#it's also made with the subconscious expectation that you'll know who he is | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

stylesonfilms · 2 months ago

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ink & innocence - 8

word count: 7.4k

heres a longer update!! let me know what you guys think!

Aspen didn't expect to feel his warm, plush lips on hers. The cool of his lip ring contrasted the sweet feeling. It was like magic, she swore of it. She swore she could feel the fireworks authors mentioned in books, she could feel his warmth radiating into hers. Before the girl could give in fully to the kiss, Harry pulled his face back.

"I'm sorry. I should've asked." Harry kept his long ring-clad fingers cupped over her jaw, his thumbs mindlessly brushing at her skin. It was such an unfamiliar gesture for Aspen—so soft, so tender—but Harry wasn’t too sorry. The truth was, he hadn’t realized how badly he wanted to kiss her until it had already happened like something subconscious had snapped in him. For all the guilt and anger he had carried toward himself, kissing Aspen didn’t feel wrong. It felt grounding. A calmness settled over him that he hadn’t realized he’d been searching for.

Aspen’s thin fingers reached up to curl around both of his wrists, her touch so hesitant and delicate, but not to pull him away. A hot blush crept up her neck and spread like a rosy fire on her cheeks, burning with both embarrassment and awe.

"I," she squeaked, her brown eyes darting across his features, wide and overwhelmed. God, she was so embarrassed. Her first kiss— her first kiss— was with him. Harry Styles. Hot-headed, intimidating Harry Styles who everyone said had no softness to him, and yet here he was, his hands on her cheeks like she was precious, like she might shatter if he let go. Her chest felt like it might burst as her gaze flickered to his lips, parted slightly like he might speak or— she hoped— kiss her again.

"I've never," Aspen mumbled off, her voice cracking. She hoped he’d catch her meaning because there was no way she could finish the sentence without wanting to crawl under the earth.

A small grin tugged at the corner of Harry’s lips. "You've never wha'? Had y'first kiss?" His voice was soft, teasing in a way that wasn’t cruel, and yet it made her stomach twist in nervous knots. Aspen nodded shyly. Harry felt a strange, almost primal pride swell in his chest. Of course she hadn’t. A brooding feeling of ego mixed with an odd protectiveness coursed through him. There was something about being the first, specifically Aspen's first, that felt significant. He wasn’t the sort of man to care about such things, and yet with her… it mattered.

"Can... Can I kiss you again?" Harry asked, his voice carrying more forward confidence now, though he made sure to keep his tone gentle. He didn’t want to spook her, not after she’d let him kiss her once. It mattered to him, inexplicably, that she wanted him to do it again.

Aspen’s heart stammered in her chest. His question swirled around her mind like the most delicate of touches, leaving goosebumps in its wake. She nodded again, but this time Harry wasn’t letting her off so easy.

"Words, baby."

Baby.

Her stomach plummeted and her face flared with so much heat she thought she might combust. No one had ever called her that before— certainly not Harry. It rolled off his tongue so naturally, so easily, and yet it hit her like a train. She swallowed tightly, her mouth suddenly dry.

"I want you to kiss me, Harry," she whispered, her voice betraying her with its nervous, shaky tone. "I just… I don’t… know how?" Her last words squeaked out, and Aspen swore the ground would open up and swallow her whole. She was positive she was going to ruin it. Harry had kissed other girls before, probably a lot, and she had to be terrible at this.

But Harry only laughed, a soft chuckle that carried no mockery, no cruelty. It was… gentle. Kind. Like he was amused by her innocence but also endeared by it. His thumb brushed along her bottom lip, featherlight and soothing.

"Jus' try to follow my lead. Do what feels right, okay? There's no wrong answer. When I move, you move. It's simple, you'll do perfect." His voice was low and warm, so comforting that she almost believed him. Almost.

"O-Okay," Aspen whispered, her chest rising and falling unevenly as she prepared for the moment. Time slowed again, and she was absolutely convinced this was more dramatic than it should be, but it didn’t feel small. Not at all. It felt monumental. Just… kiss him.

And then she did.

Harry’s lips met hers again, pressing a soft kiss to her mouth before shifting into something more. Aspen’s breath hitched as she tried to follow his lead, her lips clumsy at first but so eager, so earnest, that Harry couldn’t help but smile against her. He moved slowly, carefully, like he was coaxing her into it. His lips brushed over hers in a fluid motion, a silent promise that it was okay, that he wouldn’t rush her. Aspen’s fingers slid down to his forearms, timid at first before settling there like she was afraid to let go. Harry angled his head slightly, just enough to deepen the kiss, and Aspen’s heart pounded as she melted into it. The tension in her body eased as her lips began to move with him naturally.

That small shift—that little motion of him pulling her deeper into the kiss—made her ache. She didn’t even know what she was aching for. She just knew she loved the way his lips felt on hers, the way her body leaned toward his without thinking, the way every other thought melted away. Kissing Harry felt like being wrapped in warmth and light, like standing in the sun on a cool day.

By the time he finally pulled back, Aspen’s chest rose and fell with quick, uneven breaths. Harry’s forehead rested against hers for a moment, his hands still holding her jaw like he didn’t want to let go. Her eyes fluttered open only to meet Harry's already looking back at her.

“Y’did good,” he murmured, his voice low and gruff, like the words were for her ears only.

Aspen blinked up at him, her lips still tingling. “I… I liked that.” It came out as a whisper, almost like a confession, and Harry smiled, a real smile this time.

“Yeah? Me too. If I didn't need t'breathe, I wouldn't have stopped.” To that, they both chuckled breathlessly.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

The walk back to the RV was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Aspen still felt the faint blush on her cheeks, and Harry kept his hands stuffed into his pockets, the tip of his boot kicking at a loose rock here and there. When they finally reached the others, Harry swung open the door, letting her step inside first before following behind her.

The RV was warm, filled with the smell of leftover snacks and the faint sound of a song playing from someone’s speaker. Zayn looked up from the driver’s seat where he was adjusting the mirrors, shooting Harry a look. “Took your time, didn’t ya? Thought you fell in.”

Harry ignored him, moving toward the back of the RV where the others were lounging. Aspen slipped into one of the bench seats quietly, her book clutched to her chest like a shield. Harry sat next to her, his legs stretching out into the narrow aisle. The RV rumbled to life as Zayn started the engine, and the quiet hum of the road filled the space.

Their knees bumped softly every now and then—just enough to make Aspen’s heart skip and her hands grip her book a little tighter. Harry didn’t move away, though. If anything, it seemed like he did it on purpose sometimes. Isobel, who had been lounging nearby, raised a brow at the two of them but didn’t say anything. After a moment, she stood up, brushing her hands on her jeans. “I’ll go keep Zayn company.”

As she disappeared to the front, Kirsten mumbled something about being tired and crawled into the far-back bunk, leaving Aspen and Harry alone in the dim cabin. Harry leaned back in his seat, his green eyes flickering toward her.

“Comfortable?” he asked, his tone flat but not unkind.

Aspen nodded quickly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah.” She paused. “Are you?”

Harry’s lips twitched faintly, like he might smile. “Yeah. I am.”

And for the first time, he realized he meant it.

The hum of the RV blended with the soft rattle of the windows as the road stretched beneath them. The cabin fell into a quiet stillness, but it wasn’t tense—it was the kind of silence that felt settled, unspoken words lingering but not pressing. Aspen shifted in her seat, her book still clutched in her hands like a lifeline, though she wasn’t reading anymore. The events of the evening replayed in her mind on an endless loop. Harry kissing her. Twice. The way his lips had felt—soft yet firm, gentle yet deliberate—as if he’d been balancing between patience and urgency. Her heart fluttered every time the memory resurfaced, and she had to remind herself to breathe.

But Harry? He didn’t look half as flustered. He lounged back against the seat, arms crossed, looking so effortlessly calm it nearly annoyed her. How was he so unaffected when her nerves still buzzed from the lingering feeling of his lips on hers? His eyes, however, gave him away. Every so often, they’d flick toward her—not in a sharp or obvious way, but in little glances like he was trying to figure something out. Like he was studying her when he thought she wasn’t looking.

It was Harry who broke the silence.

Without warning, he reached over, snatching the book from her hands. “What’s this?” His voice carried an air of casual curiosity, but there was mischief under it, a flicker of that familiar Harry who seemed to enjoy getting under people’s skin.

“Hey!” Aspen huffed, her hands scrambling to grab it back, but he leaned back further, holding it just out of reach. “Harry, give it back! I was reading that!”

He smirked, his dimples faintly making an appearance as he turned the book over in his hands, flipping through the pages lazily. “What’s the book about? Is it any good?” His thumb ran along the edge of the pages, fanning them as he skimmed over the back cover.

“It’s mine,” Aspen protested, leaning toward him and trying to snatch it, though her reach was far too short. Harry didn’t move much—he just tilted the book out of her grasp, clearly entertained by how flustered she was getting. “And yes, it’s good. Really good. It’s not some dumb story, so don’t—don’t mess it up!”

Harry let out a low chuckle, one that seemed to rumble from deep in his chest. “Relax, I’m not rippin’ the thing apart. What’s it about then?” His green eyes lifted to meet hers, lingering a little too long, like he wanted to see how she’d react.

Aspen frowned, still leaning toward him but now too flustered to do much about it. She sat back with a frustrated huff, folding her arms across her chest. “It’s… a love story,” she admitted quietly, though the words felt embarrassing coming out of her mouth. It wasn’t like she hadn’t read love stories before—she adored them—but saying it to Harry Styles after what had just happened felt like a humiliating admission.

Harry raised a brow, clearly amused. “A love story, huh?” He looked back at the book in his hands, flipping through a few more pages. “What, like some cheesy romance where the guy’s a prince or somethin’?”

“No!” Aspen snapped defensively, her cheeks turning pink. “It’s not cheesy. It’s about two people who are… complicated.” Her voice grew quieter as she tried to explain, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. “They don’t really understand themselves, or each other, at first. But they… help each other in a way no one else does.” Her eyes darted to the window, focusing on the blurred landscape outside as she mumbled, “It’s more about them figuring out who they are.”

Harry’s grin softened as she spoke. He hadn’t expected such a thoughtful answer, though maybe he should have. Aspen always seemed to have more layers to her than she let on. “That so?” he asked, his voice quieter now, his teasing edge giving way to something else—something gentler.

“Yes,” she said, looking back at him with narrowed eyes. “And you wouldn’t get it, anyway. You don’t even like reading.”

Harry huffed a short laugh, shaking his head. “You don’t know that.”

“Do you?”

“Well… no,” Harry admitted, his lips curving into a grin again. “But maybe I’ll give it a shot someday.”

Aspen blinked, surprised. “You’d actually read it?”

He shrugged, holding the book out to her finally. “Maybe, if it’s that good.”

Aspen took the book back carefully, her fingers brushing against his as she did. The small contact sent a jolt through her, and she quickly pulled the book to her chest, hugging it like she could shield herself from the blush threatening to bloom again. “Well… you should.”

Harry didn’t say anything to that, but the faint smile playing on his lips didn’t fade. He sat back again, stretching out his legs, and Aspen swore she could still feel the warmth of his touch on her fingertips.

For a while, they didn’t speak. Zayn’s music drifted faintly from the front of the RV, and the steady motion of the vehicle made the air feel heavier, sleepier. Aspen turned her gaze back to her book, though the words on the page blurred together. She was too aware of Harry sitting next to her, too aware of the occasional bump of his knee against hers—subtle, but enough to make her heart stammer each time.

Isobel glanced back at them once, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Aspen stiffened, looking down at her lap like she could will herself invisible. Harry, however, didn’t react. He just leaned his head back against the seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his thigh like he was completely unfazed. After a moment, Isobel stood, muttering something about keeping Zayn company.

As she disappeared to the front, Kirsten groaned softly, shifting in the far-back bunk. “I’m going to bed. Don’t wake me up for anything.”

“Noted,” Harry called back, though his tone was flat, like he couldn’t care less.

Kirsten grumbled something under her breath before turning over, leaving Aspen and Harry alone again. The soft hum of the RV filled the space once more, punctuated only by the occasional crackle of gravel beneath the tires.

Harry’s knee brushed against hers again, just barely, and Aspen’s breath hitched. She glanced up at him nervously, but he was still sitting there, head tilted back, his eyes half-closed like he was on the verge of dozing off. But Aspen wasn’t so sure—there was a softness in his expression that she hadn’t seen before, like the walls he usually kept up had lowered just enough to let her glimpse something real.

Her gaze lingered on him longer than it should have, and she quickly looked back down at her book, though she wasn’t reading. Her mind was spinning, her chest was tight, and her heart… well, her heart was starting to feel like it might belong to him, whether she wanted it to or not.

Aspen took note of his sleepy state, his head tilted back lazily against the seat, his breathing growing softer. She glanced back toward the empty bench across from them and then back to Harry, a small huff escaping her lips. He looked so uncomfortable, his neck bent at an odd angle, yet he didn’t seem to care.

Finally, she spoke up, her voice gentle but clear. “Do you want a pillow?”

Harry cracked one eye open, his gaze heavy-lidded and soft, like it was an effort just to look at her. “Hm?” His head turned slightly toward her, though it still rested against the seat. “Sure, why not.”

Aspen nodded, trying not to overthink the fact that he was accepting her help. She placed her book down carefully, leaving her fingers tucked between the pages to hold her spot, and stood up. With small, quiet steps, she moved toward the far back bunk where her things were, careful not to wake Kirsten. Pulling her pillow out of her bunk, a soft, cream-colored one that still smelled faintly like her shampoo and perfume, she turned back and made her way to Harry.

He cracked both eyes open this time, lazily watching as she held the pillow out to him. “Here,” she said softly, almost shyly.

Harry blinked slowly, his eyes flicking from the pillow to her face. For a moment, she thought he was going to say something, maybe tease her for fussing over him, but instead, he just gave a tired smile—one of those rare, unguarded smiles that softened his usual sharp edges. “Thanks,” he murmured, his voice low and scratchy from exhaustion.

He shifted slightly to get more comfortable as Aspen sat back down in her seat, feeling oddly warm from the simple interaction. Harry held the pillow for a moment, looking at it as though he was debating how to use it, before tucking it behind his head. A contented sigh escaped him as he leaned back, and Aspen swore she caught a glimpse of his dimples again before his eyes fluttered shut.

The RV’s gentle hum filled the space once more, punctuated by the rhythmic rumble of tires against the pavement. Aspen watched Harry for a few seconds longer than she meant to, noting how peaceful he looked now, so different from the guarded, brooding boy she had grown accustomed to. His lips were slightly parted, his long lashes casting faint shadows against his cheekbones. Something about seeing him like this, relaxed and unbothered, made her chest ache with a feeling she couldn’t quite name.

Tearing her gaze away, Aspen picked up her book again, flipping it open to where her fingers held her place. She leaned back into her seat and tried to focus on the words, though it took a few attempts before the sentences began to make sense. The stillness of the RV and the soft weight of the evening finally settled into her, and, surprisingly, it wasn’t long before she felt herself relaxing as well.

The occasional bump of the road made the RV sway gently, a motion that might have been jarring earlier but now felt oddly soothing. She lost herself in the story, her fingers curling around the edge of the pages as the characters pulled her in. For the first time in hours, her mind felt still— no more replaying of Harry’s kiss or her awkward responses, no more overthinking every glance or word exchanged. It was just her and the book.

Until she glanced up.

Harry had shifted at some point. Instead of leaning back against the bench, he had turned slightly, curling his tall frame in on itself. He looked more comfortable now. Her pillow—her pillow—was now hugged tightly against his chest, one arm slung lazily over it as his breathing remained slow and deep. Aspen’s eyes widened slightly as she stared, her book momentarily forgotten. He looked different like this, so vulnerable and… soft. She’d been using that pillow for days, and now there he was, tangled up with it like it was his favorite thing in the world.

A nervous laugh bubbled in her throat, but she swallowed it down, pressing her lips together as she shifted her gaze back to the page in front of her. She couldn’t explain why the sight made her cheeks feel warm again or why it made her heart flutter in a way she didn’t want to think about. Harry didn’t know it was her pillow, she told herself. It didn’t mean anything.

And yet, every time her eyes strayed from her book, they found him again— his fingers curled faintly into the soft material, the faint rise and fall of his chest as he slept, and the peaceful expression on his face.

Aspen let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head to herself. “You’re ridiculous,” she whispered under her breath, though she wasn’t sure if she was talking to Harry or herself.

