#if he took his vows at 18 and was immediately placed in the Circle

[kalloway]

I Dream in Fear (old Dragon Age fanfic WIP)

Decided to just throw this up there - I wanna find the motivation to finish it or re-write parts of it, but tbh I’m actually pulling dialogue from it rn for a different dialogue idea I had lmao

But hey, it’s here if you want. It’s long, so it’s under the cut. I wrote this back in January 2015, apparently. Wow.

Hope it’s okay! I’m not formatting it at all before queuing this so if it’s weird... let me know - I know my theme’s garbage for this sorta thing rn OTL

There was a blade breathing down her neck as the silence hung heavy in the room. He tried, but his breathing was ragged; nervous. So quiet it was, he was ashamed to consider that his Knight-Commander could probably hear it form where he stood – judge it, criticize it when this ordeal was over – oh Maker, have mercy upon this terrified young Templar. Perhaps forgive him for the sin he'd considered acting upon. Duty had held him firm, but this mage – this woman – had managed to shake his stubborn will.

He was not supposed to do what he did. He was a Templar – plain and simple. He observed, he protected, he fulfilled his duties. He did not become a stammering fool and he did not become irresponsibly smitten with a mage simply because she had smiled at him once. He wasn't supposed to, but he did despite himself. Was he ashamed of this? Of course, but he found that every time he told himself 'no', he'd catch a glimpse of red hair and a flash of those honey-coloured eyes, and he'd forget his own oaths. He didn't even know her, and yet he knew far more than he cared to admit. She was very talented however, even First-Enchanter Irving had mentioned it once – but was it not wrong to pick favourites amongst those that may not even-

No, of course not.

He simply admired from a distance, trying to understand what exactly made him feel this way. Before he knew it however, the Templars' shifts would rotate, and she was out of sight... but not out of mind.

Some days were better than others in this situation. He wouldn't mull over it much and attended to his duties like any other Templar – though with the odd glance he'd give her when he thought no one was watching. Then there were days he became helplessly paranoid, fearing for her for minuscule reasons that he'd blow out of proportion. That mage over there seems like he's standing a little too close to her to just be on friendly terms... Was that Templar staring at her too? At the end of these troublesome days, he'd pray that he would grow out of this phase or... condition. How long he'd denied it. How long he'd attempted to brush it off as nothing. But it was nothing. Nothing good would come of it most certainly, but was that the only thing that drove him to all this concern and stress over a mage – a woman – that was nothing more than one of many charges he watched over? It was all too confusing for him, and he feared that it would start to show. He feared he'd be caught, or worse yet – she be the one punished for his own seemingly uncontrollable infatuation.

It was early one evening that he spoke to her directly for the first time. He was assigned to a watch in one of the libraries in the Apprentice Quarters. He didn't even realize that she was there – and therefore wondered why he was sent to a seemingly empty room to begin with – until she'd suddenly moved out the corner of his eye to scan more of the tomes on the tall wooden shelves. He didn't dare move from where he stood, but he watched her run a slender finger across the spines of the tomes, searching by title or author possibly, he didn't bother to choose one. He simply observed.

After a few minutes of searching and three tomes in hand at last, she finally spun on her heel to take notice of his presence with a simple greeting of, “Oh, hello Cullen.” He swore his heart ceased to beat when she said his name. He had never told her his name... he hadn't even spoken to her before!

“How do you-? I-I mean...”

She blinked once before she sputtered out a reply, “Oh, I just... overheard another Templar...” She trailed off, uncertain, “I'm sorry, that was probably very rude of me. It was not my place, Ser.”

He was taken slightly aback by her concern. Was it concern for him? No, no, no. Don't think like that. He felt like he was being strangled of the air in his lungs... why was it so hard to simply speak to a mage? “Oh, uh... it's no issue. R-really! You can, uh... you can call me what you like. Er- within reason, of course.” He felt like a fool.

She gave him a weary smile in return, “As you wish, Cullen.”

And that was the end of the conversation. Cullen spent the rest of that night berating himself for being such an idiot. Things only became worse the next day when he overheard a conversation between two mages as he made his rounds through the Apprentice Quarters. He only caught part of the conversation, but he had heard his name and mention of 'Amell'. That was... Cullen had panicked upon hearing this conversation, hurrying past that section of the mage quarters so he didn't have to hear any more of it.

Yet despite this, the routine remained unchanged, save for odd mutual glances at one another when they passed. It was embarrassing for the both of them. However she was undoubtedly more ignorant on such matters than he was. When he'd first become a Templar, they had blatantly stated that Templar-Mage relations were not tolerated, especially within the same Circle. He had wondered at the time why they would have to mention such a thing in the first place. After all, was it not common sense?

If that was the case, then Cullen had none.

He spoke to her again, this time in the Senior Mage Quarters on the second floor. She was waiting outside the main library/stockroom in the hall, where Cullen was walking. He'd considered trying to ignore her, but that would be terribly rude, especially if she made an effort to greet him should he do so. Therefore, he chose to simply (or tried, at least) to ask her why an apprentice mage was on the second floor.

She'd turned to him with bright eyes, “Ah, I'm waiting for Tomkin – you know Tomkin, yes? - to gather some tomes he believes might prove useful in my studies.” She suddenly turned bashful, “He says it'll help me get ahead with all this stuff. I told him that wasn't necessary at all – after all, I'm not really all that special – but he's quite persistent, he is. The only reason I'm actually here is because he said he didn't want to leave me unsupervised downstairs. Maker only knows why he's so concerned about something so trivial.”

There was that familiar dull pain in his chest again. Worry. He had a terrible, faint feeling about why the mage Tomkin would be concerned leaving her alone, but he dared not think of it too much. Instead, he did his best to brush off the grim feeling, especially when he caught sight of aforementioned mage making his way back to her no doubt, with an armful of tomes. “Oh, I-I see. Er, very well... carry on, Amell.”

He cringed and silently cursed himself. 'Oh Maker, it slipped I swear!'

She furrowed her brow at him. She noticed. Cullen panicked, he wasn't supposed to refer to mages by name... it wasn't proper protocol! Much to his surprise though, the young mage in front of him only said one word , paired with a stern look in reply: “Miriam.”

He almost asked her the most idiotic question, but she had turned her attention to Tomkin, who has returned and ushered her back towards the Apprentice Quarters with the 'reward of knowledge'.

Miriam.

It suited her.

After learning her name – her informal name at that – Cullen felt almost giddy for the rest of the day. He didn't pray for forgiveness that evening. He didn't berate himself yet again for his foolish, impulsive actions. He was completely and utterly infatuated.

He spoke to her once more after this, back in the library once again. She saw him and gave him her usual bright smile – her eyes warm and welcoming – that never failed to set his heart aflutter. They were silent for quite some time, until Miriam had returned the tomes to their designations and seemed to be preparing to leave for her quarters for the night. She stopped in front of him after glancing around, presumably to ensure they were alone. She then turned her gaze upon him, “It's funny, how we always seem to be in the same places these days, Cullen.”

He could listen to his name pass through her lips forever... He quickly snapped back to his senses to the best of his ability, “Ah, y-yes. Well I, uh... I take this particular shift once a week. I... suppose our b-being in the same places besides this is... it's just a coincidence I'm sure.” He mentally slapped himself. He sounded like he wasn't too fond of her implications, when it was really quite the opposite. But what was he supposed to say?

“A coincidence, perhaps. But it's not like it's a bad coincidence. I mean, you're more forgiving than most. You have humanity... restraint. Something most Templars appear to be severely lacking, from what I've been told.”

Her compliments caught him entirely off-guard. Technically speaking, she was crossing a fine line with her subject matter. But he found himself reduced to a stammering mess yet again, “Y-you think I- H-humanity?” He scoffed at his failing voice, but it came out far harsher than intended, “All Templars have humanity... Mages do as well. You do.”

Miriam sighed, “That's not what I meant , you- Ugh. The other Templars... they just follow orders and don't care about their charges. They'd rather do as they please and scowl from afar. But you... you're different. It's a refreshing change, not having to be paranoid every waking minute.”

No words tumbled from his lips this time. Rather, his adoration for this mage only increased and was threatening to show. Though she had indeed somewhat insulted his Order, her sharp comments were not directed at him... well, not entirely. He'd noticed she had the tendency of being rather snippy with those she spoke with, so it didn't bother him nearly as much as it should have, although it still brought a twinge of shame for his own misinterpretation. That concern aside however, she was still taking the time to compliment him on a trait he himself had grown to dislike. He feared his compassion would interfere with his duties as a Templar, and had been scolded by Knight-Commander Gregoir for it more than once. He'd tried to detach himself from his charges and had done so successfully with all but one.

'What made her so different?', he'd occasionally wonder.

He'd wanted to spill his feelings to the woman; to break protocol and let it out so he wasn't so worked up about it. He wanted to take her slim hands in his own and compliment her – on her beauty, her wisdom and righteousness, everything.

Before his wild train of thought had found its end, Miriam had hastily bid him goodnight before leaving for her quarters. He watched her retreating form. His gut twisted uncomfortably – he should have said something. He shouldn't have even been thinking of such things to begin with. Such thoughts were dangerous, they told him.

He would regret his silence the following day.

The day of her Harrowing.

There he stood, overseeing her Harrowing – the most important day of her life. Cullen had not been informed ahead of time like some higher-ranking and more experienced Templars may have been. Gregoir had simply approached him out of the blue and commanded him to follow. He did so, but only knew what he was in for after reaching the fifth floor of the tower – the Harrowing Chamber.

'This Harrowing is like any other', he told himself, 'but why does it feel so... wrong?' He was never this nervous – this afraid – for neither himself nor the Mage he was 'guarding'. No, that's not what it was to him at all.

[june-girl-86]

Chapter 48

Din and Liara make several important decisions for their future together

Pairing: Din Djarin x OC Female!

ReaderRating: Mature/Explicit (+18)

Warnings: Canon-Typical Violence / Love / Action&Adventure / Blood&Violence / Drama & Romance / Slow Burn / Fluff&Smut

When Lean had returned alone and Liara had noticed his shaken expression, she had asked him several times where Din was. After Tauno had joined them shortly thereafter and he had then asked his father to tell Liara everything, the latter finally did so. She left Fara with the men and immediately went in search of Din. She had a feeling where he might be and this did not deceive her. She found Din leaning against the trunk of the lemon tree that gave him shade. In his hand he held the yellow fruit as he gazed absently at it. In her other hand she could see his parents' necklace, his fingers unconsciously turning the pendant. As she approached the gravesite, Liara took her time and squatted in front of the graves. She stroked the slabs touchingly and closed her eyes.

"Liara?"

She blinked and looked at Din, who had now spotted her. She rose and came to him in a few steps. He had dropped the lemon. Liara could see the confusion, anger and sadness in his face and grabbed his outstretched hand to take a seat beside him. She leaned against the tree trunk as well and placed her hand on his thigh. This was followed by his, seeking her closeness. He turned his head to her, sadness still in his brown eyes, but his honest smile was for her.

"You are my light in the darkness!"

Liara frowned and Din told her about the memory. Liara kissed him gently on the cheek and saw him start playing with the pendant of his necklace again. After a while, Din sighed and shook his head.

"Bo-Katan..." he started, but stopped, the name alone made him nauseous.

"Lean told me everything!" said Liara, and Din looked into her eyes, which regarded him anxiously.

"Through my mother's memories, when Lean told me about Bo-Katan's deeds, I remembered the look on her face when she told her my father was dead. There was so much satisfaction in it... That hatred that must have raged inside her and possibly still does. You can only feel sorry for her, really..."

Din squeezed her hand.

"I'll take even more care of you and Fara now, and you have to promise me to start training with Dagli as soon as possible!"

Liara nodded.

"I promise. But here you don't have to worry about us, relax. Save your strength, physical and mental, for the moment when we will face Bo-Katan!"

"Us together?"

"Of course!"

Din smiled gratefully at her and leaned over to kiss Liara tenderly. Her fingers gently stroked his cheek. They remained seated, silent, gazing at the graves. Liara pondered, thinking about how to talk to Din about a certain thing. She didn't realize he was watching her, seeing her hesitation as she bit her lips.

"Tell me, what is on your mind?"

Liara sought his hand.

"I read something in the book. That there's a special oath among Mandalorians to adopt foundlings!"

Din nodded in agreement but said nothing, letting Liara continue.

"Din I was thinking, just now, when we are here in the circle of your, our family, we should officially include Fara in it too!"

Liara eyed Din, waiting for his answer. He squeezed her hand and nodded again. Then a mischievous smile formed on his face.

"I had a thought like that, too. Maybe we can combine this special moment with another vow?"

Liara frowned, not immediately understanding what he meant, until she felt his fingers on her engagement ring, gently twirling it. Din pulled her hand to his mouth and breathed a kiss on her ring. He looked into her eyes and smiled lovingly at her.

"It would be the perfect time to say the vow of our love and that for our child in front of everyone. And I think we shouldn't wait any longer because of Lean. He should be allowed to witness this moment as well! Liara, Cyar'ika (darling), would you like to marry me here?"

When Liara started nodding and he saw her bright eyes, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

When they returned, they saw Fara sitting on the swing, she waved at them with a grin, but continued to swing enthusiastically. Lean found them sitting in the pavilion, staring thoughtfully at the wooden table. He looked up when he heard their footsteps and noticed their relaxed mood. That was why he didn't want to bring up the subject of Bo-Katan, it would have to be brought up again soon enough. Din lifted Liara's hand, kissed it, and looked at his grandfather with a smile.

"I'm afraid I only know the rites of my tribe. How do you celebrate a wedding? We also want to include Fara's adoption on this special day!"

Lean began to beam when he heard the words and clapped his hands enthusiastically.

"We'll be glad to help you with that!" chimed in behind them. It was Maila who had overheard everything. She too looked at the couple, beaming with joy, and hugged first Din, who had not expected such joy, and then Liara.

"How can it be that you haven't attended a wedding yet?"

Din shook his head.

"Among other peoples, I have. But not in my tribe. There was no celebration. People usually learned by chance that a couple had found each other. The vows were said in the private rooms, which is also where they took off their helmets to see each other for the first time ever!"

Lean shook his head, as did Maila.

"This religion of hiding oneself was not practiced by many, but there were still always fights because of it. We too say the vows, but we celebrate and not alone!"

Maila nodded and she reminisced.

"The last big wedding was actually Halla's. And the beautiful thing is that even those come who have not been seen for a long time, even those who live in the most distant villages. It is on this day that everyone wears their armor..."

Liara raised her hand a little.

"I'm not a Mandalorian, and I don't own any armor!"

Maila touched her reassuringly on the arm.

"Oh, we women can decide for ourselves whether to wear the full armor or just the breastplate and a dress to go with it. And the bride is exempt anyway. I think the white dress is common among most in the galaxy!"

Liara nodded.

"I have my mother's dress in silver lining. It would need to be repaired in a few places, though, and fitted to my figure!"

Din looked at Liara in surprise.

"You packed it?"

"It fell into my hands when I was going through the boxes at Peli's. After I thought the ring was gone, it was important to me to have her dress with me. And after your proposal anyway!"

Din squeezed her hand.

"Halla can walk you to the ship if you want to get the dress. We have a dressmaker, she sewed Halla's dress too! And after that, we can sort out everything else about when to have the big day!" suggested Maila.

"We need to let the others who live in the fishing villages know as well, so they can meet you and their Mand'alor. And whether they will follow you!" added Lean, looking at Din, who nodded in agreement.

Some time later, Liara was on the road with Halla. The latter had picked her up beaming with joy and also immediately offered her help with the wedding planning. Liara had actually not been that excited after Din's renewed question, but slowly the joy of the others transferred to her and she felt a positive nervousness in her. The women walked across the gravel, past the garages with the speeders. Liara was still wondering how else Halla was going to get to the silver lining when they approached an open stable bordering a fenced pasture. There stood a couple of orbaks. Two of them were already prepared for a ride. "I thought after your stories about growing up with Eopis and Banthas, you'd definitely want to ride!"

Liara nodded enthusiastically and watched as the two orbaks approached her. One stopped in front of her, his fur brown with white spots in it. His brown eyes looked at her good-naturedly. Then he lowered his head and gently nudged Liara with his tusk. As she did so, she noticed that the tusks also had the pattern as in his fur. Halla smiled.

"These animals know who to trust! Widu has now chosen you!"

Liara stroked Widu's muzzle, and touched, with her forehead, the animal's. Then she imitated Halla, who was already sitting on her animal and waiting. Halla led them, but they did not go the way they had come with Dagli, but led Liara through the vines. There, a few workers waved to them as they lingered by the vineyard.

As they left the last vines behind, a wide field opened up before them and Halla sped up her orbak. Liara did the same, and she enjoyed feeling the animal's exertion beneath her, its power, and the wind ruffling her hair. The scent of grapes faded and the wilderness became more rugged. They crossed a torrent over a wooden bridge before Halla moved ahead of Liara, as the path now became narrower, the trees on the slope becoming denser. They rode a few minutes behind each other, and when they had completed the climb, Halla led her Orbak to the side so Liara could see the spectacle. She stopped Widu and stared open-mouthed at the wide meadow. The meadow was covered with countless purple flowers, and orange butterflies rose from their blossoms. One of them flew past Liara and she could admire the gentle wing beats of the animal.

"I've never seen anything like it!" exclaimed Liara, and Halla smiled.

"They collect the nectar and produce honey!"

Liara looked dumbfounded at her companion, who laughed at that.

"Yes, I looked something like that when I heard about it!"

She pointed into the distance, a wooden hut could be seen. There she took Liara, the Orbaks walking cautiously along a trail between the commotion. As the women approached, Liara could see an older, tanned man sitting on a bench in front of the hut, smoking a pipe while butterflies fluttered in and out of an opening beside him. He raised his hand in greeting.

"How is the harvest going, Nyls?" inquired Halla, and the one addressed rose and disappeared into a small room. With a glass, the contents gleaming reddish, he returned and handed it to Halla. He gently stroked the orbak's fur.

"Very active, more so than the last few years. You'll definitely get some glasses off!"

Halla thanked him and they said goodbye. After they left the meadow behind, the path rose again very much and became very rocky. And then they reached the place Liara already knew. They rode through the pine forest that led them to the plateau. Liara noticed a missing ship that had been standing in the meadow. Halla confirmed her sight; they had taken away a shipment of wine.

"Are you hungry?" asked Halla, taking out a pouch from her saddlebag. Liara nodded, the trip had made her hungry.

"I'll show you one of my favorite places now!"

Halla climbed the nearest rock and Liara agreed with her. It was a great spot with a beautiful view. The women took a seat on the moss-covered rock and Halla pulled out some bread, Nyls' honey and a bunch of grapes. Also, two bottles of water.

"Dip the grape in the honey!" said Halla, and Liara tried it. She expected to taste a sweetness, but it was totally fruity.

"Do you sell that too?"

Halla shook her head.

"These flowers are only in the one meadow and we've had times when they didn't bloom at all and there were no butterflies either!"

This world fascinated Liara and she looked down into the valley, the great wide lake glistening in the sun. She sighed.

"I would understand if you don't want to leave this beautiful place!"

"Yes, there will be some wistfulness, I'm sure, but Aq Vetina is beautiful too!"

Liara frowned.

"How do you know?"

"There's not just the one video. Grandfather has countless recordings of that drone. I used to watch it all the time when I was a kid!"

Halla noticed it working inside Liara.

"I'm sure he'll show it to Din. Some of the footage shows him with his parents!"

"No matter what you would have shown him first, it's both painful to see the ones you've lost!"

Halla agreed with Liara, and the women set off after their refreshments to seek out the silver lining.

After the women climbed the ramp, Liara went to the bedroom while Halla looked around curiously. Liara returned with the garment bag as Halla glanced into the nursery. She turned to Liara, who had placed the garment bag on the table and joined her.

"You did a beautiful job!"

Liara nodded and ran her hand thoughtfully over the sun motif on the wall.

"I saw her, amidst those rags, and knew I had to help her. She wormed her way into my heart and did it with Din, too. I love this child, even though I've known her for such a short time. I was out of my mind when I set out on my own to free her!"

Halla smiled and took Liara in her arms.

"That's motherly love! You unknowingly still received that from your birth mother, and then from your parents, who gave you the most important values. Din also received these despite all the circumstances, and that's why you can understand her situation so well!"

Liara passed over her eyes, Halla's words touched her.

"Where do you think she came from?"

Liara looked at the motif with the island that Fara herself had painted on the wall.

"We have a hunch about that. Not many own a gungan cloth animal. Your parents are likely to have once lived on Naboo. What drove them from there and then brought them to Gelgelar, of all places?"

Liara shrugged her shoulders in perplexity. As they walked to the table, Halla noticed the flower. It was still blooming in its beautiful blue.

"What is it?"

Liara told Halla about the history of the flower and how they had discovered it on Bora-Borosa. Halla listened raptly.

"Are you sure you want to leave it here? It would be too bad if it died!"

Liara agreed with Halla, she hadn't thought of it when they had followed Dagli.

She packed the plant in a safe container and the women left the silver lining.

The two rode down the switchbacks this time and came into the hamlet. Halla stopped in front of a green-painted house; Liara could see the dressmaker's advertisement in the window.

A bell rang out as they stepped into the store. A sweet, berry-scented aroma greeted them. Shelves along the walls and open cabinets held countless fabrics. An indoor fountain splashed on a small round table that stood next to a large wall mirror. Everywhere on the wide wooden tables lay patterns, almost finished clothes and scraps of fabric. From an adjoining room, through the open window, one could hear the cawing of a seagull flying over the lake. A radio played softly in the background.

"Vivien?" called Halla, looking around. Something rumbled, then a shock of gray hair emerged from a hatch. Liara hadn't even noticed the entrance to the basement. Vivien came up and put a box on one of the full work tables. Then she wiped her hands on her pants and eyed Liara curiously. She quickly put on the glasses that dangled from a chain at her neck.

"Halla, who are you bringing here?"

"This is the future wife of Lean's grandson. They're finally here and now we're planning the wedding!"

Vivien smiled warmly at Liara and then Halla.

"I can't believe Lean gets to experience this!"

Halla nodded and Liara took out the dress from her bag. The seamstress took the dress from her and hung it on a jig. Carefully she stroked the fabric, the embellishments, as if to learn the history of the dress. Stopping at the small silver bead attached to the center of the V-neck, she looked at Liara.

"This dress has been through quite a bit!"

Liara nodded.

"It belonged to my mother, with her only the tulle from the skirt was renewed, everything else is many years old. The first time my grandmother wore it, the bead was bequeathed by the Tusken to my father when he helped them out with banthas after their herd died of a disease. The pearl came from a Krayt dragon!"

Vivien eyed the pearl and lowered her head.

"The treasures of Tatooine!" she said, looking like she was remembering something. When she looked into Liara's eyes, they shone and Vivien took off her glasses to rub her eyes.

"I left Tatooine a long time ago... It's nice to hold something from home in my hands!"

Liara looked at her in surprise, then suddenly felt that tingle.

"You're a Jedi!"

Vivien shook her head.

"I feel you, too. But my strength has waned, I haven't exercised for a long time. Even Dagli can't persuade me to do it. I've experienced too much pain from it..."

Liara noticed the wide white scars on Vivien's forearm. They looked like burns. When the latter felt the look, she rubbed the spot and sighed.

"People hid the children, in caves, to protect them from the inquisitors. But fear made many become traitors. I was also captured, tortured for many days. I held out, half dead they left me in the sea of dunes. The Tusken saved my life..."

Vivien shook herself as if she could forget her past that way and handed the dress to Liara.

"Now is not the time to think of all the terrible things. There is something wonderful ahead of you. Please change!"

Liara stepped into the dressing room and as the curtain closed behind her, she looked at the fabric in her hands. She thought of how as a young girl she had often tried on her mother's dresses and had always gazed in awe at the wedding dress. She dreamed of wearing it and dancing with her future husband in it. Her mother had shooed her back out to study for school, but she confirmed that she would eventually wear that dress. Unfortunately, she was not able to live to see it. Liara swallowed. Filled with emotion, she changed into it, the first time the fabric touched her bare skin, she got goosebumps. The dress was too big for her, the strap slipped off her shoulder. Vivien would have to work it in a few places. Halla called after her and Liara took a deep breath as she stepped out to the women. The young woman looked at her with pleasure and Vivien nodded in agreement as well before she adjusted her glasses and began staking it out.

"It looks beautiful already. Din will make eyes when he sees you!"

After visiting Vivien, the women rode back to the stable. There Halla handed Liara the jar with the flower. Liara looked at it for a while, while Halla talked about being hungry. She was about to leave, the stable staff was already leading the orbaks away, but Liara was still lost in thought. Then she looked at Halla asking if she could borrow a shovel, she had to do something. She got the shovel and while Halla headed for the house, Liara walked past it and went to the place where she had found Din in the morning.

Between the stone pillar with the eternal light, which could now be seen flickering beautifully in the beginning twilight, and the grave markers, she crouched down and dug a small hole. Carefully, she took the flower from the container, placed it in the hole, flattened the earth around it, and watered it with the remaining water from her bottle. This was the right place for the token of her love. It applied equally to Din's parents and his grandmother. Eventually, Lean would lie by their side.

Liara walked along the shore of the lake back to the estate. In the meantime, the sun was hiding behind the mountains, their shadows lengthening, while in the sky the colors alternated, purple shining last, until night took control. In the vineyards she could see small lamps flickering, the glow of light from the houses by the lake fell on the body of water.

Arriving at the garden, she noticed that no one was here anymore, everyone had retreated. Liara put the shovel a deposit so that she could return it to Halla the next day. She was also feeling hungry and tired now. It had been a varied day and she was no longer used to the long ride. She ran to the kitchen, it was quiet as a mouse there. Everything was tidy. Perhaps Din had left something for her in her quarters.

"How can I help you?"

Startled, Liara jumped to the side; she hadn't noticed Trixi. The droid apologized.

"I always rest in this corner, you wouldn't know it!"

Liara nodded, but she should have expected Trixi to be not far from where she worked.

"It's all right. I'm hungry and thought I'd get something to eat!" Trixi confirmed and opened the refrigerator.

"There's some vegetable lasagna left. I'll heat it up for you!"

While she waited, Liara asked if Din had eaten yet. Trixi answered in the affirmative.

"Especially the young lady was hungry after her busy day!"

Liara frowned, wondering what the two of them had been up to. She took the tray with the hot food and went to her quarters.

There she found Din on the deck in the suspended couch, Fara wrapped in a blanket beside him. He smiled happily at Liara as she sat down at the table. As she enjoyed the lasagna, she watched Fara sleep soundly. She noticed Din's hair, still a little damp.

"How was your afternoon? I ran into Halla earlier, she said you were going out to do something?" asked Din when Liara had finished eating. She leaned back into the soft cushions of the sofa and looked out over the dark lake.

"Nice!", Liara smiled, but concealed the action with the flower from him, and instead told him about the ride, how much she had enjoyed sitting on the orbak and it reminded her of the past, her trips with the eopis through the sea of dunes. When she told about the butterflies, Din was just as amazed, so he had never heard of them either, and he had been to a few planets. At the mention of why they sought out Vivien, Din's eyes began to sparkle.

"I'm so happy when I finally get to see you in that dress!"

Liara was no different, looking forward to this day as well.

"Why is Fara so beat? Trixi told me she had a busy day?"

Din laughed.

"I practiced swimming with her. Maila organized swimwear for us and Fara made a big effort. She was a little disappointed because she can't really do it yet. But I explained to her that nobody can do it the first time. And after dinner, she fell asleep right away!"

Liara rose, Din slid a little to the side and she took a seat next to him. He put his arm around her, Liara her head on his shoulder, and the hanging couch moved back and forth a little. Fara sighed in her sleep and Liara closed her eyes. They had become a family and in a few days they would solemnly swear to it. Din grinned when, shortly after, he also heard the soft, steady breathing of Liara, who had now also fallen asleep in his arms.

@rain-on-kamino

[yinses]

meticulously

| you just needed him to do this one thing … then you wouldn’t ask for anything more | sukuna ryomen rating: 18+

a/n: we only accept au sukuna in this nandos. my second longest work to date and its sukuna.

maybe it was because you were tired of hearing it all.

about how you were such a good girl. so ambitious and focused on your studies. they made it seems so honorable that you were willing to put boys on the back burner in order to achieve your goals.

as if you had a choice.

as if you weren’t a timid little thing who incidentally teased the edges of something before falling back the recesses of your comfort zone. how many apps had you applied for only to waste the time of yourself and others. those sites were never meant to find true love- just conveniently hook ups to release pent up stress.

and you had a lot of it.

so maybe that's why you decided that it was okay to have a little more to drink tonight- to wander further from your friends into the wilderness. you could have one day to make a bad decision and face the consequences for it.

clubs were never your thing which was likely another reason why you were in this drought.

it wasn’t as easy as you thought it would be, as old habits die hard. every so often you were approached with promises of drinks and suggestive conversation. and each one you shied away from and earned a scoff before they already started in pursuit of their next challenge.

it was possible that you were doing it wrong. you lacked the confidence to just ask for what you wanted, mostly because you didn’t know.  play coy, they told you, make them do the work for you.

so you find yourself on the dance floor instead with a new strategy. lost among the masses with the bass thrumming in your veins. here there would be no room for talk.

it only takes one song for you to feel him behind you. he doesn’t whisper sweet things in your ear. instead, his hands start at your hips, just a brush of touch to see how you react. when you don’t move away, he pulls you close and moves your hips in slow circles.

you’re immediately attracted to his confidence. in the way he guides your hand upward, instead of lower, encouraging your hand to grip at the short of his hair. the angle it provides is an open invitation for him to begin placing open mouthed kisses up the length of your neck. when he reaches your ear he pauses, and you hear the dark timber of his voice.

“i saw you turning away all those little boys earlier. what are you looking for, kitten?”

kitten. you shiver at the name.  main characters in novels always turned into a giddy mess over the pet name, losing themselves to the velvety whispered promises and underlying possession. the name brought more of a thrill than anything else; to know that he had been watching you in the distance.

you fight the urge to turn, wanting to stay in the moment for as long as you could. for some reason, like this, you think you could become the person he thinks you are. someone who knows what she wants and doesn’t accept anything less. back at the bar, men asked you too many questions and allowed the opportunity for your insecurities to bleed through.

like this, you only needed to admit one thing.

“i want you.”

its stupid and reckless. he could be a list of anything dangerous yet you advanced him to the top of the list. it was too early to tell but you hope he could be the one. then all of of the little details wouldn’t matter. you were here to lose your first time, not remember it.

you don’t expect him to use the grip on your hips to turn you, the sudden shift and lingering alcohol leaving you disoriented for a moment.

he was tall, though you had judged so from the reach it took to curl your fingers into his nape. the hair you had been blindly acquainted with turned out to be an unusual pale shade of pink. but it worked for him, and the interesting accompaniment of vermillion eyes. you were just starting to account the black lines of dark ink peeking from under his sleeve when his voice drew your attention back to his face.

his grin was telling. he wanted you to take him in because he knew you’d like what you saw. he doesn’t even need to ask. it was too early to tell if he was calling your bluff or enabling it.

he brings his mouth down to hover above yours, lips brushing as he speaks,”so your place or mine?”

this is what you needed, no thoughts beyond what your bodies could offer. this was the man who would take your virginity.

the first sign of hesitance you show is when offering your home. it was close enough to the campus and your neighbors would hear your scream if your ignorance turned out to be your undoing. he agrees, naturally, because why would he turn down a willing lay?

your fingers fumble quickly and shakily as you quickly text your friends that you’re bringing someone back. the answers vary from concern, to disbelief, to excitement and back to apprehension. ultimately, your roommates agree to leave the apartment to you for the night but vow to turn up first thing in the morning.

all the while, his hand is at the small of your back as he guides you towards the entrance. the icy cold air that hits you when you step outside is unkind to the thin sheen of sweat you’d accumulated. the price paid to look good rarely came cheap. the heat radiating from behind you was less of a comfort and more of a reminder as you shift from foot to foot in wait for a taxi.

“ names’ sukuna.”

it came as a jest rather than to inform. the way your eyes widen in realization proving that you’d skimmed over that step unintentionally. the men prior had offered it up without prompting as if it as their key trait in the introductions. while you’d grinded on this man for nearly two songs and hadn’t even thought to ask.

you stumble over your own name and his grin widens further.

he leans close enough for your visible breaths to mingle.

“you’re so fucking cute, kitten. i can’t wait to unwrap you.” 

and then he was kissing you senseless.

he tastes of whiskey and menthol, a savory smokiness that would be a lingering flavor for hours to come. there was a unique sense of excitement that came from kissing a stranger. the anxiousness blurred the lines between your thoughts and emotions. his tongue met yours and swept it into a fast, claiming pace.

just when your hands rose to find purchase on his shirt, the incoming headlights fanned against your joined bodies. sukuna, the apparent level-headed one, pulled away for you.

