#just me wanting to link arms with Dream on a stroll around town | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

xxxsweetdreamzxxx · 3 years ago

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warnings/tags: dom!Jaehyun sub!reader, fanfic, smut; cursing, hook up, fingering, cunninilingus, unprotected sex, cream pie

summary: a chance meeting while shopping for bathing suits turns your summer vacation a little hotter

word count: 4.4k (help)

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this was interesting to write as the beginning and ending are based off of separate dreams this time, so hopefully I was able to link them in a way that made sense. please enjoy!!

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"How does this look?" You asked your friend Jamie, holding a skimpy neon bikini set to your body.

It was the first full day of your annual summer beach trip with your bestie, and you'd arrived in the seaside town you always traveled to late last night. After eating a mediocre breakfast provided by your hotel, the two of you had headed to a nearby mall to buy new swimsuits. She'd had luck finding one relatively quickly. But the reason you were still there, on the second story of a large department store several hours later, was because you had yet to.

She made a face. "No offence, but it's not really your style..."

Sighing, you put it back on the rack. "I know."

Rounding the stand that contained the bikini you'd just put back, you briefly glanced over at the neighboring section, which had swim trunks. Movement had caught your eye, caused by three guys walking through. You barely even paid attention to them at first glance, but the one in the back caught your eye, and you did a double take.

At this second glance, you saw they were all young, probably close to your age, and very attractive. 'Are they models?' You wondered. But again, it was the one behind the first two that really made you look on in awe. He had muted fluffy purple hair that covered his forehead, and dark eyes that shone like diamonds even from this distance. His soft features and perfect skin made you wonder if he was an angel. His thin white shirt hugged what was probably toned muscle underneath. When the taller of his two friends said something funny, he smiled and oh my God, he had the cutest dimples.

At that moment, he shifted his eyes up and saw you standing there, staring. Like a deer caught in headlights you froze, embarrassed as fuck you'd been caught. But his smile only widened, and he gave you a slight nod in greeting.

Ripping your gaze away, you acted like nothing had happened and tried to return to shopping.

"Oh wow y/n, you saw those guys right?" Jamie exclaimed, following you. "Now that's what I'd call eye can-"

You interrupted her, face flushed, by holding up a pale blue gingham bikini. "What about this?"

Before she could answer, her eyes focused on something behind you, mouth falling open slightly. A deep voice then responded to your question. "I think it looks cute."

You whipped around, only to come face to face with the man you couldn't keep from staring at. Your eyes widened and you gulped, startled. Up close, he was simply breathtaking. Literally; you felt your breathing become strained as your heart pounded in your chest.

"Th- Thank you, um..?" You stuttered before taking a deep breath.

"Jaehyun." He answered.

"Ah, Jaehyun." Damn, even his name was cute. You gave him a shaky smile. "So I should get it?"

"Definitely." He encouraged. He then looked to Jamie, who'd been speechlessly watching the exchange. "What do you think?"

Turning around, you waited to see her response. After looking between the two of you for a couple of seconds, she grinned and gave a thumbs up. You weren't sure if she was approving of the bathing suit or...

"Hey, what are you guys doing the rest of today?" Jaehyun asked.

"Oh, not much." You replied quickly, not planning to elaborate.

"We'll just be at the beach!" Jamie said louder and at the same time, speaking over you. "Wanna come with?"

You gave her a look, trying to shut her up. She looked back at you as if to say 'what?'

He smiled. "Sure. Let me ask the boys if it's okay with them."

He beckoned the two of them over, who didn't hesitate to comply. Jamie introduced you and her to the group, as you were still majorly distracted by the million thoughts running through your head. The tallest of the three then introduced himself as Johnny, a friendly guy with a round face and sculpted arms that were on full display thanks to the tank he wore. The other was Mark, who shyly said hi to you and Jamie. He had a boyish and youthful aura about him that made you immediately assume he was the youngest. They both readily agreed to head to the beach.

Still not fully registering what had just happened, you walked to the check out in a near trance and bought your swimsuits. Then you exited the mall, and made your way to the parking lot. Jaehyun went to get his car while the rest of you waited at Jamie's. When he pulled up, the guys got in. After quickly entering her car with her, Jamie pulled out of the parking lot and followed them as they lead the way to the beach.

"Y/n, you okay?" She asked, taking her eyes off the road for a split second to glance at your face. Your prolonged silence had prompted her to speak.

You removed yourself from your racing thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just surprised."

She grinned. "Well, today's not gonna be boring, that's for sure. It'll be a lot more eventful than if we'd hung out at the beach by ourselves."

You nodded in agreement. You knew there wasn't much harm in doing this - there would be plenty of people on the beach around you - they couldn't try anything. And besides, you didn't even get those vibes from them. That wasn't what made you uneasy. It was the thought of spending a day at the beach with such attractive guys that made the tips of your ears turn pink and your heart rate increase. You just prayed you wouldn't say or do something utterly embarrassing.

Jamie drove into the public beach parking behind their car, parking a few spaces away from them. Exiting the car, you and her first made your way to the bathrooms to change. This beach was well maintained, a stone walkway lead to them and then continued on and up to a wide bridge that arched over the barrier dunes and then down onto the sand. Palm trees provided shade, which was made good use of as it seemed wherever a tree cast a shadow there was a cool bench to sit.

Locking yourself into a stall in the women's bathroom, you undressed and then pulled on your brand new swimsuit. Thankfully, despite not being able to try it on in the store, it fit extremely well. The gingham pattern, pale blue color, and small ruffles on the waistband and straps made you conclude this was the cutest bikini you'd ever seen. Exiting the stall, you briefly peered into the mirror above the sinks to pull your hair into two low pigtails.

Turning back around, you found Jamie standing there in her new suit, smiling at you.

"Ready y/n?" She asked.

You took a breath before replying. "Yep."

Arm in arm, you walked out to meet the boys, who'd already changed and were standing there waiting, beach bags in hand. Johnny got excited as he spotted you both and practically ran towards beach, Mark trying to keep up with him. Jaehyun looked unbothered as he stayed behind to walk at a normal pace with you. By the time you'd crossed over the sand dunes and strolled onto the beach, Mark and Johnny had already found a good place a little ways away to set up. They'd brought two large towels, big enough for multiple people to sit on, and had spread them out over the sand.

Jaehyun sat down on one, then patted the ground next to him, motioning for you to sit next to him. After a few seconds of contemplation you complied, folding your legs to the side as you still kept a couple feet of distance from him. Jamie sat down with Johnny and Mark on the other towel.

For the next hour or so, the five of you talked about various topics in an effort to learn more about each other. Gradually, you loosened up as you got used to their company. Johnny and Mark were college friends of Jaehyun's, who'd came into town a few days before you to visit him where he now lived on the coast. Funnily enough, the two boys were staying in the same hotel as you and Jamie while they did so - it was the closest to Jaehyun's apartment.

Noon came and went, and the air continued to heat up around you until it was unbearable. You looked out at the ocean water longingly, but didn't want to leave by yourself, and the others seemed to be having such a great time...

Glancing over at you, Jaehyun made a suggestion. "Who's up for the water?"

Despite your assumptions, the agreement was unanimous. As one, you all rose and ran towards the rolling sea, chasing each other. Diving into the waves, you ran out until the water was up to your waist. Johnny swam out farther than any of you, while Jamie and Mark stayed in slightly shallower water.

You heard the sound of someone sloshing around in the water directly behind you. Spinning around, you were met with his chest - his white shirt was now wet and you could see some of the muscles through it - as your eyes widened and you looked up into Jae's eyes. He smiled down at your face, less than a foot away, dimples on full display.

"Hi." He said in a way that made your heart melt. Then: "Feel better?"

"Y- yeah, it was really hot before." Your words betrayed your body - being in the water wasn't cooling you off at all anymore.

You stood there for a few awkward moments in silence, not knowing what to say.

"Um-" You began.

"Woah y/n look out!" He cut you off, sudden panic on his face as he closed the small distance between the two of you.

Suddenly, a large wave crashed into your back. It pushed you straight into the only thing that would keep you standing - his body. Instinctively, you gripped onto his shirt tightly so you didn't fall, tugging it towards you. He didn't hesitate to wrap his strong arms around your waist to steady you. Only after the wave had passed did you realize what you'd done, quickly releasing the fabric from your hands. But he didn't let go.

"Are you okay?" He asked, worry in his tone.

You nodded, heart pounding loudly in your ears. However, you were shaking slightly.

He began leading you back towards the shore, not convinced. Stumbling onto the hot sand, he guided you back to the towels, sitting you down once you got there. Getting a smaller towel, he wrapped it around you so you could dry off, then he sat down next to you.

You looked at him, embarrassed. "You can go back if you want, I'll be fine here."

"No, I'm good." He leaned back a bit. "I'm not much of a swimmer anyways."

He then lifted his arm and ran his fingers through his damp hair, brushing it back off his forehead. You gulped, incredibly bothered by the motion.

He looked at you with a slight smirk. "Thirsty?"

"Yeah." You replied.

Smirk widening, he handed you an unopened water bottle. You drank, trying desperately to calm down.

Jamie ran up to you, Mark following close behind. "Y/n are you okay?" She asked, confused and concerned. "What happened?"

You explained without including the details that made you blush when you thought of them. She sat on the towel next to you, deciding not to go back out. Mark followed suit and shortly after Johnny joined you again when he realized everyone was out of the water.

After a bit, you began to get hungry and got up to try and find some food. Luckily, there was a food truck nearby with some cheap lunch. Returning to the towels, you ate in relative silence as the sun moved slowly west overhead. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking, playing with a frisbee, and sunbathing. You noticed Jaehyun seemed to be keeping you within a few feet of him the entire time, never leaving you alone or with the others. Even when you went back out with Jamie into the shallow water, he followed - even though he tried to appear like he wasn't.

.•°•. ♡ .•°•. ♡ .•°•. ♡ .•°•.

Once the sun went down, everything was packed up and taken back to the cars. You threw back on your shorts from earlier before heading to a nearby bar, open to the sea and cool night air. It was already crowded with many tourists, and once you entered you quickly lost sight of the others, later catching a glimpse of Jamie talking to Johnny off to the side with a drink in hand.

Seeing the bar, you made your way over to it by yourself and sat on one of the barstools. You beckoned the bartender over to order your drink.

"What can I get for you?" She asked, polishing a glass.

"A margarita please." you answered.

She then looked at the seat next to you. "And you sir?"

"A margarita for me too, thanks." A familiar voice answered.

You turned around in your seat to face Jaehyun, blinking at him.

He smiled and nodded in greeting, those adorable dimples reappearing on the corners of his mouth. Feeling your face heat up, you quickly turned to look at the bartender as she made your identical drinks.

You cleared your throat a little. "So... you like margaritas too?"

He chuckled softly at your attempt to break the awkwardness. "Truthfully, I've never tried one. Thought tonight was good first time."

You could feel his eyes on you, boring into your soul in an attempt to get your attention. When you couldn't take it any longer and tilted your head to look at him, his eyes immediately met yours. A slight smirk spread across his lips.

When your drinks were served, he was the first to take a sip, eyes not leaving you for a millisecond. You drank and shifted in your seat, fully aware of how he was checking you out as his eyes began to roam. You wondered if maybe you should've put on a shirt over your bikini top to cover yourself better. But that thought was quickly dismissed as a new one took its place. You liked it - the way his attention was focused on no one but you. There were plenty of other hot girls there that night, but he paid them no mind.

The hours drifted by as those around you melted away and it felt like you and Jae were the only two in the entire world. The music and voices of patrons were only a buzz in the distant background as you focused on his soft words. You found you enjoyed each others company - he made you comfortable with the idea of spending as much time in it as possible.

When the clock struck ten, you could feel the beginnings of fatigue creeping into your mind. An incoming text made his phone buzz. He checked it, relaying the message to you after briefly lifting up his eyebrows in surprise.

"Your friend's heading back to the hotel with Johnny and Mark, she's driving them there."

"Oh!" You replied in surprise, glancing around the bar but finding them already gone. You knew what was probably going to happen to Jamie, but you didn't voice it.

He looked at you for about a minute before speaking again, slowly. "Do you.. wanna come to my place?"

You met his eyes again, heart and mind racing at his invitation. The implications of his question didn't slip by you, they were fully realized. Still, it didn't take you long to make up your mind - in fact, you'd already made it before he'd asked.

"Yes." You replied.

He smiled wide and grabbed your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours. You quickly slid off your barstool and exited the bar, making for the car. You giggled as he pulled you along. The moon shone down on you from high overhead, lighting the way. Once reaching the car, he opened the passenger door for you and you hopped inside as he then closed it and rounded the car to his seat. Getting in, he started the car and drove out onto the road towards his apartment.

Your mind raced as you made the silent drive to his apartment, listening to the low sounds of the radio coming through the speakers. It only took a few minutes before he was parking, getting out, and coming around to help you out of the car. Grasping your hand tightly again, he lead you into the building. The lobby of his apartment had only dim lights on at this time to illuminate the room. No one was around. Jaehyun took a left after guiding you through the main doors.

"This way." He practically whispered, taking you into the elevator.

He hit the three and the doors closed, leaving you alone in the small space with him for a few moments. He didn't waste any time in turning you around to face him, closing the gap between you. Locking his lips with yours in a heated first kiss, he backed you up into the elevator wall, driving you up it slightly with his strong arms. You instinctively wrapped your limbs around his body to steady yourself and kissed him back. You could taste both him and the drink he'd had at the bar - the mixture was heavenly.

A ding signified your arrival at his floor, forcing you to part. Thankfully for the both of you, his door wasn't too far away. Pulling you down the hall quickly, Jae stopped at his door and took out his keys, fumbling with them for a few seconds as he tried to rush. When the door was unlocked, he pushed it open, letting you both walk through before harshly closing it again.

For the few seconds it took for him to throw the keys on a small table next to the door you glanced around the dark apartment. Through a cracked door to your left you could make out a bathroom. A small kitchen stretched across most of the right wall from the door, a long bar separating it from the rest of the room. In this main room was both his living area and bedroom. His bed was pushed up against the farthest wall, which was taken up entirely by two giant windows. The moonlight shone through them, illuminating a balcony on the other side that looked out into the night and the street below, where palm trees waved back and forth in a light breeze.

The sudden grip of his large hand on your waist from behind made you jump. He spun you around, and gave you that soul piercing stare that made all your self-control fade away. You leaned in this time, seeing a smirk spread across his face right before you closed your eyes. As soon as your lips brushed against his again, he picked up were you'd left off, kissing you relentlessly and leaving you breathless. Slowly, he backed you up further into the apartment until the backs of your legs bumped up against the edge of the bed as you struggled to bring air to your lungs.

He lifted you just enough to clear the mattress and sit you down on top of it. Climbing onto it himself, he gently laid you down onto the sheets underneath him. He kept himself up with his knees, one on each side of you as he started to move his plush lips down to your neck. He proceeded to mark you, painting several dark spots onto your skin that would surely be there the next day.

"Ah, Jae." You moaned out for the first time, when the tenseness that had been building between your legs became too much to stay silent.

He paused. "What is it princess?"

"I need..." You began, heating up at the petname.

"Yes?" He asked patiently, waiting for your commanding words. He smiled down at you, raising a hand to your cheek to stroke it soothingly.

"You." You finished, meeting his gaze. "I need you."

He smiled wider. "Sure thing."

Removing his hand from your face, he moved it down to the waistband of your shorts. Unbuttoning them with both hands, he slipped them off and down your ankles with ease. Placing his strong hand on your upper thigh, he spread it away from the other and began moving his fingers closer to your heat. Shivering at his touch, you sunk deeper into the bedsheets. He let his fingertips get to the edge of your bikini bottoms, but stopped there, teasing you.

"Hey-" You breathed, scolding him when you realized what he was doing.

He looked down at you, hair messily splayed around your head as your chest rose and fell beneath him. Your skin was beginning to glisten with perspiration, your eyelashes fluttering slightly every time you blinked your half-closed eyes. "Hm?"

You took a moment to respond. "Touch me Jae."

He smiled a dark smile as he brushed your bikini bottoms to the side. The first touch of his fingertips against your slick clit had you lifting your hips up off the bed, curses falling from your lips. He forced them back down, pinning you to the bed with his body. He quickly resumed his actions, running his fingers back and forth over your folds as you moaned at the pleasure. He then suddenly inserted a finger into your dripping core.

"Ah-" You gasped in surprise as he continued, using his thumb to trace circles across your clit. It was all too much for you to handle. He watched as you gradually lost control beneath him, writhing about in pleasure. The dangerous combination of things he was doing to you quickly brought your first high like a rising wave that crashed into the beach before it.

You didn't have time to warn him before your walls clamped down on his finger and your juices spilled out onto his hand, sheets, and down your legs. He let you ride out your orgasm and calm all the way down before removing his finger and sitting up, licking every last bit of you from his fingers. You peered down the bed at him, watching in fascination as he lapped it up like a man starved.

"Shit, you taste good." He complimented, making your face feel flushed.

When his hand was clean, he bent down and stuck his head between your legs. A second later, you felt the flick of his tongue on your inner thigh. He left a trail of wet kisses up it, making his way back up to your heat. Without warning, you felt his lips brush against your folds as he proceeded to use his tongue to clean you up as best he could. His hot breath against your pussy made you squirm and draw your legs up closer to your chest. Once satisfied he sat up again, licking the last of you from his lips.

He then repositioned himself above you. Removing his swim trunks, his hard member sprung free and stood erect, precum trickling from its pink tip. Slipping a couple of fingers into the waistband of your bikini bottoms, he pulled then down your legs, leaving them with your shorts at your ankles. Lining up with your entrance, he held himself up with his strong arms, caging you in. You looked up at him, his faded purple hair messy across his face. He gave you a reassuring smile - dimples and all - before pushing into you with ease and rolling his hips down onto yours. Matching the pace he set, you pulled his face back down to yours to kiss him again, softer this time. He complied, kissing you deeper and slower as he pushed further into you with each thrust.

When he bottomed out, he speed up the movement of his hips, gripping yours to bring them closer to his. The lewd sounds of sex filled the apartment, combined with both of your increasingly loud moans.

"Jae." You moaned out, breaking your kisses. You felt the tenseness building in your abdomen again.

He groaned as you felt him twitch inside you. "Fuck, you sound so hot saying my name like that."

He then hit your g-spot with the tip of his cock, pushing you over the edge. You came undone all at once, flexing your walls around him, gasping for air. Seconds later, hot strings of his cum shot through you, spilling out onto the bed along with your own. Riding out your orgasms simultaneously, your heavy breathing gradually quieted until he pulled out and sat up on the bed beside you. Watching him slide off the edge and stand up, your eyes followed him as he made his way to the bathroom entrance, ducking in for a second and returning with a towel.

Climbing back onto the bed, he leaned over you and gently cleaned you up with the towel, being extra careful around your sore clit. When most of it was wiped up, he discarded the towel onto the floor and laid down next to you. You rolled onto your side to look at him in the moonlight.

His skin had a visible sheen to it and his hair was a fucking mess - it stuck partially to his damp skin. But that only made his perfectly sculpted features more beautiful. You felt him wrap his arm around your naked waist, holding you to his body. Brushing a loose strand of hair away from your face, he spoke for the first time in minutes.

"Let's do this again tomorrow."

In your fucked out state, you couldn't respond with much else than an excited nod as you snuggled up to him. He gently kissed your swollen lips, happy.

Brushing your nose with his, he whispered: "Night y/n."