Turning back to her book, she forced herself to focus, though now there was a small, secret smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Harry might be impossible to understand, but in this moment, with him curled up like that and snoring ever so softly, she found herself thinking that maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t so impossible after all.

That night when they got home and everyone scattered to their own homes, Aspen found herself holding that particular pillow between her arms and her nose pressed into the scent. She was sure that all she needed was the flannel off his back and she could fall asleep thinking it was him.

Her eyes shot open. The girls eyes scanned around her room as if anyone could hear or even see her. Another flicker of shy embarrassment hit her, but she refused to part ways with the plush pillow that smelled faintly like Harry. Their kiss replayed in her head about a hundred times before she drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Harry was back to his usual schedule the following week. Wake up, go to work, fill out paperwork, get ticked off by Niall or Zayn or both, and come home.

He would be lying if he said he didn't still think about the kiss he shared with Aspen. The thing with Harry was he never took himself for a kissing kind of guy. Sure, he'd go down on plenty of women and kiss them there, but he tried to avoid unnecessary kissing during his antics. But it was different with Aspen. For the first time in a longgg time, he wanted to kiss someone and that someone happened to be her.

The metal lip ring tucked between his teeth while the machine buzzed between his hand.

"Is this the biggest piece you've ever done?" the girl on his table spoke up. She had been working with Harry for the past few weeks on completing her thigh piece. He brushed the dry towel over the ink to wipe the skin clean, and she winced.

Harry's eyes flicked up to the woman's face which was scrunched in pain before he returned to the intricate work on the skin. "No, it's not." His answer was vague and bland, and he showed no interest because well-- he wasn't interested. Harry could feel the way she faltered. Usually, he would be slightly more talkative with his clients but the burning edge of whatever he felt kept him quiet. Maybe it was the fact that he filled in another page of Aspen in his sketchbook instead of working on finishing the design he was tattooing now. He eventually got to it, finishing the sketch ten minutes before his appointment started.

Before she could open her mouth to utter another word, Harry sat up and turned the machine off, setting the gun down. "All done. How's it look?" He was listening, he promised he was, but her voice just dulled down into the background noise of the shop. He knew it was good, there was no reason for it to not be. The nitrile gloves snapped off his skin as he rolled back in his chair and stood to his tall figure. "Niall will come over and check it out, give you the proper wrap and care. Feel free to come back if anything happens." Harry was already turned around and walking off before she could thank him.

It had been almost a whole week without seeing Aspen. His brows furrowed to his inner thoughts while he rinsed the suds off his hands, yanking out the white towel from the dispenser to dry his hands.

The front door chimed. Ding. The metal door closed the space of air.

"Hey!," he heard Zayn's voice from the front. It was probably someone checking for their availability or wanting a piercing. He sighed, reaching for the box of black nitrile gloves again. He loved his job, don't get him wrong, but man he could hate it sometimes. Piercings were quick though. Clean, mark, pierce and send them off with proper care instructions. It would merely take ten minutes. But a certain voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Hi hi," the voice chirped. "Iz meant to bring you your keys earlier this afternoon, but she took an earlier shift so I thought I'd run them down for you!"

It was undoubtedly Aspen. The smile that tugged on the corner of his lips disappeared just as fast as it came. His heavy boots scruffed against the tile floor, making his way from the back of the shop to the front.

"Do you have a few spare minutes? I can show you around!" Aspen nodded and clasped her hands in excitement at Zayn's kind offer.

"I'll do it. You have a client." Harry's voice made them both jump. He had rounded the corner and stood for however long. He wasn't exactly lying but he wasn't exactly being truthful either. The next person Zayn had to take would be in half an hour but Harry was sure he'd find something better to do.

"Oh," Aspen looked between them both and another smile spread on her face, "yeah, sure! Thank you."

She had been wanting to see the shop for the longest time since she heard Isobel rave about it many ages ago. The decor, the music, the open book of tattoo designs they've already done. Her eyes caught glimpse of the red accent wall the moment she walked in, which had three huge art pieces that Zayn painted and was kind enough to donate to the shop. It was very... them.

Harry stepped away from the counter, nodding toward Aspen with a simple tilt of his head, silently motioning for her to follow. His heavy boots echoed across the shop's tile floor, each step confident and measured as he led the way. Aspen trailed behind, her fingers nervously toying with the strap of her tote bag. Her eyes darted around, taking in every detail— the moody lighting that gave the space a quiet edge, the faint hum of music bleeding softly from hidden speakers, the gleaming tattoo chairs, and the array of intricate sketches pinned to corkboards on the walls.

She lingered for just a second too long when they passed a framed photograph on the wall—a black-and-white shot of Zayn and Harry, both mid-laugh, sitting with ink-stained gloves and tattoo machines in hand. Harry caught her pause and slowed, looking over his shoulder.

"Taken right after Zayn decided to stab me with a needle during a tattoo," Harry said flatly, though there was a hint of humor in his voice. "Thought it'd be funny to mess up a line on my arm. I nearly killed him for it."

Aspen blinked up at him, startled. “He didn’t actually—?”

Harry huffed out a quiet laugh, his lip ring glinting in the low light as he smirked. “No. But I wouldn’t put it past him if he was having a bad day.” He tilted his chin toward the picture. “That’s just the kind of guy he is.”

Aspen smiled faintly, moving along with him as he gestured toward a row of tattoo chairs that sat perfectly aligned against one wall. “This is where we handle the real work. It’s not as glamorous as some people think,” Harry continued, his voice slipping into something a bit softer, less clipped. “People come in expecting some spiritual experience when they get tattooed, but mostly it’s just a lot of swearing, sweating, and people trying not to cry.”

Aspen let out a tiny, surprised laugh, though she quickly covered her mouth, looking embarrassed. Harry glanced down at her, something flickering in his green eyes at the sound of her quiet amusement—something that softened the sharp edge of his usual expression.

“You think I’m joking, but I’m not,” Harry added, stepping closer to one of the chairs and thumbing the worn armrest. “Last week, a grown man nearly passed out 'cause I had t'touch up a line on his wrist. His wrist, Aspen.”

“I—I believe you,” Aspen murmured, her lips twitching into a hesitant smile. She tried to keep her gaze focused on the chairs, the scattered ink bottles nearby, and the small machines resting neatly on stainless steel trays. Still, it was hard to ignore Harry’s presence, the way he seemed to take up so much space without trying.

After a moment, he moved on, leading her toward a set of framed sketches hanging above a counter stacked with ink bottles. Aspen’s eyes widened as she approached, taking in the detail of the pieces. The art varied— some designs were elegant and flowing, like something out of a fantasy novel, while others were sharp, edgy, and dark. Harry stood quietly beside her, his arms crossing loosely over his chest as he watched her reaction.

“These are incredible,” Aspen breathed, leaning in closer to inspect one. “Who drew all of these?”

Harry shifted, his gaze falling to the art. “Zayn did a few. The rest are mine.”

Aspen’s head whipped around, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief. “Yours?”

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching again. “That so hard t'believe?”

“No! I mean, I just—.” Aspen stumbled over her words, her cheeks turning red. “They’re just really good. Like... really good. I didn’t know you could draw like this.”

Harry shrugged, though the faintest bit of color rose in his neck, barely noticeable beneath the tattoos that crawled up from his collar. “Been drawing m'whole life. Just something t'do when I needed t'get out 'f my head.”

Aspen’s eyes lingered on a sketch of a fox curled up under a crescent moon, its tail swirled elegantly around its body. There was something delicate about it, which surprised her—it didn’t quite match the brash, intimidating man standing next to her.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Harry glanced at her sideways, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. He said nothing, though his lips pressed into a thin line as he tilted his head toward the hallway leading to the back.

“C’mon,” he murmured. “One more stop.”

Aspen followed him down the short hall, the sound of her sneakers soft against the tile compared to the steady thunk of his boots. He stopped in front of a black door at the very end, his tattooed hand reaching for the handle. Instead of immediately pushing it open, Harry paused, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

“It’s nothin' special,” he said, almost as if he were trying to lower her expectations. “Jus' my office. Mostly just a place for paperwork and sketching.”

With that, he opened the door and stepped back, holding it open for her to walk inside. Aspen hesitated for half a second before stepping past him, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air as she did.

The office was small and dimly lit, though a warm lamp in the corner gave the space a cozy glow. A cluttered desk sat against one wall, papers scattered haphazardly alongside a laptop and an open sketchbook. A worn leather couch stretched against the opposite side of the room, and shelves lined the walls, holding art supplies, ink bottles, and small trinkets. The space was unmistakably his— equal parts chaos and creativity, with a quiet charm Aspen hadn’t expected.

She lingered near the door, her gaze falling on the sketchbook resting open on the desk. She could see the faint outlines of a design, though she couldn’t make out the details from where she stood.

“Is this where you draw?” she asked softly, her voice tentative.

Harry stepped in after her, letting the door click shut behind him. “Sometimes. Depends on the day.” Harry shuffled over to his desk and flipped the book closed, his eyes making sure she didn't see herself on the page, but she was already busy looking around.

Aspen’s fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag again, her gaze darting around the room. She didn’t know what to say, but Harry didn’t seem to mind the silence. He leaned back against the edge of his desk, watching her as she took it all in.

“Y’don’t have to stand by the door, y’know,” he said after a moment, his voice softer now. “I don’t bite.”

Aspen looked up at him, startled before a tiny, shy smile tugged at her lips. “I didn’t think you did.”

Harry smirked faintly, though there was no teasing in his expression this time. He just watched her, this quiet girl standing in his space, surrounded by his mess, who seemed entirely out of place yet somehow perfectly fine being there. For reasons he couldn’t quite pin down, it didn’t bother him. Usually, the presence of anyone else ticked him off, made him feel too crowded.

“Y’like the shop?” he asked finally, breaking the silence.

Aspen nodded, her smile lingering. “Yeah. It’s really... cool. It suits you.”

Harry blinked at that, taken aback by the sincerity in her voice. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected her to say, but somehow, her quiet compliment settled deep in his chest, in a way he didn’t entirely understand.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, glancing down at his hands before looking back at her. “Means more than y’think.”

Aspen’s cheeks turned pink again, but she didn’t look away this time. For once, the silence that settled between them didn’t feel awkward or heavy— it felt comfortable. Safe, even.

Harry broke the silence with a small breath. "Can I kiss you again?"

A new heat that was all too familiar crept up to her rosy cheeks again. She swore she could cry from relief. After their kiss and after they got out of the RV, she didn't see much of Harry. The girl worried herself into thinking he didn't want to kiss her anymore, that it was a one-time thing he needed to get off his chest.

Before she could speak, Harry had already pushed his tall figure off the desk and took a step forward. She felt his lingering gaze and just as she was about to shy down, she realized she didn't even answer him. He was waiting for approval. A shy nod followed by a squeak of 'yes' made Harry continue his route to her.

The man inhaled deep through his nose, letting it rumble out as his hands gently rested on Aspen's waist. His thumb caressed over the clothed skin. He was taller than her, much taller, she now realized. The girl lifted herself onto her tippytoes with a shy realization, only to have Harry plant her back down on the floor. "I've got it. You just... stay there. 'S perfect."

Aspen couldn't help the shy, nervous giggle that came from her lips before they met with Harry's perfect ones. This time felt more natural than the last. She knew what to do and how to do it. Her frail fingers came to rest on his broad shoulders. Aspen suppressed a gasp when she realized how structured he was, his shoulders firm, and Aspen could feel the ridges of his built muscles under the black shirt he wore.

When Harry took a step closer, that's when Aspen tilted her head this time with a newfound bravery taking over. She followed Harry's actions from last time and deepened their kiss. At this point, the girl was sure she didn't need oxygen if she had Harry.

Their lips continued their slow tangle. Harry wouldn't say it, not to her or even himself, but he was glad that their kiss was never just a kiss. He swallowed down a groan at the feeling of the girl deepening their kiss. His nose bumped hers gently as they traded sides. His fingers gave a small squeeze to her clothed flesh and subconsciously pulled her closer.

Aspen was the first to break their kiss with a small gasp for air. Harry looked down at her, his green eyes absorbing the sight in front of him. Her lips were now a deeper, yet brighter shade of red, just barely slick with a mix of her lipgloss and spit. A nice tint, he thought. Before she could open her mouth to say anything, Harry couldn't help but press a kiss to the beautiful sight he saw. A small sigh fell from them both, and Aspen's eyes took a moment to flutter back open once they separated again.

One of her hands rested on Harry's chest now, slightly catching on the fabric. Her lips rolled into her teeth before she let out a small giggle. Harry quirked a brow, hands still on her hips, as he looked down at her. "What?"

"Sorry, I just... I didn't know you still wanted to kiss me."

Harry’s brow furrowed slightly, though the expression didn’t carry any real weight—it was softer, almost confused. His thumbs stilled their motion over Aspen’s waist as he tilted his head, his green eyes studying her face closely. “Why wouldn’t I?” he asked, his voice low and steady like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Aspen’s cheeks burned deeper, the blush spreading down to her neck as she shrugged one shoulder. Her fingers, still resting against his chest, played nervously with the fabric of his black shirt. “I mean... I just thought maybe it was—.” She hesitated, her words getting tangled on her tongue. “I thought maybe it was a one-time thing. Like you just... needed to get it out of your system.”

Harry stared at her for a beat, and then, unexpectedly, a soft, breathy laugh escaped him. It wasn’t mocking, but it was genuine—surprised, even. He shook his head slowly, the corner of his mouth tugging up into the faintest, crooked smile. “You’re funny, y'know tha'?”

Aspen blinked up at him, startled by his reaction. “What?”

“You really think I’d do all this—” Harry gestured vaguely between the two of them, his large hands briefly leaving her waist before returning to hold her steady. “—just to get it out of my system?” He raised an eyebrow at her, the teasing look on his face softening just slightly as he continued. “Trust me, love, if I didn’t want t'kiss you again, I wouldn’t be standing here asking for it like some lovesick idiot.”

Love. There he went again.

The words knocked the wind right out of Aspen. She stared up at him, her wide eyes darting across his face to confirm he wasn’t joking, but there was nothing in his expression to suggest otherwise. He was looking at her with the same quiet intensity as always, but there was something else there, too— something she couldn’t quite name.

“Oh,” she breathed, her voice barely audible.

Harry huffed a quiet laugh again, this one softer, almost fond. “Yeah. ‘Oh,’” he echoed, his lips twitching up into a half-smile.

Aspen bit her lip, trying and failing to suppress a nervous grin as her gaze dropped to his chest. She couldn’t look at him directly when he said things like that—it was too much, too overwhelming. But Harry didn’t seem to mind. He stood there patiently, his thumbs resuming their slow, absentminded circles against her waist as he let her process his words.

After a moment, Harry spoke again, his voice quieter this time. “I wouldn’t kiss someone I didn’t want, Aspen.”

Her gaze shot back up to his face, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Harry’s green eyes held hers, unwavering and sincere, before they flicked down briefly to her lips. His hands on her waist gave the faintest pull— so slight she almost didn’t notice— until her body was just a bit closer to his.

“I don’t do things I don’t mean,” he added, and before Aspen could even think to respond, Harry dipped his head down and captured her lips again.

This kiss felt different. It wasn’t as tentative as before, nor was it rushed or uncertain. It was slow, purposeful— as if Harry was trying to prove a point without saying another word. His lips moved against hers in a way that made Aspen’s heart stutter, and when his hands slid carefully up her sides, just under the hem of her sweater but over the thin material of her leggings, she felt her knees wobble.

Harry must have noticed because he chuckled softly against her mouth before steadying her, his fingers splaying out against her back. “Careful there,” he murmured, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

Aspen let out an embarrassed giggle, her breath shaky as she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. Harry’s green eyes were darker now, but not in an intimidating way. There was a softness to him, something warm that she hadn’t seen before.

“Sorry,” she whispered, her cheeks still flushed.

Harry smirked faintly, his hands lingering on her back as he tilted his head slightly. “Don’t apologize. I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Aspen rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, you’re still here,” Harry shot back easily, his smirk widening.

She shook her head quickly, letting out a soft, nervous laugh as her eyes darted to the floor before flicking up to glance around the office. Her fingers fidgeted at the hem of her sweater, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was. “Is this... um... is this part of the tour, too?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, breathless and shy.

Harry’s expression softened instantly, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked down at her. “It is now,” he murmured, his voice low and warm as his thumb brushed faintly over the small of her back.