“don’t worry, we’ll have plenty to explore soon.”

sukuna surprisingly does not encroach on your space in the back of the taxi. his arm rests comfortably along the back of your seat, but his fingers don't chase the easy access to the back of your neck there. it makes you annoyingly anxious as your knee jumps in place. you refrain from looking at him in the corner of your eye already knowing what awaits you on his lips.

the remainder of the drive is short and uneventful.it takes less than ten minutes between the club and the arrival at your front door. you impress yourself with the lack of tremors as you fit your key into the door and welcome you into your home.

the light from the kitchen highlights only what you need to make it to your bedroom without injury. too many had happened before that became habitual prior to any night out.

there is a rattle in your spine as you carefully pull one shoe off than the other. its an action that you take your time with as you gather your thoughts. when you look back at him, he hasn’t wandered a step from the entrance, though his gaze travels where the light allows. at the feel of your gaze he cocks a brow,”i’m waiting on you kitten.”

right.

this was happening.

you’d made it this far.

tilting your head, you lead him to your bedroom without another word. you’re thankful that your widow sits in view of the night sky, taking the place of any artificial light you might have to provide.

every muscle is as stiff as a board as you toss your shoes into a corner. your mouth opens to stupidly point out that this is your room.

sukuna laughs, because why wouldn’t he after learning the mysterious vixen not only had a name but was a timid little thing. still he didn’t cater to your anxiety nor did he allow it to slow his pace.

his arms flex as he reaches behind himself to pull at his shirt from the tag. you’d caught glimpses of his tattoos in the darkness of the club without really looking, but you haven't been able to connect the lines of a pseudo sleeve. the double bands circle both wrists and biceps with encompassing circles swirling around his shoulders. it was a simple yet uniform pattern. you could just see the beginning of another figure curing from behind his neck as well.

“i’m starting to think that i should just be flattered when you get quiet like that.”

his hand makes itself home again at your waist as he walks you backwards until the edge of your bed knocks against the back of your knees. sukuna keeps you from falling back while his fingers go to curl at the hem of your dress.

“it’s only fair,” he says in your ear, as if the removal of his shirt was any kind of equivalence.

he helps you along the way, or maybe makes it worse as he starts to kiss your neck. his hands slide along every new available inch of skin from your thighs to your navel. he shamelessly cups your bra, squeezing the mounds in appreciation.

sukuna pulls away to rid you of the dress entirely. before you can adjust to the loss, he leans back in to unhook your bra as an afterthought.

he grins when you immediately bring your arms over your exposed chest,”don’t be shy. this is what you wanted, right?”

you don’t miss the implied probe behind the tease. it's faint but it’s comforting to know he’s still seeking consent and it eases a bit of your anxiety.

it makes you pliant enough for him to cup the backs of your thighs and lie you back against the sheets. though the moment your bare skin comes in contact with the sheets with his broad form hovering over you, all the brief conviction shrivels up.

your hands curl into the bedding for leverage when his weight is suddenly there to ease you back down. his arms slip around you to anchor you in place, pinning you under the hard warmth of his chest. his lips meet your ear, tongue sliding along the shell,” these mixed signals are going to get old real quick, kitten. “

there is a warning there but you don’t know what exactly it alludes too. how could you when you’d invited a complete stranger into your home.

but sukuna seems to know what to look for, eyes carefully watching the way you shy away from his touch yet draw yourself back on your own. he’s attune to the push and pull, seeming to understand the paradoxical conundrum that you’d drug him into.

you can just barely catch the cut of his smile in the darkness,”are you a virgin, kitten?” he asks, voice light and cool.

the way his body is keeping you in place makes it impossible for you to curl in on yourself, your embarrassment left on display.

“oh baby, if you let me, i’ll take good care of you.”

and how could you not agree to that?

he swallows your affirmation, tongue pushing into your mouth and making you groan.

“ ‘m gonna make you feel so good.”

his hands slide between the apex of your thighs to cup you, digits gliding along your covered slit. two fingers from his other hand press against the aperture of your mouth with the single command to suck.

you only hesitate briefly, tongue flicking out to taste the salt from his fingers. his impatience grows in the moment, idly feeding you a few inches until your lips hollow to stop him before he can reach the back of your throat. it feels more like a sloppy mess than anything remotely sexy as you drool around him, sucking harder to contain the wetness.

but sukuna seems to eat up the attention, idly thrusting in and out when he can. “you’re such a good learner,” he praises with hoarseness.

a garbled squeak manages to leave you as the elastic of your panties is pulled from your hips. you can feel the stick trail connecting you to the fabric, but seeing it is a whole new wave of mortification.

sukuna is able to tug them down to your ankles before your legs can lock up. “don’t be shy. i love filthy girls like you.“ your nerves jump to attention when he presses his thumb against your throbbing clit. “i can work with this.”

you gasp, lips losing their grip on his fingers, as you press your head back against the pillow. heat rises in the low of your stomach, a sensation that you’d never been able to achieve on your own. he starts with a single digit, easily making its way through your passage with the slick provided. his fingers crook in search of an ideal angle, making a sound of encouraging praise when you keen and rock your hips down for more.

your lashes flutter with the effort of keeping them open as he manipulates friction against your sex.without warning, he adds a second finger in alongside the first,”kitten you have no idea how happy i am that you grinded back against me on that dance floor.” the introduction allows for a scissoring action as he tests the stretch of your walls.

you’re happy to have the flat to yourself as the next whimper shatters your coherency, snapping any restraint that you had on your volume. sukuna chuckles at your cry, flexing his touch to reach new depths.

“i really wanted to see what you could do with your mouth but i don’t think i can wait.”

he gives one last swipe against the tackly mess before he fumbles with his belt. you don’t get offended when he only drops his pants far enough to free his cock. its distracting enough watching him stroke himself idly to fullness. sukuna harbors no shame as he cants his hips, fucking into the tight circle of his fist.

he pulls his wet fingers from your lips and you swallow around the absence.

you’re immediately grateful when he pulls out a condom, uncaring when the empty foil packet gets lost on your floor.

sukuna can feel the tightness as he palms your hip and positions himself at the stretch of your entrance.

“don’t go getting all nervous on me. i went through such a great deal to prepare you for this.”

his hand slides past your naval to grip your breast, rolling the hardening peak with his thumb. the lack of attention they’d received thus far acts as enticing interference.

he still doesn’t go for the unanticipated approach, keeping you vaguely aware by running the head of his cock up and down your dripping cunt.

it’s still easier said than done as all the reddit and gossip forums come reeling back the the forefront. you hadn’t even thought to get a towel, what if there was a lot of blood- too much? should you have gotten painkillers ?

above you sukuna tsks and you jolt from the sharp pain of him cruelly pinching your nipple. when you go to protest, he merely gives you a look, holding your gaze while his head drops take the abused bud into his mouth.

when he gives a particularly hard suck you know what’s coming as his hips roll up against you.

he’s big. of course he’s big given that he’s your first and all that you’ve had prior to your own fingers are his. sukuna expresses a show of kindness that you weren’t expecting with the initial push, as he uses his grip to ease himself in slowly.

it still burns; the uncomfortable stretch as he drags the friction of his cock past the slick barrier. but its not thee sharp punch you were expecting even before the base meets your pelvis. your hand darts up to smack against the hard flat of his stomach to stop him there but the centimeters separating you were barely negligible.

his mouth pops off of your breast with a wet sound as you pant, squeezing experimentally around the width of him. it was more manageable than you were anticipating, and you adjust your hips in another trial. the movement pulls a sharp hiss from his lips and his fingers clamp down tighter at the curve of your waist.

his vermillion eyes are no longer slits of concentration, now blown wide to contain the depth of lust simmering there. there is a shudder a he holds himself back from fucking into you. “if you’re done playing, i’d like to fuck you now.”

instinct drives you to reach around him, nails gripping traction around his shoulder blades as he grates his hips. the motion starts the first thrusts of many as sukuna introduces you to the truest definition of fucking.

its gradual, the way he picks up speed, introducing each part of you to himself before overpowering the nerves with a firmer touch.you should be embarrassed by the broken sounds leaving your mouth, but you can hardly remember your own name let alone decency.

sukuna on the other hand, relishes in the way he fucks you stupid, taking each bite of your nail and shattered speech with pride. “you have the prettiest fucking mouth for a virgin.”

it was impossible to accept the praise with the way he was knocking the sense from you with each thrust. he made it feel so good. all of it. from the inclination to the way he filled you up.

he continues to slam inside, breathing barely affected by the effort of pulling you apart at the seams. god he just doesn’t shut up. and you don’t want him too. they way he can make you hang from each word. 

you don’t know how he can handle words with all the smugness oozing from is lips, “i know you wouldn’t know the difference. but they’re typically so quiet- biting their lip and shit as if they’d scare away their own orgasm.”

“but not you baby. you fucking speak to me.” its not the kind of praise you were expecting but you latch on to it anyway. his arm comes around your waist and brings you forward to pin against his frame.

you don't know what possesses you to do so, mayve its the new proximity,  but your hands cup his face and bring his lips to meet yours. sukuna doesn't fight the action but his attention is elsewhere as your head bobs with the effort of keeping your mouths attached. ultimately it's the sharpness of your teeth against his bottom lip that prompts him to participate.

his tongue shoves past your lips to twist with yours. then he angles his hips just so and you sob. its an epiphany for you but its exactly what sukuna was looking for as he aims there again, and again, abusing that little patch of tissue that makes you witness nirvana.

sukuna drops a hand between your bodies to pass a thumb over your clit. he smirks when you jolt, still managing a perfect enunciation of your name even as his hips lose rhythm.

“all i need you to do tonight is come. can you do that for me, kitten?”

and you can, even without his instruction as your legs come up to squeeze around him despite the tremors. hot pleasure radiates up your spine from the source, washing over you in waves as you spill around him. it feels incredible to finally be able to let go. fuck, you don’t know if anything else will be like this first time. but you’re damn sure not going to forget it anytime soon.

even as your body falls pliant, sukuna keeps the pace as he chases his own release. the beginnings of bruises protest at your hips as he pounds a fragment tempo until he stills. the groan he lets out nearly brings you to a second orgasm as the sound shakes your body.

you’re thankful that he has enough energy to unhinge your legs from his hips, laughing to himself at the little trembles they give off. the act of him leaving you is a strange sensation to describe. despite the beating it took, your cunt still tries to hold him in.

it naturally earns you a crass comment as he uses the edge of your comforter to wipe himself down,”kitten, i don’t think you could handle another round of me.” you don't want to think about where he tossed the condom, just hoping that it was within the vicinity of the trashcan. but that was something future you would have to worry about.

you don’t offer him a place to stay and he doesn’t give you the opportunity to do so.

present you was starting to learn a new type of soreness as you gathered your legs against your chest and bring the blankets around your body. there wasn’t much of a delay as sukuna got dressed, tracing back his steps easily to his discarded shirt and tucking himself away long the way.

when he looks back at you, you must look like a child snuggled away for the night.

his looks at you with silent consideration. it was finally time to conduct the awkward ‘thank yous’ before the two of you parted ways forever. but at least it wasn’t you taking the walk of shame. though you don’t think it will be sukuna either with the swagger still linger in his step. 

it’s the blatant admission that you weren’t expecting, “ i like you. so i’ll leave my number for another time.”

that is not how a one night stand should end.

sukuna assumes you can’t handle the basic technological skill of adding his contact to your phone and proceeds to write it instead on the planner board posted by the door. it’s written so big you can just make out the numbers from the bed.

“be sure to call when you think you can handle me at my best.”

you wait, listening for the front door to click shut in his departure before you fall back against your bed. you should really be changing the sheets but you cant bring yourself to do more than roll onto your side.

you did it.

finally experienced all the gossip and jazz everyone talked out. 

and now you could focus and get back on track.

without prompt, your gaze drifted over to the dry erase board. sukuna had completely disregarded the individual squares dedicated to different days and messily scrawled his information between two weeks. it was a direct representation of the chaotic energy he gave off.

you would just clean it up in the morning along with any other remnants of this night.

...

or perhaps you could save as a sort of emergency contact.

you’d just discovered a new source of therapy after all. 

[thran-duils]

Was Ich Liebe (P.1)

Title: Was Ich Liebe (Part One) Summary: Fem!Reader x Dark!Tony Stark.  Tony becomes enamored with a stripper at a club his hedonistic friend Thor owns. A casual sexual relationship quickly becomes possessive and the reader sees more of the underground mafia life than she would like to. The cherry on top is that Tony is married and so is she. Him to a woman who has no intention of losing her throne at any cost and the reader to a deadbeat alcoholic. Feeling trapped by both her previous life and the suffocating hold Tony is trying to put on her, the reader steals away in the night, which is not going to go over well. Words: 4,301 Warnings (for whole fic, more may be added): Dub-con, smut, infidelity, stripping, vaginal fingering, public sex, possessive behavior, angst, degradation kink, violence, physical abuse, domestic violence, language, drug use, alcoholism, death Author’s Note: I did not have the ability to do a one shot. As usual, this is 18+.

Intro || Part Two || Masterpost (mobile) || Fanfic masterpost

Your legs and core were burning as you ended your routine to “Walk” by Pantera. You slowly slid down the pole as it was coming to an end, ending in a deep squat at the end, ass towards the crowd.

Turning back against the lights shining at you, you crawled on your knees seductively taking bills being held out and swiping up ones that had been tossed.

The tips were good tonight. You swiped your top from the ground you had thrown off halfway through much to the pleasure of the crowd, showing off your glow in the dark skull hand pasties. Happy autumn. And you walked off, holding your cash and looking forward to switching back to six inch heels to walk around now that your set was over.

Fixing your winged eyeliner, you spotted Thor coming in through the door to the dressing room. Everyone straightened up at his presence. He came straight over to you though. “Perle room, Y/N.”

That was a private customer room. It was easier being on the stage because you were blinded from the crowd for a lot of it with the lights. One on one was harder to dissociate since they were the only other soul in the room.

“You’re picking the songs. He paid for three.”

That was always a gamble; depending on what genre the customer liked, it could go up or down hill really quick.

Thor leaned in close and whispered in your ear, “And he’s a friend of mine, so behave, you hear? Make sure he leaves satisfied. He loves ass so grind, yeah?”

A friend of his was shady no doubt. But you nodded, making eye contact through the mirror. Thor smirked before planting a kiss on your temple.

“Good set by the way.”

“Thank you,” you said as he straightened up and turned to leave you.

Shit. That meant you needed to change. Which is why you always brought an extra set of lingerie. You went to your locker and pulled out the black set.

<><><>

Since it was going to be more intimate, you chose “Was Ich Liebe” by Rammstein to start. It would allow a lot of grinding.

When you walked in, he was already sitting on the opposite of the dark room in the black light. Even in the darkness, you recognized the man. It was not hard to do so with his high standing in the mob.

Tony Stark.

He was to be treated like a high-ranking customer and you were doing to do that.

You started on the pole, circling slowly before climbing and hooking your leg to spin controlled around.

Sliding down, you crawled on all fours to him, pulling yourself up by holding onto his knees that were already spread in anticipation of you. Turning around you ground your ass into his pelvis. Leaning back your face brushed his.

“What’s your name?” he breathed into your ear. You told him your fake name and his lips tugged up at the corner briefly. “You’re real name, sweetheart.”

“That is my real name.”

He chuckled, his nose nuzzling into your neck. “If you insist so, sweetheart.”

You fell into the music, alternating between him and the pole. Your second song started, “Problem” by Natalia Kills.

You moved back to his lap. His hands ran up and down your thighs as you grinded. Which was okay until his fingers slipped past your thong, cupping your sex as you ground into him. You lost rhythm with your lap dance and his breath was hot at your ear. “Just like that, keep going. You are doing beautifully.”

Men getting handsy in the private rooms was not unusual. Especially not ones who paid like he had but you workers knew to dispel it as much as possible. Do not let them get too bold.

You had to be crafty about how you maneuvered out of the situation though. He was Thor’s friend and you knew he was powerful. You resumed grinding, and his nose brushed your neck, inhaling deeply. His fingers threatened to push in and you reacted quickly. You moved out of his lap to dip down in your dancing, forcing his hand away. You were still doing what Thor wanted, giving him a good show. Your hands gripping your ankles, you moved your ass in rhythm with the song.

Tony was not going to be deterred though. Gripping your hips firmly, he pulled you back into his lap with a rough tug. He forced your legs open again and his hand was snaking past your panties again.

As the song sang about claiming your body, Tony’s fingers slid into your pussy and you jumped away from his embrace. You stood a couple feet away, holding your arms tightly around yourself. He was frozen, looking at you expectantly.

“You… you’re not supposed to touch us. It’s against the rules,” you told him, keeping the tremor out of your voice miraculously. You knew what trouble could come from denying a man like him.

Tony brought his fingers to his mouth and sucked them off slowly, tasting you. Your heart was hammering with the intense stare off he was having with you. He was handsome as all hell, but you knew he was the type of dangerous you should not have in your life.

He finally shrugged. “Noted. My apologies. I’ll behave, scouts honor.”

He beckoned you back with two fingers.

You swallowed your unease and came back, resuming. He kept his hands off of you like he vowed he was going to. Still, you spent a lot of the time on the pole during your final song “Inertia Creeps” by Massive Attack.

At the end, Tony stood up and he came up to you at the pole. You looked up at him with curiosity; men usually did not move when you left the room.

He smiled devilishly down at you and held out a couple of folded hundreds. He was giving you $200 in tips? Your eyes widened and he forced them into your hand.

Before you could react, he leaned in and caught your mouth. His lips were soft but his force was rough. You were dazed when he pulled away. He winked at you.

“I’ll be seeing you again soon, sweetheart. Thanks for the sweet dreams.”

<><><>

Next weekend you were called to the Perle room again. And again, you found Tony there. He chose the set list this time and had you starting out with “Dissolved Girl” by Massive Attack. He had enjoyed the other song so much, he wanted to see you perform more of the album in front of him.

“I’ve tried to stop thinking about you. It hasn’t worked.”

His hands came up, caressing your breasts. You turned your head and his hands loosened. He laughed, nipping at your ear.

“Right, right. The rules. Darling, do you know how hard it is to remember those around you?”

“I’ve heard that before. It doesn’t make the rules any less real,” you returned, pulling away from his embrace and sashaying back to the pole.

He was watching you hungrily as you worked yourself around the pole. There was a storm brewing in his eyes.

“How would you like to make some money outside this club?”

Dipping low, you met his eyes and saw he was serious.

“If you’re asking me to fuck you, I’m married.”

That was information you rarely gave out. But Tony seemed the type of man you needed to put a hard wall up with.

Tony gave you a wide grin. “No, not fucking. Just fun. I wanna have a night out. I just want company.”

Some of the girls did escort work like that. And since it was outside the club you got to keep everything, no tax was taking off the top. And your electricity bill was going to be higher next month since winter was coming.

You did not answer him immediately, rolling the idea around. Knees spread on the ground, dancing, you met his eyes again. He was still waiting for an answer.

Getting back up sultrily, you came to sit back in his lap. He hummed in approval as you said, “Sure. Where we going?”

<><><>

“Going to whore yourself out again?” Michael asked, his words already slurring.

You were wearing a peacoat coat over your dress but he could still it was short. He disapproved of you stripping but he always backtracked when you were able to pay the bills. And more so, bring him his favorite bottle of liquor every other night. Especially since he rarely brought any money in himself. You felt an obligation to him since you had been high school sweethearts.

“For your information, no. I’m going out with friends.”

A white lie.

“What friends? Your co-hooker friends? Glad you keep such great company. A bunch of pathetic bitches just like you, starving for validation…”

“No. Well-paying friends who want my company,” you spat without thinking, angry he was always putting you down.

He got up out of his chair and you moved quickly. The last time he had laid hands on you, you had to take a week off of work and Thor had been pissed.

Your hand was on the door handle, and you had it opened quick. He stumbled and that gave you enough time to get the door closed and move down the hallway. The elevator was not an option cause it was too slow and you took the stairwell, not missing him yelling expletives at you.

He would be passed out well before you got home.

<><><>

Your dress clung tight to your body. You looked around the restaurant, worrying that you were going to be stood up. You had been here for twenty minutes and had ordered a glass of wine.

You were halfway through it without a sign of him. This place was five star, and you did not want to do a walk of shame.

Thankfully for you, Tony sauntered in five minutes later and he slid into the booth across from you, adjusting his jacket as he did. Leaning back against the booth, he threw his arm across the back of it, relaxing back, looking at you. You had chosen the seat across the table.

“You’re punctual. That’s new.”

“Was I not supposed to be?”

“Darling. I never am. Next time let’s ride together. Reservations for 7? I’m here at 7:30 at best and they know to keep the table for me.”

The first date had not even started, and he was already talking about the next.

He suddenly noticed you had a chair and as the waiter approached. He gestured at you and said, “What’s this chair doing here? Is there supposed to be more people than can fit on this booth?”

“Uh, no, Mr. Stark. It was just put there in case someone wanted it—"

“Do you want it?” Tony asked you, interrupting.

You knew the answer he wanted. Calmly, you stood up and moved around the table to sit right up next to him. His hand lying across the back of the booth caressed your shoulder.

“No, here is fine,” you said.

“That’s what I thought. Now, let’s get you something delectable to eat to match how I know you taste. Top notch deserves the same in return.”

He winked salaciously and you blushed. This off-limits escorting was not going to last long; you could sense that. He was not a man that would be satiated with just a taste. He wanted the whole course.

And that whole course was you spread out for him whenever he so pleased.

<><><>

On the fourth date, he took the plunge.

His town car took the opposite way from your turn, and you looked at him.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere where we can enjoy each other fully.”

You opened your mouth, but Tony held a finger up to your lips, winking. There was a sinister feeling behind that wink, and you closed your lips. He smiled in approval, “You’re so well behaved, sweetheart. You’re going to be a lot of fun.”

At the hotel room, legs spread wide, Tony’s large hands held you at your waist as he drove up into you hard and quick. He was not a gentle lover.

He rocked forward quickly and in one fell swoop had managed to maneuver you to pull you with him and you ended up on top. Lining himself back up with your entrance, he plummeted back in, resuming his unforgiving pace. You cried as he held your arms tight, keeping you in place to use like his own personal toy. You were an object to him that he wanted to possess.

<><><>

Leg crossed over the other, relaxing back in the armchair, Tony demanded, “What’s her name?”

Thor told Tony your fake name without missing a beat as he worked across the desk. Tony had come here for answers and Thor would be hard pressed to give them away completely.

Tony stared at him across the table unimpressed and Thor stopped typing, noticing. He simpered, “Tony, it’s for her safety.”

“Are you afraid for her? Because of me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because her husband is a real piece of work.” He noticed the look on shocked Tony’s face, and he said, “Yeah, she wasn’t lying about that. I’m assuming she told you she was married. He might be a deadbeat, but he knows how to load a punch. If he found out she was doing more than dancing, I would be afraid for her. He’s already made her miss a couple weeks of work because of his Rambo fists when he’s gotten riled up just about the dancing. Which makes no sense to me because he barely brings money in, and she is essentially the sole breadwinner.”

Tony cocked an eyebrow. “And you want her to stay with that?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Seems like you did.”

Thor snorted, “No, I just know what lengths you are willing to go to get your way. And I’m not sure I want you taking this on. As your friend. It’s advice.”

“It won’t be hard. I want her, so it’ll be worth the effort,” Tony said.

<><><>

“It was nice,” you told Tony as you sat in the back of his town car when he asked you how you had enjoyed the night.

He had taken you to a high-end seafood restaurant on a large boat docked at the marina. You meant what you said; it was delicious.

“I thought you would like it,” Tony stated, scooting closer and an arm slipped around your shoulder, holding you closer.

He was staring into your eyes, and you smelled the bourbon on his breath. You no doubt reeked of alcohol yourself. There was something lurking beneath his gaze though. And you soon found out what.

“Y/N,” Tony murmured. You froze and he smiled at your shock. His fingers trailed up your arm and came to cup you under the chin. “That’s such a lovely name.”

Unable to stop yourself, you asked, “How…?”

“Money talks,” Tony informed you as his hand spread to hold you beneath the jaw, fingers trailing behind your ear. You tried to pull away but his arm around you held tight, stopping your movement. He smirked briefly, “I’m not here to hurt you, darling. Don’t ever think that. I just simply adore you. I wanted to know about you. I want to take this further.”

“Further than just the bed?”

“Yes. I want you entirely.”

His firm tone was sincere. What had you gotten yourself into?

He pressed the button, and the partition went up between the two of you and the front seat. His hand left your neck to snake up your dress. “I want to call you by your real name when I take you this time.” He kissed you roughly and his lips brushed yours as he vowed, “I’ll have you whenever and wherever.”

<><><>

Months later, you awoke in the king bed in the mountain top suite. Sneaking a peek at the bedside clock, you saw it was almost four in the morning. You needed to leave. Tossing a look at Tony, seeing he was still sleeping, you tried to unravel yourself from his embrace as gently as you could.

But it was futile.

Tony yanked you back to him as you tried to crawl out of the bed. You protested lightly and he shushed you by roughly rolling you towards him and pressing his lips to yours, growing in intensity as he woke from slumber. His leg wrapped around you, trapping you against him. His cock was already growing hard again after the short nap the two of you had taken after the last tussle in the sheets.

You tried to make space as you said, “You know if I’m going to get home the time I said I was going to, I have to leave now.”

You were hours from home. He had taken you up into the mountains for the last couple of days. You had said you were going on a work trip with your coworkers per your managers request to dance at a new club. Michael would never know. That is unless you came home at the wrong time; then he would start to get suspicious.

The last couple of days had been really nice. Tony had been kind… until tonight. He always treated you to the best and made sure you were well taken care of. But he had gotten… off when he noticed you tonight having taken a nice tone and smiled at a busboy as you dropped off dishes near the kitchen entrance that was out of your way. You had only been trying to be nice to the guy. You knew what it was like working customer service and you only wanted to make his job a little bit easier. And he was not hard on the eyes. Receiving small flirtations was harmless in your eyes and it boosted your mood. It had done just that for the guy.

But upon coming back to the room, Tony was callous, and you had to pry him out of his shell with sweet words and caresses. He had been condescending, asking you if you got off on pleasing men in front of him. When you had told him you did not know what he was talking about he had torn your dress down the front, ignoring your shocked cries at his brutal behavior, and forced you onto the bed. The tatters of the dress had been torn from you completely and he had done the same to your underwear and then forcibly removed your bra from you. He had not even waited for you to get wet before slamming up into you.

“Who gives a fuck what that good-for-nothing husband of yours thinks?” He nipped at your neck, sucking in roughly. His hands gripped and held you close.

“My face does,” you retorted, trying to unwind yourself from him. But Tony was quick, locking you back down. “Tony, please.”

You managed to unlock yourself despite his grabbing and you slid off the bed, hitting the ground, your ass hitting it roughly. He exhaled sharply, glaring down at you and you moved quickly backwards, getting to your feet unsteadily. He was already getting out of the bed, and you moved quickly, snatching up your bag. Your dress was ruined, which was no matter. You could return in your sweats and top.

Tony was on you though and his grip on your bag was tight and he yanked back, drawing you with it. You let go as you stumbled as to not lose your balance and face plant. He used his momentum to throw the bag across the room by the sliding glass door.

“Tony! Stop playing games!” you said desperately, trying to move towards where he threw it, but he stepped in your way. “You know I have to get ready! You can’t be jealous of him. You know what this is.”

“So what if I’m jealous?” Tony asked, continuing to advance towards you and you kept walking backwards. Your back hit the wall, stopping your advancement. “The thought of you with him makes me sick.”

“He’s my husband—"

Tony slammed his fist on the counter, and you jumped back against the wall, causing it to shake slightly. “Stop making fucking excuses! He’s a piece of shit and you know it! Why won’t you just accept me?”

“Tony, I do—” you tried to placate him.

“Don’t you lie to me,” he warned in a snarl. “If that were true, you would be loyal to me and me only. You know how I feel. I want you. Wholly.”

That was so unfair of him to say when you knew he was married. But you also knew better than to point that out. Not when he was this belligerent; you knew belligerent men were hardly able to be reckoned with and calmed down. No, you needed to use other facts.

“And you did, this whole weekend,” you pointed out in shaky tones.

Tony’s laugh was maniac, “’Weekend’. Yeah, that’s what I mean when I say wholly.”

You tried to dodge around him quickly to go towards your bag, but he jolted out and grabbed you around the waist, swinging you around. You kicked your legs as he dragged you. You bounced on the mattress, not fully on it but not fully off it either. You grabbed at the sheets to get leverage and you got grounded just as his hand closed around your ankle. You pulled away with ferocity, landing on the other side of the bed. Scrambling, you grabbed your bag. Tony’s arm came around you, pulling you back.

“Tony!” you cried out, your voice cracking. “Please stop!”

There was a sharp knock at the door and the two of you froze. Tony swore underneath his breath and let you go, causing you to stumble because you had been relying on him.

He snatched up his briefs and threw them on before storming towards the door as another knock came.

He opened the door a crack and sighed frustrated, “What?”

You heard Happy, “Uh, I was coming to get Y/N… it’s time to take her back? I went to bed super early so I would be ready to take her back now?”

You were relieved to hear someone with sense.

“Fuck!” Tony snapped, tossing the door open and you squeaked, still naked. You rushed towards the hall to grab your sweats and sweater out and throw those on.

When you emerged again, Happy was waiting by the door and Tony was necking the bottle of bourbon he had bought. He slammed it back down on the counter and glared at you. You went to go towards him to kiss him goodbye to try to start to smooth things over, but he held up his hand forcibly and you stopped. He took another swig without looking at you.

Hurt, you turned towards Happy, who was looking at Tony with scrutiny as well before following you out the door. You fell asleep on the car ride home and when you arrived back at your place, Tony still had not texted you.

<><><>

Clutching your duffel bag, you climbed the stairs a week later to your apartment. Tony had been clipped in his responses since Happy had taken you home. You were growing simultaneously frustrated and nervous with possessive, aggressive behavior.

Upon walking in, you saw the living room was upturned. Your blood chilled and you immediately dropped your bag, going for the switchblade in your front pocket of it. It was out as you grabbed your cell phone out of your bag.

Just as you were about to dial 911, Tony emerged from the hallway, holding up his hand. “Darling, it’s just me.”

Dropping the hand with your phone, you demanded, “’Just you’? What are you doing?”

Tony shrugged, “What I needed to do.”

You did not like the way that sounded at all. And then you noticed all the blood on his hands and on the wetness on his black jacket, which was no doubt more blood. Your hand clutched your switchblade tighter. Tony’s eyes dropped to it, and he looked back up at you.

“Sweetheart, there’s no need for that. It’s just me.”

“’Just you’? Where’s Michael?”

Tony rolled his eyes, annoyed. He turned his back and walked towards the kitchen. He flipped the switch on in there as he moved towards the sink. You moved to follow him and upon seeing more of the kitchen, you saw Carol and Rhodes were sitting at the table, having a drink.

“Where’s Michael?” you repeated.

Washing his hands in the sink now, without a care for the blood splattering, Tony told you, “I could have used a gun, but this was personal.”

The horror of what he was admitting without outright saying it was washing down on you. Your hand wavered, threatening to drop your switchblade.

“You…you…” you stammered; your chest was tight.

Tony continued rinsing the blood off of his hands, unbothered. He finished as you stood there frozen by your shock. Shaking his hands off, he wiped them on his black jeans and turned back to face you. As soon as he started to come close, you regained sense of self and your hand gripped tighter on your blade again.

Tony was not having any of that. He was quick and gripped your wrist tightly, twisting it so you cried out, dropping the blade. He held you up to the wall by your throat.

