She missed the luxury only a little, but most of all Anna missed the company.

She’d gone from the servants’ quarters near the kitchen, where most of the servants slept, to Elsa’s room. She’d had company all her life, and now she was put in a little box by herself, just so she was near Elsa’s room.

Anna was surprised by the décor of Elsa’s new room. It was a stark difference, of course, going from the greens to the light blues. But more than that, if felt much emptier. The room was bigger, but there was less in it. The paintings and hangings were gone.

What was far more of a shock was when Anna snuck out of her little box on the first night, to let herself into Elsa’s new room. She was already furiously lonely. Elsa had just spent all day in her room, being sad.

The door had been locked.

Anna had been quiet as she could manage. She had whispered into the keyhole. ‘Elsa?’

There had come a rustling and sniffling from the other side of the door. The faint sound of bare feet on carpet.

‘Anna, is that you?’ Elsa had whispered back through the keyhole.

‘It’s me,’ Anna had said. ‘Can you let me in? I’m lonely.’

The door had rattled gently. ‘I can’t, it’s locked.’

Anna had been furious. She had hissed through the door. ‘Well, I’m going to unlock it then.’ And she had stormed off.

She hadn’t woken anyone, stomping down to the side door of the castle, because she wasn’t near where anyone slept. Her and Elsa’s new rooms were aside from everyone else.

Anna had gently let herself out and into the smithy where the farrier made shoes. She found herself a thin piece of steel and she’d stormed all the way back up to Elsa’s room.

‘Elsa?’ she’d whispered.

She hadn’t heard anything back, but that wasn’t enough to stop her. She pushed her new tool into the gap in the door and felt around for the latch, which had to be internal. Some fiddling around and a faint grunt later, and Anna had the door open.

Things were different, of course. That was inevitable. But Anna still shared a room with Elsa. They still played, sometimes, but Elsa was much more sedate. At her father’s instruction, Elsa started wearing gloves about, to control her magic.

Queen Iduna seemed less in evidence than she had been before all this.

Anna decided to bear a grudge. But very little was changed, except for a little more sneaking, and more running errands.

Elsa started leaving her room much less often. Anna would be sent hurrying for food, rather than Elsa eating in the dining room. There was more running around and fetching things and people in general.

***

The pompous crone in question couldn’t have been more than thirty-five years old. She was a master seamstress, which Anna thought was a bit impressive. Her outfit was perfect, in a dull sort of way. Muted green, perfectly fitted to her skinny figure.

She had earned her epithet by not being flowery and nice to Elsa all the time, which Elsa was used to. She went ‘hmm’ and held her chin in two fingers. She gave commands and stood perfectly still until they were followed.

The dress on her tailor’s doll was enough to convince Anna, at least, that the ordeal would probably be worth it. Anna, of course, was not the one standing on the little stool, rotating and posing as instructed, and occasionally being poked with pins because she couldn’t stand still.

‘Oh, you are going to look stunning, highness,’ the seamstress said. ‘You can get down now.’

As the two of them left the seamstress’s room, Anna glanced around to check that they were alone. When it turned out that they were, she took Elsa’s hand and stepped up to give her a kiss on the cheek.

‘You were very good in there, highness,’ she smiled.

Elsa gave her hand a squeeze. ‘I look forward to never dealing with a seamstress again.’

‘How do you feel about florists?’ Anna asked, dragging Elsa along.

‘Oh? How am I supposed to feel about florists?’ Elsa kissed Anna on the top of the head and let go of her hand. ‘When I have such a pretty one staying in my castle.’

‘I think you should feel mostly neutral about florists,’ Anna said. ‘About this one? Well, she is very pretty.’

‘And she’s good at her job, Anna. Don’t be so crass.’ Elsa chuckled. ‘And she has yet to stab me even a single time.’

‘A definite improvement.’

Anna shepherded Elsa down the stairs, though where the main hall was being decorated, and into the side room that the florist had commandeered. The room was normally empty, so the absolute mass of flowers and plants really improved the space.

The florist herself was a plump young woman with black hair and tan skin. She and some of her fellows came down from the forest and the ice to the north from time to time to sell herbal remedies and strange plants in town.

Anna had been impressed with herself when she’d convinced the woman to be the florist for the coronation ceremony.

‘My darling, Honey,’ was how Elsa opened the conversation. ‘What amazing flowers have you found for us this week?’

Honey, as the florist was known, popped up from somewhere among the plants, beaming. ‘Your highness, nice to see you again,’ she smiled. ‘I’ve got some more fun flowers up from near the Black Sea.’

‘Ooh, that sounds interesting indeed.’

Honey walked them through more of the flowers she’d found around the forests and the northern coast.

‘I feel like, unless you change your mind of course, we’re basically done,’ Honey said, pressing her hands together and grinning. ‘Your highness.’

There were too many people out in the hall for Anna to take Elsa’s hand again or give her any more kisses, which was really a shame. Anna could hold off, for now, though.

‘Alright, taskmaster, what’s next?’ Elsa asked.

‘Food,’ Anna said.

‘Gerda can handle that, no problem,’ Elsa said, firmly. ‘Which makes it time to go back to my room, I think. Perhaps I shall bathe.’

Anna snorted, and blushed.

***

Anna was eighteen, Elsa was nineteen. It was late in the day and Anna was sitting at Elsa’s giant window, mending a dress. Elsa was sitting at her vanity, reading some book one of her tutors had told her to read.

There had come a knock at the bedroom door, and Elsa had perked up. ‘Enter,’ she had called.

Kai had opened the door, looking sombre and carrying a letter. He had not entered the room. ‘Princess Elsa,’ he had said. ‘I am very sorry to relay this news to you, but your parents have died at sea.’

‘Oh,’ Elsa had said, sitting back at the vanity.

Anna had immediately hopped up and hurried across the room. She’d taken the letter from Kai and gently closed the door in his face. Then she’d hurried back across the room and wrapped Elsa in a hug.

Elsa had leaned into her and sighed. ‘What am I supposed to do now?’

‘What do you want to do now?’

Elsa took the letter and leaned away. ‘Could you close the curtains for me, Anna?’

Anna did, closing the heavy, blue curtains against the glorious sunset over the waterfall. Elsa broke the plain, wax seal on the letter and started reading it to herself. Anna hovered.

‘Hmm, they’re boat was lost in the black sea, apparently.’

Anna frowned. ‘Weren’t they supposed to be further west?’

Elsa nodded and put down the paper. She stood and swished across the room to where Anna was stood. She opened her arms and pulled Anna into another hug. Anna held Elsa tight, rubbing lightly at her back. But that wasn’t quite what Elsa was thinking, evidently.

Elsa pulled away, just a little, and leaned down and pressed her cool, soft lips to Anna’s.

Anna was surprised, and she wasn’t surprised. Her heart thundered in her chest. She was comfortable. When Elsa pulled away, Anna made a sound like: ‘oh?’

‘You asked me what I wanted to do,’ Elsa said. ‘And I wanted to do that.’

‘Oh,’ Anna said again.

‘Can I do it again?’ Elsa asked.

Anna smiled and nodded. Elsa leaned down and kissed her again, this time just a little firmer, for just a little longer. When Elsa pulled away, Anna went up on her toes and pulled her down again.

***

Gently, Anna pulled Elsa back out of the clothes she’d dressed her in only a couple of hours ago. The big brass tub in the middle of the room was filled with steaming water. The other servants had left. The curtains were drawn.

Only a little less gently, Elsa pulled Anna out of her layers of clothes. She pressed kisses to her face and neck and shoulders, gradually making her way down Anna’s body as she removed more and more clothes.

Anna shivered against the omnipresent cold in the bedroom, shivered against Elsa’s cool lips, and shivered against the excitement building in her own body. Her smile was serene, though she didn’t know that she was smiling.

When Anna, too, was naked, Elsa straightened and took her face to lay a firm and lengthy kiss on her mouth. Their lips and tongues worked against each other with long familiarity. They smiled and panted and touched each other.

Elsa drew Anna to the bathtub and took her hand to help her into the steaming water. Anna sank gratefully into the water, pulling Elsa in after her. Elsa sank into the water atop her, smiling and kissing and sighing happily.

‘I know that I joke,’ Elsa said. ‘But oh how I wish I could marry you.’ She pressed kisses to Anna’s face and neck and shoulders.

‘Alas,’ sighed Anna. ‘You are doomed to be alone forever, I think.’

Elsa smiled. ‘As are you. What a tragedy it is.’

