#it’s only a few days into spring and this is the first warmth we’ve had in months

[totally-sapphic-posts]

Just sitting in the grass with your love in the warmth of the spring sunshine, and plucking a little flower out of the grass to put in their hair

[burntheedges-updates]

over again, chapter 3: dinner

This is my updates-only blog! Follow me at @burntheedges Joel Miller x f!reader summary: you fell in love with Joel Miller in Austin, Texas, in 2001, but you thought you lost him and your whole family in 2003 when the world turned upside down. now it's 2024, and you find the surprise of your life waiting for you in Jackson, Wyoming. or, five times you and Joel fell deeper in love, on both sides of the apocalypse (and one time you did something about it) 18+ minors DNI chapter tags/warnings: fluff, flirting, banter, angst, bisexual!reader (like me), dancing, holding hands, a bit of pining, kissing (!!!) (the smut is coming so soon, y’all) a/n: Welcome to chapter 3! We’re finally getting somewhere with these two… and there’s a bit of dancing. The Austin section of this chapter was the preview I posted a few weeks back, but it's been edited a bit. music note: All songs mentioned in this fic are on the playlist. The first 19 songs on the playlist are the mix CD mentioned in this chapter. The playlist post has annotations about the first 19 songs with mild spoilers, so skip reading those for now if you’d rather wait. I was a teenager in 2000 and I grew up in the south (and lived in Texas for a bit, later), so I was aiming for songs I would have heard on the radio and songs the reader and Joel definitely would have heard on the radio and when they went out dancing. word count: 8.2k

series main post | series playlist | ao3 | ch 1 | ch 2

Chapter 3: Dinner

Jackson, Spring 2024 

Despite your agreement in his kitchen, you don’t talk to Joel the next day, or even the one after that, except in passing. He’s still taking care of Ellie, and you end up staying in the stables overnight to help with the birth of a foal. (You try to imagine yourself from Before doing anything like that, but it’s impossible.) At least you’re able to sleep again, after that. You’re too tired not to. 

It’s been three days when Joel catches you outside around dinner time and asks if he can walk with you, as he’s planning to pick some dinner up for Ellie. She’s feeling better, apparently, but not up for the dining hall quite yet. You remember being wary of it yourself when you first arrived, so you don’t blame her.

Joel falls into step beside you, in silence at first. The air between you is more comfortable than it was three days ago — it feels easier to walk next to him, less fraught to look at him. You imagine touching his hand again and it seems possible. You were exhausted then, it’s true, but it was also overwhelming to be around him like that after so long. Now you’re a little more used to the idea. 

You use the quiet moment to look him over, checking the outline of his shoulders, his hips, his gait against the Joel in your memory. He’s grayer now of course, but so are you. He’s the same shape but somehow even broader than Before — same Joel, just stronger, and hardier, and more weathered. You can see a hint of discomfort in his walk, but you all have that these days. The sign of a person who has to walk everywhere. It wears at your joints. 

You don’t notice how long you’ve been checking him out in silence until your gaze wanders back to his face and you find him smirking at you, knowingly. 

“See something you like, darlin’?” You feel a rush of warmth towards your face, but you’re not really embarrassed. 

“Maybe I do, neighbor.” You tilt your head at him and smile a bit. “Same as always.”

He shakes his head and works his jaw to hide a wider smile. “I’m pretty sure we’ve said that to each other before.”

“Yeah, I think we did. That night we had dinner at your place after Sarah was sick.” It’s easier to recall things like that, now that you’ve let yourself start. It’s like the memories were just waiting for you to acknowledge them and now they’re all pouring out. 

He tenses a little when you say Sarah’s name, making you wonder if you shouldn’t have. But she was yours too, and you can’t let go of that. You never have and you won’t start now. Not even for Joel. 

He looks away and then back at you, seeming to shake it off and moving a little closer to nudge your shoulder. “You still remember what I taught you? Pretty sure we had our first lesson that night.” He winks, the old flirt. You laugh. 

“Joel, I haven’t danced with anyone since the last time I danced with you. I can’t promise I even remember the steps.”

He pauses, slows to a stop, and turns towards you fully. “Maybe we should give it another shot, see if, um,” he clears his throat. “See if we still partner so well.” You meet his eyes, and you see he’s feeling the same things you are – hesitation, hope, maybe a little fear. Maybe a lot. 

That feeling that’s been pulling at you – that second chance you’ve been thinking about for months – becomes almost tangible in the air between you as he speaks. It makes you feel brave.

You step a little bit closer and reach out to slide your hand into his. He closes his eyes, just for a moment, and you hear his breath hitch.

“Tommy always did say we could light up a dance floor.” You look down at your hands and decide to go for it, too. “I’d like to see if we can, still.” You’re talking about more than dancing, and you both know it. “But I know Ellie comes first, and I don’t want to rush into anything and mess it up. I missed you,” you see he’s formed a shaky fist with his free hand, while the hand holding your own is relaxed and warm. “But we’ve done a lot of living without each other.” 

You look back up at him, hesitantly. You don’t want to push for too much, too fast. You have no idea what fast or slow mean for the two of you anymore. 

Joel nods, twining his fingers through your own and squeezing gently. “We have. But even now I’d never have doubted you’d understand about Ellie. You’re a great mom.” 

He uses present tense, which makes you suck in a sharp breath. You feel it again, that echo from the past. It still hurts. Maybe it’s like building muscle and it’ll fade the more you let yourself feel it. 

“She doesn’t know you, of course, and she’s wary of strangers. And we need to get to know each other now. But we can take it slow.” He smiles at you, a bit sadly, and squeezes your hand again. 

“Slow is fine with me, cowboy.”

He looks surprised, and then huffs out a short laugh. “No one’s called me that in 20 years.”

“No one’s called me darlin’, either.” For a moment, you just lock eyes and take each other in.

“Do you want to come over for dinner soon? Maybe next week, I want to try to get Ellie to leave the house first.” He looks hopeful, but also still hesitant.

“I’d like that, Joel. And I’m happy to wait until she’s ready. I’m still getting used to these- um, these feelings, myself.” He nods, and you know in that moment he understands what you can’t put into words. 

“It wasn’t easy for me, at first. I reacted badly.” He shakes his head, and you think maybe this is an understatement. You reach out to grasp his wrist, right above where your hands are intertwined. “I was cold, barely living back in Boston. Mostly just dying, slowly. Not ready for all the ways that kid can get under my skin. Not ready to have someone I would- that I could let down again. Everything she did reminded me of–“ he clears his throat. “Of Sarah. And I didn’t talk about her or let anyone else talk about her for 20 years. Even saying her name, it’s…” He trails off and looks down the road back towards your houses for a moment, working his jaw as he gathers his thoughts. 

“Anyway. I think I know what you’re feeling. I’ve been there myself.” You nod, not sure what to say, or if you can get any words out. You squeeze his hand, this time. 

He steps back a little, stepping out of the moment you’ve just shared. “Anyway. We should get on. I’ll let you know about dinner, and maybe you and I can meet for lunch sometimes? Until then?” You nod and smile, even as your hands separate well before you enter the dining hall. 

…

You don’t manage lunch, but Joel does come back to you a couple of days later with an actual dinner invitation for the following Saturday, five days away. You agree of course, even though you know how anxious you’ll get with five days to wait. He must see it in your face because he reassures you, “Ellie told me to ask you, darlin’.”

So you manage, anxiously, counting down the days until Saturday. You keep busy in the stables and the garden and even eat with Tommy and Maria a couple of times, trying and failing to ban all teasing about it. He takes mercy on you when he sees the state you’ve wound yourself into by Friday afternoon. 

“Everything’ll be fine, sunshine. No need to look so gloomy.” You can’t help but roll your eyes, wondering if you’ll ever escape Tommy Miller’s puns about the weather. You see Maria doing the same but Tommy just grins, unrepentant.

“I just don’t know what to expect, which makes it worse.”

He reaches over to pat you on the arm. “Ellie’s prickly, sure, but she adopted him the same as he adopted her. She cares about what he cares about. It’ll be fine.” 

You’re not so sure, but you take the reassurance as it’s meant and try to breathe through some of your anxiety. It sort of works.

…

On Saturday you distract yourself with baking so you’ll have something in hand when you arrive at their house later. You haven’t made cookies in years (you hadn’t had the chance in years, before Jackson) but you think they turn out fine. You run out of things to do eventually and find yourself staring at your reflection in the bathroom mirror. With fifteen minutes to go you wrench yourself away (he knows what you look like and you’re both old, now, anyway) to finish getting ready. You glance at the shoe box by the door, wondering if you should bring it or leave it – maybe it won’t come up? It probably will, though. You sigh, unsure, and decide to leave it. You can run back and get it if you need to. Cookies in hand, you head next door. 

You wonder if Ellie was waiting at the window, because she yanks the door open before you can knock. She raises an eyebrow at you and asks, “What’s that?” nodding at the plate in your hands.

“Cookies. You’re looking better.” You hand her the plate. 

“Cookies!” her eyes get comically big as she takes them from you. Joel, demonstrating how much of a dad he still is and always will be, calls from the kitchen, “not until after dinner, Ellie!” She immediately frowns, looking mutinous. You grin at her as she rolls her eyes. 

“Don’t worry, that whole plate is for the two of you. Plenty to go around.” She looks a bit mollified, and heads towards the kitchen. You follow.

You find Joel at the stove, spooning something out of a pan and on to three plates. “Whatever that is, it smells amazing, Joel.” 

He smirks at you over his shoulder. “It’s pepper chicken.”

“No fucking way.” 

It’s out before you can help yourself - you haven’t had a meal like that, from Before, in ages. Ellie snorts. “He’s been talking this up all day, it better be fucking good.”

He eyes her a little, but you cursed first (whoops), so what’s he going to say? He looks back to you and explains that Tommy helped him figure out how to make it with what they have in Jackson. “Hopefully it’s about the same.” 

The three of you settle at the table as he sets out the plates, and you notice they’ve put a candle in the center of the table. 

“Nice ambiance,” you say, grinning at him a little, trying to shake off your nerves.

Ellie laughs, a single emphatic ha!, loud and bright. “He would not stop talking about that candle all damn day. I told him it was cheesy, so he wanted to get rid of it, but then I told him you apparently liked cheesy romantic shit, so he should keep it.” Joel is staring Ellie down and clearly wants her to stop talking, but she’s looking at you and you’re nodding to encourage her.

“Oh? I do like cheesy romantic shit.” Ellie laughs again, clearly at his expense. “What else did he say?”

“That’s enough of that, I think,” Joel interrupts, cutting Ellie another look. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

You roll your eyes and see Ellie does the same. She grins at you, but then seems to catch herself – like she’s enjoying the back and forth, but isn’t sure of you yet. Fair.

You take a bite of the chicken and can’t stop the moan you let out at the taste. “Holy shit, Joel. How did you manage this?” When you look at him he’s already staring at you, fork dangling from his fingers, looking a little bit like he just got hit over the head with something. “Joel?”

He coughs and adjusts his seat. “Um, right. It wasn’t so hard, just traded for some ingredients from the garden. It’s good?”

“It’s great,” Ellie says. Clearly it’s true because she’s making the chicken disappear at the speed of light. At the same time she’s somehow also darting her eyes between the two of you, like you’re doing something suspicious. She lets the silence hang for a moment, but then asks, “so, what have you been up to for the last 20 years?”

“Ellie! I told you, we don’t need to hash everything out all at once. We can take it slow.” Joel cuts in, eyebrows furrowed in her direction. 

“Oh come on, Joel, you’re such a dinosaur. But like, not one of the cool ones. Just ask! Why waste time?” You wonder what you did to make Ellie want to ask. You were nervous before, but now you’re feeling a bit like you’re walking a tightrope again. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It’s impossible to tell, but it feels like it will go over worse if you refuse.

“We can talk about it. I don’t mind.” You try to give Joel an encouraging look as you respond. He’s quiet for a moment but then agrees. 

“Alright. Don’t see why we shouldn’t, I guess.” His voice takes on a teasing note as he looks back towards Ellie. “Let’s just jump right in, since you want to so bad.” She rolls her eyes at him again.

“So, let’s hear it! Where have you been?” 

You take a deep breath, trying to decide where to start. You know from Tommy the outline of what they did, where Joel has been – the locations, a few major events, and so on. But you don’t think he knows much about your story. You set down your fork and begin. 

“On Outbreak day, I was in Boston at a conference for work. Joel and I talked on the phone that morning before the conference, but by the end of the day… well. Everything changed.” You take a sip of water. This part, at least, you’ve told someone before, so it’s not as hard to organize your thoughts. “I tried to call, I think everyone did, but the phones went down pretty quick. There was chaos, and then there was what became the QZ, later. But I left before they really got it going. I went south – all I wanted was to get home. To get to Texas.” You’ve been speaking to Ellie, mostly, but at this point you finally look at Joel, and you find him staring at you, unblinking, with the unreadable expression on his face that you know means he’s trying to hide some strong emotion. You look away from both of their gazes and down to the table, gathering yourself.

“I found a group heading south and went with them. We made it to Baltimore, but it was such a goddamn mess. They didn’t want to keep going and I didn’t want to go alone – I knew back then that I wouldn’t make it far – so I stayed, thinking I’d find another group. But staying for a little while turned into a long while and, well. You’ve probably heard what happened to the QZ there in ‘07.” Joel nods, you can see him out of the corner of your eye. You look at him again and find him the same as a moment ago, but with his fists clenched so tight his knuckles are white. You realize you’re staring and look away.

“At that point I was clinging to the hope that my family was still alive with the barest tips of my fingers. But having to leave Baltimore pushed me further south, and I ended up in Atlanta. And, well,” you look at Joel. “I ran into Joyce.” Joel starts in his seat, hands relaxing in his surprise. 

“Joyce Roberts?” he asks, incredulous.

“Yep. That Joyce. Can you believe it? Just walked right into her on the street one day.” You look at Ellie again. “Joyce lived on our street, back in Austin. This was in ‘08, I guess? And we had a whole reunion moment, and then she just looked at me, and I knew. I knew what she was about to say.” You feel yourself start to choke up, and close your eyes, taking a deep breath.

“I know now that she was wrong, but then, it was crystal clear, like a movie playing in front of my eyes as she told me what happened. She said she’d seen you that night, Joel, you and Tommy and Sarah. You sped out of the neighborhood in the truck, and somehow she saw Tommy again, in the chaos after that plane crashed. After that she lost you again, but she asked after you later at one of the camps. She said they told her that according to their records, all three of you were dead.” You’re whispering, at this point, but you try to breathe through it. 

“I guess the, um, the news about what happened with Sarah and then... after… that news got around from the field hospital, but not quite correctly. So some list of survivors got updated wrong. It’s not like those lists were worth much, not for much longer. It was before everyone stopped trying to keep track like that.” You open your eyes, and glance at Joel. He’s pale. 

“But anyway. She was sure, and it had been five years. It killed whatever hope I had left.”

You’re quiet for a moment. You see Joel is barely breathing next to you, his hands clutching the edge of the table. Ellie’s eyes are wide and her face says she’s not sure if she should make any noise at all. You know Joel knows what you were alluding to after Sarah’s death and you don’t want to bring it up any more than that, not now. You’d heard it from Joyce and it’s been a weight ever since.

“Um, anyway. I guess I’ll… we can talk about that another time.” You glance between them and rub your hands on your thighs. Breathe. “So I was in Atlanta for a while. Probably about 8 years? I just worked, like everyone else. Made some sort-of friends.” You hesitate, thinking about Michelle. You decide you’ll come back to it later. You’re already choking on the words as they leave your mouth. 

“But by ‘16, I had to leave. It was getting… weird, in the QZ. And for other reasons.” You take another sip of water. “By that time I was more capable of surviving on my own. Like everyone these days, I guess. So I headed west, thinking I’d go home, see what was there. Turns out I beat Tommy back to Austin by a year or two.” 

You turn to Joel. “That’s why he barely found anything in the house. I, uh, got there first.” You see it dawn on him. “Yeah. I have some stuff over at my house, I wasn’t sure we’d talk about it. I can go get it later.”

“What- what stuff?” He looks like he wants to know and doesn’t want to know, at the same time. You know the feeling. 

“You remember the photo calendars we had made in ‘02 and ‘03? Those, and a couple other pictures. Sarah’s favorite book. One of your shirts and the- um. The belt buckle.” You cleared your throat. “Some new clothes for me. And, um.” You meet his eyes. “That mix CD, from when we got together. Some other little stuff.” He looks overwhelmed. “Yeah, there’s a lot. I’ll bring it over, ok? You can go through it, keep stuff.” He nods, looking far away.

Ellie looks like she’s about ready to burst. “What CD? And what happened in Atlanta? What about after Austin? What next?”

You smile a little at her questions. “Ok, let’s see. Well, Sarah helped Joel burn me a mix CD – do you know what that means?” She shrugs, saying she knows what a CD is. “Ok, close enough. Basically Sarah and Joel created the list of songs and put it on the CD. It had some of our favorite songs to dance to on it. I haven’t seen a CD player in years but I took the CD anyway. 

“Atlanta…” you swallow. “Let’s come back to that, ok? After Austin, I kept heading west. I found some people in west Texas who weren’t so bad to stay with, for a bit. I think I was there for about two years? And then I decided to head to Kansas City, but I heard some bad stuff before I ever got there. I ended up making it work with what was left of the Dallas QZ for a while. I did ok there, anyway. And then last year I decided to head out this way, and Tommy literally stumbled over me on a patrol and scared the shit out of me and turned my life upside down in the process.” 

You stop, and the three of you are quiet. All you hear is the sound of your own breathing.. You aren’t sure what else to say without getting too deep into things you don’t feel ready to talk about, from Baltimore and Atlanta and Dallas. None of them were easy and all of them still hurt at least a little bit. You hope Ellie doesn’t ask but you’ll try if she does.

Joel looks like he’s still trying to take in everything you said, but he finally says, “I wonder if we ever passed each other. Tommy and I, well, our goal at the beginning, as much as we had one, was to get to Boston. To you. But somewhere around Dallas we heard that the initial Outbreak in Boston had been so bad, there were barely any survivors. And I-“ he clears his throat. “I, um, wasn’t in the best shape, back then. It convinced me you were gone, like Sarah, and well. I wasn’t… I couldn’t…” he just shakes his head. “We didn’t actually get there until years later. I guess we could try to match it all up, make a timeline.” 

You shudder. Were you ever in the same place at the same time, unknowing? You almost don’t want to know. 

“I don't think I’m ready for that.” He shakes his head, agreeing with you. “I think that’s all I can do tonight.” You look back at Ellie. She’s studying you. 

“We can talk more later,” she agrees, “but I have one question.” You nod, fixing your face into something neutral. A slightly mischievous look comes across her face. “Can we listen to the CD? We have a player in the living room.” 

You start and bang your hand on the table. “You do? Fuck, I never thought I’d find one.” Joel sighs, and rolls his eyes as you shake out your hand. “I’m allowed to curse, old man, I’m just as old as you.”

“Not quite, darlin’.” He smiles at you. You start to come down from the emotional rollercoaster of the last half hour and smile back. 

“Let me go grab the CD.”

You run back to your house, and after a moment’s thought, grab the entire shoebox. He can look through it later. 

When you return to their house, Ellie and Joel have moved to the living room, and she’s elbowing him and saying something you don’t catch that makes him put his face in his hands. She grins and spots you in the door. You hand her the CD.

Ellie inspects it carefully, seeing the handwritten tracklist in the little paper insert that has yellowed a bit with age. “Joel, did you really make this?” He nods. 

“Sarah did the technical work but we made it together.”

“You weren’t lying, he really was a cheesy romantic. How many of these are in Spanish?” He sighs in a long-suffering way, falling back onto the couch. It makes you smile. 

“Like I told you, it’s who he is.” You look at him, and despite the grumpy act he’s putting on for Ellie, he winks at you. It sets off fireworks inside of you and you smile, helplessly.

Ellie gets the CD in the player, and the whirring noise it makes as it spins the disc sends a wave of nostalgia over you, unexpectedly strong. You resist closing your eyes, knowing what you’ll hear first. You want to see Ellie’s reaction. 

You try to control your face, watching as “La Bomba” starts. She looks confused, and then incredulous. 

“What the fuck is this?” 

You start to laugh, and you see Joel chuckling, too. You know “Suavemente” is up next so you look at him and hold out your hand. “Want to show her?” He gives you a look, and for a moment you aren’t sure what he’ll do. But he stands, of course, and takes your hand. 

“Sure, darlin’.” And then he starts to move.

You weren’t lying when you said you hadn’t danced in 20 years. But somehow, in Joel Miller’s arms, your body remembers what to do, and you start to move across the room together like no time has passed. 

Joel had taught you how to dance in his backyard, with Tommy and Sarah laughing nearby. He had shown you a bit of merengue and how to two-step that first day, and much more later, but most of the time you had just let him lead in both partner dances and line dances. Some of the songs on the CD were ones you used to dance to in his living room or in night clubs, and some were just for you. You wouldn’t say you’re doing any particular style now, as the second track starts, just that you’re dancing and following his lead. 

Ellie whistles and cheers you on from the side, but you can’t look away from Joel. His eyes are locked on you and it feels impossible to look anywhere else. You float through the dance, feeling like your feet are barely touching the floor. 

When the song ends and “Lambada” starts, you force yourself to step back, a bit overwhelmed with how much the dance affected you. 

“Ellie, do you want to learn?” She looks surprised, and then uncertain. 

“Um, maybe? I’m not sure I want to dance with anyone.” 

You tilt your head as you look at her, a hunch forming in the back of your mind, and smile. “Maybe give it a try?” She nods and Joel beckons her over. As they get in position you search through the tracklist to a song you think might work for a lesson. You skip ahead to the Shakira song later on the list because you think the slower beat will help.

You sit on the couch to watch Joel start to direct Ellie around the room, but it pretty quickly becomes clear that it’s not working. She’s fighting him with every step and they keep bumping into each other. It seems you were right – maybe Ellie, headstrong as she is, would do better leading. You stand up.

“I think we’re teaching her the wrong part,” you say as you cut in between her and Joel. He smirks, gesturing for you to take his place as he moves towards the couch. “Ellie, why don’t you try leading for a bit.” You direct her and it’s immediately pretty obvious that she’s more comfortable controlling the dance. She learns a couple of easy steps and starts to lead you carefully around the room, picking up on what Joel had been trying to do as well. 

After a couple of minutes you look over your shoulder at him, grinning, but you see that he’s gotten distracted by the open shoebox on the coffee table. He’s got his belt buckle in one hand, thumb tracing the design absently, like he still remembers the exact shape of the letters after all these years. With the other he reaches in to pull out the 2002 calendar. It’s the one with you and Sarah on the front, smiling for the camera and posing in front of the lake you used to visit in the summer. 

You don’t even realize you’ve stopped dancing until Ellie bumps into you. “What’s wrong?” she asks, looking around you at Joel. “Oh.” 

Joel seems to realize you’re both looking at him, and he looks up at you, that familiar unreadable look on his face. “Sorry, I just looked in and couldn’t help it. I–”

“It’s alright. Maybe that’s enough of a lesson for today, anyway.” You smile a little. “You can hold on to the box, we can figure it out later. Or talk about it. Whatever you want. I kept, um, one of Sarah’s hair ties, with the yellow beads. There’s another one in there.” There’s one more thing back at your house that you decide to keep to yourself for now. Neither of you are ready for that. “And, um. I gave Tommy your mom’s bracelet. For Maria.” 

Joel snorts. “The one you always hated and thought was ugly as sin?” You laugh. 

“Yep, that’s the one.”

The atmosphere in the room has gotten heavier, the moment clearly over, and the two of you have become awkward, losing all the ease you found when dancing. Ellie steps into the middle of it, and says, “well, I still have questions, but I can already hear Joel telling me I’m being rude like the cranky old man he is, so next time, I guess.” 

You feel a bit lighter at her words. Next time? You’ll take it. “I’d like that. Thanks, Ellie.”

You start to head towards the door, and Joel carefully sets everything back in the box to join you. “You can look through it, Ellie, just be careful.” She nods, sitting gingerly next to the box on the coffee table, looking over its contents with wide eyes. The two of you step out onto the porch to say goodnight. 

You’re quiet for a moment, looking at each other. Joel regards you thoughtfully, and says, “that went about as well as it could, I think.” You agree. 

“The dinner was great, Joel.”

“Well, that too. But you and Ellie, is what I meant. I think she’s still wary of everybody but me, but seems to me like she wants to get to know you.” 

“I really hope so. She’s a force of nature, isn’t she?” He nods, smiling, and you can see in it how much he cares about her, his adopted younger daughter. 

“Sorry she brought all that up so quick.”

“It’s fine, Joel. I wanted you to know, anyway. Both of you.” 

He nods, but looks a bit hesitant. “I know we said slow and agreed, darlin’, but I hope you don’t mind if it ends up being real slow after all.” You reach out to reassure him, lightly touching his right arm.