His word was law sinking around you, “No more excuses, Y/N. You’re all mine now.”

~~~

Song list to set the mood for me while writing:

Was Ich Liebe -- Rammstein Walk -- Pantera Problem -- Natalia Kills Inertia Creeps -- Massive Attack Dissolved Girl -- Massive Attack Just For Me -- Saint Jhn feat. Sza

Marvel tags: @coconutqueen21 @undecidedsworld @holl2712 @agustdowney  @biiskuitx

[paper-n-ashes]

sparks and embers - chapter 3

Characters: Poe Dameron x Original Female Character, Kylo Ren x Original Female Character

Story Tags: Explicit (18+), Canon Compliant/Divergent (Set after TLJ), First Person POV, Love Triangle, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Porn with Plot, Hurt/Comfort, Kylo Ren hates Poe Dameron

Chapter 3 - The Return

Words: 4k

Chapter Tags/Warnings: medical descriptions and procedures, some sexual themes - mainly in the form of OC being thirsty AF

Read on AO3 or Start from the beginning

~

On the way back from the East village, filled with the Gossams, humans and other alien species who had similarly escaped to a simpler life, I couldn’t help but curse at myself for giving in so easily to the pleas of a good-looking stranger.

Aiding someone merely for their physical appearance? How horribly unprofessional.

The voice in the back of my mind was loud. And curiously judgemental.

It had been over a full day cycle since I’d departed the clinic, making Poe vow to remain within the confines of his bed until I had returned. I’d left him with enough food for two days of my travelling, hygiene supplies, a drip running slowly for some pain relief and range of tools for him to attempt getting BB-8 up and running, hoping he wouldn’t have any reason to struggle getting out of bed.

The thought of his still fragile femur bone breaking and splitting the artery I’d spent all my energy on mending was beyond frightening. I worried about him every minute I was awake, imagining any number of complications that would leave me a corpse to find when I arrived back.

Bleeding, clots, stroke, infection, sepsis.

It wasn’t easy to slip those thoughts from my mind in the lone starkness of the Raxus countryside. There wasn’t really anything to look at except grass and sky, nothing to distract me from the worst case scenarios.

I’d convinced some of my old patients to join my cause, promising them better medicine and equipment if I was only able to have a comm-tower to order everything I needed. It didn’t seem like lying. The comm-tower really was my only link to the rest of the galaxy, and I would have needed it fixed anyway. Only now, time seemed to be more of the essence.

After spending the night amongst the locals I had grown to be familiar with over the last few years, I’d begun the trek back with the knowledge at least one problem had been solved. Some promised spare parts, others were going to follow my path within the next day cycle to get my comm-link back online. I hadn’t divulged all the story, at least not the part about this repair job apparently being a determining factor in the fate of the galaxy.

I hadn’t pressed Poe about what that meant exactly. I was used to the Resistance and their soldiers having somewhat of a flair for the dramatic when it came to war, after healing many of their battle wounds in years past. I knew how fervently they believed in their cause - that they were the only thing standing between galaxy wide harmony and First Order dictatorship.

I understood their hope of peace in our lifetime, but I’d lost mine a long time ago. Good, bad, they were just two sides of a coin that would flip for eternity, desperately chasing power for their own reasons.

In truth, I didn’t particularly care. I just hoped to live my life somewhat free from the burden of picking a side.

*

Before unlocking the clinic door, my feet aching from hiking for 6 straight hours, I drew in a long breath with a silent prayer I wouldn’t be walking in to find a dead body. With a fluid motion I turned the handle and pushed the door open, my head popping in first around the entryway to where Poe’s hospital bed stood. He immediately heard the latch clicking and shot his head up to meet with my eyes.

“You’re back,” he smiled, as I noted how much colour had returned to his face during my absence.

He looked so much better.

For the first time, I found myself studying his face, my stare tracing from his strong angular jawline to his high cheekbones, the prominence of his nose, the whiskey colour of his large cheerful eyes, his tousled deep brown hair. Then I took in his wide grin, shapely pink lips curled upwards to show perfectly set white teeth.

Stars, he’s so handsome.

In the muddle of memories I’d conceived from the night of his crash I’d not recognised, at least not during the time I was struggling to keep him alive, how attractive he was. And now with his health a far better picture than the last time I’d seen him, it was all I could notice. My heart quivered through a beat as he beamed at me, soon realising his smile was more a reflection of the prospective good news I brought with my return, making it settle back into a normal rhythm.

“Hi,” I breathed, walking closer and setting my pack down at the foot of the hospital bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” he answered, “The smaller burns are almost gone, and my chest wound is closed, look!” He pulled up the grey hospital shirt I’d managed to change him into before I had to leave. This time when I saw the nakedness of his chest and abdomen I couldn’t help but stare at his softly defined muscles, all tensing during his movement. He was right, the hole below his rib now sealed, a newly-formed, pink scar in its place. The chest tube was still secured above it, now redundant.

“Gotta love bacta,” I hummed. “I can take that drain out now if you like.”

He looked at me incredulously. “You’ve just done a 30 hour round trip for me, not even sat down, and you want to dive head first into more treatment?”

“I... uh... I mean... I just wanted to help you feel better,” I stammered.

Poe shook his head, smirking. “It’s okay, I appreciate it. Really, I do. But I’m alright, the tube can wait. How about you rest for a second and tell me how the mission- I mean, trip, went?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Two days ago you were begging me to get going so I couldn’t waste any time, now you’re telling me I can take a load off?”

"Uh, yeah… Sorry about that,” he grimaced. “Having some time to think while you were gone... It made me realise everything you’d done and were doing for me - a stranger you had no reason to help." Poe took a long exhale before speaking again, his tone serious. "I was in a lot of pain, just woken up in a strange place. It’s still imperative to get a message back to the Resistance as soon as possible but... that’s not your burden to bear. I can't thank you enough for your help, but I'll try not to ask too much more of you.”

It seemed not only had his physical health improved, but logical thought and patience had returned.

I took my cue to sit on one of the opposite hospital beds, letting my feet dangle over the edge to kick my shoes off, feet pulsing with gratitude at their release. “There’s some villagers coming tomorrow,” I started. “They will hopefully have a new comm-tower up and running within the next couple of days. I told them about your droid too. There’s some spare parts in that bag.” I pointed my hand out to the satchel at Poe’s feet, glancing at the L shaped table beside his bed I’d set up. BB-8 was sitting on top of it, head and body still separated and now unbolted at separate points, wires haphazardly sticking out in different directions. Falling back into the mattress, I let out an exhausted sigh, relishing the feel of the squeaky mattress under my body.

“I really owe you. The Resistance owes you,” Poe praised after a few moments of silence, as I heard him begin to rummage through the satchel. I held back a frown, even when I knew he wouldn’t be able to catch sight of my face.

I didn’t do any of this for the Resistance.

It occurred to me then I wasn’t really sure why I’d done it at all. I had always been a sucker for those in poor predicaments, hence why I became a doctor in the first place. But the trek had nothing to do with treatment or medicine. It was purely at the behest of this pilot, who’s charming appearance in the dimmed orange light of the evening made my skin feel hot.

“So, how did a girl like you find herself in the middle of nowhere on the Outer Rim?” Poe questioned, fiddling with some of the parts.

I sat back up. “I’m not a girl. I’m 28. That’s a little too old to be called girl anymore.”

Poe chuckled, the sound of his laugh both warming and positively thrilling. “I apologise. How did a woman like you end up here?”

“I used to work on Coruscant, that’s where I started my medical training,” I explained, remembering the glittering planet I’d spent much of my young life on. “Then moved into the war relief efforts on medical frigates scattered throughout the galaxy. Treating wounded soldiers day in day out took its toll, having people constantly injured and almost dying for a war they didn’t start.” I glanced to Poe's expression, seeing a glow of understanding behind his eyes before I continued. “Plus, there were more than a few times I felt a little redundant. The medical droids they have kind of... made my treatment obsolete. I wanted to practice medicine in a place where adequate health care was rare or non-existent. I wanted to help those who were most desperate, who otherwise couldn’t afford it, those who would actually value the care of a live human doctor. So I picked a planet at random, and settled here."

The random part was an utter lie. No one had cared about Raxus since the Clone Wars, and the First Order wouldn’t make it their priority to conquer Outer Rim worlds for a while yet. It was a quiet, calm planet with countless refugees fleeing here to make peaceful new lives. They wouldn’t be concerned about old, rusty equipment, lower quality bacta or no medical droids. They would simply be happy at having a doctor within a day’s trek.

And no one would think of looking here for a Force user.

Poe studied me in quiet thought for a moment, taking in what I’d divulged. “Well, they're damn lucky, with how nicely you patched me up. You’d run circles around some of the doctors and medical droids at the Resistance base.” He grinned at me again, earnestly, another attempt to thank me for my work. I felt the pit of my stomach tense, and it wouldn’t retreat, the thought of his smile lingering in my mind even after he’d gone back to his tinkering.

It had to be because I’d been in isolation for so long, why I was reacting so strongly to the innocent smiles and compliments of a man I barely knew. I definitely wasn’t used to conversing with men so close in age to my own. Most of the local humans were older, married with children, and I rarely made conversation around any other topic than their illnesses.

“What... uh... Why were you flying over Raxus?” I asked awkwardly.

His eyebrows creased together as he looked back at me. “Raxus wasn’t my destination, but I... can’t tell you any more than that.”

“Oh…”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” he urged. “It’s just, you know, highly confidential.” He seemed apologetic, like he owed me more of an explanation.

I nodded, agreeing the less I knew about the Resistance and their missions the better. “Well, you’ll be able to get back to it in a couple of days,” I insisted, breaking the awkward silence that had lingered. “Some time and a little bit more bacta and you’ll be like new again.”

“Actually, speaking of that,” he started, an uneasy expression now settling in his features. “I was wondering when you were thinking of letting me get out of this bed.”

“Depends on the reason Poe. I’d recommend starting your formal rehab tomorrow at the absolute earliest, otherwise we can get you up and walking if you need to do something… uh… specific.” There was no hiding the waver in my voice.

He laughed, louder than he had before, the sound making it difficult for me not to blush. “Aren’t you a doctor? Why are you embarrassed for me to use the bathroom?”

“Hey!” I frowned. “I was trying to save you from being embarrassed.”

He shook his head, still chuckling. “I’m alright on that front for now. I was actually hoping to use your refresher. It’s been a few days…”

“Oh of course!” I’d cleaned him up as much as I could before I’d left, getting rid of his obliterated flight suit and helping change into the bland hospital outfit I reserved for overnighters, but even to myself the idea of a shower was enticing.

A thought flashed into my mind of steaming water hitting Poe’s sun darkened skin, trickling down his toned body as he lathered himself in soap suds.

Woah.

Okay.

That was new.

It had been such a long time since I’d felt the fire of blood rushing to the lower portion of my abdomen, insides clenching at the heat so suddenly ignited.

Poe was looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue. I internally shook away the incriminating thoughts before they could be conveyed on my face. “How about I get that chest tube out first? Then I can help you to the ‘fresher?”

He breathed out in relief. “That would be fantastic.”

I stepped lightly off the hospital bed, walking shoe-less over to my medical trolley to drag it back to Poe’s side. And immediately, without me asking, he sat up and began a haphazard attempt to pull off his shirt, left arm bandaged and stiff, right arm enveloped in the cast I’d made and evidently still painful to move.

In a wordless reply, I helped him pull the fabric over his head, confronted with the image of a half-naked, strikingly handsome man in front of me.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognised any of his raw allure when he’d been almost stripped completely bare by my own hands on the night of his crash. It seemed bizarre I wouldn’t have noted the strong, broadness of his shoulders, his armoured chest littered deliciously with dark hair, carved abdominal muscles tensed in waiting.

I swallowed hard, hoping Poe wouldn’t register my shaking hands as I prepared the tube removal kit. Snipping the sutures around the plastic, unsteady gloved fingers pulled out the tube as smoothly as I could manage, Poe flinching slightly at the sensation. He continued to look away as I injected some bacta gel into the wound, sealing it closed with a few new sutures and placing a waterproof dressing over the site.

“All done,” I settled. “Like nothing happened at all.”

Poe looked back to me and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was obvious he remained troubled by the memories of his crash, and understandably so. I’d seen the same look in many other military personnel, the attempt to put on a brave face when images of fire, blood and terror pierced their thoughts. I desperately wanted to take his mind to a brighter place. “So, ready to try walking?”

“Absolutely! Lead the way doc.”

Ugh. Eventually I would have to correct him on that.

I stepped back from the side of the bed, arms stretched in readiness for when he inevitably stumbled. “Please take it slowly. Your muscles aren’t going to be pleased with what you’re doing after over two days of bed rest.”

“Sure thing,” Poe scoffed.

Typical male.

Initially he seemed to take my direction, moving his legs slowly from under the blanket, pain now registering on his features. He swivelled himself sluggishly to let his legs fall over the side of the mattress, breathing slightly heavier to push through the discomfort.

He was leaning more on his left side, right arm hovering over his thigh. Tentatively, he slipped his left foot onto the floor and shifted his weight onto it, pushing his hand into the mattress to help himself up.

Soon he was standing in front of me for the first time since we’d met, and even amongst all the burns, bruises, dressings and bandages, he looked impossibly strong, toned muscles wrapping his form.

He noticed the timid smile form on my lips.

“Hey don’t start laughing at me. I don’t think I could handle my ego being bruised along with the rest of me.”

“Oh... I wasn’t-,” I stumbled, quietly relieved he’d misread the reason behind my smirk.

He held his hand up in protest, grinning. “I was kidding. You’re welcome to laugh at the adult sized toddler learning to walk again.”  

It was difficult not to snicker at his words. “Come on,” I encouraged. “Just think of how nice that hot water will feel.”

He sighed in agreement and moved, taking a hesitant step onto the previously fractured leg. I swiftly froze with anxiety, even when the logical side of my brain told me both the break and the artery would have stabilised exponentially by now. But the emotional side, the part that remembered the rush of blood that had exploded from the wound site, nagged incessantly at me, insisting that this was a very bad idea.

My eyes were glued to Poe’s figure as he shifted his weight deliberately, muscles tensing at the trigger of pain he was likely feeling, before he made a delicate hop to move back onto his left leg.

Even that one haggard step appeared to take a lot out of him, but he seemed determined, eyebrows already wrinkled in concentration.  He continued the process a few times over, my arms still poised in waiting for the foreseeable stumble as I walked backwards. I couldn’t help but hold my breath as he limped, following me out of the clinic room into the hallway that lead to my office, the ‘fresher, and my living quarters all the way at the end.

His steps became faster, more confident, when all of a sudden, his balance wavered.

Reacting quickly, I stepped forward to catch him, arms circling under his own and around his torso, hands now gripping the muscles on his back as he crashed into me. I would have stayed there for a moment, my fingertips registering the warmth radiating off his skin, until I became fully aware where his face had fallen into.

I felt Poe’s heated exhale through the cotton of my white shirt after his face had collided into my chest, directly between my breasts. The twinge in my lower abdomen occurred again, breath hitching in my throat.

He scrambled to push himself back into a standing position, my arms releasing from around him, his hands clamping around my biceps as he fought to reclaim his steadiness again.

“I am so sorry!” he blurted, his face dangerously close to mine, only a small touch of redness visible under his caramel skinned cheeks. I knew my blushing would be much more pronounced.

“It’s okay,” I breathed. “I was waiting for that to happen.”

His eyes widened.

“Not that!” I yelped. “I meant you falling! I was waiting for you to fall!”

Poe’s face illuminated into a beaming grin. “Sure you did.”

I frowned in protest, but couldn’t stop the chuckle escaping. I shifted to face the same way as him, an arm curling around his torso, angling my body under his own. “How about I help you the rest of the way?”

His hand gripped onto my shoulder, the hardened squeeze making the tensing inside me ripple even faster.

Focus Alex.

Poe let me support him as he limped down the hallway, and I desperately tried to distance myself from the thoughts that swirled in my mind at being connected so closely.

Eventually we made it into the ‘fresher, a white and grey tiled room with the large, frameless shower enclosure taking up most of the space, the only privacy a plastic curtain that could be pulled across the entire spans of the room. I’d designed it with the idea there would be enough space to assist overnighter patient’s in washing themselves, since I didn’t have a nurse to do it for me. Yet, it still gave me the ability to provide some discretion by stepping out past the other side of the curtain, ready to swoop in if I was needed.

And that’s what I’d planned for Poe, knowing he was hardly the type of patient that was going to let me do anything for him if he could help it. Guiding him to the backless shower chair, I released him to his own devices and quickly pulled the curtain across. It was more for my own concealment at this point, needing to take a moment to settle myself down, the memory of his hold still lingering on my skin.

“I’ll be right here if you need any help okay? Everything you need will be on the shelf under the shower start button.”

“Thanks Alex,” he answered, his voice huffing out as I could hear he’d already started to shimmy down his pants.

Stop imagining it Alex. Stop thinking about him naked, a metre away, behind that thin curtain.

The sound of water rushing into the tile floor pulled me back into some impression of reality. I busied myself with organising my own hygienic supplies in the mirrored cupboard, desperately trying to think of anything other than the man hidden from my view, steam swirling around his figure, water dribbling down his bare skin. From behind the screen I heard a pleasant moan leave him, obviously enjoying the hot water battering into his aching muscles for the first time in days.

And with that sound I felt a twinge between my legs, heat swelling and rippling outwards through my body.

Stars, that was... hot.

It felt so unprofessional, to be tantalized by the thought of a man, a patient, in the middle of such a basic act of human hygiene. But I couldn’t deny he was more attractive than any patient I’d ever had in my life, and the thought of ripping open the curtain so I could join him was suddenly the most tempting thing in the galaxy.

I locked my hands onto the basin that stood in front of me, trying not to be overwhelmed by the sound of Poe lathering soap between his hands, then sliding over an unseen portion of his body.

It was then I started to pace, hoping the repetitive movement would stop me ruminating over the indecent notions my mind was conjuring. Minutes ticked by too slowly as I waited for him to finish his routine, begging for the irresistible pull of craving to be released from me.

“Hey Alex?” Poe suddenly called.

“What's wrong?” I squeaked, cursing at myself for sounding so startled.

“I actually need some help.”

Oh maker, why do you do this to me?

I swallowed hard. “Y-yeah. Sure. Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” he began, voice sounding a little forced. “It’s just... with my left arm still bandaged, and my right arm still in the cast, I can’t wash my hair. I know it’s a little strange, but could you help me out?”

My heart ricocheted inside my rib cage, frolicking at the thought of seeing him soaked in water, fingers raking through his dampened hair.

Come on Alex, try to keep at least one shred of professionalism.

“Sure,” I agreed, a more competent tone saturating my voice as I withheld my internal fluttering. “Make yourself… uh… decent, and I’ll open the curtain.”

I heard Poe’s movement as he reached for one of the towels hanging on the rail nearby and wrapped it around his lower body. The flowing water soon came to a stop, the sudden silence making me feel uneasy.

“Ready.”

I placed myself in front of the curtain between us, his stature only barely visible through the clouded screen. My jaw was locked as I took a deep breath through my nose, meditating in thought, frantically clawing at a sense of calm.

Then I reached towards the plastic, clenched my hand around it, and pulled.

~

Next Chapter

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[stellar-starseed]

Closer Than That

Group: Stray Kids

Pairing: Changbin x fem!reader, Jisung x fem!reader, polyamory

Word Count: 2,330

Summary: Your best friends happen to be 3racha, but Changbin was your closest friend from childhood. When things start to take a different turn in your relationship, you’re left wondering which way is up.

Chapter: 5/?

Other Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4

Warnings: 18+; sexual content, language

Note: This is cross posted on ao3

Chapter 5

Changbin entered your empty apartment after waiting outside for some time to no answer. He checked the studio to be sure you weren’t wrapped in a creative streak, but he found it empty along with the rest of your apartment. He sat on the couch and groaned. He really fucked up, he thought to himself.

Although it wasn’t more than a week since he had seen you, it had been so long since he had spent anytime without you it felt empty. On top of this not being a normal occurrence, Changbin felt out of sorts thinking you were truly upset with him.

“I should’ve never said that.” He said out loud. He looked to his side and the first time he kissed you flashed in his mind. You were shocked and he found it so cute the way you tried to deny it all at first. Changbin remembered the feeling of you relaxing into his arms as he pressed his lips against yours. The sweet taste of you as he ran his tongue over your lip. He found himself biting down on his bottom lip.

“Feel better?” Felix asked as he saw Changbin come through the front door. Changbin sighed.

“It’s all good, mate.” Chan pat him on the back, “Felix made the best brownies to date.” Chan stuffed his mouth. “Mmmm!” He did a little dance. Changbin laughed at Chan’s actions.

“Give me one of those.” Changbin sat down at the table. Felix brought over a plate full of brownies.

“There are three different kinds. These are extra gooey fudge, these are dark chocolate, and the last are chocolate with chocolate chunks.”

“What? I didn’t know there were options.” Chan pouts coming back to the plate.

“Bro, you had like four I thought you knew.” Changbin chuckled at the two of them.

“These are good.” Changbin nodded. Felix brightened up and thanked him.

“I’m working on a batch of cookies right now.” Felix turned on his heal and headed back to the kitchen. Changbin chuckled at him.

“You seem like you’re feeling better.” Chan sat next to Changbin and grabbed for a fifth brownie.

“Nah, I’m just realizing how bad I fucked up.”

“I missed you.” You finally spit out the words as your heading out of the coffee shop. Jisung’s heart soars and he can’t hold back his smile.

“I missed you too,______.” His hand reaches for yours and you feel goosebumps run up your arms at his gentle touch. His eyes meet yours and he pulls you towards him. You momentarily don’t know where this is going but it crosses your mind that he wants to kiss you. You shake it from your mind, that can’t be true, you think. As your mind races through contradicting thoughts, Jisung’s lips find yours.

You’re so lost in the shock of it all you didn’t get to fully enjoy the kiss. It was over far too soon. Your lips tingled when he pulled away and you searched his eyes. He seemed so defeated when you admitted to having feelings for Changbin, but now it was as if you hadn’t said a word. He slipped his fingers through yours and let you know he would walk you to your car.

When you reached your car, Jisung pulled you in close. Wrapping his arms around you, he rested his head on yours. He felt content. He missed you, he missed this feeling.

You closed your eyes and let your arms slip around his slender body. It felt so nice to be wrapped in his arms. His scent was familiar and so comforting. You weren’t sure how you could deal without him. The pang you felt when he was gone came back and you pulled away slightly.

“Don’t leave me.” You said looking into his eyes. Jisung leaned down and softly kissed you before he seriously looked you in the eyes again.

“Never.” He said, the way he looked at you made you feel as if he wanted to make sure you understood he truly meant it. You nodded ever so slightly and rested your head on his chest. He tightened his arms around you again. You were both content to stay like that.

Jisung felt refreshed. He wasn’t sure why he let his emotions get the best of him for that long, but he vowed to never do that again. He replayed the first and second kiss in his mind the whole walk home. His heart fluttered and he chuckled to himself as he entered the dorm.

Jisung danced his way into the living room, a song playing on his lips. He stopped at the couch to belt out the last line.

“You’re in a good mood. All of a sudden?” Changbin was slumped on the couch, his hands intertwined and his thumbs circling each other. He looked down at his hands. Jisung froze.

“Uh. Yes?” He cleared his throat. “Hey,” Jisung looked around and sat on the couch. “I’m sorry. You know, for being an ass.”

“Yeah?” Changbin questioned. “Are you sorry for kissing her too?”

You fell back down on your bed with a dreamy sigh. How could his lips be so soft and delicious? You shrieked and had a mini flailing fit. He looked so good in that outfit and he smelled so good. Your mind was flooded with thoughts of your ‘Hannie’. You filled with excitement just thinking he was yours. You giggled to yourself.

Jumping up from your bed, you headed to your studio. You felt inspired and couldn’t shake the grin you had. The scene replayed over and over. The way he kissed you. The way he held you. The way he looked at you like you were the only important thing to exist.

“Seungie.” You said out loud as you gently touched your lips, chasing that feeling again. You had to tell Somin, you thought.

You pulled out your phone and immediately sent a message to your friend. Moments later she text back in her normal skeptical fashion.

Minnie:

18:38: Are you sure about that?

18:39: What about Binnie? I was routing for him!

You send back a few emojis. It was exciting for you to finally kiss your crush and Somin knew what a crush it had been over the years. You felt a bit guilty for it after her text.

You sat down in your chair and noticed a folded piece of paper on your keyboard. You were certain you didn’t leave this here. You unfolded it to familiar handwriting.

You chuckle to yourself when Changbin’s familiar voice runs through your mind as you read over a new nick name for you, ‘my princess’.

“I wanted to see you, but I guess you still need some space. I’m sorry that I upset you, and if I hurt you I’m even sorrier. I care about you and I hope you know that I wouldn’t hurt you on purpose.”

You smile to yourself. Changbin was the biggest sweetheart when he wanted to be and the biggest brat otherwise. You were nearly ready to head to the dorms just to see him when you realized this may not be the best idea. How were Jisung and Changbin going to get along, and how was Changbin going to feel after finding out you kissed Jisung?

*Chime*

You pick up your phone to a message from Minho.

MinHoe:

18:49:

>gif of mad laughter<

18:49:

They’re plotting your demise. I can’t protect you, but I always liked you!

You laugh to yourself. Minho was precious. You text back the most dramatic crying gif you could find and tell him you always loved him. This web you have created is going to affect everyone around you. You sighed. Hopefully they could let out their steam and maybe things could go back to semi normal.

Jisung was caught by surprise. It wasn’t but fifteen minutes ago that he had kissed you. How could Changbin have seen?

“I-“ he cocked his head. “No.” He shrugged, shaking his head. “I’m not.” Jisung answered Changbin’s question honestly. There was a blanket of silence that took over the room.

“I don’t want to hurt you. I was an ass and I shouldn’t have taken it out in you. But I’m not sorry for kissing her. I’m not sorry for liking her. I don’t think you should be sorry for those things either.”

Slowly, their guards were let down. They had a real conversation about the events that had taken place in their friendship over the last few months. They talked about their feelings for you and they talked about the last few weeks of arguing. They were both a little hurt from each other and the situation. Neither Changbin nor Jisung knew where to go from here.

After about an hour going back and forth with yourself between whether this may be a god idea or a bad idea, you open a group text for Changbin and Jisung. You ask them to come over to talk.

Binnie:

18:55: Of course. :)

Seungie:

18:57: Like together?

Binnie:

18:57: He’ll be there.

Seungie:

18:58: Okay! Me too.

You become a little nervous when you think about addressing the situation head on. But you were all adults, and this shouldn’t be so hard. You wanted your friendships to withstand anything, and this was a true test if ever there was one.

You tried to rehearse different ways of approaching this, but in the end you basically just came up with a couple of points you needed to make. Which was better than nothing.

Your thoughts were interrupted by Changbin’s signature knock and you couldn’t help but giggle to yourself. You tried to make sure you were as presentable as possible before opening the door. You realized your heart rate had picked up a bit but you opened the door like normal.

Changbin stood there with his hat and hoodie. He was emanating boyfriend vibes, and you were a sucker for seeing him in hats and hoodies. Jisung’s smile was the next thing to catch your eye and it warmed your heart.

“Well,” you step aside, “what are you waiting for?”

Changbin pauses, glances at Jisung and back at you. He steals a quick kiss and hurries inside. Jisung paused for a moment, a confused look on his face. He wasn’t sure if that was allowed after their heart to heart.

Jisung rubbed the back of his head and stepped closer to you. He stole a quick kiss as well and you chuckled. This is something you could get used to.

“So,” Changbin plopped down on the couch. “You need my superior producing advice, right? That’s why you called me over?” He smiled wide.

“Then why am I here?” Jisung laughed.

“To kiss and make up.” Changbin remarked.

“Oh, in that case.” Jisung stepped forward, wrapping an arm around your waist he gives you a peck on the cheek. “Do you forgive me darling?” You chuckle at his dramatic tone.

“Hey, hey.” Changbin says, “I didn’t approve that kiss.”

“All kisses need the Changbin seal?” You question.

“How else is this going to work? You know I get jealous.”

“How is what going to work?” You look from Changbin to Jisung who shrugs.

“This.” He circles a finger in the air around the three of you. “Us.” He sits down on the couch. You decide to head over to the couch yourself and you grab Jisung’s hand to pull him along behind you. You sit next to Changbin and grab his hand. Looking at both of their hands in your lap, you sigh.

“Us?” You look at Changbin. “We’re going to be an us?”

“Yeah.” He says, a smile tugging at his lips. “You forgive me?” He pouts and gives you puppy eyes. You can’t help but smile at him.

“Maybe.” You pout. “You made me feel like shit when you ignored me to flirt with that makeup girl that has a thing for you. When you said you told Chan we were dating I felt like you were playing games. Please, don’t do anything like that again.”

“I won’t, but she has a thing for Chan. I asked her to do that to make you jealous. I am so sorry that I hurt you.”

You repeatedly smack Changbin’s arm. “You’re the biggest brat, you know that?” You can’t help but laugh at this point. Changbin nods with a smile.

“Seungie?” You turn to Jisung who was unusually quiet.

“Hm?” You pulled him from his thoughts and he turns his body towards you.

“Are you also on board?”

“I just...” he seems to be gathering his thoughts. “Do I have to sleep with him?”

“What?” Changbin sat straight up. “I never said...” he shuddered.

You shrugged. “No one has to do anything they don’t want to do. I’m not asking you guys to suddenly change everything. You don’t even have to agree to this, but I am interested in trying it out.”

“Okay. Then yes.” Jisung says after a moment of thought. “I have always shared you with Changbin and it didn’t seem to bother me. It was when I thought you had made a choice. A single choice that wasn’t me, that’s what hurt my feelings.”

You hold Jisung’s face in your hands and give him a kiss. You lean your forehead against his. You could see the smile in his eyes and it made you happy.

“If I can be completely honest...” You look back and forth between the two of them. “I have had feelings for you both for such a long time that it would’ve been too hard to choose.”

Changbin’s hand slid up your back and he began to rub soothing circles over your shirt. You leaned back into Changbin and pulled Jisung on top of you.

“I could definitely get used to this.” You giggle.

“Me too.” Changbin says softly next your ear before pressing his lips to your cheek.

————————————————————

Thanks for stopping by, lovely!

I hope you enjoyed. Catch you next episode :)

[jalapeno-princess]

Love Song

Mark Tuan X Reader

Genre: Fluff, Angst? and plenty of badly written smut

Warnings: 18+, Choking kink, degradation?, car sex with Mark (one could only dream), oral sex, riding, face fucking, breast play, fingering, doggy style

Word count: 7.4k

Summary: You and Mark were enjoying your night together at your mutual friend Youngjae’s wedding when your boyfriend asks you to follow him outside. Instead of taking a quick breather like you had thought he was doing, he brings you over to his car and the two of you end up driving to a empty parking lot. It’s in those moments that Mark confesses his insecurities to you and the two of you end up confessing your love for each other leading to passionate and very rough sex in the back seat of his car.

A/N: I don’t know why, but every time I listen to Lana Del Rey, her songs remind me of Mark and when I first heard this song, being the sex deprived horny ass bitch that I am came up with the idea of car sex with Mark and this story came about. I’m sorry if the smut is poorly written I’m not one to write smut too often but I just had to. Happy reading!

In the car, in the car, in the backseat, I'm your baby We go fast, we go so fast, we don’t move I believe in a place you take me Make you real proud of your baby In your car, I'm a star and I'm burnin’ through you In your car, I'm a star and I'm burnin' through you

“Mark, what are you doing? Where are we going? Youngjae and his wife didn’t even cut the cake yet, we can’t just leave the wedding—“ Your boyfriend ignored your complaints and tightened his hold on your hand while continuing to pull you towards his car. 

The two of you were at your best friend Youngjae’s wedding. It was quite a big wedding with a beautiful reception. There were hundreds of people in celebration and you were having such an amazing time. That was until your boyfriend squeezed on your thigh and motioned for the two of you to head outside. 

You didn’t think much of it at first, maybe he just needed to breathe for a little bit. He was never one to be fond of big crowds, so you felt as if maybe he wanted to take a smoke break to calm down his anxiety. But you knew something was up when he began walking in the direction of his car. 

“We can and we will. All the good parts are over anyways. We showed up, watched them say their vows, ate dinner and gave the gift. That’s all that matters. Now get in.” 

You looked up at him in curiosity. Why was he so upset? His face held no emotion, but you’ve been with Mark long enough to know when something was bothering him. Not wanting to aggravate him even more, you did as you were told and took your place in the passenger seat. 

As he began to drive away, you tried to think of what might’ve happened during the night’s festivities that could’ve bothered him so much. He was fine when the two of you left your apartment and he seemed to be having a good time up until it was time for the speeches. You had excused yourself to the bathroom for a few minutes and when you came back, you were quick to notice how tense he had become. As much as you wanted to know what was on his mind, you learned from past experiences not to pry at your boyfriend unless you wanted it to end up in an argument. 

You were so in to your thoughts that you failed to realize how fast Mark was driving until you saw him run a few red lights. That’s when you decided to call him out for the way he was acting. 

