#its been quite long since i drew the two of them together

[mxhirus]

i really miss them, bring them back to me

[mylifesjustacarousel]

hook’s fairy bestie

pairing: james hook x fem!reader (requested!)

summary: you were known around campus as hook’s fairy bestie, but things and feelings change

type: kinda angsty, fluffy at the end

CW: bullying, implied nudity (?) for like a second

WC: 3K

requests are open! <3

Being a fairy was pretty cool. You were tiny and adorable, everybody loved you. Every fairy ever born was born with a talent; something that they were really good at and thrived while doing. Some were tinker fairies, some were water fairies… you were a dust keeper, or, more specifically, a dust alchemist. Dust alchemists took different pixie dusts, mixing them together to create dust that could mimic other fairy talents. This meant that you were also good with potions and spells, Honors Alchemy being one of your favorite classes.

But, being a fairy also had its cons. You had big feelings in such a tiny little body. James Hook, the long haired pirate who was a part of Uliana’s crew, was your best friend. It was quite an odd pairing, but when you two met you clicked instantly. You two met in the courtyard late one night while you were practicing your alchemy. You were making water bubbles in the water fountain that was in the center of the courtyard when he spotted you. He sat on the edge of the fountain as he watched you with pure curiosity in his eyes.

“What’s that?” he asked in a soft tone, not wanting to startle you.

“A water bubble,” you responded, not thinking anything of it. Humans couldn’t hear fairies. Well, they could, but all they could hear was little bell sounds. But, something about Hook was different. “Fascinating,” he mumbled as he continued to watch you.

Your eyes shot open, the bubble that you had been working on bursting as you looked over at him. “You can hear me? Like, actually hear me?”

Hook looked around, a bit confused. “Of course I can hear you? Am I not supposed to hear you?”

You squealed with excitement, explaining to him how humans usually couldn’t hear fairies. He listened to you, a bright smile on his face. Hook was beyond fascinated by you, and the two of you had spent the rest of the night getting to know each other. From that point on, you had him hooked.

A few months had gone by, and the two of you were as close as ever. You spent the majority of your days sitting on his shoulder, gazing at him lovingly. You couldn’t deny it, you had developed feelings for him over the time that you two had know each other. You were just hoping that he felt the same way about you.

You didn’t even know exactly what is was about him that drew you to him. Hook had a reputation on campus, and it wasn’t really a great one. But, you never understood it. When he was around you, he was the sweetest human alive. Not to mention, he was also drop dead gorgeous. Like, seriously. Gorgeous. He was just… different around you. A good different.

“You know how much I hate that class, y/n.” Hook groaned, pushing his textbook away. You were sat on his shoulder, trying to help him study for his upcoming Enchantment for Beginners exam. “Come on, James. This stuff is easy. It’s for beginners.”

You flew off of his shoulder and landed on his desk. You grabbed the tip of his finger, trying to pull his hand towards his textbook. “A little help here? Your hand weighs, like, a thousand pounds!”

“Ouch, that’s hurtful,” he giggled. He grabbed his book, opening it up to the page that he was last on. You walked across the pages, pointing to different spells and incantations as you explained them to him. You had become like his mini tutor, talking to him over and over again about the course material until it had stuck in his head. His grades had reflected it as well, they were the highest they had ever been since he first met you.

“You’ve been doing so well, J,” you said as you sat down on the edge of the book. “Just a few more minutes of studying, I promise.”

Hook rolled his eyes playfully. “We’ve been studying for hours, darling.” He brought his hand up, using the tip of his finger to ruffle your hair. You grimaced. “You know I hate when you do that, James. If I wasn’t so tiny, I’d tackle you.”

Your size difference had never really bothered you. Hook still liked you, regardless of the fact that you were only a few inches tall. So, you had nothing to worry about. But sometimes you had thought about what it would be like to be… normal. To not be trampled and swatted every time a person saw you because they thought you were a fly.

It also meant that you could form actual relationships. You had friends, of course, but no one wanted to date a fairy. It just wasn’t realistic, you were as small as a butterfly. You knew that you and Hook could never be together, but you still held out hope…

“Well, you are that tiny, so I can do this all I want.” He ruffled your hair again.

“You’re the worst, James!”

Hook was sat on the floor in Uliana’s lair, the rest of the VKs sitting around him. You were, of course, sat on his shoulder. The other VKs… had mixed opinions on you. Morgie thought you were absolutely adorable and constantly asked if he could keep you as a pet, while the others found the bell-like sound of your voice to be beyond irritating.

“Hook, there’s a bug on your shoulder. Can I squash it?” Maleficent asked. Her eyes glared daggers at you, her patience getting thinner and thinner as she had to hear Hook basically talk to himself. Hook rolled his eyes. “Enough, Mali. I’m gonna squash you.”

She hissed at him, earning a giggle from Hades who was sat next to her. “If I hear any more of that shrill noise coming from your little bestie, I’m going to feed her to the eels. Capisce?” She snarled.

You frowned, immediately becoming quiet on Hook’s shoulder. She didn’t really scare you, but you hated making things harder on Hook. He was taken a lot less seriously ever since the two of you had gotten close. After all, it was hard to take someone seriously when they have a little fairy following them around constantly.

“Easy there. She’s not even doing anything wrong.”

Maleficent rolled her eyes, a disgusted look on her face. “Oh, come on, Hook! She’s here all the time now, and she’s only around you all the time because she has a big fat crush on you! She’s changed you, and if Uliana finds out about this little thing you have going on, you and your little fairy are dead!”

You were sat there, your tiny face a bright shade of red. You were humiliated. There’s no way that he didn’t know that you had feelings for him, but you hoped that if you ignored your feelings, they would just go away. Within seconds, you had flown off, unable to even face Hook. Being fed to the eels didn’t sound so bad at that point.

“Y/n? You here, darling?” Hook called out, walking into your dorm room. You were sat on your windowsill, your head buried in your hands.

“Go away, James!” you exclaimed. He sighed, going over to you and kneeling in front of the windowsill. “You know that she’s just mean, y/n. That’s all she is. But, um, was she telling the truth?” he asked. You looked up at him, internally panicked.

“What if she was telling the truth?”

“Oh, darling…” He felt a pang of guilt. He didn’t think that you had actually felt that way. “You know that… we can’t be together. I don’t feel that way about you.”

You were horrified. Horrified that the conversation even happened, and horrified that you had been rejected. Tears threatened to spill from your eyes as you tried to collect yourself. “I mean, yeah, obviously. That’s so stupid, I don’t even know why you think that I would feel that way…” you rambled on. Tears had started to fall, making your tiny cheeks glisten.

“Hey, hey, you are my best friend. You know that we can’t be together… like that.”

Truth be told, Hook did like you. A lot. But, he also knew that it wasn’t realistic, for either of you. So, to save face, he hid his feelings; buried them deep, locked them up, and threw away the key.

“Yes, James, I know! Thank you for saying it over and over again,” you spat. “You know what? I just need to be alone right now.”

“Y/n, can we please talk about this-”

“Out, Hook!”

He frowned. You hadn’t called him Hook in a long time. It wouldn’t seem like much to an outsider, but he hated when you called him that. It made him feel like a stranger.

“Okay, Okay. I’ll go… but I still think we should talk about this at some point.”

As your bedroom door shut, you broke down. You had never really felt this way before. Of course, you had never gotten close enough to anyone for them to break your heart either. As you sat there, wiping your tears away as they cascaded down your face, you had one thought on your mind:

I just want to be normal.

It was a dangerous potion, one that would only work if everything was done exactly right. You were risking a lot, but the reward seemed much greater. If done correctly, you would become human. No more wings, no more magic. You would fit in. There was one problem though. You couldn’t make the potion on your own. You needed the help of someone a lot more… normal sized, and after a lot of searching and a lot of writing down what you wanted to say because nobody could understand you, you had finally recruited someone.

“Are you sure that you want to do this?” Bridget asked. “Once we do this, you can’t go back. But, if this is what you want, of course I’ll help you.” You gave her a very enthusiastic nod, tiny bell sounds ringing throughout the room.

“Alrighty, let’s get started then.” She opened the spellbook, turning to the page that you had marked. You watched over her shoulder as she poured ingredients into the cauldron, making sure that everything was measured exactly right.

Bridget grabbed the griffin claw and stirred up the potion. As she stirred it, it turned from a pile of ingredients to a bright purple liquid. “You know, this is kind of exciting. What do you think James is going to think? You guys are close, right?”

You hadn’t thought about Hook since he had left your room. You didn’t even know if you could face him after being absolutely humiliated. But, he had made his feelings perfectly clear. So you didn’t have to worry about him… you hoped.

She scooped some of the potion into a small cup for you, setting it down on the table. “You ready?” Bridget asked. You landed on the table, staring at the cup in front of you. Your entire life was about to change, the key to normalcy was sitting right in front of your eyes. It would be strange and different, but for the best.

You picked up the tiny cup and took a deep breath before downing the potion. Everything felt normal and you had started to panic, thinking that the potion was made wrong and it didn’t work.

Then your vision went dark.

“Y/n? Y/n, are you okay?” A voice asked from above you. You opened your eyes, immediately putting your hands up to shield them from the bright lights of your room. Slowly sitting up, you looked around. Bridget was sat next to you, a worried look on her face. You looked around the room.

Everything looked normal. It worked.

“Bridget, it worked!” you exclaimed, your hand reaching across your shoulder to feel your back. No wings. “Yeah, you took quite the tumble there. Is your head okay?” She felt the back of your head as she checked for any bumps.

“I feel great… and also a little underdressed.” When you had transformed, your teeny little clothes obviously didn’t transform with you. Bridget was luckily kind enough to wrap you in one of her blankets.

Bridget helped you up, leading you over to her bed where she had laid out clothes for you. “We’ll work on getting you some clothes of your own, but for now I am more than happy to share. I’m going to clean up, the bathroom is right over there. Call for me if you need me.”

You grabbed the clothes she laid out and brought them into the bathroom, setting them down on the counter. You smiled as you looked into the mirror that was in front of you. You looked like a hot mess, but you felt good.

Bridget was sat on her bed as she waited for you to come out of the bathroom. When you came out she got up, going over to you. “You look amazing. Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?” she fixed your hair as she spoke. “I’m okay, Bridget. Thank you, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Sure, any time! I know that you would do the same for me. Oh, this is so exciting! I finally get to actually talk to you!” she squealed with pure excitement. “We have alchemy together tomorrow morning, so you’re welcome to stay the night! We could have our very first sleepover!”

“I would love to, Bridget.”

The next morning, Bridget helped you get ready. You were dressed like her twin in a bright pink sweater and white pants. It wasn’t exactly your style, but you felt cute. The walk to class was uneventful besides a few people staring and whispering here and there, but that was to be expected.

The two of you sat at your assigned seats once you had arrived at the classroom. All of your classmates gawked at you. It wasn’t every day that your classmate who was just a few inches tall the day before was now five feet tall and human.

Hook walked in, and he looked absolutely disheveled. The night before had been rough on him. He froze in his tracks when his eyes landed on the seat that you had usually sat in.

There was no way.

He sat down in his seat two rows behind yours. His eyes never left you, almost burning a hole into the back of your head due to how hard he was staring. He was in utter disbelief.

Around the end of the class, a note was slipped onto your station. You looked around curiously, trying to figure out who put it there, before opening the note.

Meet me at our spot at 8:30 - J

Your head whipped around as you looked for Hook. You felt a pit of nervousness build in your stomach. You thought that you didn’t care what he thought, but as you read his note all of your feelings for him resurfaced. What if he still didn’t like you?

The lake was yours and Hook’s spot. The two of you spent the day there every single day after school. You sat on the rocks, waiting for him to arrive. The nervousness you felt never left, in fact, it felt like it had actually doubled. Tripled, even.

“Y/n?” Hook asked. You turned around, and there he was. He was stood behind you, a puzzled look on his face. “Hi, James…” you mumbled as you tried to scan his face for a reaction.

He sat next to you and his hands cupped your cheeks. You sighed, the feeling of his cold rings against your cheeks helped you to relax a bit. He studied your face, noticing all of the little details he couldn’t see before. “Why did you do this, darling? You loved your magic.”

You took his hand in yours, holding it close to you. “I never fit in, James. I did love it, but I needed to make a change.”

He nodded, his hand squeezing yours. “Well, if this is what you want, then I’m happy for you. Even if you do kind of look like Bridget right now,” he teased. You rolled your eyes and gave him a gentle shove. “I’m borrowing her clothes until I get some of my own, be nice to her.”

“You could always borrow some of mine. They would definitely fit you a lot better now.”

You blushed, your heart almost beating out of your chest. He looked more gorgeous than ever in that moment. “J… I’m sorry about before. I let my feelings get the best of me and-”

His lips were pressed to yours within seconds. His skin was warm and soft and he held you like you were a porcelain doll that could break at any moment. You wrapped your arms around him as you tried to pull him closer. All of the anxious thoughts in your head had completely disappeared in that moment.

The two of you pulled away after a few seconds, your lipgloss smeared across his lips. You giggled and used your sleeve to wipe it off. “If you couldn’t tell, I like you too. This new you is going to take some getting used to, but I think that we can make it work.”

“Wait, you liked me back?”

“I did. I just, I thought it would be easier on you if you thought that I didn’t like you… which I see now was not the case and I am very sorry.” He wrapped an arm around you and pressed a kiss to your temple.

“It’s okay. I mean, we both knew that it wouldn’t have worked out. But, it doesn’t matter anymore. This is me now,” you said excitedly.

“You know, despite being human now, you’re still pretty tiny, darling.” He reached his hand up, ruffling your hair. You turned to face him and lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. “Hey!” he shouted.

You smirked, leaning down and pressing a kiss to his lips. “What? I told you that I would tackle you if you did that again.”

“I think I deserve another kiss for that load of rubbish.”

You rolled your eyes and leaned down, planting another kiss on his lips.

“That’s better, darling.”

a/n: WOWWWWW that was a long one. i had two people request literally the exact same thing so of course i had to deliver. i hope you enjoy, and if you wanna see anything else about this plot/story send me an ask! i enjoyed writing this one!! <3

[yan-lorkai]

Cain I request a yandere!king malleus with a darling that hates him since he kidnapped them?

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ Warnings: Yandere content, kidnapping, reader jokes about commiting suicide.

From the moment Malleus laid eyes on you, his darling, he knew that you two were meant to be together foverer and ever. It was love at first sight as Lilia once read to him.

But fate had a twisted sense of humor, for you, the object of his affection harbored nothing but hatred for him since the day he had very gently and carefully taken you home. He remembered how easy it was to break into your room and to cradle you in his arms, you seemed to weight almost nothing to him and your peaceful expression was so breath taking that he almost believed he died.

He remembered how joyful he was when he brought you back to Diasomnia. And many years later, to Briar's Valley, through this time as his consort and lover. As the years passed, however, your hatred seemed to persist as stronger as fire, you still fight him, mock him and insult him, it's almost like dealing with a feral kitten and Malleus finds it more funny than bothersome.

Two to three years it's still too little time for someone like him who has a very long lifespan. For you, things are different though. So would just be better to surrender yourself to his love and care? You don't get frustrated at every failed escape attempting? At every punishment? He thinks but never comes to a conclusion.

Malleus watchs you from afar, his eyes asking for your love, his ears waiting for the day you would proclaim your affection to him. For someone so old, he is quite dreamy and full with innocent wishes, he get giddy just by been able to hold you, even if it's unwilling on your part. Even if you frown in disdain at his declarations of love and try to put some distance between you two when he try to kiss you or when you ignore him when he talks oh so sofly with you.

Despite your relutance, Malleus couldn't bear to be apart from you. He kept you close, a prisoner in the gilded cage of his castle, hoping that time would soften your heart towards him. But each passing day only seemed to fuel your hatred, as you plotted your escape with a determination that matched his own obsession.

Or rather, another failed escape attempt. And you sit at his feets and looks into his eyes. Even in your hatred, your unwavering defiance ignited a spark within him that still drew Malleus to you, almost as if he was a child discovering a new fuction on his toys.

"What I'm going to do with you, love?" Nickname rolling from his lips without him thinking twice. Because for him, you are his love, his entire existence, his universe and stars. It pains to know that he isn't your love yet, but he's going to be soon.

You remain stubbornly quiet, only looking into his eyes because his hands hold onto your face so tightly, almost bruising skin. But you don't give even the satisfaction of knowing this. You give him nothing.

"So fierce and fearless," Malleus ponders with a smile. "yet so tired and in so much pain. I can see all you think you can hide, can see how much you struggle against you and the feelings you harbor. But you don't have to!"

Malleus's smile widens as he pulls you closer, forcing you to stand up, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that sends shivers down your spine. His words carry a strange mixture of concern and possessiveness, like a predator eyeing its prey with both hunger and affection.

"You don't have to keep struggling," He repeats softly, his voice almost a whisper against the backdrop of your racing heart. "I can take care of you, my dear. I can ease your pain, soothe your worries, and protect you from everything that troubles you."

You feel a knot tightening in your stomach, a mixture of fear and apprehension coursing through your veins. There's nothing alluring about Malleus's offer, there was no way you could let him even closer than he already was. For loving him would mean admitting that everything he did and take at this point meant nothing and were correct as he believed.

"I would…" you start to protest, the words catching in your throat as Malleus's gaze locks onto yours with an intensity that leaves no room for doubt.

"Hush, child of man," He interrupts, his voice firm yet strangely soothing. "Just let me take care of you. Let me be the one to shoulder your burdens, to erase your pain, to fill your world with nothing but love and devotion."

His hand reaches out, fingers tracing delicately along the curve of your jaw and lips, sending electric sparks dancing across your skin; as he always used to do. Touch with so much care that could make you cry, if cared at all. Which you don't, instead you free yourself from his grasp and he lets you.

You take solance on the balcony, fresh air hitting your face just right to wipe the traces of his fingers off your skin. You hate him so much.

"Trust me," Malleus whispers, deceving voice sounding so soothing. For a second you reconsider everything but shake those thoughts out of your head and remain certain of your own convictions. "I'll never let anyone or anything hurt you. I'll do anything to keep you safe."

Well... No one could hurt you more than he already did.

"I rather die, thank you." It's your tired response, though you laugh a little. You love life too much to do anything other than joke. "There's so many ways I could try."

Normally this would make Malleus leave the room now, he doesn't like to knowledge your different lifespans, but this time he remains motionless. For several long seconds only his increasingly erratic breathing cuts through the silence. Then you can hear the strong thunder that comes tearing the sky in the distance and unlike other times, you turn around to face him. An error!

The very composed attitude that Malleus acquired after years of being king is in pieces, his expression darkens at your words, a shadow passing over his features as he processes the gravity of your statement. His grip on you tightens, fingers digging into your skin with a mixture of desperation and frustration.

"No," He breathes, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't mean that. You won't ever know death, not now nor ever. You belong to me," Malleus hisses, his grip becoming almost painful as he tries to pull you closer, to erase the distance between you and ensure that you never leave his side.

You whines in pain, not knowing how to react at his sudden outburst. "You're mine, and I won't let you go. I'll never let anyone else have you, not while I draw breath. I'II protect you even from yourself if I need to."

His words are tinged with a mixture of desperation and obsession, a dark promise of what awaits anyone who dares to challenge his claim on you. And as you stare into his eyes, seeing the depths of his devotion and the ferocity of his love, you realize with a sinking feeling that there's no escaping the clutches of Malleus's obsession. It's very possible that you may never be capable of escaping, not from him or his guards.

For better or for worse, you're his, bound to him in every way. You remain in his arms for a long time and he refuses any attempt at letting you go this time, his nose resting on the top of your head and inhaling your scent slowly. You almost feel bad. For you, for him, if only things were different you would be happy to be here and now. But you aren't, you won't be.

Not now nor ever.

Even if it's futile, even if he traps you inside an eternal dream. You won't ever let your hatred burn down and disappear, you won't know what to do if you let this happens. It is better to live with a lie than to conform to the truth.

[joelslegalwhre]

My Riduur

word count // 1.6k

pairing // Din Djarin x fem!reader

word count // 1.6k

summary // Mando didn't like it at all that some boy thought he could get close to his wife. He couldn't show with actions that you were his, the helmet prevented that, but he had his own way to show it.

warnings // jealous Din (let‘s still call him Din okay, thanks), pda, established relationship, lovesick puppy energy, protective!din, allusions to smut, Din and reader speaking Mando’a, me having absolutely no clue about Mando‘a grammar, taking the helmet off if you’re married is okay here, okay? Thanks (did I miss something?)

a/n // I put translation for the Mando‘a words at the end, so you don‘t get confused but I also have the link to the dictionary right here

Took me long enough to write this 😮‍💨 Thank god my exam is over (and I stressed for nothing, it was actually really easy), so here you go with my first ever din fic, I hope you like it x

Masterlist// Mando‘a dictionary I used // my kofi 🩷

It felt strange to be sitting here, in a bar on Mos Eisley, surrounded by all kinds of people, droids, and even a few bounty hunters.

It wasn't the feeling of sitting in a cantina that was weird. No, it was more the feeling of not having to accept a job. You were not here to look for one. In the last months you had almost had no break, and now you could finally lean back a little. The thought, of picking out a nice place with Mando for the three of you for the next few days, pleased you.

But before you did that, you just had to have the ship repaired a bit, after it had taken quite some damage.

Mando was still at Peli Motto's place, busy showing her the ship and checking the price for the repair. You had been looking around the bar ever since he left, hoping he'd be back soon. The jobs of the last weeks had been unique, the wages you had collected for them were easily enough to sit back and relax for a few days, even after getting the razor crest repaired.

You were sitting at a free spot at the bar of the cantina and watched the people and other beings talking to each other. Some argued, some laughed with each other.

You wondered how long it would take for Mando to-

"Hey there, gorgeous." someone sat down next to you, interrupting your thoughts.

You looked at the stranger for a moment, eyeing him. He had to be your age, a few strands of his dark hair fell into his face, and his eyes were not only gleaming with a deep blue, but with an extreme amount of confidence. "I didn't expect to see an angel today." he smirked in a way that almost made you laugh. He didn't lack any confidence, that was for sure.

You drew your brows together, and tilted your head slightly as you looked at him.

"Say, does that work on any woman?"

At his next sentence, you were sure he definitely had a drink too much or just a little too much self-confidence to flirt so shamelessly.

"You're not any woman." he winked.

You raised your eyebrows and nodded with an amused smile. "Oh, is that so?" you chuckled lightly.

"You're here with someone?" he asked, leaning closer. You immediately brought some more space between the two of you again, "I am, actually."

"Well, then where are they?" he asked with a grin that told you he didn't believe you. "Right here." you could hear Mando's deep, modulated voice. Your heart made a little jump when you turned your head and saw him walking straight towards you.

If looks could kill, this wannabe bounty hunter would be six feet underground by now. Mando's jaw had clenched when he saw the stranger talk to you. His jealousy stewing at the mere thought of another man looking at you this way. He’d been ready to stomp up to him and place a good, hard punch right at this fool's flirtatious face.

"Me'bana?" Mando asked, looking at you. His hand naturally found its place on your waist.

"Nothing," you leaned a little closer to him, "Kaysh mirsh solus."

Mando's light, breathy laugh made you almost turn into a puddle. 'He's an idiot.' you'd told him in Mando's native tongue, so the stranger in front of you wouldn't understand.

You had learned it when you started to accompany Mando. He was confused at first, to say at least, as to why you'd wanted to actually learn the language. But you wanted to get to know Mando, that included his native tongue. And besides, it was fun, sitting in the razor crest next to him, Grogu on your lap, learning to speak and read the extraordinary language of your Mandalorian.

"Hey, just so you know," said one started again, "Unalike that tin can there, I can show my face whenever, my lips too." he smirked. His obvious confusion about the two of you speaking in a language he'd never heard but knew must've been Mando'a.

You politely declined his request, slowly getting annoyed. "Thank you very much, but I actually really like the tin can right here."

Mando wanted to kiss you so bad, show you off as his, but he couldn't. That's just how it was, he couldn't take off his helmet. He was proud of his religion, it was part of him. You'd probably wouldn't even let him take it off, even if he tried. That was one of the many reasons he loved you so deeply. You respected his religion, tried to understand and learn about it.

And he could always take it off when the two of you were back in the privacy of the razor crest. He loved the curious look on your face every time he did, as if it was the first time you've seen his face.

But the truth was, that you were enamored with his features, the patchy beard paired with the mustache, his brown eyes and the brown curls… You could just never get enough of him.

Even before you two were married, you always loved to play with the ends of his fluffy hair, whenever it was getting longer once again. It was never much, but enough.

He had other ways to make sure everyone, especially the fool in front of you, knew you belonged to him.

"We need to look for our child." he was well aware that people believed he meant a human child when he referred to Grogu as "child" or "kid".

The look on the boy's face made a smug smile appear on Din's face, carefully hidden by the beskar helmet. He was so satisfied with himself, you could practically feel it spill over, and you didn't even need to see his face for it. You just chuckled quietly.

"Next time," Mando said, "watch who you talk to. My wife is off limits, understand?" his voice cold, almost threatening.

The eyes of the stranger widened, hearing the title.

You took Mando's gloved hand from where it was still firmly placed on your waist, and intertwined your fingers with his.

"C'mon, let's go," you smiled up at your riduur. You turned back around to address the guy, trying to sound nice, "It was nice meeting you."

With that, you left him sitting there, Mando‘s grip on your hand tightening in a protective manner, as you left the cantina.

When you were back at the ship, you could see Grogu fast asleep in his pod, "He's the most adorable thing I've ever seen." you say to Mando, looking at the little being with a look of pure love. Mando‘s heart warmed at the sight of you and Grogu. His little odd family.

"Even more than you getting all jealous of that guy back in the cantina." you grinned at him teasingly.

Mando stepped closer to you, his hands on your hips once again. You slung your arms around his neck.

"I wasn‘t-" but he interrupted himself, he was jealous, so much so that he would've loved to take his blaster out of the holster, even if it was just for show. "I was protecting my aliit." Family. You could barely get your fastening heartbeat under control, no matter how many times he'd say it. "I'm all yours, Din."

"Good." he said, and lowered his head. You could feel the cold beskar of his helmet touch your forehead. A Mandalorian kiss. You loved when he showed you his love that way. You closed your eyes, just soaking up the moment. You couldn‘t see it, but Mando had also closed his eyes, his hands still on your waist, he tried to memorize every little detail about this, about you.

After some time, spent taking the other in, after savoring the intimacy, you could hear a content sigh voice through his modulator.

"I'll look after you, always." His hand wandered to your cheek and cupped it gently. “And trust me,” he huffed, "I won't let anyone flirt with my wife like that, cyar'ika." 

You grinned up at him. You couldn't wait to be all alone with him, leaving Grogu in the cockpit to sleep, and kiss him. Oh, how badly you just wanted to give his lips a little peck. You settled for wrapping your arms tightly around his armored middle, pressing yourself against his chest. 

Mando's arms around your shoulders, he leaned his helmet against your hair. Even if all you could feel was his armor, it was still him. Your Mandalorian. Your husband. "I love you, mesh'la." the modulator had barely picked it up. He'd whispered it into your hair, like he couldn't believe that you were his. That he had the privilege to be the one to hold you… to love you. And to be loved by you. 

"You know," you started smiling at him innocently, „since the baby's asleep, I thought you could show me how much. I mean, just so I know-"

"Haav." he interrupted you, his voice low, "Now." This was no plead, no, a demand. You chuckled and started walking to the makeshift bed you shared with him.

Behind you, you could hear him taking off his helmet, and you could barely hold in your excitement to finally see his face again. You had really missed it, although you've just seen him this morning before getting up. His armor followed next, a second later you could feel his arms wrap themselves around you. "Too many clothes." he whispered into your ear, his voice clear without the modulator. It gave you goosebumps all over your body, "Take them off then.".

Mando‘a translations:

ner = my, mine

riduur = partner, spouse, husband, wife

Me‘bana? = What‘s happening? What happened?

