#it's touch starved Marius

[shamedumpster]

i am doing a very disgusting homework and rotating how you draw courfius in my head (85% of the time i don't ship them but... hoo boy there's smth about how you do it... they have my heart...)

omg!! 🥺 mj thank u, I'm honored!!

Here, have a doodle of them as a reward for being so brave about homework <3

[gimme-a-man-after-midnight]

my royal roomie pt. 3 *sneak peek*

fandom: Aquaman

pairing: Orm Marius x Reader

part 1 part 2

summary: As time passes, Orm begins to see you as more than his surface dweller host. Much to his surprise, you’ve captured his attention, which in turn makes him notice just how physically affectionate you are with everyone except him.

Warnings: light cursing, touch starved!orm, light angst if you squint, comic lore inaccuracies, slow burn, divorced parents!reader, dead parent mention, mentions of being smaller in comparison to orm, flora inaccuracies??

The dynamic between you and Orm didn’t make a complete 180 after your late night talk - in fact, it was quite awkward for the first few days following. Orm, although now deciding to actually be in the same room as you for longer than five minutes, didn’t talk much when you were in each other’s presence. The Atlantean favored just observing you in your natural habitat - when you cooked, when you read, when you talked with people on the phone. You often extended invitations to him to join in your activities, but a silent shake of his platinum head was what you were regularly met with. You tried not to take offense, understanding that small steps forward was better than leaps backward, but you couldn’t help but feel a little unnerved by his probing gaze. 

Your expressions when meeting Orm’s eyes were always one of the three - confused, apprehensive, or downright shy. Orm liked playing a silent game with himself whenever he would wait in the communal areas of the house for you, guessing which one would take over your face that day. However, what the Atlantean liked most of all was when you would deviate from all three and bless him with a sheepish look that teetered between flushed and guilty. Although there would be no evident redness behind your cheeks, your flitting eyes and soft smile gave him a new type of satisfaction. Orm wasn’t blind - he could tell you were attracted to him. His heightened senses could pick up on your increase of breaths and the quickening of your heartbeat whenever his eyes would be fixed on you and it made pride swell in his chest. Even with how apparent your interest in him was, you never overstepped - you were always respectful of his space, never even entertaining the fine line between roommates and not just roommates. You had remained awfully friendly, though….

…friendly enough for Orm to realize that the way you interacted with him was vastly different to how you would with others. 

---

Orm had assumed humans were quite simple - easy to understand due to their lack of brain capacity and advancement in comparison to Atlanteans. However, watching how different you were in your shop - witnessing you change from the selectively quiet, sarcastic little thing you were at home to a vivacious, charming young woman here - it had confused him greatly. His father had told him many stories of the treacheries of humankind, but the one point he drilled relentlessly into his head was that humans were simple, dull creatures undeserving of their people’s knowledge. 

Other sea clans felt that when the time came to reveal themselves to the surface that it would only be to educate them - his father had other ideas. The infamous King Orvax wished to utilize the wrath of the seas in order to overpower the surface world, his son at his side as they rebuilt the world in their image. His teachings were the foundation of Orm’s belief system for the majority of his life, yet you had managed to topple those mind palaces within a matter of weeks. You, with your soft knits and quick wit, had the Atlantean prince questioning whether his father had simply been misinformed. His father couldn’t have possibly known how complex humans could truly be because he never met you.

(to be continued in the full part 3 coming soon!)

[monstersinthecosmos]

i want a human AU about Marius as just a really boring guy with an office job, divorced sad sack nearing mid-life crisis realizing he hasn't made a career of his many passions, super strung tight and touch starved and lonely and a friend (probably a weirdo friend like Avi) finally gives him the number for a dom service he should try. And Marius's interest is piqued; he remembers being into stuff like this before the divorce shriveled up his libido, and tbh it's not entirely even ABOUT libido as much as like, maybe he just wants someone to hit him so that he feels something, and then he'll be able to get some sleep.

so anyway a few weeks later after he's worked up the courage and filled out the little survey online and signed all the waivers and submitted his medical documents etc he has his first session with Amadeo; he shells out for a nice hotel room, not sure if it's appropriate to bring this person home, maybe secretly wanting to show off, but Amadeo is so cold and deadpan and doesn't even comment on it, isn't impressed at all. He shows up in jeans and a ratty hoodie and just pushes forward to go change in the bathroom, and comes out in tight black shiny gear, flogger in hand, and after an hour Marius's ears are ringing and he's red all over and he had no idea so much degrading, mean shit could come out of this angelic looking face.

Amadeo doesn't talk much afterwards but sticks around for a little while, back in his jeans and hoodie, and he makes Marius tea and asks if he wants a massage. There are a few minutes that Marius feels the threat of sub drop hovering at the edges, feeling old and stupid, thinking his life has been a waste, but Amadeo is graceful enough to distract him. Doesn't talk much, just enough, asks if he wants to put a movie on, and Marius watches the soft curiosity in his face as he keeps glancing at the screen.

Marius tips him well, thanks him, spends the night in the hotel since he paid for it.

It becomes a regular spot in their calendars. They get a little more elaborate. Amadeo is honest when he's not confident about something, and keeps it professional, but he allows Marius to teach him. Marius shows him all the knots he likes, and teaches him some other methods for impact play. More and more, in the aftercare when they're done, Amadeo's personality comes out. He talks more. Marius even gets him to laugh.

And Amadeo is professional, but he's young. Marius notices when his resolve starts to chip away. Maybe Marius leans into it, even though he knows he shouldn't. Maybe it turns into breaking some rules on their original contract, like when they finally make out. And the time Marius finally reaches to touch the bulge in Amadeo's pants, because Amadeo never gets off in their sessions. Even Amadeo's agency discourages unsafe sex or fluid exchange, and neither of them talk about it when Marius finally sucks him off, and Amadeo comes all over his face.

So what happens when it gets unethical, when they're in too deep? Amadeo tells him one night that he doesn't think he should see Marius as a client anymore, that their boundaries have become too murky, and he suggests someone else that Marius could see instead, but it just turns into them meeting outside the agency. Meeting in the daylight, for coffee, and Amadeo blushes when Marius puts a hand on his leg beneath the table.

"I still want to pay you, you know," Marius says, near his ear. "Not as a client. I just want to pay you."

And just a bit longer before they finally start meeting at Marius's house. Off the books now, no agency involved, but Marius keeps paying him. And texts him through the week, buys him clothes, Venmo's him with a note to treat himself to lunch. Whenever Marius gets paid he thinks about how much he'll pass onward to Amadeo. Sometimes, watching the numbers drain from his bank account feels the same as an orgasm draining his body.

Maybe a year in before they finally fuck. And at first it's still Amadeo in charge. Smacking him on the face and telling him what to do, telling him how fast to go, making demands. Riding him for the first half, staring down at Marius like he's worthless. Stoic for as long as he can before he falls apart whimpering, and then he's just a brat. He doesn't protest when Marius takes control, flips them over, rails him into the mattress. Tears in Amadeo's eyes as he comes on his soft belly, and he presses his hands to his face to hide.