“Mark, what’s going on? What happened babe? Talk to me.” You reached for his hand that was on the console and gently grazed it in attempts to get him to calm down. Over the course of your relationship, you’ve learned that Mark had the biggest weak spot for you. Just a simple kiss or touch could break him out of his negative mood and that’s exactly what you did. 

As you brought his hand up to your lips and placed a soft kiss against it, you saw his shoulders relax as his speed began to slow down. Once he got to a stoplight, he turned to face you and cupped your cheek in his hand. No matter how long the two of you have been together, you would always get flustered over any sort of skin ship. He placed a chaste kiss on your forehead before returning his focus back to the road. His free hand found yours and he brought it over to his lap. In your peripheral vision, you saw his eyebrows soften and a small smirk rose upon his face. Knowing that your presence alone could help him feel better made your heart flutter. 

“I’m sorry. I’m being an ass to you for no reason. Just let me park and I’ll tell you everything.” He continued to drive for what felt like hours until he pulled in to an empty parking lot of a random park. Without saying anything, he got out of the driver’s seat and made his way to the back. Before you could ask him what he was doing, he motioned for you to join him. 

Once you made your way towards the back seat, he immediately pulled you on to his lap and hid his face in the crook of your neck while wrapping his arms around your waist. The two of you sat in silence for a while; you wanted to wait for him to explain the way he was acting. You felt him softly drag his fingers along the dress you were wearing and smiled to yourself. 

“This is a really pretty dress. You looked beautiful as always my love. I think you gave Youngjae’s wife a run for her money.” You giggled at his comment and playfully slapped his shoulder. When he released a long sigh and you felt him pout against your jaw, curiosity got the best of you and you decided you would speak up about his behavior. 

“Mark. Babe, what’s got you so upset?” You turned to face him and brought your hands up in to his hair. His brows furrowed and he found himself placing his forehead against yours. 

“Are you mad at me for the way I’ve been acting just now? I’ve ruined the night didn’t I? I don’t know why I’m letting it get to me so much. It’s just—when you went to the bathroom, Jackson came over and started talking to me about how everyone in our group of friends is getting married and settling down and how pathetic it is that I have yet to even pop the question to you. Then he brought up that you must be tired of going to all these weddings and not being able to experience one of your own. He also wouldn’t shut up about the fact that we’ve been together for four years and how I’m stupid for not proposing to you already. Now I can’t stop thinking that one day you’re going to get tired of waiting and leave me. You know that I love you right? I love you with every fiber of my being. I can’t even fathom in to words how much I love you. You mean everything to me y/n. You should know that by now. I’m sorry. I’m sure you want to experience your own wedding; planning it, getting proposed to, walking down the aisle. All of that. And I plan on giving all of that to you baby. It’s just—“

He brought his fingers up to your cheek and gently grazed it. “I want to give you the best. It’s what you deserve. I want to be able to give you the wedding of your dreams. I want to be able to afford that ring I’ve seen you looking at a few times, I want to take you on the best honeymoon and come back to a big house, not our crummy little apartment. I don’t care if that means we have to get married when we’re forty. And I want to make more beautiful memories with you before we have to adult and worry about shit like mortgage and credit card bills. I hate when people meddle in our business. I just couldn’t stay there any longer without wanting to throw my glass of wine at him. You’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I knew that from the beginning of our relationship. I don’t need a fucking engagement ring or some stupid papers to prove to others that you’re my soulmate. All that matters is you and I. You’re my person. I was made for loving you and I plan on doing so for the rest of our lives. But if you want to get married now, then that’s fine too baby. We’ll do whatever you want. I just want you to be happy. We can get hitched tomorrow if you’d like.” 

You let out a light chuckle, but you couldn’t help and tear up at his sweet words. You weren’t going to lie, attending all of his friend’s weddings did make you jealous. Seeing all of their brides getting dolled up for their special day made you extremely envious. But you were afraid of bringing the topic up to Mark. He obviously had his reasons for having yet to ask you to marry him and you respected that. However, hearing that the reason he was still waiting to propose was because he wanted to give you the perfect wedding made your cheeks warm. 

Mark was a man of little words but many actions. Sure, he tells you he loves you on a daily basis, but he never fails to show it to you with his actions. Whether it’s by carrying you to your room whenever you fell asleep on the couch, cooking dinners and washing the dishes for you when you came home late from work, buying you your own carton of ice cream whenever he went grocery shopping, texting you to make sure you were eating your meals on time, preparing you baths when he felt like you were stressed and overwhelmed or circling lines in books that reminded him of you; the little things like this just proved to you how much he really did love you. 

You placed a chaste kiss on the corner of his lips and looked at him with so much love and adoration in your eyes. The last four years of your life were some of the best because of the beautiful man in front of you. He made you feel as if you were the only woman on this earth. The love you had for Mark was indescribable; you’d do anything he’d ask you to and you knew he’d do the same for you. 

“Mark. Babe, look at me.” He shook his head before returning his face against your chest. 

“I prefer it here. It’s nice and comfortable lying against your breasts.” You shoved his shoulder and rolled his eyes and finally, he looked up at you. 

“I’ll admit, as much as I love attending these weddings, I couldn’t help but wish it was ours. I found myself daydreaming about how our wedding would be like. Where we would have it at, what kind of dress I’d wear, the type of flowers, cake and food we’d have. But then I’d look at you and realize, that I don’t need all of that. All I need, is you at the end of the aisle. I don’t need a big, extravagant wedding. Sure, it’d be nice to have a ten tiered cake with dozens of flowers on a beach surrounded with hundreds of our friends and family members. But I don’t care about all of that. You. All I want and could ever need in my life is you. All I care about is you. I don’t care if we run away to Vegas and have an Elvis impersonator marry us off, I just want to be one with you. I want to be yours. Legally, that is. I’m sorry your night was ruined and I’m sorry you had to worry about how I feel about marriage and the fact that we’re the only couple in our group of friends that aren’t married. But you have nothing to worry about anything my love. I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me forever, remember? Honestly Mark, you could propose to me with a ring pop and I would probably cry. I love you, more than you will ever know.” 

You gently lifted up his chin so that you made eye contact with him and connected your lips with his. When you felt him smile in to the kiss as his grip on your waist only tightened, your heart felt as if it was about to combust. Although the two of you were in your mid 20s, you always felt so young when you were with Mark. He always took such amazing care of you and being with him made you feel free; like a child. The two of you continued to kiss and soon one thing led to another. You felt something hard against your thigh and you giggled at the sensation. 

“What? What’s so funny?” Your boyfriend looked at you in confusion as you covered up your mouth and continued your laughter. 

“I can’t believe we left your best friend’s wedding only to have sex in your car. This was your plan all along, wasn’t it? You’re remarkable you know that?” He rolled his eyes before reconnecting your lips together. One of your favorite past times was kissing Mark. Your boyfriend had the prettiest heart shaped lips you’ve ever seen. They were always so soft and plump, and you loved how they felt against yours. 

“No. I didn’t plan to leave Youngjae’s wedding so we could fuck in my back seat. This is just the cherry on top of what was almost a great night. However, I’m sure you’ll make it a perfect night for me pretty soon. Fuck, you don’t know how hard it was watching you get ready and seeing you put on this dress. You don’t know how breathtakingly beautiful yet extremely sexy you are do you baby girl? It took every bone in my body not to throw you up against the wall and fuck you in to next week. I don’t think you noticed how many eyes were on you tonight. The guys are all married but yet I caught all of them sneaking glances at you. I caught Bambam staring at you and even biting his lip multiple times and I wanted to sock him in the face for it. You’re mine, all mine. I wanna hear you say it.” 

You began to grind yourself in to his growing erection earning yourself a breathy groan from the devastatingly handsome man in front of you. You nibbled softly on his ear lobe and placed a chaste kiss right below it, knowing just how much it turned your boyfriend on whenever you did that. 

“Say what Mark?” He frowned, but it was quickly replaced with a scowl. No matter how sweet Mark was when it came to you, whenever it came to your love sessions, he was rough and very animalistic. He made sure you knew he was the boss when it came to the bedroom, not that you had any complaints. If anything, you loved how dominant Mark was during sex. You loved it when he edged you, spanked you, choked you and had you begging for release. His dominance was a huge kink of yours and your boyfriend was completely aware of this. Which is why he knew you were teasing him only to get him riled up. 

You began to palm him through his dress pants and fastened your pace grinding against his thigh. The grunt that left his pretty lips sent chills down your spine and warmth to your core. You wanted Mark to know the effect he had on you, your heart, your mind and your extremely soaking pussy. After reconnecting your lips to his, you reached for his hand and brought it in to your dress, guiding it up to your entrance. You pulled away briefly to make eye contact with him as you cupped your cunt with his hand. 

“Yours. I’m all yours. Forever.” The look of lust and desire in his eyes only made things more difficult for you. You needed him now. As much as you loved foreplay and the idea of his head between your thighs, you wanted him inside of you. 

“You’re so fucking beautiful y/n. God. I will never get enough of you. My pretty little petal. You’re mine. All mine. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’d do it a hundred times if it meant having you in every single lifetime. I love you. I love you s—so—fuck. Keep going baby. You’re so good to me angel.” 

Hearing him say those things made you smile like an idiot and you decided you’d put your selfish needs on hold in order to pleasure your boyfriend. He yanked off both his vest and his dress shirt as your dainty little fingers unzipped his pants. You quickly freed his extremely hard and painfully red looking cock from his boxers. The sight of his bare chest and his erection made your mouth water. Mark was well endowed, he was both thick and long. You couldn’t believe someone like Mark existed. It irritated you that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. He was perfect and all yours. 

You wrapped your fingers around the base of his cock and swiped the pre cum that was already seeping out. You made sure he kept eye contact with you as you seductively brought his cum in to your mouth. The growl that came from the back of his throat didn’t go unnoticed by you and turned you on more if that was even possible. You began to pump him slowly and started leaving sloppy kisses along his neck. When you felt him wrap his hand against yours and began to pump faster, you felt a coil building up in your stomach. 

Something about the way he was acting so brutal yet soft brought heat to your cheeks. Seeing him close his eyes and bite down on his lip as the two of you were pumping his length was such an erotic sight. To Mark’s dismay, you pulled away all to soon and as he was about to complain, you got off of his lap and sat down on the floor. 

“I want you to fuck my face Mark. Take all your anger out on me baby. Let’s break in your new car.” His eyes widened in shock at your not so innocent words and with the sultry way you were looking at him, he knew he wasn’t going to last long. You kitten licked the tip before dragging your tongue back and forth along his slit. Hearing him take in a deep breath caused you to grind yourself against the floor, trying to get any sort of friction between your heat. Finally, you brought him in to your mouth and did your best to swallow him as much as you could. 

Although you loved receiving head, especially because Mark was so good at eating you out, you preferred giving it just a little bit more because you knew how much pleasure it brought your boyfriend. Watching his facial expressions and the way he would tug on your hair only gave you more confidence to perform better. No matter how painful it was, hearing his constant moans, cussing and dirty words was worth the tears you had shed. 

“Look at you, my beautiful cock slut. You just love choking on my dick don’t you babe? Fuck y/n, just like that. You’re so good to me—your mouth is so warm. I love it when you suck me off, you’re so good at it. Ah—ah—oh fuck.”

You brought your thumb up to his cock and grazed along his throbbing veins all the while dragging your tongue around the tip of his cock agonizingly slow. When you looked up to see his facial reactions, you let out a soft moan. Seeing Mark bite down on his lip all the while holding a pleasuring expression on his face made your cheeks blush. As he grew closer to his release, he brought his hands down to your hair and all but gently shoved himself farther and farther down your throat. 

Since the two of you were very honest in your relationship, he was very transparent when it came to voicing his kinks and you were completely aware that face fucking was at the top of his list. Sure, Mark would do anything you’d ask him to; but behind closed doors, he was a fierce, dominant figure. He wanted to instill it in your mind that only he could bring you to sheer ecstasy with just a single touch. 

“Take it baby, I know you can handle it. Fuck, I’m so close. You’re so beautiful, you know that? I’m so—so—fucking in love with you—ahhh shit.” Before you knew it, your mouth was being filled with his warm, creamy liquid and you swallowed whatever you possibly could. The exhausted sigh that fell from his lips once you pulled your mouth away was an all too familiar sound and you knew you had literally sucked the life out of him. When you heard him giggle, you looked up at him in curiosity and began to get up from off the ground.

“What’s wrong?” His laughter continued before he placed a chaste kiss on the corner of your lips. 

“I uh—You have some cum—right there. How can you look so adorable right after having my dick down your throat? God, how are you even real? You can’t be. That was—shit y/n. I’m speechless. You’re just—wow. You know what? Fuck it, let’s get hitched. Will you marry me baby?” You playfully shoved his shoulder before climbing on to his lap. Your hands made their way up to his hair as you began leaving sloppy kisses along his jaw. 

“Hmmm, to think, all it took was a blow job to get me a proposal. I’ve given you plenty of those before, why so desperate now Tuan?” He rolled his eyes before gripping on to your hips and began grinding you against his lap again. “Mark.” He hummed in curiosity as you connected your lips together in a passionate kiss. “Take off my dress. Please.” The toothy grin he sent you as he hid his face in the crook of your neck made this feel all too surreal. 

Before Mark, you had your fair share of terrible relationships and at one point, you felt that love just wasn’t for you. That was until the beautiful boy in front of you clumsily fell on to your lap as you were sitting on the ground of Barnes and Noble reading a book. Countless apologies spilled from his lips but they all went through one ear and out the other. You were so focused on how attractive he was and how cute he sounded as he stuttered on his words. 

When he took a look at you, it’s as if his whole world just stopped. It’s as if he was in a trance and he didn’t know why. Love at first sight was so cliche, but Mark knew there was something about you that stuck with him. It was then that he found himself asking to sit with you and began to read for a few minutes before building up the courage to talk to you. From that day on, the two of you were inseparable. Your mom even called the two of you magnets. Wherever one of you went, the other would follow. 

Since the beginning of your relationship up until now, Mark has shown you so much love, support, patience, kindness and happiness and you knew if soulmates existed, he was yours. You took a good look at him and you couldn’t help the tear that fell from your cheek at the thought of how much you loved the man staring back at you. You’d do anything for him, be anyone he’d ask you to be, go anywhere he’d go. Mark Tuan was your person, and you were sure you’d die if you were to lose him. 

“Baby what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” You didn’t even notice your tears as they continued to fall until he began leaving soft kisses against your cheeks. Before he could say anything else, you brought your lips back to his and kissed him with everything you had; hoping he could feel at least half of the love you held for him through the kiss. He licked on your bottom lip, non verbally asking for entrance while returning the kiss just as hard. A whimper fell from his lips when he felt you pull away but you were quick to lean your forehead against his.

“I love you so much. You mean the world to me Mark.” The way he was looking at you with so much love and admiration in his eyes made you tear up even more; but before he let any more tears fall, he began to unzip your dress and softly tossed it to the ground. 

“Holy shit.” When you saw that he was looking at your breasts, only then did it occur to you that you weren’t wearing a bra. “You’re something else you know that? Perfect doesn’t even come close to what you are. You are a marvel baby. So, so pretty and all mine. I love you too my love. More than you will ever know.” 

He tried his best to position the two of you so that he was on top, but his car; although it was more spacious than his previous one, was still very cramped to be having sex in. As he tried to lower your head on to the seat, he actually ended up bumping the back of your head on the side door and when he tried to make sure you were alright, he ended up bumping his head against the window.

“Whoever said car sex is the best kind of sex is a fucking liar.” You giggled in to the juncture of his neck and motioned for him to get off of you, earning yourself an adorable look of curiosity. 

“Let me ride you, it might be easier since I’m tinier. You‘ll end up bumping your head every time you thrust in to me. Face it sweetie, you didn’t plan this out well.” He let out a sarcastic chuckle before guiding you to the tip of his cock. 

“Wait, y/n. I was actually planning on eating you out first before making love to you—“ you softly grazed his cheek before bringing his cock up to your extremely soaking entrance. 

“I need you inside of me. Now. Knowing us, we’ll go round two once we get home. So you can take care of me then. Focus on rearranging my guts and making sure I’m immobile for the rest of the week.” His eyes widened in shock at your naughty words. You were an extremely sweet and soft spoken person to everyone you knew. But every time you and Mark made love, you’d become a completely different person and he loved it. Although you were more of a submissive type, there were times where you could be pretty rough with your boyfriend and sometimes you even teased him until he was begging for his release. Tonight was one of those nights where you planned on wrecking him. 

You reached down and wrapped your dainty little fingers around the head and slid your thumb back and forth against his slit. After collecting some of the precum from his extremely hardened and throbbing cock, you made sure you were keeping eye contact with him as you brought the creamy white liquid up to your lips and sucked every bit of it from off your fingers. The breathy moan that came from his pretty pink lips only sent more heat to your soaking core. 

“Fuck, that was so hot—shit—SHIT. How are you always so fucking tight? You’re soaking baby, fuck. You feel amazing. I’m going to need you to do something. Anything, please y/n. Fuck me already damnit!” 

You loved the power you had over him; you knew that Mark tried his best to come off as someone who hated to beg and being submissive, but deep down you knew he liked it. He loved how dominant you could be whenever it came to sex. He loved knowing that only he knew how wild and rough you were in bed. He loved knowing there was a dark and extremely erotic side to the kind, gentle and soft spoken girl everybody knew and loved. After what felt like hours, you finally began to give Mark what he was asking for. 

You lifted yourself off of his cock and immediately sank back down afterwords. Your slick walls began to coat the entirety of his painful erection and you were quick to fasten your pace when you felt his hands grip tightly on your waist. Mark began to thrust himself inside of you causing the car to shake but neither of you seemed to care. One thing you loved about having sex with Mark, it was always a team effort. He’d never let you do anything on your own. If you gave him head, he would never let you go to sleep without eating you out. If you rode him, he became a power bottom. 

If he came before you did, he made sure to make your orgasm last longer and hit you even harder. To Mark, you were the most delicate and fragile flower and he was so afraid of hurting you. But with the way you would control most of your love making sessions, he knew you were a force to be reckoned with.

“Fuck baby, you feel so good. You’re so, so good to me. How does it feel y/n? Riding my cock like the pretty little cow girl you are? You like bouncing on my dick don’t you? You love the feeling of my cock penetrating those tight and slick walls of yours huh? The idea of anyone pulling up to this parking lot and catching us relinquishing in our love excites you doesn’t it my beautiful girl? Who owns this pretty pussy of yours? Say it. Scream my name baby.” 

He brought his hands up to your ass and squeezed both cheeks before roughly slapping them. The sound echoed throughout the car and it only caused the coil that was building up in your stomach to tighten. 

“You Mark. You do. You and only you. You own everything. My heart, my mind, my body, my soul. It’s all yours. I’m all yours. Please baby, go faster. Fuck me harder Mark. Deeper baby, please.” 

Your begging only made things harder for your boyfriend, literally. As much as he loved having you sink up and down on his cock as your pretty titties bounced, he needed to go deeper. There were no words to describe just how good you felt. As your ass continually hit against his pelvis and the tip of his cock hit your cervix, he knew he was close. He pulled you down to his chest and placed a long, sloppy kiss against your lips. When he brought your bottom lip in between his teeth, you let out a mix of a moan and a whine and it was the most orgasmic sound he’s ever heard before. 

He released your lip and began to attack your chest with multiple love bites. You were his and he wanted the world to know just how amazing your night together had been. Before you knew it, he brought his mouth up to one of your breasts and playfully began to lick your nipple. You had a huge breast play kink and Mark was well aware of it which is why he never failed in taking advantage of loving on your beautiful mounds. 

The two of you experimented in many different ways of breast play; whether it was clamps, titty fucking, ice play or food play, you would find your orgasm build at just the simplest lick or pinch of your nipple. Even when the two of you weren’t being intimate, Mark was constantly loving on your chest on a daily basis and made sure you were well aware that it was his favorite body part of yours other than your beautiful face, thick thighs and plump ass. He brought his mouth around your breast and started to suck on it as he squeezed your other one and toyed with your nipple. 

While he was taking the time to take care of your breasts, you continued to bounce on him like a bunny rabbit and brought your hands up to his hair in order to tug on it hoping that he knew he was driving you insane. After spending a few minutes nipping and sucking on one breast, he finally made his way to the other and continued his movements. Your sighs, gentle moans and soft murmurs only egged him on more and as much as he loved playing with your tits, he wanted to be balls deep inside of your pussy. As soon as he pulled his mouth away from your breast, you released a whine causing him to giggle.

“Mark, what the fuck? That felt amazing. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll put my breast back in your mouth.” He giggled softly before reconnecting your lips together and motioned for you to get off of him. This earned him the cutest look of confusion but instead of letting you wonder what he meant, he spoke up. 

“As much as I love both sucking and fucking on these pretty and very huge titties of yours, I wanna hit it from behind. I need to see that beautiful ass bounce on my cock. Let me fuck my princess doggy style.” 

Although you were nervous thinking about how he could fuck your from behind in such a limited amount of space, you trusted your boyfriend and knew that he wouldn’t put you in a situation you’d be uncomfortable in. He had you turn around and face the opposite door as he bent you over and handed you his dress shirt and coat to rest your head on if you needed to. He brought one hand to your waist and the other one found one of your breasts. 

“Ready for me my love?” You turned your head as much as you possibly could and stole a chaste kiss from him in response. As soon as he reentered your dripping sex, you both let out exhausted moans as he roughly started to plunge himself in to you. His hand dropped from your waist and made it’s way up to your neck all but gently wrapping around it and choking you. Choking was one of your biggest kinks. Mark had the prettiest hands you’ve ever seen on a man.

They were so long and skinny and you loved the feeling of them wrapped around your neck, intertwined with yours, squeezing your breasts and ass, gripped against your waist or buried inside of your cunt. His grip on your neck tightened but he was still very gentle with the way he had his hand wrapped around you. The feeling of him both quickly and roughly thrusting himself in to you as he delicately gripped at your throat on top of the sounds of skin on skin clapping echoing throughout the car was making your head spin. This was all too much for your mind to process let alone handle. 

Sure, the two of you had sex countless of times throughout your entire relationship. There were times where the sex was extremely hot and passionate and times where your boyfriend was slow, soft and very gentle. The two of you found yourself in situations where toys were used, you were in the public with many chances of getting caught and anytime you and Mark would argue, it would always end in steamy and angry make up sex. 

Something about the atmosphere this time around was different. Maybe it was because he voiced his worries and insecurities to you regarding your future together and because he admitted to you that he wanted to give you the world and all that he thinks you deserve before asking you to marry him. All you knew and even cared about was the man currently giving himself to you. 

You didn’t care about marriage, where the two of you were to live and settle down and nor did you care about what anyone thought about your relationship. Mark was all you needed in this life of sin. He was quick to notice that you were out of it so he began leaving sloppy kisses along your jaw to get your attention.

“Everything okay baby? I’m not hurting you am I?” You shook your head in disagreement before turning as far as you could to connect your lips together.

“I’m fine. I just love—fuck—I love you so much Mark—mmmmmm. Faster, and choke me harder. Please, it feels so good. So—so good.” Hearing your confessions of love on top of how tight your pussy was clenching around his sensitive cock because of the way he was wrapping his fingers around your neck was driving Mark to the edge of insanity. 

“You love the way I wrap my fingers around your pretty little neck don’t you baby? You love how rough and dominant I can be don’t you? You love the feeling of my thick cock stretching out your beautiful pussy don’t you princess? Daddy loves it just as much and if not more. You’re so fucking tight and you’re taking me so well. I will never get tired of fucking my beautiful baby girl. Making love to you is my favorite past time. You—you mean everything to me. I’m so in love with you y/n. Please, tell me you’re close. I’m losing my mind here.”

He gently shoved your head down in to the seat when he felt you nod in agreement and to your dismay, took his hand off of your neck. However, he brought his fingers down to your clit and began to rub against your extremely sensitive nub as he continued to blow your back out. The feeling of his rough digits ploughing themselves in you as his dick sank itself in between your folds sent your bones on fire and with the way Mark was roughly nipping and sucking at your neck in order to hide his moans, you knew he was ready to release his load inside of you. 

Before you knew it, your boyfriend let out a strained cry as his second orgasm filled you up to the hilt. He frowned when he noticed you still had yet to come yourself, but the soft caress against his thumb broke him out of his self pity.

“Baby, I’m so sorry—“ you brought your fingers up to his lips in order to silence him. 

“Eat me out Mark. Put those pretty lips to use. I’m almost there, I just need your tongue.” He released an exhausted yet extremely sexy grunt before turning you around and laying you on the chair. He brought his fingers down to your clit and collected some of his cum while bringing it up to your lips. 

“Suck.” You did as you were told and licked his fingers clean. The sight made blood rush to Mark’s head and he plopped his body down on yours in order to connect your lips together. You bit down on his bottom lip before nipping and sucking on it. Mark’s lips were extremely addicting and you would kiss him for days if only time permitted you to do so. 

Unfortunately, he pulled away before you could continue your make out session because he knew he had a job to do and if you kept kissing him the way you were, he wouldn’t get to eat you out like you pleased. As he began to lower himself to your entrance, your breath hitched at the sight of his head between your thighs.

You always loved watching Mark go down on you, especially when he would innocently smile up at you with your essence all over his lips as if he wasn’t committing such a sinful act of lust. He started to leave soft kisses against your thighs and decided to tease you by blowing hot air against your entrance. 

“You smell and look so good baby doll, but I bet you taste even better. Let’s see if my assumptions are right.” As you were about to push his head against your tightened core needing him to do anything to help the tingling and throbbing sensation between your legs, he finally brought his tongue up to your clit and teasingly licked your slit earning himself a breathy moan. 

“Holy shit. You taste amazing. You never cease to amaze me. Time to dig in.” His tongue lapped up at your juices as he began to nip and suck on your clit. He grazed you’re core with his teeth and you could feel yourself getting closer to your end. Your hands made their way to his hair and you pulled at it every time you felt his lips sucking on your folds. Your moans and breathy sighs only made your boyfriend go harder on you. He brought his index and middle finger up to your entrance and shoved himself inside as he continued licking at your clit. 

“M—Mark—fuck—please—please please—so so good—“ he pulled away and gave you his award winning smile causing your eyes to roll back. 

“Enjoying yourself baby?” You looked down at him and nodded. He looked so adorable yet so naughty; how was that even possible. If only you could take a mental photo of the breathtaking sight in front of you and go back to look at it every time you were apart from him. 

“I don’t know. You seem to be quiet tonight. Maybe I should stop—“ you all but gently pulled at his hair and gave him a knowing look. 

“Don’t you dare Tuan. We’re not going anywhere until I’m seeing stars and cum in your mouth.” He gave you a smirk before leaving soft kisses against your thighs. 

“Fine. But you know what I want from you baby. Sing for me. Don’t hide those pretty noises. Moan for me. Scream my name. Let me know just how good I’m eating this pretty pink cunt of yours.” 

He didn’t need to ask you twice. As soon as he brought his mouth back to your entrance and continued his ministrations, you were putty in his hands. Your screams and silent curses filled his car and before you knew it, the coil that was tightening in your tummy released and all you could see was white. Mark licked up everything as soon as you released yourself in to his mouth and left a few more kisses against your clit before making his way up to you. 

“You’re such a good girl. God, you are perfect. I’ll never get over your beauty and the way you never fail to blow my mind—and my dick.” 

You gave him a tired smile and brought your hand up to cup his cheek. “How was I? Did I do a good job? Did I make daddy proud?” He returned your grin and stole a sweet kiss from your lips. 

“You were perfect y/n. You’re always so good to me. If it’s any consolation, this was one of our best love making sessions we’ve had yet. To be honest, I really like fucking you in here. It’s a bit cramped but damn, I love being pressed up so close against your body. Plus, it’s more intimate and gets steamier in here. Look at the windows, it’s like our own personal sauna in here.” You took a few seconds to look around and notice what he was referring to and let out a gasp while softly slapping his chest. 

“If anyone were to pull up and see your car—“ 

“Then they would see how hot and nasty we get during sex. We give porn stars a run for their money. I turn in to some animalistic creature whenever we make love; I don’t know why but you drive me insane and I fucking love it. The windows are tinted a few colors darker than what’s allowed baby. There’s nothing for you to worry about. I did that for a reason.” 

With the small amount of energy you had left, you giggled against his chest at the idea of him purposely tinting his windows so he could fuck you in his car without people being able to see inside. Mark was always such a horny bastard, not that you had any complaints. Your body craved him as much as your mind and heart did. You playfully rolled your eyes at the older boy and failed to notice the way he was looking at you. 

Although the both of you just relinquished in your love for almost two hours, he looked at you as if you were the one to set the sun, stars and the moon in to the sky. Mark had a hard time believing you were real sometimes. You placed a soft kiss against his nose to break him out of his thoughts. 

“Someone like you only comes around once in a lifetime. I thank God every day for blessing me with someone as ethereal and exceptionally wonderful as you to be my person y/n. It took me years to accept the fact that I deserve you because I never felt like I was good enough for you. I know I try my best to prove my love for you and I say it quite a lot but I’m sorry if there are times where you doubt my love for you. Just know I would go through hell and back just to make sure that breathtaking smile of yours stays on your beautiful face. You are more than just my girlfriend y/n. You’re my best friend. My soul mate. My person and I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you and telling you just how grateful I am to be yours. One day you’ll be my wife. Soon baby. I can’t wait to put a ring on your cute little finger. Let’s get you home baby, so I can continue to show you just how much I love you.”

Oh, be my once in a lifetime Lyin' on your chest in my party dress I'm a fuckin' mess, but I Oh, thanks for the high life Baby, it's the best, passed the test and yes Now I’m here with you, and I Would like to think that you would stick around You know that I’d just die to make you proud The taste, the touch, the way we love It all comes down to make the sound of our love song

[notyetneedcoffee]

Soul Seer, Pt. 6

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Smut, Light Bondage

Author’s Note: Takes place right after Avengers 1, with time travel elements and hints of Infinity Wars. Does NOT follow cannon after Avengers.

* * *

You spooned the last bite of chocolate mousse into your mouth with a sigh. “Mmm, thank you for have something to eat sent up. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

Loki lounged in a chair across from you sipping on a glass of red wine. His eyes gleamed with amusement. “I’ve told you. You’re mine to watch over.”

“That should freak me out.” You took a drink of your own wine. “In any other circumstance a statement like that would send up so many warning flares it would look like the Fourth of July.”

“It’s just a fact.”

“It sounds controlling and unhealthy.” You smirked. “But damn it, since I actually know where you’re coming from, I find it kind of comforting.”  

His brow rose, curious.  

“I mean,” you sighed. “I’ve been thinking a lot about your perspective on me. Granted, it started because I was kind of terrified of what you would do about me.”

Loki set his glass down, leaning forward in his seat. Before he could speak, you pushed forward with what you were trying to say.

“But after you promised you weren’t going to hurt me, I began to try and figure out what you must think of me, how we could possibly relate. Everything in my head is so completely foreign. Then I realized, that you ‘taking ownership’ is less about controlling me, and more about being responsible for me. See, here we don’t think about other people the way you think about other people. I’m still trying to figure it all out, but I think – in my mind - I’m equating your desire to be responsible for me as the only way you know to show that you appreciate my role in freeing you from whatever that was.”

Loki stared at you, hard. His aura flared with a brilliant intensity. It shone bright lime green, something akin to amazement and joy radiated from him. To your eyes, it was a stark contrast to the harsh look upon his face. You smiled softly, taking another sip of your wine. “Am I wrong?”

“I owe you a debt.” His voice was calm, impassive.  

“I will never hold that over you.” You set your glass down.  