You replied by kissing him back, closing your eyes, and drifting off to sleep in his arms.

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sapphicyanli · 3 years ago

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SO I can't get Soohyun and Jinjoo as lawful girlfriends out of my head so here's some thoughts from me:

• They definitely meet through Gaon, that's just inevitable. Either from one of those times when Soohyun picks up Gaon from his office or when Jinjoo visits Gaon at his house to work on files of their case together. There are tons of possibilities and if I don't stop myself, this post would be just me writing down a literal fict of these two.

• And one day, Soohyun just asked gaon, "Can you give me Judge Jinjoo's number? You know, for, uhm, emergency purposes. I'm still uncomfortable communicating with Kang Yohan, even when it's something about work or you, so" and of course, Gaon just give it to her.

• Soohyun, after gathering the courage for a whole week, finally sends her first text to Jinjoo. she nearly screamed when Jinjoo immediately texted back excitedly, "Oh!? Soohyun? Yoon Soohyun?! I miss you, are you well? ... we should hang out more often you know, just the two of us!"

• And Then, they goes on to so many different places to hang out after that. Jinjoo is actually a foodie as much as Soohyun is, so most of the times their destination is a viral or new restaurants around the town. Jinjoo is usually the one who suggested the place and Soohyun just happily follows her because 1) Jinjoo's pick never disappoint and 2) she's happy wherever it is as long as she's with Jinjoo. They never run out of things to talk about and Jinjoo makes every topic interesting. but even when they're together in silence, the quietness feels comfortable.

• The more they spend time together, the more they know about each other, Soohyun then realizes that this all feels new yet good to her. it's different from the "love" feeling she thought she had for Gaon, but it doesn't scare her, because why would she? she realized her heart feels like it's jumping to a cloud nine whenever Jinjoo is close to her, how she feels that being with Jinjoo is something that she doesn't know she need and want until she hears Jinjoo's melodic laugh and she wants to hear that forever, want it to be the only thing she ever heard from now on, how much she wanna hold her hand as they stroll through the street, then gives her a goodbye kiss when they have to separate by the end of their "hang outs'' because it'll at least lessening the yearning she feels towards the long haired woman whenever she's not around.

• Their height difference(because Jinjoo likes to wear heels as well)is gonna be so cute and one day Soohyun just couldn't take her eyes off of her(She actually does that a lot and Jinjoo noticer it tok but it take some time for Jinjoo to confront her about it) and Jinjoo, the ever so confident and cheerful Jinjoo, nervously slipping some few strands behind her ear, feeling a bit anxious when the woman of her dreams looking up at her with such an intensity, "w-what is it? is there something on my face?" and Soohyun answered with a low voice, shy, but with a soft smile on her face, "nothing, you just look really beautiful. as always." and Jinjoo might passed out here and there.

• Gaon, eventually being the person that sees both Jinjoo and Soohyun frequently, can't help but noticed that his best friend #1 and best friend #2 often goes missing together for various occasions and times. So, when Jinjoo rejected to join gaon and yohan for dinner at a fancy restaurant after finishing a big case, because she promised to Soohyun that she will celebrate it with Soohyun instead by going to Jinjoo's favorite cafè and to cinema that day, Gaon just blurted out, "what, you guys are dating now?" and Jinjoo just run, leaving Gaon in a complete shock.

• Later that day when Gaon sees Soohyun in front of his house with Jinjoo being the one that drop her off, he teases her, "So this is what the emergency purposes are, Soohyun-ah" and the couple just blushing and stealing glances to each other. Oh and he definitely is going to use the, "Hey hey, don't do that to me. I'm the reason why you finally has a girlfriend, you don't wanna do harm on me or I'll tell Jinjoo'' card on her whenever she's pissed at him and trying to beat his ass.

• Jinjoo would definitely check up on Soohyun a lot, no matter how busy and tired she is at the court. Asking her in the middle of the day if she has eaten lunch yet, what she wants for dinner that day, does she a have a lot works to do today, willing to listen whenever Soohyun rant to her about her equally tiring job, and then telling her to relax, that she's doing a good job and that she can't wait to see her later.

• While Soohyun is more quiet with her love language, in my opinion. she likes to observe and thus, she often prepared coffee and snacks whenever Jinjoo need to stay up due to her job when she noticed exhaustion begin to taking over her, helping her by giving her judge girlfriend some perspectives and inputs as a police officer when some of the cases stressed her out more than usual(#big_brains_lawful_girlfriends), she would massage Jinjoo's tensing shoulders from sitting for hours, and then let Jinjoo using her as a pillow when she finally gives in to Soohyun's words to finally go to sleep.

• You could say Gaon is just as happy as Soohyun is with her and Jinjoo's relationship. At one point he said, "You've been spending a lot of time in your life looking after other people and taking care of them. you deserve someone that's willing to do the same for you wholeheartedly. Have yourself some rest now, Soohyun-ah. I know it's been tiring and hard for you" and if she happen to wipe a tear or two, that is simply nobody's business.

• Later on, to a gala that the powerpuff girls(Jinjoo, Yohan, Gaon)are being invited to, Yohan raised his eyebrows in surprise while Gaon's smiling proudly when Jinjoo arrived with Soohyun as her date, their arms linked sweetly together. She's wearing the blue, sequin dress and Soohyun's a simple white suit. They spend the night parading their love, not once letting go of each other for too long, and they even dance in the middle of the room, letting everyone see how in love they are with each other.

• Oh, that Kang Yohan picture on Jinjoo's desk? it has been replaced with her and Soohyun's picture together in a pastel pink frame from their date in an amusement park. Gaon often sees her taking off her glasses in exhaustion, and then she will reached out for the frame, staring at it for a good amount of time, and get back to work with more energy than before.

• Next thing you know, lawful girlfriends then adopting Elijah. It started with Jinjoo visiting the Kangs house and Elijah saw the photo Jinjoo used as her lockscreen and said, "Isn't that gaon's friend? The one with short hair? You know her too?" then Jinjoo smugly answered, "How could I not know my own girlfriend?" and Elijah just... smiled. She doesn't know why, but maybe it's because of the way Jinjoo looks at the photo on her phone with so much fondness in her eyes and in her lovely smile it's just contagious. Then Elijah just asked, "Let's go shopping together, the three of us. and eat after that too maybe." and how Soohyun and Jinjoo could ever deny Elijah's wish to spend her time together with them whenever she asked them to?

• Yohan: She stole my associate judge AND my niece too now? I feel like I barely see Elijah home these days. Kim gaon, tell your best friend that she nee—

#this ship got me this bad #oh jin joo #oh jinjoo #yoon soohyun #yoon soo hyun #tvn the devil judge #the devil judge #tdj #mine #lawful girlfriends

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kmikaelsonimagines · 4 years ago

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The Lakes: A Kol Mikaelson Imagine

Request from Anon: The Lakes by Taylor Swift. Can Kol save the reader from drowning?

So, I’ve included the second verse of the song before the chorus in this which I don’t usually do, because otherwise it would be very short. Hope this is okay for you lovely, and enjoy x

Want to hear the song? Find a link to it just below:

The Lakes

Is it romantic how all my elegies eulogize me? I'm not cut out for all these cynical clones These hunters with cell phones

It started with an accident.

It was dark, and it sounded cliché, but you had always been told not to walk by the Bayou late at night. Maybe that was why you had defied every bit of advice you’d been given, warned about the monsters that lurked in the most sinister part of New Orleans.

Vampires. Werewolves. Yeah, right.

You hadn’t been saying that when there was a man sinking his teeth into your neck, draining you of blood. You were sure you were going to die, that you would fall to the floor lifeless, already thinking about what your friends would say at your funeral.

But then the man had stopped, clearly thinking you were dead. He had thrown you into the Bayou, and had left with inhuman speed. You could swim, but you were weak, and couldn’t muster up the strength. You weren’t cut out for this life, you realised, as you felt the oxygen leave your lungs.

You were going to drown and then-

And then a pair of arms lifted you out of the lake and there was a wrist held up to your lips.

“Drink. It’ll help.”

You looked up at the stranger, the first time you ever saw Kol Mikaelson genuinely smile.

What should be over burrowed under my skin In heart-stopping waves of hurt

He had saved you, and as a result, Kol Mikaelson didn’t let you out of his sight.

He explained to you who he was, what he was, and told you to be more careful, to promise him that you wouldn’t take a late night stroll in this part of town ever again. You would have been stupid not to agree.

That was a week ago.

You had felt his stare on you as you continued on with your life, could feel him burrowed under your skin. There was something about him that had you captivated, and every time you looked over at him, hoping he wouldn’t notice you caring about whether or not or he was paying attention to you, you felt your heart stop.

He was stunning. Out of your league, definitely, but nonetheless stunning.

You were grabbing a coffee when you felt him staring at you again, just across the street. You felt the heat rise to your cheeks, the potential for hurt to form in your heart when you inevitably realised that he was only there to check up on you, not because he cared like you wanted him to.

You turned and faced him, and he caught you looking, the second time you ever saw Kol Mikaelson genuinely smile.

I've come too far to watch some namedropping sleaze Tell me what are my words worth

“Maybe you’d like to get dinner with me some time, Y/N?”

Two weeks since he had saved you, two weeks since you had met someone who made you feel so different from everyone else. You had been with men before, sleazes who didn’t value you for your intellectual worth, who criticised everything you said before trying to get you into bed.

You had a feeling that Kol Mikaelson wasn’t like that. He had saved your life after all, saved you from falling into a murky abyss permanently.

So maybe he wasn’t the conventional date, what with immortality and the desire for blood, not to mention he was definitely an older guy, but maybe that was what you needed. He made your heart flutter in a way no-one had ever made it flutter before, made your dreams so much sweeter as his image appeared in your mind.

He made you think that you could find happiness, made you think that you could live your life valued and feeling like you were worth loving. Your answer was easy.

“I’d like that.”

He named a time and a place, the third time you ever saw Kol Mikaelson genuinely smile.

Take me to the Lakes where all the poets went to die I don't belong and, my beloved, neither do you

It was three weeks since that perfect first date, three weeks into a miracle of a relationship with Kol Mikaelson, when you made the decision to go back to the Bayou.

“Are you sure, Y/N?”

You nodded, knowing that Kol would be with you every step of the way. The event that had allowed you and Kol to meet had haunted you since it had happened, and you needed to face that lake again, to battle your fears.

He held your hand tightly as you looked out on it, his fingers wrapped around yours as he kissed your temple. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

And thank God for that. You were sure that without him, you would have crumbled. The vast expanse of water scared you still, and you never wanted to feel what it had made you feel again. Emptiness, death looming closer than you ever thought it would.

You didn’t belong in the place where the dead lived. Neither did Kol. And you knew that, as long as you had him by your side, you wouldn’t be going there anytime soon. You leaned into him and whispered the words that you had never said to him before. “I love you.”

The Original uttered them back, the fourth time you ever saw Kol Mikaelson genuinely smile.

Those Windermere peaks look like a perfect place to cry I'm setting off, but not without my muse

On the anniversary of the day that Kol had saved Y/N, the Original crept out of bed. He pulled on his clothes, quietly so as not to wake her, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

She had been through Hell and back, even after the accident, as was expected in joining his family. She had been through it all, not a single complaint on her lips, and he loved her for it. Kol got into his car and drove, always thinking of her, thinking of the joy on her face when she learnt what he was up to.

He imagined there would be some tears too, from both of them, no doubt brought on by his question and by the beautiful mountainous backdrop he envisaged. He had everything planned out, but there was just one more thing to do.

He entered the shop, and showed the owner the diamond in his hand. “I need a necklace out of this,” Kol sighed, “and one massive engagement ring.”

It was the first step towards Kol and Y/N setting off and living the perfect life together. She was his everything, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She had been so troubled, and she deserved the best. He only hoped he could be that for her.

He couldn’t wait to see her genuinely smile.

Masterlist

Folklore Masterlist

#the vampire diaries #TVD #tvd imagine #tvd imagines #the originals #to #the originals imagines #the originals imagine #Kol mikaelson #kol mikaelson imagines #kol mikaelson imagine #kol mikaelson x reader #nate buzolic #nate buzz #Nathaniel Buzolic

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jaskierswolf · 4 years ago

Note

Hey darling 😘 can I get a little bard on bard action? How about Jaskier and Dandelion cause some kind of chaos so they duck into an alleyway to hide 👀👀👀👀

You most certainly can!! You know I’m a hoe for jaskilion. 💖

This is 1.4k of filth. 18+ for smutty reasons. Jaskilion brings out the horny.

Warnings: Alley way blow jobs?, I think that encompasses it. Please 18+ only.

____________

“Oh bloody hell!” Dandelion cried, holding onto his hat as they sprinted through the streets of Novigrad. “This is all your fault!”

Jaskier scoffed, allowing himself to be pulled along. He was enjoying the feel of the other bard’s hand in his, long lutist fingers laced with his own, fingers that he’d had all sorts of sinful thoughts about since Dandelion and Geralt had been thrown into their world. The Geralts were predictably both looking for a way to fix the collision of their dimensions, but Jaskier and Dandelion had hit it off right away. He would be sad to say goodbye to the gorgeous blond troubadour. Was he narcissistic? Perhaps, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Dandelion barely even looked like him, their songs were completely different too, as were their lives. As far as Jaskier was concerned, Dandelion was just another stunning bard that he’d fallen hopelessly in love with.

It was a terrible habit. He just had too much love to give.

“How is this my fault?” He asked Dandelion, tripping over his own feet as they flew round a corner into the market place.

Dandelion paused just long enough to give him a withered look, before they heard the thunder of angry footsteps.

“Shit!” Dandelion pulled his hand and they dived behind a market stall.

“I’m just saying—”

“Well don’t!”

Jaskier rolled his eyes, glancing around the edge of the market stall. The men were still looking for them and two brightly coloured bards were not well hidden, even in Novigrad. “I’m just saying,” he repeated in a hushed voice “it’s hardly my fault. They were insulting our witchers. What else was I supposed to do?”

Dandelion whined, his back pressed up against the wooden slats. “You could have tried to convince them otherwise, or, I don’t know… a song?”

Jaskier snorted. The men had not been the type to enjoy a song about witchers. They were thugs and he’d responded accordingly. He’d thought Dandelion would have his back in the subsequent fight but instead Dandelion had pulled him from the tavern, leaving their precious lutes with their witchers.

“A song?”

“We’re bards.” Dandelion hissed, peeking his head around the other stall. “Oh shit.”

“What?”

“I think they saw me.”

Jaskier groaned and scrambled to his feet, pulling the poet up with him, and they were off again. Jaskier winced when he heard the yell of the men’s shouts. Dandelion was behind him this time, spluttering complaints as they ran to the dingy end of town, the paved streets turning to dirt and puddles, splattering their trousers as they ran. Jaskier’s legs were starting to tire from all the running around, he was built for walking miles, not sprinting around the city.

“Ah, umm… this way!” He cried and tugged Dandelion into the nearest alley way. Dandelion stumbled, his hands grazing the ground, and it was only Jaskier’s grip on his wrist that kept him from falling on his face.

Before Dandelion could argue Jaskier threw the poet against the wall and covered his mouth with his hand. “Hmmph!” Jaskier smirked and winked, but Dandelion was having none of it. The poet clawed at his hands and wriggled free. “Would you get off?” He snapped.

“Shhh,” Jaskier hissed, glancing warily at the opening of the alley. He could still hear the shouts of the angry thugs that were chasing them, and sadly the pair of them stood out like a sore thumb.

He pressed his body closer against Dandelion’s, trying to hide the soft blond curls from view by holding the poet’s head in his hands. Their lips were barely an inch apart, and Jaskier could feel the warmth on Dandelion’s breath on his skin. He swallowed, his eyes transfixed as Dandelion licked his lips. He felt heady, his pulse still racing from the run. It was Dandelion’s turn to wink, his hand gripping Jaskier’s arse. Jaskier shivered, his breath caught in his throat. His fingers threaded into Dandelion’s hair, knocking his hat to the floor, and he let out a soft groan as their lips finally met in a hungry kiss. He moaned into Dandelion’s mouth, their tongue brushing against each other, and he pulled at the poet’s hair.

He could feel Dandelion’s erection hard against his own, the poet writhing underneath him as Jaskier pulled Dandelion’s bottom lip between his teeth. Dandelion gasped as Jaskier reached down to grip his cock through his trousers, nimble fingers making light work of the ties at the front. When Jaskier finally had Dandelion’s cock in his hands he couldn’t help but drop to his knees in front of the poet. He’d been dreaming about getting his mouth on Dandelion ever since he’d seen the poet perform for the first time. There was just something about the way he commanded the stage that made Jaskier weak at the knees. He was brilliant, of course, and he knew it. He strutted about the stage like it was made in his honour, like not even the gods could match his brilliance… and Jaskier wanted to worship him.

He licked a stripe from the base of Dandelion’s cock, mouthing at the tip, his own prick aching in his trousers as Dandelion moaned sinfully, hands tugging at Jaskier’s hair. Jaskier gasped as his head was pulled back, he gazed up at gorgeous man in front of him. Dandelion’s lips were red and swollen, his face was flushed. He looked utterly debauched already, dark eyes glazed over, curls falling messily down past his shoulders.

Jaskier gripped Dandelion’s cock, wrapping his fingers around the base, biting his lip and tilting his head in an unspoken question. He would stop if Dandelion really wanted him to, but holy mother of fuck it might be the end of his life as he knew it.

“Oh darling, you are such a sight,” Dandelion cooed, his fingers stroking Jaskier’s cheek.

“Dandelion,” Jaskier voice was thick with lust. “I am not above begging.”

Dandelion chuckled, pulling once more at Jaskier’s hair. Jaskier gasped, he felt like he was on fire, his thoughts hazy as the tip of Dandelion’s cock brushed against his cheek. “I’d love to see you beg, but perhaps when we’re somewhere more private?”

Jaskier hummed in agreement. He licked his lips and gazed up at Dandelion, a smirk gracing in lips. “I can be quick.”

“Go on then, darling, impress me,” Dandelion purred, the challenge clear in his voice.

Jaskier moaned and finally wrapped his lips around Dandelion’s cock, sucking wantonly at the tip, his tongue flicking over the slit. He moaned, working the base in his hands, taking as much as he could into his mouth. Dandelion’s breathy moans above him made Jaskier ached. He shuffled forward so he could rut against Dandelion’s leg, desperate for some kind of friction.

“Fuck!” Dandelion hissed, bucking into Jaskier’s mouth.

Jaskier closed his eyes as Dandelion’s cock hit the back of his throat but he didn’t stop, he couldn’t stop. He was shaking as his own orgasm threatened to overcome him. The sounds coming from Dandelion’s lips were too much, and his cock just felt so good, heavy on Jaskier’s tongue. He’d always loved pleasuring his partners, he got off on it and now was no exception.

“Jaskier, fuck… Jask…” Dandelion stammered, thrusting into his mouth without a care.

Jaskier moaned, stars dancing in his vision as he came untouched, and he pulled back as Dandelion came down his throat. He swallowed down as much as he could, wiping his mouth as he pulled off Dandelion’s cock. He took a shaky breath and winked up at Dandelion. The poet looked completely wrecked and gods if that didn’t make Jaskier’s prick twitch in his pants already. Fuck, he was getting too old for this.