Kaysh mirsh solus = He‘s an idiot (lit. His brain cell is lonely)

cyar‘ika = darling, sweetheart

mesh‘la = beautiful

aliit = clan name, identity, family

haav = bed

🩶taglist: @alexxavicry @kittenlittle24 @hereforfics124 @Snow30285 @cl16version

[seriiousgiirl]

My satisfaction

Severus Snape x Professor!Reader NFSW. Fluff and smut (more like foreplay)!! Jealous and quite possessive Sev- oops.

Severus is 36 yo in this fic, and you are 25, age gap. (;

Summary: As the summer drew to a close, filled with long days of toil at the Ministry, your anticipation grew, centered on one person who had occupied your thoughts and held a special place in your heart for the past few months - Severus Snape.

With a mixture of excitement and nervousness, you made your way to Grimmauld Place, where the other members of the Order had gathered. And you couldn't wait for the moment when you would finally reunite with Severus and share the intimacy that had been denied during your time apart.

However, as fate would have it, your long-awaited encounter with Severus took an unexpected turn for the worse.

A/n: Hey there! It’s me again, I didn't post for a while sorry (I kind of had a mental breakdown), but here I am! A less serious fic than usual, but some fluff are sometimes well-deserved! Enjoy (:

Words count: 11K.

As you gazed upon the foreboding structure of Grimmauld Place, a smile crept onto your face. The few days of respite you had promised yourself were finally within reach. You couldn't help but feel impressed by the security measures put in place, evident in the powerful enchantments that radiated from the building. Despite its dark and unwelcoming exterior, you understood why the Order of the Phoenix had chosen Grimmauld Place as their base of operations. The building was a veritable fortress, protected by the most powerful and intricate magical wards and spells. Within its walls, the members of the Order were safe from the prying eyes and ears of their enemies.

Your tenure at the Ministry had finally come to an end, and you were relieved to say goodbye to the endless days spent cooped up in an office, buried under piles of paperwork. At times, you regretted keeping your contract with the Ministry on top of your responsibilities as a teacher at Hogwarts. You were bone-weary, and some rest and relaxation before returning to school was more than necessary. 

The looming threat of Voldemort's return weighed heavily on your mind, you longed for the simple pleasures of rest and relaxation, away from the clamour and chaos of the wizarding world. And before the enigmatic facade of the building, you couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that perhaps within its walls, you might find the peace and calm you so desperately craved.

Although you were in dire need of rest, you knew that there was something more that you desired. You craved the warmth and comfort that only one person could provide - Severus Snape. 

Despite his icy exterior and difficult personality, you had always felt a magnetic pull towards him since the day you met. Over time, you had learned how to read his subtle cues and understand his emotions, even when he didn't explicitly express them. You knew when he was in pain or feeling vulnerable, and you could sense his admiration for you in the way his dark eyes would linger on your smallest actions. 

Your relationship with Severus was complicated, to say the least. It wasn't easy being close to him, and there were times when you felt frustrated or hurt by his actions. But at the same time, you couldn't deny the intense chemistry and connection between the two of you. You found yourself drawn to his intelligence, his dry wit, and his unwavering loyalty to those he cared about. 

Severus' presence in your life was a soothing balm for your soul. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, Severus was a constant source of comfort and support for you. His willingness to open up and share a vulnerable side of himself that he rarely showed others was a testament to the depth of his feelings for you.

As the two of you spend time together, it becomes clear that rushing into anything would only put your relationship at risk. Instead, you both take your time to truly connect and enjoy each other's company, cherishing every moment you have together. It was like the outside world seems to fade away, leaving only the two of you and the love you share. It's a simple pleasure, but one that brings immense joy and contentment. 

And as you had parted ways for the summer holidays it was heart wrenching, especially since Severus made a promise that sent your heart fluttering. He vowed to offer you his heart entirely when the time will be right. The words were simple, but they held so much weight and significance. You knew that Severus was not someone who made promises lightly, and you felt honoured that he had chosen to share this with you. 

So when you received a letter from Severus telling you that he would be at Grimmauld Place with the Order at the end of the holidays, you were overjoyed. You threw yourself into your work, determined to finish everything quickly so that you could reunite with him as soon as possible.

And there you are, as you stood at the threshold of Grimmauld Place, your heart swelled with a blend of emotions - a combination of eagerness and trepidation. You were aware that reuniting with Severus, would be a mix of pleasure and challenges, as he still remained a complex, unpredictable, and enigmatic man in your eyes.

However, you were resolved to confront whatever obstacles lay ahead. 

As you approached Grimmauld Place with your luggage, you knocked gently before entering, not wanting to intrude. The musty scent of dust mixed with the aroma of cooking greeted you as you stepped inside. The interior was just as grim and dreary as the outside. The lengthy, chilly hallway with peeling wallpaper and old portraits hung on the walls gave an indication that the entire house shared the same deteriorated state. This first impression was enough to make you question whether you had made the right decision to come here.

But your hesitation was short-lived as Arthur Weasley appeared from what seemed to be the kitchen, and a sense of comfort washed over you. It felt like coming home, his warm smile radiated through even in this dismal environment.

"Y/n, there you are! I was starting to think I was hearing things," Arthur exclaimed as he greeted you with relief evident in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I wasn't sure when I'd be able to come," you replied apologetically, feeling a bit guilty for being vague about your arrival date as you didn’t know when the Ministry would deem your work complete. 

As the youngest adult member of the Order, you were used to being treated with a bit of extra fondness, almost like a surrogate child. It was a given though you were one of the brightest members of the group, but your youth made them worry about your safety. This was evident as Arthur hugged you to welcome you, a gesture that showed the warmth and fondness he held for you. Even that you were a bit embarrassed by the display of affection, you still appreciated the gesture.

"The others are all in the kitchen. I'll take your suitcase up to your room," he offered kindly, gesturing for you to hand over your luggage. "It was a bit of a challenge to find you a place to stay, with so many people here, but Severus explained that you could stay with him," he added, a playful wink in his eye.

You couldn't help but blush at his comment. Your relationship with Severus wasn't exactly a secret amongst the Order members, but you still preferred to keep it private, especially from the students. Harry and his friends were among the recent additions to the safe house, and while you were happy to see them, it was also a bit of a bother to have to keep your distance from Severus in front of them.

"Thanks, Arthur. I appreciate it," you replied, grateful for his understanding. "And yes, staying with Severus is fine. I'm just hoping we can keep our relationship under wraps while we're here," you whispered with a small smile, hoping he would understand your desire for privacy. 

Arthur nodded in reply.

The sound of your voice caught the attention of the other members, and even more so when Molly emerged from the kitchen. "Y/n, my sweet, here you are at last. We've all been waiting for you," she exclaimed.

You made your way towards her while Arthur took your suitcase up the narrow stairs. 

Molly, known for her maternal nature, embrace you tightly, making you feel like one of her own. "The Ministry is a bore," she said while stroking your back in a comforting manner. "I'm so glad to see you after all this time. Sometimes I feel like you only exist through the reports you send us about the twins' behaviour." Her tone was light, but there was a hint of annoyance, clearly tired of dealing with her mischievous sons.

Despite her frustration, you could sense that Molly was genuinely happy to see you. Her affectionate embrace and playful teasing made you feel welcomed and loved. You smiled and hugged her back, grateful for the warmth and love of the Weasley family, which already made the grim atmosphere of the house feel a little less oppressive.

Molly motioned for you to follow her into the kitchen, which served as both a dining room and a gathering place for the members of the Order. She hurried you inside and quickly went back to attend to the dinner. 

A wide smile spread across your face as you took in the scene before you. The table was already set for dinner, and the aroma of the food was irresistible. Ginny was helping Molly in the kitchen, while Remus and Sirius were already seated at the table vigorously debating. 

However, what really caught your attention was Severus- sitting at the table a bit remote, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular. You could sense the dark aura emanating from him and knew immediately that the two men beside him were causing his discomfort. You wished you had arrived sooner to keep him company, but you were glad to be here now to offer him some relief.

Despite his current state, you couldn't help but find him as attractive as ever. The image of his face had been imprinted in your mind during his absence, but seeing him in person was, obviously, better. 

Severus had a complex and striking appearance that was difficult to capture perfectly. He had a sharp and angular face with high cheekbones, a straight and prominent nose, and a thin yet full-lipped mouth. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and accentuated the darkness of his long, lustrous black hair that hung straight and silky down to his mid-back. His eyes were piercing black and deep-set, framed by long and thick lashes that made them even more alluring.

He carried himself with an air of elegance and aloofness that was almost regal, and his slender yet muscular frame was always impeccably dressed in black robes that emphasised his intimidating presence. Despite his brooding and intense demeanour, there was an undeniable magnetism that emanated from him that had captured your heart.

Merlin-  the distance between you and Severus only intensified your desire for him. The longing you felt for his touch and the sound of his voice became more intense with each passing day. It was a constant ache in your chest, a burning need that could only be satiated by his presence.

As you gazed at him from across the room, you couldn't help but think about the moments you shared together. The way he would hold you close, his breath warm against your neck as he whispered sweet nothings in your ear. The way he would run his fingers through your hair, his touch gentle yet firm. You could almost feel his embrace now, as if he were standing right beside you, waiting for you to reach out and take his hand.

You found yourself lost in thoughts of him, your mind drifting to memories of the past and the longing for the future. As you imagined all the ways in which you could be intimate with him, letting your mind wander to all the secret spots that only the two of you knew about. You remembered the way his hands felt on your skin, how his fingers traced every curve and contour of your body with such care and precision in the dark of the night. You longed to feel his lips on your own once again, to taste his unique blend of sweetness and spice. The way he would kiss your neck, leaving a trail of fiery sensations behind; the way he would whisper words of love and adoration in your ear, making your heart swell with emotion.

And it wasn't just the physical connection that drew you to him. You also longed for the emotional connection that the two of you shared. The way he could read your thoughts and emotions without a word, the way he could comfort you with just a simple touch, the way he made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. 

His dark past and complicated nature could make things challenging at times, but the rewards of being with him far outweighed any difficulties that might come your way. The thought of being by his side, was all that you needed to make your heart sing.

You knew that it would only be a matter of time before you were able to be close to him again. The anticipation was almost too much to bear, but you knew that the wait would be worth it. The thought of being in his arms once again, feeling his body close to yours, sent shivers down your spine.

As if under some sort of spell, you found yourself walking towards him without even thinking. Your legs seemed to have a mind of their own, leading you straight to where he was. As your eyes locked onto his, you could see his guarded facade crumbling away at the mere sight of you. His dark aura dissipated, and a subtle warmth radiated from him as he looked at you with a mixture of longing and delight. 

Despite his typically reserved demeanour, you could sense his joy in seeing you again in the way that his eyes shone with unspoken emotion. His smile, although faint, was all the invitation you needed to close the distance between you. And even though he didn't say a word, you knew exactly what he was thinking. Severus's eyes had always been his window to the soul, and you had long since learned to understand the meaning of them. 

Severus stood up as you approached, ready to welcome you back. But just as you were about to reach him, your moment was rudely interrupted by Sirius, who stepped in front of you, effectively blocking your path. His arm rested nonchalantly against the wall as his body followed, a clear sign that he had no intention of moving.

"Y/n, isn't it a bit rude of you not to greet the owner of the place first?" Sirius smirked, enjoying the way he was able to interrupt the moment between you and Severus.

"Sirius," you said through gritted teeth, trying your best to keep your tone civil. You couldn't help but feel frustrated at the interruption, especially since it came from someone you didn't particularly care for. "It's a pleasure to see you healthy," you continued, putting emphasis on the word 'pleasure' as a subtle hint that you were not entirely happy with the situation.

Although you had only met Sirius once, the memory of that encounter was still vivid in your mind. He had exuded a certain level of insanity that left a lasting impression on you, and not in a positive way. 

But what bothered you more were the stories Severus had confided in you about his past with him. From what he had shared, Sirius had been one of the main culprits in the relentless bullying and torment Severus had faced during his youth. It was hard not to feel a sense of disgust and disdain towards someone who had caused so much pain to someone you cared about deeply. While you wouldn't say you outright hated Sirius, it was safe to say that you had no warm feelings towards him either.

"And it's nice to see you too. As pretty as ever." his voice was flirty, relishing the power he held over the scene. 

You could feel Severus's eyes on you as Sirius's voice filled the air, his tone dripping with flirtation. It wasn't unusual for Sirius to make such comments, but it still made you uncomfortable. As you stood there, caught between the two men, you couldn't help but feel a sense of tension building in the room. 

It was clear that Severus was not in the mood for any of his antics. 

As you tried to diffuse the situation, you forced a polite smile and responded with a small nod, "Thank you, Sirius. That's very kind of you to say." But even as you spoke, you could feel the heat rising in your cheeks, and you couldn't help but wonder if Severus could sense your discomfort. You turned to him, hoping to find some solace in his familiar presence, but he was already moving away, leaving you to deal with Sirius on your own.

Sirius's success in annoying Severus left you feeling disappointed and uneasy. You had been eagerly anticipating your reunion with Severus and were hoping for a happy and comfortable time together, but Sirius's meddling had quickly ruined those hopes. The tension in the room was palpable, and you felt like you were walking on eggshells around the two of them. You couldn't help but wonder why Sirius felt the need to provoke Severus and whether there was any underlying motive behind his actions. 

You feel disappointed by the turn of events. Your heart had soared with anticipation when you first entered the kitchen and saw Severus, but now it felt heavy with unease.

As you tried to maintain a neutral expression, Remus noticed your discomfort and offered a kind gesture. "Y/n, come sit next to me. I'll make sure there's a barrier between you and Sirius," he suggested, his voice full of kindness. He pointed to the empty seat beside him, inviting you to take refuge from the tension that had built up between Sirius and Severus.

Grateful for Remus's offer, you turned to him with a nod, relieved that he had intervened. "Thank you, Remus," you said with a small smile. You walked around the table to his side, glad for the chance to sit next to him. While you had hoped to spend the evening next to Severus, you knew it wasn't the right time to try and speak with him to enhance the situation, especially with Sirius present.

As you settled into your chair, Remus pulled it back like a true gentleman, making you chuckle at his gesture. "Always happy to help, especially for a former colleague," he said with a warm smile.

Settling into the seat next to Remus, a sense of nostalgia washed over you. As you looked at him, memories of the time when he was still teaching at Hogwarts flooded your mind. You couldn't help but think about how much his guidance and support had meant to you back then, particularly given his outstanding competence as a teacher. You recalled how challenging it was to be a young teacher, and having someone like Remus to turn to for advice and comfort was a source of great reassurance.

You remembered how he always had a calm and patient demeanour, even in the most stressful of situations. His gentle words and kind demeanour were like a balm to your frazzled nerves, and you always felt better after talking to him.

It was nice to know that some things never changed, even after all these years.

"How was the work at the Ministry? I can't believe you're still maintaining your relationship with them." Remus started to ask you questions, to see how you were doing. 

You sighed softly, "Dumbledore asked me to keep my connections for future purposes, and it turned out to be quite valuable. The Ministry is really in deep denial about You-Know-Who’s return, which made the task quite frustrating... Other than that, it was mostly tedious.” You spoke in a nonchalant tone, conveying your lack of enthusiasm for the subject.

Severus, who had been quiet until now, deliberately chose to sit across from you. He appeared to have calmed down, slightly, since the earlier tension, but he did not engage in the conversation either. Instead, he opted to listen to you intently, remaining silent but close by. It was as though he was silently observing the situation and trying to gauge the extent of the Ministry's ignorance towards the looming threat of Voldemort's return. Despite his silence, his presence conveyed a sense of support and solidarity with you, knowing how frustrating it can be to deal with incompetent people.

Remus nodded, showing empathy for your words. "And how is life at Hogwarts?" This time his eyes shifted between you and Severus, gently trying to include him in the discussion. 

"Life at Hogwarts is fine, Remus. I do miss you sometimes, especially after the traumatic events of last year. However, I believe a quiet year at Hogwarts would be uncharacteristic and not as enjoyable." You noticed Remus's efforts to include Severus in the conversation and appreciated it. You turned to Severus and offered him a small smile before turning back to Remus. 

"Severus has been a great help giving me his support, as always," you said, acknowledging his presence. "He's been doing a fantastic job with the students and has been invaluable in maintaining order and discipline. I am still learning from him."

Severus gave a small nod of acknowledgement but said nothing, remaining stoic as always. 

Remus looked at him with a hint of surprise, but then nodded in appreciation. "I'm glad to hear that he's been of such great help," he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth.

You nodded in agreement, grateful for Severus's unwavering support. "Yes, I don't know what I would do without him," you said with affection. "He's been a true asset to Hogwarts and to me, personally." Severus didn't say anything, but you could tell that he was pleased by your words. You had succeeded in alleviating the uneasiness without having to address it head-on, and you felt a sense of accomplishment.

As Arthur approached, you could hear the excited chatter of the teenagers growing louder, signalling the end of your brief respite. You took a deep breath, bracing yourself for the inevitable chaos that would soon ensue.

"Professor Y/f/n," Harry and his friends greeted you with beaming faces. Being one of the youngest teachers, you shared a special bond with your students, and they felt at ease around you. Despite your strict teaching style, you always made sure to be kind to them. You returned their greeting with warmth, delighted to see them looking so happy despite the recent events.

The Weasley twins, as mischievous as ever, greeted you with a twinkle in their eyes. "Evening, Professor," they said in unison, each giving you a playful wink before taking their seats at the table. 

As the Weasley twins settled in beside you, you couldn't help but notice Severus's sudden change in demeanour. His face, which had been relaxed and calm just moments before, now appeared tense and uncomfortable once again. It was clear that having to sit beside the mischievous twins was not something he relished.

Your eyes drifted towards Severus, but he seemed to be avoiding your gaze as he focused on his empty plate. The tension in his shoulders was palpable, and you could tell that it was taking a significant amount of effort for him to remain civil in the company of those he despised. It was unusual for him to hold back his snarky comments, and his usual biting wit was absent. It almost seemed as though he was waiting for the dinner to be over, holding his breath until he could leave the table.

You couldn't help but wonder if Severus was making an effort to tolerate the Weasley twins and the other members of the Order for your sake. Perhaps he was aware of how much you valued your friendly relationship with your students, even the most unruly ones, and didn't want to ruin that for you. Or maybe he simply didn't want to create any more tension than there already was. 

You knew that Severus valued your opinion, and his behaviour tonight made you appreciate his efforts to maintain a sense of civility in a difficult situation.

As you watched them settle in for the meal, you couldn't help but feel grateful for their energy and enthusiasm. Even though their antics could be exhausting at times, they were a reminder of why you had chosen to become a teacher in the first place. "I'm glad to see all of you, too." you said with a smile. 

Once everyone was seated and settled, Molly came in with the main course, expertly serving each plate with a generous portion. The aromas wafting from the dishes were delightful, and you could see that Molly had put her heart and soul into cooking this meal. You made sure to compliment her on the delicious food, and she beamed with pride, happy to have brought everyone together.

As the meal progressed, you couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and belonging amidst the lively and joyful discussion. Despite the tense atmosphere that hung over the wizarding world, this group of people gathered around the table felt like a strange little family, with their own unique relationships and dynamics. You observed as Harry and his friends eagerly shared stories, the Weasley twins interjecting with their usual humorous commentary. You noticed that even the most reserved members of the group, such as Remus and Tonks, were beginning to open up and join in.

As you looked around the table, you couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and belonging amidst the lively conversation and the delicious meal. 

However, your attention was drawn to Severus, who sat across from you, his eyes fixed on his plate. It was not uncommon for him to be withdrawn and quiet, but there was something different about his demeanour tonight. He looked as if he was in hell, as if he was forcing himself to endure the conversations around him and the overall good atmosphere.

You tried to catch his eye, to let him know that you were there for him, but he seemed to be avoiding your gaze. Wanting to offer him some comfort, you decided to try a subtle approach. Under the table, you gently brushed your foot against his leg, hoping to get his attention. It worked, and he raised his head at the sudden contact. You greeted his gaze with a gentle smile, hoping to put him at ease.

However, your smile disappeared just as soon. As you caught Severus' gaze, you couldn't help but notice the intense and hungry look in his eyes. The way his pupils dilated and fixated on you made your heart skip a beat, his passion made you feel powerless and crushed under the weight of his affection. It was as if he wanted to consume you, to be by your side at all times. 

You were his prey, and he just wanted to devour you. 

And then it hit you, understand why he was behaving like that - he had been waiting for this moment, for you, for what felt like an eternity. All he wanted was to be by your side, to devour you and make you his completely. Watching you from afar, yet so close and so distant was an ordeal for him, his patience was wearing thin. And all he could do now was convey his deepest desires through his piercing gaze.

As his gaze bore into you, you felt your body responding in ways that you couldn't control. The heat rose from deep within you, and you found yourself almost trembling with the intensity of his hunger. The silent exchange was enough to make your insides quiver and your panties wet. 

You couldn't deny that the way he looked at you made your heart race and your thoughts turn to him with an almost obsessive desire. It was both thrilling and terrifying to feel this way. You knew that you were vulnerable to his gaze, and you hated yourself for it. But at the same time, it was impossible to deny the excitement that ran through you whenever he looked at you with such need.

Despite the way your body was responding, you knew that you had to stay in control. You couldn't let your desires get the best of you, not when you were still in public. So you took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself, and focused on the present moment. But it was a constant battle, as you couldn't help but feel the pull towards him, the desire to be by his side and give in to everything he wanted.

Severus' touch was unexpected yet electrifying.

His delicate hand grasped your ankle with your feet still at his reach with a firmness that commanded your attention, causing a sudden pause in your actions. The clatter of cutlery faded into the background as your focus shifted entirely to the sensation of his fingers against your skin.

His touch, seemingly innocent, began to explore with a deliberate and sensuous intent. His fingertips traced a slow and deliberate path, starting from your ankle and gradually moving upward, their gentle pressure leaving a trail of heightened sensitivity in their wake. 

As his fingers continued their ascent, traversing the softness of your calf, the intensity of your desire grew. The world around you seemed to fade away, leaving only the intoxicating connection between the two of you. The brush of his fingertips against your skin set your nerves ablaze, each caress igniting a fire that spread through every inch of your being.

Caught in his gaze, you could see the flicker of mischief in his eyes, a knowing glint that hinted at the effect he was having on you. It was a dance of desire and restraint, a delicate balance between succumbing to the overwhelming attraction and maintaining a semblance of control. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, each passing moment increasing the intensity of the encounter.

The air crackled with tension, the unspoken invitation lingering between you. You could almost taste the unbridled passion that pulsed through your veins, yearning to be unleashed.

"Y/n? Is everything alright?" Tonks' voice cut through the secret connection you were sharing with Severus. "You're all flushed," she added, her concern evident in her voice.

You instinctively ran your hand over your cheeks, as if seeking confirmation. Indeed, your skin felt warm, a telltale sign of a mixture of embarrassment and desire. You let out a light laugh, attempting to dismiss any suspicions. "Oh, it's just the heat. Molly's dish is quite spicy," you quickly offered an excuse, hoping to divert attention away from the real cause of your flushed complexion.

Meanwhile, Severus' hand remained on your calf, continuing its gentle exploration with a teasing touch. His fingertips seemed to dance along your skin, igniting a trail of sensations that sent shivers down your spine.

Tonks smiled softly, her eyes reflecting a genuine concern. "If there's something bothering you, don't hesitate to let me know. You must be tired," she offered, extending her support and understanding.

You returned Tonks' smile, grateful for her attentiveness, and replied, "Thank you. I appreciate your concern. It's just been a long day, but I'll manage." You hoped your words conveyed a sense of reassurance, even as your mind remained captivated by the intoxicating presence of Severus and the allure of the forbidden connection that pulsed between you.

Yet, despite the undeniable pull, you knew that discretion and composure were paramount. The lingering touch of his fingers was a testament to the desires that simmered beneath the surface, but it was essential to maintain a façade of restraint, at least for now. The depths of your connection would be explored in due time, when the moment will be right.

With a subtle flicker of his lips, a smirk that conveyed both his satisfaction and the promise of what lay ahead, Severus withdrew his touch, leaving you longing for more.

You took a deep breath, attempting to steady yourself, to reclaim the fragments of composure that had momentarily slipped away. The meal resumed, though the taste of anticipation still lingered on your lips, as you continued to navigate the delicate dance of desire and restraint, yearning for the moment when the boundaries would finally dissolve, and the hunger between you would be satisfied.

.

.

.

"Well, I appreciate the evening, but I believe it's time for me to retire for the night," you announced, rising from the comfortable couch positioned next to the crackling fire. The evening had unfolded rather smoothly, without any major problems.

Harry and his friends had bid their goodnights and retired to their rooms, leaving the adults to enjoy their own conversations and activities. Throughout the evening, various groups had formed, each indulging in their own preferred pastimes. You had found yourself gravitating towards a cosy corner of the room where a friendly card game had taken shape. Remus, Severus, and Arthur had joined you, creating a dynamic mix of wit, skill, and good-natured competition.

Laughter filled the air as the game progressed. Strategies were devised, cunning moves were made, and lighthearted banter echoed around the room. Despite the occasional setback, you had managed to hold your own, refusing to succumb to defeat easily. The competitive spirit within you burned brightly, refusing to back down.

However, to your dismay, luck wasn’t by your side this evening.

"Y/n simply cannot tolerate losing," he playfully remarked, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. His voice carried a sly undertone, accompanied by a mischievous smirk that danced across his lips. 

The comment elicited a chorus of chuckles from the group, adding to the jovial atmosphere. “Sev, please,” you shot Severus a playful glare, a mixture of mock indignation and amusement shining in your eyes. “I really am tired.”

"Ah, Y/n, don't worry," Remus interjected with a lighthearted chuckle through the exchange, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "We all have our off days. Fatigue can certainly play tricks on our minds."

Severus let out a soft sigh, carefully arranging his cards on the coffee table as he spoke. "Indeed, it seems our esteemed Y/n has been overtaken by weariness tonight," he remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing. He rose from his seat, his tall figure casting a shadow over the room. 

Placing a reassuring hand on the small of your back, he guided you gently, "I'm afraid I must bid you all goodnight as well," Severus announced, his voice carrying a note of finality. 

As you made your way towards the exit, your eyes landed on Sirius seated across the room, engrossed in conversation with the other members while leisurely sipping his coffee. Despite your attempts to slip away unnoticed, Sirius's mischievous voice echoed through the space, causing a rush of embarrassment to colour your cheeks once again.

"Remember, no need to make too much noise tonight," Sirius playfully interjected, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. The remark caught you off guard, leaving you feeling both flustered and frustrated. With a furrowed brow, you couldn't help but respond, your tone reflecting your offence.

"Seriously?" you retorted, a touch of annoyance in your voice.

Sirius shrugged playfully, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he responded to your indignation. "Oh, come on now, Y/n. Don't be so uptight. We're all adults here," he teased, taking a sip of his coffee. "Besides, with such a stunning lady by my side, I can't help but let my imagination run wild. But fear not, my dear Severus, I won't pry into your intimate affairs. Some things are best left unsaid, don't you agree?"

Severus, ever the master of composed restraint, let out a disapproving huff. His grip on the small of your back tightened imperceptibly, a subtle sign of his displeasure, or it was a subtle display of possessiveness, a silent assertion of his claim over you. "Sirius, your insinuations are neither amusing nor necessary," he retorted coolly. "I assure you, Y/n's personal life is of no concern to you. And as for my own, well, that's a private matter that shall remain so."

His words carried a firmness that spoke volumes about his boundaries and his determination to protect you.

Sensing the tension, the other members of the group exchanged glances, momentarily taken aback by the shift in atmosphere. Molly, ever the mediator, decided to interject, her voice filled with warmth. "Now, now, let's not dwell on personal matters, shall we? We're here to enjoy each other's company."

Setting his coffee cup aside, Sirius's lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Well, as the one sleeping in the neighbouring room, I do have a right to voice my concerns," he remarked playfully. "After all, a peaceful night's sleep is of utmost importance."

Severus's response was laced with a calm yet unsettling neutrality, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Sirius. "If that's the case, Sirius, then I suggest you prepare yourself," he retorted, his tone carrying a heavy hidden meaning. The words hung in the air, leaving the rest of the group momentarily stunned, their breath caught in their throats.