Aspen’s heart tumbled in her chest, her breath catching as her eyes flicked up to his and then quickly back down again. She felt like she might combust on the spot. The way he looked at her, like he actually saw her, all of her, was almost too much to handle. Her hands twitched, still nervously clutching the fabric of his shirt as she tried to will herself to calm down.

“I—um...” she started, but her voice failed her, barely a squeak, as she felt the weight of Harry’s gaze on her. She swallowed hard, her head ducking slightly as she focused on the buttons of his black shirt instead of his face.

Harry must have noticed her growing shyness because he straightened slightly, his hands sliding back down to her hips, his touch gentle but grounding. “C’mon,” he said softly, his voice breaking through the tension in the air, “you wanna see anything else, or is this good enough for today?”

Aspen blinked up at him again, her cheeks glowing red as she offered the faintest, shyest smile. She could barely meet his eyes as she shook her head, her voice small. “This is... this is more than enough.”

Harry chuckled, the sound deep and warm, and Aspen’s eyes were drawn to the way his lip ring glinted when he smiled. “Good. You’re not getting any more today, anyway,” he teased, though his tone was light, almost playful.

Aspen let out a small, breathy giggle, but it quickly disappeared as she shyly dropped her gaze again. Feeling brave for only a moment, she swatted lightly at his chest, her hand barely making an impact, before her arm quickly fell back to her side. “You’re the worst,” she mumbled, her face burning as she refused to look back up at him.

Harry tilted his head slightly, his smirk returning as he watched her, clearly amused. “Mm,” he hummed, his hands lingering on her for a second longer before he stepped back. “But you’re still here, aren’t you?”

Aspen didn’t dare answer— she couldn’t. Her tongue felt tied in knots, and she knew if she tried to speak, it would only come out in another nervous squeak. Instead, she let her lips tug into the smallest smile, her gaze still cast downward as Harry turned and stepped toward the door.

“Let’s get you out of here before Zayn starts wondering what I’m doing with you back here,” he reminded her, holding the door open and looking back at her.

Aspen hesitated for a second, then quickly scurried out of the office with Harry a few steps behind, her heart still hammering against her ribs. Whatever had just happened between them— whatever this was, left her completely undone.

"How'd you like the place?" Zayn was quick to greet her when they rounded the corner. "Did Harry give you any attitude?" He teased, nodding his head towards his friend. Harry only rolled his eyes, plopping down into the reception seat that was usually occupied by Niall.

"It was.. it was good, I loved it! And no, he was on his best behavior.," Aspen promised with a small smile. Her brown eyes glanced over at Harry who was already looking back at her. Another common trend she noticed, he was always looking. Zayn offered to walk Aspen out and she waved a shy hand to say goodbye to Harry. When the both of them reached the door, he made sure to follow her with his eyes through the glass panels until he no longer could see her.

Zayn's voice made him snap back to his friend.

"Dude, when did you start wearing lipgloss?"

#harry styles #fanfic #one direction #zayn malik #niall horan #fanfiction #wattpad fanfiction #wattpad #louis tomlinson #harry styles fanfiction #smut #harry smut #harry styles smut #harry styles fluff #harry styles writing

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amagialp · 9 days ago

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Slasher headcanons!

not my usual fandom post, but please feel free to request anything! :P

(TW) and GN! reader hope you like it!

Michael Myers (Halloween)

Silent acts of affection: He'll fix things around your house when you're not looking, broken locks, creaky floorboards, even your car engine, but never tells you he did it.

Unsettling gifts: Michael doesn't understand normal romance, so you'll find things like feathers, cracked mirrors, or bones neatly arranged on your doorstep.

Childlike curiosity: He stares at you for hours not only because he’s creepy, but also because he’s trying to understand what makes you tick. If you catch him, he just tilts his head and keeps staring.

Jealous rage: Anyone who flirts with you ends up mysteriously missing or finds themselves suddenly terrified of "something" lurking nearby.

Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)

Gentle giant energy: He’s incredibly soft with you, always hesitant to touch, afraid he might hurt you with his size and strength.

Nature dates: Jason loves being in the woods, so expect long "quiet walks" through the trees, with him subtly steering you away from dangerous areas.

Primitive gifts: He’ll leave flowers, smooth stones, or handmade wooden trinkets for you. Sometimes they’re perfect, other times, they’re... rough. It’s the thought that counts.

Protective rage: If someone harms you, they’ll regret it almost immediately. Jason’s wrath is swift and terrifying, but he’ll make sure you never see that side of him.

Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

Domestic sweetness: Despite the chaos, Leatherface tries to make your life comfortable, even cooking for you or attempting to sew something nice, though it might not always go well.

Physical affection: He doesn’t know how to express love, so expect bear hugs that are almost too tight and clumsy pats on the head.

Territorial: He’s deeply protective of his space, and by extension, you. Anyone who intrudes on what he considers "yours" is immediately in danger.

Childlike trust: He’ll follow your lead almost blindly, looking to you for approval in everything he does.

Billy & Stu (Scream)

Chaotic duo: They’ll argue over who gets to sit next to you during a horror movie marathon and will both pretend they weren’t scared when you call them out.

Competitive affection: They’re constantly trying to outdo each other to impress you, whether it’s with compliments, gestures, or taking out "obstacles" in your life.

Endless pranks: They team up to prank you, but if you ever prank them back, they’re both shocked and oddly impressed.

Weirdly supportive: They encourage your dark side, hyping you up if you ever show any interest in violence or twisted humor.

Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street)

Dark humor overload: Freddy flirts through sarcasm and mocking, but if someone else dares to insult you, they’re in for a nightmare.

Dream manipulation: He creates scenarios in your dreams just to make you laugh or to give you an escape from reality. It’s his twisted way of caring.

Possessive in your dreams: He doesn’t like anyone else entering your subconscious space, treating it like his personal domain (king gojo).

Nightmare protector: If you’re scared of something in a dream, Freddy will destroy it for you, though he’ll make fun of you for being scared in the first place.

Asa Emory (The Collector)

Meticulous gifts: Asa leaves you intricate, terrifyingly beautiful things he’s crafted... like butterfly displays or twisted sculptures made from things you’d rather not know the origin of.

Fascination with your routine: He studies your habits obsessively, making sure he knows everything about your day to day life. If something disrupts it, he’ll "fix" the problem quietly.

Quiet, calculated affection: He doesn’t express love traditionally, but his attention to detail in how he takes care of you (even in small ways) speaks volumes.

Possessive and territorial: The idea of anyone else touching you or your belongings infuriates him. He’s not above setting traps to ensure people keep their distance.

Collector tendencies: You’re his most prized possession, but unlike the others, he protects you with a quiet reverence.

ChromeSkull (Laid to Rest)

Silent communicator: ChromeSkull relies on body language and technology to "talk" to you. Expect texts or typed out notes that are surprisingly sweet but still laced with his signature dark humor.

Obsessive filming: He constantly records you... not in a creepy stalker way (okay, maybe a little :D), but because he finds you captivating. The tapes are for him alone, and he guards them jealously.

Over the top protective: Anyone who so much as raises their voice at you is immediately on his hit list. His revenge is brutal, but he makes sure you never see that side of him.

Oddly stylish: He takes pride in his appearance and will sometimes dress you up too, giving you gifts like leather jackets or sunglasses to match his aesthetic.

Acts of service: His love language is taking care of "problems" for you, whether it’s fixing your car, eliminating someone who upset you, or just quietly keeping watch while you sleep.

The Sinclair Brothers (House of Wax)

Bo Sinclair

Charmer with a dark side: Bo loves flirting with you and making you blush, but there’s always an edge to it, as if he’s daring you to fall for him completely.

Overprotective sibling vibes: If Vincent or Lester get too close to you, he’ll intervene under the guise of "making sure they’re not bothering you."

Fix it guy: He’ll tinker with your stuff, fixing anything broken or making small improvements, even if you didn’t ask. It’s his way of showing he cares.

Jealous streak: Bo doesn’t handle competition well. If someone flirts with you, he’ll drag them into his workshop to "fix" them.

Vincent Sinclair

Artist’s devotion: Vincent loves sketching or sculpting you, often without you knowing. His art captures every detail, from the way your hair falls to the light in your eyes.

Gentle giant energy: Despite his imposing presence, he’s incredibly careful with you, treating you like something fragile and irreplaceable.

Silent adoration: He rarely speaks, but the way he watches you intensely and with complete focus says everything.

Gift giving: Expect handmade items like wax flowers, tiny sculptures, or jewelry. He pours his heart into these creations, and they’re always meant to protect or comfort you.

Lester Sinclair

Playful but protective: Lester loves teasing you, but if anyone else tries it, he’s quick to shut them down. He’s got a surprisingly sharp temper when it comes to your safety.

Nature walks: He loves taking you into the woods, showing you secret spots and teaching you random survival tricks, like how to set traps or identify plants.

Down to earth affection: Lester’s not one for grand gestures, but his constant kindness like keeping you company or bringing you snacks, makes you feel cared for.

Acts as the "buffer": He’s the calmest of the brothers and will often step in if Bo and Vincent get too intense around you.

!REQUESTS OPEN!

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somewhat-insane · 7 months ago

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Kinda request? You can denial if you don't like.

Sun Wukong x Male!Reader

Just reader take control of everything and shower the king with love hc

Ooo~ Yes! I need more x Male!Reader things in the fandom. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to write gendered readers so I don't think there's actually any implication the reader is male but- just believe I had a Male!Reader in mind- (I hope I understood the request correctly-)

~Sun Wukong x Male!Reader ~

Tags: Ooc, fluff

!!Warnings!!: Wukong's my favorite character so I kinda lost control of this one a bit so just- manage your expectations, mentally ill monkey doesn't know how to be normal about emotions

Doesn't really know how to react at first when you scratch behind his ears and groom his fur and squish his cheeks

He's the monkey king after all! The Great Sage; Equal to heaven! He can't break just because someone treats him with "love" and "care" pfft... but also, don't stop

He's not used to people being so... forward with him in this way

Sure, he's used to MK's enthusiasm and even Mei's impulsive rage, but, aside from a hug here and there, he's not used to such blunt affection

Emotional rollercoaster

"Obviously you love me! I'm the monkey king! ... But also, why don't you hate me?"

He's pretty suspicious for a while but tries to hide it in front of the others

He'll drop passive-aggressive hints but won't be outwardly rude UNLESS you meet his energy in which case he will start being blunt and insult you to your face (though, at this point I'm like 90% sure he's trying to flirt but not even he knows. He just likes going back and forth with you; though he sometimes gets genuinely upset, especially if you mention his past or mental state. He'll sulk for a while but then he gets an idea for a good comeback and is back to his old self)

How and why you show him love will determine how quickly he gets vulnerable with you

If you're gentle with him and just genuinely want to show him love and care, then I'd give him anywhere between a week and a month

One day you do one loving thing too many and he snaps

Literally

You're just letting him lay his head on your shoulder while you play with his hair and suddenly he's snarling and baring his teeth demanding that you tell him what you're planning

"You must be planning something! Otherwise, why would you be doing all this nice stuff and act so affectionate?"

After arguing with him and trying to calm him down, he starts crying and, congrats! Now you have to comfort a crying, immortal, murder monkey who is clinging to you like you'll disappear

After that, I wouldn't say he fully believes you--he'll always be subconsciously waiting for you to betray him--but he does start seeking you out and letting you love on him (and now he returns the affection!)

On the other hand, if you just show him affection to tease him, it could take years for him to fully trust you

Kind of an enemies-to-lovers type thing except the enemy part is kind of one-sided (unless it's not and you hate him and I have to ask, why do you hate him he is literally the best boi-... that may or may not be a murderer but that's unrelated -3-)

He'll lay awake at night replaying times you've made him blush and he'll just be cursing at himself for all the weird feelings you make him feel

He'll go from "knowing you're just teasing and teasing back" to "believing you're teasing and wishes you weren't" to finally "GOd DAMNIT JUST KISS ME ALREADY YOU HANDSOME IDIOT"

Once you get over the trust hurdle, he'll definitely take advantage

Clingy (he could only hold back his inner monkey for so long and now he has to be touching you in some way, shape, or form every second of the day)

The moment you sit down he is in your lap and begging you for affection

Whines... all the time

"Nooooooooo, don't get out of bed, you haven't given me enough pats yet."

Won't let you leave until you give him a bunch of kisses

Uh-oh. Now he's cocky and will show off

It takes a while, but eventually, you have a clingy monkey who melts at your touch.

I'm sorry this took so long- As I stated earlier, Wukong's my favorite and I just- I could talk about him forever-

#lego monkie kid #lmk #monkie kid #sun wukong #x male reader #x male y/n #monkie kid x reader #sun wukong lmk #monkie kid sun wukong #sun wukong x reader #monkey king #lmk sun wukong #lmk monkey king #lmk headcanon #headcanon #request #self insert #self indulgent #self indulgence at its finest

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acid-ixx · 2 years ago

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ive recently read this post made by @pantalonte and it's reminding me of hard-dom yandere scaramouche that people often write and nooo i can't tolerate it at all </3

i don't know much about kaveh but what i do know is that he's passionate, a perfectionist, and he cares too much. and when he's obsessed with you then it evidently seeps into his personality. he'd love to share ideas with you, love to see your interest in his crafts, and he'll make sure that with whatever topic you've talked about with him— he's done research on.

it's no doubt that even his roommate would eventually become annoyed at the incredibly obsessed architect who does nothing but yap about you, you, and you. how he'd love to settle in with you by the near future with a house, no, a mansion that he specifically crafts in regards to your tastes (but you're not even in a relationship, yet). wouldn't you relish at the fact that he has multiple blueprints finished that are all inspired by you? he may not earn a lot but he's even willing to take painful commissions that don't cater to his aesthetic just so he could save up some mora for your future home. he knows that his love for you is oozing in every bit of his life but he can't help it at all- he's never drowned in love before he even met you; and he've so much love to offer you.

he's definitely one of the more subservient and submissive yanderes that i could tackle. after all, i can imagine him kneeling on a cold, hard floor if you're on the meaner side, just to please you. he's also the type to be easily jealous and showy on his affections, at the same time flustered if you show him an ounce of it. if someone else were to flirt with him then whoever that person may be, i'd feel bad for because he won't shut up, in a defensive tone no less, about how nobody else can can compare to you: his muse, his love, his world, his everything. but when you flirt with him then he'll have no responses to come back with because his mind is hay-wiring.

jealous yan kaveh! is not only obsessive possessive, but wants to be possessed by you, in a way. he wants to be your only object of affection. he wants your eyes on him; and he'll make sure of that. if you've specific tastes then he'll cater to it, whether it'd be striking up a topic with you on a casual day or even going as far as stealing all your attention and time to ask for your opinion on a future 'mansion' he's planning to build (you wouldn't even know that every single one of your opinion is taken seriously to a T).

murder is definitely not first in his mind whenever his brain is clogged with the thought of competition, but he finds himself subconsciously guilt-tripping whoever is taking your attention, and sometimes even you because of how terribly he keeps his emotions in check. and because he opens up his heart to you, you're well-aware about his financial issues and that's a topic he'd vaguely mention in a conversation with you, and a useless face with a name he won't remember. he's independent, yes, but your sympathy and pity on him is something he'd unknowingly devour as you become closer with the architect.

his heart flutters at the thought of you helping him with a project, or a domestic life where he most certainly caters to the idea of being your house husband. he's passionate, so it won't be long 'til he learns a thing or two about housekeeping. and if he messes up on chores, then who's to say you wouldn't help your poor, needy husband? ahhh, just dreaming about your futures sure does things to his beating heart.

drunk yan kaveh! would be the cutest company you'll ever have if he's with you, and would be the most annoying if not. with his intolerance to alcoholic beverages, he'll be bound to confess. and no doubt that he's a light drinker but you'll never expect him to be drunk after a few shots, no? he's all over you, blushing and giggling and muttering about how you're the love of his life; his soulmate. he nearly falls off his seat trying to scoot over to your body, attempting to hug you, dare even kiss your cheeks and nape if you permit it. his head lolls over your shoulder as he whispers directly beneath your ears that you're the most stunning person he's ever had the joy to meet, that if he could (and most definitely would)- he'll offer you the world, maybe the universe, even if it's impossible.

#yandere kaveh #kaveh x reader #yandere genshin #yandere genshin impact x reader #yandere genshin impact #yandere x reader #yandere kaveh x reader #sub yandere #<- implied #soft yandere

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aclowntiny · 2 years ago

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How Seventeen Act Around Their Crush (Gender Neutral)

& my first work for Seventeen too 💎 hope you enjoy this Carats 🥰

S.Coups

♡ You may not figure out that he likes you immediately, but let me just start by saying Mr. Choi Seungcheol would be THE SWEETEST suitor to you!!!