He stood, swift and graceful, pulling you out of your chair and against his chest. Long fingers slipped into your hair, other hand pressed into the small of your back. He breathed in your scent, nose ghosting over the skin of your face. “Why must you be so perplexing?”  

“Why are you?” You hands slipped around his waist, eyes drifting closed.

“So obstinate.” Loki’s lips brushed yours.  

“Just being truthful.” You smiled against his lips.  

“A truthful moral for the God of Lies?” Loki chuckled, holding you tighter against his chest and your feet came off the ground. His mouth descended upon yours, tongues dancing. He set you back on your feet, bending you back. You moaned.

“I’m going to pull every delightful moan, every delicious drop of ecstasy, from your…”

Knock! Knock! Knock!  

“What?!” Loki howled towards the door. You would have tried to stand up straight, except Loki held you firm.  

The door opened and Thor walked in. He stopped upon seeing the two of you. “Brother. I seem to be interrupting.”

Loki stood you upright. Answering blandly, “How astute.”

“Hi Thor.” You smiled, taking up your wine to hide your amusement at Loki’s fake blustering.

“Lady Y/N,” Thor nodded a greeting. You could feel the concern flowing off him in waves. “I trust you are well.”

“Getting better all the time.” You smiled. “What brings you by?”

“I will be departing for Asgard.” He turned to Loki. “You will be of use here, without trouble, brother?”

“I have vowed.” Loki rolled his eyes.  

“I assume you have a plan?” Thor placed a strong hand on Loki’s shoulder.  

“Of course, when do I not?”  

“Why do I have the feeling not everyone will approve?” Thor frowned.

“There is enough Chitauri technology and weaponry out there to tip the power scales on Midgard. The way I see it, in order to abide by my vow, all of that must be kept from the wrong hands and destroyed.” Loki grew very serious.  

Thor nodded. “They will argue with you.”

“I have no doubt.” Loki smiled at you. “But I have a plan to convince them.”

“Very well.” Thor stepped back, turning to you as well. “And you, Lady Y/N? You wish to stay with my brother?”

Loki scowled, stepping between you with a growl. The intense flare of defensive outrage, of violent intent, nearly blinded you. Resting a calming hand on Loki’s arm, you smiled gently at Thor. “He’s actually growing on me.”

Loki looked down at you, settling instantly. He covered your hand with his own.  

Thor also noticed the immediate shift in his brother and nodded. “I see that.”

“Is there anything else?” Loki glowered.  

“No.” Thor chuckled, backing away towards the door. “Be well, Lady Y/N.”

“Thanks, you too.”  

At the door, Thor couldn’t stop himself from teasing. “Be good, brother. Take care of that one.”

“Get out.” Loki slammed the door in his face. He turned slowly toward you, taking purposeful stalking steps. His head tilted to the side, eyes narrowing. “Growing on you?”

You backed away from his predatory approach. His mischievous joy made it nearly impossible to keep the smile off your face. “What? I was just teasing.”

“Teasing?” Loki growled. You smiled. He dashed forward, quicker than you could react, and tossed you over his shoulder. “I will show you what it is to tease, you minx.”  

You squealed, laughing. He hauled you into the bedroom. Loki dropped you onto the bed, where you landed with a bounce. He stood over you, smirk on his lips. You stretched out on the bed, smiling. Loki practically vibrated with an energy that made your nerves tingle and breath come quick.

He crawled above you, on all fours. His hair fell around his face as he leaned forward and captured your mouth in a bruising kiss. You moaned as his teeth nipped your lower lip. Loki’s hands clasped your arms and slid them up over your head. Something cool, solid, and heavy appeared around them.  

You pulled away from the kiss to look up at the heavy gold chain now binding your arms to the bed. “Loki?”

He still hovered over you, smiling. His voice poured over you like pure sin. “I want you to pick a word, my pet.”

“You going to push me, Loki?”  

He leaned closer, and licked a line up your neck. A green shimmer of magic tickled your skin as all of your clothes disappeared. “I am going to tease you, my pet.” Loki purred. “Pick,” his teeth nipped your ear. “A,” your neck. "Word,” your nipple.

“Emerald.” You breathed.

“Very good.” Loki licked the taunt nipple with his tongue. He sat back on his heels between your legs. “Now, what to do with these.” He took one ankle in his hand, bringing it to his lips. Lifting your leg high, he trailed wet kisses across your calf to the back of your knee. Your eyes fell closed, sighing.  

Bending your leg, knee toward your chest, and and laying it open wide, he placed a golden chain around your leg to hold it open wide, bent. Loki repeated the action with your other leg. It left you spread open, exposed, and dripping for him. The predatory lust in his eyes made your cunt clench and he licked his lips.

“Delightful.” He purred. Long fingers slid through your wetness, slicking up sensitive flesh. With a shimmer his clothes vanished as he crawled back up your body. His nose, lips, ghosted along your flesh until he reached your mouth. Loki kissed you thoroughly before whispering darkly, “let’s begin.”

Rocking back on his heels again, Loki fingers touched your collar bones. They were ice cold. You sucked in a breath. His icy touch slid down your chest, circling your breasts, until he rolled your sensitive nipples between frozen fingers.  

“Oh fuck,” you whined. His mouth, hot and wet, sucked hard. “God, Loki!”

He hummed his delight and took the other in his mouth, drawing a moan from you. Loki fingers continued their icy exploration of your flesh, over your stomach and down your sides. He slid his hands along your thighs. You shivered violently, desire overwhelming the cold.

Loki held his hand up where you could see it. A gold vial appeared in his palm. He trickled warm oil over your chilled flesh. You moaned as he rubbed the oil over your legs, stomach, coming closer and closer to your core. When his fingers slipped between your folds your hips rocked into him.  

Two long fingers slipped into you. Hot oil over frozen fingers danced over your clit, pumped in your cunt. Heat spread. Tension coiled.   

“Fuck, oh, fuck...”  

Loki’s hands pulled away, depriving you of release.  

“No!” You pulled on the chains. He laughed, dark and seductive.

Even the sound of his laugh poured over your heightened senses like honey. You shivered again, eyes falling closed. Cool breath blew over your hot sensitive flesh. Your eyes popped open to see Loki poised between your legs, looking back at you.

He nipped at the flesh of your inner thighs, sharp teeth soothed by his warm tongue. You writhed, wanting more. “Please, Loki.”

His deep chuckled made you pull at the chains. “My poor pet. You are so sensitive, so reactive, aren’t you?” His tongue lapped up the center of your folds and you moaned. “So delightful.”

Loki’s mouth latched on to your clit, humming and sucking, suddenly ravenous. You screamed, back arching off the bed. His strong hand splayed across you, holding you down. Your thighs pushed against the restraints, shaking. Your body lit up.  

“My god, Loki!”

He push back, suddenly not touching you at all.  

“Fuck!” You cried. “Loki, please!”  

Wicked mischievousness lit his eyes as he crouched between your spread legs. You could see his straining erection, this turned him on as much as it tormented you. “Are you going to stop teasing your god?”

Despite your desperation, an equally wicked smirk crossed your face. “You wouldn’t want me to lie to you, would you?”

Loki pounced forward, body pushing against yours, hand at your throat. “So obstinate, my pet.” He kissed you hard, messy. His teeth tugged at your lower lip. “Such a delight.”

“Please, Loki,” You panted. “Fuck me.”

His rich chuckle slid over you again. “In such hurry?” The hand around your throat tightened momentarily before it slid down your oil slicked body. He moved down. This time digging in deep with his fingers, pulling hard at your nipples, dragging moans from you.

Two long finger slid into your wet cunt, massaging up, pressing against your g spot with a masterful touch. His other hand pressed against your pelvis, heightening the sensation. You mewled, whined. Wet, sloppy noises filled the room.

“Do not come yet, my pet.” Loki smile. “Breathe, look at me.”

You did. Your eyes lock with his. You tried to breathe deep, but your body coiled like spring. An inferno spread from your core. The intensity in Loki’s eyes, held you suspended. His hands grew more forceful. You panted, unable to hold back.

“Loki!”

“Now.” He growled.

You came harder than ever before. Squirting, flooding, over his hand and the bed, soaking everything. Your body shook, eyes rolling back, nerves electrified.  

“My pet,” Loki crawled up your quivered body, kissing you. “So lovely.”  

He slammed into you, filling you deep with one powerful thrust. You cried out in pleasure as it pushed your singing body even further. He moved with quick, snapping, thrusts. “Oh, fuck! Loki! Let me touch you, please!”

The chains vanished, and your legs rose higher, wrapping around his hips. Burying your hands in his hair, you pulled. Loki moaned deep. Your teeth latched onto his shoulder. He growled, slamming into your harder. You orgasm hit you all at once, leaving you clutching and quivering beneath him.  

Loki rode out your pleasure, grinding into your body as he found his own. Fucking into you hard and fast until he finally pressed deep, emptying himself, holding you tight. The urge to stay there, buried deep, wrapped around each other, completely took Loki by surprise.  

You felt him go stiff. Felt the euphoric afterglow marred by confusion. Still holding him to your body, in your body, you gentle ran your fingers through his hair and kissed his neck. “Loki?”

He moved slow, reluctantly, to the side. Gathering you to against him, cupping your face in his hand, you could actually see the myriad of emotions in his eyes. He wasn’t hiding. Swallowing hard, his words came out thick. “You are mine.”

Tears filled your eyes, knowing exactly his meaning. Your hand covered his. “And you are mine.”

Loki’s eyes closed tight. He pulled you close, curling around you. The strong complex feeling that always emanated from Loki settled. “Sleep, my pet.” He breathed against your ear. He did not need the sleep, but enjoyed lightly dozing. “I will stay here until you wake.”  

TAGS

@kneel-before-queen-loki / @thorfanficwriter / @dawnlaufeyson / @theladybiers

/ @jillilama-blog / @vodka-and-some-sass / @archy3001 / @asgardianthot / @a--1--1--3 / @tahiri-veyla / @rinthehufflepuff / @myownviperroom / @kermittheshipper / @rainbowkisses31 / @dsakita / @geeksareunique / @lbouvet / @buckybarneshairpullingkink / @theneuropsychwriter / @vanillabunn21 / @sammghgecko / @beautifullungs / @badassbaker / @the-omni-princess / @sebbysstangirl​ / @jesseswartzwelder​ / @unadulteratedwizardlove / @the-reading-octopus​ / @bangtan-serendipity​ / @kiki5283​ / @mindtravelsx​ 

[thorsstorms]

Abroad Pt.9

Summary: Being the Hemsworth Kids’ Nanny, you were vowed to keep it strictly professional for their sake, but do the stolen glances go unnoticed between you both?

Word count: 6.2k

Warnings: Smut! (18+!!), anxiety feels.

A/N: This took way too long to write.

Masterlist

You stared at the screen as it went dark, watching intensely, trying to figure out what just happened. Your hands were wrapped tightly around one of Chris’s that had been trapped since the opening scene. Only letting go to gasp and cover you face when you saw Thor. The entire movie consisted of you whispering, ‘oh god,’ to yourself under your breathe, swallowing back tears, and trying to consciously remember to close your mouth. You held back all tears until the last scene, soft 40s music flowing through the surround sound. You knew exactly what you were about to see and the water works flowed against your will.

You pulled your eyes from the screen as they went through the cast, trying to nonchalantly wipe away tears with a tissue, knowing your makeup would not be so hot.  You tried to side eye Chris next to you but it looked like he was still watching the screen. Sitting up straight you glanced around at the people sitting in front if you and around you, not being able to see who’s who, before you looked at him. His eyes met yours at the same time, both going to laugh at each other for having teary eyes. They both flood over at the same time while you laughed at him.

You shook your head and turned back straight, silently hoping to the gods that stupid tears would stop before the lights go back up.

“That was crazy,” you kept whispering to yourself as everyone started to stand and speak with each other. It’s was loud, Chris leaned down to whisper to you, “That was so crazy.”

More and more people started to grab his attention as the crowd tried to exit the theatre. You stuck back with his brothers letting him have a moment with everyone he’s worked with on the film.

You had to explain yourself to three different people why you couldn’t stop crying, “Steve got to have a life with Peggy!” You exclaimed before fighting the urge to cry again, shaking your head and trying to catch tears with a tissue before they make a mess. You followed the crowd out of the theatre eventually and waited patiently watching Chris mingle with co-stars.

You shooed away Miley and Liam, confident that you would be fine by yourself. You had made eye contact with Chris and waved at him that you were okay. You pulled your phone from your fancy jumpsuit pockets and sent a text your brother that you were crying and he’s going to die when he finally sees it. No more details allowed.

The lobby of the theatre was cold, leaning against a marble wall didn’t help much. Your feet were aching in the stupid shoes that you knew looked good anyway. Negatives weren’t your first thought on your mind, you pushed those away and took in the room around you. Watching Chris say goodbye to his brother and turn back to Mark Ruffalo that looked like he was way too enthusiastic with his comments on the movie. You couldn’t hear him clearly, but he was loud anyway. You spotted Scarlet standing with some people on FaceTime with someone.

Standing alone didn’t seem so bad, there was so much to look at and think about. You pulled up your phone camera checking your eyes, wiping away any smudges successfully, waterproof whatever. You tucked your phone back in the pocket and focused around the room to find someone else to stare at.

The moment you spot him makes your face pale, spotting Chris Evans patting your own Chris on the shoulder. You watched carefully, probably too intently, as they interacted. Your Chris turned slightly and found you with his eyes, Evans shortly following his gaze as he pointed your way. He pointed you out and spoke with him again, nodding his head, turning in your direction.

Oh god. Feeling your pulse quicken, you tried to hide your hands that stupidly develop a tremble at the slightest increase blood pressure. Do you put them on the wall behind you? No. In your pockets? No. Cross them in front of you? No. You eventually stopped shuffling. This is not how you planned this in your head. Chris was supposed to be there to introduced you and initiate the conversation. All regard for looking people in the eyes went out the window.

You quickly looked away, your heart picking up in pace, looking anywhere but them, brushing hair behind your ear.  No matter how you presented yourself you were sure he wasn’t going to stop walking towards you and stop watching you fiddle around like it wasn’t happening. You could only pray to god that your makeup wasn’t as bad as you imagined it was.

“(Y/N)? Right?” He said with a smile, damn him.

“Y-yea, hi. It’s nice to meet you,” the pulse in your ears didn’t draw away from the tunnel vision you had at the moment. Up close, where did your composure go?

“It’s nice to finally meet you, you are all he talks about, (y/n) this, (y/n) that. I feel like I already knew you.” Ah, more ‘group message’ talk.

“I feel like I know you already, too.” What a dumb thing to say! Get it together. “Um, the movie was really great, I-I cried a lot.”

“Me too!” You laughed at him, but he sure as hell looked like he hadn’t been crying for three hours.

“Yea but she didn’t cry until she saw Peggy in the last scene,” Chris approached you both, saving you and embarrassing you simultaneously. He stood next to him looking at you, a weird look not going unnoticed, probably questioning why you looked like you’ve seen a ghost, damn him.

Quick, save yourself, “Yea I always had hoped that Steve would get Peggy back somehow and I just lost it.” Ok so it’s official, there is no point in this conversation that is going to be to your gain. You felt awkwardness literally sleeping through your skin, why are you this way? The lightheadedness faded away and now you just felt overly aware of everything you’ve said. Only somehow wishing you could shove off some of this stupid anxiety into someone else.

You looked towards your Chris for a look of approval or some sort of reassurance and was met with nothing short of entertainment.

“Yea that’s why I thought it was so satisfying, it couldn’t have ended better,” he looked away from you and followed your eyes to Chris suddenly aware of the atmosphere you completely created yourself.

“Well, (y/n) it was nice to meet you, I hope to see you again, I’m gonna continue my rounds around here.” Never failing to avoid any type of discomfort. Finally a smooth moment when he offered a shy hug goodbye that you had no problem accepting. You pulled away quickly and shuffling on your sore feet, subconsciously wiping your sweaty hands down your sides as you watched him walk away, totally in your own head starting to imagine better ways that could have gone.

“Uh, careful,” Chris’s voice pulled you out of your gaze, meeting his eyes, “I might get jealous.” Sensing the joke in his tone, you knew he was serious. You couldn’t bring you self to speak, standing fidgety, your eyes wandering trying to focus.

“(Y/n) are you okay?” “I think I’m gonna be sick.” You said quickly avoiding his eyes. He grabbed your arms, bowing his head to meet your eyes, concern furrowing his brows as he watched you.

“I just- where’s the bathroom?” You circled around out of his grasp looking for it, eyes scanning the room, skipping over Evans standing next to Scarlet who were both watching your interaction. Chris had recognized how anxious you were pretty quick, and decided to step away, only to see you panic more, telling his friend about it.

You felt Chris walk back into your line of eye sight pushing you towards a bathroom.

“I’m good,” You told him, leaving his guidance and finding the way yourself, leaving him to watch you disappear behind the door.

You stood in front of the mirror and immediately looked away grabbing a paper towel to wet and wipe under your eyes. Taking a heavy breathe, tossing it into the trash when you finally got a good amount cleared. Your hands gripped at the necklace feeling heavy and suffocating around your neck, wanting it off immediately. You pushed off rings and rolled bracelets off and tossed them in the sink for the time being and pushed your hair behind your shoulders hoping to someway clear your skin.

Your fingers gripped tightly at the clasp, not being able to undo it under your hair. You flipped your locks around your shoulder, and tried again this way to coordinate your fingers. Damn nails, slamming your hands on the counter and taking a deep breath and trying again to pull it away from your skin for some leniency.

“Dammit,” you mumbled to yourself, unable to get it, shoving your hair away again and yanking at the necklace from the back.

“Hey let me get it,” you heard a voice behind you, cause you to jump in place from not hearing the door open. You glanced over your shoulder and were met with Scarlett’s soft eyes as she rushed over ready to get it off. You looked away shamefully and leaned your hands on the counter, feeling her fingers work at the clasp and quickly pull it off. The necklace landed in the sink with the rest, closing your eyes and the feeling of it off you, feeling like you could breathe clean air.  

“Thank you,” quietly spoken without moving. Her eyes felt like they were burning through you. Lifting to look in the mirror you ran your fingers over a couple light red scratch marks from your own doing, rubbing it for no reason. The bracelets got shoved into your pocket, reaching for the earrings and necklace, ready to bolt.

“I’m sorry -“ “You’re (Y/N)?” She asked nicely, cutting off an apology that you didn’t need to say. Hearing your name from her lips, you looked up and met her eyes.

Shyly you nodded, playing with the earrings in your fingers, holding them close, shaking your hair to fall behind your shoulders.

“I’m glad to meet you, your dress was beautiful earlier, I saw it.” Her compliments brought a small smile to your face from remembering India’s idea to wear it, and her father's reaction when he saw you step out wearing it.

“Thank you, You looked really nice too. Look! You look nice too,” you visibly cringed at your own choice of words, looking at the pearls resting in between your fingers. The air felt like it had been sucked out the room again, your normally cold skin feeling hot in the room.

She ignored your stammering and asked if you enjoyed the movie. Following with a simple ‘mmhmm’ to save yourself from recoiling.

“Hey, I know these kind of things can be overwhelming,” she started, “you did amazing on the carpet earlier, so I’ve heard. What... what caused this?”

The earring fell softly into your pocket while you reached to wash your hands with cold water. “I don’t know that it was any one thing,” confidently starting, nodding off, “just happens sometimes.”

More paper towels busied your hands while you watched your actions in the mirror, eyes floating up to hers in the reflection. “Chris said he could see you were anxious, we saw you come in here, I just thought…”

“Which Chris.”

“Evans.”

“Oh god. Thank you for checking on me. I appreciate it.” You swallowed down, standing up straight.

“So are you good?” Confusion was etched on her features, unconvinced of your words.

“As good as it’s gonna get.” The bathroom door opened and you both turned towards it, watching a curious blue eyes reach you both.

“Uh, can I come in?” You giggled at him, relaxing at the sound of his voice. He stood to full height and walked in slowly while you turned to Scarlet and told her it was nice to meet her, secondly, reassuring her you were good and you appreciate her concern. She left a pat on his shoulder as she walked past him, your eyes catching a glimpse of Evans outside the door falling into step with her.

The door closed and you turned your attention back to Chris who was looking at you through the mirror. Blue eyes glued to your pink marked skin from relentless fake nails, trailing up to meet yours as you turned around.

His hands ghosted up your arms and thumbs brushed against your neck as he pulled your hair behind your shoulders, “You good?”

Fighting the urge to roll your eyes at the sound of that stupid word again, you nodded. “Don’t leave me alone with anymore famous people,” you tossed back. His lips pressed to your forehead, closing your eyes and feeling tension leave your shoulders down to your legs. “I think I need to stay a recluse to the house for a whole week.” That’s what it was, too many people was slightly overwhelming.

The discomfort came back in your feet as you both started to walk out of the bathroom. “I’m taking these off as soon as we leave.” His hand was relaxed compared to your own as you walk out, noticing many people have cleared out, but quite a few still lingering.

Gen saw you both walk out and left who she was speaking with to come approach you both.

“After party at Downey’s, are you going?” The question directed at the both of you. You quickly glanced at each other. Chris shook his head, “No,” as you insisted he go.

“You are going to the party, whether I go or not.”

“You are going?”

“If you want me to.” The thought of staying out longer didn’t sound the greatest, but being a people pleaser didn’t always entail speaking up for what you wanted.

“You’re going.”

The drive was a breath of fresh air, a still environment you didn’t know you needed. The warm seats flushed out discomfort. Though you could feel some discomfort, just as your stomach growled loud enough for you both to hear.

“Oh ho my god, is that you?” He said laughing, pulling out of the valet. You tightening your hands around yourself trying not to laugh.

The drive was only 20 minutes, he seemed to know where he was going, pulling into a gated entrance, letting us through. It looked like a neighborhood event center, a golf course and pond decorating the look. More valet parking was at your service. Though the inside was more modest and homey, as modest as it could be with a private bartender.

You tried your best to not seem as if you were not just trailing Chris around the room but you were, though it wasn’t your doing, it was his. He always kept a hand on you, your back, shoulders, arm, hand. Just an hour there consisted of drinks, stupidly funny stories, and information that you probably shouldn’t know.

A smaller group of people and zero cameras was all that you needed to come out of your shell. Maybe a few drinks as well.

The one time that Chris left you, saying a few more words to Evans was settling, bonding over Downey’s finger food that was being displayed.

Chris called the night off early, telling that he had to get home to the kids. The kids were not at the house, they were with their cousins and a sitter till Luke and Sam got home. You didn’t question him and followed suit, saying goodbye to a few you came to know better.

“That was more fun than I expected,” you told him as you buckle your seatbelt.

“Mhmm.”

You set your hand on the center counsel and laid back in the seat closing your eyes. Not exactly tired yet, still too much excitement and fresh liquor coursing through you. You were oblivious to his attitude or his short response. His eyes were straight on the road, not paying attention to your open hand that was waiting empty, for his own. You whispered along to the radio in your own little world, giggling when you know you didn’t hit a note.

“Haaa hmm that was terrible,” you said to yourself, going to stare out the window.

A couple minutes later you whispered to him, “Why are you so quiet,” finally looking in his direction. “You should be so hyped right now. Hey. Why- don’t you wanna hold my hand? I like too, I like your fingers. Wait, that sounded bad,” you started to laugh to yourself again, your eyes almost closing through some lazy tears from laughing.

Just as he was about to leave his hand in yours, you drew your hand up to wipe your eyes. He huffed and slapped his hand back on to the wheel, unknowingly to you.

When you pulled in the driveway you slowly unbuckled and propped open the door, by that time he was standing at the front door unlocking it, waiting to watch you follow him inside before he left you outside.

“What, you know what,” you started, speaking to him across the driveway. “I think that’s the first time you have never opened my door for me.” His attitude was starting to become more aware to you.

“Are you like, in a mood or something,” you walked through the threshold and didn’t wait for his response as he followed you inside.  

The bed was calling your name, it was so late, the thought of staying awake one more second made you want to collapse into the comfort of the blankets and pillows. Chris was already halfway undressed while you fiddled with the zipper on the back of the jumpsuit, stretching your arms high and low trying to reach it.

Finally his fingers tried to pull it down and you let him.

“What, were you just gonna leave me hangin’?” The soft material dropped to your feet and you walked straight towards the bed, clad in undergarments. The plush comforter was pulled back and you sunk right into it. About to be out like a light, it sounds amazing.

“Where are your face wipe things?” His voice pulled you out of a slumber that you knew was too good to be true.

“Oh. He speaks,” voice muffled by the blankets. “Why, you need to wipe your makeup off.”

You heard him toss back a ‘Yes and no,’ while walking into the bathroom. Your mind went blank once more, falling prisoner to the pillows and the growing warmth in the sheets.

A cold makeup wipe fell across your face and you startled awake, he was already under the blankets and settled. Your eyes remained closed, trying to hold on to the glimmer of sleepiness.

He brushed the hair off your face and was gliding the wipe over your eyebrows, down to your eyelids, a laugh started the rise in you, a growing smile on your face.

“You are going to have to take those eyelashes off, I’m not messing with that,” he said starting to laugh. He continued and you eventually reached up tugged them off, opening your eyes to meet his in the lamp light. The motions stopped while you leaned over and set them on the bedside table.

“Continue,” your smug tone falling back into the same position. The wipe ran over your forehead again and down the side of your face, delicately brushing under your eyes when he stopped and you felt the bed shift. The wipe landed somewhere on the floor, your eyes opening just in time to see him throw it behind him.

“Come here,” he whispered, nugging his head. The attitude rolling off of him for the past hour was enough for a decline, just to make him suffer. He wanted to tell you why he was upset, but you just closed your eyes again and shook your head, the blankets getting tucked up to your chin.

The bed moved quickly again and you felt him pull up right next to you, his arm shoving under your pillow, making you lose your comfy position.

“Just look at me,” you creeped your eyes open, even though you wanted to just succumb to the darkness. Maybe he’d stop trying to keep you awake if you listened.

“Your eyes, those are for me, they are my eyes.”

“Hmff, okay,” you mumbled, blinking closed, going dead weight on his arm. He did smell good, his cologne still lingering on his white t’shirt. It makes you feel so homey-

“Your only supposed to look at me with those eyes.”

“My eyeballs Chris, you’re mad, about my eyeb-”

“I’m not mad, I’m just, those eyes are supposed to be for me.” This is starting to sound an awful lot like he is jealous. “You have a look.”

“I don’t have a look!” The defense team is growing inside your brain took a pause when he kissed you hard, your eyes fluttering open and closed, startled. He kissed you heavily, pushing you back from your side, lying flat at his will. The hand behind you held the back of your neck, and all the sudden he was clouding your senses like he was the only focus in the world, like the heaviness in your head from the alcohol was lifted away.

The kiss felt like it was a split second long before he was backing away to watch you pry your eyes open at him.

“That, that’s the look.” The display of shock, want, and love was showing in your eyes and it was his favorite thing. He had been entranced by your eyes from the first time he locked his on them. Wishing he could see them again as soon as you turned away. Framed so natural and beautifully by your lashes, fanning over your skin when you closed them. The unique iris shines brightly under his stare, under his touch and presence. He likes to watch you come apart, your eyes for him to see. His eyes. They captured his attention every time you looked at him, sending love flowing through his head.

“Oh,” your fingers loosened their grip that had taken place on his shoulders. “Are you- If you are-” suddenly realizing what he was going on about.

“What (y/n),” his fingers pulled free of your hair and laid to rest on your shoulder, his thumb running over your collar bone.

“I don’t have eyes for Evans.” It was true. Is he handsome? Yea. But he wasn’t your Chris. “I have eyes for you, and I have a heart for you.” It honestly concerned you that he had put himself through those emotions for no reason. The more thought that was put into it, the more you could see how he would think that. All the signs would have been there. You had never been shy about what you thought of him, watching movies, or getting flustered when he was mentioned by anyone, as well as meeting him. Gaining the courage to talk to him again at the after party. It may have flown over your Chris’s head but that was big for you to do.

While you were both standing at the finger food table, he was quick to mention he gets anxious as well, catching you off guard. You listened intently as he spoke about how he recognizes the preconventional, ego thoughts that could block his mind. ‘It’s just noise (Y/n). Just focus on your present, don’t worry of what will be.’ You remembered his words to you, that made you appreciate him that much more.

“I just, I get anxious sometimes, around certain people.” You told Chris, focusing on the now, the truth. His warmth drew you in, tucking closer to him. “I think I just freak myself out too much, really.” You could still feel the tension in his shoulders, even though you couldn’t see his face from your spot in his side, you knew somehow that his brows were probably furrowed.

“Some situations that I don’t know how to understand fully, I just, I don’t know.”

“Do you get anxious around me?” His chest stopped moving, waiting for your answer. The silence swallowing the room.

“Sometimes.”

“(y/n),” the comfort that was surrounding you left as he started to sit up in the bed.

“God, I’m sorry,” you couldn’t bring yourself to follow him with your eyes.

“But why are you-”

“I know, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” You said again, bringing the heels of your palms to shield your eyes, somehow shield you from this conversation.

“No, listen to me. Why are you sorry?” Both his hands pulling yours away.

“What?”

“Stop apologizing, I just want you to tell me. Tell me when you feel that way.” The end of the bed looked real interesting at this moment, feeling like a child being scolded. “Is that okay?”

You nodded your head and closed your eyes. If you could have slept this whole conversation away, you would have. Confrontation makes you want to pull your eyeballs out of your head, curse the world for emotions.

Sleep came fast when he pulled you to his chest, and positioned the blankets just how you like it, tucked under your chin. You became hyper aware of the fact that you were not wearing any clothing other than a bandeau and underwear, whatever you had on under the dress.  Your leg found its place over and between his own, his hand where it needs to be from every night here on out, playing with your hair, brushing it gently away from your face.

The morning light came through, as if the night full of sleep came to an end as soon as you had closed your eyes. Waking in the morning with nothing to do is the best time to lay with your eyes closed and try to make it last just that much longer. You didn’t reach for your phone or move to check the clock, but laid still with eyes closed, feeling his even breathing next to you.

The most peaceful time of the day was before everyone in the house was awake. You got quiet time to scroll through your almost forgotten socials or piddle around cleaning from the day before. It was your alone time.

Probably only fifteen minutes of trying to prolong sleep, Chris started to tuck his feet back under the blankets and shuffle his head on the pillows. You were caught staring when he peaked an eye open and closed it again laughing at you.

“Don’t stare at me,” his voice was raw from a nights sleep, sounding especially arousing.

“Wakey, wakey,” you whispered. Your torso became his new pillow while he grumbled about what time it was. His scruff rubbing over the soft skin with growing goose bumps. “I have no idea. Maybe ten?” You rubbed his back though his shirt as he drifted in and out of sleep, waking up to huff at you when your hand stopped moving.

“When do we get to go home?” Your hand moved to his neck running your fingers over the studded hairs.

“I wanted to ask you about that, I had an idea.” Waiting for him to continue, he sat up, looking down at you as you pulled the blankets back up. “I don’t have anything today or tomorrow, but only about a week and a half left, but then I have nothing for almost a month. And it’s okay if you want to go back to Byron, I don’t care either way. And the kids won’t care so dont decide because of them.”

“What, Chris?”

“I was thinking we could go on a road trip. Drive through Vegas, the Grand Canyon, stop in and see your family again for a few days.” You felt you face switch from shock, to longing to see your family again. To introduce them to each other and the kids.

“What?” Your light and feathery voice was trampled as he continued.

“We could stop in Tennessee and see Liam since they are at Miley’s place there, now. Maybe end in New York, fly home from there.” He got a bit quieter as he continued. Your face was probably displaying a look of contemplation, but really all you could think about was how fun it sounded already trying to plan the trip in your head. “But if you are home sick and just want to go back to Byron that is okay too, I know we’ve been going and going for a while and-”

“That sounds so amazing! Oh my goodness I have to call my brother!” You sat up in the bed, but paused reaching for your phone, gasping excited. “What if we make it a surprise!”

“It is up to you!” He was relieved that you were excited. He thought this up almost a week ago while reviewing his schedule with Gen. She of course thought it was great idea, having some time off herself hopefully. He was not exactly putting off asking you, just didn’t know when to ask. The right moment was there when you mentioned going home.

“Wow,” repeating the word didn’t slow down in your mind. You pushed the hair away from your face and bashfully smiled at him. “You’re perfect.”

“Well I don’t know about perfect, but…” The shrug in his shoulders made you roll your eyes.

“Oh shut it.” He met you for a kiss, planting your hand on his chest as you almost tackled him on the bed.

“You’re perfect,” He pulled you hair away from your face, tucking and smiling into his white tshirt.

“Whatever you say.” That was a big step, almost accepting the compliment immediately instead of questioning it.

“Im serious (Y/N),” You picked your shoulders up and met his eyes. “You are like, glowing, you are what people mean when they say ‘glowing’.” Such a dramatic one he was. Never one to play it serious, always with a hint of tease.

“Well whatever it is, it won’t last much longer.” The matter of fact erupted a quizzical look from him. The slight furrow of his brows, and puppy like tilt of his head was present.

“We should probably go get your children from your brother.” He pressed the home button on his phone, resting on the nightstand. 11:31AM. Almost shocked at how long you both had slept.

“Woah, I think they will be alright for a while longer.” He dismissed the time and turned his attention back to you.

“But they’ve-” He just wanted you to no worry about them, bask in the glory of not having kids at the moment. He kissed you, smiling into you as you knocked his shoulders for cutting you off. His cold hands ran up the outside of your thighs, gripping the material covering you and trying to tug it down.

“Mm, Chris!” The gleam in your eyes was enough for him to continue.

“Princess, I’ve got to keep you glowing a while longer.” There was no denying the effect the name had on you, your cheeks flushing, pushing into him. “That’s what I thought.” Your panties where slipped off quickly, his thumb going home immediately, brushing over your clit. The sudden stimulation caused you to sink back into the pillows.