“I need time, too, Joel. There’s things you don’t know about me yet, and things you probably want to tell me, too.” He doesn’t look reassured. You think for a moment, and add, “We know the foundation is there, right? But what we built is long gone, so we just have to see if we can build it again.” He’s looking at you like he can’t tell if you’re sincere or making a construction pun to tease him. It’s both, but he doesn’t need to know that. For now. 

“Alright, darlin’. That’s maybe enough feelings for one day.” He laughs as you roll your eyes at him. “But I have to tell you something, though, before you go.” He moves his arm and you start to move your hand away from where you were still touching him, but he catches it and laces your fingers together. 

“You’re so kind and smart and beautiful,” he starts, and your breath catches in your throat. He smiles at you. “It took my breath away back then and it still does now. I’ll be mad until the day I die that I missed out on 20 years of you, but I still can’t believe you’re here, in front of me.” He tilts his head and squeezes your hand. “You’re especially beautiful tonight. I felt as lucky to have you in my arms during that dance as I did back in ‘01.” 

Your face has gone hot and you raise your free hand to your cheek, knowing he can tell. 

“Joel–”

“No, I want you to hear it. You were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen outside of your house with the moving truck that day we met and it’s still true now. And watching you talk to Ellie and get to know her?” He shakes his head a little, but he’s smiling. “I never thought I’d feel this way again, never thought I’d get to watch two people I care about get to know each other like that. I just wanted you to know how much it means to me. That’s all.”

That’s all, he says. Like it isn’t everything. You’re biting your lip, holding back tears by the time he’s done. You reach out to cup his cheek with your right hand. “Joel Miller, you smooth-talking son of a bitch.” He laughs outright at that, sounding a little choked up himself. 

“I’ve never been able to defend against those moves. Not that I’d want to.” You smile as he leans his head into your hand. “I’m feeling it too, ok? We should go slow, yes, but… well, like I said, we’ve got the foundation. We’re just easing into it.” He grins, and you see a glimpse of him at 32 that you weren’t expecting to ever see again. 

“Probably better, at our age.”

“Better for you maybe, old man. I’m still younger than you.”

“Darlin’, you turn 50 soon, and we both know it.” You shove him a little, grinning. He smiles back, that half smile that used to get under your skin and take your breath away. It still does. 

“Well, Joel Miller, with that I think I’ll turn in.” You start to turn away, but he reels you back in for a short hug. He holds you tightly for just a moment, whispering, “Thanks for the shoebox. I can’t… well. I’m going to take my time with it.” He pulls away.

“Take all the time you need.”

...

Austin, Spring 2001 

On Sunday, you changed your outfit five times before telling yourself to get a grip and putting back on the first thing you had pulled out of your closet, 45 minutes ago. Joel had seen literally all of these clothes before; he’d lived next door to you for six months. Get it together. You looked at yourself in the mirror, messed with your hair one last time, and then forced yourself to leave the bathroom and head downstairs. 

In the kitchen, you glanced at the clock – 5:54pm – and picked up the cookies you baked that morning, heading next door to the Millers’. 

You knocked on their door, and after a few moments with no response you knocked again. Odd. You put your ear to the door and heard music and Sarah laughing. You tried the door and realized it was unlocked. 

As you crossed the threshold you called out, “Millers? Anyone home?” Inside you could more clearly hear the music coming from the backyard, so you left the cookies in the kitchen (where something smelled amazing) and headed towards the back door.

You found it open, and you could hear Sarah laugh again as you moved closer. “Dad come on, you stepped on my toes!”

“Sarah Miller, I raised you not to tell lies.” Joel sounded out of breath, but he was laughing as he said it.

“Well, that’s definitely a lie if I ever heard one.” You leaned in the doorway, smiling as you watched Joel lead Sarah around the yard to “Rie y Llora.” Tommy jumped out of the way as Joel steered Sarah right into him in retaliation for that remark. They hadn’t noticed you yet. 

“Celia Cruz, huh?”

All three Millers turned at your question, all three smiling at you. It was a little overwhelming, as always, to have the attention of all three at once. Sarah elbowed her dad lightly and laughed, saying, “she’s Abuela's favorite.” Joel rolled his eyes. 

“It’s good music for learning,” he muttered, clearly not for the first time. 

“It looks to me like Sarah already knows what she’s doing.” You smiled at the look he shot your way.

“Ha! See, dad?”

“Sure, baby girl. Why don’t you go take Uncle Tommy for a spin, since you know what you’re doing.” With that, Joel spun Sarah towards Tommy, who caught her easily and started leading her around the yard. You laughed, and then looked back towards Joel. He was watching you with that half smile that always gave you goosebumps. 

“Do you know how to dance, darlin’?”

“In a club? Sure. Like that? No way.” 

He grinned at your answer. “Want to learn?” He held his hand out, guiding you towards him once you placed your hand in his. 

“I’ve never danced like this before. I’ll probably stomp all over your feet.” Joel placed your right hand on his shoulder, and took your left hand in his right.

“You let me worry about where our feet go, darlin’. I’ll show you the basics and then you just follow me.” And over the next 15 minutes, that’s exactly what he did. 

Soon you found yourself slowly moving around the yard to “Lambada,” definitely slower than the music called for. At some point Tommy and Sarah went inside to work on finishing dinner but you barely noticed. You were focusing on keeping up with Joel. 

Just as you started to feel a little bit confident, a slow song that you didn’t know started to play. Joel slowed the two of you as well, starting to mostly sway in place instead of moving around so much. He pulled you a little closer with his left hand around your waist.

Catching your breath, and taking your focus off of your feet, you asked, “what brought this on? I don’t think I’ve ever come over to find y’all mid-dance-lesson before.”

“Sarah’s got that school dance coming up and she’s a bit nervous.” He laughed, shaking his head. “I tried to tell her I only know how to do this and a few of those line dances they do in the clubs Tommy goes to. Not whatever dancing they’ll be doing – probably closer to your club dancing.” He winked at you, and you held on a little tighter to his shoulder. “But then she reminded me that her cousin’s party is coming up, anyway, and they will definitely be dancing just like this. So, we were practicing.”

“Cousin?” You asked, confused. Tommy didn’t have kids, and you were pretty sure there were no other Miller siblings.

“Ah, technically it’s my cousin’s kid, on my mom’s side. Easier to just say cousin. They all live down in San Antonio.” He shrugged. You nodded. 

“Well, you did a good job teaching me. Bet that’ll be a fun party.”

You realized at that point that you had slowly swayed in the direction of the trees closer to the back of the yard. You were under the shade of one of the trees, partially out of view from the house. You'd moved closer together as the dance slowed and you found yourself with your right hand on Joel’s neck, fingertips almost touching his hairline. Your eyes darted from his arms, holding you securely, to his shoulders, flexing under his shirt, up to his face. 

You looked up to find Joel looking right back at you. “See something you like, darlin’?” He smirked. You felt a rush of warmth towards your face, but you weren’t really embarrassed. You felt like your whole body was tingling, like you were heading towards something you’d been hoping for for months. Like you were racing forward and up ahead there was a cliff you might fall off of, but you’d fall together. Like the fall was the point, the destination. Your breath caught in your throat. 

“Maybe I do, neighbor,” you managed. He grinned in response, tugging you just a bit closer. Any closer and you’d feel him pressed against you everywhere.

“I know I do.”

“What?” You’d lost track of the conversation. His proximity was going to your head. 

“See something I like.” As he responded, he let go of your hand and brought his right hand up to cup your face. You saw him glance from your eyes to your mouth and in response, you pressed closer, winding your hands into his hair. Joel leaned in, and you barely felt the touch of his lips to yours, when the back door opened and Tommy shouted, “dinner’s ready, love birds! Get in here!”

Joel groaned as he stepped away from you, resting his hands on your shoulders. “I guess we should head inside.” As he said it, he lifted one hand to trace his fingertips along your cheekbone before running his hand lightly over your shoulder and down your arm. “Stick around after dinner? I’d like another dance.” You smiled as he reached down to take your hand and lead you toward the house, walking backwards and keeping his eyes trained on yours. 

“Smooth moves, Miller. Save some for later.”

He was still smiling, but suddenly you felt the intent in his gaze, more focused than even a moment ago. “Oh darlin’, don’t worry. For you I got plenty more.”

…

Dinner with the Millers was always fun, and this occasion was no different. Tommy and Sarah teased Joel mercilessly, and he got them right back, though he was always a little softer with Sarah. 

You talked and joked over dinner, noting Joel had made one of your favorites – pepper chicken – and he winked at you when you thanked him for it. Sarah updated you about her week after she got over her cold and her excitement about the upcoming dance. After dinner she rushed upstairs to talk to a friend on the phone as Tommy headed out the door (“to do some real dancing, y'all should come out sometime”). You were left with Joel in the kitchen, clearing the table together and starting in on the dishes. 

“You don’t have to help with that, darlin’, I can get ‘em later.” 

You bumped your hip against his as he slid in next to you at the sink. “It’s no bother, Joel. Let me help.” He smiled at you, softly, and nodded, picking up the towel to dry the dishes. 

You worked quietly, sometimes recalling a joke from dinner, but you mostly just enjoyed the moment together. As soon as you handed him the last dish he set it aside, still wet, to take your hand and lead you back outside. He switched the music back on with the volume low as you passed the boombox.

In one smooth motion, Joel turned and pulled you back into his arms, into the stance you had only just left before dinner. But this time he pulled you close from the start, tucking you up against him and smoothing his hand across your lower back. 

“Well hello there, darlin’. Fancy meeting you here.”

You smiled, and rolled your eyes a little. “Hey, cowboy.” You let your fingertips play with his hair along his neck. You noticed a light shiver in his shoulders as you did. 

You smirked. “Joel, are you ticklish?” 

“No, and you better not let on to Sarah that you wondered anything of the sort.” He glared at you playfully as he said it, spinning you a little into a new spot in the yard. You laughed, a bit winded even though you'd barely moved. 

“Hmm, seems like information that would be worth quite a bit to some people around here,” you mused. You brushed your fingers lightly across his hairline again, and he squirmed again in response. 

He hid a smile, pulling you in so he could whisper directly into your left ear. “But darlin’, if you keep my secret, I’ll make it worth your while.” It was your turn to shiver. 

“Oh? How so?” You’d never heard your own voice so breathless. 

He chuckled, and raised his left hand from your hip to your jaw, tilting your head to your right as he tucked his face into the left side of your neck. He ran his lips lightly from your shoulder to your jaw, sending shivers down your spine as you inhaled sharply. He kissed you, lightly, right at the hinge of your jaw, and then on your cheek, and then his mouth met yours, softly, barely there and then with gentle pressure. 

He pulled away after only a moment, and you met his eyes in a daze. His gaze was dark, and you felt like you were moving through molasses. Everything was slow, and soft, and heady. You were floating through it and Joel’s hands on you – on your cheek, holding your left hand – were the only things keeping you tethered.

Joel murmured your name. “Let me take you out.”

“When?” Your reply fell from your lips so quickly it made him smile, and you smiled back, unashamed. 

“Friday? Sarah’s got a sleepover.” He smoothed his thumb over your cheekbone. “We can go dancing, show off these moves.” 

You laughed. “Joel, I’ve barely got one, maybe two moves. You sure we don’t need another dance lesson before we take this show on the road?”

He huffed a laugh too, and turned you a little. “Just follow along with me, darlin’, I won’t let you stumble.”

You bit your lip, and nodded. “Friday.”

“Friday,” he agreed, pulling you in again. As his lips met yours again, you wondered how you were going to wait five days for more of this. Joel pulled himself away with a small groan, resting his forehead against yours. “We should stop before we get too carried away, with Sarah home.” You nodded. 

You danced a bit more, finishing out the last couple of tracks on the CD. Joel kept his forehead against yours at first, and then tucked your face into his chest, resting his cheek on top of your head and slowly swaying as the last song trailed off into silence.

You didn’t want to let go quite yet, and it seemed Joel didn’t either, as neither of you moved. You could feel your happiness at finally taking the leap together glowing in your chest – from dancing around each other to an actual dance, the months of talking and flirting had finally gotten you somewhere. But you couldn’t help but wonder.

“Joel? Why now?” You asked it softly, face still tucked into his chest. He hummed lowly in response before pulling back to meet your eyes. He regarded you silently for a moment before seeming to come to a decision. 

“I think we both felt it, right? That first day. You were – you are – the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I knew I wanted you,” he smirked as he noticed you bite your lip at that admission. He squeezed your hip. “But I realized pretty quick that with you, I wanted something real. I haven’t dated anyone in a long, long time. I wanted to take it slow, and get to know you first.” You nodded. You wanted that, too. 

“But darlin’, I realized the other day, when you were here with Sarah, that maybe there’s a line between taking it slow and just being afraid, and I was flirting with it. And I’d rather be flirting with you.” He grinned as you rolled your eyes a little bit at his joke. “I’ve been afraid for a long time. Afraid of letting someone in when it’s not just me I have to worry about.” He looked towards the house. “But Sarah loves you.”

“And I love her, Joel. That girl is special.” He smiled and nodded before looking back at you.

“I know you do. And she’s been teasing me about asking you out for months.”

“Oh yeah? Well you should know better than to ignore her advice, Joel.” 

He sighed, long-suffering, and nodded. “I know it.”

Joel pulled away and started to head back to the house, right hand reaching for your left. You felt a little shaky, like you really had been floating for the last half hour. 

As you approached the front door, he squeezed your hand. “I’ll see you Friday, darlin’.”

“You sure will, cowboy.” He smiled and pulled you in for another short kiss. 

“Now get, before we get any bad ideas.” 

You laughed, and headed out the door he opened for you. 

“Night, darlin’.”

“See you Friday, Joel.”

...

a/n: see you 8/20 for chapter 4 (aka, when the smut arrives lol)

update: ch 4 now posted!

Tag list

@morgaussy @jay-zzle @bluetattoos @dins-riduur-anthe

[aphroditestummyrolls]

a bit of the engagement series?? 👀

Hello! The story this is from is one I’m particularly excited for— ✨the wedding(s)✨

I was originally not going to write this story at all, but as usual, a getting to rant about it to @liggytheauthoress for a bit made me feel INSANE about it, and now I know exactly where to take it. It won’t be posted in any real context for a while, but, have this new snippet in the meanwhile ❤️

He returned home later than he wanted or planned.

The sun had set over Hanraat Bay, leaving no more than a faint glow of indigo behind the house in the west. The windows looked soft and bright, emanating a golden yellow from behind the sheer summer drapes— Agatha must’ve changed over the draperies from spring to summer while he was out that day. She always got into such a tizzy over guests, even if it was just Colm.

Then again, with the wedding date getting closer by each half chime, everyone was getting into a tizzy. Wylan couldn’t help the fizzy warmth in his chest, radiating out through his veins like champagne whenever he saw his betrothed and remembered— it’s you! Soon, they’ll never be able to keep us apart! Soon, I will get to pledge my love to you forever.

So, yes, Colm had pulled into port that morning, like he had many times before. But this time he was coming to help with preparations, and to be there for the dinners and parties dotted through the next few weeks of the social calendar.

By the time he left Ketterdam again, he would be a father-in-law. Wylan and Jesper would be husbands.

Saints.

And Wylan wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of that.

“— is always early to retire, and Colm will no doubt be tired from the journey. After they’ve both gone to bed, we can fill in the others on what we’ve discovered and plan next steps.” Kaz had been talking all along, and Wylan tried not to look too surprised as he blinked away from the carriage window to look at him.

It got him a distinctly unimpressed raise of an eyebrow.

Which was why the next words made his shock impossible to mask.

“Are you alright?”

The answer, of course, was no. So, Wylan nodded. “I hadn’t seen him since the trial, he looked…”

“He looked like he deserves to look.” Kaz said harshly. He had relished seeing the squalor of Hellgate in a way that Wylan just couldn’t bring himself to.

The way Jan’s face had gone sharp, and his frame looked so ailing hadn’t felt like a victory. It wasn’t that Wylan didn’t feel any satisfaction in knowing his father would never breathe free air again; or that his heart didn’t pound and his eyes go warm at all the ways he was flourishing beyond any Van Eck before him. Despite his father’s insistence that he was useless, Wylan was leading the business to new heights and conducting his life on his own terms, surrounded by love. It wasn’t that he didn’t know and appreciate these things.

It was the anxiety constantly biting at his heels, the knowledge that it was still so fragile. Jan was still trying to take it away.

“He also looked unsurprised by the information that we had to share.” Wylan picked at the cuff of his fine mercher suit.

“That only means we’re on the right track.”

When the carriage came to a stop, and Bertram opened the door for them, Kaz stepped out first. His gloved hand reached out and squeezed his— he let go like the touch burned him, but the contact was strong and reassuring— as they took the steps up to the manor door. “You’ll always be crows— we look after our own.”

Thanks for playing!

[yukiwrites]

'Till the End, and Beyond.

Thanks for the support as always, and happy birthday, @breeachuuu!!! I hope you like it~

Summary: Dimitri and Wolfram had acted on their feelings and now they could be together forever -- or at least until the end of the war, as the timer ticked for Wolfie's return. They meet with Edelgard before the last battle for one last confrontation...

Commission info HERE and HERE!

______________________________

Wolfram’s lips tingled where Dimitri’s touched.

The hot puffs of air around them made their cheeks redden and their breaths quicken, but they were too immersed into one another to care about the weather. The night was particularly cold, even for a typical spring night in Fhirdiad.

Still, their shared kiss warmed their bodies and, most of all, their hearts.

They were clumsy at first, as neither of them had any experience in the field, but soon lost themselves in the act, dissolving into smaller kisses so as to look into each other’s eyes.

“Dimitri, I…” Wolfie sniffled, holding Dimitri’s hand over his own cheek. “I’m so scared. I’m still so scared, but… Thanks. Thanks for being here with me. For… um… loving me.”

Dimitri chuckled, kissing Wolfie’s forehead. “That should be my line. As I already said, I will always be grateful for your constant support and tireless devotion… my love.”

Wolfie blushed, lowering his gaze. “... My love.”

Their hearts tickled inside their chests, but before they could once again close their eyes and be engulfed into one another’s warmth, someone called for Dimitri from behind.

“Your Highness! I finally found you!” A Kingdom soldier heaved, waving a scroll in one hand.

Flinching, Dimitri rose from the spot while holding Wolfram’s shoulders. Panicking, Wolfie looked between Dimitri and whoever was behind his back and took a step back, hiding his face in embarrassment.

“Ahem,” Dimitri cleared his throat, shook his head and turned on his heel to meet the soldier. “Forgive me for slipping away. Has something happened?”

The man figured that the reason for Dimitri’s flushed mien was from the cold, so he paid no more attention to it and focused on delivering the message. “We’ve received word from the Alliance!”

“From Claude?” Wolfie hopped over after slapping his face with both hands, looking over Dimitri’s arm as he unrolled the message.

Dimitri scanned the message, then widened his eye in surprise. “It is… a call for aid.”

The very next day after the festivities, Dimitri called for a war council.

He apologized for asking everyone to take up arms again so soon after retaking Fhirdiad, but he couldn’t simply leave Claude at the mercy of the Empire.

By the looks of it, the letter was sent in advance, as if predicting that not only all communications would be cut but that they would be successful in retaking Faerghus — a gamble very much like Claude. There was no way Dimitri could turn his back on a friend in need, and Wolfie nodded proudly behind him, clutching at his cloak for support as usual.

There was not much time to prepare — they would need to double back to the Monastery, resupply as best as they could and go straight to Derdriu from there if they wanted to reach them in time.

The meeting stretched on to decide who would stay to hold the capital and which unit would serve as their communications hub; not to mention on who would direct all of the rebuilding, resupplying and restoring efforts back in the Kingdom while Dimitri was focused on the war.

He wanted to keep Gilbert in the Kingdom to oversee all of that, but the man declined it, saying that he was a knight first and foremost, not a person worthy of being the regent.

Nevertheless, there were many details to fine-tune, but their departure date had already been set — in two days’ time, they would be on their way.

Still, even after the meeting was called off, Dimitri, Byleth and Gilbert remained to look over a few more reports, so everyone else scattered to do their assignments.

Just as Wolfie was stepping out of the room, someone tapped on his shoulder — Seteth.

“A word?” He said simply, gesturing with his chin for Wolfram to follow. Gulping, the boy obeyed, going after him in strained silence.

Seteth walked with a determination that only one with the weight of the ages on their shoulders would do so. Wolfie saw that same pace on Nidra’s feet, as well as on Tiki’s, back in the day. Not so much on Nowi’s, but perhaps that was deliberate on her side; there was no way for him to know.

However, Seteth’s pace was also oozing with animosity, so Wolfie didn’t need his heightened senses to know that the man was up to the neck in bottled up anger towards him.

It was understandable, so Wolfie was ready to apologize the first chance he had.

He walked into the room Seteth led him to and lowered his head, ready for the scolding.

Yet, somehow, that didn’t happen. At least not right away.

Seteth sat down at a nearby chair and took both hands to his face in an attempt to placate himself. Or to think. Wolfie couldn’t know.

He took a deep breath. Now that they were face to face, there was not much he could actually say without compromising his own secret, so he would simply approach it in a more… philosophical manner.

“I have to say, Wolfram — I never expected you to be someone so wretched as to use this land’s legends for your own personal gain,” his voice was grave and tired, which only added insult to injury to Wolfie’s already guilty conscience. “Is it so amusing to pretend to be something you are not? To laugh in the way our history was written?!” The more he spoke, the more worked up he became, and the more Wolfie’s shoulders sagged. “Do you have any idea how hard— how difficult it is to— argh…”

“I’m… sorry.” Wolfie squeaked. Once he lifted his face, revealing his red nose and wet cheeks, Seteth stopped in his tracks. “I’m sorry I pretended to be from your race. I noticed how hard you, Flayn and Rhea were working to hide it, b-but, but… I just had to save Dimitri. I couldn’t hide it…”

Seteth shot up. “You! What are you saying? You mean you’ve known— you know of—” he looked around in panic, as if the walls had ears to absorb their secrets and lips to divulge them to the world.

“Mhm,” Wolfie sniffled, nodding weakly. “I even talked to Rhea for a bit and she wasn’t uh,” he hiccuped, “she wasn’t bothered by me, so I kept hiding who I was. I’m so, so sorry…”

“Hahh…” Seteth sagged back on his seat, massaging his temple. “We spent so long in hiding. So long in wait for it all to pass. For it all to be forgotten.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Seteth waved Wolfie’s apology away, taking a deep breath. “Then, the war happened and Rhea had to transform; then, the students and the Professor kept looking for the other Saints, who are now unable to turn back — and now, you.” He wiped his face with both hands, then shook his head. “Forgive me, Wolfram. It is not entirely your fault — the circumstances had me too worked up.”

Wolfie lifted his teary gaze to the older man. “E-eh? But…”

“I am not saying you are without fault. However, it is not right for me to vent my anger at a child, so I apologize,” he bowed his head slightly. “I do wish to know of your circumstances, though. You are clearly able to turn, but you are not… like us. What are you?”

Sniffling, Wolfie dried his face with the back of his hands before scooting closer on the sofa towards Seteth’s chair. He fiddled with his locket before cracking it open.

“Um, before that, you mentioned the other saints… That they can’t turn anymore. What happened to them? Did they merge with their dragonstone or did it break and—?”

Seteth narrowed his eyes. “Dragonstone?”

“Um. Yes?” Wolfie blinked, carefully pulling out the damaged stone from the locket. “This?”

Seteth could feel a strange aura emanating from the stone, though not much else.

“I’m supposing you need this to transform,” he examined it closely, then carefully gave it back to Wolfie, noticing how unwilling the boy was to part with it.

“You mean you don’t need anything to transform? I… I thought that maybe I could find an alternate stone here to use for the time being—” he sniffled, his nose itching with tears. The small hope that had budded barely held enough to bloom, withering in the wind of his desperation as Seteth shook his head.

“There is an innate power inside us that allows us to transform or revert back. Rhea was — is — the strongest of us, so she managed to keep it together for all these millennia… But for… us,” Seteth struggled to include Flayn in the subject, still too keen on protecting her to reveal anything pertaining to her condition to anyone. “For us, we remained in our human forms, unable to transform. Indech and Macuil, on the other hand, remained in their draconic forms, unable to revert back.”

Wolfie’s heart sank. “What… do they think about it? What do you think about it? Are they getting mad? Is that the… the fate of all dragonkin?” He hiccuped. Back in Archanea, there were no shortage of legends — true stories that had happened eons in the past — of dragons losing their way to madness or corruption.

Nidra had been very strict in their draconic upbringing so as to steer them away from that path, Wolfie was aware of that. Still, now that his dragonstone was like that, he— he couldn’t… He couldn’t help but think about it all.

He was a dragon, after all. Now, more than ever, his connection with his draconic side had grown strong, perhaps too strong for his own dragonstone to handle.

It was terrifying.

What was waiting for him after the stone broke? Madness? Permanent transformation? Would he remember anything? Anyone? At all? What about Dimitri? Or Nidra, or Henry, or his siblings, or all of his friends…

Wolfie sobbed quietly as he clutched the locket close to his chest, making Seteth fumble a bit with his hands.