Jaskier got to his feet, gripping Dandelion’s shoulder to steady himself, knees barely supporting his own weight. Dandelion laced up his trousers as Jaskier caught his breath, then pulled him into a searing kiss. Jaskier licked into Dandelion’s mouth eagerly, finally getting his hands back into those gorgeous thick curls. Dandelion nipped at his lip as they broke apart. “Do you need…”

Jaskier laughed breathlessly “No, I’m… I’m ok.”

Dandelion tilted his head, raising an eyebrow, brilliant blue eyes flickering down to the wet stain in the front of Jaskier’s trousers. “Ah, pity. Next time then?”

Jaskier grinned, placing one last kiss on Dandelion’s lips. “Next time, although I do demand a bed, I want to be spoilt.”

Dandelion laughed and linked their arms as they strolled back through town to the tavern, both bard and poet forgetting why they’d been in the alley to begin with until…

“Oi! There they are!”

“Oh bollocks!” Jaskier groaned, where were two witchers when you needed them?

____________________

Tagging some people: @geraltrogerericduhautebellegarde, @damatris, @geraskier-trashh, @skai6, @kueble, @herostag,

#the witcher #jaskilion #jaskier x dandelion #nsft #18+ only pls #mind the warnings #julian alfred pankratz #multiverse #wolfie's witcher writing #geraltrogerericduhautebellegarde

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trashforhockeyguys · 4 years ago

Text

Don’t Hold Me -13- Carter Hart

A/N: After a little break I’m back!! All previous parts are linked in my master list, as always! This is also super super fluffy. So enjoy that!!

You held tightly to Carter as you walked into the restaurant. You tried not to think too much about it, even if this wasn’t something you really wanted to do, you knew it had to be done. Ethan was only in town for a few days, and he needed to meet Carter. Carter was your….boyfriend. Which seemed strange to even think about. It all kind of snuck up on you, but here you were.

“Just don’t feel bad if he harasses you about your stats,” You tried to tell him, “He kind of does that to everyone. Comes from years of playing, and growing up with guys that are in the league now.”

“Y/N, it’s fine. I can handle TK when he goes into protective bother mode, I think I can handle your actual brother.”

Your hands started sweating a little bit. You’d never been this nervous for your brother to meet anyone before, but that’s because you hadn’t felt this way about anyone else in a very very long time. It felt strange, the warmth spreading through your chest and the butterflies in your stomach. But these butterflies weren’t a warning, they were a way of telling you that this was a really good decision. Carter was a good thing, not someone to be afraid of.

“You didn’t have to offer to take us to a place this nice either,” you said, trying to smooth down your dress again, “He would’ve been fine with fast food or something.”

Carter nudged you with his shoulder and smiled, “Hey, I wanna show your brother that I can treat you right. Besides, it’s about time I treated you to a nice dinner.”

“But the dress, and the reservations, and all of the-”

“Y/N, I get you aren’t used to this,” he said softly, “But this is what it means to be with someone who cares. You’ve eyed that dress every time we’ve passed that boutique. Just let me take care of you? Please, just this once?”

He wasn’t wrong. You’d been dreaming of getting the dress. It wasn’t anything over the top, simple and classic. The silk wasn’t like anything you currently owned, it felt so unlike you, yet like it was made for you at the same time. So to say that you’d been more than surprised when you found it on your bed after you got back from classes today with a note from Carter had been an understatement.

“Do you trust me?” He smiled, it’d become like a thing between you two, even if it had a much deeper meaning.

“You know I do,” You replied softly.

He smiled and held onto you as the waiter led you to your table. Ethan wasn’t here yet, which you expected. You took a deep breath and sat down. You automatically started playing all the possible outcomes in your head. Maybe Ethan would hate Carter, maybe all of this was a big mistake.

“Do you want some wine?”

Your shoulders sagged, finally letting go of some of the weight that was bearing down on you, “Yeah, wine would be good.”

He laughed and signaled the waiter over before telling him what he wanted. After the waiter was gone, Carter reached over and grabbed your hand, trying to calm you down as much as he could. Your heart seemed to jump as soon as he touched you. You weren’t used to the good feeling that came with being with someone. You only knew the tear, not the pure joy.

Not two minutes later, Ethan came strolling in. You held your breath as he shook Carter’s hand. This felt big...This was going outside of the little bubble you made in Philly. Carter meeting your brother made this all real. There really was no going back now, Carter was officially part of your life.

“Hey you,” Ethan said, giving you a big hug.

“Hey.”

You held your breath as Carter held his hand out to Ethan. This felt too big. Ethan just smiled and did something that you didn’t expect, he hugged Carter. You went rigid for a moment, expecting something to backfire. You could tell that he said something to Carter, but you couldn’t tell what. But they were both smiling when the three of you sat down.

“So, stats are looking pretty good so far Carter.”

“Seriously Ethan? We haven’t even gotten any food yet.”

Ethan cracked a big smile and both boys laughed, “I’m just joking. Don’t worry, sis.”

“You’re going to kill me, Ethan.”

“Would you rather me have brought Kora?”

You eyed him, hoping he’d drop that subject for a moment. Under the table, you felt Carter’s hand brush your’s. You smiled softly. Your body seemed to relax as soon as your hand was in his, like he knew you needed something to calm you. This all felt so big.

“I need to thank you,” Ethan said, looking at Carter, “For taking care of her. She doesn’t like to admit it, but she needs people.”

Carter squeezed your hand. You felt your chest tighten just a little bit, but in a good way. Somehow a lot of your stress melted away in the last few days. You knew he was still out there, waiting, but you didn’t feel like you were being watched anymore. You felt a little safer, somehow. You were still scared to go anywhere alone, you knew he didn’t go anywhere near you as long as someone was with you.

“How are classes?”

“You always ask that, and I always tell you that it’s fine.” You groaned, taking a sip of your wine, “I’m crushing everything.”

He smiled and tipped his glass to you before taking a long swig of his drink. The three of you settled into a sort of rhythm. The conversation flipped between you and Ethan back home, and hockey, and Carter’s life when he wasn’t tied to the Flyers. You felt comfortable and safe with them together. And they seemed to actually enjoy being there. You liked the idea of your brother and your boyfriend getting along. You weren’t sure what you would’ve done if they didn’t.

Carter never let go of your hand. You knew he was doing that so you knew you had someone there. He’d squeeze it every now and again, a soft smile would tug on his lips. You were sure Ethan saw the gentle glaces between you and the young goalie, especially since you looked over at your older brother and saw him smiling just as softly. There was an understanding.

Ethan could see how happy you were, and how safe you felt. He liked the way Carter seemed to be willing to do whatever he had to make sure you were okay. Ethan knew you weren’t one to depend on people, but he often felt horrible that he wasn’t closer Philly. He wanted to be there for you all the time, but stayed thankful for Travis and Nolan who were a phone call away from you. But Carter brought something different to the mix.

“You seem happy,” Ethan said when Carter excused himself to use the bathroom.

“I think I am E.”

“He brings out something different in you,” He almost laughed, “Haven’t seen it in a while.”

“You know, Travis said the same thing last week. I told him he was full of shit.”

He had to choke back a laugh. You almost felt normal again. Eating dinner with your boyfriend and your brother, joking about random things. By the end of the night you felt super relaxed and light. You’d forgotten about all the things you were afraid of, and for a moment you didn’t even care.

You hugged Ethan goodbye and held onto Carter as the two of you walked throught the streets of Philly. You were comfortable with him, you felt like nothing wrong could happen as long as he was by your side.

You didn’t have a reason to doubt that. He’d never given you a reason to doubt him. In fact, he worked hard to prove that he wouldn’t let you down. You could never thank him enough for everything he’d done already. He opened his apartment to you, and now you spent more time there than you did in your dorm. Mostly because you didn’t like being in your dorm room alone when Kora wasn’t there. But even still, he told you that you could bring Kora over anytime you wanted, even when he was on a road trip. Which turned into a sleepover or two while he was gone.

“You’re very smiley,” He nudged you as the two of you turned the corner.

“I’m just happy,” You replied, tucking yourself into his side.

“Oh yeah?”

“Mmhm, my brother likes you,” You pointed out, “And you don’t hate him. So yeah, I’m happy.”

He let out a little laugh and kissed the top of your head. You hoped this feeling never went away. You didn’t understand what people were talking about when they said being in lobe felt like you were flying, but you understood now.

You didn’t want this feeling to ever go away. You liked being in love with Carter. Because...well you were in love with him. You weren’t sure if you’d ever know what this felt like, but now that you knew you never wanted it to go away.

“You know, I-”

You stopped dead in your tracks. You could feel the blood drain from your face. He was there, not more than a couple of hundred yards in front of you. You tugged Carter’s arm back, so he’d turn back around. It only took him one little glance at your face to tell that something was wrong.

“Y/N?”

“You need to get me out of here,” your throat felt like it was going to close up, “Please.”

“Hey, what’s wrong? Y/N?”

“He’s here.”

Next thing you knew Carter was opening the car door for you. You weren’t even sure how you got back to the car. Your whole body was shaking. The free feeling you were enjoying all night was gone. You could lie to yourself all you wanted, but as long as he was in the city, you wouldn’t be safe. He knew where to find you, and he’d keep coming back time and time again.

Your mind was racing, trying to come up with some type of plan. You couldn’t keep living in fear like this, it wasn’t healthy. You were meant to be living large, that’s what the college years were for. But instead you felt trapped. You couldn’t go home, and there wasn’t a place in this city that felt safe to you, not when he knew were everything was.

Carter’s hand was on your leg, reminding you that you were safe. You knew he wouldn’t let anyone hurt you. But that didn’t mean that you weren’t afraid for him. Being involved with you wasn’t easy anymore. Anything could happen to Carter and it could all be your fault.

“C’mon, let’s get you inside,” His voice was soft and gentle.

Everything with Carter just seemed warm and cozy, like a fire on a cold winter day. You were selfish in the way that you didn’t want to let that go. You never wanted to stop being able to experience it.

“How about a nice bath? I got those bath salt things you mentioned the other week. And those essential oils too. Would that help?”

You looked at him in a dazy kind of shocked way. You mentioned those things in passing just once. You told him they might help him wind down after a tough game or something, and that they always helped you. You were in awe of the man next to you. He had enough to think about with his own career, yet he was surprising you at every turn. Every chance he got, he was doing something to take care of you. Something that was completely unnecessary, yet he seemed to take pride in that.

When the two of you got into his apartment, he led you to the large master bath, which happened to have the very deep bathtub that you had the tendency to spend hours soaking in while he was on a road trip.

Carter had you sit on the closed toilet while he started to run the water for the bath. You watched as he set up a diffuser for the oils you liked, which you didn’t even know that he knew you to do. You realized as you sat there, that you’d never not feel completely at ease with Carter.

There was just something about him that made life easy for you. Despite everything that was happening, he made it easy.

Once the tub was filled, and everything ready for you, Carter turned and gave you a small smile. You wanted to ask what you’d done to deserve him. You couldn’t understand how life decided to bring you two together in such a way as this. But you were more than grateful.

“I’ll just be on the other side of the door if you need me, okay?”

You nodded, wishing there was some way you could ask him to stay. Only because you didn’t want to be alone. You wanted to spend as much time with him as you possibly could. Even though you were more than comfortable with him, you always seemed to have a ticking clock going in the back of your head, just waiting until school was over and the season ended. Who knows what would happen to the two of you once summer hit. You weren’t even sure where you were going, and how you’d manage to keep up with Carter.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Can you stay?” You said it before you could stop yourself, “Sorry….I didn’t mean to say that….I just didn’t want to be alone.”

He stood in the doorway for a second before glancing around the bathroom. His eyes seemed to land on a spot because a small smile tugged on the corner of his lips before he kicked off his shoes and tugged off his dress jacket and tie. He grabbed a spare fluffy towel and put it on the ground next to the end of the tub, where your head would be, and then sat down. From that spot, you knew his back would be to you.

“I’ll stay right here. Unless you don’t want me to.”

“No...staying is good.”

He settled onto his spot on the floor and pulled out his phone, “Do you want music?”

You nodded and waited until he looked away to start taking your dress off. You slid into the warm water around the same time that soft gentle music started playing from Carter’s phone. You settled into the warm water, willing it to somehow melt everything away.

Despite the fact that you were naked, with Carter just inches away from you, there wasn’t a bit of sexual tension. It was almost like this was normal. You couldn’t understand how he managed to make you feel so at ease all of the time. No matter the situation, he was the calm in the storm.

“Thank you.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw his hand reach back towards you. You reached over to grab it. The simple touch brought a strange sense of comfort to you. You weren’t sure how you’d allowed yourself to become so attached to him. You swore you wouldn't do this again, yet here you were. You always longed to be with him. No amount of time seemed to be long enough.

The warm water relaxed your muscles, you felt safe. Like nothing could get you inside these walls. You were safe and happy with him. Those two feelings seemed to be a constant. Which was something you were far from used to. You didn’t know what it was like...until now. You wished you could just bottle this moment and keep it forever. Keep the peace, and the happiness.

It wasn’t about falling anymore. Not when you already fell. You couldn’t stop something that already happened. The truth was, you were in love with him. You loved Carter more than you could understand. It snuck up on you, and didn’t give you a chance to defend yourself. But this...this was welcomed. Because somehow, you knew he was worthy of your love.

Because, the truth was... you loved Carter.

#Carter hart imagine #carter hart imagines #carter hart fanfic #carter hart fanfiction #Carter hart #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #nhl fanfic #nhl fanfiction #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #hockey fanfic #hockey fanfiction #flyers imagine #flyers imagines #flyers fanfic #flyers fanfiction #Philly Flyers #nicolechats

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juminly · 4 years ago

Note

Hi Juminly :) How would the Van Gogh brothers and maybe even Arthur if you don’t mind, react to a shy female!future s/o (like they are still friends, still didn’t realize their feelings I guess) who initiates and holds their hands for the first time? Thank you x

Love the prompt! Thank you, anon💜

Scenarios of Vincent, Theo and Arthur with a shy s/o who holds their hand for the first time

Vincent Van Gogh

He never felt the need to be physically close with anyone. But with you, it was a different case.

The first time you hugged him, he wondered why it didn't last longer.

Baby boy always looked at your hands, wondered how they would feel in his. He knew lovers always held hands but couldn't friends do it too?

This angel always wanted to hold your hand but whenever you were out together, even when just taking a stroll, it came naturally to link your arm with his.

He wanted more and he had tried to many times. And he failed. Whenever you were in town, he'd chase to hold your hand in his but you'd somehow escape from his hold as you would excitedly window shop or run after the smell of something that's scent was so heavenly, you wouldn't be able to resist it.

You were always a bit too shy to hold his hand to drag him by the hand where you wanted, so linking your arms was always what you would do.

One day, you decided to wander around l'Avenue de l'Opéra and came across a violinist, playing a piece that sounded so beautiful yet bittersweet. The musician was playing and smiling down at a baby bassinette basket.

As you approached the basket, finding a puppy and kitten cuddling (and the puppy seemed to be protectively looking after the feline).

Your hands just instinctively reached out for Vincent's, squeezing it as you weren't expecting to come across the most adorable sight you've ever seen. You had a soft spot for animals and unshed tears were burning in your eyes.

While you were too preoccupied by the cuteness of the little fur babies, a wave of warmth spread through Vincent's chest as he felt the softness of your hand in his.

The small prickling feeling in his chest was not like anything he ever felt before. It wasn't painful, it was nice and he wanted more of it.

A brilliant smile had stretched on the angel's face and he murmured to himself softly: "Finally".

Now that he held your hand for the first time, don’t expect him to settle for anything less. He sees absolutely no reason why he can’t hold his friend’s hand.

Every time you would blush or shy away from holding his hand, Vincent had the most serene (and unapologetic smile) on that beautiful face of his.

Theodorus Van Gogh

You have been bestowed the great honour of being one of his favourite people.

You had no idea about that but everyone knew and teased Theo about it. He would just brush them off and run his foul mouth as usual, to cover up for him embarassment.

Being literally the only person he enjoyed drinking with at the bar (aside from Arthur) was very telling but you thought nothing of it.

Theo's excuse was that you were a lightweight Hondje and someone had to look after you. And Arthur was untrustworthy. Not that he actually believed that but he had to come up with some sort of excuse to spend time with you.

Being quite shy, Theo noticed that once you had some social lubricant in you, you loosened up a bit and he was too curious about you not to take up the chance to get to know you better.

One on one interactions were much easier for you since it allowed you to feel more comfortable and less shy.

Things went from just taking you out for drinks from time to time to weekly bar hangouts (dates) to meeting up at the bar day after day. It became like a ritual for the both of you and getting you away from the rowdiness of the mansion helped you relax.

You actually had absolutely no idea that all the drinks you were served at the bar were watered down (way more than you actually thought). Theo had given clear instructions to the barman to always serve you watered down alcohol since your hangover recovery was atrocious and too long. (he hated knowing/watching you suffer like that... even if it was just a hangover)

Pretty boy thinks he can handle his liquor very well and drinks more than you.

Little did he know, his footsteps would usually be just a tiny tiny bit unstable as you walked the streets to find a carriage home. One night though, his strides were definitely a bit wonky.

To keep him from actually tripping, you reached out for his hand and pulled him towards you.

With the liquid courage in your veins, you teased. "I didn't know you were a clumsy drunk, Theo."

He was too busy trying to get over the drumming of his heart in his chest and staring at your hand in his.

Not able to formulate a sarcastic reply, he just went with a dry "Sh-shut it, Hondje".

Wait, did he actually stutter?

It was really dark but the man was definitely blushing.

The guy couldn't stop thinking about how soft your hands felt and how small they were in his large hands. It aroused in him emotions that he never felt before and one of them was possessiveness.

It was strange to him but he just felt the need to keep you close.

He was a sly man, covering it up by clearing his throat and squeezing your hand in return.

"Don't let go, Knabbeltje. Your balance is worse than mine."

Lies, Theo. Lies, you tall handsome tsundere.

Your balance is not worse than his. He’s just making up an excuse to keep holding your hand (And he’ll keep using it until he mans up and makes you his!).

Arthur Conan Doyle

Playing games was no fun if you played them alone. Arthur liked company and especially yours.

You were a shy and sweet little thing and he wanted to eat you up. Literally.

But he was holding himself back because he was a complete gentleman with you. He didn't fail to notice that you were either too uncomfortable being around him because he flirted with you too much/hard or that you blushed and got too flustered around him to actually be able to function properly.

He began to lay off on all the flirt flexing and he saw something in you. (He told himself that it was just the writer in him itching to see what kind of material he would get inspired with by being with you.)

Once you got over his flirtatious side, you discovered that he was actually so much fun to be around.

You were his partner for a reason.

After a long day of playing detective, you treated Arthur to some crepes from a shop that you had come across while going grocery shopping with Sebastian the other day.

Taking a stroll through the city, you always happened to find yourselves walking by La Seine and it basically became your spot.

There weren't many people usually this time of night and Arthur was always glad to be there with you. It wasn't safe for a cute young lady such as yourself to be wandering Paris all alone.

Talking the night away, discussing everything from the little cases you handle to how things were back in your time, you found yourselves at the famous Pond des Arts.

You told him about the love locks and how lovers would often be found there, holding hands, kissing and attaching their own padlocks and throwing the key in the river.

He wanted to do something like that with you... he couldn’t explain why he felt that way but he just wanted to have that with you. (Boy is in love ~)

He was definitely intrigued by the idea and deep down, he thought that it was a shame that the tradition didn’t exist yet in the Paris they lived in.

Not knowing or understanding where you got the boldness from, you took Arthur’s hand shyly and led him over the bridge. “Love is not only between lovers, but also between friends. Next time, we’ll get the padlock and be the first people to ever put one on the bridge”.