The absent feeling of his hands leaving took over, but was quickly replaced, pulling off your bra. A side effect of getting cold easily was you nipples hardening instantly against the open air. He kissed up your chest. Mark your breasts with his mouth, writhing under his assault, waiting for more already.

“Take-Take it off.” Your fingers pulled up his shirt, he pulled it the rest of the way. Again finding his fingers in your hair while he latched on to your neck. Your fingertips trying to make their way from his shoulders down to his waistband without getting distracted, already feeling the pressure of his hard on.

Before you could reach him your arms were knocked away by one of his as he found your heat again, feeling up your slick, coating his fingers. Two fingers pushed in at once, feeling heavily along your inner walls, knocking the breath out of you. Once his thumb brushed your sensitive clit, your eyes fell closed to the consuming pleasure.

“Oh no Princess,” you felt the slight tug of your hair in his hands, shooting your eyes back open as his fingers started to pullback. He pushed them farther and started to pulse again, you grabbed at his arm as he started to push deeper. The pads of his fingers dragging sweetly over your walls, knowing how to drive your crazy with his touch.

“Oh, God!” Your eyes were dangerously close to rolling back, unable to keep it under control with the sudden relentlessness of his actions.

As soon as you went silent, it was his que to slip them out, drawing a frustrated noise from you. “Im gonna kill you.” The death stare in your eyes and adrenaline had you shoving him over to his back, trying to pull his boxers away in the process. You sat across his thighs, wrapping around his hard on, lifting a hiss from his lips. He immediately found purchase on your hips, tightening his grip.

Admiring him underneath you was a sight to behold. The son of a bitch had his eyes fall closed immediately. Not today. Your hands went absent, feeling up and kissing his torso instead. Running teeth over his collar bone, him not shying from shoving his tongue in your mouth.

“My Love, I need you.” You hummed and dragged your slick down across his cock, pulsing under you, earning another groan from the friction. Drawing the sound from him sends a sense of power though your blood, shooting electricity down your spine. The intoxicating response led to doing it again, earning a drawn out ‘fuck’, his eyes falling closed.

Sitting back on your knees, till he opened his eyes again, trying to sit up.

“No, no.” You pressed his shoulders back as he obliged, feeling into your new found sense of power over him. He decided to let you have it, let you reign. Your fingers found him and lined him up at your entrance, one hand leaning on his chest while he watched you slowly sink down on his cock, trying to take him. He was holding back from lifting and pushing deep into you, almost shaking with control over the urge.

You let out a gasp as you slid back up, only taking half of him, to sink back down and feel more of his length press and drag against your walls. A shuttered breath left your lips as you pressed down further, fully seated against his pelvis. His cock was buried to the hilt, putting pressure on your wall. You could feel his abdominals tighten against his restraint, under your hands.

“Move Princess,” his voice deepened and almost shook as he spoke. His hands were there to guide your hips, dragging forward, and back. Your clit pressing against his skin, knocking the breath out of your lungs.

“Oh shit, you’re so deep like this.” You took it upon yourself to rock your hips, experimenting with the pull of him inside you and the sounds he was making. You could feel the tip of him pressing in places that had rarely been brushed in the past.

Starting to pick up the pace, maddening the minds of you both. You met his lips, leaning into him, needing him closer to you while you fucked yourself on him.

Repeated little grunts were heard in your ears every time he hit you the deepest, pressing into your wall, stretching you sinfully, squeezing him against your will.

Your pulsing heat around him, squeezing him caused him to finally snap. He wrapped his arms around your back, holding you to his chest and fucked into you, flexing his hips and slamming into you hard.

An almost nonexistent kiss turned into profanities against his mouth. The sheets bundled tight under your grip, flexing still as you felt your climax approach at a rapid pace.

“Fuck, fuck, oh shit, oh god,” they littered from you uncontrollably. A few more thrusts and you went silent, peeling your eyes open in a silent scream and your orgasm quickly flushed over you, stilling in his grasp and squeezing his cock tight, pulsing around him while the dam broke loose.

He pressed deep again and spilled his load with a strained, “fu-uck Princess.”

A small moan left your lips while the orgasm subsided, loosening the muscles down your back and hips. He kissed you slow and deep, taking his time to push his high onto you. Your tongues danced around each other, pulling trying to dominate the other. A small moan erupted when he slipped out of your sensitive self, a growing empty feeling in place.

Your head fell to the crook of his neck, both you trying to catch your breath. The feeling of his release trickling out, adding to the sticky mess. You slowing pushed up off of him.

His breathing stopped abruptly, eyes wide as he sat up quickly, catching sight of the mess.

“We didn’t!- I didn’t-“

“Chris, I have the bar remember, 4 years.” His sudden panicked state vanished, throwing his head back, sighing. His hand held your arm, feeling it under his fingers.

“Shower?” He nodded in retaliation. Knocking you off of him and slipping his arms under you when he stood up.

“Round two in the shower?” Your turn to shamelessly agree. Might as well drag the glow out as long as possible.

Taglist: @keithseabrook27 @odinson-barnes @jonsnowisthesexiestbastard

@weekendswithnewtmas@innerpaperexpertcloud @toomanyflowerboys @thefashioncomplex@basmaraafat @imaginationintowords @taketimeandappreciate@superheroesaremytea  @vampiregirl1797 @ynm1505 @danathewitchywoman @aestheticallynon @thorfanficwriter

[umccall71]

The Arrangement/The path Back

The Royal Romance

Characters:King Liam x (mc) Queen Sexy

Rating:mature

Word Count:2175

Disclaimer: All characters used are sole property of Pixelberry. I am simply borrowing them for entertainment purposes.

Warning:The contents of this series includes nsfw, profanity, adult content, talk of sexual harassment and drugging. By reading this post, you acknowledged you are 18 +.

This chapter has talk of mental health issues and coping. I wanted to respect the sensitivity of the subject and apologize to any triggers it may cause or discomfort.

Tags

@annekebbphotography @carabeth @blackcoffee85 @elles-choices @hopefulmoonobject @ownworldresident @lauradowning29 @gibbles82 @indiacater @romanticatheart-posts @3pawandme @silviasutton1989 @smalltalk88

________________________________________________

Several days had passed and things surrounding the illicit photos were starting to die down.Liam had been awaiting the results of the paternity test… anxiously. Although he and Sexy were starting to see some semblance of the couple they were… he didn’t want the cloud of possibly fathering another child hanging over them.Liam realized that he was born to be a dad… especially to children he created with Sexy.He knew in the brief amount of time since the twins were born… he couldn’t imagine in a million years not having them there. He treasured the smiles, the crooked grins when they are sleeping in his arms, the joy of watching his beautiful wife nursing , the feeling of their little fingers wrapped snuggly around his finger. The king was looking forward to the numerous firsts that they would encounter as a family. He couldn’t help but reflect on another father that was looking at far bleaker outlook for his future. He knew he would have to have this difficult conversation with Xinghai Lee , regarding the plans for his daughter.Mr.Lee was a proud, stern father that reveled in the talent of his daughter. He and his wife would send Hana to the best schools, have the best training in every possible courtly expectation anticipating her finding a suitable match . They had wanted Hana as a prospect for his wife, his Queen… but it was never meant to happen. He was no more than friendly towards her… he had already lost the possession of his heart before he came to meet Hana anyway .Sexy was and will always be … the love of Liam’s life.

Liam sat in his study that morning since 6am. He knew his mind could not stop from working overtime thinking about the what ifs. Sexy had pumped for the twins, so he decided to let her sleep in, she had been up diligently every two hours , like clockwork, since bringing them home. That… coupled with her duties and wading through the faux scandal, was a bit much to ask of her. He knew that she was an amazing woman, but even amazing women had to break at some point. He harks back to the promises, the vows he made to the woman he loves, his wife, his Queen… to ease her burden and provide her the world.Therefore the small gesture of seeing to his son and daughter was priceless. He fed and dried them both before handing off the duties to the nannies. He would afford his wife this morning of extra rest.

The king sat in his study chair, fingers steepled, face crafted into deep thought. He sighed before calling his assistant in to the office for marching orders for the day. He had contacted the physician for the results, he also sent for Xinghai to update him as to the plans he had in mind. Liam dreaded having to share the mental breakdown of his daughter, the irrational behavior, what would and could happen as a result of her crimes.The king’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Come in”...Liam called out expecting the doctor.

Bastien announced Hana’s doctor, “Your majesty.”He nodded and gestured to show him inside.King Liam trained his expression to not let on he was screaming to end this now.

“Good morning...thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I would also like a rundown of Miss Lee’s health status.She is in the palace custody, we need to insure that she’s doing well, during her pregnancy.”The doctor takes a seat across from Liam in one of the two chairs across from the sofa. “ I am glad I can be of assistance your majesty.I have visited Miss Lee yesterday morning and in my professional opinion, she’s doing well physically. The pregnancy is progressing nicely. The king’s guards have been administering her prenatal vitamins with her breakfast. I have noticed that she is suffering with some sort of mental health issues. Her speech is hardly fully functioning in the here and now. She may need to speak with someone in the field.I can refer several trusted colleagues to help out in getting her better.In the meantime.. I’m sure you are eager to receive the results of the paternity test.Sir… the test was conducted with three separate samples and all came back conclusive… there is 0% chance of the tested candidate being the father of her child.”

Liam let out a sigh of relief and quickly composed himself. “I thank you for your handling this matter quickly and discreetly. We could not let something so sensitive... get out to the press… especially with the questions that were swirling around the scandal. If you would leave the results with my head of security , that would be greatly appreciated. I will also be waiting for the referrals to address her mental state.Your help has not gone unnoticed…. have a good day.”Bastien walked the doctor out and collected the information, as per King Liam’s instructions.After several moments, Bastien announced the arrival of Mr. Lee. “Sir...Mr.lee is ready to meet with you, if you are ready.Liam nods, “show him in and then wait outside to make certain we are not disturbed. I only want to be alerted if my Queen calls or arrives… show her in immediately.”Bastien acknowledges his King before exiting the study leaving a very troubled father behind.

Liam offers Xinghai something to drink before they get started… he declined, “ I thank you, but I am fine Your majesty. I am eager to see what you think of the charges against… my Hana.”It doesn’t escape Liam’s eyes the ragged , weary face of a worried man. He could see the sunken cheeks from lack of nourishment, the dark circles under his eyes, the red darting eyes signaling lack of sleep and focus.It made sense, considering that his child was in trouble.. in more ways than one.This was not the time to stand on protocol. The king relieved Xinghai of the need for formality. In this room… at least for the moment they stood man to man to man, father to father. “Xinghai, please, call me Liam while in this meeting. I understand that a lot plagues your mind and heart. I would like for us both to speak freely. “ thank you sir… ah Liam, sorry.”Xinghai lowered his head and took a deep breath knowing he would have to brace for the ruling and hopeful mercy of the king. “How is she Liam?The last time I saw my Hana, I could barely recognize the woman I raised, she was in and out of lucid behavior. Liam… I cannot describe her properly to my wife. Lorelai is worried.. rightly so what will become of our child.”Liam notices the slump in his shoulders and hears him begin to sob… desperate to make sense of it all. “Liam… have you heard anything about… the baby?, he sniffs while composing himself. “I did… your daughter is almost 7 weeks pregnant. I received word from the physician in charge of her care that she’s doing well… physically. He has some concerns regarding her mental health.We will get some referrals for professionals in the field.”Liam rubs the back of his neck, uncomfortable to broach the subject, the elephant in the room… paternity. “Xinghai, I also received word from the doctor pertaining to the father of her child.There is now … irrefutable proof that I could not have fathered her child. I must admit… I’m relieved that her actions did not result an unplanned child...a child by me.”Liam felt guilty knowing his role in this pregnancy was no longer a factor… but the Lees had a long ,hard road ahead of them. “I am sorry for your plight, but I cannot say I’m sorry for seeing a path forward in my own family, my own marriage without this cloud.Being a new father myself, I understand the depth of the love you feel for your child. She is going to be charged with treason, but I have not made a final decision yet as to her punishment . It is my hope that you can have some time to come to terms with what she’s done, but also remember who she was.” Both of the men settled into a silence contemplating what’s ahead for them.The silence was interrupted by a knock on the door, both men stood once Queen Sexy entered the room. “My king… Mr. Lee, did I interrupt your talks? My apologies.” King Liam ushered his queen to the spot on the couch next to himself, placing a tender kiss to her cheek. “No love, we were just discussing the charges… her state of mind… and the results of the paternity test.”

Sexy looked to Xinghai with sorrowful eyes reflecting concern for the predicament they found themselves involved in as the fallout of Hana’s actions. “Mr.Lee, I could only imagine the pain your family is going through during this tumultuous time. I take no pleasure in the way things unfolded. I feel for your family and especially that innocent baby.Once upon a time I considered your daughter one of my closest friends. I don’t know what changed for her, but I only want what’s best for everyone.” Sexy reaches out to him in an unspoken message of support and compassion. She took hold of his hand supplying a supportive squeeze.Mr. Lee closed his eyes and clinched his lips together firmly. “I appreciate your kindness considering the embarrassment and heartbreak your family has endured.”He shook his head in acknowledgment of her actions. “I would like to visit Hana to see how she’s holding up. Sir, I would like to be advised when the names of the people that can help her become available .”The Royal couple both rose signaling the ending of the meeting and reassuring this father that they are not unsympathetic to his needs. “I will get the information and let you know of her hearing as soon as possible. I will speak with my Queen and consult with her for counsel within our marriage and the monarchy. I will make a call to make arrangements for you to visit her.”King Liam grasped tightly to Sexy’s hand as Mr. Lee was shown out by the king’s assistant and security.The door was quietly closed to allow for privacy for the leaders of Cordonia.

They walked back over to the couch and Liam wrapped Sexy in his arms, tilted her chin facing him, eyes alight with reverence. “God Sexy… you are everything to me. I love you so much… I thank you for all of your patience and grace you have displayed. Being your husband, makes me want to be a better man, a better king for you.Being your husband... Liam Jr and Emelia’s Father is the only titles I care about most. It’s my job to see to your happiness, your peace of mind. Well you can rest easy knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt… I did not father Hana’s child.” Sexy palms his face and leans in kissing him fervently. She leans into his chest, taking in his scent, listening to his heart beat beneath her head.She sighs before exhaling releasing a deep breath, “thank you Liam”,she whispers into him.There is a momentary collective sigh. “Liam… we should get her help… I hate this woman she has become, but I cannot help but wonder where things went wrong. I will never forget the damage she’s done… but she’s not well. Thinking about the maximum punishment.. that won’t bring her back from the darkness. I respect your decision as king to be fair and just, but I would at least like to hear the recommendations of a certified professional. I’m not asking for her freedom, just maybe to consider alternatives with that baby in mind. He or she deserves a fighting chance at life.”

Liam thoughtfully looks into his wife’s eyes, flashes of the light he grew to love peaking out was evident. He tenderly smiled before running his fingers through her hair affectionately, “you never cease to surpass my expectations and share your tremendous heart with the world, ...even a woman that has sought to bring you pain. I will take all of your words into thought before making a final ruling before the council....My Queen…I would love for you to consider us taking some time away for a few days once things become clear and slow down. Sexy… I need you… I need us to get back to where we can look to our love as a beacon of hope and faith of many lifetimes to come.” Sexy curls into her husband, holding onto the show of trust and comfort she always felt in his arms. “I would love nothing more …. my king.” They would spend this time together relishing in everything right in their world… at least for now.

[theseaeaglelives]

Round 18

THE SEA EAGLE

MAKING RUGBY LEAGUE GREAT AGAIN!!!

Round 18 

Manly Sea Eagles 36

Defeated   

Parramatta Eels   24

A sunny Sunday afternoon, a packed Brookie up against the old enemy, the despised Eels and a victory. The only missing ingredient of a perfect afternoon being the absence of the dulcet tones of Rex “the Moose” Mossop calling the action.   

There were however some ominous signs for Manly though when it was reported that Brad Parker had been recalled into the team as a late replacement for an injured Cade Cust.   

Notwithstanding the inclusion of Parker, Manly opened the scoring after 5 minutes when improving winger Rueben Garrick crossed in the corner. Garrick then duly converted his own try. Young Garrick is but another example of a player improving in season 2019 as compared to last year, with the Sea Eagle still somewhat dumfounded as to the reason for this repeated and strange phenomenon. . The Sea Eagle vows to get to the bottom of this and seek a rational explanation.

The Eels then hit back with two tries of their own, the first as a result of a Horhay Torfua howler. Young Horhay has the turning circle and mobility of a Mk1 Abrams tank and the sooner he is moved into the forwards the better for all concerned.

Defence then took a back seat for the remainder of the half, particularly from the Eels and Manly ran in four tries including a screamer from Tommy Turbo. Even the much-maligned Brad Parker managed to cross for a try as Manly held a 26-12 lead at the break.   

The second half was less than inspiring with plenty of mistakes from both teams. Manly took their foot off the accelerator but made less mistakes than the Eels running in a further two tries with Rueben Garrick chalking up his first career hat-trick.   

Two late tries to the Eels added some respectability however the final 36-24 scoreline did not justify the commanding nature of the Manly victory.

What a hapless mob the Eels are, and it was interesting to note the prevalence of Manly discards (David Gower, Shaun Lane, Clint Gutherson, Coach Brad Arthur etc.) within their ranks, indeed further proof positive that no-one goes better when they leave the nest.

The win not only consolidates Manly within the top 8, but provides some hope for even better things to come as they now knock on the door of the top 4. Next week against the filthy wrestling, cheating rorters from Melbourne will provide a more accurate gauge on where Manly sit in season 2019.   

More Embarrassment for the NRL- Mark Coyne   

Since the off-season from hell the NRL has done a fair job in improving player behaviour however, the latest in a long stream of embarrassments comes directly from head office.   Proving that you can take the man out of the NRL, but you can never take the NRL out of the man, former Dragon and now NRL Commissioner, Mark Coyne has found himself in hot water and on the wrong side of the Singaporean legal system.

It has been reported in the press that Mr Coyne has unleashed an expletive laden tirade along the lines of "you are a f---ing stupid idiot", a "f---ing dickhead" and a "cock", "f---ing cock" and "f---ing dog", he also threatened to "sue you through your f---ing arse" and adding "if some f---ing stupid c--- sues me, I don’t f---ing care. Especially you". And then finally "you are f---ing crazy", "you must be f---ing embarrassed" and "you must be so f---ing proud of yourself"   

Such a tirade could have been excused and even justified had it taken place at an NRL Board meeting (and merely represented a rehash of the minutes of said meeting), or perhaps having been directed at incumbent NRL Chairman, Peter Beattie (given his many public statements in the past have only but confirmed his mastery of embarrassment).   

However poor old Mr Coyne made the fatal mistake of directing it towards a police officer in Singapore. Whilst the Australian judicial system seems to tolerate verbal and physical abuse directed towards the constabulary, such is not the case in Singapore and Mr Coyne was duly arrested, his passport confiscated and then detained in Singapore for seven weeks. 

The Sea Eagle can report that Mr Coyne got off lightly and was very fortunate not to have been sentenced to the traditional Singaporean punishment for such an indiscretion. 

Compounding this indiscretion, Mr Coyne then thought it would be acceptable to withhold informing the NRL of his misdemeanour, allegedly suggesting something about an ear infection which prevented him from returning from Singapore. Mr Coyne also pulled out that old and well used NRL chestnut, claiming that he was too intoxicated to remember the incident and that his behaviour was completely out of character (aren’t they all!!).  

It has since been reported in various outlets that Mr Coyne is a “good bloke and irreplaceable on the NRL Commission”. Be that as it may, and the Sea Eagle does not doubt it for one moment, with the power of an NRL independent Commissioner comes great responsibility. The first is not to embarrass oneself or the code (Mr Peter Beattie not knowing who the Sharks were is but one example of this), and the second it would seem, is not to go on drunken tirades in foreign lands and abuse the local police. Such things never end well.

The Sea Eagle notes that it has also been reported that Israel Folau is a “good bloke” but the NRL won’t allow him within a bull’s roar of participating in the greatest game of all.   

 As far as the Sea Eagle is concerned and bearing in mind that Clubs are required to immediately self-report any incident involving players/officials, in the interest of consistency (particularly given the Dylan Walker banning despite being found ultimately NOT GUILTY), the NRL, must enact its no-fault policy and Mr Coyne should be sacked from the Commission.

In the words of the great man President Trump, Mark Coyne “You’re Fired”.  

The Sea Eagle’s only other comment on this unmitigated debacle, is to urge those that actually control the independent commission of the NRL, to resist the temptation (largely from the News Limited and Fairfax media) to appoint someone on the commission who has a so called rugby league background. 

Everybody knows that sooner or later anyone with a significant rugby league background is more  likely than not going to have some sort of unsavoury incident surface. This is due basically to the rugby league  DNA factor .   Regrettably only those who are regular participants in rugby league seem to fully understand and appreciate how to control and limit  the impacts of this DNA chromosome mismatch, but as everybody knows, despite the best efforts all concerned, sooner or later the rugby league gene will kick in, and create embarrassment for all and sundry.  

It can't be stopped, it can only be managed.   This is not a criticism , as no other code on the planet seems to have this ability to recover from such significant embarrassment on a regular basis. But to put it as simply as one can, it is the reason why rugby league  is the greatest game of all and not the game they play in heaven (rugby union ). 

Trent Barrett

The Sun Herald reported that on Saturday 19 July 2019, Trent Barrett’s coaching tenure at Manly officially came to an end. The same publication also reported said Mr. Barrett has somehow managed to land a gig as part of the All Blacks support crew. The Sea Eagle is not in a position to verify the accuracy of this allegation but if it is true you can expect that the All Blacks will not win the 2019 World Cup.  

Moreover, if indeed it is true, the mind boggles at who actually thought this was a good thing to do in New Zealand rugby. For a nation who on any objective basis is by far and away the best managed and performing rugby union outfit on the planet, it beggars belief that they thought they even need to go anywhere near the former Shark/Dragon playing, DFI infected, ex-Manly coach. A quick review of his coaching record and the fact that he's never won a premiership as a player or as a coach only confirms the folly of such a decision (if indeed it has been made).  

Erskineville Toxic Waste Real Estate Developments   

We have all read about the recent debacle that is new home unit construction in Sydney and Melbourne but in particular in the area starting from South of the Harbour Bridge heading towards Botany and Mascot.

The latest in this sad and sorry saga is a revelation that a block of units in Erskineville will not be approved by the Council as fit for human habitation, because it has not complied with environmental rules. That is to say it was built on a toxic waste dump much in the same way that the Sydney Olympic Stadium was built on a toxic waste dump in Homebush.   

Seemingly it is not acceptable for a few 100 people to live in a block of units on a toxic waste dump in Erskineville but it is perfectly reasonable to put 80,000 people on a regular basis into a stadium in Homebush with possibly even more alarming environmental issues underneath it.   

The poor old punters who have bought these units off the plan can rightly feel that they have been Piss&d on from a great height.   Given the developer is an entity known as Golden Rain Development Pty Limited (apparently a Chinese backed real estate development firm), the Sea Eagle can confirm that the Director of Controversy is currently looking into whether or not a new name would be more appropriate. 

Something in the order of Golden Shower Development Pty Limited. But at this stage that is mere conjecture.

THE SEA EAGLE

[therealcalicali]

CHAPTER 4: Vikings - Lillesøster (Little Sister)

Chapter 4 Warnings: Threats, Light Smut and Fluff

Word Count: 10500      

Setting: Viking Era

Genre: Romance/Drama/Epic                  

Pairing: Ragnarssons x Reader, Alfred x Reader, Aethelred x Reader (No details because it would spoil the story)

Read Season 2: Here

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3  Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10  Chapter 11   Chapter 12  Chapter 13

Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19

Chapter 20 Part A Chapter 20 Part B

________________

“I did not care for your display at the docks.” An irritated Alfred finally said.

As he paced the floor of his chamber in the West Wing of Ragnar’s estate, the Prince seemed on the verge of shouting. You sat quietly in a chair, desiring sleep prior to your welcoming feast, however, you could not interrupt him. In the corner, seated quietly reading a book was Pippa, doing her best to not appear bothered by Alfred’s bad mood. Governess Yasmine had already gone to her chamber to rest as had most of the people who arrived with you to Kattegat. You truly wished your soon-to-be husband would end the argument so you could rest.

“Alfred, must you always be annoyed with me?” You asked. “No matter whom I am around, you find fault. You have known about Gunni since the day I met you. He is one of my dearest friends and I have always written--”

“That was then Y/N!” Your betrothed said as he stopped pacing. “We were children. But now, it is not proper for a woman and man to be such close friends.”

“What are you saying?”

Alfred walked over and knelt in front of you. Looking at your future husband, you were doing your utmost to keep yourself calm. How dare he think he could tell you whom you could befriend or not? Especially when you had known Gunni long before meeting him. Taking your hands in his, Alfred kissed them first before he finally felt he could say what he wanted.

“Please listen to me. You are going to be Queen of your own realm and also, my wife. It means between us, we are accountable to two kingdoms……two Christian kingdoms. No matter what, at the end of all this, we have to move forward with our lives in the proper manner. Will we remain on diplomatic terms with these people? Of course! But they are Heathens at the end of the day. Therefore, our two worlds can never coincide. Especially when it comes to your social circle. You carrying on as….close friends with them will also have to end.”

“Carrying on? Alfred, you behave as if you forget that my father is Ragnar Lothbrok.”

“Fortunately, your mother raised you and your Christian attendees did the rest.” He said. “You cannot possibly think our children will be exposed to these people?”

You were astonished by his candid disdain for the Vikings. Not that you were expecting Alfred to utterly accept them as equals – his Christian upbringing would never allow it. However, you were surprised that he thought so poorly of people who had helped you after your mother’s murder.

“I do not think you are being fair.” You said trying to stay very tactful.

“Listen Y/N, I love you. But I only find your father, Bjorn and Queen Aslaug agreeable. The rest……well, as I stated, I do not wish them to be around you.

There he went again! Telling you how you were to live your life and whom you could socialize with. Since you were still worn from the journey to Kattegat, you were in no mood to argue with him. Additionally, you were trying your best to do as Governess Yasmine had advised.

“Say something, my love.” A worried Alfred said - bringing your hands to his lips and kissing them.

“I am exhausted. Would it be alright if we finished discussing this after I have had some rest?”

Alfred smirked and nodded his head. Standing up, he took you by your hand and stated he would walk you to your chambers. As the two of you exited the chamber, Pippa followed. Your five Handmaids; who had been seated in the hallway; immediately trailed behind you as well. Alfred glanced at you a moment as if he had something to say but was contemplating whether to speak up or not.

“What is it?” You asked as the two of you continued on.

Pleased by your intuition, Alfred regarded you with admiration briefly before speaking.

“I have been looking at dates for our wedding. Mother said it should take place as soon as possible. Especially with all that is occurring.” He said – giving your hand a firm squeeze. “With impending war, I tend to agree.”

You gritted your teeth as you looked straight ahead. Truthfully, you were in no rush to exchange vows with Alfred, or anyone else for that matter. Still you kept your true opinion to yourself.

“If you believe it is best.” You replied.

Alfred regarded you with both relief and joy. He was thoroughly pleased that you did not fight him on the matter. As far as you were concerned however, you were merely playing your part. In the situation you found yourself; besieged by powerful men on all sides; you had to be smart if you were to have your freedom one day. When the two of you arrived outside of your chamber door, Alfred gave you a peck on your lips. As he caressed you cheek with his thumb, he looked over your expression.

“You need not worry about anything Y/N. I will take good care of you always.”

With that, your betrothed gave you one last kiss before leaving you in the hands of your attendees.

__________________

“Please take a seat Alfred.” A proud Ragnar said to his future son-in-law.

Alfred had just entered the War Room where his father, Ragnar, the five Ragnarssons, King Gunni, Floki, Rollo and Lancille all had been busily going over strategy for taking Arundel.

“Nice for you to finally join us…..your Highness.” Ivar said as he looked at the Wessex Prince with some disdain.

“My apologies. I was just seeing to my wife...”

“My sister is not your wife!” An annoyed Ivar interrupted with a slant of the head. “At least, not at the moment.”

The dark haired Ragnarsson did little to hide his disapproval of the impending marriage between you and the young Christian Prince. Floki looked at both the foreign Alfred and Ivar and gathered that the tension would only get worse over time. 

He knew the youngest Ragnarsson probably better than most people and could sense jealousy emanating from his words.

“I am sure you all know Prince Alfred, son of Prince Aethelwulf here.” Ragnar said pointing the elder Prince.

He then introduced everyone else in the room formally since he wasn’t sure how much they had interacted at the docks.

“It is nice to meet you finally meet you in the flesh King Gunni.” Alfred said as he shook your friend’s hand. “Y/N had spoken well of you over the years.”

Gunni smirked since he could sense that your betrothed did not seem to like him much.

“Likewise, Prince Alfred.” Gunni replied. “She has also spoke allot of you and your brother Aethelred.” He added looking around. “Pray tell, is he here?”

“No he is not. He escorted our mother and King Ecbert back to Wessex.”

“Really? That is rather disappointing. I was hoping to meet him as well.” An amused Gunni said - smirking even more. He knew that Alfred was the type to keep any man far from you for his own selfish reasons. “I hope that he will grace us with his presence before we all step onto the battlefield. After all, it is easier to fight alongside people who one considers to be friends……is it not?”

“So it has been said.” Alfred replied with as he forced a smile.

Lancille looked at the two men and sighed silently. For your sake, he hoped that they could put away their egos and fight the war ahead as proper allies. He then thought to how he had been so curt with you on the docks after first being so elated to see you.  It was wrong and he felt guilty for doing so. However, he did not want to accept that his heart felt something when he laid eyes upon you again after all these years. 

You were no longer the child that demanded he be at your side at all times, you were a woman. He could not help feeling attraction despite knowing you were off limits. Thus, he thought it was best to avoid you so that his feelings would not betray him. Especially since he and Pippa had an on and off relationship of sorts. Lancille’s thoughts were interrupted by Bjorn’s voice asking for the floor.

“Lancille and I have received word from Sir Evertte…”

“Excuse the interruption Bjorn. Who is he?” Gunni asked.

All the other men nodded their heads in agreement to his line of questioning.

“My apologies. I should have clarified who he was in the grand scheme of things before I began. Sir Everette is the Princess’s former personal guard and now is head of her loyal knights and fighters.” Bjorn said as he took his place in front of the men and placed his hands upon the large oak table.

Ivar fidgeted in his seat as he bit his lip. As always, he had issues with Bjorn always taking lead at times such as this.

“Why should we trust the word of this Sir Everette fellow?” Ivar interrupted. “For all we know he may have become compromised by now and is giving us inaccurate information.”

Some of the others grumbled in agreement, apparently feeling the same suspicion. Noticing this, Lancille spoke up.

“You have my word that he is an honest and loyal man. He not only cares for the Princess as his sovereign but as a daughter. He would never betray her. I swear my life on it.”

Ivar smirked and gave him a glare.

“That is good to know. If this man ever betrays us, I know whom to kill first.”

“Ivar!” Ragnar said as he poured some ale.

Lancille scowled at Ivar but did not dignify his absurd statement by giving it reply. He knew that Ragnar’s youngest son detested him for some reason. It had always been that way since you were a child and nothing had changed over time. Though Bjorn and Ragnar had become fond of Lancille, Ivar still viewed him with great disdain.

“As I was saying…” Bjorn said. “Sir Evertte has confirmed that King Edmund of Assyria will back the Princess.”

“And by that, what does he mean?” Ivar asked not impressed thus far.

“It means men and ships. And if she so requires, he will provide coin as well.” An annoyed Bjorn replied.

“Was that so difficult?” Ivar said. “At least we all now are clear on what his ‘help’ will involve.”

“There is some bad news, however.” Lancille interjected as he looked around the room. “Queen Isadora of Caesarea and King Nigelle of Edom have allied with the Queen Regent. With the Arundel’s fighting force and the two kingdoms backing them, the battle ahead will not be easy. However, it is a winnable battle nonetheless.”

“What of King Gaiallard of Scythia? Has he given word either way?” Prince Alfred asked of Lancille.

“I am afraid he has currently decided to stay neutral. Perhaps he is hedging his bets. I think he wants to see which side will appear to be more likely to win after a few skirmishes before committing his men.” Lancille replied.

“Cowardly piece of Christian filth!” A disgusted Floki sneered.

Rollo and Ivar burst into laughter whilst some of the others cringed a little.

“Current company not included….of course.” Floki added with a great smile upon his face.

“It does not matter. We will win!” Rollo added before lifting his horn in the air.

“Exactly Uncle. It does not matter how many forces the rebellious Queen attains or who does not join the fray. All that matters is that we have the advantage strategically. Great plans can lay waste to great numbers. It will be a quick war.” Ivar said.

____________________

“Stop right there Lancille!” You demanded as you approached your guard and close friend.