It wasn’t the time to ask the boy about his circumstances, at least not for now. For now… For now he needed comfort more than scolding. There was always more time for them to talk later.

Seteth awkwardly sat beside Wolfram and placed one hand on his shoulder for support. Flinching, the boy looked up, then dove into Seteth’s arms, muffling his sobs on his chest.

From behind the door, Flayn dried her tears with a handkerchief and stepped away silently.

Wolfie felt refreshed after crying, but not as much as he would have liked. After all, the root of his worries were about something physical he had no control over, not at all something simply emotional.

No matter how much he talked himself up, no matter how comforting Dimitri’s hand in his was; no matter how much he longed for the sky — there was no way to fix his stone, at least not that he knew of.

So, despite being a being who belonged amongst the clouds; despite the need to fly with his own wings, Wolfie would refrain from transforming outside of battle. Ordinarily, he would rather not transform at all, but that simply wouldn’t be possible.

He couldn’t not transform. He was a human just as much as he was a dragon.

So, if he had to transform anyway, it would be better if he did so while being of use. He had no way of knowing when the stone started cracking, or why it did in the first place, so all he could do was pray that it held on.

Pray that he could keep helping them; pray that the stone held until he completed his mission — until it was time to go home.

The thought of leaving Dimitri and everyone behind was heart-wrenching, but he couldn’t avoid it. His time in Fódlan was numbered, he knew that from day one. Now, more than ever, he looked forward to and wanted to avoid that timer in equal measures.

He had just found love.

The time he spent with Dimitri, when they would awkwardly hold hands or sneak in a kiss or a hug in between marches, was so precious Wolfie was sure he would never forget it, no matter how many thousands of years passed.

Yet, if he was unable to fix his dragonstone, uncertainty and doom awaited him.

The scales inside Wolfie’s heart tipped to either side incessantly, leaving him in a constant strained state of mind.

He was anxious as they arrived in Derdriu, and anxious during their battle there as well.

In dragon form, he could still tank most of the attacks, but he wasn’t entirely focused on what was happening other than the carnage.

In a blink of an eye, the battle was over, or at least that was what seemed to Wolfram. He recalled talking with Claude, but the words never lingered long enough for him to remember them.

Something about confirming crazy reports and leaving Dimitri to him; that last part he remembered well. He was gonna protect Dimitri at all costs, just as fiercely as — if not more than — he would Byleth.

He was in Fódlan to protect Byleth, but now he would do everything in his power to protect Dimitri as well; which was another reason for him to keep transforming in battle despite the anxiety.

After they retook Derdriu, the Alliance was incorporated into the Kingdom, allowing Dimitri and their forces a much better chance at pointing their swords at the Empire. Now, with the combined might of a retaken capital and a united Kingdom, it was time to march down to Enbarr.

As they had left a detachment to keep the Great Bridge, they would be able to cross over and stop for supplies on their way down to Fort Merceus, the last checkpoint before the imperial capital.

During one such nights at the Great Bridge, Dimitri approached Wolfram from behind, as the boy longingly looked over the perimeter, sighing as he gazed up to the sky.

“Wolfram?”

“Oh! Hi, Dimitri. Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” he jumped in surprise, but soon relaxed on the parapet, leaning his head on Dimitri’s shoulder once he was close enough. “Is everything okay?”

“I think I should be the one asking that. I have been waiting for you to come forward with it, but since you have not… I have come to ask. How are you feeling, Wolfram? I know you have been anxious regarding your dragonstone since we retook Fhirdiad. Have you discovered anything else?”

Wolfie’s brow twitched. “I’m… no. I spoke with Se— uh, with uh… a, uh, friend… with a similar condition…”

“Right,” Dimitri played along, not wanting to probe him.

Thinking he had managed to fool Dimitri, Wolfie let out a sigh of relief. “Phew… Um, so I spoke with him and uh, I’m still coming to terms with fighting with my fangs and claws, but nothing about the stone. So, yeah.”

“I see.” Dimitri placed a kiss on Wolfie’s forehead. “Is there anything I can do to help? To aid you in any way? It pains me to see the one I love suffer while being unable to do anything.”

“Mhm,” Wolfie wrapped his arms around Dimitri’s waist. “You’re already doing it.”

“Haha,” the prince chuckled with that perfect voice, making Wolfie’s hair stand on end. “Then allow me to do more…” he leaned closer and closer until their lips met.

They marched south to Fort Merceus, also known as the Impregnable Fortress — but with a flying dragon on their side who could make the bridge controls explode from afar, evidence showed that it was very much ‘pregnable’ indeed.

Wolfie managed to put his ultimate spell, Naga, to the test against the demonic beasts standing in their way and it would be safe to say that that day’s victory hung mostly on Wolfram’s shoulders.

The boy felt proud of himself for the feat, though not so much when the Death Knight’s body had to be pried from Mercedes’ hands as she wailed about her little brother’s demise.

There were no true winners in war, as Wolfram was learning the hard way, day by day.

While they were busy finishing up the battle reports, Dimitri called for a meeting with Byleth and Gilbert regarding their next move. They holed themselves into the meeting room throughout the entire night, and once they came back out, they all had bags under their eyes.

Wolfie went straight to Dimitri, giving him a warm towel to place on his eyes to stop the swelling.

“Did something happen?” He asked cautiously as Dimitri dove into the sofa.

“I want to talk with Edelgard before we march into Enbarr. I know it’s foolish, but—”

“I don’t think it is,” Wolfie caressed Dimitri’s silky hair under the towel. “I’m glad you’ve come so far to be able to even think of that.”

“... I truly have, have I not. And I have you to thank in no small part for that.”

“...” Wolfie simply smiled, his fingers never stopping the caress.

Slowly, Dimitri’s body started to sag. “I want… you to be there at the summit.”

“Me? But I’m not a strategist or anything.”

“It does not matter,” his words slurred, as his grip on Wolfie’s hand loosened. “I want you there with me.”

Wolfie’s heart warmed with the vote of confidence. He took Dimitri’s limp hand and kissed it. “Of course, Dimi. I’ll be there with you.”

Their army marched down to Enbarr in force, setting up positions at a safe distance from their curses and spells while Dimitri, Byleth and Wolfie secretly set out to a nearby settlement that would serve as the neutral ground for their meeting.

Dimitri was fidgeting once they arrived, so Wolfie took his hand. Immediately did the Prince smile, taking a short breath to compose himself.

“Do you think Edelgard will show up?” He asked them both, looking over his shoulder.

“I never talked to her much, so I can’t say for sure…” Wolfie said sincerely, though Byleth nodded resolutely.

“She’ll come,” the Professor said, and, for a moment, there was nothing.

Yet, in the next second, it felt like space in front of them was distorting itself.

“Well, well. It's been a long time, Professor. And hello to you, too, Dimitri. Wolfram.” Edelgard’s voice sounded before she appeared in front of them with Hubert in tow.

Dimitri took a short breath. “Edelgard. I did not think you would actually accept my request.”

The Emperor took a glance and stood her gaze on Wolfram for three full seconds before turning back to Dimitri. “Call it a whim. Well then? What did you want to talk about?”

Wolfie tilted his head to the side, wondering what that was about, but stayed back while holding Dimitri’s cloak as usual.

“I will get straight to the point. Why did you start this war?” Dimitri’s tone was somber. There lay the weight of a man who carried thousands of lives upon his shoulders — lives he had to protect as well as the lives of those he had failed to protect. He could not understand Edelgard’s reasons.

She spoke of minimizing casualties, but neither Dimitri nor Wolfie or Byleth could see her reasoning. She spoke of revolting and uniting against the oppressors — those who had shaped their history since time immemorial — and saving more lives in the long run.

But that was not right, and Dimitri said it to her himself.

The strong dominating the weak was not true unification. Only through mutual understanding could they truly achieve peace.

“Funny you would say that, as you carry one of the very same people I am fighting to liberate us of!” Edelgard glared at Wolfram, who flinched under her unwavering gaze.

Dimitri took a step to the side to shield Wolfie from her. “... What does he have to do with any of this?”

Edelgard placed one hand on her hip. “The overwhelming power which he possesses… the power to overwrite history and make any and everyone succumb to their side of the story. That is what I am fighting against. Humans have to be free to choose their path; to own their mistakes and to grow from them. Being under the heel of those so much above us is what’s pruning our growth.”

“There is truth in your words, I will admit that.” Dimitri nodded, though the frown on his brow and the fire in his gaze did not seem to match what he said. “However, this is not only a fight for humanity. It’s a fight for mutual understanding of all species, regardless of where they come from or where they will go in the future. It is about helping each other grow.”

“Hah,” Edelgard scoffed. “If you so much knew of how well that went for us in the past, behind the story the Church of Seiros preaches. You sound idealistic just like our ancestors before they succumbed to the overwhelming power that came with being a child of the goddess.”

Dimitri sighed. “It seems there truly will not be an understanding between us. But I at least now understand what you believe is right.”

“Indeed,” Edelgard meant to turn around to leave, but Dimitri’s words stopped her on her tracks.

“Wait, Edelgard. Take this,” he handed her a dagger, the same one she had thrown as the Flame Emperor all those years ago. The same one he had given her when they were children. “I am returning this.”

Edelgard lingered on the dagger and on the boy whose image overlapped with the man in front of her before taking it and placing it under her mantle.

“Good-bye, Dimitri,” she turned on her heel and disappeared with Hubert’s teleportation spell.

“Good-bye… El.”

“Dimi…” Wolfie clutched on Dimitri’s cloak.

He turned around with a bittersweet smile on his lips. “Thank you for coming with me, Wolfram. Professor.” He bowed. “My head is now clearer than ever, as is our goal. Come,” he took Wolfie’s hand, “let us go and return to our comrades. Time to put an end to this bloody war once and for all.”

“I’m with you until the end, Dimitri. Until the end… and beyond,” Wolfie murmured the last part under his breath, clutching the locket with the other hand.

[evilmageclub]

hello

i have posted another chapter of my loong postcanon samsam fic. this is the 6th chapter out of 7 we're almost there i cannot Wait to physically bind this book when im done.......

anyway. if you like reading about gods who dont know how to talk about their feelings except via elaborate sexual murdersuicide you may enjoy this. medium sized sfw excerpt under the cut:

They meet in the first-floor room where Samothes takes his audiences, Samot dressed quickly in linen trousers and a thin, trellised blouse. The game board on the table in the centre of the chamber is still set from last night, when Samothes summarily thrashed his husband and two of their friends at chess, only because Samot was very drunk and hence distracted.

“Is something wrong down at the temple?” he asks his visitor now, pulling out one of the four vacant chairs for her to take. The woman who called up to him from the gardens does not sit, but lingers near the door as though eager to get her answer and be gone.

“No, it’s going fine. Isn’t there any way you can sense him, or something?”

“Or something,” Samot echoes in faint amusement. “Give me a moment.”

He crosses to one of the pink-white sandstone arches overlooking the bay, taking hold of a strand of ivy that has curled around the nearest pillar. Technically, he doesn’t need to be touching another Spring organism to extend his senses across the island, but he has lived long enough to understand the importance of appearances in spellcraft. Sunlight bathes his face as he closes his eyes to seek through root and tendril and leaf the telltale warmth of Samothes—and finds nothing.

He searches again, refusing to take that as an answer. Again, it is the answer returned to him. 

Samot turns to face his visitor, struck less by anxiety than a sheer and surprising rage—at Samothes’ apprentice, at Samothes himself for fostering a populace so dependent on him that they cannot cope with his absence for a single morning—then, locating the source of that frustration much further inside himself than he thought it had been, stifles it quickly.

“How urgently do you need him?”

“Well… I suppose it doesn’t have to be now. I wanted to give him something.” The apprentice rummages in the pocket of her overalls as he approaches, producing a small flat box.

"A gift?"

"From a few of us at the workshop. Since it’s a day in his honour and we’ve never had a birthday on record for him, so this seemed like the nearest thing." She smiles, a little awkwardly, as though alerted to Samot’s disquiet. “It can wait until later. Really.”

Easy to tell from the set of her mouth that she was excited to see Samothes’ reaction to whatever she has for him, and is disappointed by his absence in a way Samot cannot make up for. For a moment he sees in her the ghost of Maelgwyn, waiting in the hallway for Samothes’ return from a long day's work with some trinket made specifically to earn his praise. 

"I’ll find him,” Samot says, his voice a little softer now. “I imagine he’s out on the water.”

The young woman nods as he makes for the door, pocketing her gift box.

“Alright,” she calls after him. “Thanks.”

Samot is already away onto the stairs leading down to the gardens, but he hopes Samothes’ apprentice will return to the Shrine before mid-morning. Between her and Finlay and Smoulder, perhaps the isle’s first High Sun Day will run smoothly enough even without Samothes there to preside over his own celebrations. Of course, he promised he’d be back—but Samot has his doubts, old fears that no logic can root out, and so he hurries. Pauses not among the waking crowds and the smell of shellfish frying, but takes the shortest path seaward under iridescent rooftops, between walls of white-grey flint. The onshore wind is bracing after the sheltered town streets, ropes and fixtures slapping against masts in a bell-like chorus, and sure enough Samot finds the man he first knew as the old fisher’s son busy unmooring a dinghy not far from where his sloop sits at anchor.

"Not at the temple this morning?” he asks.

“Got lobster pots to check,” the captain calls back as he lifts the mooring rope, "and anyway I'm not much for the faith. Not his, at least.”

“You don’t have to be. There’ll be dancing later on, and the Shrine all festooned in sunflowers. It’d be a shame to miss it for work.”

“Now, I know you didn’t come down here to canvass for Samothes.” The captain straightens up, evaluating Samot’s slipshod appearance with dark eyes framed by locks of windswept grey. “What can I do for you?”

Samot makes himself smile. Ordinarily, he would let no duty keep him from giving this man’s beauty the time and attention it deserved, but this morning older loyalties have him captive.

“It has to do with Samothes, actually,” he admits. “May I come aboard?”

[stylezxsilvermoon]

blue ice | chapter seven: pretty gazes and controlled chaos

❃゜・。. ・°゜✼ ゜°・ . 。・゜❃

CHAPTER SEVEN: PRETTY GAZES AND CONTROLLED CHAOS

❃゜・。. ・°゜✼ ゜°・ . 。・゜❃

Harry

The light of the sun graced over me like a spell casted by a magical enchantress.

I awoke blinking slowly as I heard a grumble to my side as I looked to the right as Louis squinted at the sunlight in annoyance. I chuckled at him as I snuggled deeper into his chest and inhaled his scent quietly as we lay in the silence. His arm wrapped around me protectively as he turns to me and smiles quietly with his eyes closed as I lay a kiss over his forehead as he chuckles deeply as his gravelly voice echos across the silent room.

His touch is like moon dust when his tattooed hand comes across my face and strokes it as he kisses my cheek wordlessly as it leaves evidence of his love on my body as I lay silently like a spellbound man hopefully enraptured in his inescapable trap.

The sun moves across his body gracefully as I get up from the bed as I begin to start my day as his hand grabs mine as his eyes look to me with questions I’m unsure I’ll be able to answer.

“Good morning Harry.” He says with a smile as I greet him as somehow he drags me back into bed as we both find ourselves wrapped up in each other for a few minutes giggling foolishly and love on each other like the day will last forever.

“Good morning my Louis.” I say as if I’ve known him a lifetime, when in actuality it’s only been a couple months.

As we lay on the bed with yesterdays love behind us and tommrow’s love not far in front of us a new spring bloom begins to come across the horizon like an early morning epiphany.

And Louis is the ice that breaks cold winters thaw that envelope the flowers trapped in his wake, and finally the sun arises in Lythorn for the first time in an eternity.

“What are we doing today?” Louis questions mischievously as I pause to think about how we should spend the day together as my brain comes up with an idea like a light in the dark.

“Well, we could go to the Lythorn library, there’s loads of good information there. It could help you with the case… and I could show you what I’m working on?” I asked shyly as Louis’ eyes lit up in interest as I looked to him with an adventurous spark in my eyes.

“Harry you’re brillant! And I’d love to see your work, since you’re a writer an all.” Louis said with a smile on his face as I almost felt as if I could see his soul as we sat in the silence of the early morning.

“Thanks Louis….” I say with a blush that graces the cheeks of my face as Louis moves impossibly closer to me and leaves hot open-mouthed kisses in their wake.

“Cmon babe, we’ve got a city to see.” Louis nudges me gently as I look up to him as an adventurous spark sets something unknown afire in the both of us. And one that neither of us know what it’d turn into, a curse or a blessing, a magical promise of forever… or disaster.

But, there would be only one way to find out.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The streets of Lythorn strangely embraced the warmth of the sun out on an early morning walk with the premise of doing who knows what. And leaving the winds of adventure to cast under our wings carrying us away to greater things, unknown to us but known to anything and everything.

I looked to the sidewalks as Louis’ hand dangled next to mine as my brain tries to unlearn the idea of our two hands connecting as they brush with the twinges of the wind as it sends a deathly chill down my spine.

Louis looks to me with an undescribable look in his eyes that leaves me questioning everything I’ve ever known, his gaze holds on me like a python on a already sinking ship.

“So, about the library H, do you really think Lythorn has any good information about the history of the town? And how would that help Juniper and I solve the case?” Louis asked puzzingly as I ponderd to how would it really help the case be solved.

However, it’s safe to say the reason as to why Lythorn had information about the town itself was peculiar on its own. It left my brain spiraling to unknown conclusions to why the information about the town was ever needed in the first place, but maybe perhaps… for things such as this.

Though, the mystery still remains as to why the information was there, and if it would help the case be solved.

But wasn’t that always the question at times like this?

Why?

Suddenly Louis broke me out of my reign of wonder as he tapped me as we stood in front of the Lythorn library, as the skies looked cloudier as if the forces above were trying to tell us something, though there was something intercepting the message, or someone.

“Here we are..” Louis said wearily, staring at the building dauntily looked almost as if it was carved out of stone for us to find in this very moment. Looking eerily similar to something you’d see in verbatium, as if this exact scene played out once before, far away from here… but close all the same.

The feeling was puzzling, but it was quick to pass as electricity shocked my senses as Louis grabbed my hand and lead me inside in my daydreaming state. Seemingly having my head stuck in the clouds, and unsure of how to get down.

Though, maybe I’d find the answer to all of this up there. Something tells me… the answer is hiding directly in plain sight, and we’re too blind to see it after all.

“Right, this way Louis.” I say bravely as Louis beckons to my lead as he follows me down the library book isles until we reach the one that reads ‘HISTORY’ in big bold red letters, symbolising books in this section contain information about the history of the world.

The two of us skim until we find a couple of books with the history of Lythorn in the title spread across their bindings. Louis peeks his head up from his crouching position as he finds a maroon red book with gold lettering that read “THE HISTORY OF LYTHORN, A TOWN OF MANY SECRETS” Louis looked to me confusingly as he weighed the odds of whether or not the book contained the information we were looking for.

“What do you think love? What secrets lie inside?” Louis asked me with a mischevious look in his eyes as my mind raced to the many conclusions and finalized endings that could be found inside of the book.

“I’m not sure, I guess we’ll have to figure out together Louis.” I said with a spark of hope, a small smile, and a wish of new discoveries in my eyes as even then I had not realized in that moment.

But I had set a flame to something greater than us, greater than us… and even greater than this book worthy small town mystery.

Though we had just begun, I couldn’t help but elude to the strange distant storm that was brewing.. strong and oozing with dangerous possibilities, and who’s to know what trouble it could bring, but the question was… what direction would it come from? I wonderd endlessly as Louis lead me to a table at the library as my heart bursted into groups of butterflies as he held my hand on the short walk to the table.

After a beat Louis caught me looking into his eyes with adoration as he turned away and blushed at the sight of my gaze as his hand brushed against mine as a spark set a forest fire between us.

As Louis opened the book new adventures opened with it, as well as new secrets being revealed and abrubtly being pushed into the open, gazing spotlight.

Both of our sets of eyes skimmed the pages for a bit as the pages turned, but.. one thing stuck out to us, the mention of Lythorn and the many history of murders and assasin’s and hit men that have been caught and tried over the years. A bizzare feeling began creeping down my spine the longer we stayed in this town, and the farther the date I had arrived creeped away from the present day.

It was an eerie all too true feeling that had mysteriously presented itself into the situation, and I had no idea as to why.. but another question remained as it spun inside my brain like a broken record without a will to stop for any other meaning.

Who wrote this book?

My eyes landed upon the words “secrets uncoverd” as I read further into the pages on the book as I discovered the people of Lythorn were known for keeping secrets, more commonly until the grave.. and they met their untimely end.

But as I read further into the conumdrum of questions that sprailed into the history of this small town, who could have uncoverd the mysteries if the peoplel who had soley died to protect them from being revealed had met their untimely dimese?

Only the witnesses of course. My voice in my brain echoed like a final conclusion to a decades long symphony of questions… like a song that had no end and no meaning to continuing. It was strange, like the people of Lythorn weren’t just the populus but almost a living breathing force captured and fueled by themselves.. only their own could uncover the secrets of this selcuded town.

And that was the defeaning silence amongst the screams, that was the answer.. to everything.

I sat back in the library chair with wide eyes as I raked a hand through my hair, a felt the whispers of the wind blow through me as if I was a ghost who had just haunted a body of the living, and I was the dead. Living in this strange reality as more was uncoverd began to send my mind into alternate realties of questions that continued to pile up to no avail.

I looked to the spine of the book as my brain began to digest the information, I looked to Louis as we turned the book to its side as the author’s name and the title was revealed to us.

Aurora Amanda.

All time seemed to stop in this moment as the both of us raised our eyebrows at the sight of the Author’s name. I knew Aurora, from long ago in my distant memory.

But suddenly all of that was pushed to the forefront and roaring back to life.

“Aurora?” the both of us said in unison as we both looked to each other with confusion.

“Wait, Harry you know Aurora? Aurora and I have been friends ever since we were little..” Louis said as he revealed new information that was unknown to Louis and I both as I began to question why all the new information was occurring the way that it was.

“I’ve known Aurora since I’ve went to college for my major in writing and English, small world.” I spoke with mystery and wonder in my heart and new discoveries creating new sparks of adventures not yet in my possession yet.

Or, hidden information I was meant to uncover all along.

“But how would she write a book in such a small time? My ex erm… Milo had informed me she was here to visit me because we hadn’t seen each other in so long.” Louis spoke as all the pieces began to connect in such a strange way as the information began to be connected by never-ending winding webs of confusion created by my mind.

“But isn’t she on the Anna Blokes murder case as well with you? So maybe that’s why she was here after all…” I added as Louis shook his head in confusion as both of our eyebrows furrowed with the new swirls of mystery coating our senses leaving us blind to the next cold blooded hit of reality.

“This is all quite peculiar, because she met me when was I was little and my mum took her in as her own when her whole family mysteriously died in a house fire, she was the only survior.” Louis said solemly as my mind drifted to new conclusions as I digested the new information I was receiving.

Why wasn’t it all connecting? I questioned to myself, I had never known that about Aurora, and suddenly as the sun set high in the sky… everything stopped.

I knew right then, something was seriously wrong.

And I just had to figure out what, particularly.

“I never knew that.” I whisperd as Louis’ eyebrows shot up in surprise, why had Aurora never told me that, I said as the puzzle of who I thought she once was began to crumble piece by piece, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it as the pieces fell as they were forced to their knees.

“She never told you!?” Louis announced shocked as I shook my head at him as he shut the book and put his head between his hands.

“No Lou, I never knew this at all, this is all so strange.” I announced as Louis looked to me with a whole new mystery in his eyes, and just as the storm cleared, clouds began to circle around us, incasing all the good and heavenly love with a cursed dark incanting spell neither of us knew how to undo, and it would reign over forevermore.

“What the hell is going on Harry?” Louis said as he broke the silence in my mind as his eyebrows furrowed and his stormy blue eyes began to cast storms of doom and anger as my forest green ones looked to his in confusion and hope, but the flame of hope and all good and just was close to burning out.

Forever.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Louis

The sun began to sit higher in the sky as the day dragged on longer like a never-ending prediction of what was to come, but the final conclusion was dragging on like a hot summer storm, perching and waiting until the exact moment to strike.

The daunting feeling of waiting for a wrecking storm was terrifying, especially since you had no clue to the absolute destruction it would bring, physical or mentally, something just threw a wrench in my plans and absolutely ruined everything, but I could never pick out just what.

But I was inching closer to finding out just what made my heart really itch, really tick for a new conclusion in the mystery of this so-called life.

I sat alone with my thoughts as they buzzed around my mind like pollin and tree leaves whilsting around Lythorn on a quiet spring afternoon. Many things happened from the first time I met Harry, or set foot in this town after all this time. Though this town had some type of bad reputattion, I was beginning to see the good in it.

There was good in everything, even the murky midnight blues with codes hard to decipher, you just had to know the switch, what made it tick.

And everything would fall into place.

My mind fell upon the mess I had left behind in Doncaster, and Milo. Thinking back to everything that had happened in the last few months made it hard to remember, it was all a blur, an emotional and painstakingly long steep mountain blur… and now that the storm had passed, I hadn’t wanted to remember my life before the fall.