Then, the next time after that, Amadeo actually spends the night.

His name is Armand, he admits one day. Quietly, after dinner, as Marius signs the check. His real name, he means. And he's blushing again, and looking away, and tells Marius he can still call him Amadeo if he wants to. But his name is Armand. If he likes that instead.

And Amadeo was the dom, but Armand is something else.

Marius should have known, when he saw the eagerness, teaching him how to work rope and teaching him the best places to land a flogger and he should've known as Amadeo's façade cracked, every time they've fucked, the way he became so small and needy. He should've seen the way his big wet eyes could follow Marius around the room sometimes.

Subbing was fun for Marius and he needs it sometimes, for sure. But he's in too deep now. He needs both, he needs anything. He needs Armand most of all. And domming Armand is just as good.

[sharkemojis]

A list of my personal head canons from the Modern AU E/R les mis fanfiction I am writing that no one asked for but I'm hoping will persuade you to read it once I publish it

Courfeyrac started following Enjolras around in seventh grade and that is the only reason they became friends in the first place

Grantaire once bullied Enjolras for the lack of eye contact he makes and now Enjolras stares uncomfortably into peoples eyes when he wants them to know he is listening

Touch starved/touch avoidant Enjolras

Marius is actually fucking stupid but still we love and treasure him

Ferre had to sit everyone down and explain they weren't allowed to touch Enjolras, and then everyone got jealous that they didn't have their own things and accidentally they created a rule system

Nonbinary Jehan obviously

Enjolras is a lightweight

Asian Eponine

Courfeyrac is doing it with Ferre AND Jehan AND Marius bc u can't force me to choose

Autistic Enjolras

Joly has OCD that is based directly off of my OCD

Combeferre speaks in riddles

Courfeyrac's favourite band is ABBA

LITERALLY everyone is aware that E and R are in love except for them

Courfeyrac has been actively trying to get them together for two years

JOLY AND R BEST FRIEND SUPREMACY

I know this is irrelevant to the majority of people but I spent literally a year of my life in psychosis and somehow this is all I have to show for it so let me know if u would read my fanfiction HAHAHAHAHA i went crazy

[valkyrayn]

thinking about marius being so horny that he literally cannot function for the rest of day, not until he fucks you.

he can't even focus to what anyone is saying in the board meeting. uncle sheldon would be like 'do you agree, marius?' marius, who spent the last 10 minutes imagining how he'd rather be bending you over the meeting table right now to fuck the shit out of you, is completely at a loss at whatever was being discussed.

he readjusts himself in his seat and discreetly tries to reposition his growing erection before clearing his throat and starts asking questions, confidently as if he's never missed a word that was said.

when he finally gets home, you greet him from the kitchen and he doesn't even respond as he goes straight for you, grabbing you by the waist, and starts kissing you hungrily like a man starved. of course you respond just as passionately; you too were thinking about him the entire day. him in his office suit never fail at turning you on, combine that with his scent; he's too much. and you need him now.

it ends with you bent over the kitchen counter, skirt bunched around your waist and his cum dripping down the inside of your thighs as he keeps fucking you until whatever that was in the oven is burnt beyond saving. he'll carry your body, hooking your thighs around his waist, and continues to fuck you against the fridge.

'I've been thinking about fucking you all day, jiejie. i'm so sorry...let me know if i'm too rough.' he says breathlessly, his thrusting, hard and fast that you can feel the tip of his cock touching the entrance of you womb.

'it's--ah--okay...want you...to be rough...'

hearing you say that unleashes the animal within him. it's all the permission that he needs before he proceeds to fuck you everywhere in the house; on the floor, the couch, against the tall windows with your tits pressed against it for the world to see. at most, you're getting a 10 minute break to rehydrate before he's fucking your mouth again and then your tits, cumming all over your face, body and inside your cunt, which is so obscenely full of his cum that you're just leaking everywhere.

after he's made sure that he's covered your entire body with his scent, he bathes you, with soft gentle massages and then he tucks you in bed before slipping in beside you. a top notch aftercare from the best husband you can ever ask for. but damn you are not looking forward to the soreness tomorrow morning.

a.n: random brainrot outta nowhere to get the horny out of the system lmao

[actualbird]

“I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel all that great for me because—” Luke knows the answer. ‘Because my self-loathing hangups extend all the way to my dick, so anything that feels like indulgence is a no-go!’ But that is way too depressing of a thing to say. “ —it’s only me who’s feeling good. Does that make sense?” “No, that makes…less sense.” Marius narrows his eyes, looking as if he’s trying to do advanced math equations mentally. “Like, duh, that’s probably the whole point of masturbating, Luke. That it feels good for you.” Luke winces, not really knowing how else to put this without making this conversation even more of a boner-killing downer. “Well, I guess things feeling good for me tend to actually make me feel like shit?” “That—” Marius’ eyes shine with way too much sincerity and solemnity as he goes on, “—is the saddest fucking thing I’ve ever heard in my life.” - Luke has trouble getting off on his own so he just doesn’t touch himself much. Marius proposes a…masturbatory solution. Allegedly for the mental health benefits. [Written for MariLuke Week 2024 - Day 2: Touch Starved]

🔞this fic is n/s//f///w ship: marius/luke 4.4k words, masturbation, frotting

HELLO MARILUKE NATION, i am participating in @marilukeweek!! here’s my entry for Day 2: Touch Starved. aka the fic where luke hates himself so much he cant get off and marius helps ;3

i hope someone out there enjoys this!!

[androidarmand]

i honestly just wanted to share my manifesto on armand and food/feeding stuff because in my headcanon these things go so deep for him and are very rooted in trauma and his sense of self like—

- obviously was starved at multiple times in his life, but particularly by the Children of Satan and just the lasting effect that scarcity has on him.

- in contrast he was canonically well fed during his time with marius, and it’s also a historical period with a different beauty standard that changes how he views these things compared to a modern person. i also have lots of thoughts on the body type armand has eternally and can’t change being something that can “go out of style” during time periods when the standard is to be really thin. but also just the fact that this was the time in his life that he was happiest and he was always well fed and never had to go without and him associating that comfort and safety with having more than enough to eat.

- i also feel like he’s just a very sensory-oriented person (he’s also just extremely autistic but that’s it’s own post) but that he seeks out good sensory experiences and how touching/smelling food and watching and listening to daniel eat and experiencing it through him is a way to access those sensations he can’t otherwise. especially him having daniel try things that didn’t exist when he was alive and describe them to him, and just that fascination he has with human experiences and how that translates to eating which is a deeply human activity.