He had been avoiding you since the docks and you were beyond fed up with it. You had assumed that when the two of your reunited, there would have been some emotional reaction from him. Not that you expected tears of joy or anything of that nature. Lancille was Lancille after all. However, you did expect him to behave as if he was happy to see you again. Instead, he persisted in being indifferent to the point that it almost offended you. How could he behave so nonchalantly about your return whilst you were eager to chat and laugh about old times? No matter. You would now get to the bottom of things.

“Yes, your Highness.” The continuously brooding Lancille replied – giving you a customary bow before looking to the ground.

“Go and wait for me by the entrance of the Great Hall. I wish to speak with him alone.” You said as you turned to your Handmaids.

The five of them exchanged apprehensive looks about your command but left the two of you alone nevertheless.

“I demand to know why you have been avoiding me!”

“I beg your pardon, Princess?”

“Do not toy with me Lancille. I will not be fooled by your pretense. You have been cold and distant, not to mention that you have intentionally been avoiding me all day. Why?”

Lancille’s brown eyes met yours briefly before he looked into the sky as the two of you stood in your father’s courtyard. Looking at you again he gave a slight shrug.

“I am sorry if I have offered you Princess. I assure—“

“Please desist with the Princess rubbish! In fact, I do not wish to hear any such formalities from you.” You interrupted. “You are my friend, well at least I assumed you were. But now...I find that you cannot be bothered to smile at me or even converse beyond a word or two.”

Lancille clasped his hands in front of him and regarded you. Though you waited, he offered no response much to your irritation.

“Nothing to say?” You said in a surprised tone.

“What would you like me to say Princess Y/N?” He asked. “If there is something you require that would make you happy, please feel free to command it. I am your loyal servant after all.”

The words that left his mouth hurt you to the core. Did he really tell you to command him? As if you needed to order a friend to be a friend?

“You know what I think Lancille?” You said as you held your chiffon skirts tightly with anger. “I…I do not think I shall be in need of you shortly. I will find another personal guard and move you to a position that enables you to be…..free from…..my bothersome presence.

Lancille looked down at the ground as you spoke but offered no resistance or interruption.

“Now if you will excuse me, I have to make my entrance at my welcoming feast.” You looked at him with hurt in your eyes. “Good Evening!”

As you marched away from him, Lancille finally took his eyes off the ground and watched you depart, utterly crushed by all you had said.

As he stood alone, Pippa approached. She had overheard the entire conversation despite not initially wishing to spy on you both.

“Why are you so distant with the Princess?” She asked a stunned Lancille who turned to face her.

“So you heard everything?”

“Forgive me for being so inquisitive. I could not walk away once I saw how upset she was.” Pippa confessed. “I do not understand how you could miss her while she was away but now that she is here, you behave as you could care less.”

“It is improper for me to be overly emotional with my sovereign. As a knight, my focus is on doing a proper job of protecting her. After all, that is what is expected of me.” Lancille replied. “Now, if you will forgive me, I have to meet Ragnar and Prince Aethelwulf before the feast begins.

He gave Pippa a chaste peck on the lips before he walked off leaving her mulling everything over. Despite his assertion, your Lady In Waiting knew better. She knew exactly why her lover was determined to avoid you. Of course! Pippa had first noticed it at the docks. Lancille was very much enamored with you.

__________________

It was evening time and the feast welcoming you home was in full swing in Ragnar’s great hall. Everyone was having a wonderful time as you sat with your wine mulling over everything in your head. You felt like a prisoner despite wearing the prettiest silk dress from Francia and your coif fitted with a costly silver and diamond diadem Aethelred had gifted you.

“My dear, you should be enjoying the evening. You look much too serious.” Governess Yasmine said as she worked on her third cup of wine.”

“I suppose you are right.” You replied, giving her an affection one-handed hug.

“Of course I am right…as I usually am.” She said with a chuckle. “Drink and enjoy yourself. None of these foolish men know your thoughts, my sweet Princess. As long as you play your part well, you will be fine. Remember this adage “An innocent maiden with a hint of the devil in her, no man can resist.” She winked. “Men are impulsive creatures and with your beauty, you can make any of them melt in your hands.”

“May I ask you something?” You said with a smirk as the wine began hitting your senses. “Why do you know so much about…you know….men?”

Governess Yasmine smiled devilishly before taking another sip from her goblet.

“I know so much because I used the men I ‘loved’ to work my way into high position within the Royal Court. You see dear, I was born to a poor family of potato farmers. Naturally, I had no hopes of ever being more than that. Imagine being the daughter of a poor farmer and then growing up to be the wife of one.” She shook her heard. “Blast that piss to hell, I said!”

You laughed for a good while to hear her blunt language. When you were a child, you had always thought of Governess Yasmine as being rigid. But as you had gotten older, she really began opening up to you more.

“That is amazing. But you are so cultured and well-learned?” You gasped. “How can that be?”

“Well it is true. Life was hard growing up. Sometimes we had good harvest and ate well, and other times, well………believe me when I say that eating radish and cabbage soup for weeks on end is torture. However, as I got older, I realized that men would look at me strangely. Often, they even bestowed gifts and coin to my mother for my sake. Of course she hid the real whereabouts of these things from my father.” She chuckled and took a sip of wine. “She always stated that a ‘relative’ had given us money to make ends meet.”

“What a shrewd woman. I rather like your mother.” You said as you took another sip of wine.

“As did I. Being the clever woman that she was, she sat me down one day and told me that I was a beauty, unlike my sisters. She then sternly advised me not to squander my looks on a poor man. “Use your god given looks to make men give you what you want.”

Your eyes went large a moment as you pondered what it could mean.

“Did she mean to lay with them?”

“Heavens no.” Governess Yasmine laughed. “You need not sleep with a man to make him do things for you. Only senseless women who lack the art of seduction and other deceits have to resort to that.”

You were confused. Despite your sheltered up bring, you knew that men loved copulation. No matter how religious they were or how high their station, you learned quickly that most were lustful.

“My dear, much can be accomplished through simple acts. Be it a passionate kiss, sultry flirtation, subtle touch or sweet words, they all work. However, if you really need to make them stupid, you can ‘handle the member’ or allow them ‘the lark’. Governess Yasmine said with a chuckle.

“I confess that I do know what ‘handling the member’ means…” You giggled – recalling what you had done with Aethelred. “However, I have never heard of ‘the lark.’”

Governess Yasmine looked around a moment, making certain that no one at the table was listening. When she was assured that the other women were not paying attention, she faced you again.

“It means to allow a man to put his penis in-between your breasts and reach his….release.” She whispered.

You instantly burst into laughter. It was one of the oddest things you had heard and made you laugh more as you pictured the act. As you sat amused by your Governess’s words, you felt a tap on your shoulder. 

“Ivar.” You said as he took a seat beside you.

“Whom were you expecting? Your fragile Christian?” He smirked as he held his full horn towards you.”

“What is in there?”

“Try it.” He said as his blue eyes fixated on yours.

As you tried to take the horn from his hand, Ivar pulled it away. He shook his head as he eyed you playfully.

“I want to hold it for you.”

You gave in and allowed your half-brother to hold the horn to your lips. As you drank, Ivar’s eyes stayed on you.

“It is a new ale that father has been importing.”

“Well, I really like it. It is not bitter unlike most ales.” You stated once you had your fill.

Ivar sipped from his horn and smiled at you. His eyes soon fixated on your engagement ring causing him to roll his eyes.

“So they are rushing you to wifedom I see.”

“I suppose so.” You said with a reluctant smile.

“Are you happy to be marrying him?”

“Of course I am. Why would I not be?

Ivar scrutinized your facial expression a while before suddenly chuckling. Logically, you assumed it was due to him being drunk, but when he was done laughing, he leaned to your ear.

“You are a very terrible liar.” He whispered.

Leaning back to look at you, Ivar gave you one of his peculiar smiles as he took his horn to his lips. As you tried to sip your wine, you could not help but to burst into laughter at his silliness.

___________________

As you stood to go outside for fresh air, you looked around the great hall and realized that Christian and Heathen alike were having a good time.

 Perhaps your welcoming feast would go a long way in bringing people together.

“If drink, food and music is what it takes to get both sides to get along, perhaps I need to throw a few feasts with my own coin.” You thought.

“Princess Y/N, it is so good to see you.” A very happy Runa said as she pulled you into an embrace.

Gunni’s elder sister, who was now twenty four, held your hands as she looked you over with excitement in her eyes.

“I cannot believe how long it has been.” She said as she took your arm. “Come, let us take a walk.”

“That sounds wonderful actually.” You replied with a giggle. “I am afraid I require some cool air to help me reduce the effects from the wine.”

As the two of you walked towards the exit of the great hall, you spotted the elusive Gunni and some friends not too far away. The young King appeared to be having a very good time as he and his acquaintances laughed rowdily.

“He has always been quite adorable when he laughs.” You thought as some old memories came flooding to your mind.

Before you turned away, Gunni’s eyes met yours. He did not come to you, however, he gave you a wink that captivated your heart. Noticing her brother’s flirtation, Runa pulled you towards the entryway with a smirk upon her face.

___________________

The following afternoon, you were relieved to get time alone with Gunni. Since some most of the men had gone to look at the ships Floki’s workhands were building, you forced your childhood friend to remain for your sake. After all, he was a King and had plenty of his own ship builders and ships.

“Why did you bring me here of all places?” You laughed as Gunni dragged you by your hand to the water’s edge.

The two of you had left your Handmaids behind in a meadow after you had ordered them to await your return. After all, you wanted to enjoy some private time with your Viking friend.

“Remember the first time Boe, Ubbe and I brought you here?” He asked as he reminisced.

“You mean the day I nearly drowned?” You laughed as your recalled the incident.

For some reason or another, you were too hardheaded to admit you could not swim when you were a child. When the boys had jumped into the lake, you had stripped and jumped in behind them. That was when you realized that swimming was not something one could do just by willing it. As you sunk, you had thought you were finished until you saw Gunni swimming towards you. He was the one who not only brought you to shore, but chastised you about lying. In the end, he and Ubbe eventually taught you how to swim so that horrors like that never occurred again.

Suddenly, Gunni began taking off his tunic as you sat down on the grass. Picking a daisy, you began to pluck it’s petals before you glanced up at him gain. When you laid eyes his toned and firm upper body, you smiled to yourself and turned away. Your shyness did not go unnoticed by Gunni who knelt down beside you –his long hair brushing against your face as the wind picked up slightly.

“Why will you not look at me?”

“I did. I am now looking at the flowers in my hand.” You replied still not daring to glance at his handsome face.

Undeterred, Gunni took you by the chin and turned your face upward.

“Come swimming with me.” He said.

“What? Have you gone mad? You laughed.

Since it seemed you were not willing to join him, Gunni shrugged and began removing the rest of his clothes. You were utterly stunned and could hardly move. Despite all your flirtations with Aethelred, you still were quite the shy girl. In spite of feeling butterflies in your stomach, you were curious to see how Gunni’s body was compared to your Wessex beau. As you snuck a glimpse of his nude form, the back of your neck flushed with heat.

“I’m going in without you my Christian Princess.” He yelled to you before diving into the cool lake.

You hesitated a while but you soon went and sat on the wooden pier to watch Gunni enjoy his swim. Of course, you enjoyed the view of your childhood friend rising from the water, long black hair clinging to his toned back. 

Did you feel guilty for eyeing him in such a lustful manner? Of course not. After all, after seeing Aethelred’s body, you felt that the male form was to be admired as much as possible. As you sat on the pier, you decided to take off your shoes and hosiery so that you could put your feet in the water.

“No one could find fault in me merely putting my feet in” You supposed.

When Gunni noticed you unlacing the garters from around your calves, he swam over. 

“Are you tempting me?” He said with a great smile.

“No I am not!” You replied.

As he drifted in the water, he watched as you removed your knitted hose before he moved in closer. When you eased your feet into the cool of the lake you gasped when you unexpectedly felt his hands caressing you calves and feet.

“Gunni!” You cried out as you laughed. “Stop it. You know how ticklish my feet are.

“Do I?” He asked playfully as he continued to tickle you.

“Please stop before I fall into the water.”

Despite your begging, Gunni persisted with a massive smile upon his face.

You hit his bare shoulder good-naturedly, but as you went to pull your hand back, he grabbed you by your wrist. Staring into your eyes with a serious expression, he placed your palm against his cheek. Instinctively, you began to caress his well-defined jawline for a while before hastily pulling your hand away. The manner in which you were holding back amused Gunni - his blue eyes staring at you with fascination. Bringing himself closer, he positioned his wet body between your legs, pushing your expensive skirts further upward in order to not get them wet. 

Though you should have done so, you did not attempt to stop him. Gunni’s hands soon moved from your calves to your thighs as he kept his eyes trained upon yours. Though you tried to resist, you felt hypnotically drawn to him as his strong hands gripped your thighs harder. Before you knew it, you planted a kiss upon your childhood friend’s soft lips. Not to be denied a true kiss, as you tried to sit back up, Gunni lurched forward and captured your mouth passionately. His hands pulled you so close to his body that you nearly fell of the wooden pier you were seated upon.

You could hardly breathe as his kiss overwhelmed your very being. Kissing a Viking was comparable to kissing a bolt of lightning. Every thought left your head as Gunni’s mouth travelled from your lips to your neck, dragging his warm tongue against your flesh.

“We…..cannot….” You said, faintly protesting to prevent things from going further.

Ignoring your weak plea, he brought his face in front of yours – holding your neck in his large hand while brushing his nose against yours.  

“Should I stop?” He whispered.

You could hardly say anything as you found yourself brushing your lips against his - your entire body weak and craving more. When you finally shook your head, Gunni claimed your lips again, this time with more passion. You moaned as he held your neck tightly, controlling every aspect of the embrace. Without a second thought, your legs wrapped around him – bringing his wet body against your firmly.

Responding to your embrace, Gunni buried his face into the side of your neck, giving it lustful, open-mouthed kisses. Your back arched as your threw your head backward, utterly allowing the carnal pleasure to wash over you. As he licked your from your neck to your jawline, Gunni brought his lips to yours again. Gasping lustfully, he brushed his lips against your cheek.

“I have dreamt of this for years.” He whispered.

“We….we better stop.” You timidly said, afraid to be his arms any longer.

You felt vulnerable with him and feared losing your self-control. His every touch made you crave more and you feared the voice in your head that kept saying, ‘let him take you here’. As you gazed at Gunni, you realized that the entire dynamic of your friendship had instantly changed. Not that he had not flirted with you since you were younger. However, by kissing him, you had muddied the waters further.

“What are you thinking of?” He asked with his lips curled into devilish grin.

“I…I.do not know.”

Gunni gave you a knowing smirk - very pleased to see you flustered. Never had he thought he would ever hold the Christian Princess he adored in his arms, especially after word of your betrothal had reached him. It was news that enraged him so much, that he had actually contemplated breaking alliance with Ragnar. However, being a perceptive and strategic man, the young King knew that he need not stay angry. As proud of a Viking as your father was, Gunni knew it must have been difficult for him to agree to wed you to a Christian.

However, the marriage was the best way for you to create the army you required. Since your friend did not believe you loved Alfred, he did not care to hold back his advances any longer.

“You….you are being too forward.” You said barely getting the words out.

You felt Gunni’s hands travel higher on your things since he did not care for your false protest – his fingers lightly grazing your flesh.

“Gunni!”

“Yes, Y/N?”

His hands soon rested on your hips as he held your gaze – never averting his deep blue eyes that were full of desire. You felt one of his hands slowly trace along your hip and finally… to your inner thigh – pushing back your silk chemise. The feeling of his hand so close to your womanhood made your breath catch in your throat as you tried your best to remain composed. With a devilish grin upon his face, Gunni deliberately stroked your vaginal entrance with his thumb as he continued to look at you. Your eyes fluttered in ecstasy as you let out a whimper. Pleased by your reaction, he removed his hand from between your legs and pulled you into an embrace.

“Did I make you squirm?” He asked before placing a kiss upon your cheek.

“Oh, be quiet.” You said as a shy smile crossed your lips. “We best return for my Handmaids before they grow bored and come looking for me.”

“I almost forgot about them.”

“Well thank God I have not.” You replied as you pushed him underwater.

Rising from the lake, he splashed you as his revenge for your actions. “Why you little imp! You have made me all wet!”

“In more ways than one if I am not mistaken.”

You glared at Gunni! Oh how you wished you did not have to behave respectability just then. Without question, you would have jumped into the lake and given him the sound beating he deserved for his naughty wisecrack. Standing up and fixing your chemise and skirts, you began to walk away.

“Hey Princess!” Gunni called out. “Do you not wish to remain for the show?”

“What show?”

“Me getting redressed of course.” He replied with a wink.

You turned your back to him and took a seat on the grass - heart still beating rapidly from the tryst. As you sat lost in thought, Gunni dressed up, all the while teasing you about not turning around to look at his body. When he had finished, he picked up his sheathed sword that lay next to you.

“Come my little Christian. Let us go and see how your servants are faring.”

“Thank you.” You replied as you took his hand. “And please desist from calling me that.”

“What?”

“Little Christian.” You said. “I am no longer a child after all.”

Taking your hand in his, Gunni laughed as the two of you walked side-by-side.

“I am very aware of that fact. You are most certainly a woman. He said as he eyed you mischievously.

“Gunni!” You sighed as you tried to walk ahead of him.

However, you did not get far. Wrapping his arms around your waist from behind, he placed his chin on your bare shoulder. His beard tickling you greatly.

“I know you will rid yourself of that so-called Prince soon enough. When that is done, you will become my wife.” He said with his mouth against your ear. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” He said with a smile. “Do you not recall what I said to you when we first met?

“I remember. You kept telling me that we would get married.” You said. “Things have not changed I see. You were as cocky then, as you are now.

“Thank you. And you play coy now, as you did back then.” Gunni said with a laugh. “See, you and I share the same temperament and sarcastic wit. That is why I have asked the Gods to give you to me.”

“Really?” You scoffed as he held you closer. “Heathen Gods would give a Christian woman to you, a Viking King?”

“Of course. They control all things.” He replied before sweeping you off your feet.

“Gunni! I can very well walk on my own.”

“I know. But this is much more fun.”

__________________

Two days later, on Ragnar’s estate, Gunni sat patiently as he waited for the other men to show up in the courtyard. As he sat at the great oak table, a thrall served him some mead. It did not take long for a solemn Prince Alfred; who had also arrived early for the impeding meeting; to join him. The two men acknowledge each other civilly.

“Good afternoon Alfred. It appears that we are the first to show.”

“So it seems…King Gunni.” Your betrothed replied as he shifted in his seat a little.

“Please, just call me Gunni……Y/N does.”

Alfred could not quite put his finger on it, but he was beginning to detest your friend despite your demands for him to get along. Your betrothed may have been a reserved man but he was also a man capable of intense emotions. He did not appreciate Aethelred, nor anyone else, thinking he was so stupid as to not notice their intentions towards you. As a thrall finished pouring him some ale, Alfred decided to speak his mind.

“If I may be so bold to ask, are you married?”

“No, I am not.”

“That is interesting.” Alfred said as he searched for his next words.

“Is it?” An amused Gunni asked as he sipped his mead. “I suppose you and my mother would get along quite well then.

Alfred gave Gunni a stern look signifying he was not pleased with the jesting.

“Do not be so serious Prince Alfred. It far too early in the day for that. Gunni said with a smirk.

“As I was saying. The fact that you are an unmarried man makes me understand things a little more.

“How so?” Gunni asked.

“Because, I now understand why you do not see a problem with being so close to another man’s wife.”

“And who is that man?” An amused Gunni asked.

Alfred eyed him a moment and pursed his lips. Looking away, he  composed himself so he would not allow the young King to make him act out of character. Finally, he looked at your friend again.

“I am speaking of Y/N. As a single man, I suppose you cannot appreciate my issue with your familiarity with her.

“Well do not worry, Y/N is an upstanding Christian woman. You should trust her.” Gunni said with a smirk.

Alfred cut him another severe look. He did not appreciate the amusement that your friend seemed to be getting from the topic.

“I trust her. It is you I wonder about.” Alfred said. “To remain close to another man’s wife....it would be foolish.

“Well, I am a foolish man.” Gunni said with a huge smile.

The Wessex Prince glared at the Viking King as the tension between them became worse. Fortunately, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, Bjorn and Lancille arrived at that moment and took their seats.

“Where is Ivar?” Hvitserk asked Gunni.

“I am not certain. We have not seen him as of yet.”

Lancille was holding a letter that had arrived from Arundel and was eager to divulge the contents. However, he knew he had to wait for everyone to arrive. As he took a seat near Gunni, the two men exchanged pleasantries. Because of you, they knew each other well and got along for the most part.

“How do you fare today, Lancille?”

“I cannot complain. I am just glad that we are almost ready start making some tactical decisions and assigning the garrisons.”

“I feel the same way. It will be a sight will it not?” Gunni said. “Heathen and Christian fighting side by side?”

Lancille gave a weak smile and nodded his head in acknowledgment. 

Over the years, his hatred of the Vikings had diminished a little. Mostly because of his friendship with people like Ragnar, Bjorn and Gunni. However, his religious sensibilities did not allow him to ignore many of the practices he found garish and uncivilized. For example, human sacrifice and the fact that most of their ceremonies involved blood - human or otherwise.

“I think this war will help to alleviate a great many misconceptions on both sides. Either way, it will be interesting will it not?” Lancille said.

“I will drink to that!” Gunni said as he tilted his horn towards your guard.

As everyone was speaking, Ragnar, Floki, Rollo and Prince Aethelwulf finally approached. The men were laughing quite loudly about a vulgar rumor going around Kattegat. When they arrived at the table, they all exchanged pleasantries before Ragnar looked around.

“Where is Ivar?”

“That is what we would like to know as well.” Ubbe said as he sipped his mead. “It is unlike him to not be one of the first to appear for battle planning.”

“Perhaps he was with a woman and overslept.” Hvitserk said – causing chuckles and laughter all around.

“I doubt that. Knowing him, he is likely sulking somewhere due to not being in charge of entire war.” Sigurd said with contempt.

____________________

While everyone was trying to figure out where he was, Ivar was happily headed to give you a gift. As you stood in the garden looking at flowers, he approached with a smile upon his face.

Handing you a red velvet wrapped item, your half-brother asked you to take a look. Giving him a kiss upon his cheek first, you unraveled the velvet and saw the most intricate wrist cuff.

“Do you like it?”

“My goodness Ivar. It is really, lovely.” You said as you looked at the gold wrist cuff in your hand. “But you did not have to spend so much coin on me.”

“Of course I did. After all, you are one of the few people I actually like.” He said with wink.

You did not know why he felt the need to purchase something so expensive for you but it was quite a lovely piece of jewelry.  The rune adorned cuff was very much a Heathen piece, however, you put it on anyway. As you slid it onto your wrist, Ivar blue eyes studied you with pleased contemplation. While you and Ivar conversed, Pippa was seated nearby with your five Handmaids busily reading.

“Y/N, what are you doing this evening?” He suddenly asked.

“I am not certain as of yet but I was thinking about watching a show with Runa.”

“Runa?” Ivar said as he eyed you. “You mean Gunni’s sister?”

“Yes.”

“Will he be there as well?”

“I do not think so.” You replied as you smoothed your dark green dress. “I assume he will be with you men at your private banquet tonight.”

Ivar pursed his lips he shifted his weight upon his crutch.

“Why do you like to spend so much time with him?”

“Pardon?” You asked, a bit confused by the question.

“I know that he is your good friend but what of me?” Ivar said. “You have not spent any time with me but you find time for Sigurd, Bjorn and Gunni.”

“Would you like for us to do something?”

He looked away a moment but then turned to face you again.

“If you do not mind, I would like that.” Ivar replied, suddenly becoming quite  sullen.

“Of course I do not mind, my short-tempered one.” You said as you caressed his cheek. “After all, you are one of my favorite people in the world. Perhaps Sigurd will want to --”

“I do not wish for you to invite Sigurd along!” Ivar snapped. “I want it to be just you and I. He gets enough of your attention as it is.”

You held in a chuckle, utterly amused by the pouty expression your brother was making.

“Alright. Then it shall be you and I.” You replied. “However, you will have to find something for us to do since I know you do not care for shows.

“I already have something planned.” He replied with a smirk and a wink of the eye.

“Good.” You replied.

As he turned to leave, Ivar stopped and turned to look at you.

“Are you not coming?”

“Where?”

“To the first tactical meeting. Or are have you decided to not attend?” Ivar asked.

You shook your head, utterly confused as to what he was talking about.

“You mean to tell me that no one told you about it?” A surprised Ivar asked.

“No, this is the first I am hearing of any such thing.”

Ivar was somewhat upset that everyone would choose to leave you out of a meeting that had to do with your kingdom. Being a pure strategist, he felt that there were numerous things about Arundel that you could provide information on. No matter how insignificant, he liked to know as much as possible before going into war. Thus, he wanted you to participate so he could be as knowledgeable as possible. After all, Ivar had great plans for after the war and most of them had to do with Arundel.

“Well then. Here is your chance to prove me wrong.”

“Prove you wrong about what?” You asked.

“I once told you that you would grow up to be a puppet Queen who spent her time choosing pretty dresses while others made the hard decisions.” Ivar said. “So, will you resign yourself to needlework and reading while others make decisions without you or will you get your hands dirty?” He asked with a raised brow.

“My mother would never sit back and expect others to do all the hard work and neither will I.” You said. “Please, take me to this meeting.”

Ivar, who was happy with your decision, gave you a devilish grin as he cocked his head.

“Follow me Princess.”

____________________

As curly haired Dorian sat upon his horse in a massive open field, one of his Royal messengers came running. 

The young King had just concluded some War Games with his team of knights and was in a celebratory mood since they had won. However, when he saw the expression upon the messenger’s face, his mood changed.

“What is it?” He snapped.

“King Dorian! Please forgive the intrusion but there is a letter for you from the allies.....of.......of Princess Y/N. Would you like for me to read it aloud now or--”

The messenger was nearly shaking as he held the letter in his hand. He averted his eyes knowing very well how the mention of your name sent the King into tangents, sometimes very violent ones. As the messenger held his breath, hoping he had not drawn the King’s ire, he mumbled a silent prayer.

“I do not need you to read it! Leave it for me in my study and I shall read it myself.” Your upset cousin said as he looked out over the distance. “And remember, the next time you interrupt my celebration, I shall have you flogged. Now go.”

Dorian had hoped  that the years at King Charles’s court would have softened your stance on revenge. After all, the offer to marry him was never rescinded. However, he now realized that he would indeed have to go to war against you. The person he considered his best childhood friend and soul-mate. 

_________________

“Please do not be so sullen my handsome King.” A female servant said. “Pray tell me what I can do to make you feel better. 

Dorian was beside himself with both anger and sadness as the woman gently caressed his head. 

The letter, that had been signed by King Ragnar, King Ecbert, King Gunni, King Ælla and King Edmund, not only indicated that war was indeed coming but that you were marrying Prince Alfred to solidify the alliance.

“I want you to get out!” Dorian shouted, finally having enough of his servant’s presence. 

The woman left, despite wanting to stay. Since she had slept with the young King before, she had hoped that this night would be no different. However, he was in no mood for her sexual advances or anything else for that matter. His mind was utterly fixated on the impending war. After pacing for a few minutes, Dorian departed his chambers. With purpose, he walked to find the man whom he knew could provide the assistance he would require.

___________________

“King Dorian....” Lord Alfie said as he smiled at the young King. “How can I be of service?”

TAGGED:

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@hallowed-heathen  @captstefanbrandt  @naaladareia

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@kawennote09  @cbouvier23  @thatsamegirl

@captstefanbrandt @saladalpaca  

[mahalzevran]

Here are the OCs in my canon Dragon Age timeline for the first day of @filipinoocweek .

They are: Rhian Surana, Kaia and Alden Hawke, and Luwalhati Lavellan (Lu’s screencap was taken by the lovely @rhunae ). Info about them under the cut since I don’t want to take up people’s dashes.

(All four OCs have Seheron ancestry since that’s the closest place in the Dragon Age setting to the Philippines. The Amells were originally from Seheron and Clan Lavellan had previously merged with a Seheron clan a while back)

Rhian Surana

Age: 18 at the beginning of the Fifth Blight

Height: 4′11

Gender: cis female

Sexuality: Asexual

Class and Specialization: Mage | Spirit Healer and Arcane Warrior

Romanced: Zevran

Bio: Rhian’s parents were born in Kirkwall (separately) and have ancestry from Seheron. They met while they were working under the Couslands, fell in love, then had Rhian. Rhian’s magic manifested at around age 4. Her parents did a pretty good job at hiding her magic until one day Fergus walked in on her casting a spell. The Templars came in the next day to drag her to the Circle. Her father tried to stop them and was ultimately killed.

During her time in the Circle, Rhian befriended Jowan and Eadric, then eventually became friends with Anders and Karl as well. Rhian showed a natural talent for magic which led to First Enchanter Irving offering to mentor her personally. Rhian quickly rose in rank among her peers causing her to receive her Harrowing not long after her 18th birthday.

Shortly after, Rhian was involved in an incident with her friend Jowan that forced her to either join the Grey Wardens or become Tranquil. After Loghain’s betrayal, Rhian was forced to take charge of uniting Ferelden against the incoming Blight. She was not pleased with this as she hadn’t been outside in more than a decade. Rhian gained many companions along the way. She ended up becoming close friends with Leliana, Morrigan, and Alistair as well as falling in love with Zevran. Rhian would eventually make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save Thedas from the blight and a statue was erected in her name. However, there are rumors that she did not actually die and is currently with Zevran and Alistair elsewhere.

As a token of affection from Zevran, Rhian wears a gold hoop earring on her right ear. She is also visibly chubby.

Kaia Hawke

Age: 23 at the beginning of the Fifth Blight

Height: 6′3

Gender: cis female

Sexuality: Aro/Ace

Class and Specialization: Mage | Spirit Healer and Force Mage

Romanced: No one

Alden Hawke

Age: 23 at the beginning of the Fifth Blight

Height: 5′11

Gender: cis male

Sexuality: Homosexual

Class and Specialization: Dual-Weilding Rogue | Shadow and Assassin

Romanced: Fenris

Bio: The twins Kaia and Alden were born in Lothering to Malcolm and Leandra Hawke. Kaia’s magic did not manifest itself until the age of 6, about one year after Carver and Bethany were born. Malcolm took it upon himself to teach his daughter how to control her magic. Once Bethany’s magic also manifested itself, Malcolm taught the two together, though Bethany quickly surpassed her older sister in skill. After Malcolm’s death, it was up to the older twins to take care of the family. Alden would take on odd jobs, which helped him develop his stealthing skill, and Kaia worked hard not to be discovered by the Templar.

When it was revealed the King Cailan was looking for volunteers to join his army, Carver and Alden immediately signed up and left for Ostagar. Alden and Carver survived the battle due to the fact that when it became clear that Cailan had been betrayed, Carver heaved Alden onto his shoulder and ran all the way back to Lothering.

Due to the impending darkspawn threat, the Hawke family fled to Kirkwall along with Aveline Vallen, another Ostagar survivor, where they were united with their Uncle Gamlen. It was here that they met Varric Tethras and his brother Bartrand. Soon, the twins become a partner in Bartrand’s expedition with the promise of becoming rich and head for the Deep Roads using maps provided by the Grey Warden Anders. It is here that tragedy strikes and Bethany and Carver are forced to join the Grey Warden order or succumb to the taint.

As a result of the expedition, the Hawke family is able to petition for their name back and are now reinstated to the noble class. At this point, the Kirkwall Crew has grown to include Isabela, Merrill, Fenris, Varric, Anders/Justice, Aveline, and Sebastian. Soon Alden and Fenris get together. Three years after the expedition, their mother is horribly killed and the Hawke twins somehow manage to stop a Qunari invasion. Kaia is named the Champion of Kirkwall as it was she who landed the final blow against the Arishok.

Three years later, the tension betweent the mages and the Templars reach a breaking point. Out of desperation, Anders blows up the Kirkwall Chantry. Kaia and Alden are then forced to defend the mages from the Templars with the help of their companions. After hearing about what happened, they are also joined by Carver and Bethany. It was soon found out that Knight-Commander Meredith had gone mad due to the red lyrium idol found years prior. The Hawkes leave Kirkwall and the companions go their separate ways, save for Fenris.

Luwalhati Lavellan

Age: 28 at the time of the Conclave explosion

Height: 5′00

Gender: cis female

Sexuality: Demisexual

Class and Specialization: Mage | Fire Necromancer

Romanced: Solas

Bio: Luwalhati was born to a hunter and the hahren of Clan Lavellan. Her magic manifested at around age 5. Growing up, Luwalhati grew very interested in the stories her father would tell the clan. She always listened intently and often asked for more during bedtime. While she loved hearing her father talk about Dalish history, she also loved hearing about the day’s hunt. She would wait very excitedly for her mother to come back. Her mother would always tell her about the different animals she came across and how to listen to nature to know when to strike.

Luwalhati only had two close friends, a warrior and a rogue, in the clan as she was often deemed too serious and unapproachable. This was even furthered when Luwalhati received her vallaslin. Throughout the ritual, Lu kept a straight face and barely flinched. This caused a few of the clan members to not only respect her but also slightly fear her. Lu is a hard worker and loves to learn new things. When she was chosen to become the First, she was elated as she had been studying and training her whole life.