♡ He looks at you with the fondest smile whenever you guys talk, nodding attentively & making tons of mental notes of what you tell him.

♡ Will absolutely use that in conversations later, like you mention your pet so he asks if they would like this thing he saw or he was at that café near where they live & hey, didn't you say that was your favorite spot?

♡ Anyone who makes you sad WILL FEEL HIS WRATH. Even if you don’t see it, he’ll give them a look that signifies their impending doom 🥰

♡ You’re the only person that can make him laugh as hard as you do- cherish his happiness as he does yours 🥺

♡ Also, you’ll pretty much be able to get away with murder. Behavior that the other members could never get away with slides by from you like it’s nothing. Teasing him & addressing him more casually/softly is a special privilege that is yours & yours alone.

♡ If you do anything potentially risky/dangerous, expect to have Seungcheol hovering around you at the ready to swoop in & help you!

♡ He’s more energetic around you, wanting to show you his bright side & how well he plays with the members, not just the tough leader side people may think of. He wants you to know there’s a softer side to him. Also, expect lots of heart eyes if you take care of him & the other members too, like it’ll just make his day if you show your doting side so pls indulge him lots you might get to see smiley affectionate Seungcheol if you do ☺️

♡ Once you get close he’ll greet you with the warmest hug everrrr 🥺

♡ Your support means the world to him, so he’s always expressing how grateful he is when you’re in his company.

Jeonghan

♡ You're going to have moments where you question it, where he leaves your head positively spinning because he's Yoon Jeonghan, but yeah, you'll be able to figure it out.

♡ The way he looks at you alternates between a soft, joyous smile & a mischievous smirk, it all depends on the interaction you're having.

♡ Subconsciously plays with his hair a lot around you because he wants to look good but it also has the side effect of looking soooo flirty not that he would complain if he really thought about it

♡ Playfully nudges you a lot & teases you, little things like asking 'say/do that again' whenever you say something funny or do something that you're a little flustered/shy over.

♡ Elaborate hoops jumped through to learn things about you, like he'll casually bring up a show he knows you'll have seen so he can talk about the popular ships within so he can ask what you think about romance or what relationship dynamics you enjoy.

♡ Incredibly caring though, like if you mention using something a lot he'll buy some & throw it in his bag to whip out for you or offer you his jacket when it's cold!!!

♡ Claps for anything you do, especially if it's out of your comfort zone past teasing, like an actual effort for you. His smile is so genuine in that moment, you really feel his empathy.

♡ Alwaysss generous & sharing with you, totally the type to surprise you with something that made him think of you & anything on his plate is yours to swipe & only yours.

♡ Tries to convince you to join his side in every game because he needs you to win even though he totally doesn't, he just wants you to rule at his side 😏

♡ Jeonghan is the guy who purposely steals someone else’s seat when they get up so he can sit next to you & gradually scoots closer during the whole movie 🩵

Joshua

♡ Joshua may accidentally have you gaslighting yourself because does he like you or is it just a very unfortunate or fortunate ;) coincidence that he acts like a total romance lead every time you see him? (Spoiler alert: it is not.)

♡ He introduces himself so politely, saying how he hasn't met you before but is really happy to meet you, & wowza does this man know how to make eye contact. That & his sweet smile are already swoon-worthy & he hasn't even started trying yet GDVSCS

♡ Any time there's a split decision, Joshua asks the others 'hey, why not let (y/n) decide?', taking advantage of any bickering or confusion to subtly give you some power. He hopes you see that way that he values your decision & wants to learn about you.

♡ Joshua is always making sure you’re comfortable, telling you no pressure whenever he asks something of you or if you seem anxious. The first one to remind you that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to especially if it’s just for a silly game or something!

♡ That’s probably how he breaks the touch barrier, reaching over & drawing a soothing circle on your back with his hand while comforting you or giving you a hug 🥲

♡ Also, moves you when you’re walking, pulling you a bit closer to him, as a bike goes by & tells you to be more careful so you don’t get hit ok?

♡ After you tell him your favorite song, he learns it in secret & just starts playing it on his guitar at the next gathering so he can see your surprised smile!

♡ Guaranteed he will text you to make sure you got home safe if he wasn’t there dropping you off 😭

♡ So nice if you ever apologize to him, he’ll repeatedly tell you you’re cool & probably say something like ‘you could never make me mad!!!’

♡ He’ll go between reenacting your favorite meme with you to dropping sweet words like ‘that’s why you’re my favorite, you get me 😌’ as if it was NOTHING

Jun

♡ Your first time meeting Jun, you'll just think he's super duper outgoing because he comes right up to you with a big smile on his face & introduces himself so wow, total social butterfly amiright? You may clue in on his interest if you manage to see that all that perking up is a direct result of your presence 👀

♡ Like, he could be sitting totally quiet & checked out, then in you walk & he practically bolts up, deadpan expression melting into a wide smile as he comes up to say hi.

♡ The first person to ask what you want to do whenever you visit the guys. Jun wants you to feel welcome not only with him but with the people he loves most!

♡ To break the ice, he shows you funny pictures of the other members & shares some laughs with you over them :3

♡ When he gets elected to go on the next snack run, he asks if you want to come for a breather from the crowd, then when you tag along he points out a bunch of city sights, helping you see a regular street like it's new again. All Jun can think about is how many other places he'd like to walk with you.

♡ Absolutely the type to pick a random little road flower & hand it to you 🥺

♡ He isn't super-duper-over-the-top-touchy-feely, but will definitely lean/fall on you when you guys are laughing super hard. May also pull the ol grab your hand to look at your nails/ring trick.

♡ If you don’t already speak Chinese, he’ll teach you the funniest sayings & maybe even things to say about the other guys too 👀 only you & Minghao get to know hehe

♡ Every time pictures get taken, Jun ends up next to you because he wants to see what you guys look like together please protect him!

♡ When you impress him, you’ll know because he looks at you with such awe & the cutest little wooow 🥹

Hoshi

♡ You're going to figure it out eventually whether it's his demeanor shift or the massive heart eyes he's always giving you.

♡ At first he's shy, hanging back a little, smiling & glancing at the ground with cute little nods at what you say that are just enough to encourage you- after all, he's not awkward, just comes across a little introverted.

♡ He quickly becomes comfortable as you chat & play with the guys more, & once you blend into the group he opens up like a wild sunflower, suddenly trying to impress you at any chance.

♡ Insists you be on his side/team for any of said icebreaker games under the pretense of wanting the new person or not wanting xyz other member but it's really just him wanting to sit by you 🥺

♡ Will do literally anything you ask. Go get you a water bottle because you don't want to get up? Done. Dare him to eat something weird before you do? Sure. You want him to teach you that ridiculous move you just saw on screen? Well, he'll sure as heck try!

♡ Honestly, he probably likes doing choreography bits hoping you'll think he looks cool, glancing over at you with a toothy smile as he does them. 100 percent will invite you to dance with him.

♡ From being so shy when you first met, comfortable Soonyoung will tentatively break touch barriers, starting with playful nudges & gradually working up to grabbing your hand to lead you places.

♡ Highkey this man wants to fall in love with his best friend, so you better believe you’re getting pulled into some ANTICS 😤 you’re going to become his ride or die!

♡ Even when he’s tired he seeks you out, telling you that time with you still feels like me time to him ☺️

♡ This man is all smiles when you’re around, trust me, you’re his sunshine ☀️

Wonwoo

♡ He's pretty good at hiding it from you if he wants to, but oh boy do the guys get a laugh because Wonwoo is never like this with anyone but you.

♡ He's an introverted guy, right? Quiet. Not unfriendly by any means, but not exactly outgoing either. Doesn't like the spotlight. So tell the guys why he is approaching you right away trying to get to know you 🤡

♡ What a menace, this guy probably immediately apologizes for the other guys, throwing them under the bus just to get to see you laugh.

♡ Wonwoo pretty much takes you under his wing from there, leading you through the chaos, introducing you to anyone else you don't know, & all the while subtly laying a claim to you bold.

♡ He'll make jokes about you, too, but only things he's seen you laugh at. Like if you tell him your family's had a running joke about you being clumsy for a long time with mirth in your eyes, then ok, he's going to teasingly tell you don't drop that & the like.

♡ Recommends things he thinks you’ll like, whether it’s books, songs, or a movie he saw recently. It helps him figure you out & gives you common ground to bond over later!

♡ All the supposed cool confident behavior kinda goes out the window if you’re a physically affectionate person though, like if you get touchy feely with Wonwoo that’s when he’ll get a bit more shy, just quietly smiling to himself.

♡ He wants to spend more time with you, so he’ll try to include or invite you into more one on one things, even if it’s just a quick errand.

♡ Does the most adorable attentive head tilt when you’re talking to him!!!!

♡ Probably also puts his glasses on you because he thinks it would look so cute bye 🥺

Woozi

♡ This is an interesting case, because it seems like you wouldn’t know with him, but there’s actually a pretty good chance you will. He tries to hide it, but he also doesn't know how to act when he has feelings lol

♡ The first time you meet him, he just straight-up looks a bit surprised you exist because holy crap you're really pretty what does he do with that??? Then the more you come around he just is shy 🥺

♡ It's so cute, every time you visit he always asks how you are. It comes out slightly awkward to him, but it makes you feel like he cares, too.

♡ Gets so embarrassed the first time you catch him practicing on his guitar not realizing how !!! that is. He shyly asks if you have any songs you'd like him to play once you acknowledge this new skill you've learned he has.

♡ He'll sing for you, but he just can't look you in the eye while he does it because his heart will explode ok? 🥺

♡ Makes absolutely hilarious comments off to the side, usually at a volume only you can hear so you guys can share a private laugh.

♡ Does goofy stuff, but only for you. The encouragement & grin you give him are worth the embarrassment of the action for sure!

♡ Would love to learn from you, so open up about your skills & Jihoon will have a bunch of questions for you. He's so smart too he'll ask really good ones, really trying to think deeply about your passions.

♡ Smiles so big once you break the touch barrier omg it'll be some of the happiest you see him I promise just do it!!!

♡ Purposely walks next to you on a chilly evening so he can 'spur of the moment' offer you his jacket 'you know, if you needed it since you looked sort of cold & I'm not really...' then once again looks so happy & proud at the sight of you in his jacket, goes from 🥺 to 😏 real quick!

♡ Yeah, you're going to know.

♡ He literally trips & falls the moment he sees you, prompting a reverse kdrama moment where you catch him, but he's such a good sport about it he just bursts out laughing & you do too so hey it wasn't all bad right???

♡ Pretty much follows you around after that, sticking by you & chatting a whole bunch but you can't complain because he makes you feel really comfortable & is super down-to-earth about it, listening as well as he talks.

♡ Gets so goofy around you, but it's cute so he gets a pass FDGSVCHSD 'Oh (y/n), I think you dropped this! *reaches into pocket, pulling out a finger heart & grinning*'

♡ Any hobby you have, he wants to try it too, preferably with you teaching him. Especially if it's something hands-on where you'll have to guide him 👀 but mostly because the things you love are a piece of you & he wants to experience that!!!

♡ Uses your name a lot because it shows how much he likes you & that your name is special to him!

♡ Seokmin adores doing funny skits with you, please play along & do the little voices with him it’ll make him so happy 😊

♡ Accidentally grabs your hand once while laughing really hard & it lives rent free in his mind because you don’t pull away so the gears are always turning in his head now how he’s going to recreate that 🥲

♡ Has a mental tally going with evidence of if you like him or not, but he second guesses himself & starts to try to find ways to test it like watching if you do the same things to the other guys

♡ He is just forever excited to see you, will always be bouncing on his heels to greet you & invite you to sit by him!!!

Mingyu

♡ You'll know pretty soon because he wants you to know. Uh, duh, how else is he going to date you???

♡ Glances at you a lot & also tries to catch you looking/staring if you are. If you guys meet eyes by chance, he'll wink & if you burst out laughing or get giggly his heart will melt.

♡ Suddenly goes macho mode, insisting electing to become the one who moves things out into the room & opens things up, probably also stretching the truth a bit by saying oh yeah, the guys always come to him for stuff like this.

♡ Conversations he is in become conversations you are involved in, as Mingyu will find any possible way to bring you into them even in the most mundane cases ever like people could be talking about the weather & he can still find a tie-in.

♡ Puts on an act of some retro bit just so he can take you by the hand & lead you somewhere gingerly but smoothly gliding with you, fingers tightening just so over yours.

♡ Will dramatically run a hand through his hair 'when you're not looking, the whole time internally trying not to be like 👀 straight at you

♡ Total flirt, like the type to say 'is that a challenge?' at any possible opportunity & playfight with you!

♡ Loves making things for you! Absolutely expect Mingyu to try his hand at whipping up a snack you like by hand because it's that much more personal that way 😌

♡ Playfully steals things from you & runs away, but not very fast because he wants you to catch him ❤️

♡ Despite all the flirting, he actually prefers non-appearance compliments because those are more genuine in his mind. Instead of telling you you look pretty, he'll more often compliment how much fun you are to be around or how intelligent you were when you figured something out!

The8

♡ DGFGDCSCVSGHCSVS you ain't gonna know shit at least not at first. Don't worry, he's super nice, you just won't be able to discern special treatment immediately like you could with some of the other guys!!!

♡ The type to want to get to know you before really considering having legit feelings for you, so he'll watch how you interact with others, making sure you're kind & respectful, then will ask you some questions too.

♡ One thing he'll probably want to know about you is what your goals are & your livelihood. He'll try his best to slip in a compliment to what you do & relate to it if he can find a connection.

♡ Definitely not the 'let you win games' kind of crush, he's gonna make you work for it 💀 but it'll be a laugh even if it's a little at your expense shhh

♡ Conversely if he feels like anyone is teasing you too hard he'll tell them to stop right away & probably check on you afterward too 🥺

♡ You become a muse for him, so he probably asks if he can take your picture if you wear something cool, strike an interesting pose, pick a flower, anything photogenic. That picture becomes an important memento to him, too, though, not just a symbol of the world's beauty.

♡ Wants you to know you can come to him with advice, opening up to you & showing your opinion a lot of respect to encourage that dynamic with you.

♡ Has tea ready for you every time you visit 🥺 learns exactly how you like it so he just pours it & makes it like your personal barista every time!!!

♡ Not afraid to very bluntly ask deep questions like if you believe in an afterlife, what's the most important character trait to you, what legacy would you most like to leave behind in the world, because those are important & any partner of his would be involved in plenty of late discussions like that.

♡ Minghao wants to experience nature with you, so he'll probably invite you outside or to share a beautiful view with him because he loves the way your face lights up & the wonderful sight reflects in your eyes 😌

Seungkwan

♡ It is Seungkwan's mission for you to NOT!!! KNOW!!! He likes you! Because that's embarrassing!!! But also he really really wants you to like him so 🤷🏻‍♀️

♡ Man is so incredibly smiley around you please 😭 he lights up whenever you walk into the room & will gradually head over to you because again, he is not obvious not at all.

♡ Cracks so many jokes around you because hey, funny people are cool, right? & also he's just a natural comedian anyway. Feels his chest grow four sizes when it works & you're laughing lots around him.

♡ You will never want a single thing while Seungkwan is around. He'll fetch you a drink, grab anything you want to try for you, go get a chair for you, totally bring the whole party to your sector if you look like you're feeling isolated.

♡ Very very shyly works on breaking the touch barrier starting with a simple 'oh hey, you have a little something...here, let me get it' & working up to putting a hand on your arm in mock condolence or when addressing you in conversation.

♡ Hypes you THE HECK UP!!! You're so good at what you do, you did so good at that song/dance, you're really nice he's having a great time talking to you fyi. If you take the spotlight, he'll be like your personal Vanna White.

♡ If you start hyping him up or getting touchy-feely though, Seungkwan will become a blushy, flustered mess so fast & mess up his next three attempts at a sentence 🥺

♡ LOVES to have little running jokes with you, anything that feels like it's special to you two just makes Seungkwan's heart go 💗 & makes him feel connected to you so he'll never let those jokes die.

♡ Will try to compliment your appearance, but will have to recover from his jaw dropping & will be super shy about it!!!

♡ No matter what, he'll take time to talk to you & you alone, paying full attention to what you're saying so hopefully you feel special, worth his time, & like you're truly connecting.