- and then all of that previous stuff getting wrapped back up into him wanting to provide for daniel, and wanting to fill that role for him in general. and how he’s trying to replicate the dynamics of the time in his own life where he was happy and taken care of with daniel (also a whole post in itself). like he would find out daniel didn’t always have lunch money and be enraged that he was denied food in an era when there’s so much abundance. he wants to make sure that daniel never goes hungry when they’re together. that he never wants for anything. and it’s because he wants to make daniel happy but that intense need to comes from a place of such deep insecurity and fear of abandonment. and like i believe he truly wants to care for daniel, but at the same time the insecurity it comes from means that manifesting as him wanting to control daniel as well. and sometimes i feel like determining what/how/how much daniel eats is a way armand can be dominant in this caretaking sort of manner that makes him feel reassured that he’s giving daniel something he needs (and is therefore necessary as a person, bc armand’s got issues like that). and then daniel being sort of all over the place, and an addict and an erratic person in general and not eating consistently because of that, so the kind of control armand exerts over his eating habits being something that he does genuinely need in his life. and then we can zoom that concept back out to the whole of devils minion again, and how the roles of control and dominance and submission play out across their whole relationship.

honestly this post was just for myself to refer to but also a lot of general thoughts on how i can see these particular wires all crossing for armand and the aspects of his character im thinking about when i write him

[doctorbaronmariusvonraum]

Hello, Marius! I was just wondering, did you psychoanalysed me or maybe tried? If so, what are your thoughts?

It's Nick, @researcher-4e69636b

Oh, I certainly tried - I was fascinated by your strange half-explanations and communication, ah, problems. Most of those questions have been answered now, though. Beyond that I gathered little you don’t already know, I think. Touch-starved, starved of interpersonal relations, lonely- you know. Nothing groundbreaking.

By the way, how’re you doing? Do you need food, or anything?

[bubblegum-blackwood]

Persefoni's Miscellaneous Fics

in no order but (mostly) chronological

Fruit Gushers (part one of My Sweetest Rancor) - Marius/Mael, E, 4766 words. After Mael's suicide attempt in Memnoch the Devil, he and Marius hash things out once more, and thousands of years of resentment finally boils over into one glorious hate-fuck (and then another, and then another). About time!

Blood and Hot Chocolate - Marius/Daniel, G, 1745 words. Marius comes home to find that Daniel is nowhere to be seen; he finds him in an abandoned building and has to coax him out of his hiding place. After that it's just indulgent fluff <3

Oceans of Time (part one of Centuries-Old Breakdowns) - Louis/Lestat, G, 4914 words. In an AU where Claudia succeeds in killing Lestat, Louis meets a hauntingly familiar youth in San Francisco.

Last Chance - Marius/Mael, M, 2565 words. The beginning of Marius's story from The Vampire Lestat but it's more explicit that Mael totally has a crush on Marius lmao

Near You - Marius/Daniel, T, 1160 words. Daniel, coming out of a long dissociative state, finds that he's been so isolated in his madness that he's become quite touch-starved, and he uses Marius as his outlet. Adorableness ensues.

In You I Taste God - Lestat/Armand, M, 1356 words. Lestat tells Armand he loves him, and Armand doesn't believe him, so he tries to find a way to prove it. Takes place in between TVA and Merrick.

Teacher's Pet (part one of les Innocents) - Marius/Armand, Louis/Lestat(/Armand), Marius/Thorne, E, 19867 words. First-time college student Armand attends Rice University, where he becomes enamoured with a certain Dr. de Romanus.

Graduation Party (part two of les Innocents) - Marius/Armand, Louis/Lestat, T, 1857 words. Armand decides it's time to tell his friends about his relationship with Dr. Marius de Romanus

The Angry God - Avicus/Mael, M, 3700 words. After Marius flees the Sacred Grove, its Faithful turn to Mael to be their new god - or, the story of Mael's turning, as an expanded scene.

Close Enough - G, 810 words. Fighting his desire for Jesse's blood, Mael seeks out a lookalike victim to satisfy his thirst.

The Thirst - Avicus/Mael, E, 1945 words. Avicus and Mael take home a prostitute and bring her to completion one last time before killing her together.

Razorblade Kiss - Jesse/Mael, T, 3200 words. After the fifteen years that passed between Jesse's visit to the Sonoma Compound as a mortal and her being turned into a vampire, she and Mael finally get to reunite.

Angel of Music (part three of les Innocents) - Marius/Armand/Daniel, Louis/Lestat(/Armand), Marius/Thorne, E, 27615 words. Now thirty years old, Armand, Lestat, and Louis’s careers are taking off with the growing popularity of les Innocents, and Armand meets a snappy young journalism student.

Renaissance Faire (part five of les Innocents) - Marius/Armand, Lestat/Louis, Eric/Santino, G, 2276 words. Professor Thorne and Dr. de Romanus take a group of students to the Renaissance Faire, where Armand learns what happened to Santino, and Lestat has a surprise for Louis.

The Fourth of July - Armand, Daniel, and Louis, G, 813 words. Seeking refuge from the loud fireworks set off on the Fourth of July, Daniel is met with a surprise.

[prouvaireafterdark]

Would you be able to give an overview of Marius and Armand’s full relationship? I think I got a little lost last chapter.

Okay I was typing this out on my phone and then the app crashed and I lost it all so let’s try this again lol

Putting this under a tab for spoilers for my fic Practical Ethics and also 'cause it got pretty long. Also TW for Marius being a gross pervert

Basically Armand went to Venice to enroll in school and indoctrinate other students into the cult to boost their numbers and resources (the art of manipulation is, after all, a skill of his). It was meant to be a final test, like a “go out into the world and prove how loyal you are” kind of thing since he'd been with them so long and had fully drunk the Kool-Aid out of self-preservation instincts.

When he enrolled in Marius’ class, Marius (who was a long-term visiting professor for research reasons) took an interest in him because he was attracted to him and sensed there was something going on with him.

After many conversations in and out of Marius’ office hours, Armand’s worldview started to shift. He began to question the things he’d been raised in and realized that there was another way to live that didn’t involve constant (literal and metaphorical) darkness and abuse. This revelation was as terrifying as it was incredible, but he thought it would be okay if he just stuck with Marius, who could show him how best to live in this world he didn’t really understand

And at the time, Marius seemed a much better alternative than the cultists. Sure he could be harsh and uncompromising, but he wasn't making him sacrifice animals and drink blood or beating him and starving him for days when he did something wrong. He also was the first person to make Armand feel like he was special, the first person to make him feel like he had someone in his corner looking out for him, so Armand latched on really hard.

Marius helped Armand work up the courage to leave the cult and when he finally did, he was, predictably, cut off financially. Marius offered Armand a place to stay (his bed) in his (one bedroom since the other bedroom was turned into an art studio) apartment and took over his tuition payments. Armand was a wreck emotionally at first and Marius gave him some sense of stability. He also took Armand’s education into his own hands, telling him what classes to take and which sorts of things were worth study and which were not. Marius praised him lavishly when he measured up to his expectations, but then he also started to punish him harshly when he did not (not unlike the cult). Instead of building him up and helping him gain some independence, he made Armand rely on him for everything, including physical/sexual intimacy.