Soft boy couldn’t believe his eyes or ears but his heart definitely heard it loud and clear. He looked like a little boy who just got the candy he’s been begging for.

His fingers were slightly shaking (how adorable is he?) so he laced his fingers with yours, trying to find some composure and comfort through your touch.

He wanted more but for now, this is more than what he would ever dream of. It was a sliver of happiness that he didn’t know he would ever feel.

“Will you let me kiss you too, then?”

Cue: you not functioning anymore.

Come on, Arthur. Don’t push it.

Believe me, after tonight, he’ll be writing about you every single day (more than he already has been).

Hope you enjoyed this 💜 Please feel free to leave comments/feedback! Masterlist

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevam #ikemen series #ikemen vampire theo #ikemen vampire vincent #ikemen vampire arthur #ikemen vampire theodorus #ikevamp theo #ikevamp vincent #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp headcanons #ikevamp scenarios #cybird #ikevamp theodorus

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apiratewhopines · 3 years ago

Text

Thanks to @teamhook for the artwork! So fancy!

Midnight

Chapter 4 — The Ball

Summary: In which our heroine feels exposed

Chapter 4 of 7 on AO3

“Some day, when I’m awfully low

When the world is cold

I will feel a glow just thinking of you”

-The Way You Look Tonight, Fred Astaire

Having spent several days eating her way through Misthaven with one eye on the lookout for black sedans, Emma was glad to be heading away from the town and the emotional memories the sight of a pub or gas station would cause. She wasn’t sure why one innocent night with Killian Jones continued to dominate her thoughts and hijack her dreams, but she feared seeing him again would push her over the edge.

That didn’t keep her from wanting to though.

On some level, she knew he had probably already forgotten her. Perhaps he did before the night was even over. Some other passenger might be walking around his place now, wearing his shirts and eating his pancakes.

Because when she dreamed about Door Number One, they always had pancakes for breakfast.

Despite her stubborn heart’s refusal to cooperate, the last couple of days had not been wasted. Arthur turned out to be a man of his word. Like a crazy fairy godmother who sprinkled cold hard cash instead of pixie dust and magic, he kept her supplied in the finest clothes and the chicest accessories. At the same time, he made sure her social calendar buzzed with invitations from a who’s who of Misthaven’s finest and wealthiest families. Events that inevitably threw her together with Lance more often than not.

It was at a garden soirée the previous day Lance had pressed to drive her out to Camelot, Arthur’s sprawling estate just a couple of hours away. Figuring the sooner she got the weekend over with, the better, she remained elusive only long enough to be convincing and then accepted his offer.

She already figured out Lancelot du Lac was a man who enjoyed the chase. She also discovered underneath his rakish exterior was someone who desperately wanted to find love while at the same time being deathly afraid of it. Normally, Emma wasn’t one to psychoanalyze. Still, the funny thing about rich people’s parties was that they were actually very dull, and she had nothing to do but regret not kissing the Captain before they parted ways or come up with profiles on the personalities she encountered.

Psychoanalysis seemed like the safer option.

Now she was waiting in the lobby of the Ritz for Lance’s foreign sports car to arrive so she could finally shake the dirt of this town off her feet. She hoped she could shake the lingering sadness as well. It was doing things to her. Things like making her hear the Captain’s voice in crowds.

“Swan! Swan! Emma, if you don’t turn around this instant—“

Excitement and abject horror battled for supremacy when she realized it wasn’t her mind playing tricks on her. As if in slow motion, she turned in the direction of his voice and her eyes met his across the vast space. Then she watched as Killian Jones began to sprint toward her, pushing people out of his way none too gently while managing not to crease his startlingly posh blue suit. This wasn’t the flirty Uber driver of a few nights ago, all leather and innuendo. Sure he had the same sex hair and twinkling blue eyes, but this man exuded power and authority and, quite frankly, looked more than a little pissed as he closed the distance between them with frightening speed.

Unaware of the drama playing out, one of the valets rushed to her and announced breathlessly, “Baroness, your ride has arrived.”

“I… I’ll be right there.”

Emma couldn’t break eye contact with him. His face was just as she remembered it, as it should since it was less than a week ago when she last saw him. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked frantic to get to her. He seemed to know she was contemplating an escape and he paused briefly, not caring who heard him when he called across the remaining ground between them, “So help me, Swan, if you run again, I swear I will—“

She didn’t hear the rest of what he said as a herd of visitors passed between them chattering loudly in some foreign language, the group taking photos of the architecture and potted plants as if they were worthy of remembrance. She had a brief opportunity to step out unseen under cover of the mob separating them. To forever give this man who haunted her the slip.

Or she could stay.

God, did she want to stay.

—

The estate was as lovely as one would expect. Ancient oak trees lined the drive and gave way to topiaries precisely cut into fantastical shapes as the car approached the main house. Lance regaled her with tales of the vast land Arthur inherited, the numerous homes on the property, and the complete absence of any cell or internet services once you crossed the boundary.

It seemed old man Soberano convinced himself the emerging technologies were a way for the government to spy on people and had forbidden, by way of his last will and testament, any cell towers or fiber lines from ever crossing the property. It was why as coveted as an acquaintance with the family was, people often grumbled when they received an invitation to the country estate rather than one of the other properties throughout the globe. The ancient landline phones served as the communication system for the large estate and the only connection to the outside world.

Of course, most of his ramblings went in one ear and out the other because she was too busy wondering why Killian had been at the Ritz in a suit that looked like it was made for him. She would know. After all, she was now in possession of a wardrobe filled with custom pieces and carefully tailored lines.

Was it a fluke encounter or was he still searching for her? He would give new meaning to the phrase ‘no stone left unturned’ if his sole reason for coming to the premier hotel in town was to look for the broke woman he gambled on and lost. Literally.

“Darling, I feel like you haven’t heard a word I said the whole journey,” Lance gently complained as he helped her out of the low seats of the car and up the grand stairs leading to the front door. He appeared genuinely distressed at her distance, and for the first time, she felt a twinge of guilt for the ridiculous game she was playing.

“I’m sorry. I had some bad news right before we left, and I’m a bit distracted,” she explained, allowing Lance to take her hand as they approached the Soberanos who were waiting for them in the foyer. Their linked hands did not go unnoticed by either of their hosts, although to widely different responses.

Learning she was at the opposite end of the mansion from Lance, the group moved to the second floor together. The servant leading them turned to Lance and said helpfully, “Good news, Mr. du Lac, we found the cuff link you lost on your last visit. It was in Madam Soberano’s sitting room.”

Sheepishly, he looked to Emma as if ready to offer an excuse. Unable to keep a chuckle from escaping at the crazy situation, she patted his arm and said, “The wind must have blown it in.”

With that, the group separated. Arthur replaced Lance at her arm and smiled indulgently at his protege. “You’re quite good. You have him eating out of your hand, and you’re not even trying.”

“I’ve met his type before. The less I try, the more he will. He’ll be begging me to divorce my husband and proposing before the end of the night at this rate,” she joked.

“You don’t know Lancelot du Lac,” Arthur argued. Their leisurely stroll through the second-floor gallery allowed her to see pictures of his ancestors back to the Norman invasion, but she noted there was none of him or his beloved wife who he was fighting so hard to keep.

“Well, you don’t know Emma Swan. He tried to give me an emerald the size of a baby’s fist today.” She had been tempted to pocket the jewel, but some small part of her knew what she was doing was wrong and robbing the man blind when she had no intention of ever returning his affections wouldn’t make it any better.

“Excellent! I won’t even deduct it from your pay if you promise to take him for all he’s worth and break his heart, dear. It will do him some good.”

“How are you still friends with him? Knowing what he’s doing with your wife. I can’t figure out if you’re the most understanding man in the world or absolutely crazy.”

Sighing, he sat down on one of the numerous benches that lined the gallery floor and patted the seat beside him. Emma didn’t know precisely how or when it happened, but he had become almost a friend after the deal was struck. She spent as much time with him as she did Lance and, despite the fact she thought he was extremely odd, she had grown fond of him. “Because I think he was trying to make her happy at first. I told you she wasn’t the only one to make mistakes. This whole thing is my fault. It was my foolish pursuit of wealth that drove her to this, endlessly trying to carve my name into the family tomes as one of the best empire builders in the dynasty. If I had been there for her, if I had just listened when she tried to tell me what she needed…well, we wouldn’t be here having this conversation.”

“I hope for your sake this works.”

“And I hope for your sake, the next time a man tries to give you an emerald, you keep it.”

“How do you know I didn’t keep it?”

“Because I think I’m starting to know Emma Swan,” he explained with a wink and smile before pulling her up and taking her to the east wing. Dropping her off at her room, he teased, “Get some rest, dear. Cinderella needs to be at her best for the ball.”

With a sardonic grin, she countered, “Hard to be at your best when you know every Cinderella has her midnight.”

Hours later, after a nap and a fortifying drink, she shrugged into her form-fitting green dress like it was battle armor. She was joking earlier when she said a proposal would be forthcoming, but she had no doubt Lance would make a proposition of some kind. The trick would be to keep him on the line without actually following through with anything.

She left her room as late as possible to avoid spending too much time around the pampered elite who were her housemates that weekend. While she had met a fair few during her crash course in Misthaven society, Arthur was the only one she didn’t mind having a conversation with, but he was unlikely to abandon Guin’s side to keep her company. Especially since it would put a damper on Lance’s pursuit.

Her destination was the expansive, three-tiered back deck, illuminated by thousands of clear fairy lights and a fair number of fireflies, the faint breeze carrying the briny smell of the ocean that lay only a few feet beyond their well-tended lawn. The men in tuxedos added a dashing contrast to their partners’ colorful evening gowns and cocktail dresses. A string quartet was playing off to the side; the beautiful melody drifted through the party in a way that enhanced the romantic atmosphere to a point it made her hurt.

She was surprised to see Arthur standing alone through the wall of windows. She stopped to take in the scene, complete with busy waitstaff and tables of food.

She couldn’t wait to get away.

“Alright, Guinevere, you want to talk, let’s talk. I have a few serious words to say.”

Silently moving until the curtains partially hid her, Emma watched as Lance and Guinevere made their way toward the patio. Guinevere’s eyes were red and she was fretting with a handkerchief gripped tightly between her hands. “As if you had two serious words in your whole vocabulary, Lance.”

“I could make a very noble speech. Tell you we were just two ships passing in the night, but the truth is, Arthur is my friend. I don’t want to break up a happy marriage. We’ve been playing with fire, but it’s better to end this now before someone gets hurt.”

“Funny how none of that mattered until the baroness showed up. I know you think you are in love with her. I can see it in your face every time she is around. You’re behaving like a schoolboy. You’re a darling, but you need to be careful. We don’t know anything about her. All we have is her word that she is who she says she is. I’ve asked around; no one has ever heard of her. Maybe her hair is dyed, and maybe she’s poisoned three husbands. Sidney told me there was some man calling her a swan and chasing her at her hotel today. It had all the staff talking.”

“You’re jealous, Guin.”

“Terribly. Fun, isn’t it?” The woman rushed from the room, tears flowing freely now. Emma didn’t move from her hiding place, instead waiting until he had joined the party before she followed in his footsteps.

—

As she predicted, Lance made sure he was her partner for most of the night. She followed Guin’s movements with alarm, knowing the woman was on edge and fearful of what she may do if she felt she had nothing to lose. Her glance met Arthur’s when she saw his wife and Sidney go inside, heads close together and a look of shock crossing Guin’s face. The other man nodded at her and trailed after them at a distance.

She wasn’t sure what possessed her to let Lance lead her away from the party into the formal gardens spreading north of the patio. Perhaps she was tired of having to put a fake smile on her face, or maybe she was simply tired.

He kept a steady stream of conversation going, mostly unanswered on her side, and navigated them down an old stone path to a large fountain surrounded by benches and meticulously pruned rose bushes. “Please don’t interrupt, dear, but suppose we were to follow this path all the way to the garage and take my car for a ride through the countryside.”

“Oh, the make-believe game! It’s always been one of my favorites. But why stop at the countryside, Lance? Why not go on a tour of the moon while we’re at it?”

“I asked you not to interrupt,” he teased, pulling her arm through his and continuing to amble further away from the house. “You see, this isn’t some random trip. We have a particular place we are heading. A little estate by the lake where an opinionated old dame lives. It’s twenty ’til midnight. If we leave now, we can make it as dawn is breaking.”

Intrigued despite herself, she asked, “And what business would we have at this chateau by the lake?”

“I want you to meet my mother. To introduce you to her and tell her that I’ve met the one. Then the pale light of dawn will shine on the first day of our lives together.”

He was serious, and she felt like the lowest of human beings when she joked back, “I doubt the day will be the only thing breaking when that bombshell drops. Were we going to share the news with my husband before or after our visit?”

Before he could respond, Arthur called out from behind them on the path, “Baroness Jones, I believe you promised me a dance.”

He reached them seconds later with a pointed look at her. Although he was the picture of sophistication, she could tell by his quick pace something had happened. “A midnight dance as I remember.”

“Of course, please excuse me,” she murmured to Lance, who looked like he was about to protest as she took Arthur’s arm and allowed him to guide her back to the house. Keeping a calm expression on her face, she smiled and nodded to the people they passed and waited until they were out of earshot to ask, “What’s happened?”

“It’s midnight, dear. The ground has opened under our feet. That horrible friend of Guin’s, Sidney, did some digging and found out there is no Baroness Jones. They plan to make an announcement any moment now. I’m sorry I brought you into this mess, Emma.”

They reached the dance floor Arthur installed on the deck specifically for the party, but neither felt like dancing. Instead, they hovered along the back wall and waited for the troublesome pair to return from their scheming.

Sighing, she nudged his shoulder. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. We never really stood a chance at this working.”

“But we were so close. I could feel Guin changing, turning back to me. Now I may as well help her pack her bags,” he replied, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handing one off to her. Clicking his glass against hers in a mock toast, he muttered, “Here’s to wasted years and endless torment.”

He downed the entire glass and, when she only took a sip, he reached out and downed hers as well.

She wasn’t sure what he had to be upset about. She was the one who was going to be exposed as a charlatan, forced to exit under the judgmental gazes of a house full of people who would dine on the story for months to come. Just as she was about to point out it could be worse, she saw Guin descend the stairs with Sidney hot on her heels. “Here we go.”

“I’ll stand by you as best I can,” Arthur promised, his hand coming to rest in the small of her back as if to provide some physical barrier against what was about to happen.

“Ladies and gentleman, may I have a moment of your time? As you know, Arthur and I pride ourselves on providing the best of entertainment at our parties, and I think you’ll find tonight’s will not disappoint. I have a story to share that I think will delight and amuse you. Under our roof tonight, we have a guest claiming one of the oldest names in European aristocracy.”

A murmur started in the crowd, musicians laying down their instruments, even the waitstaff and caterers ceased what they were doing. It seemed as if the entire universe held its breath waiting for Guin to continue. She could tell the woman enjoyed every moment of it.

“I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the heraldry of Cambridge nobility, but let me assure you that in all of England, there is no—“

From the patio entrance, the footman interrupted in a booming voice to announce the arrival of a late guest of note. “Baron Killian Jones.”

Emma had to grab Arthur’s arm to keep from falling when her knees buckled. In the soft light, the Captain looked like a fantasy. His dark hair mussed in a way that looked intentional, but she knew it resulted from repeatedly running his hand through it when he was frustrated. He was outfitted in a tuxedo, the crisp white shirt making his stubble seem even more dangerous in the moonlight. He surveyed the crowd looking for her, supremely unconcerned he had the attention of the entire party.

Arthur looked at the mysterious stranger and then took in her aghast expression and whispered, “Do you know him?”

At that moment, Killian’s eyes met hers and the heat she saw there made it difficult to think, much less speak. “Yes. Yes, I know him.”

“Right. All hope isn’t lost then,” Arthur said with forced cheerfulness as he disengaged her death grip on his arm and went to greet their visitor. In a loud voice, so nobody would have to strain to hear, he said, “Welcome to my home, my dear Baron. It’s been a long time since we’ve met.”

Despite the fact the men had never laid eyes on each other before, Emma observed the Captain as he quickly assessed the lay of the land and responded, “Yes, years and years. I hope you don’t mind me trespassing on your hospitality. I only just arrived in town and the hotel staff informed me my wife was spending the weekend here. I couldn’t wait to see her.”

“With such a charming companion, no one blames you,” Guinevere said smoothly, giving Sidney a look meant to quell any further talk and rushing to meet their newest arrival. “She’s kept us all so diverted this past week.”

Giving the woman a slight grin, he nodded. “I’m sure. She’s nothing if not diverting.”

Moving away from the Soberanos, he took the stairs two at a time until he was standing in front of her, mouth twisted in amusement and eyes on fire. He seemed to drink in the sight of her from the artless way the curls were falling down her back to how her hand was white-knuckled from holding on to a nearby chair.

“You found me.” Somehow her words sounded like both an accusation and a thank you. Her eyes searched his face for some clue as to why he was there.

“Did you ever doubt I would?”

Before anything else could be said, he pulled her into his arms and crushed his lips to hers. Plundering her mouth, not caring they had an audience numbering in the hundreds, he shifted his grip, one hand making its way to her hair and cradling the back of her head. The other drifted lower, moving her body until it pressed against the long length of his. The thin fabric of her dress allowed the heat of him to soak through to her skin which suddenly felt tight and she was desperate for more contact.

She leaned into him, allowing her hands finally to comb through the hair that had haunted her dreams. The silky strands provided a contrast to the rough drag of his facial scruff against her cheek, the feeling of him in her arms doing exactly what she wanted almost pushing her into sensory overload. She didn’t think, who could when faced with such an onslaught, her body moving on instinct. She moaned into his mouth, tongues tangling and tasting of champagne and need.

A throat cleared in the distance and reality came crashing back. Reluctantly, Killian pulled back, resting his forehead against hers and breathing unevenly.

With quiet wonder, she asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I was hungry to see my little wife.”

@teamhook @kmomof4 @jrob64 @stahlop @motherkatereloyshipper @xarandomdreamx @xsajx @klynn-stormz

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darkhymns-fic · 3 years ago

Text

Hopes of Summer

At what should be a happy family outing, Kratos worries about the inevitable when he catches sight of Anna's Exsphere.

The pain of losing someone should not have been new to him at all.

Fandom: Tales of Symphonia Characters/Pairing: Kratos Aurion/Anna Irving, Lloyd Irving, Noishe Rating: G Mirror Link: AO3 Notes: Fic for Day 1: Aurion Family Day/Free Day for @krannaweek! This got more angst then I meant it to but with fluff in the end to make up for it.

Kratos had only been eight when he started to learn swordsmanship from his father – true lessons instead of play, wooden blades held in his palms so that he could get used to the weight of eventual metal.

War had already long started. There was no time to rest, not for him. It was something that didn’t need to be said out loud to be understood.

Just the feel of his father’s hands correcting his own (Don’t hold it so tightly, you will break your wrist before long) and the curt nods of a soldier, teaching him to survive.

And in war, you must survive.

Yet even still, Kratos had fallen to his knees, arms shaking with his plain, wooden weapon. In a real battle, the quick lunge from his father’s sword would have ended him right there. Another bloodstain on the grass, another lost soul of the Tethe’allan country. Instead he saw the gleam of the sharp blade pointed at his throat – a split-second, nothing more – before it was pulled back.