When Divine Justinia called for the Conclave, the Keeper sent Luwalhati, along with her two friends, to the spy as the verdict would likely affect their clan. Unfortunately, Lu’s two friends were part of those who did not survive the explosion.

In the beginning, Luwalhati wanted nothing to do with the Inquisition. It seemed like a shem problem and Lu’s only goal was to return to her clan. She had mistakenly assumed that complying with the advisors would make the process go faster so she could return faster. It was not until after saving the mages at Redcliffe and the attack on Haven that she finally took the Inquisition seriously. Finding out that it was Corypheus who caused the explosion that killed her friends was a big factor in her drive to defeat Corypheus.

It was difficult for Luwalhati to get along with her companions at first because she was a proud Dalish elf and tended to have a stick up her ass. It was Varric who convinced her to let loose a little. Lu had tried to befriend Solas first because he was both an elf and a mage and she had mistakenly assumed that there would be solidarity. Their conversations often led to debates until Solas finally learned to be more understanding. Eventually, the two would get together.

As Inquisitor, Luwalhati left Stroud in the Fade as she knew how much Hawke meant to Varric. She also had Celene and Briala rule together. Lu also chose to drink from the well. It would not have been her choice if she could, but she did not feel right letting Morrigan have it since it was her heritage in question. Luwalhati would also eventually have Leliana as Divine. 

Trespasser was particularly difficult for Lu, she found out that her ex not only killed her two best friends but was also the one person she was supposed to stay away from and was planning on destroying the world. Though Lu had initially thought she was over Solas, she ultimately ended up vowing to redeem him if possible.

[mariemarvelbear]

Eve’s Birthday

Hope

Avengers x Reader

Warning: Angst.So much Angst.Slow burn angst.Abuse.Mention of rape.Brainwashed.ANGST.Blood.Torture.Swearing.Kidnapping.18+

Part 11

Things were excellent.You were slowly remembering things with the help of the team and the assistance of Helen.You were back at your usual self, but now better and stronger.Next thing you knew you were celebrating Bucky’s birthday-and then Natasha’s and soon yours. Tony instantly wanted to throw you a birthday party, but the team immediately opposed-remembering what happened last year.So everyone agreed on an intimate dinner.Everyone was there,Even Shuri and Okoye.Scott brought Casie and Peter even brought Aunt May who brought gumbo that everyone devoured in minutes.Hours later as some of the team departed,Tony decided that the team can’t stop just yet.So he ushered all of you back in the lounge room,making sure to call for back-up security and his suit nearby-readying himself for anything.

“Happy Birthday Eve!” You all cheered,laughing as Tony started a toast-slurring the words as the alcohol hit him.He was getting handsy,After the night of your confession back in the infirmary-Tony never left your side and made sure that you know his feelings. As Tony finished his vows-He quickly spun you in circles and pressed a kiss on your cheeks.

Steve sat silently on the sofa chairs-frowning as he saw you giggle,sipping the champagne that Tony handed to you ago. “Give me another one Anthony!” Tony chuckled,proud to see you drinking and in his arms.As he planted another kiss on your cheeks,he strutted and went back into the kitchen to get more alcohol.You danced your way to Bucky,swaying your hips as he held you close.

Steve glowered-not wanting to look at you in his best friend’s arms anymore.As he set his foot into the kitchen, he was greeted by Tony-drinking his scotch as he stared at you dancing.

“Hi gramps.” Tony greeted,slyly smiling at the guy as he finished his drink-not wanting any more second to be in the same room with Steve.

“What are you…and Eve?” He whispered, already regretting how the words came out.He doesn’t want to fight with Tony-he just wants to ask,if it’s true that you’re now his.

Tony chuckled,then laughed as the guy sent daggers through his eyes. “I’m serious Tony.”

“You gonna do somethin’ about that Spangles?” Tony snickered at his now newly founded nickname to Steve, placing the bottles back at the counter. “Look. Eve and I talked..” After hearing those words,Steve wished that he didn’t asked.So maybe he can spare his self from the despair and agony that awaits.”Look flag boy-“ Tony smirked as he stare at Steve.He looked at him as if he wasn’t his boss, as if Steve wasn’t his captain and the guy was just a competition he knew and now wanted to get rid of. “I don’t want to hurt you Steve.So just do what I say and just back off.She’s mine now Cap.Mine.”

  “FRIDAY!We need a sick beat to shake our asses to!” Tony hollered,going past Steve as he bumped the guy’s shoulder. A loud beat of deep bass soon boomed all over the tower,Tony took you by surprise as he snaked his arms on your waist and closer to his chest..As the alcohol finally caught up with the team, everyone was soon dancing and giggling,Natasha took Bruce’s hands as she teach the guy how to dance-Vision asked Wanda’s permission to dance with her.Bucky, Clint and Pietro made their way to the nearby game room and played darts as the others entertain themselves.The night was long and loud, and as you and Tony dance- he was sure that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The next day came with your teammates wincing and shouting.Thor and T’Challa was knocked out at the game room along with the other boys.The two couples were nowhere to be found along with Scott,Peter and Steve.As the sun finally rose up, you winced as you closed your eyes-blinded by the sunlight. “Oh god make it stop.” Rubbing your head to try and make it stop from pounding, you felt someone shuffle from the other side.

“Good morning honeybunch.” Tony smiled,his raspy voice echoing through the room as he snake his hands back at your waist-making you closer to him again.You scooted closer,curling up to him and giggled-laying your hands back at his naked torso,watching the beaming light in his chest. “How was your sleep love?” Kissing your hair as he smelled the strong scent of your hair ,lemon and sage. “You changed your shampoo?”

“No.Why?” You humed,laying your head at his torso as you trace his muscular abdomen.

“Really?” Tony frowned,remembering what you used to smell. “Didn’t you love that Mangoes and lilies shampoo?” Remembering the time where when he rummage through the grocery bags of the monthly supply, he’ll always spot a bottle of your favorite shampoo.

“Yo-You’re wrong Tony.” You jolted up, awake and now-fear plastered on your face. “I never liked mangoes and lilies.It has the most annoying smell ever.I never liked it.Why would I like that?Never in my life did I buy a bottle of the hideous smell…” You continued babbling,telling him how you hated that smell and how can someone like him accuse you of buying even a sachet of that product.Tony grew confused, now just watching you pace his room where the both of you slept last night.You carried on, now talking about how you love the smell of citrus combined with sage.

“Okay…?Uhm.” Tony sat up,looked at you with a worried look.You were pulled from your thoughts about this certain product as you see him making his way to you. “Before you talk…about your hatred against this shampoo.Let’s get you dressed first-shall we?” As your eyes widened, you look at your body and noticed that you were only wearing your undergarments. “And you know how I would love to see you without those babe but I think everyone’s already awake.” Tony snickered,going through his drawers as he heard laughter from outside the room.

“Oh, wow that smells so good! What are we having Viz?” You smiled, stretching your arms as you rub the sleep off of your eyes and placed your tangled hair in a ponytail.

“Good morning Miss Eve.” The deity slyly smiled as he stir the broth of what seems like Chicken. “Uhm.Chicken-“

“Oh, wow.That smells amazing hon,Can I have some?” You grinned,your pounding head diminishing as you excitedly took a spoon from the cabinet.Earning a few greetings from the group that was not far from you.

“It’s not yet finished…I think-but aren’t you allergic to chicken miss Eve?” Vision asked, slurping as he tasted the salty brought-trying to mask the confusion he’s feeling.

“Me?Allergic to chicken?” You laughed,taking a spoonful of the broth “You’re wrong about that Viz.I love mi some chicken broth honey.” Vision looked confused, wondering if he was wrong-or if he was even capable of being mistaken.

 A few hours later,Natasha beamed at you as she snuck her way in the lab of the two science brothers as you work on some research that you were helping Bruce with,Wanda soon followed-blushing as she smell the flowers on her hands.

“Ooh.Looks like someone’s happy.Viz got you that?” Natasha smirked,playing with the wrench as she nudged you. Scowling, you looked at Wanda as she placed it in a vase.

“Yeah.It’s our anniversary Nat.” She gushed, smiling again as she read the letter from Vision.About to speak again,She then looked at you with confusion plastered on her face. “Eve?Ar-Are you okay?” The two girls then looked at your hand,which had a piece of  glass that is now shattered and on the wooden floor. “Oh god!Your hands!” Wanda shrieked as she took your hand and examined it.

“It’s just a small cut Wanda.” You hissed,harshly taking your hand away from her grasp making the two of them  look at you weirdly.

“Wh-What’s wrong Eve?” Wanda cautiously asked, not wanting to piss you more. “Sweetie you can talk to us.You know that right?” She whispered, looking at Nat as the both of them looked confused.

“Talk to you?Oh please Wanda.You just want to be the star again.” You spat,placing your hands on your hips-rolling your eyes at her as the two of them gasp.

“Eve.Watch your words there honey.” Natasha warned, now glaring at you.Thinking of what possibly is the reason of your sudden outburst.You were never disrepespectful,Mostly not to the two of them.They were your best friends among this group which is obviously ruled by the men.So you girls stick together, even at missions or at home.Even if it means pranking Tony and Bucky or teasing Peter or being a stubborn child for Steve to take care of.But right now,As they watch you walk away-The two of them looked at you as if you’re not the little sister the both of them knew-and loved.As if you’re a stranger living in their house, As if you’re not Eve.

 “Uhm?” As you storm of the lab,You heard a voice-a sleepy one coming from the entertainment room. “Eve?” There it is again.But you didn’t mind, You were too busy crying and clenching your fist- enranged because of Wanda and Nat. “Hey.Eve.It’s me.” About to look behind, You were shocked to see a blue fitted shirt on your eye level-looking up, your eyes widened as the tears started flowing again. “Hey.Hey.Why are you crying?”

“Oh Steve!” You gasped,sucking a deep shaky breath as you engulfed him in a hug-jumping to him as you cry your eyes out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“No ba-No Eve.You didn’t.I just can’t sleep that’s why I decided to watch some movie.” Mumbling, he looked at you as you set yourself down.Ashamed of your sudden outburst at him,You fumbled with the hem of Tony’s flannel long sleeves looking down as you weep in silence.

“You want to watch a movie with me?” He smiled, offering his hand as you laugh at him.Blushing at him as he held his shaking hand out,scared that you might reject him. “It’s okay if you don’t wa-want to y’know.I’m just-I just.Uhm…”

“Sure baby.” You winked,walking past him as you sauntered your way to the room.His cheeks reddened a lot more, brows furrowed at your sudden change of tone and vibe.As the captain followed you, he made sure to watch your every step-making sure that he’s not dreaming again.

For the past few months, You and Steve never talked again.After the incident with the baby calling, Steve thought that the relationship you both shared are now growing deeper.And maybe now that you’re getting older , maybe you’re now wiser to know how to handle a deeper relationship.But he was wrong.As you and Tony had your intimate moment back at the infirmary, Steve was watching in the gallery.It was located two floors away from the small rehabilitation quarters where you trained yourself on walking, the gallery was a small room that has benches and is surrounded by glass mirrors that overlooks where you are. Minutes after the sparring he had with Nat and explanation he had to do to the other team members to clarify why you call him baby, his head was throbbing and knew that he just needed to see you-But when he got there, your lips were one with Tony’s. After that, the guy made sure that there was a distance between the two of you, he doesn’t want to fight with Tony and he knows that he was just making a fool of himself- letting his self thinks that he can have you, or even the mere thought of you wanting him was a joke and it made him sick as he saw you kiss Tony-giggling as the guy made jokes and you letting him touch you in the ass.But what hurt him the most was that when he ignored you, he thought that you’ll chase him-ask him why and give him a valid explanation on why you were giving these false hopes-But you didn’t.You just let him- You just let him walk past you and never bothered asking him as you enjoy Tony’s smooches.

“Told you it’s not a good movie.” You chortled as you look at Steve who’s mouth was hanging.You pulled the Thor blanket and snuggled in it, finally getting warm.

“But her heart was on fire Eve.Her heart-“

“Dummy.She faked it!She wanted for people to notice her y’now.” You whispered,eyes looking past behind his blue ones making sure not to see the tears that was about to fall.

“Eve?Are you okay?” It was in an instant that Steve was close to you, worried.

“Yeah.Why are you asking cap?” For a moment, you thought Steve saw the tears and was about to ask you more questions, But when he scooted closer-You were sure he didn’t.

“Look.”

“Hmm?” You hummed, getting lost in his ocean eyes as you study his face features;loving every bit of his freckles and that point nose of his. “Are you okay Stevey?”

“Oh Eve.” He groaned, scared that he might lose control and get lost at you voice as well.He  studied you features, loved how pink your cheek was and wondered how your skin was so glorious considering the amount of training you attend to everyday. You were beautiful, and he was afraid. “Actually…I’m not.”

Your brows furrowed, sad to hear his voice getting shaky and his posture was getting lousy-something you never expected from the Captain. “Steve.Talk to me.” But he stayed quiet, his eyes continued to stare at you and not leaving the beauty your face embraces on. “Come on, baby.” By the time your hand made contact with his right cheek, that was when he lost it- As your eyes widened, you felt the uneasiness soon faded  and the warmth of his plump lips on yours was getting intoxicating.As you felt his arms moved to your hips, you arched forward sitting on his lap and tried deepening the kiss.It was getting steamy and you were getting hot, wanting every bit of Steve and his touch. “Oh Steve.” You moaned,feeling his bulge getting harder.

“Eve-Eve.” He panted, looking at your eyes as his blue ones stared back at you-lust and the want of you evident in it.He wanted you to say stop, punch him or maybe even scream- because he knows that if you continue looking at him so innocently, he knows that Tony will beat him up alive. But when you crashed your lips back at him, all his might and questions soon faded-focusing on you as he gently rolled over you making him on top. “Wait-Eve.”

“What?!” You yelled.Now mad at him “I thought you like me Steve!Why are you stopping then?!What?Do you want to back to your room?Mine?Speak up!” He looked at you, confused.You’re not like that, and it was getting suspicious to him as well. “I’m sorry.Shit.” You mumbled, tugging the blanket again to cover your face up. “I’m sorry Steve.I just had a…fight with.”

“Wanda?Is that why?” Steve smiled, reassured as he saw your fingers tremble and thought that maybe you were just having a bad night.“I’m sorry doll-I got lost in the moment.I’m really sorry-“

“Tony.” Upon hearing this, the captain’s demeanor changed-His face reddened but not with the desires of you but with what could possibly the reason why you were now crying on his chest and speaking vile words against Tony.

“What did he do to you Eve?” His eyes became dark as his jaw set, allowing you to continue your story as you weep.

“He’s gone mad Stevie…”

“Son of a fucking bitch.” Steve growled, mad and furious as he stood,heading his way to Tony’s room.His expression was stern and ready to kill the guy-But as you ran to him and tried calming him down, He stood in front of you, towering above you, so close that your bodies were touching.

“Steve calm down.Baby no.” You whimpered, afraid to cause a fight between the two guys that you love. “Please.Please.Let him be first baby, I don’t want you to hurt him.He’s still your friend right?” You waited for him to reply, cupping his cheeks and forcing him to look at you and away from Tony’s door.

“Not anymore Eve.” He snarled,taking your hand and leading you back to your room as he noticed  how late it was. “You should sleep now.”

“Sleep beside me?”

“I-I can’t.I just-I just need to be alone first.”

“O-Okay Steve.”

 The next morning was more silent than usual, you woke up to only see Bruce and Thor.The latter was at the lounge room, eating his newly released chocolate flavored Thorrios-and then Bruce back at the lab.

“Hello you Asgardian.” You smiled,standing in the archway of the kitchen in Steve’s tight blue shirt.

“Good morning lady Eve!I might say, I consistently see you in the garments of our fellow conquerors.” He continued chewing on the cereal, then getting the now opened carton of milk and emptying it without using a glass. “Do you want some of my delicious self?” He grinned widely,showing you the box of his cereal that has his face and Mjolnir.

“Sure.” You smirked,walking your way to him as he placed a decent amount in his bowl-ready to serve it to you. “Here yo-“ But before he can offer the bowl to you, You quickly jumped and sat on his lap-straddling him as you pushed yourself further into his face-crashing into the lips of the god.

“Wow.” Grinning, You continued on-and placed your lips back on his as a surge of lust flowed into your body.Thor’s eyes widened, still not sure of what to do-But when he felt you enter his mouth, That was when he lost it-and let the heat he was feeling lead him and his muscular body.Thor didn’t knew why you were suddenly this goddess of lust instead of innocence, but the Asgardian always thought that mortals think too much before acting ; mostly when they want something and so to see you like this-with the desires of him and his touch, sent the god smirking at you, yearning for your touch again-, gently caressing your back, Thor rolled you over as he suck your neck-leaving a love bite as you moan in pleasure.

“Thor?!” Thor looked at the voice, seeing Banner standing on the hallway-mouth agape. “What the fuck?” But before he can explain, you started screaming-hitting his body hard as tears flowed from your eyes. “Eviana!” Bruce yelled as Thor looked at you weirdly, getting off of you.

“Bruce!Help me!”

“What are you doing Thor?!Tell me!” The doctor exclaimed as he faced the now shocked god.You looked at the guy, seeing his skin turn green as he started pacing around the room.

“Banner.Listen-“ Thor started, afraid that Bruce might transform into the Hulk. “It’s not what you think it is!” But before he can explain, the Hulk looked at him in rage-And as the god ran, The Hulk chased him, breaking a few valuable things in the lounge room.

“Six down, Eight to go.” Eve smirked, wiping her fake tears and running her way to the lab as she fixed her bra strap.Using her hands’ fingerprint, the door opened revealing the laboratory.The computers were open, along with the machines that Tony and Bruce’s use for their on-going research. Quickly getting a flash drive, she swiftly transferred the programs and the software into it-typing a number on her phone and smiling as it heard its voice.

“It’s time.”

As she got the go signal and the beeping of the computer-indicating that the transfer is now completed,Eve took the large bottle of disinfectant spray in  the corner and pour it all over the room-making sure that the computers were drowning in it.From her pocket was a small Zippo lighter that she quickly threw on the ground-and within a matter of seconds,the wooden floor started crackling with the blazing fire that was getting bigger and larger.

[missstormcaller]

WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU PART 18 Full Translation

The Ceremony

4

Pages 187-200

After the ceremony, a banquet was held, a reservation was made at Renji's favourite bar and eatery, ‘Daruma Bar’, not far from the Kuchiki clan's ceremonial shrine.

Based on reflection of what had happened last time, this time it was Renji who decided to conduct the arrangements for the restaurant, but complaints arose from Rangiku immediately, "if only you had left it up to Kuchiki, we might have been able to drink at a high class ryotei restaurant again~!"

"High class restaurant? what do you mean, lieutenant!?"

When the 13th division's third seat, Kotsubaki Sentaro pressed Rukia for a reply, he received a shoulder tackle from Kiyone who interrupted the conversation.

"Get away!! Snot nosed gorilla woman!!"

"But I also went~! Both the alcohol and the food were delicious at that place~!"

"Why were you invited and I wasn't!?"

"Because it was a gathering of the marriage announcement for close friends! Where close friends gather, get it!?"

"Lieutenant……could it be you really……dislike me……!?"

"She surely dislikes your gross bearded headband wearing self!!"

"It's not like that at all, I do not dislike you! The only reason I didn't invite Kotsubaki dono is because of the fact that I had already informed him of the news at the squad barracks! It was an unforeseen set of events that the place turned out to be a high-end restaurant!……!"

Orihime clicked the camera shutter looking at Rukia who appeared flustered as she acted as a mediator between the other two.

"Flustered Kuchiki san, you don’t see that too often……! Hee-hee……I just took a cute picture……!"

"You only took a picture of Kuchiki just now?……you can take a picture of me too you know?"

"Really!? I want to! I want to take a picture of you!"

She wanted to show off her newly tailored Kimono, unable to help herself, Rangiku posed before Orihime. Rangiku's golden locks of hair suited well with her light violet coloured Kimono that was adorned with large peony flowers.

"Alright! Let's take a picture with all the girls surrounding Kuchiki!"

"Waa! Good idea~!"

At Isane's approval, all the female shinigami that were sitting about the place gathered around Rukia.

"Captain~! Please could you press the camera shutter for us~!"

"Why me……!?"

Whilst complaining, Hitsuguya received the camera from Orihime, and snapped several photos as instructed.

When the band of girls brought their faces together to check the photographs on the Camera's LCD screen, Kyōraku Shunsui came in saying "Pardon me for disturbing you".

"Captain commander!! You came!?"

Rising off his seat, Renji greeted Kyōraku.

"Oh my, isn't this splendid sight~"

Kyōraku's line of sight skipped over Renji and focused on the group of female troops dressed in Kimonos. Rukia walked out from the middle of that circle of girls and bowed, "thank you very much for coming, captain commander."

"Aah Rukia chan! I've come to talk to you"

"With me?" Rukia tilted her head. Kyōraku nods and indicates to the entrance of the restaurant.

"Let's step outside for just a moment. Abarai kun, could I borrow your bride just a little?"

"Eh? Ah, yes! Go ahead!"

Renji watched their backs until they were out of sight whilst wondering what they had to talk about.

In front of 'Daruma Bar' there is a large pond, and placed by the bank of that pond there are several benches for sobering up on. Rukia sat down on one of those benches as instructed by Kyōraku.

"Here, for you"

Kyōraku sat down next to her and handed her a sizeable package wrapped in a furoshiki cloth. It contained something soft inside it.

"What's this……?"

"Please, open it"

With a nod she untied the knot.

"This….is……!”

The characters for "13" jumped right into her vision.

"……to you, from Ukitake"

It was squad 13's captain Haori.

"From…captain Ukitake……?"

"Before Ukitake used 'Kamikake', he handed this over to me and said, "appoint Kuchiki Rukia as the next captain in my place"……I hit back telling him not to say such ill-omened things, but he laughed and pressed on saying "I must ask you to keep this a secret from Kuchiki. Since I may still be bearing​ this Haori again right"

"Aah, 'again' it is", Kyōraku thought.

Again, a person has entrusted me with something of great importance and passed away.-------

"Something​ like……me being the likes of captain……the sort of capacity required for that……"

Rukia places her hand over the '13' and bites her lip. 'To take on this responsibility myself……' the mere thought of that made her body tremble to the point where her back teeth were chattering. Despite this, the fact that Ukitake had personally left this behind for her, made her heart burn passionately with gratitude.

"……This haori was originally tailored for Kaien kun"

"Eh……?"

Rukia's eyes widened at the sudden mention of that name.

"Though I think you'll know this better than me……Ukitake had a very high opinion of kaien kun……he was planning to retire and hand over the position of captain to Kaien"

Ukitake had visited the 8th division's barracks with tea cakes where he confided in Kyōraku about those plans.

"I have such confidence in my knowledge of medical treatment techniques, so how about I become a consultant at the the coordinated relief station?"

They appeared to have fun at the talk of Ukitake's future course after retirement, four days later------ Shiba Kaien would battle a hollow and lose his life before Ukitake's eyes.

"……I didn't know he had gone as far as ordering a captain's Haori"

That day, Kyōraku had only taken Ukitake's talk of retirement half seriously. It simply seemed like an extension of their usual chats over tea.

(You were serious huh……)

After Kaien's death, he couldn't bear to part with it for decades, so the haori lay idle in a corner of the captain's office. When he decided to re-tailor it to fit Rukia, Ukitake was most certainly smiling and laughing again like that day.

"I didn't give this to you till today, because I was waiting for your heart to grow"

"My heart……?"

Kyōraku nodded a yes.

"You are strong. If we look at your abilities alone, it is at the sufficient level required for captaincy……however, your heart was not catching up. Being able to rise to the responsibility of taking leadership over a squad……that sort of heart"

"……I see……"

"……Nevertheless!"

Kyōraku stood up, with a smile on his face he looked down at Rukia.

"I was thinking, looking at the young people of the 13th division who were in attendance at today's ceremony. Within themselves​, they feel your heart has already grown……that as a captain, you have a heart that will hold up the squad."

"Everyone thinks……I’m….?"

"I wonder whether it was because Ukitake was the captain all that time……there were many amongst the young people of the 13th who were ready to lend their support……"

"Yes….that's​ right, really……they're always helping"

Since Rukia had become the acting captain of her squad, she was of the opinion that her work would probably increase to correspond with that, but despite the fact that Kiyone had even transferred to the 4th division, Rukia's workload had barely changed. Kotsubaki had informed her that from long ago, at squad 13, the troops had devised ways to decrease the captain's workload in order to lighten the burden on Ukitake's shoulders.

"That way, everyone can give their support……and it seems that everyone wants to give their support, even if it may be on the captain's terms​……"

Rukia fixed her eyes on the haori.

To give support, and be supported ------ I wonder if I could also become that kind of captain myself.

"It's okay you don't have to do this right now. I'll wait for your decision……but I think at this point in time, you are capable enough for captaincy. Just don't forget about it alright?"

"……Understood! Thank you very much….!"

Rukia stood up whilst tightly clutching the haori, she bowed deeply to Kyōraku.

"Oops, I almost forgot……here, congratulations on your marriage!"

Kyōraku takes out an envelope from his sleeve before handing it over to Rukia. The envelope was thick enough to feel the weight of the heavy banknotes inside.

"I…I cannot accept something like this!"

"Now now, please accept it thinking that is from both me and Ukitake!"

At Kyōraku's words, her hands ceased its shaking.

"Ah, captain commander……!"

Rukia extended her arm to return the envelope, but as soon as she did, Kyōraku had disappeared using shunpo. With a huff, she carefully tucked the captain's haori back into the wrapping cloth.

"Captain Ukitake……please give me a little more time. At any rate, I won't fail……!"

In the not so distant future, I’ll surely be ready.

Rukia made a vow at the haori and then returned to the restaurant in a half run.

Four hours have passed since the start of the banquet, when the people who were drunk began to leave, Uryuu stood up and said "I have to go soon……Abarai, Kuchiki san, thank you for today. May you be forever happy."

He came close to the couple and gave a slight bow.

"Also……I wasn't sure when was appropriate to give a celebratory gift since the reception was not held at a ceremonial hall but……is it still okay now?"

Uryuu spoke, lowering his voice, he then held out a special envelope, containing his monetary gift, to Renji. Sado who was watching them said "me too……" before taking out his gift, in a chain reaction, Ichigo and Orihime also gathered their own gifts in hand.

"Every single one of you brought something!? We don't need all of this you know! Because, just the fact that you went to the trouble of coming  here from the Human World for us, that is more than enough!"

"Well you have no choice! You have allowed us to eat and drink like this……inside you'll find Human World money, so the next time you happen to go there, please buy clothes or something for your gigai with this"

Uryuu forcibly pushes his gift into Renji's hands.

"Because I feel that way too! Here!"

Imitating Uryuu, Orihime also slips her gift into Rukia's hands.

"It would be discourteous if I had to take this back home……please quietly accept this"

"This one's​ from me, and this one's from my old man"

Sado's, Ichigo's and Isshin's gifts were piled into Renji's hands.

"Even Isshin dono……!?"

At a surprised Rukia Ichigo then says -

"That guy……when Kaien died, he really wanted to cheer you up. He regretted it so much at the time. So he says he wants you to be the most happiest a person could be"

Isshin is Shiba Kaien's uncle.

Isshin was the captain of squad 10 around the time of Kaien’s death. That his proud nephew had passed away, it was naturally a shock, he had heard from Ukitake about the details and circumstances leading to his death, Isshin thought that Rukia needed a helping hand the most, he visited squad 13 many times. However, when her saw her much too pained face from the side, he found it impossible to call out to her no matter what.

"……I see……"

Rukia thinks about herself back in those days. From the day she ended Kaien's life with her own hands, when she was closing her heart up into a deep, dark place, she wanted to tell herself, "you are cared for by many people, and are kept in their many thoughts."

"It's not good to have you open the senkaimon so many times for us, I think we'll also be leaving then?"

At Ichigo's suggestion, Sado nods in agreement.

"Eeeh~! Going home alreadyyy~? It's okay if you stay with us right, Orihimeee~?" Rangiku said looking somewhat intoxicated. Next to her, Hisagi and Izuru were completely passed out drunk.

"Thank you, Rangiku San! But, since I have to work tomorrow morning……"

"Well, I guess that can't be helped……how about you Ichigo? Stay with us?"

Rangiku narrowed her eyes and smiled devilishly, "th…there's no way I'm staying!" Ichigo replied in a hurry.

"What! Suuuch a pityyy!"

Rangiku giggled whilst waving her hand next to her face a little, "well then, see you again next time huh~"

"I've just called someone and asked them to open the 6th division's senkaimon now!" Renji said returning his denreishinki* to his pocket. (*Soul reaper mobile device)

"Rukia, hold on just a minute, I'll escort these guys up to the gate. You should remain here with all of our other friends!"

"Alright……everyone, thanks for today. I received such a wonderful veil, and yet, you even went as far as giving us celebratory gifts……thank you"

She gave them a quick bow.

"I'll see you again in the Human World!" Rukia said with a smiling face, she then turned back, heading inside the restaurant.

End.

Next part will be the last, I’ll make a masterpost and add page numbers on each post as requested, soon.

[emilymyers11]

M O V I N G  O N .

I have had a friendship that has lasted about 18 years. We grew up doing everything together. our parents have been friends for longer than we have been alive. our moms were pregnant at the same Time with us. we went to different schools but we were closer than any of our classmates were to us. her parents got a divorce and I was there. then both parents remarried and I was there for both weddings. she went away to college and we still stayed in touch every day. there was an explosion in her neighborhood and my sister and I drove to pick her up form college so that she could be home with her family. my dad went to prison twice and she was there for me. I got pregnant and lost the baby and she was there for me. I set here up with her now husband and regret every part of that. when she started dating him is when our friendship took a turn for the worst. he was filling her head with bad things about me. telling her I wasn't a healthy friend for her, I was a bad influence on her, I was dragging her down. the one that got me the most angry was that I didnt want was best for her. from the time they started dating he and I never got along and became a wedge in our friendship. we tried to get along for her but it was never going to work out. a couple years ago I had the opportunity to follow my dream and move to southeast Florida. I took the chance and met the love of my life. she was there every step of the way. I told her when I met him, how things were going, and that I knew this was the man I as going to marry. we went back to Indiana for my little sisters wedding and that is when she told me she was pregnant. I was so happy I couldn't stop from crying. when we came back from the wedding everything seemed to be getting better. we were talking more and talking about the baby and everything happening in our lives. and then my now husband and I decided we wanted to get married. my family is very traditional and you can't live with someone until you marry them. well he and I were tired of not being able to live with each other and thought why not? so we told our families and I told her as well as my other very close friends. since south Florida isn't exactly the cheapest place to live we decided to have a very non traditional wedding. when we mentioned this idea to her she immediately shot it down, saying that it wasn't my style, and it was almost shite trash to get married like that. mind you her father hit oil in Texas when we were young so she has never had to worry about having any money or spending too much money on anything. her wedding was close to $20,000. so anything less than that was not good enough for her. but here is the kicker, she never would have said any of this when we are younger. she would have been excited for me regardless of what we did. but here husband planted a seed in here that their family was going to be best family no matter what anyone else said. but now that he has been in the picture nothing I do will ever be goo enough for her anymore. but we did explain to everyone what our plan would be. it would just be family, on the circle in downtown indy, and then dinner at an Italian restaurant after. I got my dress for $80 and my husband wore a sports coat his father gave him. there was a total of 16 people at the ceremony that day. it wouldn't be anything fancy, but still have some traditional aspects of the wedding. my mom and sisters helped me get ready, I had a first look with my dad, he walked me down the aisle, we said our vows, and everyone celebrated. and then after dinner my sisters and their husbands took us out on the town for some drinks. my close friends I had mentioned before actually came downtown and met us for drinks and celebrating. she didn't show up for anything. no texts, no congratulations, nothing. I let everything go about the wedding and still wanted to know aha I was excited for the baby and her future. months went by and we talked a little here and there. her inducement date was coming up so I wanted to call and see how she was doing. that day she actually had to get her wedding rings cut off because her body was so swollen. she was devastated so I reassured here that it was easily fixable and that she could still get a new one if needed. she was very grateful that I called her and was able to listen to her. the next day she was induced and in labor for just over 24 hours. she then gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. i had to find out over social media, a facebook post to be exact. I know this shouldn't bother me as much as it did but it did hurt my feelings a lot. a simple text that said “she's here” would have made my day. I want asking for a phone call as she was pushing, I wasn't asking for a three page long text with pictures, just a small something letting me know she had been born. I kept my feelings to myself and didn't want to tell her. but I found out just week later that she was moving to Texas in just 3 short weeks. I was never going to meet my best friends baby, I was never going to hold her, kiss her, spoil her, everything we had dreamed about doing since were younger. but there was nothing I could do. a few weeks after she moved I finally texted her about how I felt. I let loose. but then she turned to me about being a bad friend, and that I always made everything about myself. I was fed up. I didn't want anything to do with her anymore so I responded one last time and didn't hear anything. that night I got a text that her mother in law had a stroke and was in the hospital I texted her and told her that I was praying for a speedy recovery, my mom has had two so I know what a long rode it was going to be. I told here that if they need anything to text me. she thanked me and updated me on everything going on. we didn't talk for a long time and then she wanted to zoom with our friend group. I was very close to not answering and just not taking part in it but I missed my friends and wanted to see them and catch up. what a mistake. we ended the meeting and I was still so angry with her. we are friends on every social media platform so I see her life updates regularly. I am happy she is where she is meant to be and I'm happy she is happy. since then I have not tried to reach out to her because she puts in no effort to talk to me. so I am taking a break from our friendship for now. I am focusing on moving back to Indiana and getting a job, and buying a house. I wish her nothing but the best and I will see you when I see you.

-M