Their relationship wasn’t ROMANTIC per se though, like Marius wasn’t his boyfriend or anything. I think Marius is just exactly the kind of creep to have convinced a naive Armand that the Ancient Greek model of the pederastic relationship (that is, the sexual relationship between a younger male and his adult mentor which was seen as part of their education) was normal and something that would be beneficial to him. Marius could teach him everything he needed to know and sex was part of the exchange. Armand was so starved for affection and physical touch he let Marius do whatever he wanted. He also posed for Marius a lot and served as his artistic muse.

When Marius’ term as visiting professor ran out, Armand assumed he would be going back to San Francisco with him, but Marius left Venice and Armand behind without much notice. Marius and Pandora hadn’t spoken much in the last three years, but they were still legally married and Marius never had any intention of choosing Armand over her. Marius also gaslit him into thinking it was his fault for misunderstanding their situation so he blamed himself for his own distress more than he blamed Marius.

Armand spiraled hard after that and had to figure out how to live without him basically telling him what to do. After some soul-searching, he decided to keep studying philosophy and religion, probably as a way to cope with what happened to him in the cult, and also because he was just interested in learning. He eventually completed a masters degree (probably part time because he had to support himself now) and then decided to pursue a PhD.

He reached out to Marius for advice on programs since he's a leading scholar in his field (Roman religion) and would know how best to position himself as an applicant. Marius seemed excited to hear from him again and Armand was hopeful that things would be different this time. He offered him advice on which programs to apply to and supported his applications with letters of recommendation. (What Armand still doesn’t know is that Marius also sabotaged him in those letters to ensure San Francisco would be his only option because he got off on the dynamic they used to have and wanted to see him again)

When he arrived, Armand thought Marius would treat him like an adult now that he was older and more self-sufficient and that they could have a mutually beneficial professional relationship, but he was still the same asshole he was back then. He may not be living or sleeping with him anymore, but he’s still abusive and acts like he owns him - hence why Armand is trying to get away from him throughout the fic

I’m sorry if any of that was unclear! I tried to reveal bits of information subtly over time (sometimes it isn’t about what Armand says, it’s about what he doesn’t say, or what he alludes to and then stops himself from thinking more about because those memories are too traumatic for him to want to examine too closely), but maybe some things got lost somewhere haha

If people want me to, I can make some of this more explicitly stated in the fic - just let me know if you think that would be helpful 💖 I didn't want to give Marius' crimes too much airtime, but I also don't want people to be confused lol

[leslutdepointedulac]

I think saying the only hurt is emotional is down playing down what Lestat actually did:

Kidnapped Claudia from the hospital

Killed her

Turned her into a vampire trapping her aged 5

Treated her as a doll and child for decades

Threatened her (eg when he said he would starve her)

Was insulting and condescending to her

Ignored Claudia's desire to help try find a way to age despite being the reason she's stuck like that

Told her nothing about anything (ik Lestat was told by Marius not to but considering how Lestat treated her it's not surprising she assumed the worst of him).

From Claudia's point of view Lestat was a monster (and Louis). He stole her, murdered her, forced her to live as a child forever, refused to help potentially rectify it, and made her suffering worse by his treatment of her. Like, yeah she couldn't do anything herself (who is at fault for that?), of course she had to get creative if she wanted to get out of a situation she never wanted.

I wasn't downplaying anything that Lestat did to Claudia, I never said that the things he does aren't horrible and sometimes bordering on cruel. And I never said he didn't do any of those things, I'm fully aware that he does. I also never denied how Claudia feels about Lestat and why she felt like the only solution was to kill him. I was merely answering what had previously been asked, which was why Louis didn't do anything to help Lestat.

As for Lestat rectifying the situation, there wasn't anything he could physically do, but what he could do was try to make amends with her and he did. When Claudia comes to him before killing him, she claims it's to stop their fighting and make up (though she's of course lying to trick him), and upon realising this, Lestat's ready to accept that. He wants to stop their fights just as much as he thinks Claudia does. He may not be able to undo everything he's said or done to her, but he can at least try and get them back on civil ground.

Aside from turning her into a vampire which, yes could be classed as physical hurt in one way or another, all of those things you have listed are emotional. None of them mean that Lestat physically hurt Claudia in any way, he doesn't lay a finger on her in any of these circumstances. Even in his threats, it's just words, he never actually touches Claudia in a way that physically harms her. Any hurt she feels from these situations is entirely emotional.

And yes, Lestat was often horrible to Claudia, but that was only after she began to rebel. Up until that point, he doted on her and tried to be a good father to her. He loved her (and still does after everything), even when he started insulting her and acting stand-offish, and even then it was because he was frightened of how she was changing and going against him. I'm not saying that was right, I'm not defending the way he lashed out and took his anger and hurt out on Claudia, I'm just saying he acted on instinct, which was to retaliate against her behaviour.

[gimme-a-man-after-midnight]

my royal roomie pt. 3

fandom: Aquaman

pairing: Orm Marius x Reader

part 1 part 2

summary: As time passes, Orm begins to see you as more than his surface dweller host. Much to his surprise, you’ve captured his attention, which in turn makes him notice just how physically affectionate you are with everyone except him. 

word count: 5500+

warnings: light cursing, touch starved!orm, light angst if you squint, comic lore inaccuracies, slow burn, divorced parents!reader, dead parents!reader, mentions of being smaller in comparison to orm, flora inaccuracies??

a/n: hey...how y'all doin :,) i'm sorry i lagged on this part for MONTHS, but i finally had some spare time and motivation to finish it, so here ya go!

The dynamic between you and Orm didn’t make a complete 180 after your late night talk - in fact, it was quite awkward for the first few days following. Orm, although now deciding to actually be in the same room as you for longer than five minutes, didn’t talk much when you were in each other’s presence. The Atlantean favored just observing you in your natural habitat - when you cooked, when you read, when you talked with people on the phone. You often extended invitations to him to join in your activities, but a silent shake of his platinum head was what you were regularly met with. You tried not to take offense, understanding that small steps forward was better than leaps backward, but you couldn’t help but feel a little unnerved by his probing gaze. 

Your expressions when meeting Orm’s eyes were always one of the three - confused, apprehensive, or downright shy. Orm liked playing a silent game with himself whenever he would wait in the communal areas of the house for you, guessing which one would take over your face that day. However, what the Atlantean liked most of all was when you would deviate from all three and bless him with a sheepish look that teetered between flushed and guilty. Although there would be no evident redness behind your cheeks, your flitting eyes and soft smile gave him a new type of satisfaction. Orm wasn’t blind - he could tell you were attracted to him. His heightened senses could pick up on your increase of breaths and the quickening of your heartbeat whenever his eyes would be fixed on you and it made pride swell in his chest. Even with how apparent your interest in him was, you never overstepped - you were always respectful of his space, never even entertaining the fine line between roommates and friends. You had remained awfully friendly, though….

…friendly enough for Orm to realize that the way you interacted with him was vastly different to how you would with others. 

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

With about two weeks of convincing, multiple threats of rescinding meals, and embarrassing bouts of wide-eyed pleading you had finally worn down the blonde enough to get him to come to town with you. You chose to avoid densely populated areas like the park, the marketplace, or the downtown areas. Even though Orm had proven to be a fine roommate to you, adding other unfamiliar people to the mix could make him uncomfortable. The marina was also out of the question, per Arthur’s suggestion - something about “drying the fucker out a little, karma’s a bitch.” You learned from a young age not to question Arthur’s methods. 