Anna pulled Elsa up and kissed her. ‘Such a tragedy.’

Their hands and mouths wandered and they made little noises for each other, noises of pleasure and happiness. They smiled and kissed and touched and shared a few words from time to time.

***

The dress was lovely, or at least Elsa looked lovely in it. An aqua bodice and skirt with gold and silver embroidery, black sleeves and something of a mauve cloak. She had her hair up in a complicated, braided bun that Anna had done that morning.

Anna, for her part, looked more presentable than usual. She had made herself a solid aqua dress, more muted than Elsa’s. It was absent much embroidery unless you looked quite close, where Anna had stitched little patterns in the same colour of thread.

Unlike the other servants at the event, Anna was not serving food or drinks. She wasn’t playing music or keeping a general eye on things. She was standing off to the side, watching Elsa, waiting for the ceremony to start.

When Elsa was handed the orb and sceptre, Anna imagined that she was the only person who noticed the way the metal crinkled and lightened with Elsa’s nervous cold.

At the reception, Anna stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching Elsa take deep breaths before plastering a smile onto her face as Kai heralded her: ‘Queen Elsa, of Arendelle.’

‘Thank you all for coming,’ Elsa called out to the crowd, voice barely shaky at all. ‘It has been a long and saddening time, since my parents died. And I have valued all of your counsels and presence greatly. Now that I am ruler of Arendelle, I will work with you all to ensure a strong future for my kingdom.’

There was some polite applause and Elsa descended the stairs from the raised platform. She waved Anna over and Anna hurried to her side. At the intersection of the stairs and the wall, Elsa leaned down and, hidden by Anna’s head, planted a short series of kisses on her cheek and ear.

‘Thank you for helping with all this, my love,’ Elsa whispered. ‘Best pretend I just sent you on an errand or something.’

Anna nodded seriously, straight-faced, and hurried away.

#elsanna #secret santa 2022 #elsanna secret santa #submission

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chaoticyumelikes · 2 years

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Hubert Von Vestra x GN! Reader

You'll meet Hubert just like he meets anyone. Yes, through the Academy. He is fishing out prospects to help Lady Edelgard in every future endeavor. So if he approaches you, he has studied you to a creepy and accurate extent. Yes IF he approaches you. He must make sure first that you are indeed useful.

After he considers your utility to his and most importantly Lady Edelgard's plans, he will keep an eye on you. I am not going to lie he will come off as creepy to you. He only tones down his creepy vibes when Edelgard orders him to so trust me you are getting scared.

Undoubtedly one night when you are walking to your room you come across him.... Bernadetta still considers your screams are like that of a banshee while Lysithea and Ashe still think there's a ghost roaming the academy at night.

His absolute devotion to Edelgard will strain your relationship a bit. On one hand if you are to become friends with the Empire's heir he will become menacingly jealous (he already has to deal with Monica he will be damned if he has to deal with another) on the other hand you may come to the misunderstanding that he is in love with her.

While on the subject of jealousy he will find it curious that he still feels that way when you approach other students and sometimes even teachers.

Prepare to have that weighting feeling of having eyes behind your back. Hubert whether or not in a relationship with you he always has his eyes or some of his trusted associates' on you at all times. You have never felt more uncomfortable and yet safer at the same time. Once Edelgard catches on (often being the victim of Hubert's overzealous nature) she will give you tips on how and when to get some time alone.

Hubert is probably going to be the last person to realize his true feelings for you. The man isn't dense by any means but with all the planning and scheming this man has far too much on his mind. Edelgard probably finds out much faster than him.

Speaking of Edelgard, when she catches on to Hubert's feelings for you and sees how hard he is failing at it, she is on a mission. She invites you often for tea in the hopes to study you, to see if you are a right match for him and to see if you are invested romantically in him as well. Once she gets all the info she needs she goes to the one who will hopefully, due to experience, will be able to help stop all the foolishness Hubert and you are doing by evading each other - none other than Dorothea

Turns out Dorothea already knows and the whole Black Eagles have been placing bets around the subject. Some (Petra) even suggesting force.

All of the Black Eagles are now intent on helping out with varying degrees of ultimate failure (Ferdinand tried to put the two of you together but somehow ended up making you believe that Hubert and him were together). The only success they had was to invoke Hubert's absolute fury. While shielded most of the time by Edelgard, the team decided to give up just in case they were walking towards an early grave like Hubert has detailed in very creative ways.

Fortunately for the team, someone else caught wind of the predicament, the master schemer himself, Claude von Riegan. So it was to everyone's surprise to see Claude one day just openly and loudly flirting with you. Everyone stared at awe at the scene and then stared at the absolutely terrifying dark aura emanating from Hubert. For you see, at that moment, Hubert might have discovered his feelings but as to make the noble sacrifice of not putting you in any danger for the upcoming war he forgot other fools might take you and put you in far more danger for they could not see, treat or protect you the way he could.

So after putting himself between you and Claude he invited you for tea which you accepted. Well, you had tea, he had coffee. You two chatted a bit before Hubert got serious and proposed his feelings in the most business way possible. He highlighted how advantageous it would be for you to be involved with him even going as far as laying the beneficts of your family being aligned with his (should you be noble or not). Before he could extend his monologue any further you interrupted him with the most powerful and yet simple words available to you - "I like you too."

Hubert stopped speaking entirely, the only evidence he was still alive was the blush on his face and ears - "O-oh! T-that's-- Yes... That is very..... Um.... Good!"

You giggle at his reaction but lightly taking his hand in yours you propose you take things lightly, go on a few dates before you even think about "the beneficial sides for the families"

He agrees and then he hears the collective of the student body sigh with relief "FINALLY!". The relief is short lived however as a monster suddenly appears in the depths of the academy. All it was heard was an urgent shout "Dammit Hapi!"

Hubert was now more content to be at your side rather than tailing your shadow. He was still highly devoted to Edelgard and you respected that but now he had you to lovingly be devoted to and having that same devotion back at him. At first he wasn't used to it. Having someone devote themselves to him like you do. But he had to admit it was rather heavenly.

During the war it wasn't easy. Hubert kept trying to take you away. To keep you safe but you stubbornly refused to leave his side. Arguments were frequent about that topic as well. Once he went as far as saying you were distracting him from his duty making you go on the completely different squad than his. Before he could ever apologize your squad had already gone on a recon mission.

Hubert could not sleep for days after that. He always kept his ears out for news from your squad, always on his nerves' end should something happen to you. And one day... his fears came to be. Your squad was attacked suddenly.

At the news he froze till Edelgard snapped his attention back. He got on the first horse he could find and rode to where your squad was seen last. Ferdinand rode with him should he lose himself in his panicked state and made Hubert take breaks for his and the horses' sakes. All he knew was that you were still so far from him, you could be hurt, taken prisoner, dead... He had to get to you as fast as he could before his minds' violent imagination drove him mad.

After days of riding he got to your squads camp. Your squad had been taken by surprise but managed to withstand with the minimal casualties and a few injured. You yourself had been injured but it was just a few cuts and bruises. He spotted you first after looking around desperatly and wrapped his arms around you in an almost suffocating embrace. He cried that day, he didn't care, he had you. He had you. You took him to your tent and after a series of apologies he kissed your every cut, every bruise, every scar and promised himself he would never allow this to happen again.

The ones that attacked your squad and managed to escape were hunted down mercilessly and so were their lords. For Hubert would not suffer any threat to house Vestra and yes, even if not married now, he saw you as his.

From day onward you two were truly inseparable. And soon Edelgard began poking at Hubert to propose to you with her blessing. The day of the Emperor's marriage to Byleth, Edelgard threw the bouquet strategically and aggressively at you (making you fall back at the sheer force of the throw). And yes, when you FINALLY get married, Edelgard had to include in her speech "and they FINALLY proposed! FINALLY got married, in all seriousness I was afraid children would come first than this contract!".

You two did grow inseparable despite it all to the grand relief of all your friends.

#hubert von vestra x reader #hubert x reader #gn!reader #fe hubert #fire emblem three houses x reader #Fire emblem three hopes #Fire emblem three houses #hubert von vestra #My writing

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watchmegetobsessed · 4 years

Text

Hey Angel - Harry Styles

a/n: since i had so much time on my hand at work lately (not anymore unfortunately) i used it wisely and cooked up this PA themed fic bc i absolutely love this trope. it’s lengthy and kinda emotional? kinda, lol. hope you’ll like it and as always, feedback is much appreciated!!

warning: sexual content

word count: 11.5k

masterlist

Harry likes to pretend he is tall enough to comfortably rest his chin on the top of your head when he stands behind you, but that’s not true. He has to push himself a little to his tippy toes and push you down at the same time to fit his chin above you, his arms weighing down on your shoulders. You stopped arguing him that you need to push your hips forward when he does this so you don’t carry his whole weight.