Vernon

♡ Discreet king. You won't be able to figure out his feelings until you want him to, but that's also because he's lowkey hard as shit to read lol

♡ Vernon is a little awkward with you, but in the endearing way where he's just really kind in a guy-next-door way so that's how you assume he is, like his swag attempts just fall flat which he realizes is a good thing anyway because pretense is gross.

♡ Once that hits he realizes he just got in his own head, calming down & just asking you some good old-fashioned questions like what you do for a living & what you enjoy doing because that's a better way of seeing if you guys actually connect & Vernon personally needs more of a foundation than 'hey look someone pretty'.

♡ One of his first questions is probably what kind of music you listen to because A. it's good icebreaker stuff, not weird B. everyone likes to talk about their favorite music C. it'll give Vernon a lot of insight into you & give you a great diving board for common ground.

♡ He's so easygoing with compliments, he doesn't realize how smooth he is sometimes. It's just so casual, like 'hey, I like that shirt. looks good on you :)'.

♡ Subtly tries to flex how well he knows you by answering questions in your stead, like asking for your favorite drink in front of you when another member starts offering drinks.

♡ Wants to know your thoughts on anyyyyyything before it gets done. Practically lets you make decisions for him because he doesn't really care...except suddenly he cares what you think 🤔

♡ One hundred percent the type to send you memes he found. You basically become his meme reviewer & he acts like you're the only one who gets them please feel special it's an honor ok?

♡ Not a toucher, but will lend you his headphones & put them on your head himself & make it feel strangely intimate & heart-fluttering as he slides them gently in place.

♡ Vernon is the only one allowed to sit next to you on movie nights, he doesn't make the rules except oh wait, he does oopsie 😘

Dino

♡ Dino would be such an interesting mix of forward & not obvious when it comes to showing his feelings 🤔

♡ Mr. Passion over here makes it HIS LIFE MISSION to talk to you & seem really cool & make you laugh & make you his.

♡ Walks so confidently up to you & introduces himself, completely nailing the first impression. Turns around so happy from your first successful conversation he walks into a table.

♡ Makes a point to bring up in conversation how he's been really working on vocal training in hopes you'll ask him to sing you something 👀

♡ Very encouraging, tries to get you to share in his spotlight half as a way to make you feel confident too & half to connect you & him in everyone's minds. Like if they ask him to perform something, you become his assistant/partner/congrats, you're getting dragged up to do it too.

♡ Probably takes up juggling or some shit so he has another cool party trick to bust out in front of you lmao

♡ The type to come up to you at a gathering if you look bored or lonely & pull you onto the dance floor because that will not do at all!

♡ As energetic as he can be, he holds your hands SO. GENTLY!!! The first time you guys dance, it's like you're made of the most precious substance known to man & he wouldn't dare cause a single bit of harm to it.

♡ Laughs at all of your jokes, even if he doesn't think they were that funny 🤫 & tries to learn your humor style so he can joke with you accordingly!

♡ When you walk together, offers to link arms like a gentleman, though in truth his heart is beating out of his chest when he does 💗 it's worth it when you agree & he gets to pull you close, looking at you like you're the most special thing he's seen & his resolve to complete his mission solidifies that much more.

691 notes · View notes

dreamingcloudie · 2 years ago

Note

hello! I'm kinda shy to request about this if you don't mind at all, but is it okay that you write about dottore with a s/o adopting a child and basically just cute married couples with family type of shit? it would be interesting to see his dynamic with the kid would be!

If you want too ofc! ^^

also i really like your content! it's so well written and it cheers me up so much :) 💖💕

❛❛ A Step Into Fatherhood ❜❜

✎ ❛❛ What do you mean I'm getting soft? ❜❜

Pairing(s): Dottore x GN!Reader

Genre/Format: Fluff (oneshot)

Warning(s): Use of Dottore’s (speculated) real name

wc: ~3k

Notes: Oh god I'm sorry I haven’t posted in a while 😭 I was on writer's block and still kinda am. But at last, here's finally a fic!! Haven't written in a while and got rusty, so this might not be good :') Anyways, I LOVE THIS REQUEST AHHH 💕💕💕 Dadttore is so UGH 😫👌This request got me all giddy. I hope you'll like it :D

Gentle flakes fell to the ground as you went from store to store. Your husband was in need of some materials to carry out his experiments. He asked a segment to gather them but you offered to help instead. You wanted to go out for a stroll anyways, so why not?

You were about to go back to the palace when you heard a noise coming from a nearby alleyway. It sounded like someone was rummaging through something.

You knew it was dangerous to investigate on your own without any weapons on you. But you couldn't help it, curiosity got the best of you and your legs subconsciously brought you closer towards the sounds of clanking.

Following the noise, it led you to a dumpster. The lid was closed so you weren't able to tell what was inside. Judging by the size of it though, you assumed it would be some sort of animal. You were expecting to see a raccoon when you opened the lid but what you saw made you scream and stepped back instead.

What the…

You slowly opened the lid again and an equally shocked but frightened face stared back at you.

What is a child doing here? You thought.

It was a little girl who looked no older than ten. She was wearing a thin layer of clothing and her hair was stained. In her hands she was holding a paper plate of thrown out food from a restaurant.

When you got closer again, her hands that were holding the plate recoiled to her torso and turned into fists. Tears were forming at the corner of her eyes and her form shook.

"Hey… it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you," you said in a hushed voice.

Once the little girl seemed calmed down enough, you spoke again, “What are you doing here? Where are you from?”

"I'm from over there…" She pointed. You followed where her finger was pointing at and your heart dropped.

House of the Hearth.

The orphanage where Arlecchino trained the kids to become soldiers? What was this kid doing here?

"I see… I don't know how you got here but why don't I take you back—"

"No!" She yelled, taking you off guard.

"Please… I don't want to go back there… The others are mean to me…"

She was now sobbing and you were trying to think of what to do.

She looked like she really didn't want to go back there… You would feel bad for forcing her to go back. But it couldn’t be good to just leave a kid all by herself here as well.

From the looks of her fragile frame, she definitely hasn’t eaten a sustainable meal in a long time. Poor kid, it was cold out and that bread didn’t look edible.

What other options did you have?

You were someone who adored kids, and the protective instinct inside of you screamed.

Without thinking, you blurted out, “Why don’t you come with me? I can take you to a warmer place and give you something nicer to eat."

The little girl was hesitant, but you could see her eyes lit up a little.

“Really?”

“Of course! Being out here by yourself is dangerous anyways.”

She got out of the dumpster and approached you with small steps. Once she got close enough, you took your own coat off and draped it over her.

“There we go, this will keep you warm enough until we get back,” you muttered, gently taking her hand into yours as you made your way back to the resting quarters.

- - -

When you reached the palace, you quickly took her to your room, trying to avoid anybody on your way there. You couldn't risk letting anyone see the kid here, who knew what they would do to her if they found out she escaped Arlecchino's orphanage?

And you most certainly didn't want to face that harbinger's wrath.

You let out a breath of relief when a Fatui agent only nodded to greet you as he passed the hallway without making a comment on how your stance was off, while simultaneously holding the bag of materials at an awkward angle. You waved back at him with a sheepish smile. Once you made sure he was out of sight, you reached behind you to take a hold of the little girl's hand again before continuing on your way.

"Alright, we're almost there."

You looked both sides of the hallway, taking a double check to make sure nobody saw you before grabbing the door handle and pushing it open, pulling the kid inside with you.

The door closed with a click and you leaned against it, trying to calm down how fast your heart was beating. Archons, were you glad that Dottore convinced you to take some basic stealth lessons. You didn't think it was necessary… up until now.

"Okay, well, welcome to my room!" You walked over to a desk and set the bags there. Thinking you could just give them to your husband later.

The girl looked around your room in awe, it was huge. To her, this felt like a bedroom a royalty would own from the tales she had heard of. There was a queen-sized bed in the middle and the blankets looked really soft and fluffy. She could imagine how nice it would to sleep on it.

"Wow… I've never been in a room this big before!" She exclaimed, her eyes wandered through different pieces of furniture and objects decorating the room.

"How about we give you a nice warm bath? Then I can show you around more later."

You took her to the bathroom and ran a hot bath for her. She was making bubbles in her hands while you washed her hair, rinsing the suds off her head.

"And we're done!" You clapped your hands together, feeling satisfied with how clean she was now.

You wrapped a towel around her and took her back to your room again, digging through your closet for clothes that were suitable enough for her to wear for the time being. Fortunately for you, you were able to find some of your old clothes from when you were a kid. You didn't throw them away just in case you wanted to reminisce about your childhood.

Well, instead of sitting at the bottom of the drawer collecting dust, you could put them to good use again.

Once you were done with dressing her up, she looked at herself through the closet mirror and her eyes widened at how nice they looked on her.

"Mr(s)... Um…"

"What's wrong?" You asked, worried that she might not like them.

"I don't know what to call you…"

That was when you realized you never told her your name, nor did she ever tell you hers.

"Ah, how could I forget! My apologies. You can call me (Y/n)! What about you, sweetie?"

Her eyes glinted at your name and smiled.

"Thank you, Mr(s) (Y/n)! I really like these clothes. They look so nice!" She paused before responding to your question.

"My name is Lilly."

Right as she finished her sentence, someone knocked on the door.

"Dear? Are you in there?" A voice you knew too well spoke.

Shoot.

It was your husband. And there was a random kid with you.

Oh no, what am I going to tell him?! You panicked. How were you going to explain to him you brought a child to your shared bedroom?

Your thoughts were disrupted when he knocked on the door again.

"Dear? I'm coming in—" The door handle twitched, but stopped when you yelled, "Wait!"

You told the child to hide in the closet and to not come out unless you said so. A look of confusion mixed with fear appeared on her face but she obliged anyway, hiding at the corner of the closet.

Closing the closet doors, you jogged over to the bedroom door and opened it, revealing your husband who was standing there, twirling a vial of blue liquid in his hand.

"There you are, darling. That took you a while, is everything alright?" He asked.

"Oh nothing, I was just, uh, examining the materials I went to collect for you!"

Archons, you hoped that was convincing enough.

"Really? Since when did you get interested in Chaos Cores?" He teased, showing you his signature grin.

"Just today! Haha…"

"Is that so…" He trailed off, noticing something on the ground.

"Hmm?" He hummed, taking his mask off to take a better look of the floor.

There was a water droplet. No, multiples of them.

"May I ask why the carpet is wet?"

Oh no, it must've been from the little girl's hair. It was still wet and you didn't dry it fully.

"I-I spilled some water! Yeah… I was clumsy." You smiled sheepishly at him.

He looked around the room and raised a brow.

"But I don't see a cup anywhere around here?" His attention went back to the droplets on the ground and noticed it was a trail.

A trail leading toward the closet.

He walked over to it and stopped right in front of it. You were about to stop him but he was quicker. His hands swung the closet doors open.

From where you were standing, the clothes on the hangers casted shadows on her form and they were hiding her well. They should be able to hide her from your husband's sight too… you hoped.

But of course, with keen eyes such as his, nothing could escape him. His squinted eyes were now slightly widened. He expected to find someone or something, but definitely not a kid.

"What—"

"W-wait! Zandik, let me explain."

You told him how she ran away from the orphanage and she was all alone out there, so you wanted to help her.

"So you're telling me… this is a kid from Arlecchino's orphanage? Darling, you know how she could get if she finds out," he reasoned with you.

"I know, but she was scared! And I couldn't just leave her on the streets on her own either. So with no other choices, I decided to just take her here, and maybe take her in…" You trailed off. Gesturing to the little girl that it was safe to come out now. She got up and approached you, hiding behind your leg as she looked at Dottore.

"So, can she stay, please?"

He stared intently at the ground, seemingly deep in his thoughts.

Now, you knew that Dottore was not fond of kids. But unbeknownst to you, occasionally he would dream of having this fantasy of his. To have a little family with you…

And of course, he wasn't ready to become a father to his own kids yet, so maybe he'd take this opportunity to practice parenting.

He signed, faking his annoyance to conceal his unexplainable excitement.

"Fine, she can stay."

- - -

For the first week of her stay here, she was shy. The only person she wasn't afraid to talk to was you. She tried to talk to Dottore once but he unintentionally acted cold towards her, causing her to back away.

You couldn't blame him though, he was awkward around kids.

So, to make it up to her in his own way, he ordered his segments to set up a new room for her.

You brought her to the room they were preparing in, wanting to know how she was liking her room so far and to also introduce her to the segments.

You knocked on the door and went in, while she trailed after you, hiding behind you as usual.

The segments stopped what they were doing and turned to the sound of someone coming in.

"Ah! So this is the kiddo Prime told us about." Beta was the first to speak.

Theta got closer to the both of you and kneeled down to Lilly's eye level.

"Hello! I'm Theta, you must be Lilly, yes?"

Lilly was too distracted by the white and black mask he was wearing, not listening to a single word that came out of his mouth. She tugged at your pants and said, "Mr(s) (Y/n), he looks like a clown!"

Upon hearing her words, you and the other segments began to laugh, all except for Theta.

"S-She called you a clown!" Beta wheezed.

"Quite fitting, don't you think, Theta?"

"I'm not a clown! God, what was Prime thinking when he chose to wear this mask back then…" He said, deadpan.

Omega quieted down his chuckle and asked, "So, how are you liking your room so far, little one?"

Lilly looked around the room, the wall was painted with her favorite color and animal for the pattern. The bed she was given to was smaller than the one in your room, but was still big to her. A unicorn plushie, which was made by Delta, was placed on it.

"I love it!" She bounced slightly in excitement.

- - -

For the second week, Dottore and Lilly would start to interact with each other more. He has been taking notes by observing the way you'd talk to her, how you'd take care of her…

He was still awkward around her, of course. But at least he wasn't being cold to her anymore, so that was an improvement.

And Lilly, she was starting to grow more comfortable around him, as well. He wasn't as intimidating as she thought he'd be when he gifted her a mini robot, made with the leftover parts of a ruin guard. And now, she would sleep with it next to her at all times.

You were out to run some errands today, leaving Lilly in Dottore's care. She was reading a children's book on her bed, while Dottore sat next to her, patting her gently on her head.

She got to one of the pages and her eyes shined at how pretty the princess looked in the picture.

"Mr. Zanny?" She called out to him, using the nickname she gave him.

He hummed in response, signaling her to continue.

"I want my hair to look like this pretty lady's, do you know how to do that?"

He leaned over to see an illustration of a woman with long, braided hair.

"Why yes, I do, angel. Would you like me to do that for you?" He said.

In return, he also had a nickname for her. He thought the word "angel" suited her. As she's such a pure and innocent child.

Lilly nodded eagerly and turned around, her back facing Dottore. Grabbing a brush from the vanity table, he brushed her hair and undid the tangled locks, until it was tidy enough to be put in a braid.

You'd expect him to not know anything about braiding someone's hair but he was surprisingly good at it.

Once he was done, he grinned at how it turned out. Lilly went over to a mirror and admired her hair, it looked neat and exactly how she thought it'd look like.

She turned back to where Dottore and muttered out a little shy "Thank you."

- - -

It was late at night and everyone was sound asleep. Well, almost everyone.

Lilly was turning in her sleep, horrid images of scary monsters flashed in her mind and she woke up with a gasp. Her eyes darted around her room and it was dark. The moon light from the window barely lit the room up. She got out of bed and took the tiny robot Dottore made with her.

Luckily for her, the room you and Dottore slept in was not far from hers, she opened the door slightly ajar and peered inside. Noticing the two slightly moving silhouettes in the room.

She tiptoed to your side of the bed and poked your arm.

"Mr(s) (Y/n)?" She whispered.

You were a light sleeper so it didn't take you long to stir awake.

"Mmm… Lilly? Why are you awake?" You asked, turning over to face her fully, waking your husband up as well.

"I had a nightmare and I'm scared…" She told you, her voice trembled and her arms wrapped around the robot tightly.

"Oh, you poor thing…"

You helped her to get on the bed and laid her down between you and your husband. He yawned and was trying to comprehend why Lilly was in the bed with the two of you.

He looked at you for answers and you only said, "Nightmare."

"Would you like to listen to a story to help you sleep, Lilly?" You asked.

She pondered for a while before answering, "Yes please."

“Let’s see… Once upon a time, there was a little girl,” you began, then looked at Dottore to continue. He groaned a little and tried to think of something in his sleepy state.

“The little girl had a knife— I mean uh… A teddy bear? His name was… Bob,” he said. Making his sentence a bit more family-friendly when you glared at him.