It was plain as day as I realized to move on I would have to face the problems that seemed to be in the rearview mirror, without being thrusted into the wormhole of overthinking the things that could not be changed and had already played out as moments in history of my life. All of the little moments piled up together really did add up to something.. it almost felt as if it was a heavyweight on my chest of something deeper, seeping into my bones and my veins, an invisible weight with no physical presence but felt.. in a strange way.

Like an energy surge through my veins the memories plunged their way into my aching soul like a ghost of the past spending the rest of its afterlife haunting my memory as some sort of eternal guilt prision sentence I had to carry for the rest of my life.

But would I break the chain? I wonderd as my mind played back all the memories of Milo and I, my body shifted like an ancient monument coming back to life at the thought of his life and ours being completely different if our souls had never tried to intertwine.

People say that some things aren’t meant to be after the fact of realizing the fatal flaw that made all of the goals you’d built up so high above reality completely fall to pieces. It was devastating, it shattered your bones beyond compare with a single deafening scream in the midst of the blinding silence.

I had known how Milo died, though when the information was presented, I buried it deep into my memory, shunning it away from ever seeing the light of day in my mind. Though I knew to completely recover from this life altering blow, the tides would have to change.

And the change would have to start with me.

I reminisced to the day I got the call Milo had died, and the way Juniper Harry and I sat in complete silence completely entrapped and entangled around each other, searching for the words to sum up what we were feeling but the words were stolen from us like our serenity and our breath.

I recalled the day when I attended his funeral, and the physician told me the results of the autopsy, he’d died from an overdose of painkillers, I thought back painfully with each memory scratching deep cuts in my skin like a ravenous animal, but the beastous monster was none other than my own guilt.

The sky was grey and the flowers were lilies, his brown eyes closed and unviewed as he was lowered to his final resting place. I sat speechless as at that time my entire world was coming to a stop, but it felt as if the world was spinning so fast I would fall off any minute.

I tried desperately to grasp onto the memories I had with him, but the guilt cut deep into my bones making me scream out in pain anytime I’d try to. I recalled those lonely nights piecing together new plot points on the case while I was falling apart at the seams, and one by one the seams were breaking along with my strength to continue.

I squeezed my eyes shut at the thought as I shook off the eerie feeling like a ghost claiming my soul to the graveyard of all my past thoughts as if I was racing against time and time had already won.

Suddenly out of nowhere I saw a strange shadow come out of the horizon as a long shadow lulled slowly behind the unknown person whom the figure belonged to. I looked in the direction of the mysterious shadow as it was none other than Aurora.

I raised my eyebrows at her surprise presence as she waved to me and stood next to me at the Lythorn dock.. ever since Harry and I had been here I find myself here even when I don’t know what direction to take next. It’s almost as if it’s a calm spot for me... where everything just feels right and everything makes sense.

“Hi Lou.” She spoke uneasily as if the whole world was beginning to crumble under our feet as she spoke.

“Hey Aurora, what brings you here?” I asked as she looked to the crashing waves as they began to calm on the water as she looked into my eyes again and pursed her lips, attempting to find the answer to the question I had just asked, but to my assumptions none were arising in her mind.

“I come to deliver a message,” She started, smiling at me with an odd look on her face as I squinted my eyes as I wonderd to what the message could be that she had to convey to me, the possiblities were endless, I marvled to myself.

“Do you know that Jake kid? Erika’s boyfriend.. the one who gave us some information for the case… well… he’s dead Louis.” She spoke quickly as she revealed more of the bombshell information, I stumbled back for a moment as it almost felt as if I was spinning in the opposite direction the world was spinning as Aurora sprung to action and caught me before I fell off of my own two feet.

“Rora he’s dead!? Bloody hell, do the police know who killed him?” I asked eagerly as she shook her head with a no, her lips parted before she spoke, but no words came out, it was only silence. As if the wind had stolen everything from her, the color drained from her eyes and she was silent as a ghost, as if she was trying to tell me something with her bare soul.

With all of the deadly information spreading like a deadly plauge, I suppose our souls too became corrupted.

“He went missing on Admensiac island, the one he was talking about, its offshore the Lythorn coast, right there!” Aurora said as she pointed it out as I squinted to see it as it was far away from the location we were standing at.

“Has anyone on the case went over there and investigated? Has his body been found? Aurora when did he die!” I asked frantically as she tried to spoon-feed me the information the best that she could.

“Louis someone put a complaint in that they found him dead but the police are hesitant to go over there because of the choppy waters and the bridge over the water is creaky. They’re not sure what to do just yet, but I’m sure everyone will come together and figure something out.” Aurora said calmly as I nodded along with her, but deep down I knew something was wrong, something with the face of an angel and the soul of a beastly horrifying monster was lingering right under the eyes of plain sight. But I knew I’d discover it soon, once I’d uncovered the truth.

“What about a helicopter?” I asked with my eyebrows raised as my mind was buzzing with new ideas as to why I hadn’t been told this information sooner and why everything Aurora was saying had come off so suspicious, perhaps it was just my better judgement taking over. But mystery was looming around every corner… like it was a forewarning for the future, and I was blind to what was beginning to bubble to the surface.

“The winds are too high, there’s going to be a storm soon, everyone on the case is just going to wait it out apparently. I suppose its just a perfect storm of sorts, just not for us.. maybe it’ll mean something in the end.” Aurora spoke hopefully as the tides of time began to change with my eerie feelings of new life beginning to creep its way into the new spring bloom.

“Aurora, I’m going to Admensiac Island, something about this doesn’t feel right.” I spoke confidently as I felt the strange tides of this new altered reality begin to shift with the wind, I felt almost as if I was floating among the greats, and I was above it all, somehow, I just felt as if everything was just the beginning, and I was itching to uncover more.

Perhaps I would, after all.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Harry

I saw a new fury in Louis’ eyes as he had explained to me all of the confusing information he had been fed by Aurora, none of it made sense to me but.. it was as if he was possessed or drunk on the power of discovery and adventure. He was hell bent on going to the island and discovering the truth about everything related to the case.

Though his ambition was all-consuming at these troubling times I worried because of the lack of information about the island. Though he sensed a strange aura of something more than endlessly never matched up to the reality, or the things that we had been told… or what we had been lead to believe.

“Louis are you sure about this? I feel as if its dangerous.. no one knows next to anything about the island.” I voiced with worry as Louis’ eyes stared into my soul with a complex look in his eyes, something told me whatever he was planning was bigger than us, and bigger than they entire crime invesitgation.

“Harry love can you trust me on this one? I feel like it’s the one piece of the puzzle that makes everything finnaly fit together.” Louis pleaded as if I could see his entire soul barred into the light of our entire beings beginning to become entertwined.

“I’ll always trust you Louis, but there’s no way you’re going in this alone.” I looked into him with my ivy eyes as he knew exactly what my true soul was trying to convey, deep down I knew something about this was dangerous, after all he was working with murder.

“Are you coming with me then, Harry?” Louis asked with all seriousness as I was following him out to the hotel parking lot as his car beeped with the click of the alarm.

I looked to him as thunder boombed in the sky as the skies turned black like a perfect storm… I knew now that he would have to leave right in this second if he wanted to beat the storm. Something unpredictable and reckless was coming.. and I knew we had no other choice than to take this on together.

He looked deeply into my eyes before stepping closer to me, another boom of thunder roared and reared its ugly head in the face of adventure and fearless fate. I stepped closer as he kissed my lips slowly as I tasted his words on his tounge as our lips glided like gold across our skin along with the rain that was sure to fall from the sky.

After another beat his lips slowly departed from mine as I gave him a chaste kiss in the corner of his mouth as a genuine smile spread across his face as he took my hand in his as he led me to the already open car door.

“Oh, my angel, would you look at that, I kissed you on purpose this time.” He smiled mischievously as I squeezed his hand gently for reassurance as he stepped to the other side of the car not before I got in.

“Let’s hurry up with this Louis, I don’t think I like the way the sky looks, or that look in your eye.” I spoke to him in a concerning manner as he looked to me with a bashful smile as the car roared to life as he turned the key and began quickly backing out of the parking lot.

“You got it H, seems as if you want this thing to be over as much as I do.” He laughed halfheartedly as we both nodded, his hand in mine again as he held it over the car console.

His car glided easily over the streets as he stayed under the speed limit while still going realatively fast because of the lack of traffic as another thunderous boom roared over the entire sky as the rain began to pour down on the people of an unsuspecting Lythorn.

“It’s true Lou, it’s just… what do you think about all of that Aurora stuff we found out about back at the library.” I asked solemnly as Louis turned to me he was minutes away from crossing the bridge to the island, I looked to it as the island was filled with flush green trees and a clearing seemingly in the middle of the island. My mind pondered to what could possibly belong there.. and if it would truly help Louis and Juniper solve the case. But now that Juniper was working on Jake’s and Erika’s possible double murder case as she foretold.. something about this was definitely sketchy.. but no one knew exactly what.

“I had supposed it could be just a coincidence, but Aurora was the one that told me about Jake’s death.. and that he disappeared at the island and the worst part is no one has come to investigate it yet! And that’s precisely why I’m here to figure out what exactly is going on once and for all.” Louis stated confidently as he looked dead straight into the lush and thick forest of the island as his car began to cross over the rigity bridge, but to my surprise the bridge seemed anything but unstable.

“Louis, I’m not so sure about this.. something about this gives me a bad feeling. It could just be with all the murders surrounding everyone who’s given more information about the case, or simply come forward about it.” I voiced worridly as I heard a phone begin to ring, presumably Louis’ as he reached for it as he dropped my hand for a moment to grab it.

“Hello?” Louis started as his face formed into a frown at whomever was teling him some troubling information that left a puzzle of emotion that was diffiuclt to decipher on his face.

“It’s the chief.” He whisperd quietly as he began to continue to listen to the phonecall as the car turned dead silent like waves of memories in an infinite ocean. Not knowing where the silence was conveying, but almost feeling the aura of it seep deep into your bones and confirming your deadly preposition.

It was almost as if it was your worst nightmare, come to life.

Seconds later Louis hung up the phone was he ran a hand through his hair and pushed his foot on the gas faster to make it across the bridge to the island as his tires skidded on the mud clearing that almost looked like a path to the heart of the island. Something in me told us that was where we were headed.

“Shit, Harry shit!” He voiced as he honked the car horn as I tried my best to calm him down as he screamed as his voice echoed through the empty car as he turned off the engine, hiding his face from me as if he was ashamed of his emotions taking over and stealing the control that he’d worked so hard to build up.

“What’s up Louis?” I voiced over the loud pouring rain mercilessly beating on the roof of the car above our heads.

“Chief Payne wants to shut down the case, because of all the mystery surrounding it.. and because of Jake’s recent death… he thinks we’ve got no shot in solving it.” Louis voiced with defeat as he looked into my eyes with sorrow.

“Well, what are you going to do now baby?” I voiced sincerely as my nickname for him made him smile for a few short moments as he rubbed random patterns into the palm of my hand as he just held it for a few moments. As chaos was ensued in the both of us… we sat in the silence with the raging storm, trying with all the powers bestowed in us not to let it consume us.. or control us.

“We’re going to go into that forest on the island, even if it kills me.” Louis looked to me for not more than a moment when suddenly he opened the door and flipped his hood over his head as he ran through the pouring rain into the thicket of the island’s mysterious land.

“Louis!” I called as I chased after him quickly as his shadow almost disappeared into the lore of the forest.

I caught up to him as his body crashed into mine as I looked into his icy blue eyes, for the first time in a lifetime, I could feel the terror radiating off of his aura, the tremble deep in his bones, as we stood in the pouring rain.. we were one… against the world with the chaos drowning us as we were struggling to breathe.

“Are you ready for this, Harry?” Louis voiced as I grabbed his hand in mine as I brought it to my lips and kissed gently over his ‘28’ tattoo as I rested my chin there for a beat.. before looking into his eyes.

“Let’s do this.” I voiced.. and with those final words.. we ran into the darkness, with only our fates and our fearless hearts to our names.

A/N: That is ONE CLIFFHANGER. How do we feel about it? I absolutely love it, I feel like I ended it at the right time.

Also, how do we feel about the larry kiss in this chapter? And the closeness between Aurora and Louis, and her mysterious presence at the dock?

Finnaly, what do you think lies in the forest of the Admensiac Island? And what will come out of Louis’ determination to solve the case?

Will they make it out alive? Or will the Lythorn killer win the final battle after all, and the Blokes’ family mystery go unsolved forever….

Remember to comment your theories and predictions my angels!

Gentle reminder there are THREE official chapters of blue ice remaining.

Until next time.

All the love, Louiscarrotsxoxo xxx.

blue ice masterlist link

[rnm-magic-space-xsd]

Ask game questions created by proship-blissbliss ! Your questions are lovely snd sweet and it filled my heart with warmth to answer them! 🌸🫶🏼☺️!

💌 - What pet names does your F/O use for you the most? Which pet names do they like being referred to with the most?

Juju loves calling me Angel, Kitten, Sweetheart, HoneyBunny, Princess!

Juju loves when I call him my JujuBear or HanniBunnyHubbyBear! Because his last name is Han and the base of our nicknames for each other are HoneyBunny.

🌸 - What's their favourite season? Are there any seasonal activities in that time that they like doing with you?

JujuBear’s favorite season is winter, and so is mine! Though we find spring to be a special season for us too!

He loves it when we snuggle under the blankets, whether it be on the couch or in bed, and we just. Enjoy each others’ warmth 💗🥰🥮🥹 as the rain or snow fall outside our windows.

On winter nights we also love waltzing together in the living room or kitchen, after dinner, to romantic music. It’s so precious and heartwarming 🫣☺️🤗🌸🍯🗾🎑🌌 and romantic!!! 😆🥰💞

My Hanni JujuBear also loves celebrating my birthday on December, only a few days before Christmas (on the 22nd of December). Last year we celebrated it by baking frosted sugar and butter cookies together 💗 They turned out super yummy! and held the shapes of hearts, stars and snowmen! Also a few clumsy snowflake shaped cookies 😅❄️☃️🌟🩷.

He also played the piece ‘Once Upon A Dream’ on the piano for me as we sang the lyrics together and I sat on the piano seat with him, swaying from side to side.

After a bit of nudging from me, he mellowed and we played our romantic song playlist on youtube and we clumsily yet joyfully and warmly waltzed together 😊.

Hehe, reading this you can probably tell how much I adore waltzing with my Sweetheart JujuBear!

We also love humming softly to each other and cuddle in bed if one of us has trouble sleeping or had a nightmare or a bad/rough day 🥹❣️💗🌸💞🌺

✨️ - What's the height difference between you two? What are your F/O's feelings on that?

I am 159 cm and Juju is 184 cm, so. 25 cm difference. We both love it! Juju feels strong and protective of me and I feel safe and all fuzzy and warm with him ☺️🍯🥮💜💌 and Juju also finds my short height to be so adorable and precious! Aaaaa!!! I love JujuBear so much!!!! Juju is so precious too!!!! My HanniBunny makes me feel so loved and special!

My HanniHubbyJujuBear is my first and hopefully also my last love. Juju is so important, special and loved. I hope JujuBear knows how precious he is to me too…I’ll always hold my JujuBear close to my heart. I feel like we’re spiritually and emotionally together even when we are physically apart 💗💞💗.

🎀 - Do you/they take the other's clothes often? Which piece of their/your clothes is stolen the most often?

AAAAAAA IT MAKES ME A LITTLE SHY BUT A DAY AFTER JUJU AND I HAVE A SLEEPOVER DATE IN OUR KIGURUMI BEFORE HE HAS TO GO TO HIS SEVERAL DAYS’ LONG BUSINESS TRIP, I LOVLOVLOV WEARING HIS KIGURUMI. IT HAS HIS SCENT AND IT’S SO COMFORTING TwT!

AND JUJUBEAR LOVES TO TALK WITH ME ON THE PHONE WHEN HE FINISHES HIS WORK FOR THE DAY OVERSEAS AND SMELL MY PILLOWCASE THAT HE TOOK WITH HIM 💗💞💗🥹🥰🍯🫶🏼. It simultaneously comforts and excites him. Makes us miss each other all the more x)

😳 - What about your F/O do you find the most attractive?

While I adore everything about my dearest JujuBear, I love his romantic and faithfully passionate heart the most!

🐕 - What animal do they remind you the most of?

Juju reminds me the most of a black cat/black panther or raven 🥰. I am these animals too! (But he is also a wolf and I am also a bunny)

💘 - What was the first thing that made them interested in you?

Juju was first of all attracted to my warmth, gentleness and kindness. Mixed with my wisdom and purity.

But we’ve been together for more than seven years so since then I’ve learned how to be perceptive and sharp minded like him (towards people we can tell have bad intentions against us or people close to us) and JujuBear learned how to face his emotions and express his love, trust and kindness with the people he cares about and cherishes. To open up his heart :’)

[ikehoe]

Whole [Ikemen Prince][Licht x Reader]

[Licht Klein x Reader] [Ikemen Prince][Fluff]

Characters ↬ Licht Klein x Fem! Reader

Rating ↬ T [Fluff]     

Tags ↬ Fluffy goodness 

Warning ↬ Slight mention of depression, slight mention of Licht’s past

Description ↬ You’ve been in love with the sixth Prince of Rhodolite, Licht, for a couple months now. The handsome but sullen Prince never fails to make you feel adored, despite all the inner challenges he goes through daily. With each day that goes by where he’s graced by your presence, he feels whole. That’s how you two end up here, in one of his favourite places in the world, where he’s ready to bear his heart to you. 

Tag List ↬ @and-then-she-died-tm @kpop-and-otome @curious-skybunny @lordsister @aquagirl1978 @kleeps @ikesimp100 @chaosangel767 @rhodolitesroseforclavis @themysticalbeing @violettduchess @atelieredux @randonauticrap

Please fill out this form if you'd like to be included on my tag list. 

Disclaimer ↬ I do not own the rights to Ikemen Prince or any of the Ikemen series games. 

Wordcount ↬ 1.1k

The gentle spring breeze caressed your face, carrying with it the softly sweet floral scent of the season’s first blooms. Your lover continued pulling you deeper into the forest with his large hand grasped gently but firmly around your own. If it had been anyone other than him, you would find this situation odd – alarming, even. But you knew in the depths of your heart that Licht, being the gentle and loving soul he is, would never do anything to hurt you. That didn’t stop you from questioning him about where he was taking you.

“Licht, where are we going? It feels like we’ve been walking for hours,” you asked, your sweet voice giving your silver-haired lover reason to pause. He turned towards you, crimson eyes flashing with a rare mischievous glint, and gods, if his smirk wasn’t enough to turn your legs to pure jelly. He wasn’t one for expressing himself often, so this rare show of emotion was enough to kickstart your racing heart. 

“We’re almost there. Just trust me,” he responded simply, giving your hand a quick squeeze before pulling you through the thickets of the bushes. What lay before the two of you was truly a sight to be seen. The cascading mountains cast stunning reflections against the gently rippling water. The pink, orange, and yellow hues from the sun setting caused everything it touched to bask in a warmth that you could never even imagine experiencing. Not only that, there were swans, actual swans, floating majestically on the water. How your lover had even found this place was a mystery, but all of that soreness and effort you put into keeping up with him suddenly melted away with the glory of this hidden gem.

“Do you like it?” His deep voice, usually so quiet, rang clear as day. The bashful hesitance in his beautiful eyes was more than endearing to you, and you enveloped your lover in a tight hug. 

“I love it. I more than love it. Licht, I’m absolutely speechless. How did you even find a place like this?” 

 In the few months you’d been with Licht, he had shared more than a handful of his secrets with you. The fact that he adored your darioles, how he would chastise the other royals whenever they would say biting things about his beloved brother Yves, how he would secretly keep an eye out for you every moment of the day, how he’d ride off on his horse to distant, untouched places whenever he needed a moment alone. But he didn’t need a moment alone anymore. Now that he had you, he would never spend another moment with his own crippling loneliness ever again. You, with your radiance that nearly blinded him when you two first met, he now found that he couldn’t live without it.

“I actually found it a long time ago. When Nokto and I were still little, we played hide-and-seek, and sometimes I’d take the hiding part a little too far… This was one of the places I found, and I ended up coming back here time and time again as I got older….” He paused briefly and then took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself to reveal the thing he had hidden for so long. “Actually, the first time I found this place, I vowed to myself that I would bring my future wife here… and then everything happened with my mom, and I thought that would never happen to a sinner like me... but then I found you, and I knew that if I didn’t take you here at least once I would regret it for the rest of my life.” 

You couldn’t help the small gasp that left your lips at the sincerity of his words. You two hadn’t talked about it yet, but with how strong your feelings were and how much attachment you felt towards the Prince, you were hoping that discussions of your future were on the horizon. “Licht, does this mea--, what are you saying right now?” You stammered out. You looked up at your lover’s bashful but loving gaze, and a smile began forming on your face before you could even realize it. 

His hand reached out, carefully caressing the soft skin of your face with his rough, calloused fingers. “I mean, I’m not proposing to you yet. You deserve a man who’s whole, happy, and able to give you everything you deserve without ever making you go through any pain because of him… The way things are now, I don’t know if I can promise that to you just yet,” a silence hung between the two of you, and then your lover continued. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not trying my hardest. I guess what I’m asking for is selfish, I know that, but please wait just a little longer for me because I promise to become everything you deserve.” 

You opened your mouth, ready to emphatically agree and promise your lover whatever he was asking for when he pressed a quick kiss to your lips. 

“Oh, and I have this for you.” He reached into his trousers pocket and grabbed a small velvet red box. Then, in one quick motion, he opened the latch on the box, revealing the most stunning bracelet you’d ever laid your eyes on. In the centre of the bracelet was a beautiful, glistening ruby gem, the same colour as Licht’s eyes – a simple but timeless piece of jewelry that perfectly represented the characteristics of your lover. 

Your eyes began glistening with unshed tears as you gingerly picked up the bracelet and allowed him to clasp it around your wrist. “Licht, I’m so in love with you, and I don’t want you to think that you need to change yourself or be better just for me. I think you’re perfect just the way you are, but I’ll be as patient as you need.” 

“I know you feel that way, but you deserve better than me… you deserve someone good enough for you, so thank you for being patient with me. I love you more than you could ever imagine,” he whispered, angling your chin with his thumb and forefinger before pressing another sweet kiss to your lips. 

“Let’s enjoy the rest of our time here. I asked Yves to make all your favourite desserts and picked up some fruits from your favourite stall in town.” And yet again, for the third time that day, Licht managed to surprise you by pulling out a sack of delicious treats that he’d somehow been hiding from you this entire time. For someone who was self-proclaimed as not good enough for you, he sure knew how to treat you better than anyone you’d ever met. 

“You’re amazing, Licht,” you muttered under your breath, settling down beside him on the plush grass. Your gaze looked towards the shimmering water, captivated by the twinkles glistening back at you from the surface. Yet, while you were enraptured by the sight before you, your lover was captivated by the sight of you. 

It was indescribable. Something even more than happiness. Pure contentment and satisfaction were the only things that filled his mind when you were with him, and it was enough for him knowing you reciprocated even the tiniest bit of his feelings. In the purest and rarest form of love, he felt whole, more than he’d ever felt before. And as the sun gradually set, the darkness providing a comfortable blanket over the two of you, emphasizing the radiance of the stars, you two continued basking in each other’s light.  

[shigarakis-cumdump]

Search History Pt. 2

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Shigarakiscumdump/works

(If you like what you read, consider supporting me on Ao3!)

Summary: How long has Shigaraki kept you in this musty room? You miss his face, too. He might be your kidnapper, sure, but he's all you have to talk to, if he'd give you attention..

A/N: Read part 1 here!

Cw: slight toture, stalking/ kidnapping, noncon/dubcon, somno

Word Count: 1.1k 

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*..✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*..✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*..✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

It’s been 2 weeks and Shigaraki still hasn’t let you out of the musty room he put you in. The few times he’s visited you, other than giving you food or water, you try bargaining with him.

“Shigaraki, I’ve missed you so much!! When can I come out of this room? I want to spend more time with you!” you say cheerfully, but you can’t fool him.

“Nice try, sweetheart~ I know the second I let you out of here, you’ll run off to those little heroes and turn me in.” he replies. You’d swear that wasn’t the truth (not anymore, at least) but no matter how you worded it, he wasn’t letting you out until he trusted you. Were these his true colors? All you wanted was some human contact, or even just conversation, if we’re dealing with someone like Shigaraki. You think you developed Stockholm syndrome, but you weren’t sure (although if you question having it, you more than likely do). Every time he came down to see you, your face lit up like a child during Christmas. It would bring him joy, sure, but Shigaraki has horrible trust issues. Who could blame him? It seemed too good to be true that the hero he kidnapped actually likes him. He started to believe his bad thoughts which led to more overthinking, and overall, an angry Shigaraki.

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

“Shigaraki! How was your day? Did you go on any missions?” you beam.