“Tha’s rude, you do not have to do tha’!” he defended himself every time you brought up, so you just stopped.

Now as you watch the game of air hockey unfold in front of you, a half empty pint in your hand, you don’t even budge when you feel a chiseled chin resting on the top of your head, you push your hips forward without a second thought to shorten your height. You catch a glimpse of a tattooed forearm on your shoulder, Harry’s chest presses against your back gently.

He doesn’t stay in this position too long, it’s making it hard to drink so soon enough, he wraps his left arm around your shoulders, coming to stand next to you, sipping on his tequila on the rocks.

“Hey you,” you smile at him as he gives you a side look, a boyish smirk tugging on his pink lips. “Everything alright?”

“Everything is fine.”

“You need something? How much have you had to drink?” you ask furrowing your eyebrows, looking down at his glass that was certainly full when you last saw him about ten minutes ago.

“Shush, stop pretending like you’re working,” he waves at your face, his words melting together, definitely thanks to the alcohol he has consumed tonight.

“I know I’m not working, I’m just tryna’ be your friend and look out for you.” Bringing your own drink up to your lips, you give him a look, but he just smirks at you playfully.

“Uh-huh, whatever. Don’t worry about me.”

“I always worry about you, H,” you sigh dramatically and it makes him laugh with his head falling back.

“Is this the part where you tell me I’m some spoiled brat celebrity you ‘ave to babysit for your living? And that I always do ridiculous shit so you ‘ave to keep an eye on me at all times?”

You can’t push your smile down at how far this statement is from reality. You just like to tease him about being a typical, asshole rockstar when he is literally your favorite person in the world without a doubt.

“Oh Angel, you can’t fool me,” he cackles, squeezing you to his side before taking another sip from his drink.

“Wouldn’t even try to,” you mumble with an amused smile. “Havin’ fun, birthday boy?” you ask, leaning into his side. You would never admit, but you love how touchy Harry can get sometimes, not really caring about physical boundaries, especially when he drinks. The hugs, the squeezes, the touches, they always make your heart flutter even after knowing him for years.

“I’m havin’ a blast. What about you?”

“What about me? It’s not my birthday,” you chuckle shortly.

“So what? I can’t make sure you’re enjoying your night?” he frowns at you dramatically that just makes you laugh.

“I’m having a great night. It’s just that my boss keeps coming after me even though I’m supposed to be off the clock.”

You peek up at him to see the grin on his face at your teasing. The dynamic between the two of you has been like this since day one. The constant bickering and teasing is what really brought the two of you close, you are so similar, it’s like you can see a male version of yourself when you look at him.

“Tell the dude to fuck off,” he mumbles into his drink and you bump your hip against him, but he just holds you tight to his side as an answer.

Soon enough, Harry joins the game and you watch him play from the side, obviously cheering on his opponent to annoy him, earning some pretty dirty looks from him whenever they score against him and you let out a “woho!” in victory.

“Y’know, it’s not too nice to cheer against the birthday boy, is it?” he calls you out when the table is taken by someone else and he joins you at the side again.

“Am I not allowed to choose who I want to cheer to?” you ask with a faked puzzled look and he presses his lips into a thin line, glaring down at you intently.

“Don’t test me, Angel,” he grumbles into your ear before walking off to join his friends who came out to celebrate with him today.

It’s a pretty lowkey celebration, since he is still in the middle of filming Don’t Worry Darling, so he couldn’t really travel far from the set, but some of his dearest friends were able to come here and celebrate with him and his cast members.

You stand at the bar and your eyes find him every time you scan the place, not able to keep your gaze away from him for too long, he just demands the attention. Or at least yours.

You’ve never met anyone like him. When you got the chance to be his personal assistant four years ago at the very beginning of his solo career, you never thought how he’ll move right into your heart and never leave it. Whether you look at him as your boss or your friend, you can’t deny that he changed your life and you’ve learned so much from him, you can only hope he thinks of you somewhat the same. However you always tell yourself: what could you possibly give for The Harry Styles? He has everything in the whole wide world.

Harry catches you staring and he arches a brow at you, abandoning the conversation he has been in for the past minutes, mouthing you “what’s up, Angel”, his accent thick even without hearing his voice.

He’s been calling you Angel for longer than you can remember. When you asked him why the nickname, he said it’s because One Direction’s song Hey Angel was written about you. It was a fat lie, you haven’t met him when the song was written, but his words still tightened your chest, playing with the thought of Harry writing a song about you.

As cheesy and cliché as it is, you fell for him faster than you’d like to admit. You tried to fight it for a while, convince yourself it’s just a silly crush, but you soon had to realize you outgrew that after the first few weeks working with him. How could you not fall for him? He is everything any woman could wish for and he has you wrapped around his fingers, just like he has half the female population, probably.

You shake your head in his way, not sure how to tell him you just got lost in your thoughts about him. In fact, he occupies your mind pretty much all the time, but he doesn’t have to know about that.

He excuses himself from the table and walks up to you, a slow breath leaving your nose as you watch him approach you.

“Tired?” he asks, stopping in front of you, placing his empty glass to the counter.

“Kinda,” you nod.

“Want to head home soon?”

“Don’t worry about me. I can just call a taxi and go home, you don’t have to come.”

“Don’t be silly, we go to the same place, obviously we’re gonna go home together.”

Since filming has started, Harry and you’ve been sharing a nice apartment near the set. It was his idea to rent a place for the two of you, rather than to stay at a hotel. At first you didn’t think it would be a good idea, but of course, he convinced you to live with him for the months while the movie is being filmed. So now you basically live with Harry, share pretty much all your living space with him, except your bedroom.

“But it’s your birthday, stay as long as you want,” you tell him, not wanting to snatch him away from his friends on his big day.

“We’re filming in the afternoon tomorrow, can’t drag the night too long either way,” he shrugs, trying to make you believe it’s really nothing.

No matter how badly you try to convince him to stay, he doesn’t bulge and starts saying goodbye within an hour, calling the two of you a car to take you home. He is clearly tipsy, but not drunk. Once you’re in the car, Harry’s hand finds yours and he pulls you closer in the backseat until your thighs are pressed together. He curls an arm around your shoulders, holding you tight to his side, sinking down in the seat. You let your head rest on his shoulder, enjoying the closeness of his body, pressing down any worrying thought that usually makes its way to your mind every time Harry gets a little cozier than the usual.

The rational side of your brain knows you should be keeping some distance from him for the sake of your own sanity and emotional health, but you just can’t. Denying these little moments from yourself would be like pure torture and your heart can’t take that for sure.

“What are you thinkin’ about?” he murmurs, his nose nuzzling into your hair and you just shrug your shoulders.

“Nothing,” you mumble your lie.

“Liar, I can hear the gears turning in that pretty head of yours,” he grins down at you as your eyes lock for a moment. Thank God for the darkness in the car, because you can feel your cheeks heating up. The last thing you need is for Harry to see how nervous he can make you feel with just a simple compliment.

“Stop being nosy, you don’t have to know everything all the time.” You poke his side with your elbow, it makes him jump a little before he snuggles back to your side.

“That’s not true, you know I’m entitled to hold every knowledge in the world.” He tries to hide his smirk, but he fails miserably and you just laugh at him with your head falling back to his shoulder.

“Harry Styles, you are something else,” you sigh shaking your head at him.

Arriving home Harry keeps an arm around you as you walk up to the front door, fishing your keys out of your bag since you’d bet Harry didn’t bring his. There’s a chance he hasn’t even used his copy since you’ve been here, he knows you always have yours and you haven’t really left without each other so far, always staying around the other.

“Want to shower first?” he hums, walking inside, his arm leaving your shoulders and though you feel lighter without the extra weight, you wish it was still there.

“Go for it, I’m gonna clean up the mess I made when I got ready earlier,” you tell him, heading into your bedroom where the floor is littered with half your wardrobe from earlier, when you were trying to figure out what to wear for the little outing.

Harry disappears in the shared bathroom and a moment later you hear the water running. You go around your room, picking up the dresses you voted against, placing them back into the wardrobe and then you put away your makeup you left on your bed in your hurry.