In that moment, the room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension palpable. It was as if the playful banter had taken an unexpected turn, delving into uncharted territory. All eyes were on Severus and Sirius, their dynamic sparking curiosity and intrigue.

You felt the weight of Severus's gaze upon you, his hand on the small of your back providing both grounding and a subtle reminder of his presence. The charged atmosphere stirred a whirlwind of emotions within you—excitement, anticipation, and a touch of apprehension. 

As the seconds ticked by, Severus broke the silence with a restrained sigh, his expression betraying a mix of resignation and determination. "Let us leave it at that, Sirius," he stated, his voice low and tinged with a hint of warning. With a brief nod towards the remaining members of the group, acknowledging their presence, Severus redirected his focus solely on you, his eyes softened and filled with a familiar tenderness.

With a mixture of anticipation, you followed Severus's lead, your eyes briefly meeting Remus's warm and sympathetic gaze as you departed. As the two of you walked away, you could sense the tension from Severus still lingering in the air. The air felt charged with an unspoken tension, a palpable connection that seemed to intensify with each passing moment.

As you ascended the stairs alongside Severus, he turned his gaze towards you, his tone laced with concern. "Are you truly exhausted?" he inquired, his words serving as a subtle attempt to ease the tension that had lingered in the air.

A tender smile graced your lips, and you shook your head gently, conveying reassurance. "I am never weary when it comes to you, so there's no need to worry about me," you replied, your voice filled with warmth and sincerity.

His countenance visibly shifted, his aura transforming in response to your words. The once-stern lines on his face softened, replaced by a glimmer of contentment. It was as though your assurance had lifted a weight off his shoulders, offering solace in the midst of an unspoken storm.

A playful spark danced in his eyes as he seized the opportunity to tease you, commenting wryly on your performance in the earlier game. "Well, if you weren't exhausted, then you certainly exhibited quite the lackluster skills tonight," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm, his words carrying a gentle jest.

Your laughter echoed through the corridor, a melodic sound that harmonised with the ambiance of the moment. His playful banter had a way of easing your heart, encouraging a lightness to replace any lingering tension. Together, you continued down the hallway, guided by Severus towards the room that would be shared for the duration of your stay.

With a gentle sigh, Severus turned the doorknob, allowing you to enter the room. "It seems this house isn't the most inviting," he remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. Stepping aside, he gestured for you to enter, his eyes searching your face for any sign of dissatisfaction. "Nevertheless, I've tried my best to secure one of the better rooms and make it as welcoming as possible for your arrival."

His words touched a chord within you, and a wave of gratitude washed over your heart. It was incredibly thoughtful of him to go to such lengths for your comfort. Taking a moment to absorb the surroundings, you scanned the room. Your suitcase rested in the corner, thoughtfully placed there by Arthur earlier. The overall atmosphere was reminiscent of a bygone era, with a faint musty scent hanging in the air. However, you could discern the effort Severus had put into improving its condition, and the room appeared in better shape than the rest of the house.

A genuine smile adorned your face as you reassured him, your voice filled with warmth. "It's absolutely perfect, Severus. Please don't worry about it," you replied, appreciating his sincere efforts. The gesture itself held more significance to you than the physical appearance of the room. In that moment, you realised how lucky you were to have someone who cared deeply for your comfort and well-being.

The sound of the door clicking shut echoed in the room, signifying that Severus had taken the precaution to lock it. Yet, as he spoke again, the tenderness that had been present earlier seemed to vanish completely. His words dripped with frustration and irritation, emphasised by the way his teeth clenched together. Turning towards you, his presence suddenly became overwhelming, almost taking your breath away. It was as if a storm had brewed within him, and you found yourself caught in its intensity.

"We've been interrupted three times," he seethed, his voice laced with anger. His gaze bore into yours, conveying his exasperation and disappointment. "You have no idea how much I've longed for this moment, and they had to ruin it, as they always do," he vented, his emotions palpable in the air.

Severus had always been a man who wore his irritations on his sleeve. Witnessing his anger or frustration was not uncommon, but this time, it felt different. It sent a surge of adrenaline through your veins, causing your heart to race with a mixture of apprehension and exhilaration. The raw intensity in his eyes stirred something deep within you, drawing you closer to him.

Determined to soothe his mounting agitation, you stepped towards him, your hand finding its way to his chest. Placing it gently against his sternum, you sought to convey a sense of calm and reassurance. "But I'm here now," you murmured softly, your voice infused with warmth and understanding. “I also have been waiting for you.”

With a firm yet gentle grip, his hand closed around your wrist, conveying a sense of possession and determination. His grip on your wrist was firm, yet gentle enough not to cause any discomfort. "I won't allow them to have the power to ruin what belongs to us," he stated, his voice filled with determination.

His words elicited a smile from your lips, touched by the way he unabashedly expressed his sentiments to you. It was a testament to the trust and intimacy you shared, knowing that he could freely convey his emotions without reservation. As your gazes locked, the intensity in his eyes mirrored the depth of his feelings, captivating you in a shared connection that transcended words. In that moment, you could sense the unwavering devotion and protectiveness he held towards you, a bond that no external disturbance could tarnish.

As you parted your lips to respond, his touch took a more assertive turn. His other hand found its place at your waist, applying gentle pressure that pushed you backward, causing you to stumble and land on the bed. The suddenness of his actions stole your breath away, leaving you momentarily stunned. "Severus?" you called out, your voice laced with a mixture of uncertainty and intrigue, a hint of curiosity lingering in the air.

In the blink of an eye, he loomed above you, a commanding presence that sent a rush of anticipation coursing through your veins. His knees secured your position, straddling you, a physical assertion of his control. Time seemed to stand still as his gaze locked with yours, filled with a raw intensity that set your heart ablaze. Without hesitation, his lips descended upon yours, capturing them in a passionate embrace that spoke volumes of the desire and longing that had been building between you.

The kiss was a whirlwind of sensations, an intoxicating dance between two souls hungry for each other. His lips melded with yours in a fiery union, their warmth and softness sending electric jolts through your entire being. The firm yet gentle pressure of his mouth against yours created a perfect balance, igniting a rush of desire that coursed through your veins.

Severus' kiss was an exquisite fusion of tenderness and ravenous hunger, his expertise evident in every calculated movement. His lips navigated your mouth with an artful precision, as though he had committed every contour to memory. It was a mesmerising dance of tongues, a symphony of desires interweaving in perfect synchronisation.

As the moments slipped away, the kiss intensified, drawing you deeper into a realm of unreserved passion and surrender. His hands traced the delicate curves of your face, fingertips entwined in the strands of your hair, unable to resist the magnetic allure between you. The yearning in his touch mirrored the fervour of his tongue, engaging in a hypnotic tango with yours.

The taste of him lingered on your tongue, a tantalising fusion of warmth and a subtle whisper of mint. It permeated your senses, etching itself indelibly into the recesses of your memory. With each exchange, the kiss became an unspoken testament to the raw desire that coursed between you, an orchestration of sensations that reverberated through your entire being.

In the timeless embrace, the boundaries of time and space dissolved, leaving only the profound connection and shared longing. It was a kiss that transcended words, speaking volumes in the language of passion and yearning. Within that intimate moment, you could feel the depths of his longing, the unyielding intensity of his desire for you, as though he had been suppressing it for an eternity, finally succumbing to the irresistible pull of his emotions.

As the kiss finally broke, a trail of soft breaths lingered between you, a palpable connection that bridged the gap between your souls.

"Severus, please," your silent plea escaped your lips, a desperate yearning emanating from deep within. The words carried a multitude of desires and fantasies, a kaleidoscope of longings that swirled within your mind. You were overwhelmed by the multitude of possibilities, unsure of which specific craving you sought to satiate. 

But still, you begged.

"Y/n, I'll make you feel exquisite," he murmured, his voice a velvety caress against your ear. As his hand left the softness of your face, it descended upon the button of your skirt, his touch sending shivers down your spine. With practised ease, his fingers skillfully manipulated the fastening, releasing the fabric from its confines, allowing it to pool at your feet. His movements were precise, executed with a confidence that spoke of his expertise in the art of seduction.

With each layer of clothing that fell away, the air grew heavy with anticipation. You laid before him, bared and vulnerable, your body a canvas yearning to be explored by his skilled hands. “Trust me,” there was an undeniable intensity in the air, an unspoken agreement that he would take you on a journey of pleasure and ecstasy.

The room seemed to hold its breath as his eyes hungrily drank in the sight of your exposed form. Every curve, every contour was a work of art that ignited a primal hunger within him. It was as if he had studied you from afar, memorising every detail, every secret desire, and now, finally, he had the opportunity to indulge in them.

Severus moved closer, his body now mere inches away from yours. The warmth of his breath fanned across your skin, teasing and tantalising your senses. His fingers traced a path along your waist, his touch leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. The anticipation built, a palpable energy that crackled in the air, as his hands travelled lower, inching closer to the apex of your desire.

Bending down, Severus's hands firmly gripped your thighs, pulling them upwards, exposing the vulnerability that lay between them. In an instant, his face descended between your parted legs, his warm breath teasing your most intimate parts. The sheer intensity of the moment overwhelmed you, causing a mixture of desire and embarrassment to wash over you.

Your hands instinctively rose to cover your face, a reflexive response to the rush of self-consciousness that flooded your being. "Sev... You don't have to..." your voice faltered, a blend of uncertainty and hesitancy lacing your words, as if unsure of how to navigate the sea of conflicting emotions swirling within you.

However, before you could utter another word, he silenced you with his commanding tone, reminiscent of the authority he usually held within the walls of his classroom. "Y/n, you're already wet, let me taste you," his voice was stern, cutting through the air with a firmness that sent a shiver down your spine. 

The raw power behind his words conveyed both his dominance and his unwavering determination to deliver pleasure. It was a tone that demanded surrender, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.

As his fingers continued their exploration of your thigh, tracing delicate patterns against your heated skin, a sense of anticipation and desire began to build within you. The gentle touch sent electric currents of anticipation through your veins, heightening your senses and leaving you yearning for more.

And then, with a swift yet deliberate movement, his warm tongue found its way to your slickness, gliding along your folds with an expertise that left you breathless. The sensation was both delicate and demanding, as he skillfully flicked, lapped, and swirled his tongue against your most intimate area. Waves of pleasure washed over you, cascading through every nerve ending, as he explored the depths of your desires with an unwavering dedication.

The sensation was an intoxicating blend of softness and intensity, as his tongue teased and tasted, coaxing your arousal to new heights. The rhythmic motions of his mouth created a symphony of pleasure, drawing out muffled moans of ecstasy from deep within you. You surrendered to the sensations, losing yourself in the swirling sensations that enveloped your being.

You couldn't help but arch your back, surrendering to the intoxicating symphony of sensations that engulfed you. The combination of his warm breath and the wet heat of his tongue created a sensory overload, amplifying your pleasure to unimaginable heights. Your hands instinctively reached out, grasping at the sheets, desperately seeking an anchor in the sea of ecstasy.

The intensity of the moment was both exhilarating and overwhelming, as the boundaries between pleasure and vulnerability blurred into a seamless fusion of desire. The raw passion and expertise with which Severus pleasured you showcased his deep understanding of your wants and needs, leaving you utterly spellbound by his prowess.

Just as the intensity of the moment reached its peak, a sudden knocking at the door shattered the air, jolting you both out of the euphoric trance. Your hand instinctively flew to cover your mouth, a mix of embarrassment and concern flooding your senses. Had your impassioned cries betrayed your pleasure, reaching the ears of unwanted listeners despite your efforts? The uncertainty gripped you, locking your gaze with Severus in a silent exchange of anxious anticipation.

Severus, on the other hand, wore a distinct expression of irritation as his eyes narrowed in frustration. It seemed as if fate had conspired against you both, cruelly interrupting your stolen moment of intimacy once again. For a fleeting moment, he contemplated ignoring the persistent knocking, wanting to relish in the connection you shared. However, the relentless sound continued, demanding attention that couldn't be ignored.

“I’m going to commit murder,” he simply said.

With a deep, exasperated groan, he reluctantly withdrew, leaving you momentarily abandoned, your body pulsating with unfulfilled desire. As he made his way towards the door, you couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for the unfortunate soul on the other side, unknowingly intruding upon a sacred and intimate space.

Severus approached the door with an exasperated sigh, his brow furrowed in annoyance. The interruption had shattered the intimate atmosphere that had enveloped the room, leaving you feeling exposed and vulnerable. He opened it just enough to face the intruder, leaving you partially exposed on the bed without a hint of concern. His stance conveying his displeasure at the untimely disturbance.

"Professor Snape?" The voice on the other side belonged to none other than George Weasley, at least, it was only one half of the mischievous twins.

Severus's tone was laced with irritation as he responded, "What do you want, Weasley?"

The poor boy seemed taken aback by Severus's sharp retort, stumbling over his words as he struggled to find an explanation. "I was told...- I thought this was Professor Y/n's room..."

Severus took a deep breath, and you could tell that his mind was working through the dilemma before him. The secrecy of your relationship, particularly in the context of being caught by a student, weighed heavily on his thoughts. He was torn between maintaining the discretion you both had agreed upon and addressing the unexpected intrusion.

Contrary to your expectations, he made a decision that surprised you. His voice carried a firmness that left no room for debate as he spoke, partially confirming the relationship you shared. "Yes, this is also Professor Y/n's room," he acknowledged, subtly acknowledging the connection between the two of you. "However, she is currently resting, exhausted from her day at the Ministry," he added, using the pretence of your fatigue to buy you both some reprieve. "Whatever you wanted to convey to her, can wait until tomorrow."

Severus directed a stern gaze at George, silently conveying that the matter was to be dropped and the conversation postponed. It was clear that Severus's authority and determination had left little room for further discussion. The room fell into an awkward silence, the weight of the interrupted intimacy still lingering in the air.

"Oh!" George's exclamation carried a tone of realisation and embarrassment, as if he had only just grasped the magnitude of his intrusion. “I-I’m extremely sorry!” The sound of his fumbling words reached your ears, hinting at his deep sense of remorse. It was unusual for one of the mischievous twins to offer such a sincere apology.

Severus, displaying his characteristic blend of authority and severity, began to close the door in response to George's realisation. However, he paused for a moment, reopening it slightly to deliver a stern warning. "Remember this," he asserted, his voice laced with a chilling intensity. "If a single word of what you witnessed here escapes your lips, rest assured that the punishment you will endure will be the most agonising and prolonged experience of your entire time at Hogwarts."

The weight of Severus's threat hung in the air, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences that awaited anyone who dared to breach the sanctity of your private moment. With a swift and decisive motion, Severus shut the door, cutting off any further opportunity for conversation. The distinct sound of the lock being secured echoed through the room, providing an additional layer of assurance that your intimacy would remain undisturbed.

As you slowly lifted your head, your eyes locked with Severus's, a mixture of amusement and desire shining in their depths. His return to the foot of the bed brought a renewed focus to the intimate connection between you, despite the temporary interruption caused by George's untimely intrusion.

With a playful glimmer in your eyes, you couldn't help but comment on the unintended consequences of Severus's stern demeanour. "Severus, you must have frightened poor George to the point of turning him as pale as a ghost," you remarked, a gentle laugh escaping your lips. The image of the flustered and embarrassed student played in your mind, a testament to Severus's ability to command authority even in unexpected situations.

Severus's smile grew, a mix of pride and amusement at the unintended outcome of his actions. "I do hope I left a lasting impression," he responded, his hands finding their way back to your thighs, his touch eliciting a shiver of anticipation. "Consider yourself fortunate, my dear, for if you were not well-behaved and such a good girl, I would have no reservations about employing a similar tone in our private moments."

His words, laced with a subtle hint of dominance and desire, had an immediate effect on you. A surge of arousal pulsed through your veins, making your cheeks flush with a deeper shade of crimson. You couldn't resist the temptation to surrender further, leaning back and resting your head against the bed, allowing the mounting anticipation to wash over you.

You didn’t have the time to think back about the situation as Severus's tongue trailed along your inner thigh. A soft gasp escaped your lips, mingling with the charged atmosphere.

The sensation was electrifying, a delicate blend of pleasure and anticipation coursing through your veins. Every nerve in your body seemed to come alive once again, acutely aware of the exquisite touch that was igniting a fierce desire within you. As his tongue continued its slow ascent, inching closer to the apex of your thighs, a cascade of sensations engulfed you.

The wetness of his tongue against your heated skin sent waves of pleasure cascading through your core. Each flick and stroke of his skilled tongue elicited a gasp or a moan, escaping your lips in a symphony of ecstasy. Time seemed to lose all meaning as you surrendered yourself to the intoxicating pleasure that enveloped you.

Severus's movements were a masterful dance, his tongue exploring every delicate fold with a blend of gentleness and fervour. The mix of sensations—his warm breath, the softness of his lips, the flickering caresses of his tongue—created a symphony of pleasure that resonated deep within your being.

“Sev-” you moaned out, desperate. You tried to keep your voice as quiet as possible, but it was an ordeal.

His touch on your most sensitive area sent waves of pleasure coursing through your body, intensifying the already heightened sensations. With expert precision, his fingers skillfully caressed and teased your bundle of nerves, drawing out moans of delight from deep within you. The rhythmic patterns his thumb traced on that delicate spot were both languid and agonisingly pleasurable, amplifying your arousal with each gentle stroke.

As his other hand abandoned its place on your thigh, a new wave of anticipation washed over you. You could feel the slickness of your arousal, inviting and eager, as his fingers smoothly slid inside you, exploring your depths with slowness. The combination of his skillful touch and the intimate intrusion sent a surge of pleasure through your entire being, igniting a fiery desire within you.

Every movement of his fingers, both inside and out, was a calculated dance, aimed at driving you to the brink of ecstasy. The way he expertly manipulated your pleasure points and delved deeper into your wetness only served to heighten your arousal, pushing you closer to the edge with each passing moment. You were soaking wet for him, you were so soft for his touch. The sensations became a symphony of pleasure, building and crescendoing with every stroke and thrust, until you were consumed by the overwhelming pleasure that radiated throughout your body.

You surrendered to the intoxicating sensations, your body writhing and arching in response to his touch. Each flick of his thumb and tongue, each thrust of his fingers, brought you closer to the pinnacle of pleasure, driving you towards a release that was bound to be earth-shattering.

In that moment, all that mattered was the exquisite pleasure he was bestowing upon you, the way he skillfully played your body like an instrument, coaxing out the sweetest melodies of desire. The room was filled with the symphony of your moans, mingling with the sound of your rapid breaths and the intoxicating scent of passion that permeated the air. 

You couldn’t hold back anymore, it was too overwhelming. 

Lost in the sea of pleasure, you surrendered yourself completely to him, allowing him to guide you towards the peak of your desires. With each movement, each touch, he brought you closer to the edge, until finally, in a crescendo of ecstasy, you were consumed by a wave of pleasure that washed over you, leaving you breathless and utterly satiated.

As the waves of pleasure subsided and you basked in the afterglow, you couldn't help but marvel at the sheer intensity of the experience. Severus had taken you on a journey of bliss, exploring the depths of your desires and leaving you craving for more. The sensations lingered, etching themselves into your memory, as a testament to the passionate connection you shared in that intimate moment.

You lay there, breathless and content, in the aftermath of the pleasure he had gifted you. The room was filled with an air of satisfaction, a sweet reminder of the intimate bond you and Severus shared.

"Is this ordeal ever going to end?" The sound of Sirius' voice, muffled yet audible through the wall, pierced the post-coital silence of the room. His words hung in the air, a reminder of the intrusion that had interrupted your intimate moment.

Severus rose from his position with deliberate slowness, his gaze fixed on the wall as he wiped his mouth. The evidence of your intense encounter glistened on his lips and chin, and you couldn't help but feel a mixture of satisfaction and amusement at the sight. Your arousal had been so intense that it had left its mark, dampening the fabric of his shirt near his mouth.

An exasperated grunt escaped Severus, a tinge of despair colouring his voice as he rolled his eyes in frustration. The lack of privacy and peace in the house weighed heavily on him, and it was clear that the continuous interruptions were testing his patience. The intrusion from the outside world seemed relentless, disrupting the intimate moments you shared and preventing the tranquillity you both craved.

"Seems like peace and privacy are luxuries we're not allowed to have," he muttered, his annoyance palpable. The words held a sense of resignation, acknowledging the unfortunate reality that seemed to follow you wherever you went. The lack of uninterrupted privacy dampened the mood, casting a shadow over the blissful connection you had just experienced.

You shared a knowing glance with Severus, a mix of amusement and understanding passing between you. Despite the frustrations, you found solace in the fact that you were in this together, navigating the challenges that came with the circumstances.

"I apologise, Sev," you sighed, the frustration evident in your voice. This unexpected series of interruptions had turned your much-anticipated reunion with Severus into a chaotic and disjointed affair.

He leaned in closer, shaking his head in reassurance before planting a tender kiss on your lips. "There's no need to be sorry. It's not your fault," he whispered, his words carrying a soothing tone that eased your worries. The rare smile that graced his lips brought a sense of warmth and comfort.

With a shared understanding, Severus guided you to the task at hand—undressing for bed. His gestures were tender and gentle, a testament to the care and affection he held for you. It was as if the evening's disruptions had reminded him of the need for solace and intimacy, prompting a shift in focus from passion to nurturing comfort.

Together, you helped each other out of your clothes, a silent exchange of support and vulnerability. The intimacy of the moment was not lost, even as the initial plans were derailed. With each touch and movement, there was a shared sense of tenderness and a reaffirmation of the bond you shared.

Finally, dressed in comfortable pyjamas, you prepared for bed side by side. The lingering frustrations of the evening were gradually replaced by a serene acceptance of the present moment. As you settled under the covers, the weight of the interrupted passions gave way to the peaceful anticipation of restful sleep, secure in the knowledge that there would be time for uninterrupted intimacy in the days to come.

Severus embraced you tenderly, his face nestled in the curve of your neck. His nose inhaled deeply as if seeking solace in your scent. His hands traced soothing patterns along your hips, a gesture that conveyed both comfort and a silent promise. "When we return to Hogwarts, I vow to make every evening count," he murmured, his voice filled with determination and a genuine desire to make amends for the interrupted moments.

His words resonated within you, eliciting a heartfelt smile that spoke volumes about your trust in his intentions. You knew that his pledge was not merely a fleeting remark but a sincere commitment to creating cherished memories in the future.

With a surge of emotion, you found yourself uttering the three words that held so much meaning. "I love you," you whispered, your voice filled with gratitude and adoration for the man lying beside you. The weight of those words carried the depth of your appreciation for his presence.

In response, Severus reciprocated your declaration, his deep voice resonating in the dimly lit room. "I love you too, Y/n," he affirmed, his words echoing with sincerity and a tenderness that touched your soul. With those simple yet profound sentiments, you both found solace and reassurance in the unspoken promises of a shared future.

As the room fell into a tranquil darkness, you reached out to switch off the light, allowing the soothing embrace of sleep to envelop you. In that moment, you felt a profound sense of peace, knowing that love had triumphed over the interruptions of the evening, and that your connection with Severus would continue to grow stronger with each passing day.

[collapsedglasshouses]

Hey, first of all! I hope you are doing well!

I wanted to request a fluffy smut with Jolly, where reader and him are at a family get together or something and he sees her interacting with children and they finally decide to try for a baby.

Thank you! <3

A/N: Thank you for requesting, I hope you are doing well yourself! It's funny because I had something along those lines sitting in my drafts for quite a while but never had the motivation to finally finish and post it. I want to apologize because it is quite short, but I hope you'll enjoy!

Ready Or Not [Jolly Karlsson x fem!Reader]

PHOTO CREDIT GOES TO MYSELF THIS TIME HEHE

WARNINGS: SMUT, MDNI!!, breeding kink, fluffy ending?, family planning, ...

TAGLIST: @measuredingold @cncohshit

Jolly was sitting on the couch in your sister’s living room and was watching you. You were sitting on the floor with your niece and drew with her. Every now and then the little girl would instruct you to draw something else on the paper so she could fill it out or add random little details to it.

The smile on your face warmed his heart. It had been almost four years since the two of you had started dating and he could say with his whole chest that every single day had been the best. You calmed his nerves. Whether it was a stressful tour date, or they had any kind of difficulties, you were there. And so was he.

After almost an hour, you looked at him to check if he was fine. He gifted you a small smile that held so much emotion it almost rushed through your body. You slowly excused yourself from your niece, before getting up and sitting down next to him.

“Are you alright?” You asked your boyfriend, whose sweet smile was still plastered on his face.

“Sure… I was just thinking about how good you are with kids.” He honestly exclaimed, when it felt like a thought ran through both of your heads. You had talked about this topic. You talked about how you wanted a child and you talked about how you wanted to have one in the next two years.

Not even an hour later you stumbled into your shared house, your lips not leaving each other’s for even half a second. You hadn’t even closed the front door properly, before Jolly stripped you out of your shirt.

“Oh, slow down.” You jokingly chuckled while Jolly kissed down your neck. You felt how you got wetter with each passing second.

“I can’t wait, darling.” He muttered against your neck while grabbing you by your hips and slowly leading you to the dining table.

When your ass hit the table, Jolly wasted no time and lifted you up on it, before opening your jeans and letting them slip down your legs.

It didn’t take long for him to get out of his pants himself.

“Are you sure, you want this?” Jolly mumbled against your lips while you tried to get him closer to you, his hardened member almost touching your core.

“God, I need you to fill me up.” You whined against his lips, giving him the answer he needed, before he slowly let himself sink into you. You moaned in sink as you tried to adjust to his length.

Jolly’s thrusts slowly became faster, while you tried to hold onto him for dear life. You felt like he was going to kill you with his pace, while small and deep moans echoed through the room. You were ready. You wanted nothing more than a baby with him. You wanted a family with him so badly.

“Fuck, so fucking good with kids.” Jolly groaned in your ear, while your hand found its way into his hair, to get ahold of him. “Cumming in your pussy like you derserve, baby.”

He felt how your walls started to squeeze around his cock as he slams into you. Your moans almost became cries as you felt your orgasm coming. Right as he sent you over the edge, you felt thick and warm ropes of cum spread within you. Jolly groaned into your ear, your voices mixing in ecstasy.

While you both came down from your highs, you held each other in a tight embrace. Jolly was the first to let go of you, just to put his hands on your cheeks. Your eyes met his and he gifted you a small smile. His thumbs stroked over your face, while he whispers. “We are going to be a family. You are going to be the greatest mom.”

“And you are going to be the greatest dad.” You mumbled before kissing him deeply.

[storyofmychoices]

The Princess of Parnassus and The Trophy Husband

[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 1 + Beyond] [Mal’s Orphanage]

[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 2 AU]

Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya (F!OC), with mentions of Iliana

Book: Blades of Light and Shadow 2 (post finale)

Word Count: ~1,000

Rating/Warnings: General, no warnings (for maybe the first time ever)

Synopsis: Daenarya and Mal enjoy a much needed relaxing afternoon while contemplating what comes next.

Thank you to the absolutely amazing @cashweasel for this perfect art. I've been holding onto it for months now waiting for a story worthy of it. Once this idea popped into my head, it felt like the right time. (A second version of the art can be found below the story)

A moment of peace, 

finally.

That's what they deserved.

No more danger, no more life-altering choices, no more world-ending destruction. No more dealing with the aftermath.

The Realm had been saved, again—technically two realms this time.

More portals had been opened to allow for easier crossing between both realms. New guidance and orders were established. All was progressing toward a new future.

And, in a brief lull between it all, Iliana was born—their greatest gift. 

Daenarya drew in a deep breath, savoring the gentle caress of the breeze as it wove through her hair. She hadn't seen rest since... well, since before all of it. Before her daughter. Before the new agreement between sides. Before the war between the realms. Before she had been taken. Before the Dreadlord. Before she'd met her found family. Before Kade had been taken. Before Mal Volari strutted into her life. How long ago that seemed.

So much had changed. So much was still changing, but one thing that hadn't changed in quite a while was him and how she felt about him.