“You must keep practicing,” his father told him, a voice that many years later, he could barely recall. He could not remember the man’s face, nor his mother’s. Four thousand years was too long for one to live, too long for one to remember anything of value. “Don’t make any more mistakes.”

Just the sensation of the ache in his palms, the fear that ran through him at the sight of the blade so close, the question in him that rose when he heard those words directed towards him.

You must, you must, you must. Since then, his life had been full of acts that he must do.

But it only made his regrets pile up until it became uncountable.

The calluses from his sword practice would always remind him of that.

When his father later died in battle, he had not wept at all. For that was not something he had ever been taught.

“…You’re not feeling well.” A stated fact more than a question.

Anna pushed aside Kratos’ hand with a sigh. “As I told you for the dozenth time, I’m fine. Don’t fret over me. I barely have room to breathe.”

It was rare for them to room at an inn, but the summer months in Sylvarant could be so unforgiving. No amount of shade was enough to weather the humidity, for his wife or his child. So it had to be an inn, in a small, isolated town, where at least the walls could shelter them from heat – if only briefly.

Yet still, Anna’s face was flushed, her forehead covered by sweat. She sat up, but not without effort.

Kratos held up his hands, as if to reach out to her again. “You should keep resting-”

“What did I just tell you?” She shot back, bit her lip as if just tasting something so bitter. “I’m sorry. But I said that I am alright. I’m just winded from the walk. Let’s enjoy the day, please?”

He didn’t want to keep saying it, despite her complaints. He didn’t want to comment on how much slower her steps seemed to be, on how much paler her skin was, on how often she seemed to lose her breath.

The symptoms were all too obvious by now.

(If he looked further, where her shirt covered it, would he see it? How the skin around her Exsphere was more wrinkled than before, how it must have been red and inflamed, how the pain must have centered there, as it always was…)

He had to stop himself, cutting the despair off, as sharply as cutting off an infected limb.

“Then let me get you some water first before we go out. Is that acceptable?”

She sighed again, but this time with a little smile. “I wonder if you will ever stop being so formal, but I suppose that’s just who you are…”

To the side of her was a small bundle, just underneath the bed covers. It moved and made a sound, a mixture of a snore and a little gurgle. The blanket curled in on itself around that same bundle, until it was all folds and snores.

Kratos looked to the little bundle with concern.

“He can…still breathe under there, yes?”

“You are such a worrier today.” But Anna humored him by carefully unwrapping the blanket, revealing first the soft brown spikes of his hair, and then the puffy curves of his cheeks, along with a clenched fist that was half being sucked on, knuckles disappearing into the boy’s mouth.

Still, Kratos worried a little…

“See? Lloyd is just fine. He’s probably having a nice dream right now!”

Small and vulnerable, stuck in sleep. Lloyd had been crying from the heat, but once inside, he still wanted to curl up in the bedcovers, to stay close to his mother. The inn room was simple, a single room with the window half-open, the curtains letting in the breeze that he wished had been about while they had been walking. The bed itself was small, but he had been fine giving it only to Anna and Lloyd. He didn’t need any sleep himself.

Yet, as Anna reached over to Lloyd, hands gently taking his drool-covered fist, pulling down the red shirt he loved to cover his stomach, a cough left her throat. Then another, and another, making her lean over, back arched like the gentle slope of the hills outside.

Kratos placed his hands on her, his calluses hidden by his gloves, yet could not hide the shaking of his fingers. “Anna!”

She breathed harshly at first, the sound enough to wake up Lloyd fully. Eyes blinked, the same shade as his hair. The child turned around, eyes curious as he watched his father cling to his mother. Could he see the fear that he was feeling right now? Could he even understand?

“Kratos, you’re scaring him.” Anna spoke so clearly, so strongly, that it belied the pained position she was in. She gathered Lloyd into her arms, and the child only continued to blink. He didn’t cry, and this was the same boy that would weep over Noishe not giving him a ride on his back.

“You said you would give me water?” she gently reminded.

Kratos felt the pain in his palms, but swallowed it down, taking a step back. “Forgive me. I will bring you some.”

“Thank you.” Anna raised her head, and she was smiling once more. Lloyd was clinging to her shirt, his hands curling into the fabric and pulling down from the neck.

From there, Kratos saw the hint of the Exsphere. He saw the redness around like a ring, the wrinkled skin, the hurt he knew she felt.

He turned to get the water for from the pitcher set on the side table. He hoped the feeling he felt in his throat wasn’t regret.

Lloyd was laughing wildly, holding out two wooden sticks in his hands as he rode on a whining Noishe, bouncing along in his seat within the green fur and shouting, “Go! Go!”

Kratos had never felt more of a nervous wreck as he watched his son nearly fall several times, always eventually righting himself up with a great show of flailing his small arms. So Kratos hovered near, following along the Arshis as it went in the direction Lloyd was yelling out gleefully, using one of his sticks to point the way.

It was early evening, the air finally cooling down, leaving a gentler summer breeze. Anna was seated in the grass, watching as Lloyd led his mount to wherever he wanted. They had left the inn for a small stroll outside, down by hastily-arranged wooden fences, by the dirt roads that led into the isolated town, where dragonflies flitted about to dance across a small lake that was nearby. Only a few eyes turned their way, most retreating to their homes, though unsure why tourists would ever come to such a place.

Kratos gave little thought to it – only to his son which he continued to fret over, and to Anna that he saw by the corner of his eyes. She was not as pale now, or coughing as much. Still, Kratos saw the occasional tremble.

“Are you sure you can catch up to them?” she called out with a grin. The waning sunlight fell over her hair, burnishing it. He could see the same effect on Lloyd’s hair when he turned to look.

“I am simply watching over him…” he protested, still hands held up, ready to catch his son at any moment.

“And you seem to be doing very well!”

Noishe unexpectedly did a little hop then, one that made Lloyd squeal and Kratos stiffen. One of the dragonflies had rushed across the grass stalks to then land on the animal’s nose. A whine as his paws danced over the ground, with a sneeze to get the dreaded bug off. Lloyd only laughed afterwards, even as he waved his arms to maintain his balance.

Kratos stiffened, resisting the urge to just take Lloyd away and to wrench those sticks from his hands. Anna had insisted he be allowed to play with them, but they had look so rough and crooked, and he could imagine the scratches already on his son’s palms.

“Noishe,” he simply said, his tone having only a hint of hardness. But somehow, Lloyd’s voice was even louder, drowning his out.

“Go!” He was shouting again, trying to slash away at the dragonfly that had so upset Noishe. He missed his swing by a wide margin, but seemed to enjoy the action regardless. “Go, Noishe!”

He saw the creature’s big ears perk up, saw the way he danced around on his paws. Was he listening to Lloyd?

“Goooo!” Lloyd shouted once more, pointing up ahead where a small hill undulated before them, where it led to thickets that dotted the ground, rustling in the breeze.

And somehow, just like that, Noishe had taken off, running so fast as Lloyd shouted into the wind itself. A blur of green and brown, seeming to fly right over the grass to reach the hills and disappear into those same thickets where the sun could not push through, where the leaves seemed to swallow them up immediately, out of sight.

Maybe it was just instinct, in the end.

Kratos had rushed over to them so quickly, he could barely notice his legs moving. Or maybe he hadn’t. Maybe he had slipped and used his wings, foolishly where others could see him, even in such a small, barely populated village. He broke through branches and leaves to catch up to a boy and his dog-like companion who continued to run.

He hadn’t meant to react so hastily, but he still held the image of Anna’s Exsphere in his mind, the meaning of it weighing on his shoulders. It made him feel slow, and weak, and somehow despite all that, he halted in front of Noishe’s path, making the creature stutter in his steps. Lloyd did another squeal, arms stretched out wide as he saw his father with them. He had already lost one of the sticks he had been waving about so proudly.

Kratos rounded on Noishe, voice has hard as flint. “Stop!” He clenched his fists, the tide of anger and fear in him impossible to overturn. “What would happen if he had fallen?! You’re supposed to keep him safe!”

The sound of his own voice, full of incredibly guilt, finally made him stop – but not before it was too late.

It had been enough to make the Arshis do more than halt. A quick backwards step of four paws, upturning the soil beneath. The giant ears that soon edged downwards in a soft arc, the rapid blinking of dark eyes. It was still a marvel that he hadn’t whined right away, even as he soon did so, the sound a little keening as fallen leaves were crushed beneath them.

Lloyd had also stopped, surprised by Noishe’s movements, by his father’s anger. The action made him drop his last branch to the ground…and then the familiar sheen of tears appeared in his eyes.

The sight was nothing new to him at all. But now, just now, he felt something prick his chest, seeing both Lloyd and Noishe shiver, knowing himself to be the reason for it. “Wait, Lloyd-” He walked up to them, all while Lloyd continued to cry harder, and Noishe’s whines matched with his.

His son wept so much. Kratos couldn’t remember the last time he had even shed a tear.

“Can you hold him?” a voice asked him.

There was Anna was to his right. He had no idea how he hadn’t heard her, when he could hear the careful steps of a starving wolf from miles ahead. But when he turned, she was there, her face pale, her hair a little haggard. She had run after them as well, and though she tried to hide it, he could hear her quickened breath.

“Kratos, please,” she said, gesturing as Lloyd continued to cry, his tears falling onto Noishe’s fur. “And put your wings away.”

So he had used them, only now noticing the glow of blue that cast over her, the motes of sapphire in the air. Hastily, he de-summoned them, feeling foolish.

But the tone in her voice was different than usual, something he couldn’t place. Was she angry at him? Disappointed? But he couldn’t deny her instructions, and so Kratos went to pick up Lloyd who continued to sniffle, but now right into his very shirt. (He could wash it later, he supposed).

Noishe had then gone to lay down in the grass, tail laying dejected, his fur making him blend in with the greenery all too well, almost hiding too well within the thicket they had blundered into. But still he saw the dark paws stand out, along with the pink of the Arshis’ tongue, half-lolling from his mouth from the heat that still lingered, and the exertion from before. He looked so ashamed that it made Kratos regret his earlier words.

It was something he found himself often doing.

He was surprised though to see Anna kneel besides Noishe, hands reaching out to scratch behind one of his giant ears. The whining continued, but it lowered considerably, along with a tail lightly thumping the ground.

Kratos still felt Lloyd crying into his shirt, completely unsure of what to say.

“You know,” she said, fingers finding the right spot for Noishe, his eyes closing, his great head leaning against her hand. “You are not as good at hiding your secrets as you think you are.”

A sentence that left him stunned, if only for a little while. Lloyd’s cries lessened, and by now he could feel his shirt becoming drenched with snot. He patted his son’s head and let his fingers tangle in his messy hair.

“You look at me like I will die at any moment now.”

The chill ran up his spine, immobilizing everything except his voice. “No, I’m- I’m not. I am only worried. The weather has not been good for your condition-”

“And what is my condition, Kratos?” Anna raised her head, and with the sunshine angling down, it was hard to see her expression, the way the light cast shadows from the trees, the way it made his eyes blink. “You still haven’t told me what this thing I carry will do to me. But I guess you don’t really need to. I’ve known for a long time what will happen. I’ve been at that ranch for longer than I would care to remember.”

A small hiccup from Lloyd against his chest. Kratos thumped a hand against his back, trying to soothe such them away. “Anna…”

She turned away, instead facing Noishe again, planting both hands into the creature’s fur to continue her petting. Noishe let her, knowing now this was more for herself than for him. He hair fell, revealing the chain of a pendant he had given to her long ago.

“I don’t want you to look at me like that. I…don’t want to be reminded of what will happen to me…” She freed one hand from the fur to wipe at her eyes. “Because I see how it eats at you, until you let it show. I only want…to enjoy what we have. I don’t want this…thing I have.. to hang over us until then.”

Another soft hiccup from Lloyd. He had his eyes half-shut, his crying making him sleepy. This was fairly normal for him.

Kratos took a breath, then sat down on the grass next to Anna, just a few feet away from Noishe. He took a moment to speak, finding everything in his much too long years giving him absolutely nothing.

But soon, he had to say something, even if it was weak and uninspired.

“It is no excuse… but I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry.” He rubbed Lloyd’s back, watching how his son’s blinking was slowing, how the eyelids fell. “I just don’t want to…lose this.” And he realized then, the fear that held him. “I never want to lose this. But acting like this will only…make it seem like I already have. I’m sorry…”

She faced him, and he saw again her Exsphere, still looking pained. He knew how the stone would soon take everything away from her, and it was hard to not think on it. The future had suddenly felt so dark and ominous, with no clear roads to turn to.

But when she looked at him, he saw a curious change in her eyes. Something of bewilderment. Not the first time he had seen it from her, for he tended to do things that confused her, but he was not sure of what could cause it, at this moment.

“You’re crying,” she said. And with that, she stretched her hand to brush at his hair. “Huh. Now I know where Lloyd gets it from.”

Kratos blinked, and just then he felt it. The soft trek of a tear down his cheek. It confused him greatly. He reached out wipe it away, the sensation so unfamiliar that he wasn’t sure what to do with the feeling. “I’m…sorry, I didn’t-”

“Now why are you apologizing over that?” Anna shook her head, then leaned in. The action was quick, her lips over his, the kiss warm and heating up his face significantly. All the while, Lloyd continued to snore in his arms.

From the closeness, he saw her Exsphere up close. The pain there was still apparent, skin around it still inflamed, but the fear he felt was not as prominent anymore. Not with her kissing him to soothe it all away.

Anna was smiling when she leaned back, once again running a hand through his hair, playing with it. “You can be so silly sometimes.”

“Uh.” Kratos once again had no idea what to do with her words. He flushed, eyes turned back to Lloyd as he slept on. “T-Thank you…”

There was just the wind rustling the grass, the chirping of crickets as the sky above them darkened. Noishe had stopped whining, but he still looked a bit dejected, his great head on his paws. The Arshis’ own apology was plain on his face.

Kratos sighed, reaching to pet his devoted friend on the head. “I should be apologizing to you as well, Noishe… I’m sorry to have ruined our family day.”

Anna gently pushed him on the shoulder. “You haven’t ruined anything… but maybe you could learn to ease up. For all of our sakes?”

He smiled at her, still remembering her warmth that washed away the hurt in him. Even so, another tear fell down his cheek.

To think he could miss a feeling he was never sure of ever having.

It was already nighttime once they walked back to the inn. Kratos had walked carefully, careful not to bounce Lloyd too much with each step that he took. But the boy continued to sleep, making small noises as he drooled once again on his shirt.

“See?” Anna said, giggling. “He’s having another nice dream.”

The way she nudged him just then was subtle, but he saw it in her eyes. How she looked to Lloyd, and how she had let Kratos carry him all the way, Noishe trailing behind them happily, nose occasionally poking the back of Anna’s head.

“Here, you can hold him now,” he told her, and gently gave her their son to clasp.

“Certain I won’t get tired, are you?” she said, but he saw how eagerly she went to hold Lloyd. And it seemed that Lloyd seemed to like this new change, his tiny arms moving to wrap around her neck, to make more little noises that were hums and the like.

Again, with the motion and the weight of the child on her, the collar of her shirt shifted down. Once again Kratos saw the Exsphere, same as it was, but with a tinge of blue to its surface – alive in its very own, strange way, a parasite that continued to live in her.

The sadness was still there, fear of what was to come next. He had never wept for his father’s death, or his mother’s – or perhaps he just didn’t remember it. But if he would lose her…. then what next?

Quickly, before she could see the expression on his face, he bent down to kiss at the space just above her Exsphere. The heat of her skin, the hardness of the stone against his lips. Anna made a small squeak at the action.

“Kratos!” But there was laughter mixed in, one hand pressed against her mouth to keep it muffled. “Are you…trying to kiss it better now?”

Something about the words, the way she said it, and her bright voice altogether, once again washed away the despair to the very corners of his mind. “Then you must tell me if it is working.”

“Hm…I don’t know.” She tilted her head in thought. “Perhaps you’ll need to do it a bit more so I can be sure.”

Ah, again she could make him flush like a fool sometimes. But the smile she gave him was worth it.

With the stars above them, and Lloyd sleeping soundly, he felt he could still find a hope for the future somehow. That it was something the eventual pain could never drown out.

Maybe he could believe that.

#tales of symphonia #kratos aurion #krannaweek2021 #kranna #anna irving #lloyd irving #noishe #fanfiction #oneshot

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alolowrites · 4 years ago

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The Helpful Elf

Summary: The Hippity Hop Cat toy is the toy on every kid’s wish list this year, including Eri’s. With the toy flying off the shelves, you desperately ask Mirio, the Helper Elf at Hazuki’s ToyLand, for help. And Mirio doesn’t give up, especially when it comes to you.

Author’s Note: Hello everyone!!! Real life is being a pain right now, but I’m so glad I managed to finish this story right on time! It’s pretty long (for me lol) and it’s my first with Mirio so yay!! I also wrote it for the BNHASanctuary discord server’s winter collab (first time I ever participated in any collab), so I’m very excited about this. I’ll link and share the masterlist once it’s up. I can’t wait to read everyone else’s stories :D

Please enjoy!

Word Count: 2.5K+

With October long gone and December in full swing, it meant one thing—the official start of the jubilant holiday season. Every year, Japan’s most iconic department store in Tokyo, Hazuki’s, transformed its ten floors into a magical winter wonderland. Around the country and around the globe, customers ushered through the doors to catch a glimpse of the glamorous store glittering with festive decor.

Dazzling lights twinkled around the window displays that stretched around the block. Vibrant ornaments hung high above the ceilings like luxurious bubbles. And pine garlands peppered with red berries wrapped themselves along any rails that ran off forever.

Hazuki’s was the place to kick start the holiday season and the one place to find everything and anything on one’s holiday shopping list. Especially the highly coveted toy of the year—the Hippity Hop Cat.

Or so you thought.

“Mirio!”

“Huh?” Said man’s elf hat jingled when he looked away from his display. His blue eyes beamed at the sight of you. Mirio chirped out your name as you rushed forward, nearly knocking him over. “Whoa, you alright?”

“I need your help,” you blurted out, catching your breath at the same time; those pesky escalators were no use at all. Mirio offered to get water, but you waved him off. “No, no…no time for water. I need your help. It’s urgent!”

“Uh, sure, what can I do?”

“I need a toy, but not just any toy.” Mirio blinked when you suddenly inched closer to him. You scanned the area as though someone was lurking around to eavesdrop on your top-secret conversation. “It’s the Hippity Hop Cat, you know—”

“The cat whose hops are out of this world?”

“Yes, that one!” You clung to his shoulders like a desperate parent trying to find some shred of sanity in this chaotic store. Shaking the blonde man, you begged, “Please tell me you have one in stock?”

“Oh man,” Mirio scratched his forehead as he recalled the inventory from this morning. He glanced at your hopeless eyes and tight fists curling on his work uniform. There was no way Mirio could leave you hanging like this; it didn’t feel right. So he flashed you his famous smile that outshone the star twirling above you both. “Come with me. I’ll check in our system.”

“Gosh, you’re a lifesaver.”

Mirio humbly rubbed his neck as he led the way to the backroom. You eyed the uproarious floor covered with thousands of toys that rivaled Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole. It was like walking through a child’s dream. Every toy imaginable—dolls, electric cars, robots, board games, you name it—was here. Hopefully, that stayed true with the Hippity Hop Cat.

The door closed, muffling the sounds of frantic parents buzzing through the aisle. Mirio typed away on the keyboard as you paced behind him. You cursed yourself for procrastinating this long to buy the prized toy. Christmas was in less than two weeks!