“Bathroom is yours!” Harry calls out just when you finish, you hear his bedroom door open and close so you grab a clean oversized t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts before occupying the bathroom.

The warm shower feels nice, it’s been a long day since you started on set, Harry had a few scenes to film before you could leave in the afternoon. You wash away the day, scrub your makeup off and then take off the rest with your wipes once you’re out. You brush your hair and use some lotion for your dry skin before getting dressed and leaving the steamy bathroom.

Padding down the short hallway you hear nothing coming from Harry’s bedroom and you wonder if he’s already asleep, but once you step inside your room you see that he is cozied up on your bed, your covers pulled up to his naked chest, a pillow tucked under his head as he scrolls through his phone so shamelessly, as if it was his own room.

“Did you take the wrong turn in the hallway?” you ask with an arched eyebrow as you throw your dirty clothes to your temporary hamper, which is basically your emptied out suitcase.

“Nope,” he grins smugly, you have to roll your eyes at him. He locks his phone, dropping it to the side table, watching you move around, getting ready for bed and his eyes on your figure feel like they’re burning down on your skin.

“You know, it’s rude to stare,” you comment not even looking at him, but you just know he is still staring at you. Grabbing a hairtie from the little dresses in the corner of your room you reach back to loosely braid your hair, but his voice stops you.

“Wait,” he pleads and you furrow your eyebrows at him. “Can I do it?”

You give him a confused look as he pushes himself up into a sitting position, his green eyes are glimmering from the tiredness and the alcohol he has consumed tonight.

“You want to braid my hair?”

“Yeah,” he nods. You hesitate for a moment but join him on the bed at last, turning your back against him, giving him full control over your hair.

A shiver runs down your spine when you feel his fingers raking through your strands. He is so gentle and careful as you feel him section your hair off to three parts.

“Didn’t know you can braid,” you tell him, eyes fixated on the sheets in front of you.

“Gemma taught me, but I’m not the best at it.”

“So I’ll look atrocious?” you tease him smiling to yourself. He pokes the back of your neck with his fingers before continuing his work.

“You could never look atrocious, even if you tried.”

“And you are such a flirt,” you sigh. Over the years you’ve gotten used to his flirty act, it’s just who he is and though in the beginning your breath always got caught in your throat when he said something cheesy, now you just brush it off, only thinking about his words when you are alone in the night, struggling to fall asleep because you’re once again, thinking about him.

“M’telling the truth. Have I told you how beautiful you looked tonight?”

“Mmm,” you hum. He has told you that you looked pretty when the two of you left and he saw you walk out of your room in your black skinny jeans and flowy sheer top on, your hair loosely curled, but you didn’t really know what to say, so you just smiled at him and it’s the same now. You’re not the best at taking compliments.

“You really did. You always are.”

“And once again, you are such a flirt.”

“Complimenting a pretty woman is being a flirt?” he asks pretending to be offended as he carefully works on your hair and you wish you could see his focused face as he is trying to keep track of the sections between his fingers. At a lack of a witty comeback, you just shrug your shoulders, fumbling with your fingers on your lap.

You both fall silent as he concentrates on your hair and you manage to stop thinking, just focus on how his fingers keep brushing against your back every time he crosses two sections over each other.

“Hairtie, please,” he asks, his hand appearing next to you with his palm upwards. You place it in his hand and he finishes up his masterpiece. “There, it didn’t turn out as bad as I thought,” he comments once he is done. Reaching back you run your fingers over the braid and it feels good, he did a great job.

“Thanks,” you smile at him shyly, turning around. He leans back, making himself comfortable once again and you arch an eyebrow at him. “Need me to walk you back to your room, sir?”

“No, I’m perfectly fine here,” he grins smugly, tugging his arm behind his head as he takes up the right side of the bed.

“You’re planning to sleep here?”

“Please, don’t make me sleep alone on my birthday!” he pouts, giving you those damned puppy eyes. How could you ever say no to him?

“You better not push me off the bed in your sleep,” you mumble before getting under the covers.

You turn off the bedside lamp and the two of you start moving around, finding a comfortable pose to sleep in and you end up facing each other on your sides, Harry’s face squished into the pillow as his eyes are roaming over the hand you have laid between your faces.

His fingers start to inch towards yours until he hooks his pinky with yours, the touch sending a warm feeling down your spine.

“I hate sleeping alone,” he mumbles into the semi-darkness.

“Why?”

“Don’t you like it when there’s someone next to you? When you wake up and you’re not alone?”

“I like it, but I don’t hate sleeping alone either,” you tell him as your eyes fall to your linked pinky fingers. “Why do you hate it? You have the bed all to yourself, and there’s no chance of waking up to someone snoring or talking in their sleep.”

He huffs out a laugh as he buries his head deeper into the pillow.

“It makes me feel lonely. Which is ridiculous, because I’m never alone.”

“But lonely and alone are not the same, so it’s not ridiculous. You can feel lonely when you’re not alone.”

“I know,” he nods, his eyes watching your linked fingers intently, before he moves his hand so it’s now covering yours, his warm palm wrapping around your much smaller hand. “I’m never lonely with you, though.”

“So… you are only lonely when you’re sleeping or in the bathroom, because we basically spend every moment of the day together.” You smirk at him and see his dimple form in his cheek as he smiles at you nodding.

“That’s right. We are like glued together.”

“How aren’t we sick of each other already?”

“That’s never gonna happen.”

“You sure about that?” You raise your eyebrows at him with an amused smile, he is too sure about that answer.

“One hundred percent. You’re my favorite person.”

“Is that what you tell everyone?”

He gives you a look, but you just chuckle, sinking further into your pillow. His fingers start playing with your hand as he draws a deep breath.

“I only tell this to m’ mum and Gemma. No one else.”

Your heart starts racing at the thought of him seeing you on the same level as his closest family. You know how much his mum and sister mean to him, but you never thought you are anywhere near them in his eyes.

“You’re my favorite person too,” you whisper as your eyes meet over your joined hands. He smiles at you warmly, his floppy curls falling into his forehead and you want to run your fingers through them, feel how soft they are under your touch. Harry scoots closer, your faces only a few inches away from each other as he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

For a moment you just watch him, thinking how good it feels to have him in your bed. How amazing it is to end the day with him so close to you. You wish all days would end like this, you wouldn’t have another bad day with him next to you.

Lying there and watching him slowly fall asleep, his hand still on yours, the bitter thought eats itself into your mind that he is only here because he feels lonely and wanted to be close to someone, not you particularly. And though you’re glad it’s you he ended up next to, you try not to get too accustomed to the feeling, because you’re just a temporary fix to his loneliness.

The door to Harry’s trailer opens and he walks in wearing his blue dress pants and crispy white dress shirt, fumbling with the top buttons to undo them. You glance up at him from your laptop where you’ve been working on his schedule for the upcoming weeks while he was filming.

“Hey, how did it go?” you ask as he places his water bottle to the vanity and then sits in the chair he spends his mornings in while his hair is being styled and tattoos are covered.

“Good. Messed up only a few times. Whacha’ working on?”

“Just your schedule, I’ll email it to you when I’m done, though you never check it.”

“Hey, I do check it! I like your color coding. I just suck at using it and you’re always here to remind me of the important stuff.”

You roll your eyes, continuing to type away on your keyboard as he moves around, having a snack and texting back people.

“Florence is coming over for a little after we’re done. We can order something,” he speaks up grabbing your attention again.

“Cool,” you nod with a small smile. “Is she staying the night?”

“No, we just thought it would be nice to hang out a little without dressed like this,” he chuckles looking down at himself.

“What’s wrong with Jack’s clothes? You look neat.”

“Do I?” he cocks an eyebrow cheekily, placing his hands to his hips as he looks down at you.

“Yeah. It’s a nice change after all the grandpa clothes,” you tease him and he gasps pretending to be offended at your words, though you both know you have nothing against his style. In fact, you love how he just wears whatever he wants, not caring what others would think.

“Watch your mouth or you can’t wear my bode jacket again,” he warns you holding up his pointing finger, shaking it at you, but you just chuckle at him, finishing up what you’ve been working on before shutting the laptop down.

“How long until you’re done?”

“Just a few more scenes. I think we can leave in about two hours.”

“Alright.”

“You done working?”

“Mhm, for now.”

“Come and watch the filming. You’re always so hidden in here.”

“Because I always have work to do,” you point out, putting the laptop to the side from your lap.