The plan was set - you’d bring Orm to the flower shop to act as your assistant for the time being and then you’d end the night at Izzie’s Diner to eliminate the need for grocery shopping. It was going to be like a “Bring Your Kid to Work'' Day scenario, except instead of a kid you’d be bringing a six-foot-something, human hating, Atlantean beefcake to your little store. 

From the moment you two had set foot into your establishment, it was clear to Orm that this was your element. The wide variety of flora had caught his attention straight away, his mind immediately drawing comparisons to the plant life of Atlantis. However, your shop wasn’t nearly as flashy or fluorescent - no, your shop was much more intimate. From the hand-painted script on the window to the worn forest green stain on the wood, your shop presented itself as a little slice of heaven to all patrons that entered. 

You were quick to put Orm to work, not being shy in showing him that you took pride in your vocation. The first task you had set up for him was to set the premade bouquets out on the displays outside, meticulously instructing him on how you wanted them arranged by color family. (Gods know whatever a “color family” was.) You then had him move large vases of separated flowers into the sunroom - You have the upper body power, you told him, I doubt it’ll be that taxing for you. Once you were satisfied with the layout of the store and Orm had grumbled your ear off plenty, you were ready to open. As to be expected in a small town, there wasn’t much business towards the dead hours of the day, but you had always found something to do to keep busy.

When you were awarded the company of customers, they were always regulars - or at least that’s what Orm deduced. The blonde prince would watch as your eyes brightened and the corners of your lips would turn up impossibly high whenever someone familiar would walk through the door. Not that your smile would be any less bright for a new customer (and not that Orm was watching close enough to tell the difference or anything). You always had sweet words for all that entered into the shop - it was a wonder you didn’t come home completely silent due to exhaustion.

“Does it get tiring?”

Orm’s question stole your attention away from the stems you were trimming, making you turn over your shoulder with a confused expression.

“Does what get tiring?” You asked.

“That attitude. All of-” Orm puts on a fake smile, “-that.”

You roll your eyes at his dramatics, tossing loose stem bits in his direction which he effortlessly bats away.

“Customer service is a vital part of the job - you get used to it...”

You looked around the shop, reminiscing over your time attending to the customers.

“...and the people of Amnesty Bay are sweet. It’s not hard to reciprocate.”

You spoke as if it was a matter of fact, quickly dismissing all of Orm’s skepticism with one sentence. You didn’t bother arguing further with the Atlantean, thinking that it would do no good to lecture him after putting him to work. Orm had no choice but to hum to himself as he reflected on your words and your easy-going demeanor. 

Before he could interrogate you further, your doorbell chimed announcing the arrival of new customers, ones that clearly excited you enough to make you let out a small squeal.

“Sampsons!” You greeted the family happily, practically leaping over the counter to throw your arms around the expecting wife. Orm watched from his peripherals as you cooed cheery greetings to the party of 3 (and a half?), deciphering that these people were your friends. The husband, wife, and young son laughed heartily at your enthusiasm, smiling down at you with equal merriment.  

“Girl, you are growing by the minute! How has the pregnancy been?” You stop flitting about the group like a hummingbird to focus on the woman, brushing softly at her hair as you take in her appearance. Orm could see you beaming at her from the corner of his eye, unable to look away from the sight for some reason.

The people surrounding him in Atlantis were always prim and proper, no surprise due to their noble status - never bobble out of place or an expression unpinched. So, seeing how jovial and lively you were when interacting with your friends was entirely new to the prince. 

Orm also couldn’t help but notice just how…touchy you were with them. Your eyes never leave your friend - Mrs. Sampson, he presumes - as you softly move strands of hair out of her face, fully engrossed in every word she points in your direction. Your hands stay clasped in hers as your thumb rubs comforting circles at her knuckles. The affection came so naturally with you - this type of petting would undoubtedly turn heads in his kingdom, surely being improper in the eyes of nobility. Mrs. Sampson’s family seemed rather comfortable as well, the young son stepping away from his father numerous times to hug at your legs, which you always acknowledged with a ruffle to his curls. 

The love-dripping display before him made Orm feel an unfamiliar tug at his chest, one that he could best describe as longing. Longing for what, Orm doesn’t know (and surely would never admit). The inner thoughts manifest into a particularly pinched expression, which Mr. Sampson notices right away.

“Psst-” your friend’s husband whispers to you. “Who’s the scary blonde?”

You swiftly turn away from your friend to find Orm with his arms crossed, staring from a distance with furrowed brows and pursed lips. You make your way to stand next to him again, proving he means no harm. You’ve been around the Atlantean long enough to know that he was only sporting his inquisitive expression, but you understood that his intimidating stature could paint his curiosity as animosity. 

Orm scoffed lightly as his metahuman ears picked up on the husband’s whisper which made you elbow him under the counter in turn, your smile never faltering. While your actions slightly bruised his ego more than his actual skin, he couldn’t help but feel a little impressed at your bravery considering he’s smited others for less. He’d never say it out loud, but you’re much more appealing than his previous offenders - much too appealing indeed. 

“Oh shut up, Jonny,” Mrs. Sampson says to her husband as she swats him. She leans over the counter to hold a hand out to him. “I’m Janie - I know, Janie and Jonny sounds like an awful sitcom but that’s just how the pieces fell for us. And this is our son, Miloh-” 

Orm reluctantly takes the chipper woman’s hand, being cautious to not accidentally overuse his strength and squeeze too hard. He didn’t really understand any of the words she was saying, but she had a kind eyes and a warm smile that were similar to yours. Orm supposed that you are what you attract. 

“This is Or-Orion!” You’re quick to correct, semi-aware of the Atlantean prince’s reputation with the people of Amnesty Bay. “He’s Arthur’s friend - he’s staying with me for a bit.” You pat at Orm’s shoulder, displaying a mask of familiarity to your friends to throw off any suspicions about his true heritage. Orm doesn’t acknowledge the trail of fire your hand leaves when you remove it from his shoulder. The family waves back to him with similar eye crinkling smiles, the young boy looking up at the Atlantean in awe at the sheer mass of him. 

“Anyway, what did y’all come here for?” 

You loop your arm through Janie’s, whisking her away and leaving “Orion” to stand quietly behind the counter with Jonny and their son. Before you were fully out of his hearing radius, Orm picked up on Janie’s whisper to you: “He’s cute, girl.” You’re quick to shush your friend, taking her to the opposite corner of the shop to look at floral arrangements. The blonde couldn’t help that his chest swelled with pride at quick comment.

“So, how do’ya like Amnesty Bay, Orion?” Jonny asks, pushing his thick framed glasses up his slender nose. He lets Miloh roam free upon feeling his squirming to loosen his father’s hand from his shoulder. 

“It’s…more pleasant than I anticipated - peaceful.” 