“So who’s the gift for?”

“Oh!” His deep voice pulled you back to the present. You walked forward with folded arms, anxiously hugging yourself. “It’s for Eri, a sweet little girl my next-door neighbor, Shouta, adopted earlier this year. She had a rough upbringing, but fortunately, she’s living with someone who cares for her deeply.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yeah,” you smiled softly at Mirio, making his fingers freeze above the keyboard. That smile of yours took his breath away; he nodded but secretly tried controlling his heart that beat like a bass drum. It was difficult since you were so close to him. “This will be Eri’s first Christmas, and she wants the Hippity Hop Cat; I told Shouta I would buy it for her, helping ease some pressure off his shoulders.”

“That’s really thoughtful of you.” Mirio admired everything about you. He was absolutely smitten with you ever since you started working in the perfume department. Mirio sometimes strolled through the floor during his breaks just to catch a glimpse of you. After scrolling through the computer, the blonde man frowned. “Hmm…looks like we’re out of stock. And the next shipment won’t come until the twenty-first.”

You groaned. “Man, that’s cutting it close; you think you can hold one for me? I can buy it during my break or after work.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Thanks, Mirio.” You squeezed his shoulder, and he shuddered at the touch. Glancing at your watch, you said, “I gotta go before Nemuri wonders where I am. But thanks for helping out!”

“Sure!” He saw you slip out the door in a hurry; you throw an apologetic smile for good measure. Pushing the elf hat further up, Mirio chuckled, “No problem.”

༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

Okay, so maybe there was a slight problem.

Santa Claus was still around town, and Mirio was placed on “elf duty” to help out with the pictures. Don’t get him wrong, the sunshine man adored children as much as the jolly old man who lived in the North Pole. However, Mirio realized he couldn’t guard the Hippity Hop Cat for you. All he could do was pray that one miraculously stayed on the shelf until you bought it.

A flash went off, snapping Mirio back to his job. He smiled brightly, guiding the kid off Santa’s lap and ushering the next one to the chair. Nearly every parent in Japan was here today, the line looping around the store. Other customers, not visiting Santa, shopped as well, making the place extra crowded today. Yet, none of them were you, and that worried Mirio.

“Ho, ho, ho, it was nice meeting you, sweetie!”

Oh right! Mirio needed to focus, but it was hard knowing you weren’t here yet. All Mirio wanted to do was make people happy, especially you. After the sweet story you shared with him, he was more determined than ever to get you that toy. His blue eyes glanced at the bearded man in the red coat—could he help? Who knows.

As Mirio waved goodbye to each kid, you stumbled off the escalator, face flushed as though you ran fifty flights of stairs. You glanced around the packed floor, dodging an airplane that whizzed by and brushing against the sea of customers to find Mirio. The blonde elf locked eyes with you and flashed a relieved grin; the grueling wait was over.

And so was his duty with Santa Claus, what luck! Mirio marched over to you, placing a gentle hand on your back and guiding you to the aisle. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

“I’m sorry,” you blurted out, narrowly avoiding getting hit by a robot’s arm. “The perfume department was swamped with tourists and other people. I practically had to beg Nemuri to let me slip away for a few minutes so I could buy—” Turning the corner, you gasped in disbelief at the empty shelves before choking out, “—the toy.”

Mirio blew a low whistle; people were snatching these toys off the shelves like no tomorrow. Still, he wouldn’t give up just yet. “C’mon, maybe there’s some left in stock.”

“You sure?”

“Can’t hurt to try, right?” Mirio flashed you a boyish smile, blue eyes brimming with determination. You nodded and followed him through the elaborate maze of this chaotic toy store.

However, just as you both passed by the cash register, someone bellowed out: “That’s the last Hippity Hop Cat, sir. Thank you for shopping at Toyland; have a nice day!”

No! You screeched to a halt. Your eyes watched as the man grabbed his bag and left the store with an exhausted but relieved face. Without thinking, you slammed against the counter, scaring the young green-haired employee who clutched his uniform. Leaning forward, you desperately half-whispered, “Please tell me what you said wasn’t true!”

“I-I’m sorry?”

“The toy!” You frantically gestured to the exit, the man now long gone. “Please tell me you have another Hippity Hop Cat for sale!”

“U-Um, I, uhh, well,” Midoriya stammered until his eyes spotted a familiar face behind you. The nervous man sighed in relief, knowing he was saved. “Mirio!”

“Hey, Izuku, sorry about that,” Mirio bashfully chuckled and clasped your shoulder to calm you down. The blonde man quickly introduced you to his co-worker, adding, “They’re trying to buy the Hippity Hop Cat, but are you sure that was the last one in stock?”

“Yeah, it was. I’m sorry.”

“Oh…oh, okay…” Your shoulders drooped like a sad puppy; you were too late. After saying a quick apology, you numbly dragged your feet toward the exit as a gray cloud formed over your head. A warm hand stopped you from going any further, and you blinked up. “Huh, Mirio, what’s wrong?”

“You alright?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah,” you dismissed his concerns, but he wasn’t convinced; your eyes told a different story. Still, you mustered a brave face with a faint smile. “Listen, I appreciate everything you did. I knew it was a longshot getting the toy, so don’t sweat it, really.”

“I know, I just,” he sucked in a breath, “I just wished I could have helped you out more. Especially since you wanted to make Eri happy.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get her something else.” You squeezed his bicep when Mirio opened his mouth to interject; he faltered slightly at the brief touch. “It’s fine, really. I’m sure Eri will love any toy for her gift; I promise.”

Mirio nodded, watching you leave the store and disappearing within the crowd. You said everything was fine, but he knew that wasn’t true. That fake smile of yours spoke volumes. There has to be a way to get that toy, Mirio pondered, rubbing his chin and staring at the floor with furrowed eyes.

Suddenly, an idea popped inside his head just as a jingle bell chimed behind him. A white smile stretched across Mirio’s face. The idea was crazy, maybe a longshot, too, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. Mirio whipped out his phone and searched through his contacts until he landed on a specific name.

The line started ringing...and ringing...and ringing when—

“H-Hi, Mirio.”

“Hey, Tamaki!” The blonde man beamed like the sun. He lowered his voice, cupping the phone for secrecy while walking away. “Listen, buddy. I know you’re busy and all, but I got a huge favor to ask…”

༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

“…you think you can do it?” A small puff of breath floated out of your lips as you stepped away from the revolving doors. You stood beside a colorful window display of tiny elves grinning from ear to ear, their eager hands holding toys for the good boys and girls. One elf balanced himself at the tippy top of Santa’s mountainous red bag, his green gloves clutching the pointy hat for dear life.

You smiled, appreciating the creative design before saying, “I can close the following week...yeah...okay, awesome, thanks again!”

Crisis one averted. Crisis two was up for debate, mainly because you held a shopping bag with Eri’s gift. It wasn’t the Hippity Hop Cat, but a nice small plushy cat toy instead. You bought it just a few minutes ago after wandering through the aisles at Toyland. The plushy cat toy wasn’t a bad second choice; it was adorable and incredibly soft to the touch. But it wasn’t the toy you wanted to give for Eri’s first Christmas.

Oh, well, you sadly thought, biting the inside of your cheek. You stared at the elves again, realizing that their costumes matched Mirio’s work uniform in Toyland, down to the funny little hat. Mirio somehow pulled it off well thanks to his bubbly personality and warm heart that could melt the North Pole's snow.

At one point, you wondered if Mirio was even there since you didn’t see him at the store today. You assumed he was doing inventory, but Midoriya said Mirio took the day off after a last-minute “personal obligation” came up, and it was too important to ignore. Must have been serious, you sighed as the shopping bag rustled against the wind.

You braced your coat, hissing as the cold air sliced across your cheeks. Yup, it was time to go unless you wanted to freeze out here. Shuffling away from the window display, you stopped when someone screamed your name. Glancing over, you saw Mirio running toward you with one arm waving high in the air.

“Hey!” Mirio finally caught up to you, his face flushed and nose redder than Rudolph’s, yet he kept on smiling. “So glad I found you!”

“Whoa, you alright?” Now it was your turn to be concerned, just like he was when you rushed into the store to ask about the Hippity Hop Cat toy. Mirio nodded enthusiastically, squashing your worries away. “Midoriya said you were busy with a ‘personal obligation’ today. Is everything okay?”

“Oh yeah, everything is great!”

“Well, that’s, um, great.”

“So, listen, about the Hippity Hop Cat toy—”

“Mirio, I told you not to worry about it,” you butted in, shaking your shopping bag with the plushy cat. “I went ahead and bought something else for Eri and—”

“Ta-da!”

You went radio silent, staring in disbelief at the surprise. Sitting in Mirio’s hands was the one and only Hippity Hop Cat toy. The number one toy that was on every kid’s wish list, yet rarer to get than Willy Wonka’s Golden ticket. That toy was now only a few inches away from you.

“B-But how?!” The words finally fumbled through your lips, flickering your gaze between the toy and Mirio while stumbling forward a bit. “It’s sold out everywhere!”

“Let’s just say I pulled some strings with Santa’s workshop,” Mirio cheekily grinned like one of the elves from the window display. You choked out a laugh, dropping the shopping bag so you could hold the boxed toy; it felt wonderful in your hands.

You looked up with eyes softer than freshly fallen snow. Mirio continued talking up a storm, his arms flailing wildly like an excited kid who discovered something new. The delicate holiday lights flickered around you both, casting a lovely glow that was as bright as the joy twinkling inside Mirio’s eyes.

They were always so welcoming that, without thinking, you gave him a crushing hug. Mirio froze, his arms hanging mid-air as he slowly processed what was happening. After a few seconds, his shoulders relaxed, and his strong arms eagerly wrapped around you, holding you in place. Even with that thick coat of yours, you felt very soft that his heart soared to new heights.

“Thank you, Mirio,” you whispered near his ear, giving him another squeeze. But you didn’t stop there. A sudden urge came over you, and in a bold move, you planted a sweet kiss on his cheek. Pulling away, you bit back a laugh at his flustered face. “You really are the best Helpful Elf I know.”

“Well, you know me,” he shot you a grin, “I’m always here to help.”

“Is that so?” You tapped your cheek with your gloved finger. “Think you can help me gift wrap this toy, say tonight at my place?”

“Luckily for you, I’m a whiz with wrapping paper.”

Mirio’s hand wormed its way into yours, giving you a loving squeeze before joining you on your long walk home. The Hippity Hop Cat toy was the toy on every kid’s wish list this year, including Eri’s, whose first Christmas was officially saved. And it was all thanks to Mirio, the one and only Helpful Elf at Hazuki’s Toyland.

Thank you for reading!!

FicMas Fest 2020 Masterlist

#mirio togata x reader #mirio x reader #bnha x reader #bnha imagines #mirio togata #bnha server collab #winter collab

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theravencawsatmidnight · 4 years ago

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Part One

Important> so this will be written in parts. An example would be: Queen Y/n’s Story. Then the next part would say Mattsun, meaning his story is next.

These will be long so i appreciate and love who decides to stick around with me on this ride. Ive never done multi endings so i hope you enjoy. (Character Bios at the bottom Link)

Tags. @squeaky-ducky @galagcica @ysatrap

Queen y/n

The sun woke you up this time. Harsh rays forcing their way in through the window, curtains swaying lightly. Tooru usually woke you up for his breakfast, he must be out already. Slowly you rose out of the cold bed stretching your arms above your head ready to start the day. You had the castle to yourself it seemed like, thats unusual for a monday.. Wonder where that King is.. Deciding you did not care you got dressed in your expensive dress with the help of your friend Millie, she was your maid and the best friend you could have.

“You look lovely Miss Y/n!” she beamed while giving your corset its final tug to tighten it.

You gasped for breath a few times and shook your head. “Oh Millie, thank you , what should we do today?”

“Huh?! Is the King away?! “ she rushed to your side jumping in place, Millie was wearing her usual maid clothes with her hair tied back in a braid. “Oh my goodness we have the Kingdom to ourselves?!”

“Must be,” you turned to go take a peak outside by the window, the village was coming to life with the sounds of people, chatter and the smell of freshly made bread. It was nice, having the Kingdom to yourself but you were not really enjoying it, as much as you wanted to . the village hated you, refused to even sell to you sometimes. A stroll around would be nice.. But maybe not today..

“Miss Y/n?” Millie rushed over bunching herself into the window too to look out . she smiled taking in the fresh smell of bread, suddenly her eyes got big with stars.

“Its nothing Millie, im just thinking. Sometimes i like to look out this window and pretend im somewhere else.”

“Do you smell that?! It smells like chocolate!!!” she shook you not hearing what you said at first.

“Chocolate? Sweets?” you stood up straight squeezing Millies hand. “Do you think?!”

“I do i do !! he must have returned to us!”

Wasting no time you pulled your friend out of your room and down the many stairs dashing past the other servants paying them no mind. You both pushed the big doors open rushing down to the village to a very familiar carriage that just got into town.

Two doors on the carriage opened, “There they are!!!!!!!” yelled a happy happy voice.

“Satori !!!!” you both yelled with glee. “Our favorite chocolatier!”

The happy red head pretended to faint at the flattery and gave you each a hug. “Oh my goodness ! i dont know what it even say!” he squeezed you both again. “My favorite customers, ive brought you many many new sweets to try, come come! They won't eat themselves!!!”

Hajime & King Oikawa.

The King had not come home to his castle , in fact he was at the Brothel all night with his favorite whores doing everything he dreamed of; everyone loved him there, he was their best customer without a doubt. The constant giggling, money falling off the bed, clothes flying everywhere was just a regular night for the King and the ladies. He had no worries here, nothing to think about, nothing to worry about. The village loved him no matter what he did, and they already hated his wife so this was fine to them. Hajime had stayed close to the brothel all night, waiting for his friend and King to be done. He had brought some papers and quills with him to write down information about other Kingdoms with him. The one in charge of the place, The Madam had always offered for Hajime to do his work inside but he always politely declined.

He was happy sitting outside , his three eyed ravens often joined him and told him new things they had found out. He was sitting comfortably till a shoe hit the back of his head.. It was going to be a long night.

In the morning Hajime went inside to see his King passed out under a bunch of women, he shook his head pinching between his eyes just taking it in. Hajime was a loyal friend , but he hoped that one day his friend would get what's coming to him.

“Oi, King, Tooru, wake up” he kicked his leg on the bed waking up some of the girls who gave him an angry look .

“Sorry loves, “ he smirked as they got up, taking the blanket with them to cover themselves. Chins high, full of attitude. “Oikawa!” He kicked again, waking up his friend.

“Gah…!!! Easy .. “ he rubbed his head and pushed his hair out of his face turning to lay on his side. “What time is it?” he asked very groggy.

“Time to be a King.” Hajime threw the royal clothes at the annoyed King and went to the door. “Ill meet you at the castle , i have some things i wanna discuss”

“Hmph, “ grunted the King as he got out of bed to dress. “Sometimes i wish i was but a lowly peasant, begging for food on the street, no responsibilities, spend all my money on the whores if im lucky, ahhh the life…” Oikawa threw his cape while holding his arm out. “But that will never be!! For i am King Tooru Oikawa!!!”

Mattsun.

The waves gently crashed against The Aoba rocking it gently back and forth. It was a fine ship, the most powerful one in the Kingdom. It won many sea battles , cleaved many enemy ships and saved its share of people. Mattsun loved this ship, it was his baby, his queen. No one could change his mind about the sea, he loved being on it, land not so much. He wanted to travel the world on this ship, live on the sea for the rest of his life.

The sound of cheering could be heard just off the docks, Mattsun rolled his eyes looking towards the village. He was laying on the side of the ship on his back watching the clouds drift by, his right leg dangling off the side of the boat. The King, hisi friend, was greeting and waving at everyone as he walked by. Mattsun rolled into his ship to his feet rolling his shoulders, he placed a hand on The Aoba rubbing gently. “Ill be back, be good okay?” his voice low and full of sadness. He hated having his queen docked. She belonged in the sea.. The open sea. Not tied up like this.. “Dont let anyone come aboard, knock em off okay?” the ship swished and it got a smile out of the man, he hopped over onto the dock taking one last look back before heading to the castle.

Yahaba & Kyotani

“Ive done it!!!” the very loud slam of metal hitting the cold stone alerted Kyotani. He looked up to see Yahaba giggling over a new weapon like a little kid, his hands hovering all around the object as if it was magic . Yahaba was a … questionable blacksmith; he loved to make things, anything! Even things he shouldn't. He was involved with the black market too and they were hsi best customers besides The King and Kyotani.

Kyotani had been laying on his back on some hay inside Yahaba’s stone home with a stray puppy on his chest just watching the clouds from the window. He was always here, if he was not here he was out thieving or fighting or walking in the woods. It was early morning and after a night of wrestling wolves he found himself here, picking up a stray puppy in the village on his travels.

The man got up with the sleepy puppy in his arms, setting it down on the ground. “Past the village, in the woods to the side of the path, is a little home , you'll see a dog there, he looks like you. “ he scratched the strays head. “There's food there,” he said. The little puppy rubbed on Kyotanis hand and rushed off barking full of happiness.

“Hound! Hound come see!!!” said the eager friend.

Kyotani rose to his feet joining the blacksmith behind his work table , he smirked at the two objects. Bracers, brand new, freshly made bracers. Just for him.

“See see ? “ Yahaba pointed to the spikes on the ends of the knuckles and poked one lightly making his finger bleed. “Now you can slice and dice! And cut! And kill!”

“I already kill” he told his friend watching him set the two bracers in water to cool off. “They look perfect, what do i owe you Yahaba”

“Hmm… ive heard the Kingdom over has rare Jade, a precious blue like the ocean”

“Consider it done.” Kyotani took the bracers out of the water to shove in his bag. “Do we have to go to that… meeting…”

Yahaba pouted at his friend and Kyotnai rolled his eyes. “Fucking Oikawa,”

“How much is the debt again?”

Kyotani shot a look at his friend, making him back up with his hands up .

“If i could kill em, i would. “ was all he said, exiting the stone home watching the passing villagers avert their eyes once they saw him.

“I know, have you met his wife ?” yahaba asked, joining his friend

“Didn't know he had one, I feel sorry for her.”

Yahaba slung his arm around his friend's neck while they walked to the Kingdom , footsteps heavy.

Queen Y/N

You had spent the morning with Millie eating chocolate and gossiping with Satori about his travels, he had been all over the world, and he always shared his stories with you , you wanted to see the world, travel, it had been your dream since you were a little girl. You still had hope that one day it would happen. A bell rang making you slump on your friend.

“Duty calls.” you sighed.

“The King must be back” Millie said, pulling you up with her.

“I can hardly contain my excitement.” you teased, giving Satori one more hug. “Thankyou for the morning my friend.”

“Always, “ he kissed your hands, giving you a happy smile.

“You turned to Millie wiping some chocolate off her cheek with a little smirk. “Well, lets go see what my loving husband wants..”

#.Heartsfic #kyotani x reader #iwaizumi x reader #oikawa x iwaizumi #mattsun x reader #yahaba x reader

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shattered-mirror-fanfic · 3 years ago

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Chapter 2 is finally out! I’ll try not to take as long with chapter 3!