“Yeah, but you’re done now, so come out and watch me be the next Leonardo DiCaprio,” he smugly tells you, and it makes you roll your eyes at him.

“You’re so humble, H. Is something that comes with the age?” you tease him standing up from the small sofa, grabbing your phone from the table.

“You’ll find out in a year,” he smirks back as you follow him out of the trailer, back to the set.

Later that day you, Florence and Harry are chilling back at your apartment, munching on the pizza you ordered, watching some documentary on Netflix, just enjoying a lazy evening. You’ve become quite close with Florence, her personality is a lot like yours so you got along well from the beginning, the three of you often do things together outside of set.

You and Harry are sharing the couch while Florence is curled up on the loveseat. The temperature at the apartment is always nice, but you often catch yourself feeling a little cold in the evening, but it has more to do with the tiredness rather than with the heating of the place. When you pull your legs underneath you to warm your feet, Harry notices the action and knows right away that you’re starting to feel cold as always. Reaching down he grabs a blanket from the basket next to the couch and he wraps an arm around you, pulling you closer to him.

“Come ‘ere,” he mumbles, draping the blanket over the two of you. You shuffle closer to him, making yourself comfortable at his side as he makes sure you’re fully tugged in. Then he leaves an arm around you, his fingers gently grazing your shoulder as he turns his attention back at the movie.

Glancing over at Florence you see the puzzled look on her, but you ignore it biting into your bottom lip, turning back to watch the movie though you’re having a hard time focusing. All you can think about is Harry’s touch on you.

It’s almost midnight when Florence calls herself a taxi. Harry picks up the glasses you used and volunteers to wash them, leaving you and Florence alone in the living room.

“So, what’s up with you and Harry?” she questions right away without beating around the bush.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you two has always been close, but now… it seems all too… couple-like.” She narrows her eyes at you, hands on her hips, looking like a mother questioning her daughter.

“Don’t be silly.”

“I’m not,” she scoffs. Then you pretend to be busy with folding the blanket, but you can feel her intent stare on you before she speaks up again. “You like him, don’t you?”

“What?” you huff with a not too Oscar-worthy expression on your face that was supposed to hide the panic in you. “Well of course I like him, he is my friend and boss.”

“But not just like that. You like like him.”

“Florence,” you sigh, just when Harry walks out of the kitchen, oblivious to the conversation that he just interrupted.

“You sure you don’t want to spend the night?” he politely asks her, but she just shakes her head.

“I’m not really up for spending the night on the couch.”

“You wouldn’t have to, you can sleep in my bed,” he simply offers and something is telling you he shouldn’t open his mouth again.

“You’re not taking the couch because of me.”

“I wouldn’t, I usually sleep at Y/N’s,” he states as if it was nothing, but you instantly freeze.

Yes, ever since his birthday he has spent way more nights in your bed than in his own, always raving to you how well he can sleep when you’re next to him and you couldn’t bear the thought of him feeling lonely, so you’ve been letting him occupy half of your bed through the nights. He usually holds your hand falling asleep and then you wake up tangled together, sometimes he is cuddling you from behind, other times you’re the one curled up to his side. He treats it so casually, like it really is nothing, he just always goes on his day when you wake up so you decided to not make it into a big deal either.

Florence gives you a wide eyed look that you try hard to ignore, while Harry is so oblivious to what he just caused with his statement.

“I uhh—thanks but I’m fine going home. Besides, I think my car is already here. See you guys on set tomorrow. Y/N?” she calls out walking towards the front door.

“Hm?”

“We’ll talk later,” she tells you and it’s a strong message that she won’t just leave it at that.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” you nod awkwardly, waving her goodbye.

You and Harry clean up together and as always, he is the first one to use the bathroom and by the time you’re done, he is in your bed, waiting for you to join him. You don’t comment on his presence anymore, part of you afraid he would stop spending the night in your bed and you definitely don’t want that. Not much is left from filming, meaning that soon you are forced to go home where you and Harry do not live at the same place so you’re gonna have to sleep alone, like you did before. Only now you are way too hooked on the feeling of having him in your bed, even if it’s not in the way you truly want, it’s better than nothing.

The moment you get under the sheets, Harry reaches out and pulls you to his side. He hasn’t done this often when you went to sleep, only sneaking some small touches, but you don’t mind him being a little extra clingy.

“Filming is almost over,” you mumble into his chest, your hand lazily resting where his ribcage ends in his chest.

“Mhm.” There’s a short silence before he speaks up again. “What about it, Angel?”

“It’s just that it’s going to be weird going home. I got used to living here.” It’s your way saying that you’re gonna miss having him around all the time, but you’re not sure if he understands the hint. It doesn’t really matter anyway.

“You like cramped together with me?” he chuckles lowly.

“Was kinda nice,” you smile.

“Remember how you threatened me to throw my shit out if I leave my dirty clothes on the floor?”

“I do,” you smirk, thinking back to the conversation where you agreed to live with him while he is filming. “Didn’t find any clothes on the floor, so you get an A for that.”

“Wow, was this… a compliment?”

“Shut up, I always compliment you!” you laugh smacking his chest gently.

“Oh, no. You don’t compliment, you just tell me when I managed not to fuck something up,” he corrects you and your cheeks are heating up about how well he knows you.

“Those are compliments in my book, don’t be greedy.”

“M’not. I love how grounded you keep me with treating me like this.”

“Like what?” you ask furrowing your eyebrows.

“Like a normal person. With you, I don’t have to be afraid that I earn something because of who I am. You give no shit about my name, you always keep me in check and I appreciate that.”

“Can’t let you have a too big of a head,” you smirk, closing your eyes. He laughs with you, squeezing you a little before you both fall into silence, drifting off to sleep in each other’s arms.

You’ve managed to avoid Florence in the past few days. Her burning look has been making you way too nervous, you know she wants to know more about what’s going on between you and Harry, but truth to be told, you have no idea what to tell her.

Yeah, I’m definitely in love with him and we’ve been sharing a bed for a few weeks because he feels lonely alone at night, so he uses me to ease the feeling while I just let him because as I said, I’m in love with the man.

No, you can’t tell her that.

Now there’s only two days left from filming, meaning that only two more nights to spend with Harry and it’s making you a nervous wreck to think about sleeping alone in your bedroom.

You round the corner in the maze of the trailers after a phone call you had with Jeff when you run out of luck and bump right into Florence.

“I’ve been looking for you, Y/N. Come have lunch with me in my trailer,” she smiles sweetly, grabbing you by your hand so you can’t escape her this time.

“Oh I wanted to call—“

“Do it later,” she simply cuts you off.

Soon, you find yourself in her trailer as she eats her burger while she eyes you with suspicion.

“So, you and Harry sleep together?”

“Well, not like that. We really just sleep in the same bed.”

“Oh, makes perfect sense, sleeping in the same bed as your boss. Very casual.”

“Don’t make it sound so weird,” you frown at her words. You definitely don’t see Harry as your boss. You do work for him, but it never felt like he stands anywhere above you, the two of you have always been equal even before you became close friends.

“You gotta admit it’s pretty unusual,” she points out and you just look away from her. “So let’s talk about how you’re in love with him.”

“What? I never said that!” you protest, but she just gives you a look that says ‘cut the crap, girl’ and you know there’s no use to try to trick her, she sees right through you. “Don’t fucking look at me like that, I have enough shit on my plate without your judgment.”

“Oh, I’m not judging you. I’m just wondering why you two are not together already.”

You practically snort at her statement, finding it quite absurd and ridiculous.

“What? You two are perfect for each other and I’m pretty sure Harry loves you too.”

“Yeah, as a friend.”

“That’s not how friends act, Y/N. He wouldn’t beg himself into your bed every night if he was just your friend.”

“He is just lonely. He doesn’t need me, just someone to be with him.”

“That’s bullshit,” she scoffs. “You two are just being idiots.” Just as you are about to answer, your phone starts ringing. Harry’s smiley face appears on the screen, making you extremely nervous because of the conversation you are having with Florence.

“Hey,” you breathe out answering the call.

“Hey, where are you?”

“Just, talking with Florence. What’s up?”

“I got an email from Jeff and I have some questions.”

“I’ll be there in a sec.”

“Thank you Angel,” he hums before ending the call.

“I gotta go. Please don’t… bring any of this up for Harry,” you ask Florence, heading to the exit.

“You’ve gotta sort your shit out. This is not ideal, Y/N.”