The afternoon sun bathed the field in its soft, golden embrace, illuminating the sea of windflowers gently swaying. Above them, the air filled with the melodic song of birds flitting amongst the grasses. Daenarya smiled at the beautiful symphony around her. 

Her nimble fingers wove delicate blooms together, putting the final touches on the crown she was crafting for Mal, mirroring his efforts for her.

"A crown fitting for a princess," Mal teased, showcasing his completed creation. It was a brilliant assortment of wildflower blossoms expertly entwined into an elegant crown. 

"I'm not sure about the princess part—" she shook her head playfully. "—but it's beautiful."

"May I?" He held it out to her. 

"Of course." She dipped her head forward, allowing him to place the beautiful display upon her head. A gentle smile spread across her features as she let her hand linger over his for a moment. 

"Shall I send word that you are ready to reclaim the Parnassus name and embrace your kingdom?" Mal inquired, his gaze fixed on her, his smile matching that of her own. 

"You're never going to let me forget that, are you?" Daenarya rolled her eyes. She ran her fingers through the silky grass beside her, her thoughts wandering for a moment. "We don't even know how directly I'm related. I'm sure there are many other descendants equally entitled by blood, if not more so."

"None of them are as qualified though," Mal interrupted. "Kit, you've saved the damn realm, twice, and ensured a truce between Light and Shadows. Gods know if anyone deserved it, it'd be you."

She reached over, tracing the lines of his jaw before cradling his face. "I'm not starting a monarchy, Mal." 

He pouted beneath her tender touch. "You're really going to take this from me?"

She couldn't stifle her laughter. "Take what from you?"

"My chance to be a trophy husband!" He declared proudly with a mischievous grin. "You're letting all of this go to waste." He gestured over his particularly exquisite features. 

"Husband?" Her brow piqued at the word.

"I just mean—" His confidence faltered a moment, his fingers running sheepishly through his long hair. "You're right, this isn't about me... it's about you and if you'll use Parnassus as your surname now that you know about it, kingdom or not."

"I don't think it's right for me." Her thoughtful eyes met his, contemplating the weight of such a decision. "I've never had a last name before... I wasn't important enough to need one. I'm just Daenarya of Riverbend."

"You're so much more than that," Mal marveled. "You might be the most important person in all the realms."

"Might be?" She teased.

"Well, I like to think I helped a little," Mal insisted. "Even Elfboy did something, but don't tell him I said that."

"What about for you?"

"What about me?"

"How important am I?"

"Fishing for a compliment?" His gaze narrowed on her.

She chewed her lower lip, shrugging lightly, "mayyybeee."

He chuckled softly, "Kit... Daenarya, you're the most important person to me. I never dreamed I could find someone like you. Someone who—" He shook his head, his smile spreading wide. "Someone who I'd gladly risk my life for, over and over again, with no promise of treasure or reward, except that of keeping you safe and experiencing all life has to offer with you." 

Daenarya leaned forward, quieting his words with a kiss. "I love you, Mal Volari."

"I love you so damn much…Daenarya of Riverbend, or whatever name you choose," he offered as she rested her forehead against his, savoring their closeness.

"I know," she whispered. "So…I might have an idea for a last name."

"Really?" He pulled back slightly, curious to hear what she was thinking. 

A glint of amusement danced in her eyes. "What about…Volari?"

Mal's brow furrowed for a moment, confusion flickering across his features.

"I thought we might share it, you and I." Daenarya watched him closely, waiting for him to understand. “Iliana, too.”

Realization dawned upon Mal as her words sank in. "Are you proposing to me?"

"So what if I am?" 

"Shouldn't I be the one proposing?" Mal teased lightly, though his heart pounded with anticipation.

Daenarya's laughter echoed across the serene landscape. "No, I think this is right for us."

"I don't know, Kit," he attempted to feign indecision, his fingers stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I always imagined when I got proposed to it would be this big grand gesture, and there would be a massive diamond involved." 

"No diamond, Mal the Magnificent, but perhaps I can offer you another token of my appreciation." Daenarya shifted beside him, holding out the flower crown she had created for him. "Mal Volari, the Magnificent one, would you do me the honor of becoming my trophy husband, kingdom or no kingdom?"

He couldn't stop his joyous laughter. "With an offer that good, how could I say no?" 

Daenarya no sooner placed the crown on his head than he pulled her into his arms, showering her with all the love and affection she deserved. There was no one he would rather spend forever with than her—Daenarya of Riverbend, soon to be Daenarya Volari. (But had she asked, he'd be Mal of Riverbend or whatever name she chose because being with her was the only constant he ever needed.)

I had this silly little idea and I hope you enjoy it. I figured since Mal is struggling to propose to Daenarya in my "Prime" aka book one universe, I thought it would be Daenarya proposing in this one.

Oh, and one more thing before you go.... the lovely Lou was amazing enough to give me 2 versions of this art. I initially asked for Short Haired Mal since Book Two would be introducing him, but I got cold feet and wanted my long-haired Mal, too, so Lou allowed me both versions. Though, if ever there was a good looking short haired Mal this is the one 😍

[a-new-wish-6-3]

I really love the new fairly oddparents show.

Season one will probably end with an anti-fairy plot and dev and peri getting together again. As well as dale pressing the return button and seeing the Bord before dev drew over the answers, figuring out that fairy’s exist and the neighbors are magic.

Season 2 could than start with dale using his money to buy magic experts. Meaning hazels dad and Mr. Croocker. While dad gets sent to cosmo and Wanda since he lives next door and is younger, croocker stays behind with dale to build capturing devices for him. There his detector goes off and he finds out about peri. While we could have two different chase plots I think it would be more interesting if the plots vary. Dad try’s to unsuccessfully capture the duo throw multiple episodes with it ending on him not being able to hurt them because he is a good guy and not capable of such evil, especially if his daughter asks him to stop. ( he doesn’t know their are her godparents only that their are magic and nice people hazel loves, so this is not against the rules ( Timmy parents know about fairy’s when croocker took over, but their were only taken away once they know the fairy’s belonged to Timmy ))

while croocker finds peri in the first episode and release its his junior, refusing to capture him. Croocker, dev and peri actually get time to bond while trying to keep croocker machines from outing peri to dale. This works because croocker was actually nice to baby poof and has a good hearth deep down ( as a kid ), so him getting some friendship and love could help him feel better ( he still try’s to help capture cosmo and Wanda, so he hasn’t given up his madness just yet ). And dev could get an actually adult in his live who could love him. Peri acts more like his older brother and he will not be able to stay around forever. Besides both dev and croocker actually lack the same thing in their lives, with is acknowledgment from their one parent, giving them something to bond over which peri lacks since he has good parents. The peri group could start by trying to get dale to love dev, by saving dale from Vicky as an example ( getting her finally arrested ). During those try’s croocker accidentally gets to bond with dev ( he originally only intended to spent time with peri ). By the way croocker is the only adult who the fairy’s will never erase their knowledge of existence from, since his believe is necessary for their power. Him knowing that dev has peri will not be against the rules. ( it never was with Timmy )

This could lead to one of croocker machines nearly capturing Wanda and cosmo with peri pushing them out of the way and getting captured himself. Dev and peri would feel betrayed by croocker. Who would get the credit he always wanted but lose the friendship he build with those two. Actually realising he doesn’t want this anymore ( croocker never succeeded where the consequence of this win would negative impact his live, so him getting the love he always wanted in the beginning only to lose it because of his madness is the only thing able to break him out of this habit ).

Even worse dale will have peri and he will be pissed at dev for not telling him about his fairy. When dev asks for peri release dale will discard him and show once and for all that he doesn’t care about dev, not matter what ( reverse of hazel dad actually listening to his daughter ). Dev will have been crushed by his dad, betrayed by croocker and lost his fairy.

Cosmo, Wanda, hazel, dev and croocker all want peri back save and sound so the last battle will be them combing their power to save peri.

Once peri is save, croocker could either stay as a servant for a mind erased dale or actually live in the fairy world as a fairy trainer against capture devices. He is after all quite famous there, so i could see them making an exception for him. Croocker could also be rough with them because his Extrem curse is actually helpful in the long run and jorgan is okay with a little violence in testing exams.

This way we get an goodbye for our old characters in Vicky punishment and croocker redemption. Plus a new easy villain in hazel dad and terrifying villain in dale.

[ramsayxme]

Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / Chapter Six / Chapter Seven / AO3 Link

TW - pregnancy, death, gaslighting, possible rape, oral sex, violence, murder, ramsay bolton.

Chapter Eight: A Hunt

Married life with Ramsay was a pendulum, swinging back and forth from abusive to nurturing. He would still leave you for days at a time, right as you thought he had outgrown that treatment. He was still a mystery to you but it simply drew you in even more, curious to study and obey him. It had already been a few months of being Lady Bolton and you were learning the ways of your new life. You had servants who would do anything you said. You hadn't spoke to Reek since your wedding day, although you've seen him meekly scurrying around behind your husband quite frequently. You had missed your menstrual cycle and had checked with Maester Wolken who let you know that he was nearly certain you were in the early stages of pregnancy. You hadn't informed Ramsay quite yet.

Today, your body woke up before your mind. You were still half asleep when you heard heavy breathing and Ramsay spit, followed by wet noises. You blinked your eyes open to see him on top of you, and suddenly you felt pressure between your legs. You were lying on your back and you looked down to see Ramsay's cock nudging at your entrance, his eyes already staring into yours. You gently mewled as Ramsay's saliva-coated erection slid into you. His face was unshaven, a small beard growing on his strong jawline. He was clearly freshly awake, his eyes still had sleep lingering on them. He slowly allowed his cock to slide in and out of you, your mind still floating between reality and sleep. "Good morning." Ramsay whispered as he leaned forward to kiss your lips. You smiled into his kiss as he slid his hands down to your hips, slightly raising them so he could fit snuggly inside you.

"Good morning, my love." You groaned, shifting up on your elbows. You weren't showing the pregnancy yet, your body still thin. You watched your lower abdomen rise when Ramsay's cock was fully inside you, and fall again when he pulled out. He rest his hand on your stomach as he felt the movement you were just noticing, his erection pressing the inside of you. He pressed down on your stomach which prompted you to react without thinking. "Be careful!" You shrieked, shoving his hand off of your abdomen. Ramsay stared at you, offended at your sudden movement.

Ramsay's eyebrows raised and his head tilted as he waited for an explanation for your outburst. You knew it was time to tell him. "Sorry, its just...you wouldn't want to hurt your child." You rested your hand on your stomach and looked up at him, waiting for a reaction. His jaw slacked for a moment, his lips parted as he exhaled a small chuckle before grinning. "You're pregnant?" He asked, his cock still inside you. You nodded. "Maester Wolken confirmed it. I am not far along, but he said I am definitely pregnant." Ramsay leaned down to give you a passionate, love filled kiss.

"This calls for a celebration." He whispered into your mouth. "After I am finished with you this morning, I have a hunt I must go on, but we will go on it together. Nothing makes me happier than going on a hunt." He smiled as he continued to slowly fuck you, each gentle stroke inside you coaxing out a small whimper from your lips. He made love to you slowly until you both orgasmed from the gentle friction. This was the first time Ramsay had not been violent during sex with you and you didn't want to admit it, but you enjoyed the vicious sex more. Ramsay could tell, as your orgasm wasn't as strong as usual. He let out a hum as he realized, and snickered as he pulled his cock out of you. "My wife is such a naughty girl." He shook his head as he pulled his clothes on.

Ramsay walked towards your clothing stash and brought you a leather and hide dress. "Get dressed, we have a long day ahead of us, my love!" Ramsay barked as he tied his own leather vest on and secured his belts and the brown satchel that held his arrows. He brought a spare bow which you assumed was going to be yours. Once Ramsay was decorated in all of his hunting gear, he led you down to the stables where he helped you mount one of the largest and strongest horses. He had a pack of his obedient dogs behind him, eager to run. You were familiar with all the horses since you spent so much free time brushing them, so you gently greeted the horse with some nose pats. Ramsay mounted behind you, and directed the horse to take you both south, directly into the woods you had once attempted to flee into. The dogs followed with their excited snarling.

The further south you rode, the more greenery appeared. You still needed leather to stay warm, but the snow had melted and the trees were lush with leaves. It had been so long since you saw nature that was alive, it almost made you tear up. The ground was soaked from the melted snow, moss crawling up every surface. Ramsay tied up your horse and helped you dismount, your feet sinking into the wet earth with a subtle squish. The dogs were panting at Ramsay's feet, begging their master to put them to work. You took in deep breaths as you felt the earth breathing with you in the form of vines, bugs, and birds. Ramsay smiled as he watched you look around. "Sometimes I too forget there is a world that isn't covered in snow." He smiled, putting his fingers on your chin and pulling your face close so he could place a kiss on your cheek.

Ramsay pulled a small piece of fabric from his pocket and let the dogs sniff it. "Find him!" He commanded as the dogs split into different directions, noses to the ground and teeth bared. You realized you weren't hunting game, but a person. "My Lord, who are we trying to find?" You asked, grabbing the spare bow from Ramsay's back. He turned around and grinned at you. "Reek." You felt a pinch of sadness in your gut, knowing that you were about to hunt someone who you knew. "He decided he would try to stab one of my men...one of our men." Ramsay began. "He failed, of course! But, I can't keep my plaything around if he acts this way. He was released into these woods just moments before we arrived, he doesn't yet know we are here."

Ramsay laughed wickedly as he heard dogs sounding off in the distance. "I spoke too soon! Sounds like he might be figuring it out right now." Ramsay grabbed your hand and started to run, pulling you behind him. You weren't sure if running around the woods was the best option for a pregnant woman, but it didn't seem like you had much of a choice. You ran with Ramsay as he began shouting out for Reek. His free hand was cupped around his mouth as he yelled. "Reek! Oh, Reek! Where are you, bastard?" Your lungs filled with fresh air as you ran behind Ramsay, the green trees turning into smears in your vision. You felt free.

"If you make it out of the woods, you win!" Ramsay yelled with one hand still cupped next to his mouth and one gripping your hand tightly. "He won't." He quietly assured you, pulling you to run faster with him. The dogs were gathered near a stream, snarling like a pack of wild direwolves. "There you are!" Ramsay laughed manically, pointing down to Reek. "Good girls! Down girls, down!" He sang to the dogs. Reek was hiding near the stream, soaking and soggy. His hair was wet and matted to his face while his clothes hung off his malnourished body. "Please, M'Lord!" He shouted, the loudest you'd ever heard him speak.

You felt energy surge through you. You wanted to impress Ramsay. You wanted him to be proud of you, you wanted him to praise you. You reached into the pouch on Ramsay's back and pulled out a single arrow. You nocked it on your bow and drew it back, aiming it at Reek's leg. Reek panicked at the sight and tried to scurry away. You let loose, the arrow whizzing through the air before piercing the back of his thigh. Ramsay laughed loudly and turned to you. "Well done!" His eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of you lowering the bow to the ground, your focus staying on Reek. "Don't try to run!" You hollered.

Ramsay's eyes widened with lust as he watched you command the creature. "If you try to get up again, I'll put an arrow straight through your neck!" You exclaimed. Reek was shaking and sobbing, his hand grasping his leg desperately. Ramsay took a step closer to you and draped his arm over your shoulders. "Good girl. Let the hounds take it from here, they deserve a reward for finding him." You nodded, your eyes glued to Reek. The dogs were still surrounding him, patiently waiting for a command. Ramsay grinned as he watched you. Your nostrils were flaring with anger. Reek never did anything to you, but you did have built up anger with nowhere to go, and Reek seemed like a reasonable target.

"Rip him! Rip him!" Ramsay shouted and the dogs instantly pounced forward with their jaws open, taking large bites out of Reek's flesh. His screaming was loud and echoed throughout the otherwise peaceful forest. You didn't look away, not even for a moment. Ramsay's hand reached out to yours as you both stood there, watching the frail creature get devoured by the hounds. Crimson blood was staining the green shrubs and polluting the stream, causing it to run dark. Ramsay snickered as Reek's cries were killed. "A fine shot, love. I wasn't sure you had it in you!" Ramsay smiled, his hand finding your shoulder and gently rubbing it. You still hadn't broken your gaze from Reek's body, your jaw was clenched painfully tight, eyes filling with tears.

Ramsay tugged at your arm when he noticed your locked gaze, your eyes finally breaking away from Reek. Ramsay turned you, pulling you into his chest. You felt your breath shaking as it reflected off his leather onto your face. "There, there." He soothed you. "You did the right thing. It's not your fault he tried to hurt one of our men. He knew he would be punished. I am proud of you." His hand took yours and his thumb rubbed across your knuckles lovingly. He pulled your hand up to his lips and kissed the back, holding it to his cheek. "You did such a wonderful job."

You smiled, happy to make Ramsay proud. You leaned forward to kiss him, his tongue immediately finding yours. He dropped his bow to his side as he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer to him. You reached your hand down and felt his pants bulging with an erection. You chuckled. “My Lord, you..." Ramsay rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes. Violence arouses me, you know this, My Lady." He pulled you close again, squeezing your wrist so you dropped your bow as well. He unlaced his pants and pulled his hard cock out, standing up and eager to be touched.

You wrapped your hand around his shaft, leaning forward to make out with him while you touched him. His warm tongue slithered into your mouth, his hands on your shoulder-blades as he kept you close. Your hand worked at him, stroking his cock. You held your hand up and spit into it before bringing it back down, sliding over the head. Ramsay's eyebrows raised slightly at this, a small sigh escaping his lips. You stroked him until his knees were quivering. He pushed you off of him suddenly as he leaned over and picked up his bow. He quickly nocked an arrow from his pouch and drew it back, aiming it straight at your face.

You froze with fear, dropping to your knees. Ramsay kept the arrow drawn at you, inches away from your forehead. Your life was entirely in his hands. You were speechless as you suddenly were flooded with the familiar feeling in your gut. You knew it was a likely a game, but the death staring at you between your eyes in the form of an arrowhead was not something you were expecting. Ramsay pushed his hips forward, his teeth grinding together as he drew the arrow even tighter, his eyes sinking past your soul. You took his cock in your mouth and quickly began sucking him. He groaned, his grip on the arrow becoming slack as he closed his eyes. You focused on his pleasure, his orgasm was seemingly the only thing that would keep you alive at this moment.

Finally, your jaw was beginning to ache and he came hard, filling your mouth and groaning loudly. You swallowed and looked up at him, the drawn arrow now pulled tightly in his hand. You winced as he loosened, the arrow flying through the air next to your head as it buried itself in the dirt behind you. You exhaled sharply, realizing your life was safe for now. Ramsay smiled as he tucked his wet cock back into his trousers. "Well! That was unexpected, wasn't it?" He held his hand out to help you stand. You stood in front of your husband, still unsure of what to say. The only thing that squeaked out was, "What if you killed me?"

Ramsay shook his head as if you just said something shocking. "I wouldn't do that. Why, you're pregnant with my heir! I simply wanted to do something exciting. It was exciting, don't you agree?" You nodded as your eyes filled with tears once again. The all familiar pinch bubbled in your stomach for the second time as your husband reached out and hugged you. Fear. You hadn’t felt fear in a while but as Ramsay's grip tightened on you, the fear was snuffed out to nothing but smoke. You inhaled deeply, smelling his scent which was something you had come to long for. You heard the dogs finishing the last bits of Reek, licking their chops and growling over the last hunks of meat that remained. You allowed your eyes to flutter shut as you slipped into his grasp once again, falling in love with your abuser as you had done over and over, many times before.

Chapter Nine

[caw4brandon]

- The Creature Dilemma -

Hello, it's been a while since we last spoke. If you were aware. I deleted my previous post regarding a certain Owen because I'm unsatisfied. I really want to stop making characters and refocus on creatures.

There is, however, a dilemma and a complication. It's been a long time since I drew the main creature, The Hoodlites. I may have, stopped production on them. Every alteration I make seems to take on a more monstrous approach which leads to division.

You may have heard the names, Salkites and Broncopod a lot. While I have addressed that I wish to discontinue due to lack of interest and wanting to condense the cast. But by some miracle;

A metaphorical "Palpatine" if you will.

But here is another issue. There is an interest in reviving the Twiggmun with the Wilfies. A symbiotic relationship between the most fearsome and untamable hunters. Working together with the most intelligent beings. A bit like Timon and Pumba.

Then there is the Omnibeast problem. There is quite a chatter on the abusive use of something called, the Omnibeast Compound. I have a good narrative for that and it has to do with Yazmin. No issues there but it looks like separating variations is not the answer.

I do have a proposal though. I'm thinking of going ham. Letting the Hoodlites be whatever they look like but is still defined as a Hoodlite. For example, when we say Reptiles. We have lizards, snakes, Iguanas, crocodiles, tortoises etc~

I get to hit two birds with one stone. Fix the creature dilemma and make all sorts of unique looks for every Hoodlite since that has always been its approach. Wouldn't you agree?

[thiefbird]

platonic renown trio, “but I know being reckless and young is not how the damage gets done” from your list?

Ooooooooohhh this is so good

(also might be a little bit more pre-slash than purely platonic because Bush has complex feelings about Hornblower just. canonically) have some William Bush character study my friend; i listened to Damage Gets Done on repeat almost the entire time i wrote this, other than the bits where i rewatched Mutiny and Retribution for Research Purposes

(under a cut bc it got long - and possibly not entirely connected to its prompt; Bush decided to instead just dwell on his junior lieutenants a bunch in general)

Should I write a sequel to this? Maybe touching on how Horatio's mood might effect the infamous Kingston Debauch in a Dead Kennedy universe? I have Thoughts but this ended up near to 4k words and I needed to end it.

damage gets done (on ao3)

Stepping on board the Renown for the first time, Lieutenant William Bush had had no idea that he would be a different person by the time he reached Jamaica. He had been the same person, more or less, for the entire thirty-five years of his life so far; expecting to continue as he had was only reasonable.

But that was before he had met Hornblower: being dashed to the deck by a total stranger had not seemed like a likely catalyst for personal change at the time, unless caused by a knock on the head; looking back now, he felt he ought to have known, ought to have guessed. But instead he had been ruffled by Hornblower's oddities, peevish towards Mr Kennedy's facetiousness, and fully cemented himself into the role of outsider he so resented those first months.

They were an unlikely pair on the outside, Hornblower and Kennedy. Hornblower was an awkward, serious sort of man, private and reserved to a fault - and Bush had indeed seen it as a fault - where Kennedy was quite the opposite; Bush didn't think he heard a single earnest word from the fourth lieutenant's lips before he'd been on the Renown a month, unless the captain was present. And yet in practice they were as well together as any two men Bush had served with - he was unsurprised to learn they had been mids together at the start of the war, and shared most of their postings since.

He had been obscurely envious of such a friendship - coming up before the mast as he had created a gap between him and the other officers, one that he'd done his best to hide in his years as lieutenant, but one that he felt sorely - and had resolved to look down on the younger officers. Lieutenant Buckland made for poor company, too harassed by his rank, and Bush had resigned himself to a dull, lonely assignment within a week of coming aboard Renown.

Even now, many months later, he almost regretted that he had been wrong. But Captain Sawyer had proven to be a shell of himself, and he had somehow found himself in the unenviable position of plotting mutiny alongside an incompetent premier and the reckless youth of lieutenants Hornblower and Kennedy.

Reckless was perhaps putting it a little strong; Kennedy, certainly, was impetuous and excitable, a gleam in his eyes that drew Captain Sawyer's ire with a consistency unmatched by the finest timepiece, but Hornblower was anything but. Calculating, conniving, manipulative even, especially in his handling of Lieutenant Buckland; too clever by half, even half dead from keeping continual watch.

He had made a pitiful sight, gaunt and hollow-cheeked, bruises deep under his piercing brown eyes making them appear preternaturally large from under the brown curls of his queue. Compared to Kennedy Bush had thought he looked near corpse-like by the time their plot succeeded, and yet the spark of genius had never burnt low.

Samaná had been the true turning point, where he had gone from outside observer to- perhaps not an equal member, but a close orbiting body of the binary star that made up Hornblower and Kennedy. He had been mistaken, to take Buckland's side against Hornblower's plan, he had seen that almost immediately, and admitting the fault had done much to repair his fellow lieutentants' opinion of him; the desertion of some thirty-odd men had been the perfect opportunity for Hornblower's expert machinations, and Buckland had folded like so many decks of cards in Hornblower's hands.

Kennedy's lascivious grin, the puff of his breath as he laughed at the Spanish solider's importunity, Hornblower's poorly suppressed answering smile - all were the badges of friendship earned, and he had treasured them as he received them lying near prone on a hilltop. They had felt the same pang of hopes dashed as some damned folly aboard Renown - Buckland had never been clear when he explained the mishap - ruined their chance of surprise, and he had felt a similar pang alone when Hornblower and Kennedy had run clear away without explanation: once again he was on the outside of their insular attachment, and he had felt a queer turn at it, one that he could hardly name.

"If you live to see Mr Hornblower-" he'd told Stiles, though he knew not what he had meant to convey before those bitter words had slipped out; "tell him he'll hang from the yardarm," had not been his intention when he started to speak.

The fort had fallen, the Spaniards offered a deal - and predictable as clockwork, Hornblower had seen through it and conceived a counter before the words had left their commander's mouth. And now-

"Alright, are you, Horatio?"

Hornblower's expression was a strange blend of terror and derision when he turned back, Kennedy's mouth fighting to remain bland. "Yes, thank you, Archie." He turned back to the block and tackle hanging over the cliff, and Bush could see how tight his jaw was set from behind.

"I remember when you used to be scared of heights, Mr Hornblower!" Kennedy pronounced, as if an actor in one of the plays he would read aloud in the ward room, despite constant protest. He glanced aside to Bush, laughter clear in his eyes, and Bush felt a smile form despite himself.

Hornblower, too, was smiling regardless of his fear when he turned back once more. "Nothing has changed, Mr Kennedy," he admitted, playing along with his friend's formality. Bush caught his eye and felt a surge of affection for the young man - for he and Kennedy were so very young, if not in years (for Bush had less than ten years on them), then in spirit, a playful exuberance that he could only account to their friendship.

That affection, that long-held desire to be admitted into their intimacy, must have been what sparked his playing along. As Hornblower grasped the hawser and prepared to rappel down to young Wellard's rescue, Bush nudged Kennedy's shoulder with his own and called out. "They say one should always do what one dislikes!" he advised.

"Oh yes?" was the only response Hornblower deigned to give.

Kennedy's grin was in full force now, delighted to have a compatriot in his torment of Hornblower, and Bush knew his was not far behind as he was swept off his feet by his contagious high spirits; he deliberately did not allow his gaze to land on either Hornblower or Kennedy as he spoke. "As a boy, I had to eat turnips."

Hornblower warily began to lower himself down. "Eat them now, do you?" he asked, his voice resigned - but the anxious pitch of it was gone, and some strange tension Bush had not noted in Kennedy before suddenly faded as Hornblower disappeared below the edge of the cliff, replaced by some sort of exhaustion.

"Never touch 'em," Bush said, his voice too low to carry further than Kennedy's ears. Kennedy looked back to him, his face strangely inscrutable until Bush gave up his attempt at controlling his smile; then Kennedy clapped his shoulder, the apparent fatigue entirely absent once more. Bush felt as if he'd passed some obscure test in that moment, and he directed the reassembly of the gun in its carriage with a lighter heart than he'd felt since Captain Sawyer had stepped on board Renown.

The Dons struck, the rebellion attacked, and the fort was to be abandoned the moment it was clear - and Hornblower, the proud, reckless creature, volunteered to set the charges to send the fort to kingdom come. Bush saw Kennedy's face as his friend - their friend? - said the words, and knew his own face echoed that same dawning realization. Kennedy's throwing himself in with Hornblower was instinctive, automatic, and Bush's hardly less so. But Buckland preferred, if preferred was the word to use for so damning a mission and that cold look in their premier's eyes, Hornblower, and Bush felt a shade of Kennedy's palpable terror at the parting; the boy's voice trembled as they shook hands, and not for the first time Bush wondered just how deep their friendship went.