“She and the teddy were best friends, they would go on an adventure together.” You added more to it.

“Then the little girl later strangled the teddy—“ He stopped when you hit his arm.

"What he meant to say was, the little girl later helped the teddy bear with a mission…"

The both of you carried the story on, well, more like you having to constantly make changes to Dottore's… questionable imagination.

But overall, it went pretty well, sometimes Lilly would snicker at the jokes Dottore made. But laughed even harder at his horrible attempt at talking in a high pitch voice to mimic the teddy bear.

His face was red from embarrassment, to say the least, that he made a fool out of himself just to make the two of you laugh.

It was embarrassing… but it was worth it, to hear the laughter of his two sweet angels.

"And finally, Bob made it home safely… The end." You ended the story.

You turned your attention to Lilly and you could tell she was getting tired, her eyes were droopy and she could barely keep herself awake.

As her mind was about to take her away into the land of dreams, you heard her muttering.

"Night night, daddy… Night night (mommy / other daddy)..."

Bonus:

Dottore walked into Arlecchino's office and slammed some papers onto her work desk.

"The papers are signed, she is now officially my daughter."

"Very well."

#genshin x reader #genshin impact x you #genshin x you #genshin x yn #dottore #genshin impact #dottore x reader #dottore x y/n #dottore x you #genshin dottore #il dottore #fatui harbingers x reader #fatui harbingers #fatui x reader

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wing-ed-thing · 1 year ago

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Levi x Reader x Erwin Love Triangle Headcanons

Tags/Warnings: No Reader Pronouns, Slight Name-Calling (1)

𓆃 Levi having the initiative in a love triangle setting? What is this? An AU?

𓆃 This dynamic is sure to produce your classic love triangle feelings and troupes tenfold. Both are very powerful men with Levi being loyal, reliable, and slightly aloof, while Erwin is charming, calculating, and the definition of aloof.

𓆃 Levi has the advantage in the dynamic (which is a rarity for him, considering his reserved nature) simply because Erwin has basically sworn relationships off already.

𓆃 Although, this doesn't stop Erwin from trying to have his cake and eat it too. While he couldn't allow himself to have a life with Marie, that doesn't mean he's above teasing, flirting, and otherwise courting all time tell himself— and perhaps even telling you— that he's not looking for anything more.

𓆃 Levi also isn't one to jump at the prospect of an intimate relationship either (whatever that looks like for the two of you). He prefers to take things slow to scope you out as a person.

𓆃 Perhaps you'll hear, "Let's go out," or probably more likely, "I need dinner, let's go," but that's about the extent Levi is going.

𓆃 In fact, the only time the word "date" is ever going to be explicitly said is if you ask, "Is this a date?" to which Levi might answer, "Call it whatever you want, idiot" but only if you're particularly oblivious.

𓆃 It's more than Erwin will acknowledge. He'll make any excuse for you to accompany him on things, telling you that he wants to eat out for lunch and tells you to order what you want because he's putting it on the office tab.

𓆃 Don't even bother asking if anything is remotely outside professional because all you'll get back is, "Hm? What gave you that impression?" with a look on his face that makes you wonder if he's being serious or not.

𓆃 It's not that Erwin doesn't want you; it's that he desires something even more. This combined with his expert masking abilities and charm, translates to mixed signals at best.

𓆃 He's content with getting what he wants out of his relationship with you while avoiding placing labels on what you are for as long as possible.

𓆃 Levi, on the other hand, is far too... introspective. He has a lot going on, and he's mostly aware of it all, including his past losing people he cares about.

𓆃 There's not exactly a specific fear. It's more that he's lost tolerance for vulnerability, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Subconsciously, he almost expects good things in his life to be followed by bad things.

𓆃 He'll continue to build a deep friendship with you, displaying deepening feelings through reluctant or secretive acts of service, leaving you with a strong and intimate friendship.

𓆃 Unlike Erwin, Levi's a bit more casual about labels. Ending the love triangle could be as easy as, "Are we a couple?" "If you say so. We've been living together for 8 goddamn months."

𓆃 It'll take quite the catalyst for one of them to make a definitive move. Even if you made your intentions known, it's likely not enough to bypass Erwin's mixed thoughts or Levi's.

𓆃 Erwin doesn't even know what he wants, and Levi is too fixated on what a deeper relationship with you means.

𓆃 So until something big happens that knocks either of them into shape, Erwin is content to play house with you, and Levi will continue to scope you out, overthinking until it's too late.

Thank you to all who liked, reblogged, followed, and supported. Your support means so much and is greatly appreciated.

If you're interested in more Levi x Reader x Erwin, consider checking out my 17.5k fic Stupid, Stupid, Emotionally Unavailable Erwin Smith or on AO3.

#levi x reader #levi ackerman x reader #erwin x reader #erwin smith x reader #aot x reader #snk x reader #levi ackerman #erwin smith #aot #snk #attack on titan x reader #shingeki no kyoujin x reader #x reader #x you #x gn!reader #gender neutral reader #gender neutral y/n #gn reader

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arom-antix · 1 year ago

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Yuri!!! On Cards collaboration!

So, I know I've been pretty inactive recently, at least in posting my own art but for good reason! In the Yuri on the Web Discord server artists and writers alike have all collaborated to illustrate a deck of cards and write stories for each of them. And as a resident artist myself, I couldn't not take the opportunity to draw for this project UuU

Oh and if anyone was wondering, yes, I am to blame for inflicting this giant project onto the server BUT I REGRET NOTHING AND NEITHER WILL YOU IF YOU CHECK OUT EVERYONE ELSE'S WORKS. Trust me, they are amazing! The masterpost can be found here!

GIANT thanks to @lines-on-ice and @yaoiconnoisseur for helping so much and being amazing co-administrators and basically making this entire thing possible! You really saved me from my own overambition XD

The guidelines for this project can be found on the Yuri!!! On Cards blog as can the masterpost with all the links to everything. All the art that gets posted to Tumblr will also be reblogged by the blog.

With all that said, here's the actual art I made! (Break for those who don't want their dash to die UuU)

Okay, I lied. First, I'd heavily recommend for you to check out the guideline posts, both the general and artists' and even the writers' if you're up to it to get a grasp of the perimeters of this project. There's also some vague lore and AU stuff about the whole thing to find which will give you context for why the art looks the way it does to a certain extent.

You can also just jump right in and take everything as I ramble about it which, I mean, I won't stop you, the guideline posts aren't short. I will not blame you. You can still just look at the art. If that's your choice, go on ahead!

First up!

Ace of the Kingdom Otabek, The Deep Shadow

Being of the Kingdom of Diamonds, he's skillful and sharp. He moves quietly as a shadow and is just as mysterious.

Okay, I can't comment much on how he actually is, you'll have find that out by reading his fic(let?). They were supposed to be ficlets but as writers tend to do, none of us could manage that so take "ficlet" with a big grain of salt for every written work.

I've, by the way, not read any of the ficlets for this project beside my own so I'll get to experience the reveal with y'all and I'm gonna perish waiting.

Anyway, about the art. The yellow of course comes from the Kingdom of Diamonds' designated colour. As for the outfit, it's based on this handsome fellow I found who's supposed to be a Kazakh archer which I thought fit Otabek's whole shadow thing perfectly (and Writingfromtheshadow's fic Equivalent Exchange has me in an iron grip and I don't want to be released).

If there are any Kazakhs in the audience, you are free to laugh at me for any inaccuracies or missteps, I am but a humble little not-Kazakh, I don't expect to have gotten it all right UuU

Next up!

King Yuuri, Wanderer of Dreams

The ruler of his realm, he is as the mind flows. Kind and benevolent yet of fickle thoughts, the spirals of the subconscious are ones he both masters and bows to.

Again, gonna be waiting for his fic with everyone else but like. It's Yuuri. Anxiety is kind of a given.

In terms of art, I don't know if you can tell but this was where I started writing my will because oh my stars, what did I get myself into. If you follow me or my art, you'll know that I don't draw lineless. Like ever. And apparently I decided this project on a deadline that others were depending on me making look nice was the place to go all out.

And the worst part is that I'm not even mad at it so I have no argument to not do it again.

Anyway, the blue is from the designated colour of spades and yes, you've guessed right as to why this colour was picked for this suit. I'm predictable, leave me alone. As for the rest, the outfit is inspired by traditional Japanese dress that the Internet told me about (again, Japanese may laugh at me all they want UuU Your culture is very cool but also there was so much info, I hope I got it at least a bit right).

Also I spent like eight hours looking at hanakotoba for this and I've never been this happy about a decision I regretted so much while I was having to draw that many flowers. And you know I had to include The Gay Flower^(TM).

The Japanese iris is now Yuuri's btw.

All the flowers used are: Japanese irises, Jasmine flowers, Forget-me-nots, cherry blossoms, white roses, green carnations and blue roses (Viktor's flower. Read: I am predictable).

And finally!

Queen Minako, Tamer of Minds

Of the Realm of Dreams, she sees your fears, the snares laid by the subconscious and, strict and blunt as she is, she clears a path for the motivated and lets no potential go to waste.

Again, haven't read a word of the fic.

This one was by far the one that I made the fastest and I would've loved to do more with it but like deadlines. I'm gracefully skipping over the fact that I set the deadline and am fully to blame for being late.

But, as with Yuuri, blue is for spades. And since I wanted her to have a leotard but still match Yuuri and make her outfit look even slightly Japanese inspired, sheer fabric to the rescue! With cherry blossoms, of course, because CSP had the pattern preinstalled UuU

And I don't know if it worked but I tried to make her hair both look like her signature style, traditional Japanese hairstyles I found on the good ol' Interwebs and then kind of a spade by having that middle stick be the stem and the hair the spade's butt.

Also this probably goes without saying but the ranks of the characters are just titles. Yuuri is not married to Minako, she is just the Queen and he the King, don't worry.

Again, a BIG thank you to everyone who also participated, it was so fun to work together on this and see everyone's progress! Nic and Lil, you're amazing, thank you so much for everything you've done for this!

And to everyone who's made it this far, thank you for sticking around and please go check out all the other art and the ficlets! I promise it's worth it!

Masterpost | AO3 collection

#AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this project almost killed me #i am so infinitely happy about everyones contributions they are so lovely and i am gonna die happy now #but seriously what idiot decided to try a new and more detailed rendering style on a deadline #its me #i am that idiot and if i had a time machine past me would have gotten the fattest slap #idk if im ever gonna do that again but if i know myself at all itll happen because this wasnt disastrous enough a result to dissuade me #and most of it im pretty happy with #also i had so much fun with otabek #i got to play with light and texture and light and those smoke tendrils in the back and light and that fabric and light and #also rendering minako was a BLAST even if i churned her out on severe sleep deprivation my only energy being spite for my own mortality #oh and yes it was a this we decided that the aces should somehow incorporate the king of the given suit so the anger kitten is there #in otabeks i mean #now ON TO ANOTHER PROJECT #THATS... ON A DEADLINE #UH #yuri on cards #yuri on ice #yoi #yuri on ice fanart #yoi fanart #fanart #art #arom antix art #arom antix #otabek altin #katsuki yuuri #okukawa minako #collab

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dontcallmebugaboo · 8 days ago

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M'kay, guess I should preface this by saying that I got the idea from this about...a year ago? @alliebirb set things in motion by saying that there should be a story about Anzu helping the pharaoh get through the desert in one piece during the Orichalcos arc when the man was seriously going through it. As soon as I read the prompt, I knew I had to write it. This story was calling out to me.

What took me so long? Well, a full-time job, school, depression, and writer's block is a BEAST. Funnily enough, it was thanks to my commute on a train that got me going. Please note, I haven't written Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfic in YEARS and I know I got some things wrong while trying to recreate On the Wrong Track Part 1, but I'm still fairly proud of how this turned out.

This is primarily Anzu's POV and it was supposed to just be her POV, but, much like he does in the show, Yami took over because he decided that he had some things to say, as you'll see in this story lol

Enjoy!

Bricks and Mortar

A shiver slid down Anzu's spine as she felt the full blast of the train's air conditioning. Pursing her lips, sapphire eyes narrowed as she examined the ventilation system above her head. Finding the knob that would stop the onslaught of cold air that barraged her poor form, Anzu switched it off. Sighing in relief, yet still shivering from the lingering cold, Anzu subconsciously leaned in closer to her seat neighbor, trying to steal their warmth only to pause in embarrassment when she realized just who she was pressed against. Yami...the Pharaoh. Taking a subtle breath to try and force the heat away from her face, Anzu glanced at her silent friend. His violet gaze pierced the seat in front of his, yet Anzu suspected that he was looking well beyond what was right in front of him. She doubted that he even felt the cold from the air conditioner. Was he even feeling anything at all? Anzu glanced down toward his hands, balled tightly into fists, and pressed firmly into his lap. She wouldn't be surprised if his hand started bleeding soon, or if his thigh were to bruise. A dull ache made her heart throb as her mind reminded her that technically, it was Yugi's hand that would bleed... Yugi's leg that would bruise. Yet Yugi wouldn't know about any injuries to his body. Yugi wasn't there at all. Anzu took another deep breath and forced it out slowly through her nose so as to not disturb the Pharaoh. Not that he would likely even notice that she was agitated in any way. Still, the action helped Anzu refocus on the matter at hand while gently putting her own feelings about Yugi's sacrifice aside. That would just have to wait.

Looking over to the despondent King of Games, Anzu bit her lip before inwardly rolling her eyes at her own hesitation. She reached over and gently rested her hand over his fist. The contact was enough to startle Yami out of his reverie, his gaze snapping down to see her hand over his. While Anzu didn't expect him to hold her hand in return, he didn't pull his hand away either. Keeping his eyes on their hands, Yami finally broke the somber silence with his deep timbre. "I don't deserve your pity, Anzu." Anzu scoffed. "I'm not pitying you, Yami. I don't do pity." She softened her gaze. "However, I am worried about you." "Why should you worry for a monster such as I?" Okay, now that ticked her off. "You are not a monster," Anzu hissed as she tried to not draw attention to either Yami, herself, or their friends who were clearly not listening in on their conversation. "Don't you ever think that, not even for a second." Yami scoffed quietly. "You clearly think too highly of me if you cannot see the darkness that my heart is steeped in." Anzu rolled her eyes, disgusted. "Is that what that piece of work Raphael told you? That you're evil, or something? And you bought that bull?" 'Of course he did,' Anzu's inner voice piped up. 'If there's one thing you know about Yami is that he's a very passionate man who feels with his whole heart. He was also once the king of an entire realm, a fact that he remembers nothing about. He's probably going to take any information about his past as fact. 'He's also a very proud man.' His pride was very strong; Anzu was all but certain of that. Of course, if someone had told Yami was evil, he would do everything in his power to prove otherwise. The thing about pride, however, was that it was also a vice.

It could make even the strongest duelist clumsy, leading to making foolish mistakes. "You weren't there, Anzu," Yami replied heatedly. "You didn't see how easily I gave into the darkness that lay within me. I fell--" "You didn't fall Anakin," Anzu interrupted, knowing full well that the pop culture reference would be enough to throw the Pharaoh off-kilter, shutting him up. She bit back a smile at the memory of introducing a millennia old spirit to the Star Wars saga one stormy summer night when for once the world was calm and not in jeopardy. "You were tripped," Anzu continued. She gently squeezed the hand she still held. "I'm right here to help you back up. Jonouchi and Honda are also here to help you up. Please, let us help you." Glancing up through her fringe, Anzu was able to see both boys nodding, silently agreeing with her words. There was a fiery determination in both of them that she was grateful to see. Yami looked away, silent. As if sensing his forthcoming protest, Anzu cut in, "Don't you think for a second that you aren't worthy of our help." The Pharaoh let out a long, shaking sigh. He clenched his free hand, and though his head was turned away from Anzu's, she was still able to just see the moisture in his eyes.

“Just know that we are right here and we’ll catch you if actually do fall,” Anzu promised before releasing Yami’s hand.

He was silent for a long moment before finally muttering, “Right.” He stood, keeping his gaze away from Anzu’s. “Excuse me, Anzu. I just need a moment alone.”

Anzu stared worriedly after the pharaoh’s retreating form. His head hung down and his shoulders were slumped, revealing his feeling of total defeat. Her heart ached in sympathy for him. “Poor guy,” she murmured.

“He’ll be okay, Anzu,” Honda quietly reassured her. “He just needs some time.”

“I can’t even imagine what it’s like for him,” Jonouchi put in. “He didn’t just lose a duel; he practically lost his other half. He and Yugi shared a body. Must be real quiet in there now.”