“I know it,” you growl under your breath, leaving the trailer. You chew on your bottom lip nervously as you march back to Harry’s trailer. You feel so confused and anxious about this whole situation and the worst thing is that you have no idea what to do about it. Telling him how you feel seems like a stupid idea, but mostly because you’re terrified of rejection. What if it all meant nothing to him? If you were right and he is just lonely and uses you to help himself, it has nothing to do with you. You wouldn’t survive the heartbreak it would give you if he told you he doesn’t see you more than just a friend.

As you walk into his trailer he is sitting on the sofa with his phone in his hands. He glances up at you, a warm smile tugging on his lips as you take a deep breath, feeling very much out of place suddenly. Unfortunately, he immediately senses your discomfort.

“Everything alright, Angel?”

Angel. This nickname could make your knees go weak in a heartbeat and you hate how much effect it has on you. Especially in this state of mind you’re currently in.

“I just…” You shake your head shutting your eyes. “Why do you keep calling me that?” you ask, sounding way more desperate than you intended to. Harry puts his phone aside, looking a little puzzled at your sudden weird act, but he seems more worried for you.

“I, uhh—“

“And don’t tell me it’s because Hey Angel is about me. We didn’t know each other back then.”

You have no idea where this is coming from or why you even questioned him about it all of a sudden, but Florence just totally threw you off with what she just said. Harry stares back at you, probably vigorously looking for the reason why you are acting up now, but luckily, he doesn’t try to turn it into a joke as always.

“I call you Angel, because you remind me of the song. It wasn’t written about you, but the lyrics match up with… you.”

“What?” you ask in confusion.

“I wish I could be more like you, do you wish you could be more like me?” he quotes the song, not singing the words, simply just talking them as he stares back at you. “I see you at the bar, at the edge of my bed, backseat of my car, in the back of my head,” he continues and you feel your throat doing dry just from the way he softly speaks, standing only a few feet away from you. “I come alive when I hear your voice, it’s a beautiful sound, it’s a beautiful noise.”

You never really gave it another thought, but now that he has told you this, it hit you hard in the chest. You weren’t expecting, especially because those lines are rather meaningful, to you at least.

“I thought of it once not long after we first met and thought calling you Angel would suit you. Do you mind it? I can just… stop calling you that if you don’t like it.”

You shake your head. You never want him to stop calling you that even if it’s not that meaningful for him. If it’s just some game. It’s great to know that something reminded him of you.

“No, it’s… it’s alright.” Your voice is small, barely more than just a whisper. It’s a little too much at once. Florence’s words are still stuck in your head, and what he just said has felt like he just gripped your heart even if he doesn’t know.

You take a shaky breath, forcing yourself to come back from this hazy state of mind.

“So, what about that email?”

“You alright?” Reaching forward he takes your hand and you try not to flinch at his touch, just smile at him nodding.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” He squeezes your hand before dropping it and he luckily doesn’t ask any more questions.

You stay oddly quiet for the rest of the day and Harry surely knows something is wrong, but he respects you enough not to bug you about it any longer. He just stays close to you as much as he can, trying his best to take your mind off of whatever keeps you occupied.

On the way home you and Harry drop by a supermarket, buy some quick dinner, not wanting to stack the fridge when you’re leaving so soon. Then you sit in the living room, eating and watching some random movie that’s on TV. You snuggle to his side on the couch naturally, he doesn’t even have to pull you close this time. The thought of having left only one more night in the apartment makes you want to sue every little moment you have left in this bubble.

Harry makes you have a shower first tonight and when you come out from the bathroom, your bed is already nicely made, inviting you warmly. He is quick to finish with his shower and joins you in bed barely five minutes later. You move towards each other instantly, his arms curling around your form soothingly as you make yourself comfortable, melted into his embrace. You feel his lips pressing against your forehead and you almost start crying at the small action.

“Angel, I don’t know what has upset you, but I’m here for you, alright? You’re not alone,” he murmurs softly.

“I know,” you whisper. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I would do anything for you, just like you do so much for me. You’ve got me.”

I wish, you think to yourself. You have him, but not the way you’ve been desiring. His hand moves to cup your face as he lifts your head so you are looking into his eyes in the darkened room, but there’s enough light coming through the window that you see his features. He runs his thumb across your cheek, gently caressing your skin and everywhere he touches you, it feels like your body is in flames. This something has been building up inside you and now you’re not sure how long you’ll be able to control yourself. And just as you think about how you really should put some distance between the two of you so you won’t regret it later, the unexpected happens.

Harry pulls you up just enough so when he moves his head he is able to place his lips on yours, kissing you out of the blue. His lips feel so soft, so fitting on your mouth, you let out a whimper when he goes further than just a gentle kiss, taking your bottom lip between his properly. It’s an out of world experience, you’ve imagined it so many times, but you never thought it would actually happen and now that it is very much happening, your whole mind goes blank and for a split second… everything feels right. You kiss him back with fever and with each passing moment the kiss grows more passionate and way hungrier than how it started. Harry’s arm tightens around you, almost pulling you on top of him and you can’t make yourself stop, not that you want to.

With a little force, Harry pushes the two of you around so now you’re lying on the mattress and he holds himself up above you, his lips never disconnecting from yours. He licks into your mouth, pulling and tugging on your lips, making your whole body go weak just for him.

But then, as if reality hit you in the head, you realize what’s happening.

“Harry,” you gasp pulling back, gasping for air. “This—We…”

“Angel, let me take care of you. Please,” he begs out of breath.

“What…”

“I want to make you feel good. I want to take care of you, please let me.” He sounds so desperate, like he would do anything for this and you are not strong enough to deny it from him.

It’s just his pity. He’s been using you for his needs, now he wants to give some back, it’s nothing more, you think to yourself. It can’t be more.

You lack the willpower to make a rational decision, so as you stare up into his eyes that appear so dark due to the lack of proper lighting, you just nod before he leans down and kisses you again.

He holds himself up on one arm while his free hand wanders down your body, touching you at places you have never felt him before. He palms your left breast, squeezing it gently and it makes you moan into his mouth before his hand moves down the curve of your waist until it reaches your sleeping shorts. Your body is burning for him and you can’t stop it from reacting to everything he does. You buckle your hips up when you feel his fingers gently graze along your pubic bone, even though you’re still fully clothed.

“What do you want me to do, Angel? I’ll do anything you want me to,” he pants between kisses as his hand moves to cup your heated core, making you moan again from the sensation of his touch there.

“I need you,” is all you manage to get out.

“I’m right here. You got me. What do you want me to do? Please, tell me, Angel,” he whines, forehead pressed against yours and his hips fall, pressing against your thigh, making you realize how excited he has gotten. His erection is hard under the fabric of his boxers, almost aching to be freed. There’s no way you can take any teasing or a long foreplay. You need him inside you now before you burst.

“Harry, I need you inside me. Please,” you whimper, almost cry, before he kisses you again, hard and demanding as he simply pushes your shorts down, revealing your naked sex since you don’t wear any underwear to bed. You grab the waistband of his boxers too and push it down until he can wiggle his legs out of them, leaving him completely naked in your bed while you still have a top covering your upper body, however he is quick to change that. He grabs the hem and starts pulling it off, your hands helping him so a few moments later you’re completely naked underneath him.

“Fuck, Angel,” he breathes out, his perfect, pink lips attacking the side of your throat, kissing and nibbling on the skin, going down to your breasts, giving the same amount of attention to both while you turn into jelly under his touch. lacing your fingers through his hair you cry out his name as you can feel him leaving a mark on your left breast, his tongue swirling against the spot he just completely destroyed before he brings himself back up so he can kiss you again and again with so much hunger, it’s hard to tell where you end and where he starts. Everything melts together and you’re such a mess in every possible way.

His hand gently reaches down between your legs and parts your shaking thighs before he cups you drenched pussy, his middle finger sliding between your folds, a shameless moan slipping from your mouth, right into his as your lips are still attached.

“So wet, I can’t wait to make you feel good, baby. Let me make you feel good.”

“Harry, just… please,” you pant, surely feeling yourself lose the last bits of your nerves.

“D’you have a condom?” he asks, head lifting up a bit so he can look into your eyes.

“I-In my, um, the makeup bag,” you try to explain gesturing towards your dresser where your makeup bag sits on top, two condoms somewhere inside it. Harry pecks your lips before pulling away from you, the lack of his weight on top of you making you shiver.