A03 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32206135/chapters/80533708#workskin

Chapter text below th cut for people who don’t use Ao3:

It was cold...too cold. Darkness was everywhere, he looked down seeing blood smeared on his jacket. He didn’t like these colors, they were violent ones...wait what had happened? It was all coming back, all of it in slow motion. His ears were ringing as a gunshot played over and over in his mind. Screaming, crying, blood, pain...it always was his unwanted home.

~~~

Right Hand Man woke up in a cold sweat, had it all been a dream? No, it was real, he wasn’t home. He sat up and looked around at the tent he had woken up in, seeing no one else. Right pulled out his phone (which he noted had a new crack across the top) and checked the time. 11:47. He had never woken up this late, especially when there was something big happening. “Oh fuck me with a metal pipe right up the arse.” He mumbled to himself while sliding off his bed and putting on his boots which had been left beside it. Rustling came from outside and as the australian cocked his head to pear at the source of the noise. Ellie walked in notably with her hair in a low ponytail and without her hat.

"Hey boss, glad you're awake. You completely fainted yesterday after, y'know..." She commented.

“Yeah...um, can I ask wot happened while I was out?” Right asked in response.

“Oh yeah, it was still pretty intense....”

The events of the previous night had started with a strong wind, and ended with a hurricane. Once the government had fled, everything broke down. Henry had immediately darted out, followed by Alphys, Asgore and Frisk. Everyone was panicking. But Right Hand Man...he was silent, cradling Reginald’s newly deceased body in his arms. Have you ever seen a grown man cry? It’s depressing, even more so when it’s a 6’5” australian man with barely anything to lose. Except he just lost the one thing he could lose. Right was trembling for the first time in his life since he was a young lad, tears were rushing down his face as he pulled his best friend closer. He felt the brunette in his arms feel lighter and he cracked his blurred eyes open enough to see Reginald start to fade. Right sobbed more, quietly sputtering out “no”s, all while the teal soul was cracking away, little chips flying off into the wind before dulling and fading. The sun had set, the heart stopped beating. It was all dark, and Right collapsed.

The red-headed woman briefed her boss on everything before addressing which of the tents set up was where Reginald’s broken soul was located.

“Wait, so you’re telling me he's alive?!” Right asked loudly.

“Well, no, the doc just said she had this tank thing that can preserve human souls so she thought it may even work with the chief's soul.” Ellie responded. “Anyways, the doc and Ms. Toriel said they’ll try their best to use healing magic to repair him but it probably won’t work.”

“Hold on, who’s this Toriel lady?”

“Oh yeah, you didn’t get to meet the other monsters yesterday, Ms. Toriel is Asgore’s ex-wife, she’s super nice and patched me up since I got a cut on my arm.”

“Huh, guess I missed a lot…”

“Yeah, here, if you wanna I can introduce you to everyone, how does that sound?”

“Sure but, can we check on Reg first?”

“Yeah, but how come, he’s just a soul right now?”

“I miss him…”

~~~

Frisk and Henry decided that staying around the makeshift camp was too stuffy, so they headed into town. It wasn’t that bad of a walk terrain wise, but it was still pretty long. Henry decided that maybe being dressed like a wanted criminal wasn’t a good idea, so he had kept his hair in a low ponytail today, leaving his hat at camp and wearing his old jacket over top of his normal fancy clothes.

As they entered town Frisk reached up and tugged on Henry’s jacket, making him turn and kneel down to their height.

“Hey kid what’s wrong?” Henry asked calmly. Frisk couldn’t find the words to explain it, so they moved their hands in intricate motions, signing to Henry that they’re scared. Henry smiled and signed back saying that he understood and stood back up, grabbing Frisk’s hand in his own and walking with them into the town. They strolled for a bit until they reached a library. Henry pushed open the door to the dark shop, everything seemed old and sketchy. Henry flicked the light switch, lighting up everything and showing not a single speck of dust. All the books in sight seemed brand new, the floor itself looked recently polished.

“Ah visitors, it’s been too long” A voice chimed from up the stairs. Down walked a man of average height, he had tan skin and dark brown hair pulled into a soft ponytail along his back. He wore grey glasses and a light orange apron, all tied together with a dark blue tie with a small shiny pendant on it. “My name is Mr. Williams, how may I help you?”

“Um hi, I’m Henry, we’re looking for specific books.” Henry said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Of course, what genre?”

“I’m looking for a book on politics and Mr. Henry is looking for books on human souls.” Frisk chimed in.

“Great, Henry, do you see the shelf by the mirror over there? The books over there should be what you're looking for” The man said, gesturing his hand towards a mirror hanging on the wall. “As for you young child, let me show you where the political books are.”

Henry made his way to where Mr. Williams had gestured too, turning his head only once to make sure Frisk was okay. The white-haired man sighed as he scanned over the books looking for the correct one. One stood out among the others, it was an older book with a leather cover, he pulled it out of the shelf and stared at the cover. Guide to souls, and how to work soul bonds. Henry shrugged and opened up the table of contents when something caught his eye. One of the very last chapters was titled “How to undo an unwanted soul bond”. He flipped right to the page it would be on, desperate for answers, unfortunately fate was kicking him in the rear this time when the page was shown to be torn out and missing. Great, just freaking great.

“What’s wrong Heny~ Sick of me already?” Henry turned to the ghost behind him.

“Leave me alone player, I was doing fine before you came along” He stated coldly.

“Don’t you see Hen, you need me, you’re only here because I made you better, and I still need to repay my debt for you helping me all those years ago.”

“I was a child, I of course helped you, just because I did that doesn’t mean I need a demon following me throughout my life!” Henry shout whispered.

"Eh, everyone's a critic, now if you excuse me, I have to take a snack break.”

“Don’t you dare say it-”

“On the fear of weak.”

“Of freaking course you drama royal.”

“Thank you for using the correct pronouns.”

“I’m not an asshole” Henry laughed, following it with a frown. He looked back down at the book in his hand, flipping through the other pages before looking back up. “Hey could you-”