There was a strange moment, as Hornblower turned back to the fort, where Bush felt some strange, foreign urge to touch him, to reassure himself of Hornblower's reality - an urge so strong and strange that he could not resist it: his hand came up of its own volition and brushed the younger man's narrow shoulder as he passed, and he stared dumbly after Hornblower's retreating form until Buckland cleared his throat, giving both him and Kennedy a queer, questioning look. "Well, we had better get this whole... this whole mess cleared away. Bush, Kennedy - you know your duties."

Back on board Renown, they threw themselves into the organising of prisoners with as much appearance of zeal as they could muster, setting men to clear sections of the hold for the carpenter's crew to erect bulkheads. Bush had to reprimand both himself and Kennedy on multiple occasions within those first minutes for near criminal distraction, and he knew they had both caught the cold, hateful look in Buckland's eyes as he shook Hornblower's hand. Finally, in a lull, Kennedy grasped his arm in a desperately tight grip.

"What is it, Mr Kennedy?" Bush asked, and then, feeling his tone had been a little harsh, added with more kindness, "Tell me your mind."

"The men know their work, sir - we would only be in the way, were we to stay below." Kennedy's fingers were still tight around his upper arm.

"You may have a point there. You there! Keep to your tasks, men!" he ordered, and allowed Kennedy to pull him to the companion and then further, into the wardroom. "Now, Kennedy, no more of this - you will tell me what is the matter," he said in a low voice, his ear turned towards the door.

"You know as well as I Buckland will leave him on the island if we give him half a chance. I don't know who has his ear - if the damned fool has been listening to Sawyer or just to that lush of a doctor - but-"

"That is a harsh accusation to make, Mr Kennedy," Bush said, not in reproach, but in warning. Kennedy's mouth opened, the confiding expression wiped away and replaced with a hot, reckless anger, but Bush raised his voice as loud as he dared and continued over his protestations. "But I will concede the point that our acting captain may have his hands too full to spare men to row back. And as we find ourselves at loose ends-"

The tension holding Kennedy in a rigid, spiteful posture dissolved as if strings cut away, and he drooped against the bulkhead. "Thank you, sir," he said quietly, staring down at his hands; they shook like leaves in a gale as they stood in silence for the space of a few dozen breaths. Finally they stilled, and Kennedy looked up, his eyes flashing with that same reckless enthusiasm Bush had once condemned. "Well, what are you waiting for? There's not a moment to lose, if we don't want our acting captain to catch on!"

They walked out as if they were on an important mission, using the natural deference of the hands to have the smallest skiff lowered down the shoreward side of the ship. "That'll be all, Norris, thank you," Bush said dismissively as he climbed over the railing and dropped into the flimsy craft, Kennedy following after and fending them off of Renown's side. Bush took the oars himself, wordlessly indicating for Kennedy to man the tiller, and watched as the great mass of their ship steadily shrank away from them.

"Mr Bush, sir, I wanted to-"

"Do not thank me, Mr Kennedy; I saw that same look. And I think-" Here he hesitated: he worked hard to maintain his rank, had nearly eradicated all traces of his broad accent; to offer such liberties to a junior - and a junior as irreverent as Kennedy, no less - was a risk to all that work. And yet... "I think, while we are risking our necks together a second time, Mr Kennedy, that you may call me William."

Kennedy looked surprised, astonished, at being offered such, and he took a moment to gather himself. Then, with a touch of colour on his cheeks, he inclined his head. "In that case, Will, you-"

"I am warning you, Mr Kennedy-" Bush growled; Kennedy took no notice.

"You may call me Archie," he said, that bright smile firmly in place. "No one calls me Archibald, and if you may use a short form it is only fair I may, too. No need for entire names while we row towards our deaths, now, is there?"

Bush feigned a sigh of disapproval, though he was certain Kennedy- was certain Archie knew better than to be fooled by his attempts by now. "Very well. Archie."

The Renown was only a short distance from the fort's docks, and Archie leaped across to tie the skiff up what felt like mere moments later, offering Bush a hand up as he beamed down. "Sir," he said in a mockery of the white-gloved sideboys as Bush fought with the desire to pull Archie down into the boat in retribution.

"The cheek on you," he muttered as he batted away the offered hand and stepped onto the dock unassisted. "As you said, Archie - no time to lose; we must find Mr Hornblower and lend him our expertise."

"Expertise, Will? I only meant to offer him a boatride," Archie said over his shoulder as he took the stairs towards the fort two at a time.

"Archie! Are you out of your mind?" Bush heard Hornblower shout as he followed Archie up the stairs to where he could hear the fizzling of slow match.

"Very possibly, but we thought you could use the company!" Archie agreed in his play-reading voice. Bush quickly took in the room: barrels of powder stacked, lengths of match trailing from them, and on the other side of the barrels, as Hornblower began lighting another length- He aimed, fired; the revolutionary fell, and he fumbled with his kit to reload.

"Well you've clearly lost your wits, the both of you," Hornblower said brusquely; Archie fired into the smoke and another man fell, barely visible through the acrid cloud.

"I suggest we make our move, gentlemen; it's getting rather warm down here." Bush slipped his reloaded pistol into his gunbelt and gripped Hornblower's elbow momentarily to encourage him to follow.

Together, they ran through the fort and down into the connecting tunnels. The first breath Bush drew of fresh air as Archie helped him climb onto the grass was heaven-sent, and as soon as he gained his feet he was reaching into the smoke-scented pit to grab at Hornblower and heave him out into the sun, just in time for the first rounds to go off. The earth bucked and heaved under their feet with each following explosion, and they ran to the edge of the cliff to hail Renown, eager to escape before they were found and shot.

"She's sailing away!" Hornblower cried, the first to reach the summit.

Bush slowed his sprint as he came up, wary of the cliff's edge, and watched the four ships turn away for the open ocean. "Well..." he began, glancing back at Archie. "Looks like that's it, gentlemen."

He did not regret it, now that the end was in sight. Not the mutiny, not his encouraging of Hornblower's manipulation of Buckland. Certainly not this second mutiny that seemed now to promise their death; he cursed Buckland for a jealous fool, but he was happy to face his death alongside these two brave, bright men. They may not have saved Hornblower, but he at least would not die alone.

"No it isn't, Mr Bush," Hornblower said, his hands on his knees as he gasped against the effects of his run. Then he straightened up, a rare smile, the twin to Archie's near constant smirk, firmly in place. Bush had a momentary feeling of apprehension as he spoke. "Archie?"

Archie's smile was consistently amused; now it looked incredibly fond, as well, as he looked at Hornblower. "I am afraid I think you're right," he said with a disbelieving chuckle, his gaze flickering between Hornblower's face and Bush's own.

"What?" Bush demanded as his apprehension grew into a queer, queasy terror.

Hornblower's dark eyes flashed with excitement as he looked at Bush. "We're gonna jump." His voice was as gleeful as a skylarking midshipman, and Bush wondered at it, that he could not imagine a worse plan, and yet Hornblower had never seemed more alive - more pleased to be alive.

He and Archie jogged a few fathoms away from the cliff's face as Bush mastered himself and peered over the sickening drop to the churning sea below. "Well now who's out of his mind?!"

When he turned back, the other two were stripping down to their shirtsleeves, tossing aside their swords and guns. "See for yourself, Will!" Archie called over the dull roar of the ocean beneath them. "It's only water, you won't break anything!"

"Really..." He turned to join them, hoping to convince them of literally any other mad scheme to escape than this certain death by drowning.

Hornblower beckoned him closer encouragingly. "Come, easier than eating turnips," he said as Bush approached. And then: "Mr Kennedy?"

Before Bush could protest, Archie had him in his arms, spinning him bodily around until Hornblower could grab him by the other elbow, flashing a maniacally beautiful grin. Bush twisted fruitlessly between them, unable to escape. "No, no, gentlemen, I'm sorry, but-"

"On the count of three!" Hornblower said to Archie over Bush's head, ignoring his protests.

"One!"

"No, we're not going to jump-"

Archie continued his count, tensing to start the run up. "Two!"

His grip on Bush's forearm was firm and solid, but Hornblower seemed to think better of his hold, releasing Bush's arm and instead gripping Bush's thick, work-worn hand in his own, long and strangely delicate fingers wrapping around Bush's calloused ones, and effectively extinguishing all Bush's escape attempts out of sheer shock: he did not think his hand had been held since he went to sea - no, Nora had held it when she was small, but that hardly counted. Hornblower gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Despite his bewildered reaction to the almost affectionate hold, he still was capable of putting up some level of protest. "We will not jump, and that's my final word!" he demanded, just as Archie shouted "And three-"

Another charge exploded behind them. " And jump!" Hornblower and Archie said in unison, and charged forwards, dragging Bush between them as they cheered wordlessly.

They cleared the cliff edge and released him to plummet alone, and he felt the loss keenly. "I can't swim!" he yelled, all attempts at dignity gone in the rush of terror as the water rose up to meet him.

Hitting the water shocked him almost insensible, not from the impact but from the strangeness of it; he sank thoughtlessly for a moment before the panic set in and he thrashed ineffectually for the surface. Then two sets of strong arms were around him, supporting him, and he broke the surface gasping. "I can't swim," he repeated as Hornblower and Archie laughed giddily, keeping him afloat as easily as they did themselves - Bush was certain if they did not feel themselves responsible for him they should be playing like mids, splashing and dunking each other in between hails to the ship.

A boat was rowed out to them, and Archie lifted himself in, leaving Hornblower to support Bush on his own while he and the men situated themselves to make more space. "I wanted to say," he started in a strange voice, his arm warm around Bush's waist in the surprising cool of the Caribbean waters. "I wanted to say, sir - thank you. It was good of you to- to keep Mr Kennedy from making an ass of himself."

"Nonsense, Mr Hornblower; Ar-" he cut himself off; the implicit limitations of his granting Mr Kennedy the liberty of his name had ended with their return to the ship - or at least the ship's boat - and he would not do Mr Kennedy the disservice of using such intimate address when he had not extended the offer. "Mr Kennedy only prompted me to do what was right. You should not have been left alone in such circumstances."

Hornblower seemed surprised by Bush's words, and not for the first time Bush felt a pang of regret at his initial behaviour towards the junior lieutenants of Renown; had he been more personable, less concerned with propriety and rank, could he have had these friendships sooner? But before Hornblower could seem to make his mind up to speak, Mr Kennedy was leaning out of the boat and grinning at them. "Pass me Will, would you, Horatio?"

Hornblower blinked at the casual address, but pushed Bush forward until Archie - for if he would not respect the time limits of their intimacy, neither would Bush - could grip him under the armpits and heave him aboard. Bush, still grappling with the remnants of the terror of their plunge, did not allow himself to lie gasping in the bottom of the boat as his instincts demanded; the moment he felt stable he turned to assist Archie in lifting Hornblower's light frame into the narrow gig.

Once they were underway, dripping uncomfortably in the sternsheets, Hornblower turned towards Archie, high spirits still playing about his face and making him look far younger than his twenty-seven years. "'Will', is it? I did not know you and our second lieutenant were such intimates, Archie."

Bush was uncertain how to respond to such a strange manner of address: Hornblower's eyes were fixed firmly upon his face as he spoke, despite ostensibly directing his words to Mr Kennedy. A glance towards Archie, at his left, showed him in a remarkable mimicry of Hornblower's posture, leaning so against the cutter's hull that they were both twisted back and looking at him with an intense humour. "Oh, yes - he granted me the privilege while he rowed me back to save your sorrow soul, 'ratio."

"Hmm." Hornblower did his best to look serious, contemplative, but strong and sincere amusement was such a rare expression on him that Bush caught it at once, and could not believe him. "Well then, Mr Bush; it seems only fair to grant you my own given name - though I beg you will not shorten it so." He threw Archie a glare that seemed only partly in jest.

"Oh, I am sorry, sir - should you prefer 'Horry'?" Archie asked archly, and Hornblower twitched as if he should like to throw himself over Bush to swat at him in retaliation.

Bush felt his lips curling into a small, secret smile of fulfilled desire to be admitted into such confidences - a week ago Horatio would never have let his guard down enough for even so small a betrayal of self, were he in the room. "I would be honoured for you to call me William, then, both of you," he said, adding, "At least when we are not in company, of course; discipline must be maintained amongst the men," in a perfectly bland tone.

Archie huffed, seemingly put out before he caught the sardonic note, and then chuckled. As the boat pulled alongside Renown, he looked more somber. "Well, gentlemen, it is time to face the music."

Buckland's persecution of Hornblower continued from there; he was set to captain all three of the Spanish ships alone, and Bush intervened his apology to their acting captain; as the superior officer, the fault for disobeying orders lay with him - Hornblower had not, in fact, disobeyed any at all.

"It was true to form, if nothing else," Buckland said, his voice strange and frail. "You three: you are so full of yourselves, and of each other... You think me a fool."

It was true, and more true perhaps of Horatio than of any of them, from his position of genius; Bush pitied him, Archie looked down on him, but Horatio? Bush did not think Horatio thought of him at all, except to maneuver around him in order to stay on course, as if he were an inconveniently placed bit of shoal. Buckland was as dangerous, too, as sudden shallows were to the safety of the ship - though not so dangerous as Sawyer's erratic moods had been, like an malignant squall; whatever damage had been done to Renown, to her crew's morale, was not the sin of youthful recklessness, but of frail and unfit officers.

"No one pretends command is easy, sir," Bush said after a pause - damning Buckland by faint praise; he knew Buckland felt the insult keenly, but could not bring himself to any further show of comradery after his treatment of Hornblower.

"I never expected it to be easy." Buckland's voice was mournful, and Bush gave him a shallow bow and excused himself to see to the transfer of stores to the Spanish prizes; Hornblower would have enough on his plate.

[devnmon]

Long, Long Time.

'Cause I've done everything I know To try and make you mine And I think I'm gonna love you For a long, long time

Summary: Irrevocably in love with the woman you can’t have, a wine drunk night over classical reading and a fireplace aids in decision making.

Ao3 version | tess masterlist

prequel fic

Warnings: smut [a tiny bit], reader hopelessly in love with Tess, use of y/n (a couple times); based on ep 3 of TLOU

wc: 13k

A/n: Okay ummm first of all don’t blame me for writing this much on one character that i’ve never written before, but this fic is literally my baby. It’s my favorite thing i’ve written. I thought it was my turn to take a spin with writing for Tess. Since tlou came out i’ve been obsessed with her and… well you can tell by how much I wrote. Here it is, my perfect Tess fic. Enjoy <3

Today was the day.

A warm morning in September, 20 years after the Cordyceps infection sunk into the deepest depths of society, crumbling down its once high, strong walls, to a brittle, cracked dictatorship of community. The Boston Quarantine Zone was one of your least favorite places in the world, but from what you heard about other cities' QZ's, it was a walk in the park.

As a smuggler, you handled runs for more than 75% of the place, with the help of a few desperate FEDRA officers that offered to look the other way for a price.

If risking your life for bottles of pills and useful supplies was the most dangerous thing to do, then so be it; you were the unlucky one.

Most runs, you were accompanied by one of your two partners, Tess Servopolous or Joel Miller. They were older, skilled, smart, and resourceful, and they knew how to kill. Especially Tess. She could handle her own like it was nobody's business. Hard headed and courageous, Tess became a good partner and soon enough, a close friend.

Although, there was another part of you that found her alluring, captivating and so, so gorgeous. She was confident in herself no matter what, which only drew you towards her more.

Ever since the early days of the outbreak, you three had each other's backs, and nothing could come between you. To you, they were the only thing you'd known after being found by the older woman and taken in. The day she found you, beat up and bloody with several injuries, was the day she had quite genuinely saved your life.

Now a part of Joel and Tess's smuggling business, you were off to a town called Lincoln, a five hour hike from the walls of the QZ.

The hot sun glared down on your skin, a chill September breeze flowing in gusts that kept you cooled off enough throughout your journey.

A majority of the trip was spent in silence, lost in your enamor for Tess, eyes trailing over the back of her figure. She had glanced back once or twice at you, like she could feel your eyes burning into her body.

Some nights you lay awake wondering what it would be like to drag your fingers up and down the expanses of her skin, trailing over her back and caressing the soft skin of her figure till you fell asleep.

Time passed as you traveled behind Tess and Joel, and the image of a metal fence coming into view.

"This is it," Joel stated before approaching the gate. You begin to follow the two older individuals before you pause, stopping a minute to remember something that Frank had mentioned about their gate.

"Wait, I thought you said this thing was booby-trapped or something.. How do we know it won't get triggered?" The concern of your safety was imminent, the unknown patiently waiting behind the metal gates.

"Well we don't, but Frank said if we came from the road instead of the forest that it wouldn't get triggered. They'd see us coming that way, too. Trust me, I know Frank. He wouldn't lie, not when he knows we can work together."

Tess was the expert on the two men that lived behind the gates of the completely deserted town; she was the one who arranged their meeting, after all.

"Alright.." You sighed, walking right up to the gate with them.

There was a box attached to the entry gate with a few buttons on it. You watched Joel walk up to the gate and press a button labeled 'Call'.

A loud buzzing sounded out after he'd pushed the red button in, and a moment later, a male voice responded from the intercom.

"Password."

The voice sounded deeper than Frank's, only assuming the speaker was Bill, the other half of the couple that resided in Lincoln.

"Uh- Ahem," Joel cleared his throat, before stating the code word Frank had given you three before coming.

The feedback rang out as Joel spoke, another buzzing sound coming from the gate as you hear it unlock.

"Alright, let's go. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious, since we really don't know what we're walkin' into here."

Tess scoffed at her male partner's words, a smirk on her face saying otherwise from your tense anxiety of meeting new people.

"Tess, hey," you grabbed her arm ever so softly as you trailed behind her, and she looked toward you, "Are you sure we can trust these guys?"

A tiny smile formed on her face as she recognized your nervousness. She thought it was adorable and sweet how you went to her for comfort at any point in time. It warmed her heart and made her feel important to somebody again.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Frank wouldn't hurt a fly. Bill on the other hand.. he might be a bit standoffish at first. From what Frank said, I'm sure he'll warm up to us with time. Don't worry."

Tess rubbed your arm up and down a couple times, hoping it would soothe your worries. As she did, your face broke out into a small smile, nodding before you dropped your grip and continued walking. You could get lost in the hazel of her eyes like it was hypnosis, or something close to that. The way Tess made your world stop by even being in your presence was something entirely familiar to you, and it kept you up at night, pondering about the simplest things.

It seemed the little town of Lincoln, Massachusetts was surrounded by this perfect bubble of safety and security. Like a dream, the familiarity of a place as different from the QZ.. felt a bit unreal. You never thought you'd have the chance to make friends in a world with infected, much less one with access to such a large range of supplies in a deserted town, highly protected by its sole residents.

The feeling surrounding you was oddly similar to how you felt around Tess, her warmth and beauty heart-warming, much like a hug.

Your focus is brought back to reality as you almost bump into Tess's back, her and Joel had abruptly stopped walking.

"Oof- sorry Tess-"

"Y/n.." Joel says abruptly, not realizing they're both holding their hands out to the side, the cocking of what sounded like a gun putting the realization into place.

"Shit.." You whispered, stepping out from behind Tess, arms out in the same fashion as your partners, and you realize there's a man holding a gun out at the three of you.

Then, from the house the man stood in front of, another man came running out. He calls the name of the man who's holding his pistol at you, Bill.

Which means.. that's Frank. You thought to yourself, as the sweater-wearing man approached and tried to beckon the other man to lower his weapon.

"Bill, these are the people I met over the radio. We can trust them.. they aren't going to hurt us. Put the gun down, please? I don't want to scare off people we could potentially be working with.." The man named Frank said with a chuckle, almost having to force the gun down himself. After another moment of brooding stares being passed between Bill and Joel, he lowers the gun and places it in his holster at his thigh.

Your hands drop to your sides after freezing with them out in the air due to fear. It wasn't the first time someone's pointed a gun at you, but it sure as hell was one of the times you thought someone would actually shoot. Relief washed over you as Bill's arms lowered.

"Perfect, thank you," Frank says to Bill, before wrapping his arm around the man's shoulder, "Welcome to our home, I'm Frank, and this is Bill. I'm so glad to finally meet you guys. We have a lot to talk about! Come on, follow me."

Frank had a home-like smile that was warm and welcoming. It was the first time in a long time you'd seen anyone smile like that. So carefree. You guessed it was the effect of not being behind the walls of a QZ for too long. That, or Frank knew how to stay true to himself in such a rugged, rough around the edges world.

The uncomfortable gaze Bill shot your way made you realize that it probably took a lot for him to even agree to let the three of you come into their town, much less want to work with complete strangers.

While being led back to Bill and Frank's home, you can't help but marvel at everything around you. Lincoln was much different than the QZ and open city; a town quite literally frozen in time from when it had been evacuated. A place like this was one you dreamed of settling down in, with a partner before the outbreak; it seemed like the perfect place to do so. Quiet, quaint, and bare of any infected or dangerous militia and resistance groups.

As their home came into view, it was exactly as you thought it'd be: another one of the huge houses a place like suburbia always had. It was one of the biggest you'd ever seen, almost out of a storybook. Except for the leaves blowing through the streets, it was as if the house hadn't aged a day. Everything about their home and its surrounding yard looked as if it had been tended to regularly; a mowed lawn, bushes with budding flowers, and not a single area of chipped paint to be seen.

"This is our place, I do my best to keep it looking its best and Bill... well he's just one hell of a cook. Aren't you, dear?" Frank turned to Bill with a smile, only to look away from his lover and back at you three.

"It's true, one of the many things I'm good at. Including defending my home." Bill's hand went to the gun strapped on his thigh.

"Yes, of course you are. Now, could you whip us up some lunch while I get to know our lovely guests here?" Frank turns his head towards Bill again.

"But-" Bill begins to speak, wanting to name all the reasons he doesn't want to leave his lover alone with strangers. Though, you notice Frank is quick to reassure Bill that everything will be alright.

"I'll be fine, I promise. They aren't going to hurt me, I've been extra careful with who I talk to, you know that. These people aren't dangerous. At least not to us." Frank's smile breaks Bill's resolve, trusting his lover enough to retreat into the house with haste.

Now alone with Frank, he guides the three of you over to the table on their lawn. You sit down next to Tess on your right side and Frank on the left.

"So.. Tess, I assume the lovely man you arrived with is the famous Joel Miller?" Frank turned to Joel with his hand out, receiving a firm handshake and nod from the Texan man.

"And you must be..." He turns to you.

"I'm y/n, the secret.. not-so-secret third partner." You laughed awkwardly, feeling somewhat out of place with the man and woman.

"That's right, I've only heard your name a handful of times, but it is so nice to finally meet you in person." Frank read your nervous state like a book, giving you peace of mind with a warm smile. Your nervous state diminishes when Frank's words set in, easing a smile onto your face and raising your eyebrows in slight surprise.

He's heard of me? I wonder what Tess's told him...

"It's nice to meet you too, Frank."

The four of you conversed with small talk, only butting in here and there to add something in, mostly keeping to yourself and not wanting to make the wrong impression on Frank. Tess and Joel discuss the details of a trading business between you all.

Soon enough, Bill began to come out with plates and silverware, to which Frank jumped up to help with setting the table.

"I can help if-" You started to speak, feeling a little guilty at not doing anything to help out as a guest.

"No, no. Sit, relax. You're our guests here, and I'm sure your trip has been long and tiring. Besides, it's been a while since I've set the table for more people than just me and Bill, and it's something I've always loved doing." Frank's kind smile once again eases your worries. But you swore to yourself you'd find a way to repay them for this.

You nodded as the two men made several trips to set the table, appreciating every little thing they added to it one after another. Spices, napkins, fine china plates and silverware with no scratches or rust on them. It was all a marvelous sight, one that reminded you of the old world and missing little things like this in times like these.

The amount of objects they'd placed on the table made you forget just how many of those material things you realized living without was doable. Even if you wished there were more aspects of the old world in the present one.

Fiddling with your thumbs again, you listened in to Joel and Tess's muttering about whether or not they could convince the two males on agreeing to work together, until you heard an exclamation from Tess.

"Oh my god.."

Your head jolted up towards the woman, about to ask her the reason for her outburst, until you picked up what had caught her attention.

The smell of fresh, hot food surrounded the three of you, hunger scraping at the edges of your stomach, making it even more evident that your last meal hadn't been as much of a hearty one as you'd wished. Dishes with meat and vegetables were all neatly placed in the same portion sizes as Frank and Bill put each plate down.

Before you dug in, you heard a familiar pop of cork from what you could only assume was a wine bottle. Sure enough, as you looked at Frank, the bottle he'd brought out resembled one you'd buy for a nice meal like this.

It wasn't until you heard the same cocking of Bill's pistol that you froze in your place. You watched as he placed it on the table for you all to see, a statement of protection and untrustworthiness he clearly still saw in the three of you.

Maybe not you or Tess specifically, but Joel, most definitely.

You decide to ignore the firearm's presence on the table, and begin eating the food that's so delicately placed on each of your plates. Instead of scarfing it all down like some rabid animal, you savored each bite of the flavorful, nutritious food and sip of wine like it was your last.

It might as well have been, since you had no idea whether or not you would be working together.

You wondered how people even ate on china plates that were as delicate and prettily detailed in the most extravagant ways. The silverware and wine glasses were also detailed and etched in such a beautiful way. It made you appreciate the smallest things before you had to go without them again.

A while passes, and everyone's finishing their food up. Light gusts of wind flow through Tess's hair as you look over to her, holding the glass of wine in her hand.

"Well, this really is just-- it's amazing." A slight smile on her face brings warmth to your chest, heating your body despite the cool air.

"Right?" Frank looks from Tess to Bill, who still has his pistol on the table, "Can you not please?"

He reaches over Tess's glass to fill it with the dark red alcohol, then reaches over to yours to do the same as you smile at him.

"I'm the same way," Joel states, understanding where Bill's actions are coming from. You realized in that moment that Bill and Joel are more alike than you thought.

"Oh, you're a paranoid schizophrenic too?" There's a slight chuckle that sounds out from you and Tess as Frank speaks.

"I'm not schizophrenic." Bill suddenly retorts, knowing the validity behind the methods to his madness.

Tess clears her throat, attempting to break the awkward tension that's so clearly grown between Bill and Joel.

"Well can I just say, gun aside, which I get, by the way, how nice this is to have a civilized meal in such a beautiful place? It's been so long. I mean it, I just- I wanna thank you. Even if we don't end up working together. I really needed this."

Her words seemed genuine, a slight twinge of silent and repressed pain in what she said. You only knew an extent of Tess's emotional wounds, ones she pushed down to do her job better.

As Frank lifts his wine glass to Tess with a small smile, he states, "We are working together."

The two clink their glasses together, making you raise yours to do the same.

"Cheers." Tess and Frank clink their glasses, and then Tess turns to you in the same fashion, quickly lifting your glass to clink together.

You all finish up your meals, occasionally glancing over to Tess with appreciation that you got to share something this special with your best friend.

And then the realization hit you, she was only your best friend, and you'd wanted to be more with her since she'd revealed a different side of her to you throughout the years. It was a kind, warm, caring side of Tess that made her feel like the familiarity of those strawberry candies that were hard on the outside, but soft, sweet and gooey on the inside. Tess was rough around the edges, but when she was alone with you were the times she revealed a softer side of herself.

Frank hadn't glanced anywhere other than Tess and Joel, picking up the way they discussed with one another, as if they were good business partners and friends. He'd been blinded by the fact that you sat furthest from Joel, barely even glancing his way for a split second.

The moment Frank gets a good look at you at the table is when he picks up on the way you look at Tess; it's different than the way you look at Bill and Joel, and by god does it open his eyes a mile wide. He only hides it behind his all-knowing warm persona and recognizes a light in your eyes that he saw similarly in Bill's the minute before he'd kissed him, that one day in 2007. Three years later, he saw that same spark of light in you, whenever your eyes glazed over to the only other woman at the table.

The warm younger man looks to his partner, who's anything but, to reassure you all again.

"We are." A moment passes as he sips from the wine glass and speaks again, "You know what? Let's go inside. Tess and y/n, I wanna show you something."