He digs into the bag until he finds what he’s been looking for, tearing the packaging open with his teeth and he rolls it on while he walks back, not wasting another moment. You cling onto him like a koala bear once he is back in bed, his massive body covering you again.

“Just tell me how you like it, I’ll do anything,” he mumbles against your shivering lips as he pushes the head in first, stopping for a second before the rest of his cock buries inside you, completely taking your breath away. He is bigger than anyone you’ve ever been with, filling up every inch of you, your walls stretching around him as he stills once he is all the way inside you.

This is it. This is the moment you’ve imagined oh so many times, feeling him the closest possible, his cock buried inside you, his cheek pressed against yours as he holds himself up on top of you. Years of yearning and endless nights when you imagined your hand was his… and now it’s your reality. And though you know it’s gonna change everything, you can’t tell yourself to stop.

Harry lifts his head, pecking your lips gently, calling you Angel over and over again as he starts moving, the friction between your legs growing with each thrust. He fits inside you so well, you won’t be able to enjoy sex with anyone else now that you’ve experienced it with Harry. All of a sudden, he has become the epitome of your whole life.

“Tell me what you want, Angel. Do you want me to go slow or fast? Tell me how to make you feel good.” His lips brush against yours with each word while you’re just trying to catch your breath, fingers digging into his back, the euphoria building up inside you gradually.

“A little faster,” you breathe out, speaking feels like a hard task at the moment. Harry picks his pace up, finding just the right rhythm that makes you wrap your legs around his waist so he can go even deeper with each thrust he makes.

“Look at me, Angel. Let me see your eyes,” he begs, his hand cupping your cheek. He runs his thumb along the line of your lower lip before he takes it between his lips, tugging on it gently, kissing you like you’re his last breath on Earth. He is devouring you, body melts together with yours, all your senses are strictly focused on him. He is all you see, hear, feel and taste.

Your gaze meets his and the way he looks at you, like you’re his whole entire world, it makes your eyes tear up. You want it to be true, you want it to be reality, you want it to be more than just about needs and satisfaction, but it’s not and your consciousness is not letting you believe otherwise.

“Oh Angel,” he softly hums, wiping away a tear that escaped the corner of your eye and ran down the side of your face. Keeping up his rhythm he kisses along your jawline, your cheek, your lips, the side of your face, the bridge of your nose, everywhere he can before returning to your lips with a hungry, passion filled kiss.

“Harry…” you whimper, holding your thighs tighter around his waist as you feel yourself nearing the edge.

“Let it go for me, Angel. I wanna see you feel good, cum for me,” he tells you, eyes never leaving yours as you are ready to burst underneath him.

“Harry, I-I need you!” The words fall from your lips as a desperate beg, arms wrapping around his torso tight, as if he could disappear from your embrace any moment.

“I’m right here, Angel. Right here,” he soothes you, kissing your lips sweetly as proof that he is not just a trick your mind is playing on you. “Are you close, baby? Are you gonna cum for me?”

“Yes! Yes!” you pant, losing control over your body and all your senses. It’s gonna be intense, you can tell and it hasn’t even started yet, you just know it’ll shake you to the core.

“Good girl. Let me make you feel good.” “So good,” you breathe out before Harry occupies your lips with his once again.

It doesn’t take long. He keeps thrusting in the perfect angle and it throws you right over the edge. Harry demands you look him in the eyes when your orgasm wash you over and the intensity of it all almost makes you cry again. You burst, lose yourself under him, screaming his name as if you were praying to all higher forces. In a way, you are, because for a moment you really think you completely vanish from this world.

Harry follows you just a few more thrusts later, falling out of his rhythm as he grunts and moans your name, face buried into the crook of your neck while you tug on his hair, the feeling of his soft locks between your fingers is like pure heaven.

He stills, but stays inside you as he looks up, his eyes filled with satisfaction and contentment as he cups your face again, kissing you long, taking his time with you.

As you come off your high and the clouds of euphoria clears off, reality sets in more painfully than ever. Your limbs are paralyzed and you feel like you are outside your own body, just watching everything happen as if you were a third person in the room. Harry rolls to the side, chest heaving wildly as he is trying to regulate himself. Once he is able to breathe without panting, he pecks your shoulder gently and makes a quick round to the bathroom. You hear water running and then his feet padding on the floor, but you can’t bring yourself to move, you just lie there, completely drained out. It doesn’t change even when Harry gently cleans you off with a damp washing cloth, throwing it to the side to take care of it in the morning. He pulls the covers over the two of you and scoops you into his arms. You manage to bring your arm up to his chest as your head rests on his shoulder. His fingers are dancing up and down your arm, his steady breathing keeping your overcrowded head grounded. And then… he starts singing so softly, it’s almost just a whisper.

“Hey Angel, oh, I wish I could be more like you. Do you wish you could be more like me?”

Your eyes shut close, the damn tears flooding again, but you keep your sobs drowned in your throat. Instead you force yourself to sleep and hope you live to see the morning, because you feel like your heart is about to give up on you.

When you wake up, you genuinely feel like you’ve drunk through last night and now have the worst hangover. It’s like you’ve been hit on the head with a chair. You slowly come to your senses and realize that you’re completely naked in bed and there’s a body curled to your side, equally naked.

The shock sets in first because you realize, once again, that what happened last night wasn’t just a fever dream, it actually happened. And then you basically jump out of bed when you look at the small digital clock on the bedside and see that the two of you have ten minutes to leave if you don’t want to be late to the last day of filming.

“Harry! Harry get up!” you smack him, kicking the covers off and grabbing your top and shorts from the floor, quickly putting them on. The man in talk growls, just rolling to his back without even opening his eyes. “Harry damn it! We have ten minutes or you’ll be late!” you snap at him and it somewhat wakes him up. With furrowed eyebrows at puckered lips, he lifts his head up and looks around.

Those lips were kissing you last night.

“What?” he mumbles in confusion.

“We overslept, get up. We have… eight minutes left.”

“Shit,” he mumbles under his breath, finally getting out of bed, reaching for his boxers.

It’s a shitshow as the two of you try to get ready on time and though you are running just a few minutes late, the driver of the taxi manages to speed down the streets fast enough that you arrive to set just in time.

During the whole ride, you feel Harry’s burning eyes on you, but thank God, you get a call from Jeffrey the moment you get into the car and it lasts the whole ride so you don’t have to talk with him about what happened last night.

“Y/N,” he tries when you’re still on the phone and he is already done with hair and makeup, heading to set to start filming.

“What?” you mouth at him.

“Can we talk later?”

“I’m busy. Go, I’m sure they are waiting for you,” you whisper to him and he looks so disappointed, but he nods and walks away. Your heart breaks as you lower the phone. You have been out of the call for some time, just didn’t want to talk to him.

Quite frankly, you’re not ready to talk to him about what happened last night. You don’t want to hear him say that he was just trying to help you out last night, that it wasn’t anything serious, just some messing around. It was just two people trying not to feel lonely.

Walking back into his trailer you can feel your chest tightening, a sharp pain shooting right into your heart the more you think about him. It was a mistake, you shouldn’t have done it because you are the one with the feelings and now you are the one struggling with the consequences of your little get together.

The more you think about it, the worse it gets and you feel like you’re about to suffocate. You need to get out of here, there’s no way you can face him now.

It all happens so fast. Before you can even second guess your decision, you’re on your way back to the apartment to pack all your stuff and get on the first flight back home. You need to put distance between you and him, spending one more night in the same apartment would make you go nuts. So while Harry is filming, completely oblivious to what you’re doing, you pack up your room as fast as possible and head to the airport to hop on the plane that leaves at four pm.

With a racing heart you check all your baggage in and make it through security when Harry first calls you. At first, you want to ignore it, but then you find yourself swiping your thumb across the screen.

“Hey,” you shortly greet him.

“Hey, where are you? Have been looking for you everywhere.” “I um… I’m at the airport,” you answer and the silence on the other end is deafening for a moment.

“You are at the what?” he then snaps.

“I had a, um, kind of emergency, so I’m heading back home now. Sorry, I would have called you, but didn’t know when you’d be off set.”

“You fucking packed and left already? You’re really at the airport?” He is fuming, Raging. You can tell he is pacing in the trailer, vigorously running his fingers through his hair, ruining it without a care. You almost feel guilty, but then again, you just know facing him now would break you. You’ll get back to him when you’ve pulled your shit together.

“I am, calm down, alright? Not a big deal.” “You just left on our last day here without a fucking word! And when am I seeing you again?”