“Don’t sweet talk me, slut. I don’t remember giving you permission.” he states coldly.  Your brows furrow and you say, “I’m sorry.. We’ve talked before, I didn’t realize-”

“I said shut up!” he screams, “Every time you open that goddamn mouth of yours, you always talk about getting out. Why can't you see that I’m doing this for you. ALL OF THIS!”

“What? Keeping me chained up in this room?! You never come down to see me. If you loved me so much like you always boast about, you sure don’t fucking act like it.” you say, quickly realizing the words that came from your mouth. His crimson eyes lock onto yours as he steps closer to you.

“If you won’t shut up,” he says, unbuckling his pants, “I’ll make you.” Shigaraki forcefully grabs your head and pinches your mouth open. Before his cock is even in your mouth, tears are already streaming down your face. You try saying sorry, but it’s cut short by him hitting the top of your mouth with his cock. His head goes back, a low groan leaving him. “Now you’re being useful! This is when I love you the most- when you’re an obedient little slut.” he explains, forcing the rest of himself down your throat, feeling it tighten around him. Your hands were still chained, but the thought of trying to say no to him was terrifying. You gagged on his dick, turning Shigaraki on even more. He has a devilish smirk on his face, using his free hand to wipe the tears rolling down your cheek. “We’ll have plenty of time to train this throat of yours, too. I know you’ll be such a good hero slut for me, won’t you?” he says with a chuckle. You whine, wanting to protest. Shigaraki only slams into your face harder, your nose hitting his navel before his cum shoots down the back of your throat. Once he pulls out, he sits down beside you. “I love you so much, Y/N, I really do.. You just need to see it from my eyes.. I saved you from that horrible world so you could be safe and loved by me. You don’t need anyone else; I promise to make you love me just as much as I love you.” Make you? He was sounding even more delusional from the 1st time he rambled about this. The added bit of force did scare you, though. He may say that he loves you, but he was so unpredictable it’s like you were walking on eggshells.

“I’ll try and do better for you, Shigaraki..” you mumble, hoping at least that will make him happy. He wraps his arm around you and pulls you in. You freeze up at first, but his warmth quickly melted you until you were putty in his arms.

“Good. One day, you and I will live upstairs together, and we can laugh at all the heroes who die because of me.” he says happily, like it was a normal conversation. That thought made you shake a little. You didn’t want to die here, but as long as you obeyed him, he had only love in his eyes. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

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

As the days pass, Shigaraki brainwashes and manipulates you more and more, until he knows you won’t leave him; until you can’t leave him.

“Shigaraki!! Did you get hurt from work?!” you say worriedly, pulling him in for a hug. I saw it on the news! I don’t know what I would do without you, please don’t die on me!” you say, sobbing.

“I made it home didn’t I, kitten? I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, don’t worry..” he reassures you, planting a kiss on your forehead. You sigh in relief.

“I’ll go make you some tea,” you offer, heading to the kitchen. His hand stops you and pulls you back to him.

“All I want right now is you, my love.” he says, kissing you. His hands are stationed at your hips, making you sit on his lap. You can feel him getting hard under you from just kissing. Cute . You try to innocently grind on him, but Shigaraki has picked up on those things by now. “Wanna help me with that?” he asks. You nod eagerly as you unbuckle his belt. His dick springs out from his boxers and your hand gets to work. Shigaraki’s hand is around your throat slowly cutting off circulation. “Make me cum before you pass out and maybe I won’t use you like a ragdoll,” he says with a grin. Your eyes widen and you smile back at him. Things like this turn you on more than ever now. You spit on your hand and jerk him off, watching his face contort into boatloads of pleasure. He bucks his hips up, wanting more friction. You speed up your hand and he tightens his grip. Your vision starts to go blurry, but you really want to make him feel good. Shigaraki suddenly puts all 5 fingers on your skirt and panties, leaving you bare. “Sit up.” he commands. You do so and he lines his cock up with your wet cunt. He pushes you down on it and guides you to go at just the right speed. “Fuck, suck a good slut for me, my perfect girl..” he moans, bucking up into you. Your whines fill the room when he hits your sweet spot, and it makes Shigaraki lose his mind. He stills your hips, filling your hole up with his cum.

“Did you just..”

“Gotta be extra sure my darling won’t leave me, don’t I?”

Notes:

[writertitan]

Sunsets

pairing: levi x f!reader (she/her pronouns used)

word count: 3.3k

themes: a little angsty at first but trust the process, fluffy ending, canonverse, levi is nervous

requested by anon

The first time you felt something was amiss was when you caught Levi scrambling to hide something in his desk drawer as you walked into his office. 

“What’s that?” you asked, more out of slight curiosity than anything else, as you closed the door behind you. 

“Nothing,” Levi responded curtly, and that was the end of it. 

For a moment, you wondered about pressing it, mostly just to tease, but it was forgotten the moment Levi got up and walked towards you to hand you a cup of tea. 

You stole a quick peck from him in the process, his sneaky little moment now completely wiped from your head, and you launched into a summary of your day with your squad. 

Levi listened as attentively as he always did. As you spoke, the two of you ended up leaving his office to take a stroll outside, sipping your teas as you chatted. 

It was no surprise that you ended up where you always did outside. A private spot - the one you’d dubbed your spot with Levi - in a quiet part of base, aware from prying eyes and the constant noise and running around. 

You looked towards the sunset that bled across the wall and sighed in content, clutching your teacup close to your chest as you took in the sight. You could feel Levi’s eyes on you but you didn’t turn to him right away, choosing to admire the warm colors before the sky turned inky. Still, that didn’t stop you from being cheeky. 

“What are you staring at?” you asked with a small smile tugging at your lips. Finally, your gaze flickered to Levi, catching his silvery eyes. 

He grunted a noncommittal response and looked towards the sunset as well, but you saw the faint pink dusting his ears. It made you smile wider, and you hid it behind your teacup before taking one last sip of tea. 

“We should go back inside soon, it’s getting chilly,” you said, and Levi nodded once, his eyes on you yet again when he noticed that you were getting closer to him instead of heading back inside. 

The evening was settling into a cool spring night, and you couldn’t help your desire to snuggle closer into Levi. There was no one around - you could hear the ruckus of dinnertime in the mess hall - which made it the perfect opportunity to find comfort in his sturdy, warm chest. 

Over the years, you’d noticed that your more unexpected advances, like this one, made Levi tense up less and less. The very first time you’d gotten cuddly with him, even in the privacy of his room, he’d frozen up and couldn’t respond. An entirely different Levi from this current one, who easily looped an arm around your middle and nuzzled his nose into your hairline when you rested your head against his shoulder.

“Let’s go back in now,” he murmured against your forehead, and you hummed in both agreement and disagreement. 

It was nice to be like this with him. It felt normal, weightless. You wanted to soak up in this moment forever. 

When Levi pulled away, you whined a little and leaned towards him again, seeking his warmth, but you stopped when Levi set his cup down gently on the grass to shrug out of his jacket and drape it over your shoulders. His warmth and his scent enveloped your senses and you smiled shyly at him, using your free hand to tug his jacket closer around you. 

He took your cup from you and then grabbed his cup from the grass, allowing you a few moments to snuggle up in his jacket and stick your arms through the sleeves. The two of you were settled in a comfortable silence as you walked back inside, straight towards your shared room. 

On the way back you passed by Levi’s office, door still ajar, and Levi asked you to stop so he could finish up a few things and lock it up for the night. 

“Mind taking these back to the kitchen?” he asked you as he gently handed you the empty teacups. 

“Don’t mind at all, I’ll just meet you in our room,” you said, turning back around to leave. 

You turned to look at him over your shoulder before closing the door behind you, and stopped when you saw him briefly peek into the same drawer he’d been so sneaky about earlier, the memory popping back up in your brain. 

Whatever he was hiding, he didn’t take it out, and you didn’t wait around to see if he would. It was probably nothing. 

By the time you got to your shared room, Levi was already there, and the memory was almost to the back of your mind again, to be completely forgotten the moment his lips touched yours. It wasn’t until you were drifting off to sleep, Levi’s hand stroking along your spine, that your mind conjured it up again in a dream. 

----

The second time you felt something was up was when Hange and Levi shut up the moment you stepped into the room. 

Hushed whispers cut off short the moment you walked in, and it was a little irritating. Whatever urgent matter you’d needed Levi for was wiped from your head for the moment, replaced with unease. 

“What?” you pressed, eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Am I interrupting something?” 

“No,” Levi said, a little too quickly for your liking, and you gave him a frown. 

“Then what were you talking about?” 

“Can’t tell you yet,” Hange piped up, which in turn made Levi glare at them. 

You pressed your lips together, trying to decide if it was worth asking for more information, but before you could make up your mind, Hange jumped up from their chair and gave you a bright smile, glasses flashing in the afternoon light streaming through the window of their lab. 

“Well, I’m off! Got lots of things to tend to this afternoon. See you for supper?” They didn’t want for an answer as they hurried past you, leaving you alone with a very on edge Levi. 

You hadn’t seen him this tensed up since you’d first gotten together. It was startling. 

It was scary. 

“Levi…,” you began, but couldn’t find the words. Finally, you decided on, “Is everything okay?” 

He softened at your question, which had come out quiet and clearly laced with worry, and in no time he was in front of you and smoothing some hair from your face. 

“Stop worrying so much,” he answered; his eyes were sincere and calming, and your heartbeat slowly went back to normal when he let you lean into his touch. 

You didn’t dawdle too much and eventually you pulled away from him, giving him a stern look when you remembered what you’d come to find him for. 

“One of the cadets tracked in...horse shit. And he doesn’t know how to clean it up. Honestly, he’s just spreading it around even more. We need you,” you explained, just about gagging even at the very recent memory of the poor boy trying his best to clean before his captain could find out. 

Levi’s eyes had widened the moment you’d mentioned anything about horse dung being anywhere other than in the stables, and then darkened as he processed the situation at hand. 

“This batch has got to be the worst we’ve ever had,” he muttered, referring to your newest recruits. “I think I’m gonna be fucking sick. Let’s go.” 

It wasn’t until you both heard Hange’s bloodcurdling scream that you sprung into action. Because for Hange of all people to get worked up about a mess, it had to be bad. And Levi knew that better than anyone. 

He had never left you behind as fast as he did right then. 

---

Though the sneakiness persisted over the next couple of weeks, what you couldn’t let go of was the way Levi was slowly tensing up again. 

What had you done? Had you done something that had set him off and made him uncomfortable?

Every time you tried to broach the subject with him, Levi was quick to change the subject. Then, for a while, he’d be sort of back to normal with you. He’d sneak a few affectionate touches in private, he’d take an evening stroll outside only for you to end up at your favorite spot, and then you’d feel your worries slip away. 

Only for those same worries to come crashing back when he’d tense up again. 

The final straw was after training, when you’d walked into his office to give him some paperwork, and had caught him pacing back and forth. He looked stressed out and it made your heart hurt for him. 

Apparently, he was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn’t hear you come in. As he turned his head towards the window, back to you, you walked over to place a hand on his shoulder, ready to comfort him. 

The way he cringed away made you stumble back as if you’d been slapped. The pain of rejection spread from your heart to your entire body as Levi whipped around to face you, grey eyes filled with surprise when he saw it was you. 

And then you just couldn’t help it. The tears that filled your eyes couldn’t be stopped, and Levi looked horrified at the sight. 

“I’m sorry-” he started, but you interrupted him with a whispered, “Stop.” 

It was then that the most horrible thought came to you, a thought that suddenly made the most sense. 

“Do you not want to be with me anymore?” you asked him, voice cracking at the end. 

The sneakiness, the tension he radiated, it all pointed to one thing: He was done with you. That had to be it. Just the idea of it made your heart simultaneously sink and beat hard in denial. Your body was just as tense as Levi’s. 

Somehow, somewhere along the way, maybe Levi had decided that a relationship really was too hard. Maybe you’d forced him to be too open. Maybe he was uncomfortable with you. It had taken a long time for him to come out of his shell and truly open up to you, but maybe he regretted it. 

Levi, for the first time ever since you’d known him, looked dumbfounded. 

“What are you talking about?” he asked, but your heart sank at that. 

Answering a question with another question. A telltale sign that he was avoiding the answer. 

“All of your sneaking around, Levi! You’ve been acting so different lately and I guess I get it now,” you said, voice still wobbly as the tears threatened to fall. 

Realization dawned on Levi’s face then, but you didn’t wait around for whatever he was about to say. You’d thought that maybe Levi had just needed some space before. Now it was you who needed space. If he was going to call things off, you needed a bit more time to prepare yourself. 

You left despite Levi calling out for you, tears finally trickling down your cheeks as you desperately tried to hurry off and find somewhere to calm down. 

You pushed yourself into the first supply closet you could find and locked it after you, settling down in the darkness as you wiped at your continuously falling tears. 

Maybe you were jumping to conclusions, but something was just different about Levi lately. And to have him tense up like that, when he hadn’t done so in such a long time...it hurt more than anything else. Even the thought of him not being in your life sent shots of panic through you. 

But you couldn’t face him just yet. You’d have to sort it out soon with him, whether you were right or not, but the fear and insecurity ate away at you in that supply closet. 

One thing stood out though, as your tears subsided. 

Levi would never intentionally hurt you. He wanted you to be safe, to feel safe, like you made him feel safe. 

And, the most important thing you had to remember, was that you loved him. And you weren’t willing to throw it all away without doing all you could to repair whatever needed fixing. 

You had to be brave. You owed it to Levi to be brave, even if you were about to hear something you didn’t want to hear. 

So, after a deep breath, you dusted yourself off and slowly left the closet, quiet and a little anxious as you headed back to his office. 

Your footsteps were the only sound as you made your way down the hall. Nobody was around and, as you got closer to Levi’s office, you couldn’t hear him inside. 

Peeking your head in, your suspicions were confirmed when you were met with an empty space. You quietly shut the door behind you and looked around, as if Levi would randomly appear. 

The silence was uncomfortable. Though much of your time spent alone with Levi was in silence, it was comfortable and perfect, and made you feel as if you could continue on that way forever. But just you here in his office with Levi nowhere in sight, with only silence to accompany you, made you feel cold. 

You sat at his desk and sighed, rubbing at your face for a moment before leaning back in his chair and contemplating what to do next. Should you just wait for him here? 

But when your eyes flickered to the desk drawer that had started the first bouts of unease in you, your mind blanked. 

It was unlike you to invade Levi’s privacy. And truly, whatever he’d pushed into that drawer must have been taken out by now, right? 

But you were acting so unlike you today. 

Part of you felt bad to be opening up the drawer to peek inside, but the other part of you just needed to know, and needed to find answers. 

There were a few documents in there that looked standard, but the folded up piece of parchment at the back caught your attention immediately. 

You carefully pulled it out and shut the drawer, heart thumping as you unfolded it to look at the contents. 

Ring? 

At morning? At night?   at sunset, our spot

Write a speech

Memorize the speech? 

Or maybe just ask her Too aggressive. Say something romantic first asshole

Ask Hange for help on what to say even if it makes you want to die 

Be confident

Would she even want to marry you? 

Be confident

Where at first your heart had been pounding, it had suddenly skipped a few beats when you realized what you were reading. 

Levi’s normally neat and beautiful handwriting was more erratic here, with ink blotting through and so many things scratched out.

But even so, your eyes fell back to the word you couldn’t believe you were reading. 

Marry.

He wanted to marry you? 

And he was actually questioning if you’d want to marry him? 

All of your previous worries suddenly seemed so stupid. You felt so stupid. You’d jumped to conclusions, and your conclusion had been the complete opposite of what was going on. 

And now you had to find Levi. 

---

The best part about being with Levi for so long was gradually figuring out his thought process. And you knew, judging from how you’d taken off earlier, that Levi would try to think like you and run off to find you in the places where you’d most likely go to calm down and seek comfort. 

Definitely not a supply closet. 

Your feet guided you outside and you felt like you were on autopilot as you strolled the grounds, slowly making your way to yours and Levi’s spot. 

When the sight of him came into view, him sitting on the ground and leaning against the wall of the building, your heart fluttered and you breathed out in relief. 

He whipped his head in your direction once your footsteps could be heard coming towards him, and the conflicted expression on his face melted away at the sight of you. But at the sight of his little secret clutched in one of your hands, his eyes widened and a faint blush spread over his face. He got up quickly, hesitating for a moment before stepping towards you. 

“I’m sorry for going through your things-” you started, but were cut off by Levi pulling you into a tight embrace. 

“I do want to be with you,” he whispered in your ear, pulling away after a moment to look at your face with the most gentle gaze. He briefly nodded toward the parchment in your hand, looking even a little shy as he met your eyes again. “I want to be with you for as long as I’m allowed to be. But I was so busy being nervous about asking you that I didn’t realize I was acting like an asshole. I’m sorry. You deserve bett-” 

Your lips were on his before he could finish. 

Levi had the annoying habit of thinking you were too good for him. But now, it looked like you could spend the rest of your life proving to him that he was exactly what you deserved. 

When you pulled away, you beamed at him, tears sprouting in your eyes again. This time, of pure happiness. 

You turned to look at the slowly disappearing sunset and laughed a little; it was just how Levi had tried to plan it. 

Still, he looked flustered as he pulled you closer. 

“This wasn’t exactly how I wanted it to go, I don’t even have a ring yet,” he whispered, but you shook your head and cupped his face, pressing your forehead to his. 

You just wanted to hear the words. 

“This is perfect,” you assured him, and it really was. He could have asked you at any moment, ever, and you would have thought it was perfect. “Just ask me. I just want you to ask me.” 

Levi cleared his throat awkwardly, which made you giggle, but it died down when his thumb danced over your jaw sweetly, and you felt his words ghost over your lips when he finally spoke. 

“Will you marry me?” 

[kohakuarisaka]

Untamed (chapter 3 of 5)

Takami Keigo x (fem!)Reader

[ SUMMARY ] Every year, without fail, Hawks went into a rut: when autumn began, and then again in early spring. He would honker down up north in a secluded cabin. For the first time, he brought you with him.

[ WARNINGS ] R18+ for graphic sexual content and language. Non-canon compliant: Hawks’ quirk does not work like this. Reader is a hero that works at Hawks agency. Pre-existing relationship. Reader is a female with female genitalia. Feral behavior. Rutting. Biting. Spanking. Slight BDSM. Consensual sex. Wing kink. Oral sex. Romantic relationship.

Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5

[ My BNHA Fanfic Masterlist ] ~ [ Also on my AO3 ]

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"Baby," a voice cooed at you while hands gently shook your shoulders, stirring you from sleep.

"Come on. Get up. The sun's gonna be rising soon," he continued, speaking to you softly.

You groaned like a wounded animal and tried to resist the pull to consciousness, hoping you could slip back away and he would cease this assault.

Of course, that didn't happen, and the murmuring and shaking didn't come to an end. You found yourself turning around and groggily taking in the sight of Hawks. He already looked wide awake, gold eyes beaming, skin glowing, handsome face as immaculate as ever.

It made you want to punch him.

"Get up," he said, more so telling than asking, albeit politely.

He had warned you last night that he intended to wake you early; but, that didn't stop you from groaning tiredly, rolling over, as if in protest, before complying with his request, removing the blanket slowly, afraid to expose yourself to the cold.

He had stoked the fireplace before waking you; that much was clear, seeing as it wasn't blistering cold when you wiggled out of bed. It was chilly, of course, but not enough to leave you trembling helplessly.

You realized that Hawks had already dressed himself, boots thumping quietly on the floor as he stepped around the bed. He had slipped on a grey T-shirt, and didn't seem to be feeling cold at all, judging by the lax way he rolled his shoulders, wings jutting out from his back gracefully.

He gave you a sideways glance, an almost untrusting look written across his face.

"I'm getting up!" you hissed at him.

Hawks wasn't expecting that sudden outburst and flinched a little, eyes widening slightly and feathers shuddering behind him. It was a comical sight, if you were being honest. It wasn't like him to be so high strung.

Before you could assume you had upset him, Hawks blew raspberries and turned away, heading for the stairs.

When he walked away, you most certainly did not admire the way his cargo pants hugged his ass, nor the way his shirt was pulled tight across the plains of his muscular back, nor how his crimson feathers looked so beautiful draped behind him.

Hawks didn't laugh when you met him downstairs; but, he sure looked like he wanted to. Here he was wearing some loose, comfortable clothes like it hadn't snowed all night, while you were dressed up in thick pants and a heavy coat with multiple layers underneath, ready to weather the elements.

As soon as you stepped downstairs, you were hit with the familiar smell of coffee lofting about the cabin. You recognized the aroma as his favorite, the one he stockpiled at the agency, that was almost always coming from his office.

He had taken the time to pour you some, as well, evident by the mug he was trying to hand to you with a suspiciously innocent look on his face.

"Seriously?" you laughed when you eyed the receptacle he was offering.

It was his merch, clearly. The mug was black with sparkly gold trim, the pattern matching the chest on his jumpsuit . It was covered in comic book style quotation marks containing, what you were guessing, was supposed to be his quotes.

Hawks watched you admire the cup, looking a little too smug for his own good, and returned to sipping from the very plain mug in his other hand.

"Do you really say these things?" you laughed, not expecting an answer because there was no way such nonsense flew from his mouth in the middle of a fight.

"Aheh. 'I am speed'," you read aloud with a scoff. "More like, 'I do speed'," you teased with a grin, catching the way he almost choked on his coffee, shoulders trembling with laughter.

"Who the hell approved these?" you added on.

"The hero commission, I think," Hawks replied, shrugging his shoulders a little.

The coffee, of course, tasted great. He bought the expensive, high-class stuff, after all. Hawks was the only person you knew who could sleep in the dirt with his visor skewed across his face, without a complaint to be had, but refused to drink anything but imported, specially grown coffee beans.

He was ushering you out the door the second you were finished with your coffee, pushing you out into the snowy forestscape, hands grabby and wings fluttering anxiously.

Before you could shudder and complain about the cold, Hawks scooped you up into his arms, kicked the door shut with the heel of his boot, and took to the sky.

You couldn't believe he was out here without a jacket on. Your fully covered arms clung to him for dear life, shivering and trembling in the cold. He wasn't flying particularly fast; but, the winds felt punishing, ice cold biting at your cheeks and seeping in through your clothes.

You were too cold to really appreciate the beauty of the forest covered in freshly poured snow. The glistening, white peaks sparkled like something out of a fairytale in the dimly lit morning light.

"Come on, babe," Hawks cooed, turning his head to blow hot air right on your ear.

Well, no wonder he wasn't cold. It seemed to make sense to you, then, why he went into his rut during these times of the year. He was generating enough heat to be a transportable furnace.

"If you keep clinging to me like that, you're gonna miss the view," Hawks uttered, so close that his lips moved against your skin as he spoke.

You peeled back from him, away from the warmth you were desperately trying to steal. He hadn't stopped flying yet, but slowed down a bit.

"O-oh..." you whispered, taking in the snowy wilderness.

A few miles past the cabin's backyard was a cliff that dipped down into rolling mountains. He had flown overhead, granting a wonderful view of the many acres of untouched wilderness, towering trees and lush forest landscape over rolling hills and mountains.

But, Hawks hadn't dragged you out here at the crack of dawn just to see the snowy landscape. He wanted you out here right at sunrise for a very specific reason.

He had made it just in time for the sun to peak out from the horizon line, like a giant glimpsing through the trees on the mountain top.

The sun was shining a mystical light across the mountains. The overcast clouds were dark purple gliding across crystal clear, blue skies. Rays of red sunlight glided through the trees while gold laid out across the piles of snow like a glistening blanket.

"See?" Hawks murmured, his flight coming to a halt.

He hovered, fairly high up, wings flapping gently, arms still wound tight around you, holding you close. There was a gentle breeze brushing through his hair, causing the feathery strands to tickle at your cheeks.

While you were looking at the landscape in awe, he was staring at you. The sunlight lit up your face and reflected heavily on your eyes, making them glow like crystal orbs. You had finally stopped shivering, too in awe at the sight to notice the chilling bite of the wind.

He didn't say it aloud; but, the most beautiful thing in the sunrise was you.

He liked to tell himself that the rut was making him mushy, emotional. Surely, powerful pro-hero Hawks couldn't be this soft? But, he knew his rut was only amplifying what he already felt so strongly.

His rut made him less inhibited, surfaced darker, feral desires that lay in waiting under layers of discipline he had spent most of his life building.

Even without his rut, you had a power over him he couldn't deny, the power to break him, to peel back the masks he wore, to melt away his self-control, until he was reduced to a desperate animal.

Oh, but the beauty of it all was that you loved that side of him. You had proved to him that you loved every side of him, even the parts that he tried so desperately hard to ensure would never see the light of day.

Even if he could blame his desires on his mutation, that didn't change that he was an assassin, for heroes, yes, but a murderer none the less.

You-

-you knew that, and yet, still, those soft hands held him as if he was untainted. You purred beneath his touch as if those weren't the same hands he had used to kill.

"Keigo?" you hummed.

Just like that, there you were again, freeing him from the torment of his own mind, a lifeline to free him from drowning in the ocean.

"Thank you for this," you uttered, turning your head to look at him.