Frank begins to stand, lifting his wine glass from the table, Tess following next before you stand as well.

"Oh yes, it sounds amazing, I'd love to see inside." Now more sociable with the two glasses of wine in your system, you catch your balance before pushing your chair out from the table.

"Actually, I have been wanting to see inside, thank you."

Your words and Tess's overlap at the same time, chuckling a little at the synchronized movements and words between you and the older woman.

"Bring your wine. There's more inside."

"No, not inside. Frank.. Frank!" Bill's voice echoes from the table, as Frank holds the front door open for you two.

You're looking down at your feet as you walk up the porch and into the house, unaware that Tess was glancing back every few seconds to see if you followed. As you step inside, you wipe your boots off on the mat and Frank shuts the door behind him.

Your eyes finally pull away from the mat you've wiped your boots off on, to the inside of Bill and Frank's home. A deep breath of air fills your lungs to the brim as the sight of it all is a bit overwhelming.

"Wow..." you sigh, Frank stood behind you, Tess a few feet ahead, "I haven't seen anything like this in so.. long..."

You trail off as the sight of it all renders you speechless. There's candelabras with fresh wax from candles and picture frames with black and white photos. The image of inside makes it feel like a home, something you haven't felt in a very long time.

"Come on, it's right over here." Frank speaks out loud to the both of you, only you're still standing a few feet in front of the door, as the two walk into the open room just right of the stairway.

"Oh wow, look at these photo albums! I haven't seen one of these in forever.. Are they all Bill's?" Tess's voice carries to you from the other room, noticing her slight chuckle as you gaze over to where she's flipping through one of the albums.

"Yeah, yeah they are. Just don't tell him I showed you.." The two continue to giggle to themselves over the old pictures.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't even notice the extensive vinyl collection.. You know, I used to have a turntable back in college. I'd play the same old records every day, annoyed the hell out of my roommates.." Tess chuckles as she talks about her past life, something you always enjoyed hearing about when she brought it up.

With you, she could bring up anything from her old life, and you'd listen to every word.

You still had the suspicion that she and Joel had a thing going on, and your not-so-little crush on her was doing more harm for you than good in that aspect.

Tess and Frank are looking through the collections of vinyl and photos while you nonchalantly watch from afar, eyes glazing over to the massive shelves of books. Most of the ones on lower shelves were Bill's books on survival and guns, but the ones resting on the higher shelves were classics.

Before the outbreak, you'd been a sucker for those. There was something about the art of classic literature, the subtext and deeper meanings under every word. The beauty of those stories was unmatched.

I'd love to read one of those over some wine.. Matter of fact-

"Hey Frank? Where's that other bottle of wine?" You call out to him from the doorway, with your glass still in hand. Frank glances over to you from a few feet away.

"It's in the fridge, wine opener is uh- somewhere in there. You'll find it."

"Okay, thanks."

You finally break off from the two, eyes glazing over every single picture Bill and Frank have of themselves in their home, as well as the paintings Frank's done of Bill and himself.

Striding into the other room, the kitchen was in a state of what looked freshly used; pots and pans were everywhere, the scent of once heated oil lingering.

Your curious eyes peel over all the older pictures, then notice one in color that's stuck to the fridge with a rainbow magnet.

A twinge in your chest comes as well as joy for the two men that happened to find each other among a world of infected and dictatorships.

You just wish it would have happened to you already.

Bill must have had some vintage cameras lying around, ones Frank knew how to use, or learned to use for things like this. You crouched closer to look at the picture of the two men, bodies pressed together and hands clasped in each other's like they never wanted to let go.

And in such a world, why would they want to?

You pull the refrigerator door open, spotting the unopened bottle of red wine in the door. Reaching for it, you read the label, Beaujolais.

Huh, fancy name for a wine. It'll get me drunk all the same though.. Now where is that damn cork opener?

You're rummaging around in the kitchen drawers until you finally find it, oblivious to the fact that Tess has walked up behind you in your haste to find the damn thing. Her grey shirt is unbuttoned, with a white tee underneath. She always had the simplest style, but it didn't stop her from looking fucking stunning in anything she wore. Tess makes her presence known to you, arms folded across her chest as she leans against the doorway. Picturesque light chestnut strands of hair frame the soft features of her face.

"Whatcha got there?" your body whips around, wine bottle and opener in each of your hands (and almost slipping from them), to which Tess smirks a little at the sight.

You were surprised to not have heard the sound of her boots on the wooden floor, but Tess always had a way of surprising you like that.

You smile sheepishly, raising the bottle and wine opener in both your hands. Truth was, Tess popped in at the perfect time; you could never get the hang of opening things like this.

Opening bottles of liquor for you was always Tess's thing, since you didn't have the skill or strength for it. Your hands were just naturally smaller than hers as well, which meant it was only a job for a person with bigger hands.

How you wished you could hold them.

"Just in time. Could you open this for me? It's more your thing than mine.. Please? Before I drop it or something.."

Tess strides towards you and grabs both objects from your hands. She inserts the opener into the cork and twists until the similar pop from earlier indicates she'd removed it, the wine's aroma filling the area between you two.

Her strength was so attractive, the way she could make the simplest things such as opening a wine bottle look hot. The veins in her hands protruded when her grip strained, making you wonder what her hands would look like doing different things.

Tess lifts the cork to her nose, smelling the wine more intensely now, looking angelic as she breaths it in. Then, she lifts it to your nose, the gesture so familiar to you, but yet you've never seen Tess in a moment like this before.

The scent of the liquor paired with how Tess looks in the sunlight peering through the window is intoxicating in itself, as she places the bottle on the counter. Glancing outside, the golden light began to fade fast, darkness approaching quicker than you'd like it to.

With a smile, you walk over to the countertop and pour yourself another glass of wine.

"Thanks... you'll have to teach me that sometime." You couldn't tell if the flush on your cheeks was from the wine, or the gesture Tess just did for you.

"Yeah, but then what would you need me for?" Tess cocks her head to the side, a slight smirk on her face again. That damn smirk.

Rolling your eyes, you scoffed.

As if I could ever go without you, Theresa.

"Oh, please. I'll always need you, Tess."

"Right.. So, Frank said we could stay the night, since it's more dangerous to travel when it isn't daytime. Our visit was longer than expected.." Tess's eyes move from you to outside, where Bill and Joel were still sat, discussing in what looked like a more civilized way than earlier.

"They have enough room for us?" You asked, sipping at the red wine.

"Yeah, they've got two extra bedrooms. So, I figure you and I could share one and give Joel the other room for himself. Plus they said we could use their shower," Tess shuffled closer to you and lowered her voice, "I hear they have hot water.."

Your eyes widened at the thought of a hot shower, something you hadn't realized was accessible anymore. Though, before speaking, you cleared your throat to minimize any indication of nervousness in the fact that you and Tess would be sharing a bed tonight.

"You sure you wouldn't rather room with Joel? I.. move around a lot in my sleep."

A confused look displays itself across Tess's face.

"I mean- I wouldn't want you to wake up with me on top of you or.. anything.." A nervous chuckle erupts from your chest as you laugh your awkwardness off.

"I think that second bottle of wine is what I should be worried about, not your restlessness." She smirks again, "But have fun with that. I'm gonna go wash up. Talk later?"

You only nodded, not wanting to embarrass yourself in front of your best friend any more.

As Tess left the room, the strain of your journey finally set in. Soles of your feet began to twinge with pain, carrying you to the next room with the wine bottle and glass in hand.

You saunter into the living room, the amount of wine you've consumed making your cheeks, not to mention your whole body, flush with heat. The weight of your figure flopped down in a corner of the room as you placed the wine bottle down.

You gulped at the rest of the liquid in your glass, putting it on the side table. Gazing around the room at all the vintage items in perfect condition, your eyes meet the tall shelf of classic literature once again.

Pulling yourself from the chair, you pick up the bottle of wine by its neck, instead of pouring yourself another glass.

They're not gonna miss one little bottle... they've got a whole vineyard to themselves.

It's then you hear the front door open finally, Bill and Joel coming in, their discussion a little lighter than the one they were having earlier. You hear a chuckle fall from Joel in his Texan accent and your eyebrows raise.

Wow, they're finally getting along. Maybe we will have new business partners after all..

You stumble over to the bookshelf, about three glasses of wine making your bodily strength diminish with every sip you took. You were in a more tipsy state than usual; not having drank alcohol for years had more of an effect on you than it usually would.

The higher bookshelves are littered with dust, not having been touched since who knows when; you're just tall enough to drag your fingers across the top shelf on your tippy toes, the one below it littered with the many classic stories.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence, Emma by Jane Austen.

You read the titles off in your head, fingers trickling over the necks of each hardcover novel, stopping at Little Women and pulling it from the bookshelf. You also grabbed Pride and Prejudice, planning to ask Frank or Bill in the morning to borrow them till your next visit.

Slumping over in the chair again, you open Little Women, pages crinkling as the smell of the vintage book hits your face. It almost makes you sneeze, but you stifle it and begin reading.

You're mumbling to yourself in the little cozy corner of Frank and Bill's house, perched in a red armchair, and it's the most domestic you've ever seen yourself be in a long time. Granted, you were becoming more intoxicated with each gulp of the bitter alcohol you ingested. It floods your insides with warmth, your train of thought sidetracking from the story in your hand to the thought of the gorgeous woman that was Tess Servopolous.

She felt like home, the sweet smile she revealed to you your favorite thing about her. Her hardened exterior cracked and withered away bit by bit with every day you lay in her apartment healing from your injuries.

You're pulled out of the daydream when footsteps descend down the stairway, until the figure turns the corner. Frank's face comes into the warm lamp light, silently walking into the room and fiddling around with a few things before making his way over nearby where you sat.

Over the edges of the book, you watch him grab a few logs of firewood, placing one in the brick fire pit, before lowering your eyes back to the book. A few more minutes pass of his fidgeting before you realize the fireplace has come alive with flames of light.

Waves of heat flood the room, completely bringing your attention away from the book in your hands.

"No way..." Your voice draws Frank's eyes to you.

"Way. You know, my favorite thing to do in the fall is make fires.. Bonfires, campfires, any kind of natural warmth feels so home-like and safe. Don't you think so?"

"Yeah.. my childhood home had such a nice fireplace like this. It's really nice to see and feel again after so long." The two of you share a smile and look at the fire. Flames crackle and burn high, popping at times, the same way it used to before. Silence is adamant throughout the room, clutching the novel in your arms as the flames continue to burn.

"So.. you gonna tell me what's got you slumped over in a corner reading classic literature? I can't imagine it's that riveting.." Frank's tone tells you that he's joking, but you can't help from being at least a little offended in your drunken state.

"Classic literature is actually my favorite genre of novel, for your information. And you wouldn't get it…" The irony of your words slaps you in the face the minute they manifest themselves because.. Frank does know what it's like to feel the way you do. He’s just still in the dark about it.

"Hey, hey. You can tell me what's going on. I may or... may not have any experience on what you're going through."

Then the realization sets in that he's probably felt the way you do his whole life.

It's at that moment you decide to trust him. You close the book over, and look Frank in the eye.

"Okay, but this stays between us. Promise?"

"Of course."

A sigh leaves your chest and you begin to tell him how you feel about a certain one of your smuggling partners.

"Tess saved me... however many years ago it was... I can't remember how long it's been now. I've just always been around her since then. She's done things for me and- and I've done things for her... But I never knew why I always wanted to be around her.. until one night when I had a really, really rough day and she comforted me. I never wanted to leave her arms, and that's when I realized.. I liked her. She's my best friend, Frank.. What would I do if she doesn't feel the same? I don't think I could live with myself if I ruin our friendship because of some stupid fucking crush."

You finished speaking, letting out another sigh like you'd just thrown up all the thoughts reverberating in your head the second you made it out of the QZ walls.

Frank's silent until he speaks, analyzing and connecting dots in his head about this afternoon and the way you'd been acting.

"All that... doesn't sound just like a little crush to me, hon. You love her.. and you want what's best for her. Protecting yourself from the hypothetical hurt of her not feeling the same is valid.. but you're not gonna know how she feels about you if you don't tell her. Take the night, and think on it. Or... go ahead and keep on reading your classic literature while the love of your life goes to sleep upstairs. I'm just saying, if you don't try, then what's the point?"

The next time you look Frank in the eyes, they're filled with kindness, and you can tell he sees you for who you really are. There's no hiding your true self around him, he reads you the same way he read Bill the day he fell in that hole in the ground.

"You know what, you're right. I'm gonna take the night to think about it, thanks, Frank. I don't know what I'd do if I was alone in this."

Frank places his hand over yours in a compassionate and friendly way. He understood where you'd been coming from, especially with the way you both were.

The rest of your night is spent cuddling up under a blanket Frank had placed over your legs before he headed up to bed for the night. The wine drunk put you in an exhausted state, eyelids as heavy as weights until you ended up falling asleep curled up in the chair, fire dwindling away to nothing but embers.

A nudge to your arm slightly pulls you from your slumber, wine bottle abandoned on the floor from earlier. The next thing you feel is a strong grip lifting your body from the chair. With a groan, your arms flail weightlessly to the side, as you're picked up bridal style, the creaking under the wood indicating you were being carried up the stairs.

It's probably Joel who's lifted you like this with no effort at all, no chance it was Frank or Bill. Tess was already asleep too, and once she rested her head, there was no waking her. She slept like a rock.

You figure you're finally up the stairs as the steps steady, pushing the door open silently to the dark bedroom. Finally, you're placed down onto the soft bed, boots being tugged from your feet and placed on the floor. Rolling over a bit, you groan at the comfortable state of the bed.

Already comforted by the blankets, the heat of your body diminishes in the cool, dark room, as you doze off to sleep for the night.

As morning peeks through the shades of the cool bedroom, a pounding headache rammed behind your skull as your eyes inch open. Fluttering profusely, your pupils adjust to the rays of sunlight slowly, head still spinning.

Groaning at the pain, your eyes shift from the window to the side table, where there'd been a glass of water and two pills of Tylenol placed next to a small piece of paper. You sit upright in the bed, truly unable to recall the events of the previous night. The only thing you remembered vaguely was that second bottle of wine, one you regretted even picking up.

You reached for the note, headache only pounding harder as you attempted to read it.

For your head, since you really thought that second bottle of wine was a good idea. We've got breakfast made when you feel well enough. - Frank

It's at that moment you realize your mouth is bone dry, concluding on the fact that you hadn't drank one drop of water last night. As if a desperate plea for the quenching of your thirst, you drop the note in your lap abruptly, gravitating towards the very full glass of water sitting just a foot away.

The liquid slides down your throat as you desperately gulp it down, only stopping for a moment to pop both Tylenol into your mouth. After finishing the glass of water, you look down at the note again.

Signed Frank, but I've seen this handwriting before. Somewhere.. My hungover brain cannot remember right now for the life of me.

A yawn breaks through your chest, your hand instinctively going up to cover your mouth. When the smell of your breath hit your nose, it became apparent to you that you should probably take advantage of the hot and running water in the home.

Quickly, you threw the covers to the side, glancing down at your legs, body covered in the same clothes as yesterday. You didn't even dare attempt to sniff those articles of clothing, knowing how sweat stained they had become on the hike yesterday.

Yeah, you really needed to shower.

Standing from the bed now, you reach over to grab your bag, when you realize you've left it downstairs. Only when you look around the room is when you see a plain grey t-shirt sitting on the arm of a chair.

Tess's shirt, no doubt.

You pick it up and hold it in your hands, the scent of her sure enough surrounding your head.

As tempting as it would be to head back to sleep, you walk over to the bedroom door, opening it to the hallway. It seemed there was nobody remaining upstairs, evident due to the light conversation coming from downstairs. Your socked feet patter across the hall, peeping around a corner before b-lining straight for the bathroom.

Placing the clothing on the countertop, you reach into the shower and start the running water. As it slowly heats the small room, you stride over to a closet, pulling it open to find an abundance of everything you could've ever needed to bathe in the world before. Shampoos, conditioners, body wash, shaving cream and razors.

Wow, these guys really know how to keep inventory. They won't mind if I make use of some of this stuff, I definitely need it more than they do right now.

Steam fills the bathroom as you pull each article of sweat-stained clothing from your body, landing all together in a pile. As you pull the curtain back and step in, the warm water washes over your work-weathered body, goosebumps rising at the comfortably warm liquid.

It was euphoric, the temperature of clean, filtered water paired with the privacy of the shower.

You can only stand still as the dirt and other liquids patter to the tub floor, bringing you lighter in mood and vibrance as well.

As you scrub your scalp with the shampoo, the events of last night finally return to you.

Reading Little Women, admitting how you felt about Tess to Frank- the decision you told him you'd take the night on and think about.

You caught your head in your hands as embarrassment for yourself washed over you, much like the warm water of the shower.

"Ughh, I can't believe I told Frank that stuff.." Although you didn't regret it, not completely. The chat you had actually made you feel better, getting it off your chest after so long of holding it in.

You just wished it would be that easy to tell the person of your affection.

The spray of water from the shower ceased as you turned it off, stepping out onto the bath mat and wrapping a towel around you.

Regrettably, you had no other clothes to change into, so you pull on everything you'd worn the day before, except for your shirt. You put on the grey one for now.

Yep, it definitely smelled like Tess.

Pulling your cargo pants on, you stride out of the steam-filled bathroom, and your feet lead you into Bill and Frank's room.

Though you feel it's trespassing on an already stepped-over line, you head towards their closet, quickly opening the door and taking in the massive amount of flannel shirts hanging there.

Frank had impeccable taste in clothes, deciding to yank one or two of the darkly colored button ups from their hangers. You took a pair of socks as well, since yours had holes in them from their constant use.

You thought about not telling Frank about your thievery, but it's going to become imminent when you walk down the stairs with his shirts in your arms. So you shove them in your bag once you find it resting next to the bed.

Heading back into the guest bedroom, you pull the fresh pair of socks onto your feet, beginning to reach for your black boots sitting on the floor. Reaching down for one, you hear a knock at the door before you can grab it.

Quickly, you stride over to the door, expecting to see Frank or Bill on the other side with a message from your partners about hurrying to leave or something along those lines.

To your surprise, the face on the other side of the door is Tess.

Shit, Tess. The person you promised Frank you'd confess to last night over a drunken conversation.

She looks well rested, wearing a different shirt than the one from yesterday. It's a dark green, that compliments her eye color and the wisps of her caramel hair framing her face. Her hair is in that half up-half down bun, the rest of it resting behind her shoulders.

She looks fucking perfect, and you look like a wet dog, hair still damp from your shower.

"Hey, morning. How'd you sleep? I uh-" Tess is pulling at her collar awkwardly, standing in the same fashion as your eyes finally trail down to what she'd holding in her hands.

She had a plate in her grip, covered in freshly made, very appetizing breakfast foods. Some so freshly made, there was still steam coming off of it.

You're thankful in this moment to have taken those Tylenol earlier, or else the smell of any food whatsoever would've sent you hurling over the toilet like a hungover sorority girl.

"Oh my god, Tess. What is all this?" Your eyes widened in surprise, the smell catching your attention even before you had seen the plate of food in her hands.

"Well, you need a big breakfast for the journey back to Boston today, and I figured you could use it after last night.." A chuckle breaks through her chest, head dipping downwards before looking at your freshened state.

"Come- come in." You move aside for Tess to enter the bedroom, assuming you'd slept alone in here for the night. As she places the tray down on the bed, you sit down, Tess standing a few feet away.

"Tess, did you make this? What the hell- This looks amazing.. Eggs, sausage, hash browns? These are all my favorites.. Seriously, thank you. Wh-what can I do to make it up to you?"

"Well, first of all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And second of all, don't thank me, thank Bill and Frank, it's their food I cooked. Consider it a hangover cure. Once I get so drunk that I fall asleep in an armchair with a classic book in my lap, then you can pay me back. It better be a damn good breakfast." She chuckles again, in that low voice that keeps you up at night when you think about it.

The way it says your name, her low tone when she curses under her breath, the way she sounds in the early mornings when the sun still hasn't risen and she's drowsy enough to not make any sense in her muttering.

Tess went through all the trouble of making everything she knew you favored, the mere thought of her thinking about you as she cooked it all only made your enamor for her grow stronger, a fire of love burning behind your chest for the woman in front of you.

It's then she takes a seat on the bed with you, watching as you poke into the eggs and begin devouring the food on your plate. She wasn't leaving, by the looks of it.

In the middle of chewing your food, you speak again.

"Did Frank tell you I passed out down there?"

Her grin becomes larger now as her eyes move from the plate of food to your face as you consume your breakfast.

I wonder what else he told her. Hopefully nothing I haven't yet...

"No, I'm the one that found you, silly. Carried you up the stairs and put you to bed myself."

You continue chewing as your eyes widen, another realization from last night coming back to mind.

It wasn't Joel carrying you, it was Tess.

"You carried me up the stairs? Wow, I'm gonna have to start lifting weights if I have to do the same for you."

While you speak, you're enjoying every morsel of this delicious food Tess has made you, and you're grateful for her in so many more ways than you could express presently.

"You better," Tess says with a scoff. A couple more minutes pass by as you're finishing up the food on your plate. You notice that she's still sitting in the room with you, taking your silence as a sign of comfortability around her.

"So, what's up, Tess?" You say, shoving another fork full of hash browns into your mouth.

"Well, I came to check on you, since last night Frank told me you were drinking a whole 'nother bottle of wine by yourself.. and reading classic literature? For fun?" She laughs.. "I figured you might be hungover this morning and wanted to bring you something to fill your stomach. I can't have you fainting on me when we hike back to the QZ, now can I? Gotta keep your strength up, hun."

The name melts your heart a little and you smile. It was such a simple thing, one that indicated she cared about your wellbeing and didn't want to see you unwell.

"Yeah, always gotta be nourished and shit. Just human things, I guess. Though, a meal like this never gets old." You said with a smile.

It became more difficult to hold back the thoughts of holding and kissing the woman before you, her green button down shirt just aching to be pulled in order to kiss her. Those perfect hazel eyes of hers that resembled gems when they hit the sun just right, getting effortlessly lost in them every time they locked with yours. Her hands that completed her daily tasks so beautifully, with such care and concern in everything she did making you think she'd hold you the same way, love you the same beautiful way she did everything in her life with.

"I'm guessing you're feeling alright, then? Tylenol helped?" It was cute that Tess was still worrying about how you were feeling from the night before. Putting the fork down finally, you looked up at her.

"Yeah I- Wait, how'd you know I took Tylenol?" You hadn't mentioned anything to her about taking medicine.. so how did she know?

"Well I uh- I just.." She scoffed lightly before continuing, "I asked Frank to leave some by your bedside earlier and I was really worried about you, since yesterday. You don't drink like that unless something's bothering you."

Her eyes focused on you, hair lightly spilling over her shoulder, and she's in the moment with you now more than she had ever been. It's almost like she's reading you when you glance up again, pulling at the collar of your shirt.

"I know, Tess. It's just-" you sigh, thumbs fiddling with each other, palms beginning to prick ever so lightly with sweat.

"You can tell me anything, you know that right?" Her voice was sweet and soft, lowering a bit to hopefully ease your worries. One of her hands grabs yours, and the sensation is enough to make the breath in your lungs hitch.

If there was any perfect moment to confess, this was it.

"Tess, there's something I need to tell you." A slight quiver of your voice tells her that this thing that had been bothering you clearly meant a lot. You keeping things from her wasn't a common occurrence, which only happens when something was beyond frustrating for you to talk about.

"Okay, what is it?"

You're infuriatingly beautiful and I want to kiss you right now.

"It's the fact that I'm over here pining like an idiot for you and you can't even see it.." You mutter, not wanting to look Tess's way for fear of judgment or rejection. She notices, and in that very moment she longs to see the fire in your eyes burn its brightest. "It's the fact that- that I love you, and you probably love someone else.."

"Someone else?" Tess scoffed, "And who do you think that is, huh?"

"I don't know.. Joel, maybe.." Head still hung, your hands shake slightly, chest filled to the brim with uneasiness and anxiety.

Was it just you, or did the temperature in here get hotter?

"Y/n, look at me." You hesitate for a moment, then slowly your eyes move from their locked position on your hands.

Tess's hands are fidgeting in her lap too, you notice.

The second you lift your head, the glossy state of your eyes catches her attention, and her face eases once you're looking directly at her. Tess's bottom lip catches between her teeth for a moment, and she glances down swiftly, then back up at you.

"Joel and I are nothing but friends, you understand? I don't want him, never have." The words hit your ears and it's as if a weight lights off your shoulders.

It's the most clarifying moment that makes you giddy to spill everything onto her lap.

"Tess.." you breathe, closing your eyes for a moment and making a decision, "Please don't shoot me for this..."

You begin to lean in towards her, eyelids hooded as you glance down to her lips, watching intently as she does the same. It feels like an eternity before you're close enough to pick up on her natural scent, consuming your brain and going fuzzy upon the close proximity.

A warm tingling fills your hands as they brush over Tess's thighs and hover just over the dark denim covering them.

Once, twice, three times you glanced down at her lips, pausing to drag your eyes across her flawless face.

"Are you gonna kiss me, or what?" Her snarky tone pulls your eyes back to gaze into her hazel ones, almost getting lost in them before getting the courage to do something you couldn't come back from.

"Shut up," You say, before your hands grab onto her collar, and pull her lips to yours. Her kiss takes your breath away, crawling into her lap, collar of Tess's shirt still in your grip. Sparks flicker in your chest, and they're coming off of Tess's as well, deepening the kiss with another push of your lips against hers.

The weight of you in her lap pulls a groan from the woman opposite you, separating your lips from hers. You almost couldn't pull away, but the thought of hurting her made your worry jump a mile high.

"Shit.. Are-are you okay?" Tess gives you another peck on your lips, before trailing her eyes down your face and neck. The smirk on her face makes the heat from your cheeks travel down your torso.

"Oh, I'm better than ever... you wanna know why?"

Nodding your head fervently, her hands trail up your shirt to your collar, watching as her pupils dilate around the hazel in her eyes. The grasp on your shirt is tight, even tighter when she beckons you impossibly closer to her. The next moment, she's pulling your lips to hers in another passionate kiss. Your lips are pressed together for so long, it feels like you're out of breath by the time she pulls away.

"It's because I love you." The three words fall from her lips like a siren beckoning you with its song. Her voice has never sounded more perfect, and when she says those words to you, it's an indescribable amount of joy that fills your chest.

Her panting is an indication of not being able to breathe, but she doesn't fucking care if she got to kiss you like that.

"You love me, too?" Out of curiosity, you ask again, just to make sure it registers in your brain. Disbelief makes your heart jump, even though you've just kissed her, and you never wanted to stop.

Even though she told you she felt the same way, it was still a dream.

"Of fucking course I do. Ever since I took care of you, those few months you were living in my apartment. How could I not?" One of her hands trails up your face, brushing some stray hairs obstructing her view, so she could look at you fully.

The woman you've pined after for years has loved you all the same, and the realization feels a lot like you've wasted so much time behind a closed door. Sleepless nights went by with you writing about her in your journal, detailing all the ways you would love her if she only loved you back.

Tess adored you, she just hadn't let herself show it or feel any other way than a friend, and she'd been terrified to lose you if she fucked any of that up. The years and years of pining built to this very moment, tension in the room thick as you gazed at her lovingly.

"Tess.. kiss me again..."

It was a desperate plea for that fucking woman to press your lips to hers so you could taste her even stronger than you thought you could handle.

"I don't think I'll be able to stop if I do." Her low voice made your legs tremble, a new kind of desire growing due to her.

"Then don't." Your lips clashed together with hers, tongues exploring each other's mouths in a feverish attempt to taste even more of you than she already had.

The truth was, she had all of you for a long time, and now she couldn't imagine needing anything more.

A soft moan is pulled from your chest as Tess's teeth nip at your bottom lip. The both of you seem breathless as you pull away again, but every time you glance down at her swollen lips is when you want to just press them to yours over and over again.