“I, uhh—I need to be home for a while, but you’ll be fine. I’ll stay in touch with you in email and text.”

“Fucking text? Email?” he is barking now. Good thing you are not there because it would be a disaster. “Y/N, you can’t be serious. We-we were supposed to talk. You can’t just fucking disappear like this.”

“We’ll talk, alright?”

“When?”

“Later,” you simply tell him at a loss for a better answer. Hopefully, never, you think to yourself, but don’t say it out loud.

“Okay, you’re not doing this. Don’t you dare get on a plane, I’m going to the airport right now. You’re not leaving.”

“Well, I am and you’re not coming here,” you clap back, but you can already hear him moving around, probably gathering his stuff so he can leave right away.

“Swear to God if you get on that plane, I’m—“ He cuts himself off, no idea what to really say and you just sigh, closing your eyes. People rush by you and as you glance at the big screen you see that your plane is boarding.

“Harry, just… it’ll be better like this, alright? You’ll be fine, I’ll see you… when I see you. Have fun on your last day on set.”

You end the call before he could get another word out and put it on airplane mode right away as you grab your backpack and head to your gate.

Using your time on the plane wisely, you put together a very detailed schedule for Harry so he knows everything about his next few weeks and you can minimize your contact with him. You even set up a bunch of reminders in his calendar so he won’t miss his appointments.

When you set feet on the ground again, you expect the distance between you and Harry to feel comforting and freeing, but it’s the opposite. An ache in your chest is getting heavier as you get yourself a taxi and head home, feeling more alone than ever in your life.

Your home doesn’t feel like a home. Not without that one person who could make any place your home, but you can’t see him right now, not until you learn how to exist around him without the urge to faint.

Going to bed alone is pure torture. Every moment you are waiting to hear Harry shuffling around in the apartment, you miss his little snorts when he is watching the TV, his singing coming from the shower, but most importantly, you miss having him so close to you in bed. Now that you’re lying on your own, your bed feels so cold, it brings you tears as reality sets in. You miss him. You miss him more than anything and you can’t imagine a time when it won’t hurt anymore.

The crying pushes you into a shallow slumber sometime in the middle of the night, however, you’re rudely shaken back to consciousness when you hear someone banging on your door like crazy, pushing the doorbell constantly.

“Jesus fuck,” you mumble with a grimace, pulling a hoodie on as you make your way to the door hazily, probably still half asleep because you open the door without checking who it is through the peephole and you end up staring up at none other than Harry. “What the—What are you doing here?” you breathe out, panic sets in fast and your hands start shaking at the sight of him.

Harry steps inside without invitation and closes the door behind him, a stern expression on his handsome face.

“Y/N, what the fuck were you thinking when you left like that?”

“I-I told you, it was an emergency.”

“What kind of emergency? Because I called your mom and sisters, they all said nothing happened in the family, so what could possibly happen that needed you here immediately?”

“I don’t have to explain shit to you.” Shaking your head you try to step back to put some distance between the two of you, but he doesn’t let you, taking a step forward at the same time.

“Well I think we have a lot to talk about after last night, don’t you think?”

“I don’t want to talk,” you shake your head biting into your bottom lip. This wasn’t supposed to happen, why couldn’t he just stay where he was? “How did you even get here so fast?”

“Left as soon as we wrapped.”

“Where are all your stuff?”

“Left everything there, I’ll just go back and pack it up, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that for a girl who genuinely hates any form of working out, you ran pretty fast from you today.”

Any other day you would have laughed at his comparison, but not today. You just stand there, chewing on the inside of your cheeks as you try to figure out what to do or say. You were not ready to face him so soon.

“What do you want me to say?” you ask desperately, throwing your hands into the air.

“Tell me what it meant for you,” he calmly answers and you want to shake him. How is he so peaceful?

“No,” you shake your head. “I’m not doing this to myself, okay? I need time, Harry.”

“For what?”

“So I can get myself over this, alright? I need time, I—fuck this,” you growl, feeling the tears flooding your eyes again. Damn it!

“Why the fuck do you want to get yourself over it?”

“Because it obviously didn’t mean the same thing to me as it meant to you!” you snap at him and he raises his eyebrows at you in a way that tells you “you’re stupid”.

“What do you think it meant to me?”

“Probably nothing,” you scoff rolling your eyes, but the anger that bursts from him quickly washes your attitude away.

“Fucking nothing? You think I would get on a fucking plane first thing after filming for ten hours straight just to come after you? You think I spent all my nights with you these past weeks because you mean nothing to me? You know, for a smart girl, you can be pretty dumb sometimes.”

You blink at him in utter confusion, his words knocked you off your feet. He exhales sharply, long fingers running through his messy curls as he tries his best to calm himself down. When he is finally breathing somewhat normally his wildly vibrant green eyes meet your widened stare.

“Y/N, I thought we were on the same page. What did you think it was all about?” he softly asks, seeing how shook you still are.

“I, uhh—I thought this was all just some kind of distraction. You said you were feeling lonely, I thought you were just… kind of using me. And then last night was you returning the favor.”

“Hell no,” he breathes out shaking his head as he steps closer and this time you don’t back away from him. You let his hands run down your arms until they find your hands. “I thought this was clear, but I’m gonna say it then. I’m in love with you, Y/N, have been for a long time, I was just being a pussy and didn’t know how you’d take it. But then, when you didn’t kick me out of your bed the first night we slept together, it got me hoping and it was all heading just the right direction. Then last night happened and I was so damn sure this would be our turning point but then…” He breathes out shakily again, as if the thought still upsets him. “When I called you and you said you were at the airport… I love you, Angel, but I was ready to murder you.”

You let out a faint chuckle, feeling the tears bubbling in your eyes.

“Why did you run away instead of talking to me? Did you not trust me?” he asks softly, a hand coming up to cup your jaw gently.

“I didn’t trust myself,” you admit weakly.

“Oh Angel…” Leaning down he kisses your forehead tenderly, his lips feel like soft feathers against your hot skin. “Do you need me to tell you again how in love I am with you or are you gonna believe me? You’re not planning to run away again, are you?” he teases you making you chuckle as you shake your head.

“I’m not gonna run away, but I would love to hear you say you love me again.”

“I love you. I love you so fucking much, Angel, don’t you ever think otherwise for a moment, okay?”

You nod, lips curling into your mouth as your teary eyes meet his green orbs.

“I love you too, Harry.”

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say that,” he chuckles breathing out in relief and it makes you smile. “I would never just use you. Love you way too much for that, Angel. You are everything to me.”

“Wish I knew that earlier,” you mumble with a bitter chuckle. It would have saved you a lot of tears.

“I will never stop saying it to you.” His forehead rests against yours, noses touching as his arms curl around your frame, pulling you close to him until you’re pressed up against his hard chest. “Just out of curiosity, what were you thinking when I told you, you reminded me of Hey Angel? Because I think it pretty much gave me away, but apparently, I was wrong,” he chuckles lowly, pulling back a little so he can look you in the eyes.

“I honestly have no idea,” you admit with an awkward chuckle. “I just had a conversation with Florence before that where she called me out about my feelings for you and I was still kind of in shock. Probably took it as just your usual flirty behavior.”

“I’ll admit I do flirt some, but haven’t you realized it’s different with you?”

“I guess not.” “Angel, you are… something else,” he chuckles in disbelief before leaning down he finally presses his lips against yours. You giggle into his lips, arms wrapping around his neck as he lifts you up from the ground, twirling you around, a squeal slipping from your mouth.

“So, now you have to go back to pack your stuff?” you question, still wrapped into his arms completely and you don’t want to exist any other way. This is where you belong.

“Yeah. Had to chase down this Angel who thought she could run away from me.”

“So how are you planning to get to New York by four tomorrow when you’re still here and have to go back to pack? Have you checked the schedule I sent you? You’re not gonna make it.” You cock your head to the side with an arched brow.

“Did you just go back to full assistant mode right after we confessed our love for each other?”

“Someone has to be responsible and we both know it’s always me.”

“I’ll just hire someone to do it for me, I’ll leave to New York from here. Happy?” he grins at you as you nod.

“Very. Because this means you can stay the night here.”

“Seeing the fact that I literally have nowhere else to go, because even my house keys are in the suitcase I left back… I very much need to stay here for the night,” he points out.

“Good. Come on, my bed felt empty without you,” you giggle, pulling him towards your bedroom and he follows you eagerly.

“I can definitely help that.”

Thank you for reading! Please like/reblog if you enjoyed!

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