God, he was beautiful. His gold irises were amplified by the sunlight, like shiny coins in a wishing well, taking in the sight of you shamelessly.

The bird-like curve of his eyelids already gave him a mystical appearance, now further illuminated by the rays of light shining down from above. The wind was blowing, tossing his already frazzled hair in a senseless dance.

The bright red plumes that made up the shape of his wings looked like something out of a dream. In the sunlight, the feathers glowed magnificent crimson, glowing in sharp contrast to the pale white, wintery landscape.

Your hands, that had been gripping his shoulders during the flight, wove up the back of his neck, fingertips touching the trimmed hairs there. You felt his hands tighten where they were holding you, his arms weaving tighter, as if he could get you closer.

"Do you like it here?" Hawks uttered softly.

His tone concerned you a little, as if he was sincerely worried that you were a prisoner here.

You smiled, replying, "it's the first time we've gotten to truly be alone. I'm enjoying myself more than you think."

His gaze softened at your words. A couple of your fingers played with the soft, short hairs at the top of his neck. He felt unbearably warm there, skin slightly damp with sweat. It was startling, considering how cold it was outside.

You felt the soft brush of his lips and let your eyes flutter shut. He was slow, careful, like he was tasting something new and delicious for the first time.

When he pulled back and tilted his head, you felt the faintest drag of his chin across your cheek, felt the fine hairs of his beard tickle your skin.

He hadn't shaved in a couple weeks, leaving you to see him in a mess than most didn't get the honor of. The normally neatly trimmed hairs he shaved down to a fine patch on his chin were now covering most of his jawline, the same beautiful, pale blonde as the hair on his head.

Tantalized, you leaned in, nuzzling your cheek against his jaw, before tilting your head back and feeling the drag of his soft beard against your skin. It felt good, maybe a little too good, and you failed to suppress a quiet gasp.

When you had pulled back far enough to catch his gaze, you immediately realized his eyes had changed. The calm was gone; now, something akin to a storm was brewing underneath.

It was a look you were very familiar with.

He let out a low exhale, as if he had been holding his breath. Your name fell from his lips, low and sultry, a warning, or a curse, and it made you shudder.

Hawks tilted back suddenly and started a sharp decent downward. Having flown together many times, you weren't afraid. The arms around his shoulders tightened and you let out a soft gasp, but more so out of surprise than fear.

His wings fanned out and took him sharply soaring through the trees at a speed much faster than he had brought you here. His grip on you was almost painfully tight, as if his fingers were trying to dig past the fabric of your clothes to get to your skin.

Excitement made you forget about the biting cold, the forest around you distorted almost violently. Suddenly, the cabin door was creaking and then being slammed shut. You hadn't even seen the cabin come into view. Everything felt like a daze.

He flew up to the loft and dropped you unceremoniously at the edge of the bed. The tumble had resulted in you facing away from him; but, you could feel his eyes burning through you.

"Take off your clothes," Hawks commanded, his voice oddly polite despite the nature of his request.

Just as soon as you started working your jacket off, he was kneeling to pull at the laces on your boots. He was strangely gentle when he pulled your shoes off, less so when he tossed them aside. As you worked your shirt off, he pulled your pants and underwear down in one fell swoop, leaving you mostly bare and cold.

You rotated around and leaned up on your elbows, catching his cold stare, indicating that you were not done yet. You peeled your socks off, feeling a rush of excitement at the look he was giving you.

Hawks usually wore a kind, harmless face, not that it was unnatural, for he truly was a good person. However, most could easily forget or be blind to how powerful he was.

Now, in his gold eyes, that was what you saw, the reality that he could take whatever he wanted, when he wanted. You didn't have to be reminded, for every sparring and training session did just that: you couldn't best him if your life depended on it.

Still, Hawks wasn't that kind of person. He was the kind of loved, often times so passionately that you feared you couldn't keep up.

Even now, when his hands took hold of your waist, his body language dominating, wings spread wide behind him, you felt loved.

An amused sound, like a hum, rumbled out of his chest as he carefully maneuvered you around.

You were compliant, letting him roll you around and push your chest down into the bed. The hand on your back was gentle, but commanding, fingers splayed wide in the space between your shoulder blades.

Instead of nudging your thighs with his hands, a boot-clad toe poked between your ankles, commanding you to spread your legs, which you did with a low moan. You leaned up on your toes, presenting to him like an animal.

The sight threatened to send him into a spiral, and you felt his clothed body fall over you, pushing you down into the bed.

His wings flapped once, sending a sharp gust of wind spiraling around the room. There was a painfully obvious contrast between the soft texture of his shirt and the rough texture of his pants.

He made it very clear, with a roll of his hips, that he was ready to take you. The feeling of his clothed erection against your sex, combined with the knowledge that he could just slip right in without preamble, had you mewling.

"You like this," Hawks observed, the words like thunder as they rolled off his tongue.

He retreated, suddenly reeling back and standing behind you, warmth leaving along with him.

"You like when I just take?" he asked, accentuating 'take' with a smack to the back of your thigh. It wasn't hard enough to hurt, but it did manage to startle a yelp out of you.

"Yeah," he uttered lowly, agreeing with his own observations. "You like being Hawks' little plaything," he continued, almost purring the words.

Your delirious brain didn't really know what to expect next. When you heard a thump, you had no idea what to make of it, until you felt breath on your skin and realized that was the sound of Hawks' falling onto his knees behind you.

He didn't waste any time diving in, lapping a heavy tongue across your slit, from top to bottom. His hands gripped your thighs, keeping you still while his tongue breached your entrance.

If his enthusiasm and lack of grace wasn't enough, the rumbling sound he made was enough to make it obvious he liked it.

You couldn't fathom that your taste could possibly be that good; however, you didn't dare comment, especially not when he was doing things with his tongue that shouldn't be humanly possible.

A rough smack to your behind startled you from a delirious daze of pleasure. You yelped quietly, but otherwise remained compliant. When he smacked you again, this time growling faintly into your sex, it was clear he wanted something that you weren't delivering; but, you didn't know what.

"K-Keigo, what-" you whined, breaking off into a howl when he smacked you again.

Normally, such a touch would have you instinctively shriveling away; however, his grip on you was tight, and it kept you still.

Hawks smacked you again, you helplessly cried out, again, and the sound faded into moans that you couldn't possibly contain with what he was doing. You started to wonder, when another smack was delivered, if he was just doing that for his own amusement.

Eventually, he stopped and leaned back, rising to his feet. His hand slid over yours, large palm practically swallowing yours, and guided it back to your sex. You rotated a little, angling your body to follow his movement.

"Feel that," he gently commanded. "How wet and warm you are for me."

You heard the floorboard creak as he leaned back, clearly to get a good view. You did as he requested, immediately driving two fingers into yourself. Sure enough, you were slippery, walls compliant and squishy, and unbelievably warm inside.

Being ready for him with little provocation wasn't exactly a new thing. You were both very busy heroes and keeping your relationship on the downlow. That meant quickies more often than proper time together.

Yet, Hawks sounded immensely pleased; with himself or with you, you couldn't quite tell.

He returned to the floor, hand brushing your knuckles to push your fingers in as deep as they could go.

"Keigo, what are you-" you began, cutting off when his tongue returned to your heat, right alongside your fingers.

"Finger yourself," he told you, sounding oddly blissful despite the fact that you hadn't touched him at all. His cock was still trapped inside his pants, throbbing against the rough material.

You complied with his request, lacking in any grace or proper friction considering the awkward angle. However, Hawks groaned in approval at the view before leaning back in.

His tongue dipped in right alongside your digits. Immediately, he forced the pace and you were desperate to try and keep up, fingers squelching in and out of your core alongside the slobbery mess of his tongue.

Your fingers couldn't compare, lacking in the length, thickness and dexterity of his digits. But, it seemed that Hawks was less focused on getting you off and more focused on playing with you; or, maybe, you had severely underestimated what the taste of your essence was doing to him.

At some point, he pulled back, grabbed your wrist to remove your fingers from your core, and sucked them into his own mouth. You weren't expecting the teeth, and let out a low hiss when his fangs threatened to pierce the skin, holding you firmly in place while his tongue sucked your fingers clean.

He didn't release your hand when he was done. You heard the floorboards creak as he stood up, felt him tug your hand down, until your knuckles brushed his clothed cock.

"You want that?" Hawks breathed.

His free hand gently spread over the space between your shoulder blades, pushing you down before you could dare think to lean up. Your cheek was resting against the sheets, hair spewed about in a mess. His hand wandered, pushing hair out of the way until your neck and shoulders were properly exposed.

From where you laid on the bed, you couldn't make out the sight of him; but, you could see one of his wings, stretched out, looming predatorily.

"Yes," you replied hoarsely.

His hand glided over the prominent bump where your first vertebrae jutted from the top of your spine, and lowered, setting between your shoulder blades once more, where he held you still.

"Then, take it," Hawks uttered, his other hand releasing your wrist.

You let out a low hiss, wanting to curse him for making such a ridiculous request. You couldn't see his face; but, you sure as hell could feel the smirk he was wearing as he stared at you, watching your handle fumble with his belt.

You doubted it was mercy; but, Hawks leaned in closer, the tops of his thighs sliding over the backs of yours, making it a little easier to undo his belt buckle.

The button on his pants followed, but not with ease, before you tugged his zipper down. You couldn't tug his pants down like this, leaving you to fumble around with his boxers, trying to fish his cock out.

"Keigo, you fucking ass-" you growled, not bothering to hide your frustration.

Hawks laughed softly, sounding a little more out of it than he did amused. "'m sorry," he cooed. "-like seein' you struggle."

The slur in his voice should have given it away, his patience had depleted; however, it still surprised you when he suddenly swatted your hand away. He hooked his thumb on the hem of his boxers and pulled them down just enough for his cock to bob free.

You felt the smooth tip nudge at your entrance, the faintest warning, before he pushed forward and entered your moist heat.

"Ohhhh fuck," Hawks howled.

He gave you no time to become accustomed to the sudden intrusion, immediately pistoning his hips back and forth, driving his cock in and out of you.

One hand pinned your torso, while his thighs pinned your legs, and his other hand gripped your hip for leverage. You shifted your feet, trying to lift up on your toes to better the angle, and bumped against his boots.

He was still fully clothed; and, really, that shouldn't have mattered so much. After all, how many times had he freed his cock from his jumpsuit to take you quick and hard before tucking it back in and immediately looking as if nothing nefarious had occurred. Yet, still, the realization had you feeling dizzy.

Before you could nudge a hand between your thighs, something beat you to it. You recognized that bizarre texture. It was soft, sure, but a tad bit pricklier than a normal feather, with an unnatural, firm touch. The little heathen knew exactly how you liked to be touched there, too.

The wet, lewd noises of your union, skin slapping together, was drowned out by the litany of moans pouring from his mouth. If he wasn't crying out in ecstasy, he was huffing and puffing like he had just ran a marathon.

If you were being honest, he was being just a little too rough, a little too fast, offering you no reprieve. You didn't doubt that he would stop if you asked him to; but, you sure as hell didn't want him to. The intensity of it all had you on a plain of existence you rarely got to experience, where pleasure became blinding and mind-numbing.

His hand slid off your back and onto the bed, grabbing a fistful of the sheets as he set a brutal pace, the kind that threatened to unravel your sanity.

"Fuck! You feel so fucking good," he growled, sounding so out of breath and lost. "Gonna fill you up. Yeah, I am. Want my seed dripping out of you all fucking week."

High off the pleasure, and maybe a little influenced by his own state, you moaned approvingly at the suggestion.

"Baby," he whined, suddenly sounding like he was in pain. The feather fluttering against your pearl intensified, practically vibrating against you with how fast it was moving.

"Need you come, need you to come," Hawks pleaded, the words hissing out from his lips between desperate pants.

You didn't think you could come in that moment. Everything felt so good, from his cock rearranging your insides to his feather flicking at your clit. The pleasure was tingling down your thighs and crawling up your spine. You could barely breathe, let along process a coherent thought beyond Keigo.

The hand that had been holding your hip let go and joined the other in gripping the bed. He arched over you, forehead meeting your back.

"Come for me, come for me," Hawks sobbed.

You realized then, as he trembled behind you, that he had reached his own completion, and he didn't slow down until his orgasm waned. You could feel his seed, like molten lava as it filled your insides.

Hawks was still panting when he growled, "again."

He flipped you over, winding your legs over his waist and somehow managing to keep his cock seated inside of you during the transition. Your arms flopped uselessly above your head. You felt weak, laying there like a doll while he turned you over. Still, it felt good: his cock, his hands, his warmth.

One of his arms looped beneath your lower back and tugged you properly onto the bed. He climbed onto the sheets and followed, dragging you beneath him.

He was prepared to continue thrusting into you wildly and blindly chase another orgasm when your eyes met and he froze up. You could practically see him blink away delirious arousal, the sight of your debauched face bringing him back to his senses.

"B-baby, do you need me to stop?" Hawks offered, the words falling from his lips so weakly.

You huffed out a weak breath and reached for him. He leaned down, letting you wind your arms across his shoulders. Your fingers dipped across his clothed back until you reached his wings.

Hawks literally shouted when your fingers dipped into the exposed seams on the shirt and touched the baby feathers growing fresh from his back. The sound rattled your bones and made you jerk from the startle.

He didn't have to be told twice, obviously, for Hawks continued his thrusting immediately. The slippery, wet sounds of his claim over your body was downright disgusting, and you loved it. Your legs clung desperately to his hips, heels digging into the backs of his thighs.

One of his feathers was still pressed against your clit, now trapped between your bodies. It had stopped moving; but, every time he thrust back into you, it created delicious friction.

Your assault on his wings rendered Hawks incapable of speech. The pleasured sounds he made was almost unnatural. If you didn't know any better, you would have thought he was in pain between the broken, blabbering moans and choked, sharp gasping.

His arms were still wound beneath you, holding onto you for leverage and clinging to you so closely, so tightly, it was almost crushing. His wings were arched up high, flapping occasionally as if to increase the momentum behind his thrusts.

His face fell into your throat, forcing your head back into the sheets. He was burning hot, practically oozing sweat. In the corner of your eye, you could see the red tint staining his ears. You could practically feel his frustration gnawing its way through his body and into yours.

Without warning, you felt what couldn't be mistaken for anything other than Hawks' teeth piercing the skin of your neck. Sure, he had bit you before, even left faint hickies on occasion; however, this was something else entirely, and forced a scream from your throat.

You had no doubt he had pierced the skin, judging by how it burned. He was growling into the skin, holding onto you with his teeth as if you were attempting to flee. You didn't dare release his wings, fingers woven through the fine plumes, caressing the sensitive skin of his shoulder blades, where crimson feathers grew.

The bite hurt, without a doubt, but there was no denying the electrical shocks of pleasure it sent through your body. If it wasn't that, then it was the growls vibrating from his mouth onto your skin.

Suddenly, your orgasm hit, and left you screaming and gasping with a sort of ferocity you didn't think you were capable of. Something that sounded almost like his name fell from your lips at some point. Your back arched and your legs trembled where they rested around his hips.

You failed to realize he was following closely behind you. Your grip on his feathers had gone limp and you didn't notice the way his wings arched up, the tips of the longest quills nearly touching the ceiling. He kept going and going, until he was spent and your cries of ecstasy came to a halt.

Hawks let go of your throat and leaned up, removing his arms from beneath you to set his palms on the sheets. He should have felt embarrassed or ashamed or something. But, looking down at the bleeding bite wound on your shoulder, watching the way your chest heaved with heavy breaths, seeing the tint of red along your cheeks and neck, he felt blissfully proud.

Hawks scooped you into an embrace and carefully rolled onto his side, bringing you in with him and cradling you against his chest. One of his wings fell over you, the plumes stretched wide to hide you from the outside world. All you could see was him, his handsome face, the crimson feathers of his wings.

You were acutely aware that he was still inside you, still somewhat hard; but, his temperature was lowering and his breathing was steadily returning to normal. Your fingers untangled from his plumes and came around to rest limply on his chest.

He lapped his tongue softly against the bite wound until it stopped bleeding before peppering it with kisses. It stung a little and you squirmed in his grasp.

"I'm not sorry about the bite," Hawks confessed lowly, leaning back to look at your face.

"Me either," you replied, offering him a weak smile.

He looked blissfully unaware until you leaned in and sucked some of the skin of his neck into your mouth. Hawks groaned approvingly, laying still until you were satisfied and let go, leaving behind a faint, purple bruise.

You stared at his handsome face, watching the vibrant, red blush slowly leave his features as he calmed down. Blonde locks were clinging to his sweat soaked forehead and everything between the two of you reeked of sex. Yet, you couldn't bring yourself to complain when he looked so damn happy.

Hawks leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss against yours lips. Before he could retreat, you tilted your head and leaned in, not letting him escape. He hummed into the kiss, letting you lead until you were content and departed with a wet smack.

"Just a little bit longer," he promised, fingers gently digging into your back.

"Tell me what you're thinking," you requested, nuzzling your nose against his.

Something uncertain flickered in his gold eyes and his lids narrowed slightly.

"It's not sensical," he uttered lowly, and you felt one of his hands slide around to your front. His thumb lovingly brushed along the dip of your tummy, beneath your belly button. His gold eyes shifted down, staring at the expansion of your naval with dedication.

You both had implants. It wasn't going to happen. He knew that. Of course he did. But, he couldn't help but feel dedicated to commit to the effort, as if it would.

Your hand followed his, spreading over his fingers to press him down gently over your lower abdomen, as if this would be successful, as if there was a chance he would take. The encouragement to put him ease.

Hawks wanted to believe it was the rut talking. Some of it was, his body deliriously driven to mate, to the point that he overheated and arousal pained his core. But, his motivation wasn't purely biological. It was because it was you, whom he trusted with every fiber of his being.

But, he couldn't bring himself to tell you that. You loved being a hero, and he wasn't going to take that from you.

It felt special, being hidden with him like this, beneath his wing, whispering such depravities to one and other, that the rest of the world would never know. You felt safe, in a way that felt impossible. Here, as irrational as it sounded, you felt like Hawks could protect you from the world.

[khaotic-kitsunes]

Adventures at Sunset

So, this wasn’t a request at all. I’m just, really trying my best to get SOME kind of writing done and the past few days I’ve been thinking of Tamaki a lot and yeah...so, please let me know what you think? It’s been like, five fucking months since I last wrote smut.

Soooo, yeah, let me know what you think and enjoy the merman Tamaki!

Also, maybe click the navigation...send in some reqs? Dragon au has my interest currently but, anything is welcome.

Navigation 

Cheeky Kitsune 🦊💋

.

 “Hey, Tamaki…”

 .

 Tamaki hummed faintly in curiosity from beside you as you stared up at the night sky, cold ocean water lapping gently at your skin while you floated peacefully beside your closest friend. It still felt unreal to you, how you had befriended a merman; such a shy and awkward one as well. However, you had known him for nearly an entire year at this point, such novelties should have worn off by now.

 “You’re being really quiet tonight” You frowned slightly at your own words, moving so that you were in front of the now fidgeting octopus merman; watching as his cheeks took on the loveliest shade of cherry red. Though why he was so embarrassed seemed to escape your notice.

 “I don’t think I’m being that quiet” You raised an eyebrow in response to his soft mumble, swimming around him until you were able to embrace him from behind; taking your perch on his back while he stuttered beneath you, turning his head to look at you as if it would help him figure out why you were currently climbing him like he was your very own playground.

 “You reckon? I’ve heard rocks say more than you have in the past few hours…we’ve been floating in silence since sunset and it’s starting to get boring!” You pouted, shuddering when two of his tentacles moved to wrap around your arms; keeping you steady on top of him. Yet another thing that you weren’t used to, his tentacles.

 They could move like they were arms; they were strong as well, but having them against your bare skin was something else entirely. You weren’t sure if you enjoyed it, or if it simply freaked you out, so for the majority of the time; you avoided having them against your skin, always doing your best not to offend the anxious octopus.

 “Sorry, I was just thinking” Tamaki looked away from you as you spoke, prompting you to rest your chin against his shoulder; trying your best to get a good look at his face. You weren’t the best at reading people’s emotions, but you were always willing to give it a go.

 “About?” You reached up as you questioned his silencing thoughts, poking your finger against the surprisingly warm skin of his cheek; squishing it until he let out a quiet grumble of protest.

 “I’m not gonna be able to see you for a while” He frowned down at the water’s surface while you blinked in surprise, leaning over his shoulder to get a look at his expression; curiosity already eating away at you. You loved your nightly swims with the awkward octopus beneath you, if they had to stop then you wanted to know why and for how long.

 “You can’t come here anymore, okay? Not til Summer…” Tamaki continued speaking, lifting his head to look at you before a startled noise escaped him at the close proximity between your faces; his lips having brushed against your own with the heartbreaking information.

 “But…Tamaki…” He shook his head, his tentacles wrapping around your body and removing you from his back. Instead, depositing you in the water in front of him while he tried his best to avoid your inquisitive gaze.

 “No buts, don’t come here until Summer. Okay?” He managed to glance at your face as he spoke, watching you for the briefest of seconds before suddenly, he was gone. The only sign that he had been there in the first place was the ocean’s surface bubbling from the movement of his lightning-fast escape; leaving you swimming there alone. Confused as to why you couldn’t see your friend for such a long time and frustrated at the lack of explanation.

 .

 ~  ~  ~

 .

 You groaned out softly, reaching up to rub your head as you tried to sit up into a more comfortable position; a dull ache already settling in the back of your head while you attempted to figure out what had happened to you. The last thing that you could remember, was that you had gone to the beach at sunset, looking for your favourite octopus.

 Technically, he had told you not to show up during Spring, but it was only two weeks into the season when you had decided you couldn’t go that long without Tamaki’s company.

 “You’re awake…!” You blinked in surprise, looking towards the worried-looking merman that sat in the shallow part of the water; a few of his tentacles spread out over the damp rocks that littered the ground. Apparently, the two of you were beneath the large jetty that was located near your meeting spot. It made sense to you, given that it was so dark beneath the structure that any passer-by wouldn’t be able to see the two of you; it was as if you didn’t exist to the rest of the world.

 “I…yeah, I guess so. What happened?” Tamaki grimaced at your question, looking away from you while you moved to crawl towards him, the sand crumbling beneath your weight as you did so; causing you to partially sink down, too wet to actually support the movements that you were trying to make.

 “I’m sorry, it was my fault…this is exactly why I told you to stay away until Summer!” Tamaki groaned out the complaint, reaching up to tug at his hair while you managed to land a hand on one of his many tentacles; shuddering at the way it curled around your arm, practically yanking you up against his chest.

 “Tamaki, I don’t understand. What happened? How is this your fault?” You frowned as you mumbled out the questions, gently pressing a hand to his chest in an attempt to put some space between the two of you; his body too hot to be against currently. You already struggled not to stare at him on a good day, but the warmth that he currently provided was in no way helpful to you. It simply made you want to get closer to him.

 “Spring is…it’s basically mating season for merfolk (Name), it gets hard to think clearly. So, when you got in the water and I saw you…” He trailed off as his tentacle pulled you closer, Tamaki’s face now buried against your neck with his laboured breath sending shivers down your spine. An entirely new experience for you.

 “Ah…I remember…” You trailed off, your eyes going wide as you recalled the way his tentacles had dragged you beneath the water’s surface. They had curled around you in places that had made your head spin, refusing to let you go and apparently causing you to black out.

 “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry (Name)…” Tamaki trailed off, his arms snaking around your waist as he leaned into you more; the sudden shift in weight causing the both of you to go crashing back, Tamaki landing on top of you and pinning you to the wet sand below.

 You groaned out softly from the impact, squirming beneath him to try and regain some form of steadiness so that you would be able to get out of the embarrassingly intimate position that you had landed yourself in.

 “Don’t…!” Tamaki bit out the demand in a low groan, causing you to freeze beneath him, eyes wide as you lifted your gaze to meet his hungry one; heat rushing to your cheeks. The usually shy and timid man above you, was now a hot mess and you, well you were the poor soul trapped beneath his starving gaze.

 “Do you…understand why I told you to stay away now?” Tamaki spoke in a hushed voice, leaning down until your noses were touching; his lower half pressing down against your body and leaving you completely trapped. It was because of that, that you shook your head silently, gulping at the low groan that escaped the man above you; finding the sound a little too attractive.

 Before you could think of anything else to say, Tamaki’s mouth closed over your own. His lips rough and demanding against your own while the tentacles attached to him began to wind up around your legs; a hesitant tip pressing up between your thighs and rubbing against your bikini bottoms, pulling a cry from your startled form.

 Tamaki took it as an invitation, his hot tongue pushing into your mouth and enticing you into a foggy headed war. Oxygen seemed to be declared unnecessary while your body leaned up against his own, surrendering yourself to the soul-stealing kiss.

 “I tried to warn you…” Tamaki groaned out the words quietly, trailing a series of kisses down your neck while his hands explored your vulnerable body; practically swallowing you whole as you tried to regain your breath. Cheeks flushed with your head spinning. It was amazing what a simple kiss could do to you.