"God, you're so beautiful, it's hard to look directly at you sometimes." Her words catch you off guard, feeling your eager hands travel up her neck, one resting on her shoulder while the other sneaks your fingers between her soft strands of hair. Twirling a lock of it, the blush on your face makes her smirk.

"Stop it, I mean just look at yourself. You're so hot and intimidating and perfect and-"

"You saying you're not those things?" Her brows furrow in distaste, because how dare you suggest otherwise.

"I'm saying you are. Pretty girl." A giggle erupts from your chest, raking your fingers through her hair with appreciation.

"If you don't say you're all of those things right this second, love, I'm just gonna have to prove it to you. And you know I will."

Your eyebrows raise, wanting to pull a little sneaky trick on her.

"Say that I'm what?" The smirk on your face makes Tess blush a little, chuckling to herself because she knows exactly what you're doing.

"Say that you're..." One of her hands goes to the top button of your shirt and unbuttons it as she places a quick peck on your cheek, "Perfect, intimidating, hot, everything I want.. God, fuck. Look at what you do to me.."

Her nimble fingers trail down your shirt, undoing each button carefully, letting the shirt fall open to your sides. Hands rest on the skin of your sides, just under the shirt you're wearing. Her shirt you're wearing.

"Tess.." You sigh breathlessly, still trying to gain back whatever air was pulled out of your lungs just a moment earlier.

"Hmm? Tell me what you want, baby." She tilts her head ever so slightly, the smirk on her face only enlarging when she sees the desire in your lust-blown eyes. Her pet name all but pulls a squeal from your chest, scrunching your nose upon hearing her low words.

"I want you, Tess. God, I want all of you.. But we can't-" Your hands run up and down her sides, shaking ever so slightly at her intimidating smirk.

"We can do anything we want, sweetheart. I've got you, now. No one's gonna take you away from me, ever. And no one's taking me from you. Got it?"

It's so warm, so Tess, such a loving and nurturing side of her that spills those words into your chest like a goddamn golden light, and it brings tears to your eyes. Sniffling, you try to blink them away every second they threaten to fall from your eyes.

The close proximity of her immediately pulls you into a safe hug, tears dropping on the cloth of her shirt, dampening the fabric bit by bit. Her hand rubs up and down your back, comfort surrounding you in the moment like nothing else in the world.

"So-sorry, Tess, I didn't mean to get your shirt all wet," You say, pulling back from her embrace, "I'm just.. so fucking happy because I love you and- and you're finally mine."

The words come out like the easiest thing in the world, like you could tell her your deepest darkest secrets and she'd still love you completely as you are.

"Aw, you look so pretty when you're in love. 'Bout the most perfect thing in the whole world to me, pretty girl."

"Well, yeah. It's all your fault that I'm crying like a sap, dummy." You playfully punch her shoulder and wipe your face, tears finally ceasing their descent from your eyes.

"You love me that much, huh?" This time, Tess's smile is sweet, intimate and all but this time your eyes lock with hers in a deep gaze.

"Love you even more than that, Tess." A giggle erupts from your chest as her lips press ever so lightly to your neck, ghosting feather light kisses across your skin. Before she pulls back, she attaches her lips to your skin and sucks obsessively, in the same spot. A particularly sensitive spot she gets to pulls a whimper from your chest, the sound making her pull away from kissing you, eyebrows raised with curiosity.

"What was that, baby?" You whimper again, embarrassment washing over you while your cheeks are being painted with a blush.

"Need you, Tess. Need you so bad.." The last word comes out rather quickly, hips rolling against hers ever so slightly.

"I'm right here, honey. Tell me what you need from me, and I'll give it to you." Her words come out like a plead, work-worn hands and fingers trailing over the waistband of your pants. "Come on, we don't have much time. Joel wants to get on the road soon.."

Oh God. Joel. Bill. Frank.

Your thoughts freeze and think to the three other men in the house, or probably somewhere nearby, if not lingering just a few feet away down the stairs.

"Shit, should we-"

"Yes, my love, we should. After all this time, we should."

"But the door-"

The bedroom door; it was swung almost completely open.

"Guess you better be quiet then." She mutters, voice low with lust and the need for you to fall apart for her just once before their travels.

"Tess-" You whimper breathlessly, and before you can speak another word, her lips attach to yours again. Her hair smells like lavender, and her lips taste like strawberries.

"Do you trust me?" She asks, wanting to know you're okay with her going further.

"You know I do. I trust you with my life." You reply, almost immediately. Her soft eyes gaze into yours and she nods.

It's the most perfect vision of Tess you've had your entire life, and nothing in this world could tear you away from that.

Once you feel her hands unbuckling your pants successfully, one of her hands slips down under the fabric, bypassing your underwear right down to where she knows you need her.

Her middle and ring finger slide through the arousal between your legs, and the second she feels you throbbing against her, is when her kisses trail from your mouth to your neck.

"Tess, fuck-" You whimper out, as her fingertips swirl around the most sensitive part of you.

"Needy girl, aren't you? So gorgeous..." The smirk on her face turns devious when her eyes meet yours again, catching how your face contorts with pleasure under her doing.

Another mewl leaves your chest, nodding fervently once again.

"Shit, all wet for me? You really know how to make a woman happy.." The slight laughter from her chest makes you clench around nothing. Nothing, until her fingers pursue lower than your sensitive bundle of nerves. Deep breaths of air make your chest heave, and Tess is only relishing in the way you're falling apart completely for her.

Before you feel her fingers prodding at your entrance, your hand grabs her forearm and she halts her movements.

"What about you?" Your eyes seem to beg for her without saying another word more, and she hesitates for a moment, until she speaks.

"You don't have to, love. You feeling good makes me feel good and-"

She pauses her words, because your doe eyes make whatever was left of her resolve break, the instant she looks into them.

"Alright, baby. Go ahead, touch me.. I need you, too." A smile breaks out onto your face, hands gravitating towards her belt, undoing it as fast as she can complete her sentence to satisfy you.

One of your hands slips down between her legs, watching as her eyes close in bliss at the first light drag of your fingers down her heat.

"Fuck.." Her head gets thrown back while her eyes shut at the amount of pleasure and love you have for her in that very moment. Tess curses under her breath as you begin slow circles on her most sensitive part of her body, goosebumps trailing all over her skin.

"Now who's the needy one?" She glances back up to your eyes, and just like that, her intimidating demeanor returns.

You almost yelp aloud when she pushes a finger inside of you, but her lips press against yours before you could do so. The fervent exchange of moans between each swirl of your fingers, and each thrust of Tess's fingers inside of you makes the moment feel infinite.

Everything you've ever wanted, you finally had.

She was yours to touch, to hold, to please. Tess gave you all of her, completely and irrevocably.

"Tess.. fuck, I love you.. I- never wanna be with anyone else but you.." Your tone of voice is pitched higher, submerged in the pleasure she brought. She could tell you were inching closer to release with every swirl of her fingers.

"I love you, baby. With everything inside of me. It's you. Only you.. Now be a good girl and come with me."

"Are you gonna-"

"Yeah, I am. Fuck- keep going, just like that. Cmon, baby." The hand that wasn't inside your pants snuck up to your hair, grabbing a handful and pulling in silent demand.

Sighing dreamily, Tess pulled her fingers out of you and rubbed incessantly at your precious bundle of nerves, triggering your hips to rock against hers.

"Tess.." You moan out loud, almost too loud for the people downstairs to hear, but at the same time, you don't care. Not when Tess is giving you the most pleasure you think you've ever experienced in your life.

"I love it when you moan my name.. Say it again." Her fingers swirl to no end, feeling a jolt of pleasure wash through you as your high began to rush towards you.

"Tess, fuck. Oh my god Tess- baby I'm gonna come.." Your sounds are uncontrollable now as your release is beckoning you further.

"Yeah, hun? Gonna come for me?" Your hand speeds up your movements on her sensitive bud of nerves, another low moan leaving her chest, dripping with desire.

"Oh, baby, I'm-I'm.."

"Me too baby, yeah..." Tess calls out, her movements on your clit pushing you over the edge, her high washing over her intensely.

A few more filthy moans leave your chest, release crashing over you like a wave, running throughout your body with relief, your partner helping you ride it out before you finally look back up at her.

Sweat adorns her skin, chest heaving as she pulls her fingers from your pants. You do the same, only watching as she licks her fingers seductively. Another wave of pleasure threatens to overtake you, just by watching her do that.

"Holy shit... that was amazing. I knew your hands were good for more than just holding a gun and punching people." Your head tilts back the slightest bit as you try to catch your breath after the immense pleasure washed over you only moments ago.

"For our first time, that's nothing compared to what I've been thinking about doing to you for months now.." The smirk on her face threatens the rise of arousal again, though you're too exhausted now to even think about doing that, with what a long journey you've got ahead of you.

"You-" Tess raises an eyebrow at your speechlessness, "are the most beautiful woman in the whole world, and you chose to love me. Isn't that something."

Your words make her blush again, leaving a few small pecks on your cheeks, before pressing one to your lips again. Then, Tess's hands reach to your pants once more, doing the zipper up and buttoning them so she could do the same to hers.

"Well, I don't think we choose who we love. But if it was.. it's because you're the most perfect person in the world. Isn't that something.."

You look to Tess with a soft smile, one that makes both of you appreciate the domesticity of your conversation at hand.

"Yeah, it is," You say, taking her hands in yours and interlocking your fingers together, "So, what does all this make us?"

You catch Tess staring into your eyes again, and it takes a second for her to respond.

"Well, I'm already in love with you, so whatever you want, I want it too. I'm all in, for you. That sound good?"

God, you've waited forever to hear those words.

Attaching your lips with hers, it's a slow, soft kiss, almost stopping time with how you craved more every second that went by. As you pull away, Tess looks radiant in the sunlight that's pouring through the window even more now.

Her words turn you speechless, already knowing you called her 'mine' but hearing it from the velvet voice of your lover made your heart swell ten times bigger.

"It sounds wonderful, Tess." You lean in for another kiss, soft and sweet, until you pull back again, "You'll have to teach me how to open wine bottles, though."

"Nah, I think I'd rather just keep doing it for you." Your lips locked in another kiss, one you wished would last forever.

"Oh, one more thing," Tess goes digging in her back pocket, pulling out a blue tube, "Deodorant. You stink like sex."

"And whose fault is that?" You quip, grabbing the tube from her and rubbing it under your armpits.

Tess shrugged, almost pulling you in for another kiss, until the sound of a male voice from downstairs snapped both of you out of the daydream.

"Shit, Joel. He's gonna be mad that I took so long up here.. that-that we took so long-" You begin to speak, pulling yourself from the bed, reaching down to slip your boots on.

"Joel Miller is not gonna say anything when he sees that hickey." Tess mumbles, standing from the bed as well, adjusting her shirt from where you'd grasped it before.

"What mark? Oh, Tess.. you didn't.." You rush over to the mirror hanging on the wall, and pull your collar to the side abruptly to see the darkening purple bruise on your neck. You scoff, only buttoning up your shirt with haste to get out the door.

"I did. Couldn't help myself, you know. You're all mine now, had to make sure everyone in Boston knows you're spoken for."

She walks up behind you, placing her hands on your hips as you continue buttoning the flannel up. You scoff, flipping your head around to kiss her on the lips again.

"Yeah, well did you have to make it so dark?" You questioned, knowing she could've gone lighter but didn't.

"You already know the answer to that. Now c'mon, let's not keep the man waiting." Tess pulls you by your hand to the door, looking back once more as you exit the room and walk down the stairs with her hand in yours.

Just as you thought he'd be, Joel was pacing downstairs with his pack already on his back.

"There y'all are.. was starting to get worried about- Oh." The tall, Texan man clears his throat when his eyes spot the mark on your neck, eyes immediately avoiding yours.

"Yeah.. I'll grab our packs and meet you outside. Cool?" Tess says, before sharing a look with Joel, not saying anything more as he turns to walk out to the front yard. Her hand slips from yours every so slightly, and you already miss the warmth and love in her contact the second it drops from you.

"Hey, wait- where's Frank?" You call out to Joel, but he's already to the gate of their yard before he can hear you.

"In here!" Frank's voice comes from the living room, and you saunter over to him.

"Hey, morning. Listen, I wanted to thank you for everything. What you said to me last night, and just your hospitality and all you're gonna help us with when we start working together. I mean it- I'm really grateful."

Frank looks up from the vinyl he's sifting through, and meets your eyes with a compassionate smile.

"I take it this morning went... well?" He gestures to the mark on your neck, one of your hands going up to sheepishly cover it, a bit embarrassed that you let her go that far.

"Oh, um. Yeah, very well. I did that thing we talked about." As soon as the words hit his ears, he's grinning from ear to ear and throws his arms around you with a tight embrace, one that caught you off guard, but you hugged back, nonetheless. The smile is still beaming on his face as he pulls away.

"I knew it would go well. You two.." He shakes his head, hands on his hips, "Sparks were basically flying over lunch yesterday, every time one of you looked at each other.. Wait- Is that my shirt? Nevermind, keep it. Looks better on you anyway."

Frank laughs at the realization that you didn't have fresh clothes after showering, so he understood.

"Seriously, thank you. For everything, again."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm such a matchmaker. Now go, run to your lover, and never let her go, okay? She's one special woman."

"Yeah, that she is.." Your gaze shifts from Frank to Tess appearing in the doorway with your pack in her hand.

"Oh, one more thing." Frank hands you the books you'd taken down from their shelves last night, Little Women and Pride and Prejudice. "Don't worry, Bill said it's alright. He doesn't read classics, anyways. You'll come back, and we'll trade."

That's the last thing Frank says before Tess beckons you back to her.

"You ready to go? Joel's gonna lose his marbles if we make him wait any longer, so.." Tess asks you, standing a few feet away, but it felt like miles before you could get back to her.

"Oh, God forbid a man wait on two fine ladies, such as yourselves." Frank says, turning Tess's way as you walk towards her, grabbing your pack from her hand and putting the two books into it, before slinging it onto your back.

"You make a good point, but he's gonna be grouchy the whole hike. He'll be done with our lovesick asses once we get back to the QZ." You say with a giggle, pressing a quick kiss to Tess's lips.

"Well, it's been lovely having you here, I'm not sure where Bill's run off to, but I'm sure he says goodbye as well. I'll walk you to the gate, since there's an idea I have as to how we can communicate back and forth on the radio.. I'll tell you on the way."

Frank follows you both out the door, spotting Bill already at the gate, the same holster with his pistol sticking out from his otherwise plain outfit.

As Joel finally spots the three of you coming from the house, he darts right out of their front yard, b-lining for the gate.

"Guess he's got a new friend..." You mutter to Tess, Joel's steps bringing him towards the gate faster than you three were walking.

"Maybe he just doesn't wanna look at the huge hickey on your neck." She retorts, her reasoning better than anything else you came up with.

Chuckling, you nudge her side, hands falling beside each other's before locking your fingers together again.

Frank catches up, walking alongside Tess as he begins to explain his idea for communication back and forth.

"So, I had this idea that we should use codes for the radio, in case anyone's listening."

"That's a good idea. Like, with what?" Tess tilts her head over to the man in curiosity.

"I was thinking, like, the decades. Like- 80's, trouble, of course." Frank states, as if he's put immense thought into something as simple as this.

"Yeah..?"

"70's- for when we get new stuff to trade with.. and 60's for not having anything new. Sound good?"

"Yeah, Frank. That's actually really clever. I mean, I wouldn't have thought of that. Right, babe?" It's the first use of any pet name around people, and you can tell it puts Tess in a lighter mood just by hearing you say it.

"Right. Well, radio back to me when you guys are ready to start our business together." He reaches out to shake Tess's hand, "Otherwise, it has been lovely having you three here, and I'm so ecstatic to have you back whenever." Frank stood still, watching you all walk ahead.

The sound of Joel's boots on the pavement approaching you all force you to turn your heads towards the third partner in your group.

"What are y'all lookin' at? Let's head out, already. Whenever you lovebirds are done.."

Grumpy exterior, but an ally, all the same.

"What are we gonna do with him..."

"Yeah, he's not nearly as much fun as you." Nudging her shoulder again, your bottom lip catches between your teeth for a slight moment. Tess's hair is blowing in the wind slightly, and you can't help but smile at the beauty of the woman you called the love of your life.

You share a look between Tess's eyes and your own, before tugging her along as you walk ahead, attached by a soul tie at your hands, linked together for a lifetime.

[2baddiesfanfics]

A Bark and a Bite

Pairing: Ei x Miko

Tags: Mating Cycles/In Heat, Kitsune, Ears, Tails, Strap-Ons, Dildos, Oral Sex, Vaginal Fingering, Comfort

Summary:

Ei arrives at the Grand Narukami Shrine for a date with Miko only to discover she’s “not feeling well…” at least according to one of the shrine maidens. Desperate to be of assistance, she makes her way to her quarters, only to find she seems relatively normal. Little does she know, Miko is feeling anything but. Being a kitsune has its perks, but perhaps this isn’t one of them...or is it?

Read on Ao3

It wasn’t often Ei made the trek up to Grand Narukami Shrine. She thought it a bit tacky to make more appearances than necessary in a place where people essentially came to worship the Electro Archon.

It had been far too long since she last visited Miko. After coming back from 500 years of solitude, she had promised to spend as much time with her as possible. As the Raiden Shogun, however, this was often made quite difficult. She was constantly being pulled in a myriad of different directions by her people, and, as their god, she didn’t want to shirk her duty to them, either.

Mercifully, Miko understood this. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they had spent many a passionate night together when she returned for good. Now that they had settled back into a sense of normalcy, both of them felt much more comfortable with leaving the other when their respective obligations came calling.

When she had finally reached the peak of Mt. Yougou, she found the shrine quite…empty.

My, how odd. Normally Miko would be the first to greet me with some thinly-veiled sarcastic remark. Where could she be?

Her train of thought was interrupted by Inagi Hotomi, one of the shrine maidens she had met only a few times before.

“Raiden Shogun!” She exclaimed before bowing deeply. “My sincerest apologies! If I had only known you’d be visiting, I would have prepared some tea. What brings you to the shrine today?”

“Please, no need for formalities,” she said with a soft smile. “I simply came to discuss some things with Guuji Yae…would you happen to know where she is?”

The young shrine maiden furrowed her brow. “Oh my…I’m afraid she’s feeling a bit under the weather. If it were anyone else, I’d say come back some other time, but I do know you two are close. She’s in her room resting now if you’d like to see if she’s well enough to receive you.” Ei thanked her and quickly walked toward Miko’s quarters.

Why wouldn’t she have sent word she was feeling ill? She knows I would’ve had a physician sent immediately. Something doesn’t add up.

Arriving at the familiar sliding screen door, she announced her presence.

“Guuji Yae? May I enter?” She knew Miko wouldn’t have to ask who was there - they knew each other by voice alone.

“You may, but please shut the door behind you.”

At this point, Ei was seriously worried. She hadn’t ever heard her sound so…reserved. Doing as she was asked, she saw Miko laying back on her futon, lounging in a loose kimono with a light novel in her lap. Nothing seemed amiss. She’d seen her like this many times before.

“Miko, what in the hell is going on? I was really starting to worry about you. Why is the shrine deserted? I thought we were planning on taking a stroll together today, yet here you are, claiming to not feel well but looking fine to me. Out with it. What’s wrong?”

There was something different in the atmosphere. Miko appeared normal, yes. But as Ei neared her bedside, it seemed as if the kitsune was even more attuned to her proximity. Her ears twitched when Ei spoke, and she could see goosebumps rise on her skin.

“Talk to me, Miko. I want to help,” she said as she reached for her hand. Miko quickly drew it back.

“It’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine, really. I’m just not feeling myself today is all. We all have off days, even archons and their familiars,” Miko said, subtly pulling at the open collar of her kimono.

Ei noticed Miko was fidgeting and making every effort to avoid keeping eye contact with her. As a matter of fact, she was looking everywhere but. This wasn’t like her. Typically, she couldn’t take her eyes off her and always had a sarcastic remark at the ready.

“Come now, Miko, you know you can talk to me about anything,” Ei pushed.

Miko let out a soft whine. She could feel her cheeks warming at Ei’s steady and concerned voice intonating the words “Come now.” If only she knew how badly she wanted to; how badly she wanted to hear her say that as she helped her through her heat cycle. Nevertheless, she had her pride and dignity to uphold. She wasn’t about to reveal this humiliating side of being only partially human. At the end of the day, a kitsune was still an animal at the core.

She was starting to feel like she was in an onsen. Having her mate this close during this time…she needed her so bad she was starting to feel it in her lower abdomen. She wasn’t sure how long she could keep up this act.

“Ei, I….” Before she could finish her sentence, Ei shushed her and placed the back of her hand on Miko’s forehead.

“My gods, Miko! You’re burning up!” Ei said with concern. Repositioning herself, she pulled her by her waist onto her lap so they were now sitting face-to-face. Placing two fingers under her chin, Ei made her look into her eyes. As she brushed a strand of her hair out of the way, she pleaded, “Please…let me take care of you.”

Miko didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t something you could pop a pill for and - poof - it’d be gone. Ei was her medicine. She needed her the same way they both needed air to breathe. Unsure of how to convey her needs, Miko laid her head on Ei’s chest feeling frustrated and defeated.

“I’m here. You don’t have to put up a strong front with me. Talk to me. Tell me what you need,” Ei kept insisting. She started running her hands through Miko’s hair in an attempt to calm and reassure her. When she reached her ears, she gently caressed and massaged them between her fingers.

“Ohhhhhh.” Miko’s groan was muffled by her chest. Ei was completely unaware of the effect her touches had on her. The kitsune could feel her heat building quickly. Her ears were more sensitive than normal, and before she could register what was happening, she saw a flash of light, and suddenly her body was trembling under Ei’s touch.

“Ei…wait! Ahhhh!” Miko yelped.

Ei abruptly stopped massaging her ears as she felt her shudder against her. She blinked a few times and asked, “Miko…did you just…?”

Miko buried her face deeper into Ei’s chest, mortified. She was at peak vulnerability sitting on Ei’s lap with arousal-soaked panties and an uncontrollable urge of wanting…more.

“Ei, I’m so sorry! I…oh, archons, this is incredibly embarrassing. I’m…in heat and every inch of my body is hyper-sensitive right now. It’s been more intense since you’ve been back and we’ve been intimate,” Miko apologized.

She averted her gaze awkwardly. “Please just pretend this never happened. I’d never expect you to do anything about it. You can go. I’m used to taking care of it myself.”

Ei was shocked but also hurt that Miko assumed she wouldn’t want to help her. She pulled her close and kissed her slowly. When they parted, Ei reassured her. “Miko. I am here for you, if you’ll let me be. Is that not what we as a couple should do if one is in need?”

It didn’t take much more sweet talking to convince her. Miko’s ears perked up and she excitedly agreed. “Oh, Ei! You’d do that for me? Yes, yes, please!”

“Now, now. I’ll have you saying that shortly my minx, but first let’s get you out of these soaked clothes,” Ei gestured. With practiced hands, she nudged Miko’s already loose kimono off her shoulders. Ei could feel her suck in a breath as the sharp Inazuman air hit her skin.

She tried not to take delight in seeing Miko riled up like this. Usually, she was the one making wisecracks about Ei, so in a sense having the tables turned like this was refreshing. In no way did she plan to take advantage of the poor girl, but she did want to make the most of the situation.

“You did say every inch of your body was hyper-sensitive, yes?” She whispered as she softly kissed Miko’s now-exposed shoulder. Although she didn’t really need an answer - she could feel Miko’s skin rise against her tongue - the mewl that came out of her mouth was evidence enough.

“Interesting,” she muttered, her words reverberating against flesh. “Does that mean I should be gentler than usual?” Removing the kimono entirely, she noticed Miko’s tail, which she usually kept out of sight, was swishing frantically.

“No…” Miko gasped. “Please…anything but gentle…”

“Hmm…I guess that would make sense now, wouldn’t it?” Ei’s hand began to descend. Her fingers stopped when they met the silken fur at the base of Miko’s tail. She felt her still all movements.

Aha. Looks like there’s a reason this doesn’t come out often.

“You are an animal at heart, after all,” Ei stated as she tightened her grip around the appendage. “Perhaps I should treat you like one tonight.”

Ei could feel a growl rumble in Miko’s chest as she arched her back at the foreign sensation of Ei’s hand grasping such a tender area.

“Seems you’re not opposed to the idea,” she said matter-of-factly. “Fine then. Get on your hands and knees for me like a good girl and I’ll be sure to fuck you like a bad one,” As Miko moved to assume the position, the sound of Ei’s hand slapping her ass made her howl.

“That’s a good girl. Look at you. You’re already so wet for me. Stay right there.” Ei rose from the futon and walked over to where she knew Miko had a variety of toys stored. As she gathered what she was looking for, she eyed the light novel Miko had been reading before she arrived. Hmm, interesting selection. I’ll have to tease her about that later. Grabbing a harness with a strap attached, she quickly shed her kimono and secured the toy to herself.

“Ei, hurry. This is killing me,” she whined.

“Patience, pet. I promise this will be worth it,” Ei replied with a smirk. Kneeling behind her, she teased her entrance with the tip of the toy. Miko let out a hiss.

“Don’t give me attitude, you pathetic kitsune,” Ei chastised. She inched into her slowly and she could feel Miko visibly relax. As she adjusted to the full length, Ei picked up a steady rhythm.

“Ohhhhhhh, Ei…yessss…just like that!” Miko exclaimed. With one hand grabbing her hip and the other at the base of her tail, Ei pulled her back and slammed into her, jerking her hips ferociously.

“You like that don’t you, you little whore? You’re so fucking tight we’re going to have to rut like this for hours before you’re fully satisfied, huh?”

“Fuck! Ei! Harder!”

Ei did as she commanded, thrusting erratically until Miko came with a shriek. She continued to stroke her tail as she soothed her down from her high. Leaning over her, she whispered, “You’ve been a very naughty girl, my dear. I saw that light novel you were reading. I do believe it’s a popular yuri series, is it not?” Ei clicked her tongue. “Were you really that desperate to get yourself off?”

Miko gulped as she felt Ei’s hot breath in her ear and her hand unceasingly stroking her tail. “Ei…more, please.”

“What am I going to do with you? You should be punished for trying to hide this from me,” Ei laughed.

She quickly flipped the two of them positioning herself underneath Miko. “If you want it so bad, take it. Ride me,” Ei commanded.

Miko nodded her head with a whine. When Ei took control like this it turned her on beyond belief. She sunk down on the toy and began to slowly rise and fall. Her gaze met Ei’s, and it certainly seemed to her that she wasn’t the only one hungry for more. She found her rhythm as she ground and gyrated on top of her.

Ei watched from below as Miko’s breasts bounced with her. Gliding her hand up her leg, she stopped between her thighs, her thumb applying pressure to the already sensitive bud.

“Eiiiii,” Miko hissed. “I’m close!” Just before she started to spasm around the toy, Ei grabbed her by the hips and stopped her movements.

“Ah-Ei!” Miko gasped looking at her with those puppy dog eyes of hers.

“I did say you were going to be punished for reading this story instead of just coming to me, did I not?” Ei stared at her waiting for her reaction, but, to her surprise Miko, caved quickly.

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to come to you next time. Please, Ei?” Miko begged.

“Fine…but you can’t come until I tell you to,” Ei instructed.

As soon as Miko agreed, Ei released her hips. Taking the initiative, Miko quickly ground against her. It didn’t take long for her to get back to her peak. Ei resumed rubbing her clit and Miko panted, “Ei please…fuck…I’m so close…please, please, please…”

Ei hummed and her other hand began stroking her tail once again. Knowing she had her, she kneaded faster and swiped her clit in circles.

“Look me in the eyes when you come, Miko,” Ei commanded.

As soon as those words left her lips, Miko shattered, screaming Ei’s name. She didn’t care who could hear.

Breathing heavily, she saw stars as she came down from the high. Ei leaned up and gave her a gentle peck on the lips, moving sweat-soaked strands of her hair out of her face.

“You okay?” She asked.

“Yes, thank you. I’m feeling so much better now,” Miko sighed.

Ei responded with a smile. She began to untangle herself from the harness and Miko snatched it out of her hands quickly.