Anzu sighed heavily, the weight of the past few hours pressing down on her. “That’s true.”

“How are you doing right now, Anzu?” Honda asked.

She looked up at him, blinking in surprise.

“You’ve known Yugi the longest,” Honda persisted. “This is probably just as hard for you as it is for the pharaoh.”

Anzu was silent for a moment; images of going over to the Kame Game Shop multiple times a week after school flashed through her mind. All the board games they’d play together after rushing through homework. Well, Yugi rushed, while she chided him for not putting more effort into the assignments.

The brief, yet sweet moments of victory when she’d beaten him at a game.

The sound of a handheld electronic game hitting the wall hard and clattering to the floor in a bout of frustration with the game’s difficulty.

Yugi’s cheerful and encouraging smile when he—

Okay, that was enough.

Anzu smiled brightly even though she knew it wouldn’t reach her eyes. As long as her smile restrained the grief that threatened to crash over her, that would be fine.

“It stings,” Anzu finally replied carefully, fiercely determined to not let her voice crack. “I’m worried about Yugi’s soul. But,” She took another breath and clenched her fists as she squared her shoulders. “We’re going to get him back. I know we will.”

“’Course we will,” Jonouchi agreed, his amber eyes bright as ever with conviction. “That Leviathan thing won’t have its slimy mitts on Yug for much longer.”

“Well,” Honda said in an attempt to inject some levity into the situation. “Yugi might have to wait for a few hours at least. Not much we can do on this train at the moment.”

Anzu and Jonouchi chuckled before Anzu turned to lean her head against the cool glass of the window. Honda was right, there was nothing to be done in the moment, and that was why she resented the spike of helplessness that flared up in her heart. Right now, she had to sit there on the train as she and her friends were carried off to Florida while Yugi’s soul was locked away by the Orichalcos. She couldn’t do anything; she couldn’t comfort the pharaoh, not when he didn’t want such attention, and she certainly couldn’t give into the yawning ache at thought of losing her childhood best friend.

Yugi wasn’t lost and Anzu knew, in her heart of hearts, just like she believed in the Heart of the Cards, that they would get Yugi back. That didn’t stop her from clenching her jaw and furiously blinking away tears. Crying would do her no good in that moment. Instead, she entertained herself with the idea of hunting down Dartz and punching him in his stupid, arrogant face. Maybe she’d be lucky and shatter his nose or crack his jaw. Make it impossible for him to talk and spread his vile lies. Raphael was definitely next on her list.

Granted, she probably wouldn’t get the opportunity to be close enough to be within striking range of either one of those egotistical assholes, but the thought certainly lifted her spirits.

“Hey, Anzu.”

Barely biting back a scream as she was jolted from her thoughts, Anzu turned toward Jonouchi who had called out to her. “Yeah?” She asked, uncaring if either of her boys could hear the tremble in her voice.

“Is it just me or is it really quiet right now?”

Abruptly, Anzu became aware of the deafening silence on the train car save for the gentle hum of the wheels racing over the track. She stood up and took in the fact that save for Jonouchi, Honda, and herself, the car was completely deserted.

“There’s not a single soul in sight,” Honda noted quietly.

“Don’t say soul,” Anzu shakily pleaded as she exited her seat and began walking toward the front of the car. They had to find Yami. Something potentially sinister was happening and it would do the group no good to be separated from one another.

Luckily, the found the wayward pharaoh within seconds, though the trio was polite enough to not comment on the pain still reflected in his deep violet eyes. “Something weird is goin’ on here,” Jonouchi informed him. “There’s nobody here, and I know this car was full when we boarded.”

Yami frowned as he looked past his friends and saw that Jonouchi was right. There wasn’t a single person save for the four of them in the train car at the moment. He tried to ignore the suspicion that Dartz had managed to find them on their way to Orlando and perhaps had done something to the other passengers.

If there actually had been other passengers on the train to begin with.

Steeling himself, Yami turned toward the front of the car and began walking down the aisle at a brisk pace. “Come,” he called over his shoulder. “Standing around and worrying will not give us the answers we seek.”

-----------

Yami headed into the next car, mind still rather distracted by the loss of Yugi and the anger he felt towards his own foolishness for letting it happen in the first place. He failed to hear the sound of the train car behind him snapping away from the one he was standing on, yet the sound of Anzu's cry of alarm was enough to pull him from his reverie.

Whipping around, his eyes widened in fear as he took in the sight of the rapidly separating train cars with him on one and all of his friends on another. Surging forward, stopping just at the train's edge, Yami stretched his body to its limit, hand reaching out to Anzu. "Grab my hand!" He commanded, unaware of the urgency in his voice.

Anzu hesitated for a split second, wishing that Jonouchi was ahead of her. They were going to separate, there was no denying that. It was better for the pharaoh to have a seasoned duelist by his side to face the ever-growing threat of Dartz and the Leviathan rather than a girl who preferred to encourage him from the sidelines over actual dueling.

She immediately shook away her doubts. She was in front, Yami was reaching out to her. Anzu may not duel like Jonouchi and the others, but she had won duels, including the times she used to school Jonouchi repeatedly. She could be there for the Pharaoh. He was still grieving; like hell she was going to leave him alone!

Drawing on all of her strength and grace as an aspiring dancer, Anzu leapt off of the car train. Yami caught her hand and pulled her into his side, shifting most of their combined weight onto his back leg to prevent the two of them from crashing onto the floor. His free arm wrapped itself around her waist securely as he continued to steady her. He idly hoped that she couldn't feel his pounding heartbeat as she was pressed into his chest.

"Are you all right?" Yami asked Anzu quietly as he took in her shaken appearance.

"Fine," she rasped, her own mind reeling at the fact that she had literally just jumped off of a train, no matter how short the distance had truly been.

“Anzu! Pharaoh!”

The pair's attention was brought back to Jonouchi and Honda whom were still trapped on the other train as they continued to rapidly move in the opposite direction. Both boys looked panicked at the thought of being lost in the California desert and cut off from their friends.

Neither the Pharaoh nor Anzu could blame them for that. "Find help!" Yami called out to them. He looked at Anzu. "We must do the same."

Anzu nodded, determination shimmering in her cerulean eyes.

After a minute, Yami released her and began walking toward the front of the train. Anzu wandered behind him, her eyes roving as she tried finding something, anything that could help them find a way off of the suddenly desolate train.

An intercom caught her eye. She darted toward it, and tapped the button repeatedly while calling out, "hello? Hello! Is there anyone out there who can help us?"

"I don't like this," Yami said grimly as he strode toward the engine room. He was unsurprised to find it locked. He peered through the window, and saw that it was empty. "I really don't like this."

"Look," Anzu called to him as she pointed above her head.

There was an emergency hatch. "Maybe there's an emergency break up there we can use to stop the train," she suggested.

"Stay here," the pharaoh instructed as he climbed onto the short ladder built into the wall for such purposes, and reached toward the hatch. "I shall look for the break."

Anzu placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, unimpressed. "I'm sorry, are we really doing this again?"

Yami looked confused, hesitating to climb another rung on the ladder. He had never been on the receiving end of any negative emotions from Anzu before, and he wasn't fond of being on the receiving end now. "Doing what again?"

"The whole thing where you treat me like some fragile little princess who needs to be tucked away from the big bad scary thing of the month," Anzu retorted, as if she'd never had any doubts moments ago about helping the pharaoh. "Like the time on the Battle City blimp."

Yami opened his mouth to reply that she had been in danger anyway no thanks to Marik dragging the unwitting girl into his problems by bonding what was left of his light psyche with her mind, but Anzu had no idea that had ever happened to her. Despite the pharaoh's own misgivings about the situation, Yugi insisted that Anzu not be made aware of the near miss she almost had with the Shadow Realm. He didn't want to scare her with the knowledge.

Yami had internally scoffed at that. Anzu was fiery, and she was brave. Yes, perhaps the idea of possession would horrify her, but he honestly couldn't imagine her being more than grossed out at the concept for lack of a better term. Still, the spirit would respect his aibou's wishes, if that was what the boy wanted.

He blinked as he recalled that moment. Anzu was brave. She was an excellent dancer as well, which should help her with balancing atop the train. He took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose.

Very well then.

"Stay by my side," Yami all but commanded as he turned to resume climbing up the ladder.

"Where else would I be?" Anzu scoffed as she walked toward the ladder.

The pharaoh bit back a smile at her words and conviction as he started to unlock the emergency hatch. He pushed the small door open and slipped through the opening.

Only to be greeted by a sight that had both his stomach plummeting, and a snarl curling his lip.

An obnoxiously proud teenager with teal hair shaped into a bowl cut, thick glasses, and a wide, slimy smile stood with his hands on his hips as he awaited the pharaoh; not in the least bit fazed by the fact that he was standing on top of a runaway train.

"Long time, no see, isn't it, Pharaoh?"

“WEEVIL!”

To be continued...

#yugioh #revolutionshipping #yami yugi #anzu mazaki

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sleepey-demon-liker · 2 years ago

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can i request a belphie x eldest sibling reader who acts like a typical eldest child (and hence tends to “look after” belphie) and isn’t great at expressing affection . can be angst or fluff or both ! tysm <33

Ofc nonnie! Thanks so much for requesting btw, I hope you enjoy~ ☆ (I made this fluff fluff fluffy!)

Belphie with an Eldest Sibling Reader

Belphie, being the youngest and most spoiled, fully takes advantage of your caring personality and expertise. He does genuinely enjoy you caring for him though, more than he appreciates his brothers doing it

If you ever told him about your siblings, he would act uninterested, but he is behind his facade. He gets a little jealous that you give this type of attention and affection to others... but he understands that family bond. If you ever proposed the idea of introducing him to your siblings, he would accept nonchalantly but actually be worried about impressing them and if they would approve of him

Belphie doesn't mind that you aren't great at or don't know how to express affection. He knows you still care just by little actions. Like making sure he is up and ready for RAD, or asking if his homework is finished and if not, you'd be happy to help with it. You both get each other, and he couldn't ask for anything more

He'll be the one to initiate affection if you don't know how, and he's completely fine with that- it'll just be in his tsundere like way that we all know and love~

He'll, of course, always ask to cuddle with you, to nap with you, to just be with you, and every time you agree he's over the moon. He will, also of course, never let you leave once he has you, so expect to be cuddling in his arms or have his head resting in your lap for 5 hours at the very least hehe

Soon you may even find that subconsciously, your hand will wander to his own, or your fingers will be running through his silky hair, or that your lips had met because of your own volition and not because he was the one to ask. Nothing gets Belphie's heart beating more than those innocent moments

Belphegor loves and treasures you dearly, he loves how you spoil him, how you take care of him, and how he doesn't have to fear judgement when he's in your presence. He knows you'll always take care of him, and he'll do his best to take care of you as well. So MC, won't you stay with him just a little longer~?

There we go, thanks again for requesting anon!! I love our sleepy cow demon just as much~ I only have 1 sibling and I'm the younger one so I hope I wrote this well enough and that it's accurate HSGSHSBS

See you lovelies next time~ ☆

#obey me #obey me x reader #obey me fluff #obey me headcanons #obey me shall we date #obey me x mc #om! swd #omswd #obey me belphegor #obey me belphie #om! belphegor #om! belphie #belphegor x reader #belphie x reader #belphegor x mc #belphie x mc #belphegor headcanons #belphie headcanons

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senka-mesecine · 4 months ago

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How do you think yandere barnes would deal with getting the reader to his home? Like would he trick them or just basically order them to come? Also, what do you think his reaction would be if they tried to refuse?

Two words; Stockholm Syndrome.

Not that he himself refers to it as such, mind you.

Someone like him prefers to see it as being persistent towards what you want.

But, in the case of the reader being totally unwilling in the beginning I do think Barnes would use a combination of force, simply ordering them to come and being occasionally tactically good enough to where it scrambles their brain having them doubt that he's that bad in the first place and for someone who served multiple tours in the army and commanded people under him I do imagine Barnes knows precisely how to induce feelings of sympathy and support in what's effectively a hostage until said hostage doesn't even realize they're a hostage. Or rather, they start legitimizing their own situation in their own mind.

After all, Chris Taylor himself admired him in the beginning.

He downright had followers fully aware of how bad he is still being loyal to him.

Barnes knows how to garner devotion.

To keep it short in sweet he'd have ways to induce you wanting to come with him even though that's not what you initially desired through being so over intense, dedicated, saving your life, having moments of genuine courage, putting himself between you and danger to the point it stuns you and simply overshadows all his other worse qualities, intimidating you one moment and then being uncharacteristically...something you'd never expect him to be the next, always keeping you on your toes real quietly; pepper in there a mix of stressful situations, him being the indomitable hero (with the occasional usage of quotation marks) in all of them, you coming off as weak and defenseless in comparison and there you have it --- a potent cocktail that influences your brain chemicals to the degree where going home with him...well...is it that bad, your subconsciousness might ask you? Who else would ever come to your rescue like this? Who else would ever give as many damns? Sure, he's rough around the edges and not always the most pleasant or easy of individuals, you tell yourself, but...there will always be a 'but' at the end of your sentences in regard of Barnes because you'll start justifying him in your head whether you like to or not and he knows it. He counts on it. He has no reaction towards your unwillingness other than seeing it as an obstacle he needs to silently overcome through actions alone and standing his ground. He noticed your unwillingness, yes. He assessed it and he'll step over that motherfucker. By the time he's done with you and you're effectively 'broken in' mentally you find yourself trudging along with him by choice and doesn't matter what distance you have to cross. Could be a flight from the 'Nam itself back to the States or a more simple trek from point A. to point B. For some reason not even you can explain away why you're going along with him and you're not sure what happened at the start of this journey (read: kidnapping) versus now, when it's coming to it's end that made you change your mind so drastically, but the answer is simple; psychological warfare happened.

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isilrina · 1 year ago

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Hey, everyone!

Guess what? It's Art Monday! Yay!

Yesterday, my sister @valkblue tagged me in a fun little WiP game and asked me about "Empires"

Little did you know I had planned to post this drawing the next day! It's a convenient coincidence XD

So here, meet Takahiro, the "most abominable man" from the snippet I posted yesterday.

In truth, he is not as abominable as his wife thinks he is… or maybe he is, but he doesn't do it on purpose. He is deeply wounded, and he doesn't know how to deal with it, so he hurts people around him. But deep down, he has a good soul. Spoiler alert: He will heal eventually, thanks to his wife, his cousin, and their friends, and become a good Emperor… at least that's the plan.

I started "Empires" 14 or 13 years ago, maybe? I'm a bit fuzzy on my life timeline, but it was around that time. I remember I was in Greece (at what became my parents' house later) and I had watched the first episode of a Korean drama named "Goong." It's about an arranged royal marriage, and I liked the concept, so I pushed it a little further as an arranged royal marriage in space!

I never finished watching the drama, though, as I embarked on my own story. But the whole concept came to life during that summer, and, as usual, I never finished it. It has 13 chapters for now (around 30K words), and I regularly come back to it, rereading it before putting it back for a year or two. Maybe I subconsciously don't want it to end? I don't know, but it lives forever in me.

So, here is the plot as I wrote it 13 years ago: "In different times and places, two stellar empires sign an alliance to strengthen their defenses against hypothetical invaders. To symbolize this pact, the two Emperors marry their children to each other. What will come of this arranged marriage?"

We meet other representatives of other Empires based on American and Chinese culture, but the two originals are based on Greek and Japanese culture.

I might draw Selini and Takahiro in the future. I don't know, but they are one of those couples that I'll always root for. XD I just love how they push each other's buttons at the start just to make the other one mad until they realize they are both victims and allies in this situation.

Here is another snippet from chapter 8:

Once the bags were empty, the people dispersed, and the two rulers descended from the boxes, smiling. They were happy to have brought joy to those in need. Driven by an impulse that surprised even himself, he took the young girl in his arms and spun her, lifting her off the ground. She burst into laughter once again, allowing herself to be carried with happiness. She had expected him to be angry and shout at her, but the most improbable had happened: he had enjoyed bringing joy to his people. This made her smile, and as he set her back on the ground, she said to him: "I think you'll make a great Shogun one day." "Why do you say that?" he asked, surprised. "The best Emperors are those who understand that they are nothing without their subjects, no matter how poor and needy they may be. To be a great and respected ruler, one must respect their people in return." "But who are you to be so wise?" he asked, laughing. She turned her eyes to the sea, not far from them, so blue under the scorching summer sun, and her gaze was veiled with sadness. "I'm the one who wanted to be a simple villager." She took a deep breath before adding: "They have the greatest wealth in the world, you know? The one we'll never have... They are free." The words of the young Princess touched her husband, who approached her from behind and enveloped her in his protective arms in a tender embrace. The young Prince rested his chin on the curve of the young woman's shoulder and gazed at the horizon with a soft sigh. A brief moment of silence passed as they felt at peace in each other's embrace.