Jonny laughs lightly, hand rubbing at the back of his neck. “You used to the city then?”

“Yes, large in population and dense. A far cry from this town.” 

Orm and Jonny watch as Miloh comes up behind you to hug at your waist, giggling when you make a big reaction upon him “surprising” you. You swoop the boy into your arms while you continue talking to his mother, the boy basking in the affection you give him. It’s a welcome sight to Orm, one that Jonny notices. 

“Has she been a good host to you?” 

The Atlantean peels his eyes away from the scene that unexpectedly warms his chest to address the man, pretending to not notice the knowing look on his angular features. 

“She has been…very gracious indeed.”

“Ah, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Y’know she put us up for two weeks when our roof got totaled by the tidal wave? That girl is too nice for her own good, I swear…”

Orm couldn’t deny your kindness, he had been on the receiving end of it for the past few weeks that he’s roomed with you. Your patience and understanding were the traits that made boarding with you so…seamless. 

“Yes, she is. Very much so.”

Jonny, sensing the blonde had little else to say, gave him a polite smile before following after his wife and son. Orm watches as the family embrace you (metaphorically) into their circle, your arms encircling Janie and Miloh naturally. The way you so easily welcome them into your space without a second thought, balancing Miloh on your hip as you twirl at Janie’s hair that falls on her shoulder. He couldn’t help but stare - stare at your gummy smile, at your rosy cheeks, at everywhere your hands fall…

“Alright, I’ll come to yours next week with some sample bouquets and you can choose from there. I’m so excited for you!” Your merry voice rings through the shop as you see the Sampsons out, placing one final kiss on Miloh’s chubby cheek before sending them off with a wave.

When you return to your spot behind the counter, you still have a warm smile lingering on your face. Orm catches it before you do, watching you recompose yourself with a more professional expression. 

“They are a…colorful bunch.”

You practically guffaw at his sudden commentary, covering it up with the back of your hand.

“Yeah, definitely lively. Arthur thinks they’re fairies or wood sprites or something.”

“...I see it.”

You find yourself quietly delighted that Orm is entertaining your nonsense talk, making you notice that he’s standing a step closer. You will yourself to loosen the muscles in your back that make you stand erect now that there is less space between you. You also pretend that you don’t notice Orm side eyeing you at the gesture. 

“They told me Izzy’s is closing early for the night, so we’ll need to go grocery shopping on the way back home. I hope that’s okay…” 

“Whatever is acceptable for you.”

You nod at each other in silent agreement before going back to trimming stems, Orm unsure of why his side that’s closest to you is humming with electricity.

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

The grocery shop you take Orm to is thankfully more empty due to closing time drawing near. You take on cart pushing duty in lieu of passing it on to Orm since he looked at the contraption like it was cursed. Giving Orm a onceover to make sure he was all settled before heading into the store. You choose not to circle around the seafood section just yet, unwilling to be around when the prince would undoubtedly scrunch his face up with a look of disapproval. 

“I’ll probably just cook some pasta tonight - nothing too crazy, I’m kinda tired.”

“...you do not have to cook for us. We can order that food Arthur mentioned - granted the words he used to describe it were disgusting - something like ‘juicy’ or ‘cheesy’-”

You nearly stop the cart as you laugh at Orm’s words dripping with disdain, shaking your head at the clear understanding of Arthur’s character.

“I’m assuming he’s talking about a cheeseburger - he’s always had an unceasing enthusiasm for food.”

You stop in the aisle reaching up for a box of what looked like yellow screws to Orm, getting on your tiptoes to reach it but with no success. The Atlantean takes pity on you and gets the box for you, being met with your gracious smile when he places it in your cart. You nod at him sheepishly, hands flexing by the handle of the cart as you shoot Orm a grateful look. 

“Ah, thanks-”

When his arm brushes against yours as it passes the food over to your cart, Orm takes note of how stiff you go for a moment. You quickly relax yourself - albeit it seemed like you needed to put some effort into it. A part of him tries not to feel offended at the action, quieting his own curiosity at being the cause of your brief uncomfortability. The other part of him wishes to push you further - to brush against you again to see how you would react to a more firm touch.

“Um, excuse me?”

A soft elderly voice coming from behind you interrupts both of your inner monologues. When you both turn over your shoulders you’re met with the sight of an elderly woman bundled in a thick jacket and chunky beanie hiding her white locks.

“Yes, ma’am?” 

Your sweet words ring through Orm’s ears, noting their slightly higher octave as if to appear as non-threatening to the elderly stranger as possible.  

“I-I was wondering if you could help me find this brand of bread flour? My grandson is visiting me tomorrow and I always make his favorite snickerdoodles with this brand - I can’t seem to find it-”

“Sure! It should be in this aisle too, at the end-”

You walk in time with the smaller woman, heart clenching at the slow and unsteady steps she takes by your side. Orm follows closely behind as he watches the exchange, brows furrowing at how easily you offer up your arm for the woman to hold onto. When you make it to the end of the aisle, you quickly spot the brand the woman was looking for at the very top shelf, no doubt the reason she was unable to find it on her own.

“Ah, it’s all the way up there, no wonder you didn’t see it.”

“Maybe we can ask one of the workers to help get it - though there aren’t many around now-”

Orm steps forward to be in both of your guys’ lines of sight. 

“Please, allow me.”

Orm’s hand reaches up to scan through each brand.

“This one, yes?”

“Yes, the very one!”

Orm grabs two of the flour bags with ease, holding them in his muscular arms. 

“Another for the next time your grandson visits. It’s best to be well prepared.” 

You watch with slightly widened eyes as he carefully places the flour in the woman’s arms, making sure they stay secure.

“Uh - do you want help getting it to the register? We just about have everything we need-”

“I’m alright! This old girl still has some strength in her.”

You and Orm share a soft laugh at the comment, decidedly letting the woman be off on her own in favor of kicking up a fuss.

“Thank you both, lovely couple you are.”

“Oh we-”

Before you could correct her, she leaves you with a squeeze to your hand, one which you return as your cheeks warm upon her departure. Orm’s stare lingers on your hands as they return to your sides, an unfamiliar pinching feeling stirring in his gut.

“I - uh - I think we have everything we need.”

You are noticeably further from Orm, keeping at least an arm’s distance from him as you push your cart. (Not that he notices those things.) He makes an effort to keep his strides short so as to not get in your space since it’s clearly what you wish. It’s quiet when you pay for your goods and it’s quiet when you load up the car. Orm takes note of how rigid your posture is when you drive away from the grocery store, but makes no comment on it. The quick shift in your demeanor puzzled the Atlantean to no end. You weren’t meant to be hard to navigate - you were human for the gods’ sakes. You were human and yet Orm found himself unable to read you during times like this when you would retreat into yourself and just look onward. He was also puzzled by how much he wanted to read you, to gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of your mind. 