 “I didn’t want to scare you away…!” He bit down on your nipple through your bikini top in his frustration, causing you to cry out his name breathlessly. The very sound encouraging his exploring tentacles to slip beneath the cloth of your bikini bottoms, rubbing up against your slick-covered folds firmly; Tamaki desiring more of your noises.

 “Tama…ki…hold on…” You moaned out the words softly, squirming beneath him while he began to travel lower, his lips practically scolding hot against your skin the lower he went; a needy whimper escaping you when his tentacles removed your bikini completely, allowing Tamaki’s mouth to close around your sensitive clit.

 .

 “I can’t. I told you.”

 .

 You moaned out as his tongue worked against your clit mercilessly, his hands grasping at your thighs desperately; pulling you closer to him while his tentacles moved higher on your body, wrapping around you and rubbing against you until you began to turn into a squirming mess.

 “I’m not saying stop, I’m saying hold on!” You cried out loudly, curling your toes when his tentacles suctioned against your nipples the same time that he flicked his tongue against your clit firmly; sending a jolt of pleasure throughout your body.

 You whined softly, leaning your head back as he paused his ferocious advance on your body; taking the deep breaths that you needed. It was a lot to take in all at once, especially given the treatment that he was giving you. You had no time to think, to consider what this would mean for the two of you.

 “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you…” You mumbled out the words in a whisper as Tamaki moved back up to look down at you, his head hovering over your own once again while he licked his lips; a look of curiosity reflecting back at you.

 “But…is this really just because of Spring?” You closed your eyes as the question left your lips, squirming beneath him when you felt his tentacles move against your body; embracing you and exploring you all at once. Such a strange feeling.

 “Spring is when we breed” You pursed your lips at his confirmation, frowning up at him as you opened your eyes. Even though you had expected that to be his answer, it didn’t make it hurt any less; you had wanted a different answer, one that you likely wouldn’t get.

 “But usually, I hide away in my cave, where no one else bothers me.” Tamaki leaned down to place a kiss on your cheek as he spoke, smiling faintly at the shocked look that covered your face.

 “…I told you to stay away, but I still came here to wait for you…” He admitted with a hesitance that sounded so much like his usual self, you couldn’t help but reach up to poke his cheek; a quiet giggle slipping past.

 “For two weeks?” He nodded in response to your question, making you gasp out loudly with a simple grind of his hips; his previously concealed dick now rubbing up against your folds, throbbing and dribbling precum.

 “Do you want me?” He whispered out the words nervously, burying his face against your chest while you squirmed beneath him; the sand beneath you almost as uncomfortable as the desire that your anxious octopus had stirred up.

 “Mm, I want you.” You hummed out the words he was oh-so-desperate to hear, gasping out his name when the hands on your thighs tightened, holding you still while he buried every inch of his aching cock into you; stretching you around him and filling you more than you had previously imagined possible.

 His hips moved harder than you could keep up with, your body bouncing up and down with each thrust while his mouth trailed over your chest and neck, covering you with harsh bites and tender kisses.

 “Tamaki…! Oh my go—mmph!” Your eyes widened as one of his tentacles invaded your mouth, stuffing it and pushing deep inside to silence your too loud moans. Even though no one could see the two of you beneath the jetty, they could still hear the two of you and apparently, Tamaki wasn’t going to allow the two of you to be busted.

 “Shh, you can moan as loud as you want later, when no one can hear us” Tamaki mumbled out the words, groaning low as he continued to fuck you; every now and then grinding up against you and making you whimper around the tentacle in your mouth, tears building in the corner of your eyes.

 With each of his thrusts, he was managing to hit your sweet spot and those slow grinds were pure torture to you; a constant stimulation that your body couldn’t keep up with.

 .

 “You sound so good…”

 .

 You gagged around his tentacle when it thrust deeper, coughing and choking on desperately needed air the moment it removed itself from your mouth; allowing you only a moment’s relief before it was once again shoved back down your throat.

 “You’re squeezing down on my dick…do you like that (Name)? Choking on my tentacle?” Tamaki groaned the question into your ear as his hips bucked uncontrollably, his teeth sharp against the cartilage of your ear when he bit down; causing a muffled cry to escape you.

 You moaned around the tentacle in your mouth when Tamaki’s thrusts grew faster, his rhythm going out the window the closer he got to his release; yet another tentacle moving to join the mind-blowing pleasure as a familiar heat began to build up in the pit of your stomach.

 You gagged violently when the tentacle began to move against your clit, matching the pace of Tamaki’s thrusts while you tried your best to keep breathing through your nose so that you wouldn’t pass out from a lack of air.

 “(Name)…I’m nearly…” Tamaki moaned into the soft skin of your neck as your body arched, a muffled scream escaping you while your orgasm rocked through your entire body; making your walls clench around Tamaki’s throbbing cock.

 It was enough to push him over the edge too, if you were to go by the way his hips slammed up against your own; his body going tense as your name left his lips in a shaky groan. Tamaki’s thick seed filling you with each slow roll of his hips, the tentacle against your clit and the tentacle in your mouth retreating so that you could catch your breath and recover from the earth-shattering orgasm that you had the joy to experience.

 “D-Damn it…next time, take us somewhere else first…!” You whined out the complaint, reaching up to rub your sore throat while Tamaki mumbled apologies from above you; his face a dark crimson red.

 .

 “I’m sorry, I really am…don’t worry, I’ll take us somewhere else now…!”

[sageyrage]

Warm Hug

Mentions & Implications: This is a Bakugou x Fem!Reader fic. This is part of the BNHAREM collab. This month is all about our favorite blasty boi, Bakugou! Also I hope all of this makes sense. I wrote this in many parts over the past few weeks and I'm eternally distracted. So while I normally spell check and grammar check everything, this fic did not receive any of that lol. No warnings really unless you count language because let’s face it, this is about Bakugou and according to fandom, he curses. But since this a fluff, I kept it to a minimum. Also, I really suck at fluff, so if you actually like this, please let me know. I could use the serotonin and dopamine.

He watched her glide on water and come sliding to a stop, spraying water in the villain’s face. For the first time he was starstruck. How had he not noticed her before? They were in the same class together. They graduated together, right? Surely he’d trained with her at some point. So why was today the first day he actually SAW her?

She felt eyes on her. Cold, calculated, crimson. Her breath hitched and she almost lost her footing if it weren’t for the fact she remembered she was in the middle of apprehending a criminal. After the handoff to police, Y/N wondered if it actually happened. Did he really look at her? Did he finally notice her after all these years? A side glance from behind her shades told her that yes, he was most definitely looking at her.

He was angry at himself for not remembering. Affirmations about you from Kirishima solidified that you were there. You’d always been there. You’d been quiet, while he’d been loud. You’d been slow and steady, while he rushed ahead. He had Mina speak about you. She eagerly complied and caught him up on everything that made you-you.

“Did you really forget about Y/N being in our class? She hung out with everyone!” Mina laughed.

“Not with me. Tell me more about her.” He filled out paperwork as Mina chatted on, while on the opposite side of the building, Kirishima was having the exact same conversation with Y/N.

“It’s disheartening that he’s just now noticing that I exist. But that’s okay. He’s been hyper-focused on trying to be #1. No one should fault him for that.” Y/N played with the hem of her shirt before sighing and picking up the sandwich on her plate.

“He’s still a good guy, Y/N. He’s just never been good at socializing.” Kirishima took a bite of his food and downed it with a gulp of lemonade.

“Oh I know. It’s okay. I’ll just keep watching him from afar. I don’t want to give him a reason to lose his focus.

/*-+-*/

He watched her in the office. She gave him side glances on patrols. They would discreetly help each other while taking villains down. And then one Winter day he asked her to train with him.

"Oh! Oh sure, that sounds like fun!" He and Y/N made their way to a nearby facility and lost themselves in a few hours of teaching how to support the other with their quirks.

/*-+-*/

"I wanna ask her out on a date, but I don't at the same time."

Kirishima looked at his friend with confusion. "You know it's obvious that you two like each other, right? I mean... literally everyone can see it. You two spend almost every waking minute with each other. What's stopping you?"

"I really like her. I don't wanna scare her away." He rose from his place on the couch and frustratingly ran his fingers through his hair as he made his way to the oversized window.

/*-+-*/

"Can I borrow this? Mine got ripped to shreds when a villain fought me on my way home the other night." Holding up a black sweatshirt, Y/N waved it in front of Mina's face. Mina blinked in thought before breaking out into laughter and nodding. Y/N slipped it over her head, inhaling the faint scent of smoked caramel. “Thanks! I’ll keep it until I can get another one!” With a sly smile, her pink alien friend waved her off and told her not to worry about it.

The cold wind was sharp on her face when she pulled the hood over her head and inhaled. The scent calmed her like a warm hug as she hurried home. Thoughts of a spiky haired man invaded her mind, making her already pink cheeks burn. She loved the man since their first year at UA. He never looked her way, never knew she existed. But she watched him as they faced trials and tribulations as a class, as individuals, and now as heroes. What made him finally look at her? She entered the dark apartment and kicked off her boots in favor of the memory foam bunny slippers, sighing as she shuffled to her room. She fell against the pillows and plushies on her bed and fell asleep still wrapped up in the black sweatshirt, a smile on her face as visions of Bakugou invaded her dreams.

/*-+-*/

“What’s so funny?” Y/N tilted her head, looking at a giggling Mina as they entered the doors of the agency.

“Oh nothing!” Mina sang as she skipped into the room. Bakugou was already stationed at the coffee pot, glaring at it as if willing it to drip faster with the black gold. A side glance stilled his heart for a fleeting moment when he saw Y/N walk in. All smiles and sunshine next to her friend. Then he saw it. Bakugou couldn’t help but notice the familiarity of the pullover. There was a certain tear by the pocket with a singed edge. “Where did you get that sweatshirt?”

She hugged herself in the oversized sweater, “Mina let me have it, why?”

“It’s mine.”

“Oh. … OH!” Shrugging off the garment hastily, she folded it over and offered it to him, “I’m so sorry, Bakugou! I had no idea!” Keeping her eyes down, she heard a soft ‘tch’ and a shadow moving away.

“Hurry up and get changed so we can go train.”

She watched him walk away, and heard stifled laughter behind her. Turning to see Kirishima and Mina huddled together at a corner table, Y/N walked up to her friends and hissed, “What is so funny? He’s clearly upset that I have something that belongs to him!”

“Oh sweet summer child, you really are clueless, aren’t you?” Pinky beamed and grabbed Y/N’s hand. Kirishima shook his head and laughed, “He really likes you!”

Stars lit up in Y/N’s eyes as she turned in time to watch Bakugou turn the corner. “He...likes me too?” Still clutching the pullover in her arms, she quickly followed after him, only to see him enter the locker room. Turning around, she noticed the door to his office was open. She entered his room and left the sweatshirt on his desk before leaving to get ready to train.

/*-+-*/

Hours later, Bakugou walked into his office, narrowing his eyes at the black bundle on the desk. He picked it up to examine it when soft notes of jasmine and vanilla wafted up to his nose. He narrowed his eyes and tucked the shirt under his arm as he took a folder into his other hand and left the agency.

The entryway of his home lit up when he turned the key and opened the door. Kicking off shoes and padding down the hall, he deposited the jumper and folder onto the table before unwinding for the evening. Once evening chores, dinner, and paperwork were all caught up, it was time for bed. He started for his bedroom when he spied the hoodie on the table. Gingerly picking it up he took it to his bedroom and slipped into bed. Cuddling the garment close, he inhaled the vanilla jasmine scent, and all thoughts of Y/N consumed him as he fell asleep.

Bakugou walked into the agency the next morning and took notice of Y/N wearing a new sweatshirt in an ombre gray. Scoffing to himself, he poured himself a cup of coffee. “...look better in black.”

Y/N turned at Bakugou's mumbling, “Hmm? Did you say something?”

“I said you look better in black!” Narrowing his eyes he gave her a severe look and stomped out of the room to his office, slamming the door behind him. He never did see the small smile and blush that crossed her features.

/*-+-*/

Weeks of lighthearted flirting turned into months, and the cool morning of Spring kissed Y/N’s skin as she walked into the lounge room of the agency rubbing her arms for warmth. He was already pouring a cup of coffee when she came in. He cocked an eyebrow and scoffed. “It’s not even cold outside anymore.” He watched her sunshine smile as she stepped near him, only to open the refrigerator door.

“It is to me!” Y/N blushed as she hid her face on the other side of the door, before pulling out a bottle of orange juice and retreated to her office. A bundle in black was draped over her chair. It was the hoodie she had returned to Bakugou months ago. She turned the covering over her arms, the scent of caramel and smoke filling her senses, a smile of giddiness on her face.

“Just tell him already!”

Y/N jumped to find her pink friend leaned against the doorframe. “Mina! I-I can’t do that. He’s got to focus, remember? I don’t want to get in the way of him trying to achieve what he wants the most.”

Mina crossed her arms and shook her head. “You’re so dense sometimes, Y/N. He gave that back to you. He clearly likes you. And you! Your cheeks might as well be permanently pink, and you have hearts in your eyes! Everyone in this building can see how in love you are. I’ve been talking to Kirishima and he agrees with me. We’ve been watching you two flirt for a long time, and it’s agonizing! And you know what? He’s scared of asking you out. He’s afraid to run you off. You’re going to have to be the one to do it. You’re going to have to ask him out.”

Floored by the new information, Y/N sunk into her chair, clutching the hoodie close to her heart. Her mind faltered and unable to form words, she stared dumbly at her best friend. “But- I… He’s scared of running me off?”

/*-+*/

“You just left it in her office? Why didn’t you just give it to her? Everyone in this building already knows you like each other! Be manly and just tell her already, bro!” Kirishima exclaimed, zipping up his duffel bag. “You know what? If you don’t go ask her out, I will. I think she’s pretty cute and I bet we’d have a great time at this new ramen shop that just opened across the street.”

A low growl emanated from the explosion hero, “Don’t you dare.” Still in his hero uniform, Bakugou stormed out of the locker room leaving his best friend to snicker and shake his head.

/*-+-*/

Hearing a familiar stomp down the hall, Mina gleefully smiled before moving aside to allow Bakugou to enter. “I’ll see you later Y/N! I expect a call or text soon!” Mina shut the door as she waved her goodbye, leaving both heroes to stare at each other, their voices trapped from shyness.

Remembering the sweater in her arms, Y/N rose from her chair and slowly walked toward the tall blonde. “You left this for me?”

“Yeah.”

“Are we sharing this hoodie now?”

“I’m letting you borrow it. It’ll keep you warm better than that crappy one you had. It’s going to be cold tonight when we go to the ramen shop across the street.” Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned away in an attempt to hide the slight blush that formed on his face.

Eyes enlarged with disbelief, Y/N brought the pullover up to cover the astonishment expressed on her face and mumbled, “We? Are you asking me out on a date?” Gazing up at the man before her, she couldn’t help but notice the tips of his ears were turning red. He didn’t look at her when he nodded, but once the bells of her happy voice rang out, he turned and couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

/*-+-*/

*15 YEARS LATER*

“Remember I’m going to be late tonight because Todoroki is holding a study group at his house! Hurry up Harumi, I don’t wanna be late to school because of you!”

“Sorry Raiden! Bye Mom, bye Dad! Love you!”

The door slammed and all was quiet. Y/N stuck her thumbs through the torn holes in the sleeves and started clearing the table when she heard the door of the bedroom shut. Picking up a cup of leftover orange juice, she brought it to her lips when two arms snaked around her waist and she felt a kiss on the back of her head.

“You still have that? It’s worn all to hell. Let me get you a new one.”

Y/N glanced at him mid sip. Smiling into the cup, she finished her drink, her other hand lovingly patted her husband’s arm. Finishing her drink, she wiped her mouth on the sleeve. “A new one? But this is my favorite! I plan on wearing it until it completely falls apart!”

Rolling his eyes, Bakugou peppered Y/N’s face with kisses, ignoring squeals of laughter and the playful pushes against his chest. “Move so I can help you with the dishes before we head to work.”

/*-+-*/

Filing paperwork was the best way to wind down after a long day of apprehending villains. Huddled over her desk Y/N was writing up the last report of the day when the door to her office swung open and her sweaty husband swaggered inside. She narrowed her eyes at his appearance.. Was he wearing a new pullover?

“Just got done going for a run. You ready to go home yet?” Bakugou removed the hoodie, a hint of his waning abs peeking from under his shirt. “Tch. Put those eyes back in your sockets, woman.” Holding out his hand to a giggling Y/N, he pulled her away from the desk and against him for a quick hug before leaving hand-in-hand from the agency.

A sudden breeze blew against the two, causing Y/N to rub her arms. In a side glance, she saw her husband putting on the sweater.

"Sharing is caring, now give me the sweatshirt!"

“Hell no! You chose to not bring your old piece of shit hoodie even though I said it was going to be cold tonight. Suffer the consequences, ya brat.”

“Please sweetheart? I know I should have listened this morning, and you’re right of course. I’m just so cold. You don’t want me to get sick, do you?” Her sugar sweet words twisted around his heart as she gently wrapped her arms around him and tilted her head up and batted her eyes in a most heartfelt manner. Bakugou glared at his wife and paused before grunted his displeasure. With a sigh and an eye roll it was all over. The man scoffed and shook out of the sweatshirt and slipped it over Y/N, pulling the hood over her head.

Face flushed red, the towering blonde pillar looked anywhere but at her. “Dammit woman, why do you do this to me? Next time listen to me and don’t be so stubborn. You’re lucky I love you.”

Enveloped in the warm hug scented of woodsy caramel, she pulled the oversized sleeves over her hands and cupped the tall hero’s cheeks and turned him to face her, “I am the luckiest girl in the world, aren’t I? Thank you for my new hoodie. I love you.”

Lowly growling at the woman before him, Bakugou cocked a brow before breaking out into a smile, shaking his head. “You’re ridiculous, woman, tricking me like that. I love you too. Now let’s get home and have some quiet time before those brats get home.” Putting his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her against him and felt Y/N’s arms wrap around him. He smiled against her hooded head as she giggled and together they walked, their steps in sync toward home.

[heroloverangel]

Cloud City

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled filth for some surprise Sad Boy Hours.

You’re six years old when Oboro Shirakumo drops into your life. Quite literally, in fact.

It’s your first day of school, and you’re terrified. Your family only moved to this city a few weeks ago, and you haven’t had a chance to meet any of the other kids in the neighborhood. So here you stand in the school yard, shyly watching from behind a tree as your new classmates play together. You’re lonely, but too nervous to approach them. Your tiny mind is on the verge of a breakdown and you can feel the sting of tears in your eyes. “Don’t cry,” you whisper to yourself. “I’m not a baby, don’t cry.” You sniffle, but your train of thought is interrupted by the sound of a twig snapping above you.

There’s a boy floating on a cloud several feet over your head, one hand grasping a branch to keep himself steady. “Hi!” He grins down at you, and you look back with wide eyes. “I’m Oboro! Wanna be friends?” You gawk up at him; you’ve never seen a quirk like that before. Even his hair looks like a fluffy cloud in the breeze. 

“Okay,” you agree after a few more seconds of confused staring. Your new friend gives you a thumbs up, immediately loses his focus, and the cloud dissipates underneath him. Both of you scream as he comes crashing to the ground, landing on your back. You’re rewarded with some impressive scrapes to both your knees, and him with both his front teeth knocked out. You’re inseparable from that moment on.

You’re the best of friends through elementary, but things begin to change once you hit middle school. It’s cute when you’re six and happily tell your parents that you’re going to get married when you grow up. It’s just awkward when you hit puberty and start to discover that your feelings for your best friend suddenly aren’t so cute anymore. The two of you grow apart with separate friends and different interests, but still make it a priority to walk home together every day. 

“High school admissions are due soon,” he points out during one of these walks. It’s been storming all day, and the two of you huddle under the same umbrella in a half-hearted attempt to stay dry. He’s hit a growth spurt over the years and towers above you now; it’s hard for both of you to stay out of the rain if you’re not nestled suspiciously close together. “You figure out where you’re applying yet?”

You shrug, stepping wide to avoid a puddle that he ignores. “Probably just Endor. It’s close, and they’ve got a pretty decent reputation.” You nudge him with your shoulder. “You’re going for UA, right?”

It’s never been a secret that Shirakumo wants to be a hero, and there’s no doubt in your mind that he’ll be great at it. He stops walking and you look at him, surprised to see his expression so discouraged.. “Yeah, of course. You’re not? Their general studies class is supposed to be one of the best, too.”

You glance away. “Too much pressure, I think. And it’d be hard, going to school in a different city where I wouldn’t know anyone.”

“You’ll know me.” You’ve both had a grip on the umbrella, but now his fingers wrap tightly around your hand and squeeze.

“Oboro…” You’re not used to him having such a serious look on his face, his eyes wide and unblinking as they stare into yours.

“Come with me.” It’s not an order, it’s a plea, and your chest feels tight at the thought of disappointing him. You swallow hard and nod. It won’t hurt to apply, you think. You probably won’t even get in.

Shirakumo pushes a stray strand of hair out of your face and leans down to press his lips against yours. Your first kiss isn’t perfect; his neck is bent at an uncomfortable angle to make up for your height difference, your nose bumps awkwardly into his as you shift, a car drives by too fast and splashes both of you with frigid water. Still, when he pulls away his smile is as warm and bright as the sun. You’ll gladly follow him to UA. You’ll gladly follow him to hell and back if it makes him happy.

He’s accepted into the hero course without a problem, but you make him promise that he’ll go even if you fail. You’re more shocked than anyone when you open the envelope to find an acceptance letter welcoming you to UA, and you finally allow yourself to feel excited. You’ll be going to the best school in the country, and you’ll be there with your favorite person in the world. For the first time you won’t be in the same class, but you’ll still be close enough to watch him reach his dreams. 

The first few weeks of high school are a whirlwind of chaos before you settle into a routine. You have to be at the train station before dawn; every morning Shirakumo meets you outside your house, still half-asleep and groggy as you walk. You split something simple for breakfast most days while you ride. When you’re lucky enough to find two open seats together, you can manage a well-deserved nap slumped against each other’s shoulders. Your classes are tough but with enough effort you manage to do well once you form a study group going with the other girls in your class. They’re friendly, and they’re both impressed and jealous to learn that you’re already dating a hero student. They swoon when he appears at your side on the first day of school to buy you lunch, and you can’t help but gloat just a little at your good fortune.

The hero course is even busier than general studies, and you don’t get to see much of your boyfriend during school hours. It’s nearly a month into the term before he catches sight of you at lunch again and practically sprints over, flanked by two classmates you recognize from the stories he’s told you on the ride home every day. “Guys,” he grins and throws an arm around your shoulder. “This is my girl! The one I’ve been telling you about.” Your heart skips a beat at being called his girl, and knowing he’s been gushing about you to his friends. Yamada’s a bright, loud ball of energy when he introduces himself, while Aizawa barely mumbles his name and looks like he’s been dragged over against his will. They both seem nice, and you’re happy he’s found some good friends to work with.

Everything goes surprisingly well for your first year at UA, and your second seems like it’ll be just as good. It’s late one night, several months into the school year, when you’re woken by a tapping at your bedroom window. This isn’t the first time Shirakumo’s snuck you out of your house, but the window gets harder to crawl out of every year and you’re glad that graduation isn’t too far off. “Hey, come look at the stars with me. They’re really pretty tonight.” It’s not like he needs to give you the excuse, but you can see he has a point.

Ten minutes later you’re laying on a cloud together, floating a few feet over the power lines in your neighborhood. It’s cold up there, and you cuddle together for warmth as you watch the stars overhead. You know more about the sky than him, and he’s happy to listen while you point out a few things above you. A chilly breeze blows through your thin pajamas and makes you shiver, and he pulls you in closer to share his heat. “Was all of this just an excuse to get me alone up here?” You laugh, kissing his smiling lips.

“Not all of it,” he jokes with a smirk. “We’re past the halfway point this year already. Just one more, can you believe it?” You curl up close and listen to him chatter about his big plans for the future. You’ve heard this all before; he’s always so excited about the idea of opening that hero agency with Aizawa and Yamada. “I figure we’ll do the sidekick think for awhile, work up some solid experience, y’know? Then it’ll be smooth sailing when we break off on our own after that. Four, maybe five years?” You nod, running your fingers through his familiar fluffy hair. “And then once things settle with the agency, we can get married if you want,” he announces with only the faintest blush betraying his nerves.

“Oboro, what?” You bolt into a sitting position, gawking at him with wide eyes. Sure you’ve thought about the future you might have together, but the two of you have never talked about it before. “You can’t just spring that on me out of nowhere!”

He folds his arms behind his head, totally unconcerned. “It’s not really out of nowhere, is it? You know I’ve been in love with you since we were six, right?”

This boy is ridiculous. “Me too, but still! Isn’t this a little sudden? There’s so much more to talk about if you want to get married.”

He shrugs. “Like I said, it won’t be for a couple of years. We’ve got plenty of time to talk it over.” He grabs your hand and pulls you back down to rest your head against his chest. “I’ll wait for you, as long as you want.” You stay like this for a few minutes, mulling the proposal over in your head. “Just think about it for a couple years, okay?”