(And yes, I know Shogun is the title of the military commander in Japan, but in this story the Emperor is also the Shogun. That's why I used both titles to refer to the position.)

#my ocs #oc:takahiroempires #oc:seliniempires #Empires #masuda takahisa #arranged marriage #royalty #japan #greece #scifi #scifi romance #isilrinart

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honeytonedhottie · 1 year ago

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Hi love. So just wanting your opinion. I’ve been spiritual for a while and last year I met this guy who’s prob the most spiritual person I know consider my other friends. It started as a crush but for other reasons we stayed friends. And I’m super glad to have spiritual people like that around me. It’s something I’ve been wanting since forever.

I’m now at the place when I highly consider who’s good to be around me, I count things I don’t want and things I want. And one thing I def don’t want is inconsistency. I don’t like to wonder about people, I like to count on them not only about big things but also small things such as knowing we’re going for the coffee we scheduled a week ago and didn’t forget. So consistency also involves being true to your word and actions.

Anyway this guy travels a lot as he didn’t find his base yet so while he was in another country he didn’t even text me once, which is not only inconsistent in terms of actions but also inconsistent in terms of his feelings.. since he says I mean so much to him and he’s never had a person who understood him like I do and our connection is super spiritual and deep..but how is he cherishing and valuing that when he doesn’t remember to send a tiny text while he’s in another country? So this pissed me off cause if I mean so much to him I expect him to act like it.

Recently he moved back so he texted me saying he knows he’s terrible for not texting me all this time but wants to ‘regain my trust’ and ‘fix our relationship’ to which I replied saying my needs are to have consistent people around me otherwise I don’t trust. He said he will try but even now when two days passed I don’t see him showing consistency.

So inspired by your post you made about next year, you wrote to be careful who we surround ourselves with.. so I’m sitting here contemplating, should I just tell him to F off and that I no longer believe him since he’s not showing signs of consistency or should I give him more time?

I don’t want to be bitter when we meet cause i don’t like being vibrationally low but I think my anger and disappointment is valid, and at the same time I have people pleasing tendencies so if I see him sad while we meet I’ll basically forgive him even though he didn’t show consistency yet. But how do I stick to my boundaries without sounding mean?

a way to stick to ur boundaries without being mean is by making them clear and communicating them clearly. do it in a tone that doesn't suggest that ur being mean, but also make sure that the tone u use suggests that ur being serious.

i believe that people will reveal themselves to u thru their ACTIONS and the longer that u know someone, the more that they will subconsciously reveal aspects about their character. in this case, if you've never witnessed him doing this before and hes just starting to then that probably means that hes just now showing you his true colors and its good that u noticed 💗💗

but now the decision is up to you if you'll stick around or move onto better things, hes already shown u his character. honestly, stick to ur boundaries and what u value bcuz you'll be SO much happier for it in the long run and thats all that matters

i recommend u separate urself from that situation so that u dont stay vibrationally low 🧿🧿🧿

#advice

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artsiwych · 1 year ago

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Hello, I'm C. If your free readings are open, may i ask for one please? I'm a bit old and I've been single for over a decade or two due to circumstances. However I do want to have a forever partner and get married to him, and have a life together. I'm also child free i.e. never had any children by choice. And even though I was very broody for just a couple of years, I've recently come to the conclusion that I don't want any children and this decision has made me feel very liberated! And I'm glad that i didn't go through any kind of process in the previous years to get a child. I love babies, but that's quite literally the only stage that I love of having a kid, nothing beyond that, lol. So I wanted to know, whether in future will I have a husband for me and will he be happily child free as well? I don't want to be a step-parent btw, whether of younger or older kids, nor do I want to adopt. I just want me and my husband and a dog or two, and our happy, cozy retired life (maybe babysitting our friends' kids once a while, lol). Thanks a lot for this opportunity! (I'm not really sure which option to go for for the reading. I think you'll be best to chose as per your expertise. Thank you again!)

I'm not sure about being able to predict your soulmate, I am doing this for practice so I'm not that far ahead yet lol but the best I can do is provide some advice so you can find your guy.

You/The Situation: King of Swords/The Hierophant (reversed) - I'm sensing that the King of Swords embodies your ideal partner. Someone who you can intellectually converse with and treats you with respect. The reversed Hierophant represents unconventionality, in that the type of relationship that's desired isn't typically common or expected in society.

Conscious/Subconscious: The Hanged Man/Death - You realize that these things take time and are willing to be patient for the right person to come around. You've learned from your past experiences and you're ready for a new relationship. Transformation is a big theme with these cards too, so perhaps this new relationship may be a growing experience too.

Past: Two of Pentacles (reversed) - If you had been in a previous relationship, this card says you may have felt neglected. It could also indicate that you've been too busy or had different goals other than pursuing a relationship.

Near Future: Three of Cups (reversed) - It is very possible you may meet someone in the future, but may not be "The One". It will start out fun and exciting but fizzle out quickly. Don't take it as a sign to give up though! Just have fun with dating and meeting new people lol

Self-Perception/Advice: The Fool (reversed) - As much as you are ready for a new relationship, this card does advise to be careful with who you trust. Not everyone is going to have the same romantic goals as you, or even have your needs in mind. Much like what the 3 of Cups was referring to, it's probably not going to be the first person you meet, but there's bound to be someone for you out there.

Environment: The Devil - I think this card supports the previous one in that you need to be cautious of who you trust. There are people out there who may take advantage of you and are only really in it for the physical stuff. Just keep it in mind.

Hopes and Fears: The Moon - While you desire a relationship, it's only natural to have doubts. Do you feel you're not worthy of love? Or that you'll fall into something toxic? Make sure you completely understand your own emotional boundaries first and ensure the intentions of your partner.

Outcome: Two of Swords - There will be obstacles ahead in pursuing your love life. You may be stuck between choosing your romantic life and other responsibilities. Or you meet someone but they're not what you had in mind, or you need to compromise to make the relationship work. Relationships are tricky and there's a lot to consider. The best thing you can do right now is stick to your truth and keep trying. All good things take time after all. :)

#witchcraft #witch #tarot reading #tarot cards

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livredebelle · 1 year ago

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Twenty-seven.

I WAS STUNNED--I HAD NEVER IMAGINED he would get on his knees for me, let alone be physically capable of it at all. The man was all about his pride, I knew all too well. Too much between us was changing, too fast, all of a sudden. I started feeling uncomfortable.

"First off, you have to know that you mean everything to me. I care only for you. That means no matter what bullshit comes our way, promise me that if your feelings are true, you won't ever try to leave me."

"What?"

"I don't want us to start off on the wrong foot. You want me to be completely candid and honest--so here I am." He took my hands gingerly in his. "I'm saying your sister has no hold on me whatsoever. So let us drop that issue between us, here and now."

I found that incredibly hard to believe--all my life, people in my family had preferred Rosalie over me. She was prettier, kinder, softer--everything a proper lady should be. Me? I was the degenerate daughter who they were ashamed of, someone who had let down their hopes from the very beginning.

What was I so afraid of? Heath was confessing his love to me, and promising me that he had no feelings for her. If I loved him too, I should believe him. Shouldn't I?

'You can never trust what men say. They may promise you the world, but what they really mean is you'll only ever be a fraction of the world to him.'

Mother's education had encompassed many topics, her favorite of them all being relationships and men. Because of her own failures in her love life, she felt the need to impart her 'wisdom' to her daughters, mostly me because I was the eldest and therefore carried the higher burden of expectations.

Maybe I had subconsciously pushed away dating potentials all my life because of that. At least in part. I figured from the very beginning, I shouldn't get into relationships if it only meant getting burned. I was too prideful for that; I didn't want to feel inferior to anybody, nor give anyone the right to make me feel that way.

More so than I already felt.

So I hesitated. And Heath noticed.

"I'm different, and you know it deep in your heart. I'm not the kind of foolish lad to believe in silly things like fate. But the way our paths are intertwined--I would say at this point, it would almost be silly not to believe in it, with you before my eyes."

God, he had such a way with words. It almost made me want to cave, but I held my tongue to his evident dismay.

"What more can I do to prove my loyalty to you?" he asked with a twinge of pain in his voice. I flinched. Hurting him had not been my intent, but I also had no intention of apologizing for it, because I was prioritizing myself over him.

"I don't think there's anything you can do," I confessed. "I just... need more time to process things between us. But... I'll do my best." I paused, then blurted, "So what did Rosalie's text say?" I wanted to change the subject to a less serious one, true, but he hadn't answered that part of the question yet.

"She wants to meet," Heath said carefully, probably not wanting to antagonize me. He knew my sister was a sensitive subject, especially right now. When had the axis on my world become so tilted? "For what reason, I can guess: she knows that I met with Pete. And she's probably going to ask about it--which will confirm whether she's helping her father or not--while also trying to act weak in front of me so I feel sorry for her." The steel coldness in his eyes told me her plan would not work, which made me feel relieved.

"Where?"

"Does it matter? I'm not meeting her," he said, one of his eyebrows rising. "I'm not leaving you alone when things are so risky as it is."

"What does Pete want with me, do you think...?"

That was the real question, wasn't it? I was confused as to what he'd want to see me for--we hadn't spoken in years; besides that, we had never had a good relationship for the brief moment in history we'd been acquainted under the title of 'family.' I could understand him wanting to meet with Rose, but...

Seeing Heath's expression harden made me realize instantly that no matter what the reason, it was definitely sinister.

But why? I hadn't done anything to him! I wanted to scream it, but would it change anything? No. So what was the point of throwing a tantrum like a child? I bit my lip in frustration.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it," Heath promised, squeezing my hands tighter in his. "You are not alone in this."

My heart warmed at his words. How desperately I wanted to believe him wholeheartedly. But there was always that 1% that would doubt. It was simply in my nature.

"Maybe I should meet him after all," I suggested after thinking for a bit. "You know, use me as bait and set up a trap."

"Hell no. Do you seriously think I'd consider that option for even a moment?" His tone dripped with disapproval. "I'm perfectly capable of cleaning up someone like him."

"Wait, what do you mean, 'clean up'? Don't tell me you--"

"What, surely you can't seriously expect me to let him live?" Heath's baby blue eyes twinkled with malice. "He is a risk otherwise. He'll keep coming back, and we'll forever be running away or hiding in the shadows. Why in the nine hells would I allow that?"

"But... but that would be--" I stammered.

"Murder?" It was like he was really saying, "So?" He couldn't be serious.

"You're talking about killing somebody. It's a crime!"

"What solution would you suggest, then?"

"I don't know... but... There must be something else. I don't want to think of that as our first option."

"You wouldn't have to be involved in anything; I'll take care of it all."

"You've already implicated me by telling me! How could I let you go on when I know...?"

He was really going to drive me crazy. I mean, it made sense. I had always known that Heath Ashford was a crazy, fucked up guy. I had fallen in love with him regardless, and now I was going to have to pay the price.

How to make him see reason?

"I would do anything to protect you, Rina," he said solemnly. "It doesn't matter who or what they are. I'll make sure it can't be traced back to us. Just... don't ask me to change myself for the sake of someone as grotesque as Pete. Don't I mean more to you?"

"..."

"Trust me on this. This problem won't go away until and unless I nip it in the bud. It would also send a message to the real mastermind behind the plan, whoever that is--"

That thought made me feel ill. The mastermind contenders were either my mother, or my sister. Maybe, just maybe, Richard too--but he was less likely. It didn't matter; they were all from the same circle--my family. What a sick joke. I closed my eyes, almost willing myself to be okay with the fact, and then to just completely forget it had ever happened. I wanted to reset everything in my life--go back to a better time. But when would that be? My childhood? I had no memory of ever being really happy. My life was an empty shell; it was so plain and unremarkable that I wanted to scream. Had I been born as anybody else, maybe my life would have meant more.

"Okay, fine, whatever--I don't want to talk about this anymore," I sighed, plopping backwards on the bed. "I want to rest."

"You should. In the meantime, I'll go meet your sister and scope her out. Report back to you soon." He leaned forward to leave me a kiss on the forehead, and I felt my cheeks flush in response. I was seriously going to have to get used to his affectionate side--my heart drummed excitedly in my chest.

As I heard him leave the room, I sat up abruptly. Maybe this was a chance to witness things for myself instead of merely leaving it up to someone else--not that it meant I didn't trust Heath, I assured myself quickly. But because I had to see it with my own eyes if it was true that my sister had been wearing a mask in front of me all our lives. The possibility made my hands sweat, and I almost decided against it, but I powered through. No more inactive Irina. No more complaining when things don't go my way. No, I was going to take action. I had nothing to lose, now that I had a partner in crime by my side.

Maybe almost too literally.

***

I had followed behind Heath carefully, instructing the taxi driver to trail his Audi as inconspicuously as possible. Thankfully, the driver didn't ask any questions, so long as I paid the cab fare. His Audi had parked in the lot in front of a small mom-and-pop cafe near the university; it was obvious Heath had picked the place, not wanting to alert Rose to the location of my whereabouts. The sincerity reflected in his actions made me hopeful that maybe, just maybe, Mother had been wrong. Maybe she was just shitty at finding love, and I shouldn't take her words too seriously.

But again, old habits die hard.

I had a dilemma: how was I going to trail him further than this? It wasn't like I was wearing a disguise or anything; if I entered the cafe to eavesdrop, I would be found out immediately by the both of them. So I decided against that plan, deciding instead to stay put in the taxi and pay the meter while it was running. Again, the driver was happy to oblige so long as the fare was taken care of. I wished the window glass was tinted to allow myself better cover, but this would have to do; it was the best I was going to get.

Rosalie was inside and waiting already--she was clearly visible, as she was sitting on a table right next to the cafe window. As Heath entered the cafe, I could see her beaming. Like she was really in love with him. It was hard to see, but I forced myself to watch. I wanted to verify everything with my eyes, even if I couldn't hear what was being said.

He sat across from her, and she pushed the menu across the table to him, which he refused. When she insisted, he tossed the menu to the floor, and I nearly laughed. I loved his attitude towards her--if he kept this up, he was going to get rewarded well for it later. She smiled sadly, then he barked a question, or an accusation, at her. Her face crumpled, but she maintained her calm demeanor for the most part and her hands moved about as she explained her side of the story. Heath didn't look pleased, but I couldn't read anything but sternness from his body language. Then, Rosalie reached across the table and grasped his hand in hers.

I almost bolted out of the taxi, ran across the lot, and punched her in the face. The audacity of her to be doing this, when she clearly knew... Wait, did she? Had I ever confessed to her--or anybody for that matter--how I had felt? No. So then, this was my fault once again. I sank back in my seat, dejected. I should have been more honest; then it wouldn't have come back to bite me in the ass later like this.

He shrugged her off, and said something with a blank expression on his face. She flinched at his words and reclined in her seat as well, her doe eyes fixated on his face. It was painful to watch. Even with this weird conflict between us, I found it hard to suppress the feelings of wanting to protect my little sister--it was automatic at this point, embedded in my body as if second nature.

How pathetic this whole situation was. It was like I was the worst protagonist in the story, idly waiting to be rescued while not doing anything to better the situation herself. I had always despised fairy tales because I hated the weak portrayal of women in them; but perhaps all this time, I had been jealous of their ability to skirt responsibilities and get away with it, all because they were beautiful. And because they were princesses. Why should those automatically grant you a license to be a nuisance to others?

After a couple more exchanges, Heath stood, and I saw Rose burst into tears--it was clear she was begging him to stay, or begging him for... something. My breath caught in my throat. Even in my eyes, my crying sister was too beautiful to ignore. If I were a guy, or Heath even, I would find her difficult, if not impossible, to resist. This was the moment of truth. I held my breath, resolved to release it only when it was safe to do so.

But Heath left the table after all. I let out my breath, relief flooding over me. But that relief was so shortlived as I realized he was sauntering over confidently towards me. In the taxi. I cowered, trying my best to disappear or assimilate into the car seats. But no dice.

Knock, knock.

"Hello, love. Missed me already?"

#book of blue anemones #BOBA #romance #tragedy #mystery #novel in progress

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