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

After unpacking all the food and a long shower, you seemed to go back to normal, meaning Orm had no place to question your mannerisms through the day which he was (embarrassingly) overanalyzing in his head ever since you both got home. Now having built rapport with Orm’s working skills, you tasked him with washing the vegetables that you would cook for a side. You couldn’t help but smile at how conservative the Atlantean was being with his water usage, your own usage mirroring his. Still new to human appliances, Orm thought it was best to the side as you began preparing dinner. Orm liked watching you flit around the kitchen when you cooked - it was like an organized chaos of sorts. While you were clumsy in a lot of your actions from mincing garlic to measuring out ingredients, you always made it to your end product. The prince had no room to complain about the surface at times like this when you would greet him with your good smelling food and a warm smile to let him know that dinner was ready. 

“Hope you’re hungry, I kinda made a lot. I’m still trying to gauge how much Atlanteans eat - I mean I know Arthur eats a shit ton, but that’s Arthur-”

“This is fine,” Orm interjects your rambling with a hand up. “Thank you for preparing the meal.”

You smile over your shoulder at his polite words, moving to prepare the plates. Orm momentarily looks around your living space again, analyzing for the 100th time since boarding with you. Before he can get full surveillance of the room, the sound of a sharp his and a plate clattering onto the counter grabs his attention. The sight of you clutching your wrist puts the blonde on high alert, his long legs taking a few steps to come to your side.

“What happened-”

“I’m fine, Orm, I just got too close to the pan when plating-”

“Let me see-”

“No, I’m good-”

When Orm’s hand reaches out to take a look at your burn, you seize back quicker than when your skin got singed on the pan. His eyes widen briefly before they settle back to their neutral expression with something else burning in them. Orm had tried to hide his shock and annoyance (and in part a feeling of rejection) from your wishes to keep a physical barrier between you two, but now it was directly in his face. He could no longer ignore it.

When you try to maneuver around Orm to get to the ice in your freezer, your actions are brought to a halt when Orm’s hands on your shoulders keep you firmly in place. You look up at the Atlantean with a look of abject shock and fear when you feel how your skin sings under the weight of his heavy hands. 

“Orm-”

“You will stop this nonsense at once.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do I disgust you to such a degree that you cannot stand to touch me?”

Your slightly agape mouth closes immediately, your surprised face changing to one of confusion as your narrowed eyes assess Orm’s burning expression.

“What? No, that’s not-”

“Oh please, human, I can see it in your body language how you practically jump away from me at any sign of closeness. Is my blood what adds fuel to your fear? Does my very presence make the hairs stand up at the back of your neck? You should be scared-”

With a groan you quickly cover Orm’s mouth with your hand, ignoring how your hands over his lips makes your breathing quicken. 

“Shut up and let me explain, will you?”

Your fire is hard for Orm to ignore as well as the closeness of your face to his when you end his tirade. However, you quickly step back from him to speak, the both of you letting out breaths you didn’t know you were holding.

“Firstly, do not call me ‘human.’ You know my name and use of anything else is degrading.”

The way you huff up at him makes Orm’s scowl soften slightly, your pinched features and smaller stature making a lethally adorable combination.

“And second, I am not ‘disgusted’ by you - you’re just a person and there’s nothing about you that could disgust me-”

“Your actions say otherwise-”

“Let me finish, Jesus. You and Arthur are related.”

You fiddle with the edges of your sleeves as you try to collect your thoughts to accurately depict how you feel to the perplexed prince. 

“I…The reason I keep my distance - why I try to avoid contact with you like that - I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

A brief silence passes over the two of you, Orm’s furrowed brows willing you to continue.

“All you’ve known of surface dwellers is how we’ve polluted your oceans, taken your resources, and overall contributed to the worsening of your living state. I…I didn’t want to touch you in case it made you feel weird or something. You already have to live in close quarters with me, I didn’t wanna make you even more suffocated.”

It was Orm’s turn to be shocked. His mouth slightly falls agape when you finish speaking, his face relaxing when he realizes the reason for your hesitance. You weren’t disgusted with him - in fact it was the total opposite. You had such an immense respect for his possible boundaries that you had been hyper aware of your own actions to maintain them. Your thoughtfulness knew no bounds, that much was becoming clear to him.

“I-” Orm starts, a notably softer tone than before, “-I don’t feel uncomfortable with you. I would hardly name what respite you have provided me as ‘suffocating’.”

Your brows tilt up, pupils widening at his words.

“Oh. Okay…that’s good then.”

You would admit that your reply was quite lame, but those were all the words you could muster when face-to-face with Orm’s kind eyes. 

“I didn’t realize my actions were so obvious. I’m sorry if it seemed like I didn’t like you or anything-”

“It’s fine. It had only become evident to me when I saw how you interact with others.”

“How so?”

Did you truly not know how affectionate you were to the people in your life - to the people that came around you? How your demeanor unconsciously encouraged anyone within your vicinity to melt into your warmth. It was hard for Orm to believe you were unaware of the affect you had on people.

“You are…very touchy with those around you. With the Sampsons in your store-”

“Well, they’re practically family-

“With that elderly woman from the market-”

“She seemed so frail, I wanted to just be of assistance-”

“My point still stands. You are so forward with your kindness - with your affection. It was easy to notice the difference in the way you are around me.”

“I really didn’t mean to offend you, I just didn’t wanna overstep-”

“You couldn’t overstep.”

Orm’s words stun you into a silence, your heart beating at a faster rate after the Atlantean prince had essentially given you permission to touch him. Did he want you to touch him? Clearly he was bred to be perceptive - an observer as well as a leader - so it was no surprise that he could sense your hesitance to be close to him. However, you couldn’t help but wonder if it was something he was thinking about - overthinking about, even. 

“I - Well…does it bother you? Me not touching you - does that bother you?”

Orm coughs to himself, fiddling with the buckle of his belt in a slightly nervous manner you had never seen him display before. 

“Bother is a strong word. Though I did feel somewhat slighted.”

You laugh to yourself in the way that Orm likes, the one where your gaze diverts from his and your head lolls back. It gives him a view of the length of your neck, an elegant shape that his eyes can’t help but be drawn to. 

“We can fix that now if you like?”

Even with his noble ability to breathe on land, Orm almost chokes at your words.

“Not in a weird way!” Your hands wave in front of him, trying to backtrack from how suggestive you may have sounded. “Like, we can do small things to break the ice, y’know, so we don’t have to tiptoe around each other anymore.

“...what do you suggest?”

With a soft sigh, your hand comes up, palm open with wiggling fingers. The hopeful smile you shoot him occupies a space in his chest - filling him with something he hasn’t felt in a long time. 

“We can hold hands for a bit, kinda like a trust exercise! Up to you how long or when, but maybe breaking the physical touch boundary will make things less awkward?”

Your hand never drops as you rest against the counter, not moving from your place as you continue to look up at Orm with your sparkling eyes. The prince’s mind went haywire. If Orm wasn’t convinced earlier that you honestly weren’t disgusted by him, he was definitely sure now. All you needed was his permission, and now - in a fashion true to your nature - you were welcoming him to bask in your warm affections. 