Slowly, you nod. “Okay.” You’re already warming up to the thought of marrying him. You’re seventeen, and you’ve been together for eleven years now. You can give him another five. Or ten. Or fifty, if that’s what he wants. In your heart you already know you’ve decided on an answer, and you murmur it into his ear later as he’s helping you climb back through the window into your bedroom. He’s beaming with happiness as he kisses you goodnight and flies off. You’re too giddy with love to sleep the rest of the night.

If you’d known what was coming only a week later, you never would have said goodbye. He promised to call you after his internship the night before, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’d fallen asleep instead as soon as he got home. You’re not worried until he doesn’t show up in the morning to walk with you, even after you call him twice with no answer and wait until the last possible minute to leave on your own. You arrive at school just as the final bell rings, and it’s a bit of a relief when you catch a glimpse of Aizawa looking even more tired than he normally does. They must have had a really tough time on their patrol, you assume, and Oboro just decided to take a well-deserved day off.

Your day is uneventful until lunch, when you hear your name called to the office. The principal sits there with your homeroom teacher and the counselor, all of them looking grim. A lump forms in your throat; you’ve got no idea what you could have done. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. We understand that you’re particularly close with Oboro Shirakumo from the hero class.”

You nod. “Yeah, we’re dating. Um, actually we’re kind of engaged now, I guess?” Your stomach drops at the sad expressions facing you. “Did...did something happen? I haven’t seen him all day. Is he hurt?”

Nothing in the world could have prepared you for the answer. “He was killed in an encounter with a villain yesterday. I’m sorry for your loss.”

You want to argue, insist there’s been some mistake, but the words don’t come. A sudden sense of numbness sweeps through you as it sinks in, and it feels like everything within you shuts down. Your brain doesn’t process the voices offering you sympathy and compassion. Your lungs refuse to take in air. You’d swear that your heart itself stops beating in some attempt to defend itself. You’re not even aware of your movements as you stand and leave the room while your teachers are mid-speech. You need to get out of there. You need to be alone. You need to breathe, but you can’t. You’re on autopilot as you rush down the empty hall, if you can get up to the roof there’ll be fresh air-

Completely blinded by your grief, you collide hard with another body and almost fall before hands grab your shoulders to steady you. “Sorry,” you gasp through the lump in your throat. “I just-” You blink back your tears and stop when you recognize him. Up close, he looks even worse than usual. His eyes are red and hollow, the dark bags under them could pass as bruises. It’s obvious he hasn’t slept all night, you can practically feel the exhaustion radiating off of him. “Aizawa,” you croak, your voice cracking on the syllables. He doesn’t say anything, only gives your shoulder a squeeze, and something inside you completely breaks.

“Oboro, he’s...” is all you can manage through your tears. You fists ball into Aizawa’s jacket as you sob against his chest, and he doesn’t stop you. He knows there’s no comforting you; the only thing he can do is let you use his shirt as a tissue while you mourn. You’re vaguely aware that a bell rings to resume class, but you ignore it. You can’t bring yourself to do anything except cry until there’s nothing left, and he stands there holding your shoulders to keep you upright. It’s the best way anyone can help you right now.

An eternity later, you wear yourself out. Your throat feels raw, your eyes are burning, and your fingers hurt from the grip you’ve had on his uniform. “Thanks,” you manage out, and he nods silently. He’s not the most exciting, but you’ve always liked Aizawa’s calm personality as a match to your boyfriend’s unstoppable energy. Your own emotions are a train wreck, and you don’t think you could handle being around anyone else after that news. “I’m glad he had you,” you muse out loud.

“Thanks,” he says awkwardly with a shrug before fixing his wrinkled jacket. “You should get back to class.” Aizawa walks off before you can think of anything else to say.

You don’t go back to class. The other students have noticed something’s off, and rumors are beginning to spread around campus already that there’s a new, empty space in the hero course. You grab your bag and head for the exit as fast as you can, ignoring everyone else along the way. You spend the rest of the week at home; your parents allow it once they learn what happened. It’s a struggle to get through the first month without Shirakumo’s presence hanging over you like a cheerful little cloud, and the rest of the year doesn’t get any easier. Your friends do their best to console you, but it’s a losing battle when you feel his absence every minute of your day. It’s all too familiar, too easy to see the missing piece that’s been a part of your life for so long. You transfer to Shiketsu for your final year, where no one knows about Loud Cloud and you aren’t stuck going through a routine that’s been irreparably broken.

It’s an uphill fight. You force yourself to do well in school, because it’s what he’d want for you. You throw yourself into work and establish a good career, because it’s what he’d want for you. You make yourself move past your loss and date other men, because it’s what he’d want for you. By the time you’re 31 you’ve got a divorce under your belt, a sad excuse for a social life, and a cat with fluffy white fur; you loved him the moment you laid eyes on him. You’re not entirely satisfied with how your life has turned out, but it could be worse. You can go entire weeks now without thinking about him. Sometimes you wonder what kind of life the two of you would have, but you try not to dwell on those thoughts. 

You’ve had the day off and have spent it happily lounging around the house. You treat yourself to lunch and settle on your couch to watch a movie with your beloved cat when an unfamiliar number pops up on your phone. You answer without a second thought. “Hi, if you’re out of noodles, I can just get rice instead. It’s fine.”

There’s a beat of silence before the man confirms this is the correct number. You don’t immediately recognize his voice, but you’re sure you’ve heard it somewhere before. “I’m not with a restaurant. This is Aizawa, from...from UA, when we were younger.” You can tell he’s choosing his words carefully, and he continues. “We need to talk. It’s about Shirakumo.”

It’s surprising how hearing his name is enough to reopen wounds you thought healed years ago. You swallow nervously, fresh dread pooling in your gut. You can hear how hoarse your voice is when you answer. “Okay. I’m off today, if you want to meet.”

You’ve got a very bad feeling about what you’re about to learn.

[blackacre13]

Hugs-19 please

19—hugging with hands in each other’s pockets

“I’ve missed this,” Debbie sighed, her head resting in the crook of the blonde’s neck as she let out a low chuckle.

“I don’t know if we’ve actually ever done this,” Lou smirked, gesturing to the bubble gun.

“Down!” Debbie spoke suddenly as the two squatted to the ground, nearly banging their heads together as they let out a stream of giggles before settling to the ground, sitting back against the wall with a sigh as they waited for Rose.

“Well, we’ve done all we can.”

“Think she can do it?” Debbie asked, looking out at the traffic thoughtfully.

“No,” Lou smiled as Debbie shot her a look of bewilderment. “I know she can, Debs.”

“Scared me for a second, Miller.”

“Had to get my fun in there somewhere, didn’t I?” Lou winked, offering a hand as she made to stand. “Where to after this?”

“Should have the afternoon pretty much to ourselves to do our own planning and coordinating,” Debbie shrugged.

“Hacker, hands, jewels, and fence, right?” Lou thought, blowing into her hands. The air was unseasonably cold for the spring, them both still donning jackets meant more for fall as the wind whipped around them.

“Right.”

“I can cover those first two, no sweat,” Lou decided.

“Excellent,” Debbie hummed, visibly shivering as another gust of wind blew through them, whipping their hair in front of their faces.

“Cold?” Lou asked, as if she hadn’t been feeling the chill herself, only concerned with the brunette.

Debbie gave her a silent nod, her hands shoved in her pockets as she looked up at Lou.

“Come here, honey,” Lou whispered, pulling her into a hug, as Debbie let out an awkward half-squeak, half-gasp at the embrace, still not used to being able to do this. Being able to touch Lou. Feel Lou.

The blonde squeezed her tight, rubbing against her back for a few moments as Debbie hummed happily beneath her, her head tucked against Lou’s chest as she tried to sneak her face into the lapels of her coat and rest her cheek against her blazer, sighing at the smell of familiar cologne and the distinct lack of whiskey and cigarettes that used to couple it.

“Better?” The Australian murmured as Debbie nodded, returning the hug as she wrapped her own arms around Lou, sinking into the familiar feeling of warmth and comfort between them.

“So much better,” Debbie whispered, feeling Lou’s hands dip into the pockets of her coat, seeking their own warmth as she kept hugging her tight, refusing to break the connection between them. The brunette followed suit with a small smile on her lips at the secret cuteness of Lou as she tucked her own hands in Lou’s coat pockets, laughing as she felt her signature lighter and a bundle of cash that definitely hadn’t been there before they’d started their day.

This felt warm. This felt familiar. This felt right.

[kamotoshi]

intent [kamo noritoshi x reader]

pairing: kamo noritoshi (the good one) x sorcerer! fem reader 

genre: fluff, comfort

warnings: the whole story revolves around the reader being injured so there are brief mentions of medication, pain, and injuries; toshi bein a headass

word count: 3.7k

overview: you have to wonder what your best friend’s intentions are when he’s gone out of his way to visit you during every day of your recovery, no matter how busy he is

On one of the walls surrounding you, the clock’s hand shifts from one minute to the next. Through the speakers of your laptop, the movie you’ve stopped paying attention to long ago drones on in the background. Instead of focusing on the plot, you’ve taken to gazing out the window, watching the lush foliage outside painted vivid oranges and blues by the sunlight breaking through dark clouds dance in the breeze, as if celebrating the end of yet another spring shower. It feels hard to remember the last time you went for a walk outside—or anywhere, for that matter—and the more you think about how painful it is to be bedridden and out of action, the more you start to feel the dull, seemingly constant aches laying siege to your exhausted body.

Thankfully, the sound of the door to your temporary living quarters opening and closing again distracts you from your depressing thoughts, and, instead, makes your heart flutter with hope. Plastic crinkling, fabric shifting, and footsteps padding along the floor reach your ears next before a tall and familiar figure appears in the doorway to the bedroom. There’s a moment’s hesitation on his journey into the room, as if he’d been worried about disturbing you, but he continues with confidence when he sees you’re awake and expecting him.

With a small smile, you greet him, “Hey, ‘Toshi.”

“Hey,” he replies, “how are you feeling?” The long sleeves of his loose-fitting robes flutter behind him like a butterfly’s wings as he wanders over to the chair beside the bed you’ve been confined to for the past few days.

You shrug, glancing down at the bandages peeking out from beneath the sleeves of your sweater. “I’m alright, I guess.”

His eyes dart from the screen of your laptop to your own gaze, then back again. With furrowed brows, he adds, “What are you watching?”

“I wish I could tell you.”

“What’s the point of putting something on if you’re not gonna watch it? What else were you even doing?” he questions.

A scoff echoes from your throat at the fact that you’ve become the sudden subject of an unnecessary interrogation over such a trivial topic, but you can’t help the wry chuckle that follows upon noticing his unfazed expression. As usual, he doesn’t see the issue in such small debates. “I always could leave it to you to argue about the most irrelevant things.” In spite of the dull, warning pain that pangs in the side of your torso, you reach over to move your fingers over your laptop’s trackpad, but Noritoshi quickly stops you and does the job for you.

“Has everyone here been taking care of you while I’ve been gone?” is his next, surprisingly relevant question.

Leaning back against the pillows propped up behind you should give your body a sense of ease, but after spending so much time in one spot, you’re desperate to do the opposite instead. “Yeah. They’ve been checking in on me and bringing me food and painkillers, so I can’t complain.” Your lips curl into a small, devious grin when you mention, “You know, I went on a walk around the place with one of your servants and he told me all these funny stories about you when you were little, including the one where you accidentally gave yourself an awful haircut and refused to leave home without a hat.”

Self-consciously, he fingers the wrappings holding his dark strands of hair together, mindlessly beginning to unravel them. Though his attention is conveniently directed at the computer screen, you can see the blush that dusts his cheeks before his hair falls in front of his face when he removes its bindings. As much as you want to tease him over the event that had happened during his childhood, you find yourself at a brief loss for words at how he looks now. The way your heart thrums just a bit faster and harder is undeniable and fills your body with a different kind of pain, since you wonder if he’s ever looked at you the same way you’re looking at him.

Tracing over the handsome features of his face with your gaze, resisting the urge to separate the kinks in his hair from being held together so tightly all day, hoping you become the center of his attention again.

“You know we have movies here, right?”

His comment abruptly interrupts your thoughts, and you clear your throat before shooting back a, “What?”

“The one you’re watching is horrible.”

“Oh? And how would you know?”

He purses his lips and glances over at you out of the corner of his eye. There’s a somewhat uncomfortable pause before he blurts out, “A friend.”

“You’re a horrible liar,” you retort with a snicker.

You swear you see a hint of a smile playing at his lips as he sits back in his chair and crosses his arms in front of his chest. “I’ll bring back a better one from my room for us to watch after I go and change.” When his dark eyes meet with yours, there’s a tinge of something indiscernible in them. Sadnesss, regret, maybe a bittersweet kind of relief? It reminds you of how he’d first looked at you when he’d helped you into the bed in which you lie now.

“Have you eaten dinner yet?” You shake your head. “Alright. I picked some stuff up from the store. I’ll be back to cook in ten minutes.” He frowns at the shocked expression that appears across your face at the mention of him cooking, since it’s such a rare occasion—due mostly to his lack of skill in the area—and rises to his feet once more. He does, however, extend his hand toward you and say, “Come on, I’ll help you into the other room since I know you’d be too worried sitting in here while I make us something to eat.”

A coy smile forms across your lips as you shove the covers aside, exposing your legs clad in sweatpants to the cool air in the room. “You know me so well, don’t you?” is the remark you send his way in a facetious manner that only fuels Noritoshi’s chagrin. His hand feels incredibly warm against yours when he grabs it to help you out of your confinement in the shape of a memory foam mattress, and you tighten your grip around it as your legs tremble with fatigue. Moving closer to you, he allows you to wrap your arms around one of his to support yourself, bringing your body flush against his

“Eight years.”

“Huh?” Your eyes, which had been formerly directed at the floor to mask the effects of your racing heart, shoot upwards toward him.

His eyebrows furrow in that judgmental, what do you mean ‘huh’? type of look he always made and wondered why others recoiled at the sight of it. “That’s how long we’ve known each other, so it’s no wonder why I know you so well.”

Giving his arm a playful squeeze, you shoot back, “Didn’t know you’d been keeping count.”

“It’s basic math.”

“’Toshi… you’re so, brutally honest. No wonder I’m, like, your only friend.”

“So?” he murmurs, arm dipping to support you, then lifting once more when your leg nearly gives out on you, “I’d rather have you than anyone else.”

The way he lets what he’s just said be known in his unabashedly straightforward manner of speaking, without tacking any other comments on to verify his intentions are purely platonic sends a wave of comforting warmth washing over you. Over the years, you’ve known him for his sometimes abrasively candid nature, but you’ve always appreciated that he’s never left you to question the value he places on your friendship. In spite of his shy tendencies that seemed to be limited mostly to interactions with you when the two of you had first become friends, he’d never been one to beat around the bush—and he still didn’t now.

Though you’ve always assumed his comments like the one he’d just made were meant in a friendly way, you can’t help but wonder if maybe there is something he’s not being forthcoming about. If maybe his more relaxed pace while walking with you accompanied by his lingering touch as he helps you onto the couch is his way of prolonging the time during which he gets to be closer to you. If maybe the subtle softness to his expression while he watches you settle is a result of love rather than just a superficial level of concern. If maybe him opening his clan’s estate to you as a refuge where you could safely recover had been done out of a deeper affection he harbored for you instead of his own guilt at not being able to protect you in the situation that had led to your injury.

But these are speculations you force into the back of your mind out of the fear you’re being imaginative and presumptuous. Surely, if he’d felt anything more than friendship towards you, he would’ve said something by now… right? It’s getting harder to believe with each visit he spends at your bedside, falling asleep with his head on your shoulder while he’s sitting beside you or resting by your legs as he slumps over onto the bed from where he sits in his chair. Seeing him go out of his way to support you, as he’s doing now while he stands in front of the stove—glaring at all the ingredients before him like he’s attempting to intimidate them into making a meal out of themselves—doesn’t help rid you of your persistent thoughts either.

Thankfully, you’re able to find a bit of distraction through conversation with him about his day. Between your glances over at him, you take to staring out the window, watching the rain come pounding down against the earth once more. Unbeknownst to you, Noritoshi finds his eyes on your form each time he looks up from what he’s doing, but they flicker back to the task at hand upon noticing your head turn back to keep a careful watch on him. Unfortunately, the moment you smell good food is when you let your guard down, and it’s not until there’s a haze in the room that you realize you’ve had too much faith in him.

Tearing your gaze away from the flowers Tōdō had brought you earlier in the morning, you shoot a pointed look over your shoulder at where Noritoshi stands in the kitchen. “Noritoshi, the food’s burning.”

“No, it’s still cooking,” is his swift response laced with confidence, as is usual for him. There’s a loud sizzle when he nudges whatever’s in the skillet onto the other side, sending another plume of smoke upwards

“It’s literally smoking.”

With a sigh, he turns on the fan above the oven and quells the flame beneath the pan with a turn of one of the knobs. Rolling up the sleeves of his sweater, he prods rather cautiously at what you can only assume is a lump of coal with a fork. You don’t need to see his face to know that he’s realized the error of his ways, since his broad shoulders slump ever so slightly. You’re sure part of him wants desperately to say that it’s not that bad, but you only hear the grating sound of him chipping away at the scorched food.

It’s hard to keep a straight face, especially when he turns away from the disastrous attempt at cooking to face you and ask:

“So, what do you want to eat for dinner?”

Your answer to his question finds a box of your favorite food in your lap about a half hour later, and him close by your side as the two of you eat and watch one of the movies he’d brought over from his room. With the darkness of the sky outside and the warmth residing inside you both at having enjoyed a meal much more pleasant than the one he’d tried and failed to make, it’s no wonder you find him dozing off. And it’s only a matter of time before his head comes to rest against your shoulder—an action you can only assume was done unintentionally in his sleep, but that sends heat rising up to your face anyway.

As much as you enjoy having him close and feeling his deep breaths tickle your collarbone, you decide to nudge him back into consciousness after about fifteen minutes of letting him snooze in case he wants to go back to his own room.

“’Toshi…?”

“Hey,” he murmurs nearly unintelligibly, “are you okay? Do you need anything?” The level of concern in his voice and the questions he asks before his eyes have even fluttered open make it challenging to hide the grin that threatens to spread across your lips. Your noses nearly brush when he lifts his head, and the small squeak you nearly let out soon morphs into a gentle chuckle at the way he blinks slowly and knits his brows together with confusion as he tries to regain his bearings.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, you assure him, “I’m fine. I was just wondering if you wanted to go to bed.”

He frowns. “Maybe,” is his reply exhaled in a deep sigh as he stands so he can offer you his hand once more. “C’mon, I’ll help you back to the bedroom.”

There’s a somewhat heavy silence in the air after you thank him and latch onto his arm to steady yourself. Whereas his lack of chattiness is most likely from his own fatigue weighing heavily on him, yours stems from one of the many questions that’s been lingering in your mind. With the way he’d been going out of his way to assist you and keep you company between his missions, you can’t help but wonder what his true intentions are—and if he’ll tell you when asked. You don’t know if you can bring yourself to ask, however, and your own self-consciousness keeps you quiet while he helps you back into your temporary bed yet again.

He lingers, though, almost as if he can sense you have something on your mind with the way you’ve gone silent. So, he takes a seat beside you on the plush mattress and places his hands in his lap. The flash of lightning that brings a slow, rumbling roar of thunder along with it distracts him for a moment and his fingers grip each other tightly. He hates thunderstorms, and you’re one of the only people who know. In a movement that feels instinctual, you reach for his hand, sending a soft smile his way when he slides his clammy palm between your warm ones.

Maybe it’s because you know he’s feeling just as vulnerable as you are—which is a rare occasion with the walls he’s built up around his more personal thoughts and feelings—but words start rolling off your tongue before you can stop them.

“Say, ‘Toshi?” you ask. He hums in response, the low tone of his voice nearly lost beneath the rhythmic thrumming of rain crashing down against the roof. “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?” Though his words were laced with exhaustion not that long ago, he seems much more alert now. Whether it’s his fear or his intrigue, you’re unsure, but his eyes meeting yours makes your breath hitch in your throat for a moment. The way you’re acting now brings a question you don’t intend on voicing to the forefront of your mind: How did I manage to deny my feelings for so long?

But the one you ask is: “Why are you doing all this for me?”

His brow raises. “What do you mean?” In a manner that’s comedic to you, he glances around the room, looking for whatever it is you’re referencing.

“I mean everything. Letting me stay here, taking care of me when you’re here, baking me dessert; hell, you even tried to cook me dinner.” Another clap of thunder gives you pause, and his fingers tighten around one of your hands. “So, what’s all this for?”

Brushing a few strands of raven-colored hair away from his face with his unoccupied fingers, he states, “I wanted to be the one to take care of you.”

Your face tingles with prickles of heat at his comment, but the sensation fades slightly when you notice his gaze has dropped to his lap and he’s allowed his bangs to shroud his expression. He doesn’t have the look of determination or even adoration in his eyes of someone who’s ready to confess their feelings. No, he looks guilty.

“Why?”

He fills his lungs with a deep breath that he releases in a drawn-out sigh before answering, “Because if I hadn’t suggested we split up during that mission, then this wouldn’t have happened to you.” The warm feeling of hope that had been swelling in your heart grows cold, like a flame extinguished by an icy gust of wind. “I needed to be the one to take care of you since I got you into this mess. This whole thing was my fault.”

“Oh, I see.” The biting undertones of your words don’t go unnoticed by him like they might normally would, since he lifts his head to look at you. With a shrug, you snap, “So you’re only doing all this to clear your guilty conscience, then?”

“You know that’s not what I meant,” is his rebuttal spoken with brows furrowed.

“What the hell else was that supposed to mean, then? How was I meant to take that? Because to me it just sounds like you’re doing this to make yourself feel better.”

He shakes his head in an act of irritation toward himself. “Yes, I feel guilty, but that’s not the main reason why I’m doing this.”

“What, did you do it to be seen as a hero? An amazing sorcerer who’s also an admirable friend? Someone capable of doing the right thing?” you retort sarcastically, the sting of rejection parading as rage tainting your tongue.

“I’m doing it because I love you!”

In the long, somewhat awkward silence that follows his confession, you almost expect his face to fall. For him to realize that he’d revealed something that he hadn’t meant to. Or, worse, for him to tack the condition, “as a friend,” onto the end of it.

But the honesty in his dark eyes doesn’t waver. He doesn’t turn away and mutter about wishing he hadn’t said what he did. He doesn’t backtrack to revise his confession in a way that would keep you safely in the friend zone.

Instead, he says it again with the same level of confidence: “I love you.”

And adds, “More than I think you understand.”

His grip around your hand tightens in a gentle manner different to the fear with which he’d clutched it before with each flash of lightning outside. “You… do?” you whisper as your heart begins to ache in the tight vise of regret you now feel at your outburst. He nods without hesitation in response, and a small tug on his sleeve beckons him closer to you, driving away the chill in the air between your bodies.

For a moment, neither of you move, and, instead, gaze at each other as if your eyes are speaking silent reassurances. Despite the confident nature of his words, his actions are somewhat timid, since you don’t feel his breath fan across your face until you cup his in your hands. But, as soon as you utter those same words in return and press your lips to his, he kisses away any lingering doubts or worries, as well as your quiet apologies. While the storm rages on outside, you can only hear your own heartbeat and the short breaths you take between each tender yet passionate meeting of your lips. It feels as if a great deal of time has passed before you pull away, and you’re grateful for every second of it.

Without so much as a second thought, you make yourself at home in his arms already wrapped around you, resting your head in the crook of his neck. His warmth envelops you when he carefully tightens his grip around you to avoid hurting you, and any pain you’d felt earlier seems to dissipate in the glow of happiness and overwhelming relief that have taken its place. Noritoshi nestles his face against the side of yours, and his body steadily becomes heavier against yours until the peace is disturbed by another roar sounding from the skies above.

“This storm’s not letting up anytime soon,” he sighs, “Want me to stay here with you?”

Before you can even answer, he starts peeling back the covers and settling himself down in bed beside you. And in spite of your heart fluttering with joy at the thought of him spending the night with you, the opportunity to tease him is too enticing for you to let it slip away. “Why would I need you to stay here with me, huh?”

As usual, however, he’s unnerved by your attempt at catching him off-guard, and calmly replies, “In case the power goes out or you can’t sleep because of all the noise, obviously.”

A wry chuckle bubbles in your throat as you lie down beside him and move the side of your head onto his chest. “Obviously. Where would I be without you here to take care of me? I’m very lucky to have someone as diligent as you are by my side, aren’t I?” you simper.

His fingers interlace with the ones you have resting on his torso running absentmindedly along the soft fabric of his sweater. Giving your hand a tender squeeze and pausing a moment to admire the way your palm fits into his, he murmurs, “I think I’m the lucky one.”

Your last statement had been delivered somewhat facetiously but seeing the way his cheek comes to rest against the pillow so he can look over at you with only pure, unwavering honesty makes you add, in a more serious tone, “That makes two of us, then.”