“Hold on now…I said I was fine. I still have one more thing I need to do,” Miko said sneakily.

Ei looked at her puzzled as she watched her step into the strap. With a raised eyebrow she replied, “…and what would that be?”

“Why, to take care of you, of course. I won’t truly be satisfied until we both are,” Miko stated as she pulled her in for a kiss.

“Miko, you know you don’t-“ her sentence was cut short by the kitsune’s tongue as it slid into her mouth. She cupped Ei’s crotch and felt her arousal already dripping down her legs.

“My, it seems I’m not the only one who enjoyed what you did to me.” Miko’s quick wit was clearly returning to normal.

“Miko, wait I-“ was all Ei could get out before she was thrown face down on the futon. Propping herself up on her hands she could feel Miko standing behind her.

She slowly entered the tip of the toy into Ei, allowing her to adjust to the new intrusion. With Ei’s gasp of approval, she snapped her hips forward. “Ahhh! Miko!”

Continuing her thrusts, she leaned forward and peppered kisses up Ei’s back. She stopped at the nape of her neck, kissed and sucked the area, and traced the electro insignia found there with her tongue. Wrapping her arm around her waist she made her way between her legs and began playing with her clit.

“Ohhhhhhhh,” Ei groaned.

Ei began to rock back and forth, matching Miko’s rhythm. Miko sunk her fanged teeth into Ei’s shoulder and she moaned loudly in response. She knew the more animalistic side of herself turned Ei on beyond belief, and would easily result in her coming quickly.

Sure enough, her legs shook and her arms gave out under her as she groaned Miko’s name into the pillow. Miko slid out of her, placed the toy to the side, and joined Ei once more. As they lay staring into each other’s eyes, Miko couldn’t shake the feeling she could go one more round.

While she was much more in control of herself now, she still felt like having a bit more…fun. Ei’s reaction to being bitten gave her a wicked idea. Pulling Ei’s hand up to her mouth, she took her index finger and brought it to her sharp canine.

“I couldn’t help but notice you might have a thing for these,” she whispered as she gently rubbed the tip of the finger she now held against the point. She could see Ei swallow hard.

“Are you scared? Curious? Or perhaps…aroused?” Miko inquired innocently.

“Quite possibly a bit of all three,” Ei muttered back.

“Oh, I assure you there’s nothing to be afraid of,” she purred as she took the finger into her mouth and sucked slowly.

Ei closed her eyes and let out a moan. She felt her drag her teeth against the digit before nibbling ever-so-slightly. Gathering every ounce of self-control she had, Ei opened her eyes once more in defiance.

“But two can play at this game,” she said as she pulled Miko back to her. Ei’s teeth met her neck as she bit down just enough to raise her skin. Miko’s surprised yelp evolved into a mewl of pleasure.

Ei swiftly moved down her chest, taking one of her nipples between her teeth. She tugged softly causing Miko to arch back up into her mouth. Soothing the hardened nub with her tongue, she continued to find other parts of her body that needed a little more…color.

“Is that the…aghhhh…best you can…ohhhh…do? I’ve had mosquitoes bite me harder,” she ground out.

“That’s big talk for a girl who got off on me petting her ears. I guess I’ll just have to bite the sass out of you.” Miko heard Ei’s muffled voice as she drifted further down her body. She could feel Ei’s breath warm her thighs and her head sunk further down into the pillow as she anticipated what was likely to come next.

Ei bit down on the tender flesh of her inner thigh and Miko immediately regretted her taunting.

“ARCHONS, Ei! I was just kidding!”

Ei smiled against the mark she had just made and placed a tender kiss there.

“Sorry, love. I couldn’t just let you get away with mocking a god now, could I?”

Nudging her legs open further with her shoulders, she began to tenderly suck on her clit.

“Eiiiiiii…this is torture…harder…”

Contemplating whether or not to give her a hard time, Ei opted to have mercy. She increased her suction as she stroked her opening with her fingers. Miko’s grip on her hair urged her on, and she knew the added sensation that would come with being inside of her would send her crashing over the edge. “Ei…yesssssss!” she howled as she bucked and came against her face.

Both women, now completely and utterly spent, clung to each other tightly.

“Ei?”

“Yes, Miko?”

“Thank you,” she said as she burrowed her head into Ei’s chest. Ei laughed as she stroked her pink hair.

“For what, my little kitsune?”

“For…loving and not judging me.” Ei heaved an emotion-filled sigh.

“Who am I to judge after leaving you to deal with this yourself for the last 500 years? I’ve promised to be with you for eternity and all it entails. This is a natural part of who you are. And I love you, Miko. All of you.”

A smile of relief lit up her face. “Even though my bark is worse than my bite?”

“Oh, trust me, dear,” Ei chuckled as she touched the spot on her shoulder where Miko had left her mark earlier. “They are both a force to be reckoned with.”

[multiverse-imagines]

Not a request, but just a little something I've been working on

Scribbled Scars

Vash x left handed! Reader

(Not that it technically matters)

"Stay at the Inn", he said. "It's too dangerous today," he said. But what about this mind boggling boredom?

You tossed and turned on the bed, staring at the four walls of the room with increasing frustration. You were on the border of throwing a tantrum like a toddler, just to have something to do. Vash had been gone all day, and you'd had enough of trying to entertain yourself.

You noticed a pen and notepad on the desk. You got up, and began to doodle on the paper. You drew him of course, Vash the Stampede. The one who was currently off God knows where, getting shot at, or getting into trouble.

Drawing him in an outfit that showed off his arms, you easily sketched the scars you'd seen on a regular basis since beginning your travel and relationship with the Humanoid Typhoon.

You paused, looking at your own arm. You doodled the outlines of the scars that went up his right arm upon your own. The stitches the created a border between his thumb and the rest of his hand, and the large scar that spread under his knuckles. The three slashes just above his wrist, the two long line stitches on the lower arm, and the two little bolts that stuck out from under his elbow. The torn skin spots just under the elbow, and the tiny little leaf shaped one next to the bone of his elbow.

You were almost done with the large star cuts that wrapped completely around his right arm when Vash walked back in. He was holding his shoulder, and he appeared to be in pain.

"Vash! Are you alright?" You got up from the chair to help him out of his coat, and sat him on the bed.

"Y-yeah, I almost got out of there unscathed…" he gave a light chuckle, "I pulled my shoulder out of its socket though… a little help?" He played off the injury.

"Of course…" you smiled, and guided him to sit up straight, then pushing on his shoulder, popping it back into place with a gnarly popping sound. He whined at the feeling, but took a deep breath to calm himself. He gently rolled his shoulder, feeling minimal ache.

"Thanks, Mayfly… you're the best…" he pulled you in for a hug with his left arm, "Now what did you do to your arm?" He asked, almost flabbergasted.

"I was so bored without you today! You were gone so long! So… I drew your scars on my arm."

"My scars? But why?"

"Because I like them." You shrugged.

"You like them so much that you have them memorized, and would draw them on your own body?" Vash asked. Despite traveling together for all these years, you never quite understood why Vash seemed to hate his body so much.

He kept in good shape, giving him the body of a God, and the cutest face on all of Gunsmoke. But his scars kept him hating himself. They kept him from wearing flowing t-shirts or shorts when it was always so hot outside. He was embarrassed of them, and you knew that.

"Drawing your scars makes me happy. They're something that make you unique, and they remind me of how much love you truly deserve." You gave a gentle pet to his hair, "that isn't too weird is it?"

"It's… kinda charming, actually…" Vash smiled, "I just worry what people will say to you about them though."

"Oh no, people might find out I think scars are attractive. What a nightmare." You smiled as you spoke sarcastically.

"Fine, fine, I see you're only going to wear them with pride." He laughed, seeing he wasn't going to win.

"I will! You should try it sometime too, Mr. Typhoon. You're beautiful." You caressed one of the scars on his shoulder.

[faerunsbest]

Tell us about Sybyll's family-- kids, parents, siblings, etc.

Who are they and how close is he with each one?

jesus fucking Christ i had long thinky on this, theres a lot of moments i didnt include cause i wanna go to bed lol

Older brother: lennox

Older sister aster

Younger sister irma

and the baby: Sybyll

Sybylls mother and father and endlessly obsessed with each other which while sweet resulted in some poor decisions. They as youths had decided to continue his family's treasure hunting tradition together, when she became pregnant with their first child it didn’t even occur to them to slow down or maybe even stop the adventure. They simply went on and brought him along for the ride, same for the second kid. 

The difference now being that they have help taking care of the baby. This line of thought continued all the way to sybyll, there were three other pregnancies but those failed and neither mourned at all.

Its safe to say that due to this, none of the kids were particularly close with their parents. The father did however make a point of teaching Lennox as much as he could without neglecting his wife. Since Lennox knew so much it was Lennox who shared information with Aster as well as the new things he’d learned on his own. As Aster grew up they learned skills by themself as they followed their parents, being given a new sibling Irma the cycle started again. And the last time was Sybyll, it was after Sybyll that their mother decided she no longer wished to get pregnant again. On her say-so they went into town to get her sterilized and then immediately went back out.

Now because Sybyll would notably be the last child she would bear, she seemed pay sybyll more attention although it wasn’t until he was slightly older.

Lennox is wall and broad and strong, he is the one who wound up watching all the kids when their parents wanted to enter ruins alone. However as lennox grew stronger he was expected to come along and help, but unlike his parents he wouldn’t pass the buck. He brought his siblings with him and kept an eye on them. It was here that he was able to show off much of the skill he had.

Unexpectedly however, Sybyll seemed to have a knack for reading symbols and runes. Perfectly capable of putting two and two together especially when his mum began teaching him to read. Something she didn't do for any of the others. The way she spoke to him was like a lukewarm welcome and he found himself adapting to her demeanor more because she would give more if he asked for less or asked carefully. More information, more lessons. 

There was a time when Sybyll was very small and felt quite useless beside his siblings always being carried  and protected, it was Lennox who cheered him. IT was lennox who sat with when he warbled by a lake shore, telling him its alright. He takes after mother, and mother is smart- so maybe he can work on using that. It’s a great strength, Sybyll took this very much to heart.

He could read and they couldn’t, not really. So he read and learned as much as he could everywhere they went. Irma helped by taking every intact book she could find and bringing it back to him. Aster was unknowingly more or less helpful by bringing virtually any paper with text. This included maps, blueprints and schematics that hadn’t been destroyed over time. By the time Sybyll was 10 and Lennox was 16, Sybyll was able to coordinate maps and navigate his way to and through ruins. 

At some point they realized their parents were taking a backseat and letting them lead the way to the next broken down castle or demolished city. Lennox found himself grinning as he watched from a rock while sybyll drew maps in the dirt with a stick to show the path they should take to find the next big thing. It was thanks to sybyll reading every little scrap that they found themselves able to open hidden vaults and tear out treasure.

Finally Lennox was allowed to take the lead formally. He allowed Sybyll to make the map, somewhere between a and b  the two began to argue as Sybyll kept saying the way Lennox was leading them was wrong. Lennox was sure he was right, he could just knock down a wall and they’d have an easy way into a particular ruin. When the wall came down Sybyll was right. Not only was the structure unsound but old traps suddenly exploded, a slew of sized arrow flying through the falling rubble nearly perforating aster.

It was at this time that Sybyll employed his first make as an artificer, an expanding shield. Lennox was horrified and ashamed of himself, astounded and jealous all at once. Not only had Sybyll sold him the entire time that he was wrong but he cleaned up the mistake when he made it. Humiliating wasn’t a strong enough word.

It was here that their parents decided maybe Sybyll could lead the next one, and he did. He led the way through thick forest down to a crumbling city that shouldn't exist to find an angel's halo. He found it. Or the item labeled as such.

Unfortunately his find came with a price, he would follow tradition and choose a tattoo for every successful mission. He was 11 years old when he hunched over to allow himself to be inked with a small needle and hammer. Lennox watched as his skinny, tiny little brother stayed hunched and still, eyes glassy but not letting a drop fall. And he felt worse. When she was done Sybylls mother patted the top of his head congratulating him for not making a sound. Very brave, very strong.

Another mission came and went, Aster and Irma both learned very quickly that whatever Sybyll said was with point and purpose, he was quite good at delegating tasks and  leading them to success at every turn. They watched as Sybyll managed to pick and choose what artifacts he would keep and what they would sell or squirrel away into hiding. With every mission he became slightly more proficient in his every endeavor. They came to trust him entirely, especially as he managed to perpetually point out flaws in their movement and how to fix it, he created little things to help them along and stay safe. These two trust him with everything.

Lennox 

Lennox yes he trusted his brother but that didn't mean he wasn't angry, he wasn't recently that his right to lead them was taken. So at some point it overflowed and burst and Lennox left. He left to prove that he was also capable, that he could do this just as well. He left to search for something on his own, something that would help him the way all those toys and trinkets helped Sybyll

When Sybyll found him again he was alone naked in a field doused in blood that didn't all belong to him. Long slashes across his body, dents in his face, blood gurgling from the rip in his neck. Aster and Iris shrieked at the image of him, parents only freezing at the image he made. Sybyll however kneeled down and unfurled a long scroll, laying it over lennox chest. He opened his own shirt and with the tip of a glass knife traces the same runes and images across himself with an disturbingly steady hand. 

As it was done, the knife settled at his center and deep, drinking him up until it was a lovely bloody red. Sybyll flipped the blade and swiftly sunk it deep in the center of his brother's ribcage. It was the 1st time in years they all heard Sybyll scream, shriek. After a bright flash and burning heat, Sybyll lay thrown panting in the grass and Lennox was sat up screaming, but alive. 

It wasn’t until the next full moon that they realized what he’d done to himself, Sybylls family watched in outright horror when Lennox’s skin split and shredded revealing a werewolf beneath. Aster and Irma were charged with protecting their parents While Sybyll employed every trick Lennox ever taught him, to keep him back. Sybyll utilized everything he had to keep his brother not only at bay, but within his grasp to keep him from harming anyone else.

When the sun came up Lennox was left on his knees watching Sybyll stare him down , exhausted. When Sybyll collapsed, lennox realized he fucked up again, he put them all in danger again. When he tried to leave again, Aster asked him, they would just chase him.

 Their next mission was a belt, a very specific belt. Simple as always, Sybyll led the way and this time he allowed choices to be handed off to Lennox.  Month and months of searching and suddenly finally Sybyll had his hands around the damned  thing, more like a harness than a belt, a ratty old thing. Leather with sterling buckles and runes carved in, Lennox couldn't meet Sybylls gaze when the belt was set around him. 

A full moon came and the belt was fastened shut, Sybyll sat beside his brother when he realized what the belt was for. Just another way Sybyll was cleaning up after him.

“You know, I hear you when you talk to mother and father. You tell them you're not the smart one, but you fail to recall. I really wouldn’t know anything if It wasn’t for you. I think you are well suited to this.”

Lennox and the rest of them stood in shock as Sybyll, took his rucksack and just left.

He hasn’t seen any of them since.

tldr:

lennox: loves sybyll but is jealous// sybyll looks up to him but doesn't show it very well

aster and irma adore and trust their baby brother and also understand that he a lukwarm weirdo who shows love by making sure they're safe

parents are unnamed cause they're neglectful and didn't really do a lot for any of them

[criticalglitch]

Pulled From The Brink

Callar and Saint Trina near the end of their journey. Sandoval, slain by Leda's blade, offers one last service in death, carrying his beloved goddess to the Gateway. With the discarded sacrifices of Miquella the Kind in their hands, only one obstacle remains in their path to returning the Empyrean to himself.

Callar wiped the blood from its mouth, shoving Leda off its stinger. She was deep in slumber now, heavily wounded, but there wasn’t time to finish her off. They were so close to their goal now, just one more staircase away. Sandoval, or Trina (it wasn’t quite sure what was piloting his flesh now) walked, vines holding his abdominal wall together like stitches. His wounds burst with flowers, petals falling behind every step, a determination in his movements. He… They held stakes of soft gold in their arms, ascending the steps.

Callar ran to catch up, blades in hand, something akin to terror and reverence on his face. It was almost time.

Together, they passed through the gate, stepping onto soft ash and sand. The platform was positively swarmed with desiccated bodies, the sacrifices of the hornsent and Marika herself from long past.

There stood the abomination – all edges and imperfections carefully blended away. The idyllic lord, for a gaussian age, a composite of strength and honour. He was speechless as he drew his great swords, approaching the two.

Callar could scarcely comprehend it. The light at the gate, the horror before them, the utter despair of it all. This was not the Miquella that saved it. This was an empty shell, void of love, void of kindness. It glanced at Sandoval – what was left of him, and beneath the petals and the blackened blood, there were tears in his eyes. An agony it had seen once before, only recently, at the bottom of the fissure.

“Miquella. Stop.” Callar heard her voice, soft, but clarion with the amplification of Sandoval’s dead lungs. “Please.”

Callar braced its hands on its blades, its muscles rippling beneath its skin. The air was thin here, and it found itself light-headed, as it narrowed its focus. This was paramount. This would be the end of everything if they failed.

The spectral form of Miquella the Kind was nothing but refracted light, stepping down from the gateway. His eyes were closed, serenely, as he descended the steps, resting a ghostly hand on his Promised Consort’s shoulder.

“You should not be here,” he said softly. “This realm… this rite, they were never meant for your eyes. Callar, return home.” He seemed to turn his attention to Sandoval, despite not truly seeing him.

At the recognition of the gold, the petals, he seemed to shift in and out of focus. “These things I have abandoned for the greater good. For a kinder world. To bring them here is to sully my sacrifice.”

His voice felt empty. That hit Callar where it lived – the mirth, the exuberance, the yearning to live and to learn and to grow – it was all gone. The golden radiance that once eclipsed everything else in the room, that drew its devotion out like gravity, circling the joyful, beautiful, seismic mass that was the Empyrean Miquella – it had bled away.

“He won’t listen,” Trina’s voice echoed across the sand. “He can’t. Not like this. Callar, help him. Please.”

“She couldn’t understand it,” Not-Quite-Miquella continued, and Radahn’s form seemed to bristle, held back only by a few ghostly fingers. Callar could smell the thirst from across the pathway, the desperate hunger for war, for bloodshed. It recognized it intimately, and it set it on edge. “The weight of it all, what it would require. This world is dying. Those who suffer are left to rot. I would see it flourish, with life, with love. I would grow gardens over graveyards. I would mend all that was broken. And for that… I would sacrifice anything.”

Callar shook its head, fighting the uncomfortable heat in its face. It had been a long time since it had felt terror – true terror. And it stared him down with closed eyes and an empty face.

“A world without you as you were… that’s none worth defending,” it said, its voice breaking. “You don’t know what love is anymore. How could you possibly preside over something you’ve lost?”

That gave him pause. Pause enough for Sandoval’s feet to step forward. “We return to you, your doubt.” His flowering hand drove the golden shard into Miquella’s heart, an explosion of light blinding Callar as it tried to rush forward. Radahn seemed to recoil, almost as if in pain, the sympathetic tether between the would-be God and his Lord tenable.

Miquella’s form flickered and sputtered, like a candle flame below a breeze. White light formed between cracks spidering across his chest.

Callar gripped Sandoval’s arm, keeping him upright in the stunning weight of the reaction. It held onto him, the coalescing scent of his hair, his blood, and Trina’s bloom giving it strength it had forgotten.

“The harm you’ve caused in the wake of your sacrifices,” it was difficult to distinguish the sound now, between Trina’s and Sandoval’s voices. “What was it for? What does it serve? You’ve stolen General Radahn’s honourable defeat. You’ve desecrated Lord Mohg’s body, a man who so fervently opposed the Golden Order that failed him so, by supplanting Godfrey’s most loyal supporter within. This injury is an antagonization… to both of your brethren.” Miquella’s eyes opened slowly, irises empty of colour. His lips parted, as he glanced at his creation. “Our vow… We were to right it all. Every wrong, every sin, every curse… I… I couldn’t do it alone. You don’t understand- “

Callar gripped Sandoval’s hands, another shard within his palm. He drove it into the cracks, which widened, splintering further.

“We return to you your fears,” it said, refusing to avert its gaze from the light.

Miquella revulsed back, barely maintaining his grip on Radahn’s tensing shoulder. Glittering, incorporeal tears fell like shooting stars down his cheeks. Callar stared at Sandoval’s trembling hands in its claws. Trina was losing strength. But Radahn wouldn’t hold. Horror was dawning in Miquella’s expression now, seizing his countenance by the throat. It fought against itself. Seconds were spilling away, while it held on to the corpse of its lover, inhabited by a dying lily.

It had to let go.

Sandoval crumpled to his knees, slumping forward slightly. Miquella recoiled like a wounded animal, the hand slipping from Radahn and bringing his knees to himself. Radahn bellowed, the blades raising as the bloodflame coursed through his own half-brother’s body. It writhed, unfamiliar to him, agonizing against his battle rage, and he flared it outward, an explosion bathing Callar in scorch marks. The fire made it frenzy, losing all sense. It remembered Aeonia and the bloom, the terror in that moment where Malenia abandoned herself and scarred the world. It remembered the arrows raining from above, scattering its comrades and pinning them to the ground like butterflies in cases. The sheer force of him, the indomitable will that was Radahn, fighting for only the sake of violence.

Callar screamed as it launched forward, its blades flying into him, every cut made in desperation, in bloodlust, in fury. They clashed alone, lost in a battle coalescing from a decaying age. Sandoval crawled forward, streaks of black left in his wake. The petals were losing their firmness, draining of colour. Miquella shrunk from him, his hands covering his face.

“No… no no no… I… I was going to fix it all… I…”

Trina choked on the Tarnished’s dry tongue. “My beloved…” her voice was agonized, longing, with a sorrow deeper than the fissure itself. Sandoval’s metal hand pulled the four palms away. “Your heart…” With a trembling motion, Sandoval pressed another shard within him, feeling a staccato drum in his form. “So that you may know your terror, and name it…”

Callar’s swords braced in a cross, the bearing strike from Radahn’s weapons digging its heels into the sand as it skidded backwards. Their eyes locked, flame to flame, burning them both from the inside. But where all that was left of Radahn was love of war, Callar could not afford to lose. It fought with a fervor unmatched.

Blood seeped into the sand – Radahn’s, Callar’s – it didn’t matter. The strength and savagery painted their steps and strikes in crimson.

“It’s… it’s too late,” Miquella said, recoiling from Sandoval. “I can’t stop…”

“It’s never too late to be kind,” she whispered, directing his eyes to the scene across the arena. “Let him rest. Save Callar. Don’t let it lose itself here.” Sandoval’s hands proffered the shards, but in an offering, not a delivery. “Your compassion. Your joy. Your sorrow. Your strength and your weakness, all that you were.”

Miquella glanced at the battle raging nearby, and hesitantly took the broken pieces. Himself. All that he was.

Light seared through the sky, brighter than the sun, stronger than the gravity of the stars. Callar stumbled backward, and Radahn fell to one knee, slumping over. An eternity seemed to pass, Callar trying to ease its eyes open, its retinas nearly burned out. Small steps sunk into the ash, the scent of honey and nectar sweetening the air. Tiny hands pulled the swords from Callar’s grip with ease and pulled it down into a tender embrace.

Miquella was crying, his tears and form solid against the knight. He held it for comfort, his and Callar’s; he buried his face against its arm, his hair billowing in the breeze. “Wait… stop. I’m sorry. Callar, I’m so sorry.”

Callar squinted, and looked down at the Empyrean’s small, golden form. Real. Solid. Unharmed. That warmth it knew and adored, radiating like a lodestone under the sun. It slowly wrapped its arms around him, eclipsing him in size, squeezing him gently. There weren’t words. He was returned. Moons upon moons of agony and strife, the sorrow of their travels, and he was finally returned. Only the soft sounds of his sobs and the wind whistled through the empty gateway.

Behind him, the small form of Trina waited patiently, her expression soft. She cocked her head, ever so slightly, and glanced back towards the steps. Sandoval’s broken body, split open and lifeless, sprawled across the sand in a pooling sea of black. He who had carried her, and believed so firmly that this impossible mission would succeed – and yet, he wouldn’t survive to see the culmination.

So she waited. She knelt in the sand, her greatest gift the space needed for Callar’s and Miquella’s long-awaited reunion. The pang of loss stung in her chest, the bright hope that burned in Gentle Sandoval’s chest now only an ember, lost adrift in the sea of death. That most beautiful, wonderful part of him, that he shouldered heavily through their journey, and it was nearly gone. But she waited.

Miquella looked up, his wet face shining in brilliance. “Are you hurt…? Callar, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” it murmured, its voice weak from exhaustion. It wasn’t – not quite, but none of it mattered now. Not now that it was finally over. “It was the only way. This… this wouldn’t work.” It looked up to motion to the Divine Gateway, when its eyes fell on Sandoval’s discarded corpse.

Time seemed to skid to a stop. Seconds stretched to hours, as it left its own accursed body. Callar saw its hands, folded over Miquella’s – it’s greatest joy, it’s most solemn duty. It peered at itself in this ageless span of space. Sound had deafened to silence. Colour seemed to drain from the world, everything in hues of white and grey. It could feel tears sliding over its cheek, but they didn’t feel like its own.

“…Callar…?” Miquella’s voice was trembling, and uncertain. It flooded back like a tidal wave.

Sandoval’s hands in it’s hair. The gentle peal of his laughter, the light in his lips when he smiled. ‘I love you. All that you are. All that you have been. And all that you will be.’ The scent of his skin, the way he would curl into its abdomen in the cold of the night. The way he loved. The fierce, uncompromising way he refused to stop loving it.

Its hands fell from Miquella’s, its fists clenched. It wanted to scream, hellfire in its throat, but it was soundless. Miquella turned his head, his eyes widening at the horrific sight before them. “He… he’s gone…?”

Trina kneeled by Callar’s side, gently grasping its trembling fist. “All death drifts here,” she said softly. “He gave us all a gift, did he not?” Callar did not respond to her, despair clutching its insides like a claw. Everything felt tight, as if its organs may implode from the pressure. It sucked air between clenched teeth, a hoarse, wet sound escaping its throat.

Miquella glanced at his other half. His love. “What’s possibly left of him?” His voice trembled as he asked, eyes still shining with tears.

“His Hope,” she said gently. “Dearest Callar… Miquella, my Heart… Help me find it.” She urged it, tugging delicately at its arm.

“How.” Callar’s voice was hollow. It couldn’t quite bring itself to believe any of this was real. Not anymore.

“Remember him,” she whispered. “Remember him with all your might.” Her small hands carefully closed its eyelids. She took Miquella’s hand, and reached forward, grasping through the intangible sluice of death. Searching for the soft glow of Sandoval’s last ember.

When I get you home, you’ll rest like a champion. Now get your legs up and march, darling. We’ve a demi-god to save.

Will you be there?

Wherever you are is home to me. Of course I’ll be there.

Callar choked down a sob, burying it. It could see the moonlight in his golden hair, shining brilliantly in the night.

Lotuses! They’re lilies that grow on the water’s surface. They’re quite stunning.

Flowers that grow inside water?

You’d love them, I think. I’d cultivate them for you. Whatever colour you fancy best. It’ll take some time, but… well. Anything beautiful is worth waiting for. Like you.

Shut up.

You’re beautiful, Callar.

Shut up.

You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

When it opened its eyes, Trina and Miquella grasped a small bulb in their hands, just beginning to sprout. Deep blue petals were just barely visible from the parting base.

“Hope cannot die if you feed it,” Trina said softly. Miquella took the bulb, prying open Callar’s fist and placing it inside. “It is the strongest part of him.”

“We’ll sustain it, Callar,” he said, smiling meekly. “All you have to do is tend to it. Let it flourish.”

Callar stared at them, its gaze questioning, confused. “What… what did you do?”

“Returned a favor,” Trina said, grasping Miquella’s hand. “The rest is up to you.”

It looked at the bulb in its hands and rubbed its eyes incredulously. There was a coolness to it, that same easy, gentle ebb and flow he recognized as the man it’d learned to love. The one it thought it’d lost. It clutched it to its chest, and Miquella raised it to its feet. “Come. Let’s take him home and bring him back.”