The blond was frozen in his place, a measly two paces separating you yet it felt like miles. Your eyes searched his face, his expression devoid of any emotion but his mind running laughably rampant, as you waited patiently for him to close the gap. Even now with his consent, you still waited for him to be ready - waited for him to come to you.

He let go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding, taking a cautionary step forward towards your outstretched hand. Your fingers wriggled slightly in anticipation, a goofy smile on your face as you waited for him to cross the  intangible bridge leading to you. Orm’s eyes never left your hand, his pulse racing as he closed more distance between you - this was what he asked for, so he had no right to be scared now.

When his large hand finally takes yours, your shoulders visibly relax and your smile widens. You couldn’t fully place what you were feeling and why, but all you knew was that it felt nice.

“Okay! That’s not so bad, huh?” 

All Orm can do now is laugh - laugh at your casual demeanor and laugh at himself for his hammering chest. Truly, he shouldn’t have been surprised by how welcoming you were to hearing his qualms and quickly attending to them. You have consistently been a good, honest, and lovely host to him even when he gave you little in return. However, he was surprised by how much your kind nature had extended to him knowing how much suffering he had brought to your town for some time. 

“No. Not bad.” Orm responds gruffly.

Your eyes crinkle as you laugh up at him, squeezing at his palm. 

“Okay, I think we’ve stood through the exercise for long enou-”

Orm’s grip on your hand tightens as he makes another step towards you.

“No.”

You blink up at him in confusion.

“No?”

Orm coughs again.

“No, I…I’m not finished with the exercise.”

Your cheeks grow impossibly warm, making you swear at yourself for your obvious bashfulness.

“Oh. Well, okay then. We can do it for as long as you like.”

And here you were again, being as understanding as ever of Orm’s needs. Orm had assumed humans were quite simple - easy to understand due to their lack of brain capacity and advancement in comparison to Atlanteans. However, watching how different you were in your shop - witnessing you change from the selectively quiet, sarcastic little thing you were at home to a vivacious, charming young woman there - it had confused him greatly. Even now, you were extending so much of your kindness towards him when there was nothing for you to gain in the end. His father had told him many stories of the treacheries of humankind, but the one point he drilled relentlessly into his head was that humans were simple, dull creatures undeserving of their people’s knowledge. Why did he seem so wrong now? 

Other sea clans felt that when the time came to reveal themselves to the surface that it would only be to educate them - his father had other ideas. The infamous King Orvax wished to utilize the wrath of the seas in order to overpower the surface world, his son at his side as they rebuilt the world in their image. His teachings were the foundation of Orm’s belief system for the majority of his life, yet you had managed to topple those mind palaces within a matter of weeks. You, with your soft knits and quick wit, had the Atlantean prince questioning whether his father had simply been misinformed. His father couldn’t have possibly known how complex humans could truly be because he never met you.

“I would like that. I want to stay like this for a while. For as long as you'll have me." 

Orm whispers, almost like a prayer meant for just the two of you.

“Sure. We can stay like this. Let’s stay like this.”

Your smaller hand squeezes his, a miniscule action that was stirring tidal waves in Orm’s gut. The reassurance of your presence was all he needed, so for the first time in forever Orm lets himself stand still in the moment, no thoughts of the future or of the throne. Just you and him in your tiny kitchen. 

.

.

.

A/N: I know, months of procrastinating and the main build up is for them to HOLD HANDS. Sue me, I love a slow burn.   

taglist:

@malfoys-demigod

@kokokreampuffs

@writings-of-a-demigod

@myshitpostblo9

@h-i-g-h-w-a-y-t-o-h-e-l-l-l

@claire-reads

@isthatbatman

@jollybhie

@tumblin-theworldaway

@leah-halliwell92

@angelicwolf98

[monstersinthecosmos]

my question is like, did Mael and Marius fuck a lot in the captivity year, both because Mael was powerfully attracted to the new god and also because Marius desperately lonely & hoped he could manipulate Mael into freeing him; or was it no sex at all and just filled with bitterness and sexual tension. Did Marius die completely touch starved? Is that why he wanted Armand to plunge into carnal indulgence because he feels it's as important as freedom and food and sunlight? 😢

[ao3feed-superbat]

the binder

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/bA2JuPi by mathiwrites The binder is a comprehensive reference book for Orm to understand various surface practices pertaining to sex, kinks, foreplay and intimacy. Clark has explained that sex goes beyond duty, and for him, it’s a form of love, affection and exploration. This fic compiles all the smut inspired by Clark’s binder. Words: 2333, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Series: Part 3 of the sun & the sea, Part 3 of a touch, a taste -- let me never go to waste Fandoms: DCU, Batman - All Media Types, Aquaman (Movies - Wan), Superman - All Media Types Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Orm Marius, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent Relationships: Orm Marius/Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent/Orm Marius, Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent/Orm Marius/Bruce Wayne Additional Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Voyeurism, Exhibitionism, Masturbation, Touch-Starved, OT3, Comfort Sex, BDSM, Smut, Porn with Feelings read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/bA2JuPi

[sonataforsybelle]

Sybelle is touch-starved when she meets Armand, she does hug with Benji once in a while but she keeps some distance because he's a child and she already feels guilty about him having to help her so much.

So she's constantly sharing touch with Armand and tight hugs and cuddling, and the habit remains after being turned. It's her love language, but she also needs it very much after having been mistreated so cruelly. Getting her hair brushed, braiding Armand's hair even if he's okay with that, long cuddling sessions, holding hands... she also loves sharing a sleeping space be it bed or coffin, it makes her feel safe. When she was still human she prefered falling asleep in the last hours before dawn so Armand could watch over her. Again, safety and comfort.

And while it takes her longer to warm up to others -- at first she only trusts Armand and Benji with physical closeness, and Marius or Pandora since they turned her, but she's too overwhelmed when it's someone else -- once she feels safe enough she'll absolutely hold hands or hug someone she loves and feels secure with, given they're okay with it of course.

Another thing she loves is basically parallel play ; feeling secure enough to sit in the same room as someone and do your own thing without having to talk. Ofc her piano playing helps a lot with that, though one could argue she's interacting by playing music.))

[unbindingkerberos]

BABEL HEADCANONS PT. 2

Henry doesn't commit needless violence. Everything he does has a reason or a means to complete the mission no matter the cost. Sacrifices have to be made.

He doesn't like to admit it but Henry finds himself wanting to own a pet. He prefers birds and reptiles over cats and dogs. If he does get a pet, it would most likely be a Lahore pigeon or a Corn snake.

Henry drives his bike in his sparetime if he's not busy at the workshop. He sometimes lets Marius tag along or test drive his bike.

He and Deimos suprisingly get along. They often place bets on the Deimos's men and see who can last long (Current scoring: Henry: 6, Deimos: 8). The two have a dark inside joke and the other mercenaries often find them snickering amongst themselves.

Henry is touch starved. He will literally melt into another's touch and demand for more-- his favorite being warm palms cupping his cheeks.

Henry sometimes quotes vines during missions, but due to his unhinged and predator-like playfulness the rest don't catch up or realize.