Gone. Player had vanished, like always. The man sighed and turned to the shelf to find another book.

~~~

A few hours had gone by before Henry and Frisk met back up at the entrance to the building, Frisk holding three novel length books on politics for beginners and Henry just with the leather book with the missing page.

“Well I hope you two found everything you needed, feel free to keep those books, I really don’t need them.” The librarian said with a smile. Henry felt something off this time, but shrugged it off as something to not worry about. Frisk wasn’t satisfied with what the kind gentleman had said and reached into their pocket. “Oh, you don’t need to pay, please it’s the least I could do for you lovely folks.”

“Mr. Williams sir, is something wrong?” The child asked, tilting their head to the side.

“No, no, I’m perfectly grand, I just thought it would be a nice thing to do since you two stopped by.” Mr. Williams reassured. “But, maybe I have been a bit lonely, you see, I lost my daughters a few years ago and no one takes interest in my library anymore.”

Frisk nodded before asking, “What were your daughters' names?”

“I see you're quite the learner young one, very well then. My younger daughter was Cassie, she was a really sweet girl and my older daughter was Amy, she was like a little mini-me.” Mr. Williams said with a spark of joy, dimming as he finished his sentence. Frisk blinked for a moment before reaching into their pocket and pulling out a light orange cloth wrapped around a box-like object (how Frisk was carrying this, Henry didn’t know).

“I found these, they had your daughters’ names on them, I thought you may want them back.” The child said, unwrapping the fabric to show it was an apron wrapped around a dark purple journal. Frisk passed them to a baffled Mr. Williams as he stared at the objects.

"Th-thank you Frisk, this means so much." He responded, tears welling in his eyes. The man held them close, not wanting to let go at all.

The store fell silent as the three said their goodbyes. Henry and Frisk left, books in hand, ready to go back. Mr. Williams smiled for what felt like the first time in years. He set the journal and apron on the table below the mirror. He turned ready to head back upstairs to enjoy some tea, but he heard the noise of glass shattering, darting back around to see his mirror broken, right from the center. Two of the shards landed each on his daughter's possessions.

He thought to himself, they need me, don’t they?

#yay #undertale #the henry stickmin collection #shattered mirror #crossover #thsc #post-pacifist ending #fanfiction #fanfic #toppat recruits #inspired

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siancore · 4 years ago

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Title: Baked With Love

A/N: This is a SamBucky Bakery AU based on the graphic novel Bloom

Summary: Bucky Barnes’ family owns a bakery in a small town. High school has long been over, and Bucky is dying to move to the city to pursue a musical career with his band. And his future looks promising, if he can just persuade his father to let him leave his job behind at their struggling family bakery.

It is no secret that Bucky used to love baking with his father, but things change. He just can’t fathom wasting his life away watching rising dough and hot ovens. With his mind made up to leave, Bucky convinces his father to advertise for a replacement. While interviewing candidates to fill the position he has vacated, Bucky meets Sam Wilson: An easy-going guy who is as eager about baking as Bucky is about leaving. They bond over baking and become close. Love looks like it is ready to bloom between them if Bucky, in his haste to escape, does not ruin it.

Words: 3,073

AO3 Link

The joyful laughter and chatter rose high above the music as the guests of the backyard wedding danced gleefully. Bucky sat over near the wall and lifted his head to see his sister’s smiling face. Becca looked so happy as she threw her head back and then twirled around the dancefloor. He was pleased for her, and glad that she was finally getting away from their small town, but somewhere deep inside he knew what it meant for him: More time at his family’s Bakery and less of a chance of him actually leaving as well. He frowned to himself and placed his drink down on the empty chair beside him. He watched the smiling partygoers a moment longer until his vision was impeded by a man’s figure.

“Bucky, why aren’t you out there enjoying yourself?” asked his father, George. “It’s your sister’s big day and you’re sat here with a face like a cat’s ass.”

The young man rolled his eyes and said, “I just don’t feel like dancing, Dad. Kinda wanna be alone right now.”

“At a celebration?”

“Yeah.”

George shook his head and said, “I’ll never understand you young people. Today isn’t about you, but you’re making it about you.”

“I’m not doin’ anything, Dad,” Bucky retorted, feeling annoyed. “You’re makin’ it about me. Why can’t you just let me be?”

Before his father could reply, Becca was standing next to George with her hand held out to her brother.

“C’mon,” she said as Bucky took hold of her hand and then stood.

“Where’re we goin’?”

“I just need to talk to you a minute,” she said, before kissing their father on the cheek. “We’ll be back in a sec.”

Becca led Bucky up the stairs into her old bedroom and closed the door. She walked to her closet and pulled out her sneakers before sitting down, kicking off her heels, and pulling the comfortable shoes on.

“Ugh, my feet are so sore,” she sighed as she laced the sneakers. “Glad to get these off.”

“Bec, you wanted to talk?” asked Bucky as he ran his fingers through his hair.

She patted the spot on the bed beside her and Bucky took a seat.

“Can you believe it, Buck?” she asked as she nudged his shoulder with hers. “I’m a married woman.”

He smiled a genuine smile and nudged her back before saying, “I’m happy for you.”

“I know, but you couldn’t tell that from the way you were moping around down there,” she proffered. “That moody musician thing really doesn’t suit you.”

“Sorry. I was just in my own head. I’m gonna miss havin’ you around.”

“Aww, I’m gonna miss you too, Buck.”

“And Dad’s gonna be on my case a lot more now.”

“Hey, he means well, you know?”

“I know, but it’s like he doesn’t support my dreams with the band.”

“He just doesn’t understand,” said Becca as she rested her head on her brother’s shoulder. “All he’s ever known is baking and taking care of his family. He wants what’s best for us.”

“I know, I just want to get outta here so bad, y’know?”

“Yeah, but Mom and Dad are gonna need your help around here for a while,” Becca explained. “Especially with me leaving.”

“You sound like Dad.”

“Well, he’s not always wrong about everything, Buck.”

“He told you to break up with Scott like five times or whatever, and now you’re married, so he’s definitely wrong sometimes.”

“Okay, smartass,” Becca said with a laugh. “All I’m sayin’ is, I’m moving out. The Bakery isn’t doin’ that great, and Mom and Dad are gonna need some help.”

“I get it, and I am helping,” said Bucky. “At least for a little while longer.”

One thing that Sam Wilson really loved about being back in the town where his father grew up was the abundance of fresh food. The fish markets were a literal five-minute stroll from his Gramma’s house, and the grocery stores stocked a lot of fresh, local produce. As someone who loved to cook, Sam was enjoying taking a languid walk through the store, with his shopping basket, while perusing the goods.

While it was only him staying in his family’s old house, his friends were making the trip to come and see him. He had made the decision to take time off from school to pack up his Gramma’s house after she had passed. He needed to get away from it all for a little while, so being in the town that held so many fond childhood memories for him was nice, even though it felt different without his Gramma there.

Sam was drawn from his thoughts by a loud squeal. He turned to see a woman, around his mother’s age, rushing toward him with a wide smile on her face. He did not recognize her, but she seemed to know him.

“Oh my god, Sam Wilson!” she said as she stepped into his personal space and went for a hug.

Sam stood frozen and offered a small smile.

“Hi,” he replied, not knowing what else to say.

The woman stepped back and let her eyes roam up and down Sam’s body before saying, “Look at you, all grown up.”

Her tone was quite suggestive, and Sam immediately felt uncomfortable. She reached her hand over and placed it to Sam’s bicep.

“My word, you look just like your father when we went to high school together,” said the woman as she gave Sam’s arm a squeeze.

“I’m sorry, I –”

“You don’t remember me?” she asked, with a pout and a flutter of her eye lids. “You were just a boy the last time I saw you, now look at you, looking every bit a man. Looking just like your father; goodness me, you’re built like him, too.”

Sam blinked a few times and didn’t say anything.

“What’re you doing here in town? Is your father here, too?”

“No, umm, Dad’s not uh, he’s not here. Just me. I’m packin’ Gramma’s house up.”

“Oh, so you’re here in that big house all on your own?”

“Y-yeah?”

“And you’re buying food to cook for yourself?”

“Yes, ma’am. Gotta eat.”

She dragged her eyes over his form once again and said, “Hmm, you do to keep a body like that well-fed.”

Sam did not know what else to say except to excuse himself.

“I really have to go now, but it was nice seein’ you.”

“Now hold on a minute,” she said, talking hold of his upper arm once more. “A fine-looking young man like you shouldn’t have to cook his own dinner. Why don’t I grab a bottle of wine and join you?”

“Oh, no thank you, ma’am,” said Sam as he began to back away. “That really isn’t necessary. But, uh, thanks for the offer? You have a good night.”

She looked disappointed, but ogled Sam one more time before saying, “Alright, say hello to that handsome father of yours.”

The alarm on Bucky’s phone sounded and he let out a groan. He did not usually have to do the early morning shifts, but since Becca had left, it was up to him. He rolled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. A quick shower would liven him up. He got ready and then made his way to the kitchen. His father was already there finishing his coffee. Father and son greeted one another, and Bucky made a beeline straight to the coffee pot.

“Ready for the day?” asked George with a smile.

“Ugh, how can you be so chipper at this ungodly hour?”

George shrugged and said, “I love what I do.”

Bucky didn’t say anything in reply. He wasn’t in the mood to bicker with his father, especially at that hour of the morning.

“Come on,” said George, taking his son’s silence as a hint that the conversation was over. “Let’s get to work.”

….

By the time a few customers started coming into the Bakery, Bucky was tired and covered in flour. They were not going to be baking anything else at that point because sales weren’t particularly great in recent times. Hardly anyone came into the shop anymore. Most of their profits were made from customers who still paid for deliveries.

“You’re back here sitting on your phone, James?” asked George. He only called Bucky James when he was annoyed with him.

Bucky removed his earbuds, lifted his gaze from his screen, and said, “Uh?”

“Your phone, you’re always on it.”

“I’m waiting for Steve to text me back,” Bucky explained. “He’s looking at apartments in the city today. Was gonna send me pics.”

“You’re still going on about moving when we need you here?” “What about what I need?” asked Bucky as he paused the video of his band’s rehearsal. “Look at this.”

He held the phone out for his father to see, put the earbud in his ear, and then pressed play. The music started and George knit his brow as he removed the earbud and handed the device back.

“Son, what is this?”

“It’s my band, Dad.”

“You’re not even the singer.”

Bucky sighed and placed the phone back in his pocket.

“That doesn’t matter. I love music, you know that. Playing in this band with Steve, T’Challa, and Okoye is important to me. We’re gonna get an apartment and move away, Dad.”

“What about helping me and your mother?”

“I am helping.”

“But you’re leaving, also.”

Bucky sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He didn’t like being at odds with his father, but he wanted to do what he loved.

“You used to love helping me out in the Bakery when you were younger. Do remember how much fun we used to have?”

“Yeah, Dad, I do. But things change. I just don’t love it like I used to. I love music. When we couldn’t afford for me to go to school to study music, I didn’t make a fuss about it. I stayed here and helped out. Playing in the band with the guys has been good for me.”

“Bucky,” said George as he placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Me and your mother wanted you to go to college. It broke our hearts when we didn’t have the money to send you. We do want you to do what you love, we’re just having a tough time ourselves with the Bakery.”

Bucky and George stood a moment in the quiet until Bucky spoke again.

“Dad, I get it, and I’m not upset about it. I know we didn’t have the money and I know things have been tough, but I’m still leaving when Steve finds an apartment for us.”

George let out a loud sigh and then began to walk away.

“Wait,” said Bucky, as he reached out took hold of his father’s arm gently. “What if I find someone?”

“What d’ya mean?”

“If I find someone to replace me to help you out at the Bakery,” said Bucky, his eyes lighting up at his idea. “I could find someone really good, and then you’d get the help you need, and I can still leave.”

George sighed and said, “Let’s talk about it later. You should go make your deliveries now.”

Bucky placed the orders to the back of the Moped and then went to do his rounds. He enjoyed this part of working at the Bakery. He enjoyed getting out and about; feeling the wind in his hair; letting his mind go blank a moment in a welcome departure from all of the stress and worry. When he was scooting around town, he felt like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Having made the rounds, Bucky decided to take a shortcut on his way home. He rode up the small street of a residential neighborhood and some movement just ahead caught his eye. A guy, maybe a year or so older than him, was walking down a garden path carrying some trash. It was the day before the trash was to be collected, so there was nothing particularly interesting about it. Except the guy was drop-dead gorgeous.

Bucky could not tear his eyes away from the stranger, who was now looking right back at him. He didn’t know whether to smile or wave. He should have done something, other than stare at the dude like a creep. Perhaps watch where he was going, because just ahead were two trashcans full of smelly, discarded things.

Just before he was about to collide with the trashcans, Bucky regained composure and control, and straightened up. That could have been very embarrassing, he thought to himself, as he sped along home hoping the hot guy didn’t see his near-accident.

Misty Knight was rolling on her bed laughing as Sam shook his head and watched her through Skype. She was absolutely amused by Sam’s retelling of meeting the strange lady in the grocery store the previous evening.

“It’s not funny, Misty,” said Sam, even though he did miss his friend’s laughter.

“Sorry, Sammy,” she said while trying to recover. “It’s just typical, isn’t it? No matter where you go, someone’s hittin’ on you. Even old ass ladies in the grocery store.”

“I can’t believe my Dad knew her.”

“Can’t believe she was so shameless.”

“I know right,” said Sam as he ran his hand over his brow. “And offering to cook for me? Please, I know my way around a kitchen.”

“Oh, no, baby boy,” said Misty with a chuckle. “She wasn’t tryna cook for you, she was tryna eat you.”

“God, Misty, don’t say nasty things.”

“Sorry Sammy.”

“I wouldn’t have been in that situation if you didn’t put in a request for all the things you want me to cook while you’re here.”

“True, but you know I love your cooking,” she said with a smile. “Also, Riley’s comin’.”

“What?”

“He asked if I was going to see you, and I said yes, and he asked if he could come. Is that okay?”

“You should’ve asked first, Misty. But it’s cool. We’re friends and this’ll be a good reminder for him.”

“Plus, he’s got competition from the local thirsty-over-forty-crowd.”

Sam groaned and said, “Ugh. Why do I tell you anything? Change the subject please.”

“Alright. Alright. So, does it feel weird bein’ in the house on your own?”

“Yeah, kinda,” said Sam as he rubbed his hand over the back of his head. “It’s quiet. And feels sad.”

“I’m sorry, baby boy.”

“Thanks, pretty girl,” Sam proffered with a sigh. “It’s just that the last good memory I had was at Christmas time. The house was full of family and great food. Gramma was laughin’ and smiling so much you couldn’t even tell she was sick. She let me help her in the kitchen, and she never let anybody in her kitchen.”

Sam smiled a little sadly and Misty nodded her head before saying, “It’s nice that you got your love of cooking from her.”

Sam nodded his head and then said, “Oh, that reminds me, I found Gramma’s recipe book.”

“Oh my god, Sam, really? You looked for it everywhere after the funeral. Where was it?”

“Was right there on the shelf near her spice rack, Mist, I swear.”

“You looked there!”

“I know, right!” said Sam with an excitable look on his face. “It’s like it was just sittin’ there waiting for me.”

“Did you go through it?”

“Yeah, it’s still the most gorgeous book I’ve ever seen,” said Sam nostalgically. “All of our family’s recipes handwritten by Gramma and her Mama. Then it’s got my pancake recipe she let me write down. It’s so special.”

Sam felt the tears well in his eyes as he spoke; his voice cracked a little. Misty noticed.

“Hey, so you know what you should do?” she asked.

“What?”

“You should cook one of your Gramma’s recipes,” said Misty with a smile. “It’ll make you feel better, Sammy. I know it will.”

Misty was right. Sam had made a small, simple dish from his grandmother’s book. He immediately felt better. A tummy full of his Gramma’s mac and cheese always felt like a warm hug. He was going to be alright. He was.

After Sam cleaned his dishes and tidied up, he went to take the trash out front. He noticed someone flying along on a scooter. It was a young guy, probably around his age. The guy made eye contact and just kept staring at Sam, so Sam stared back, kind of entranced by the way the wind swept through his dark brown tresses.

Sam should have done something, other than stare back at the guy like some kind of creep. A wave or a smile would have done the trick. Instead, Sam was at a loss for words and actions. He almost called out when the guy nearly hit a couple of trashcans a few doors down, but he was gone before Sam could do anything. He walked back to the house wondering if he would ever see the stranger again.

After Bucky returned home, he parked the Moped near the Bakery and then went inside to clean up. After he was done, he locked up he made his way inside his family’s home. Dinner was already on the table and his mother, Winnie, asked if he was going to have something to eat.

“Sorry, Ma,” said Bucky with an apologetic smile. “I’m off to band practice now.”

“You can’t have a meal with your family?” George asked as he stepped into the room and sat down.

Bucky let out a sigh and said, “Music is important to me. I don’t wanna roll dough for the rest of my life.”

He knew his words hurt his father as soon as he had spoken them.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a baker,” was George’s reply. “I know,” Bucky said when he saw the hurt in his father’s eyes. “And I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant that music is what I wanna do, and practice will make sure I’m good at it. I gotta go.”

“At least take a bread roll with you,” said Winnie softly.

“Thanks, Ma,” said Bucky as he inched toward the door before stopping. “I’ll make the flyers up later to advertise the position and get them posted tomorrow. It’s gonna be okay, Dad.”

#sambucky #sambucky fanfiction #sam wilson #bucky barnes #sambucky au

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minetteenfers · 4 years ago

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Day 4: Breaking More Than My Heart (Chapter 2 of Hello, My Old Heart)

Here is Day 4 of @blancweek! Nothing NSFW in this chapter, but I will post the link to the story beneath the cut at the end since the fic is Rated E. ^-^

Chapter 2: Day 4= Breaking More Than My Heart

Marinette stood in the kitchen, pouring her soul into making a meal for Chat Blanc. She had worked all day out picking herbs, spices, and gathering a swan for the dishes. Then, she had come in to turn it all into something. Her father had taught her many things as a child, one being how to make the most delicious food that they could create. It was a hidden talent that she had since she was small. Something that she could do well.

Her mother had perished during childbirth and she had always dreamed that she had met her. Her father always told her that she would have loved her because she was exactly like her in many ways. She sighed and finished up supper, putting the items onto dishes for Chat.

Marinette wiped her hands on her skirts. Normally the kitchen of a castle would be full of bustling servants and people with duties to help bake and cook, but this one was empty. She assumed he must have gotten rid of them all. Which meant this only made her life that much harder. She took a deep breath and carried the courses out to the massive dining table.

Chat sat at the table drinking his wine and speaking with guards about how much he disliked people in the keep. It seemed to be his go to conversation until she would set the table. She didn’t know why the man never spoke of anything but hatred and negative things, but she really couldn’t blame him for being so broken.

He peered up at her and a dangerous smirk appeared on his full lips. “Ah, there you are. What have you provided me with today?”

“Swan and vegetables with bread, your grace.” Marinette grabbed her skirts and curtsied, waiting for him to respond.

“Come. Join me at my side.” Chat kicked the chair beside him away from the table, and she stood up straight to sit down beside him.

Marinette took his fork from him and sighed, taking a bite of swan from his plate. She knew it wasn’t poisoned. She had made it herself and she wouldn’t do that to him, but clearly his trust was lacking.

Chat watched her for any signs of being ill before taking his fork and stabbing a vegetable holding it out to her. She stared at him with a blush, gazing around at his court.

“Go on then.” Chat gestured with his fork and she swallowed hard.

She leaned in and grabbed the bite from his fork. She chewed and took a moment. “Tis good, your grace.”

“Very well then.” Chat cut some of the swan on his plate and took a bite, letting the spices and herbs settle onto his tongue. “Rather delicious.”

“Thank you, your grace.” Marinette smiled and tried to look poised beside him.

“Did your father teach you?” Chat stabbed a potato and brought it up to his lips.

“Yes, your grace.” Marinette licked her lips and tried to not focus on how her stomach rumbled.

“Are you hungry? Surely, you did not eat.” Chat poked a piece of swan and held it out to her. “Eat.”

Marinette shook her head and chewed on her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t.”

“I insist.” Chat smiled and something about it was different than before.

She parted her lips and wrapped them around the bite of meat, taking it into her mouth with a soft hum. “I do miss my father’s cooking.”

“Your father was a good man. Tis a shame my father rid the castle of him ages ago. I should have loved to have him here still.” Chat stabbed a carrot harder than he had intended to, his knuckles turning white around the utensil.

“Twas not your fault, your grace.” Marinette touched his fist, and he licked his lips and sighed.

“Perhaps not, but my father was still my flesh and blood.” Chat grabbed his knife and sliced it along his palm, closing his fist, and dripping the blood onto the tablecloth. “You told me so. I am very much alive, even if I erase the name. Until I perish, I will still be an- an- never mind.”

He flipped his knife and stabbed it into the table, leaving it standing on its sharp tip. “Never mind, shall we finish our meal so that I may make more decisions for the town.”

Marinette wanted to mend his hand and help him, but she didn’t know how. She had no idea how to make him come back to her. He was too full of pain. The bad outweighed the good, and she needed to figure out how to bring him back.

“Shall we take a stroll through the garden?” Marinette hoped that he would agree. She wanted to get him alone, away from his father’s guards.

“Why ever would we do such a thing?” Chat raised an eyebrow at her. “I have far too much to accomplish.”

“Taking a moment to breathe is always a lovely idea.” Marinette touched his arm and he peered down at her hand with widened eyes.

He ripped his arm from her hand, and she sighed. He had done a complete one-eighty since they had played in the kitchen. She felt like her touch burned his skin and no matter how hard she tried, he wouldn’t let her in. He had put up the highest walls with the best guards that their currency could buy and she couldn’t storm it.

“Fine. I shall entertain your idea.” Chat sighed and finished his meal.

Marinette took his plate to the kitchen and went to her chamber to get ready to walk through the garden. She had barely finished getting ready when a knock sounded on her door. Marinette rolled her eyes and opened the door, finding Chat standing there.

“I have yet to explore the gardens since my mother’s death.” Chat worried his bottom lip and she warmly smiled, grabbing his forearm in her hands.

“Allow me to reintroduce you two then.” Marinette led him out of the castle and down to the garden.

Purple and white wisterias hung down from the overhang as it opened up to elegant topiaries and overgrown rose bushes. It was like a dream and it also needed a lot of work.

Chat Blanc held his hand out, catching petals as they fell with a blank expression like he could care less. It had been so long since he had gone out there. So long since he had seen the garden that his mother had insisted on having. To be honest, he had been afraid to venture out to it again. Too many memories of being a child with her. Too many fractals of her smiles and laughs before it was taken over by coughs and tears.

“Your mother loved this garden.” Marinette sighed and ran her fingers along the flower bushes. “Tis sad to see it overgrown like this. Although, I am sure that it can be mended easily. It just needs a bit of love.”

Chat swallowed hard as memories of his mother and him flooded his memory. Memories of her sneaking him out to play like she had felt a kid should.

“My mother would sneak me out here to play as a child,” Chat spoke quietly, and Marinette nearly missed it.

“Mm-hm. She was fond of children being able to play. She would always speak of children needing to have a bit of fun even if society has deemed it to be inappropriate.” Marinette giggled and plucked a white flower, spinning it between her fingers, as she walked back towards him with swaying hips. “I used to dream of what it would be like to be in Eden and I always felt that this must be what it is like when I came here. Though, not often. There were duties to be done.” She reached up to place the flower in his paled golden hair. “You had them too.”

“Too many. Still do, I am afraid.” Chat took the flower from his hair and flicked it across the garden.

Marinette watched it land in the pond, sending slight ripples through the water, and she nodded. “I see. Well, I shall not keep you then.”

Chat tried to ignore how he felt surrounded by his mother in the garden. He tried to ignore that he felt like she was whispering to him and trying to pull him out of the waves of disaster and pain. He didn’t want her. He didn’t want to be helped, even if he had told Marinette to.

“Marinette.” Chat stopped her from leaving with his hand held out to her.

“Yes, your grace?” Marinette turned around to stare at him, watching how the fallen petals swirled around him and for a moment she thought she saw Adrien instead. But it quickly faded away as fast as it had come.

“Do-” He had no idea what he was going to say. His words had left him.

“Yes?” She walked closer to him and hoped he was coming back.

“Do you think that my mother is watching?” Chat swallowed hard as he thought about it.

“I think… she never left.” Marinette warmly smiled and ran her hands down his doublet to smooth it out, stopping to play with a button.

“What do you mean?” Chat peered down at her slender fingers on his button, fiddling with it.

Marinette slowly peered up to meet his saddened gaze, “Your mother lives on in your heart.”

“My heart has frozen over.”

Marinette placed one hand over his heart, “If it is merely frozen over then it just needs a bit of warmth. The forest is not dead all year. Eventually, the sun comes out to warm its leaves and streams. The forest rebirths into something wonderful again with spring. The flowers bloom and the leaves green. The streams flow and trickle with beautiful waters. Much like our hearts. The memories and pain may never take their leave, but we can heal with time. Just takes a bit of love and warmth. Someone to tell us that everything will become well again.”

Chat swallowed hard and touched her hand, searching her gaze and struggling to not let tears fall. Why was she not running? Why was she still here? Why was she saying everything that she was? He didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve anything she was telling him, and he knew he had to prove it. He had to prove that he was as bad as they say in the town. She was getting too close.

“You know what my father told me?” Chat took her hand from his chest and she raised an eyebrow at him as he walked away with his hands behind his back.

“I am sure he told you many things.” Marinette didn’t know what he was getting at.

“He told me how useless your father was in the kitchen. How much he loathed the man and his subpar cooking.” Chat peered up at the wisterias.

“Yes, well he was not too fond of father.” Marinette sighed and walked towards him again. “But his grace rarely enjoyed the company of anyone except your mother.”

“My father also spoke of you.” Chat slowly turned to face her and she swallowed hard.

She knew what was coming and she wasn’t prepared for it. He was spiraling backwards, and this experiment had only turned south. She took a deep breath and prepared herself.

“And?” Marinette cringed as she spoke the word.

“He was correct. You are good for nothing more than a mistress.” Chat’s words sliced through her heart and her bottom lip quivered.

“You do not mean that!” Marinette stormed towards him and he glared at her as she held up her hand about to smack his cheek.

“I would think wisely before you choose to do such an action to your king.”

“I do not see a king or a prince, but a scared little boy,” Marinette spit the words at him and ran back to the castle.

Chat growled beneath his breath as he watched her run from him. He still considered himself a prince, but he needed to say something stronger. While he was now the King, he didn’t want it and so he kept his title as prince within the castle. And while he was terrified of being alone, as he was, he wouldn’t go as far as saying he was a small child. He had grown and become mature because he had had to. There wasn’t another option. And if he let her get close, then she would know how truly broken he was and he couldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t be a burden for her.

***

Marinette laid on her bed and sobbed into it. She just wanted Adrien back. She wanted the boy that she grew up watching in secret back in her life. She wanted the man that had been in the kitchen the other day back. But right now, he was nowhere to be found. She sniffled and got up, visiting her vanity to wipe the tears from beneath her eyes. She had to clean up his chamber among other duties around the house.

It was the last duty that he had put on her list for the day. She had no idea how he lived alone with no one to keep up on housekeeping. It was more work than one person could handle alone. She knew that it wasn’t his fault that he had obliterated everything, but a few guards. That he had done away with most of the servants because he was afraid of hurting anyone. His heart was broken after his father had been trialed and his name had been soiled. Not only that, but he had been shoved onto the throne with little time. The whole town had erupted into questions over the late King.

Adrien hadn’t been ready to deal with it and she knew that. She knew that it had been too much too soon. He had been trained since birth to do his father’s bidding, but that had not prepared him for something such as this. So, the man had shoved everyone away and locked himself away with few guards. Ones he trusted since he was a child.

She took a deep breath and brushed her trembling hands down her skirts and put on a fake smile. She could do this. She had to do this. She had been told that no one could change him back but her. There was something about her that would make his mind flip back to being the kindhearted boy that he had always been. She felt more tears threaten to fall and she reached up to wipe them away.

“Seize your sobbing, Marinette. You are merely being silly.” She rolled her eyes at herself and walked out of her chamber, making her way to his.

Guards whispered near the door and she stood and waited for them to let her inside. They stepped away from the double doors and she opened them, finding Chat sitting on a chaise lounge.

She gasped and about turned around to leave when he stopped her, “Are you not going to wash my items?”

“I thought you would be in your study.” Marinette cleared her throat, as he stood up and walked over towards her in only a tunic and a pair of trousers.

“Tis true that I should be making decisions, but alas, here I be.” He spread his hands out and relaxed them beside his thighs on the cushion. “So, feel free to wash up around me.”

Marinette rolled her eyes and walked over to his bed, stripping it to begin to get it ready to be laundered. She worked around him, ignoring how his eyes seemed to follow her every move.

“Do you really intend to watch me?” She peered over at him as she placed new linens onto the bed.

“Would you rather I helped?” Chat raised an eyebrow at her and she scoffed at him.

“I would rather you were more of a gentleman,” Marinette mumbled under her breath as she fluffed his pillow.

“Pardon me?” Chat stood up and walked over towards her.

Marinette sighed and let her hands rest on the bed before she stood up straight, “Do you know what your mother would speak to us every morn?”

“Enlighten me.” Chat set his jaw, and she knew that he didn’t want to hear it.

“Every morn, she would come gather the children to tell them a tale. Usually, one with a moral story.” Marinette shrugged and went about the room, finishing up other duties.

Chat Blanc watched her with no words, mostly because he didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to talk about his late mother that had passed away from an illness. He didn’t want to venture into the pain that still gripped at his heart and made it hard to breathe, hard to live.

“Have you heard of The Songbird?” Marinette opened his curtains that appeared to have not been parted in God knows how long.

“I can not say that I have.” Chat gave in and sat down in a chair, grabbing a cup of wine. He held it out to her, and she sighed, grabbing a tasting bowl from the bag hidden by her skirt.

She took the bottle and glass, pouring some into the bowl and tasting them for him. “Tis good, your grace.”

She passed them back and he took a long sip from the glass. “Enlighten me.”

“Once there was a songbird, that was free to fly about the land. A knight was wandering through the forest and came upon a beautiful melody. The most beautiful one he had ever laid his ears upon. He peered up to find a golden songbird on a branch. The gorgeous little thing sang and sang. The knight thought that his maiden would love such a prized possession so, he captured it in a cage.” Marinette sighed and folded a few more items.

“Seems quite ridiculous.” Chat scoffed and rolled his eyes, drinking more wine.

“The knight brought the little bird home to his maiden and presented it to her. She was quite delighted, and of course, she wanted to hear the bird sing.” Marinette leaned forward a bit with an awkward smile.

“And did the damned thing sing?” Chat leaned back in his chair with his forearm draped over the arm of it.

“He tried to make the songbird sing. He tried everything he could ponder up, but nothing seemed to work. He failed in every way. His maiden became quite upset and questioned why he would present a broken gift. He told the tale of how he had come upon the little bird. How beautiful the bird had sung in the forest.” Marinette sighed and sat down on the chaise lounge. “For days, he would shake the cage and demand for that poor bird to sing. But the bird would do nothing but sit on the small perch made from a twig in this gilded cage. He called it useless and unworthy, pathetic, imperfect. The poor thing dropped its head and became sadder. Trapped, it’s beautiful golden plumage dulled to a pale butter.”

Chat moved on to tipping the wine bottle to his lips, ditching the glass onto the table beside his chair. He didn’t want to hear more of this story. He had had enough of this silly game.

“The knight became angry and grabbed the cage, taking it outside. His maiden had followed him, wondering what the commotion was about. The knight opened the cage, and the little bird was shy. It would not budge from its gilded cage, feeling like it was nothing more than an imbecile bird. Too damaged and imperfect. Unloved and unwanted. But the sunshine warmed its wings, comforting it, and coaxing it from its cage. The poor thing began to gently flap its wings, before taking off. It landed on a branch somewhere in the forest and began to sing its sweet melody again. For how can a trapped bird sing?” Marinette searched his expression and watched his eyes flash to emerald before shifting back to sapphire again.

Read and bookmark the whole short fic here!

Some of the songs I wrote To:

youtube

This one for some reason screams Chat Blanc for me in this or in general:

youtube

#blancweek2021 #chatblanc #mariblanc #ml #miraculous #miraculousladybug #marinettedupaincheng #day 4 #day 4 breaking more than my heart

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gellavonhamster · 4 years ago

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herr lucifer, beware, beware

Dracula x Carmilla crossover || Lucy Westenra & (/?) Carmilla Karnstein

ao3 link eng || ao3 link rus

Out of the ash

I rise with my red hair

And I eat men like air.

– Sylvia Plath, Lady Lazarus

Lucy dyes her hair for the first time in her life already after her death.

Twilight reigns in the room, where the air smells of perfume and mustiness; all windows are curtained, and the only light is coming from some thoroughly melted candles. This, however, causes difficulty neither for Lucy, as lately she has no trouble seeing in the dark, nor for her new acquaintance who has armed herself with a thick brush and is presently putting dye on Lucy’s hair. The flame of the candle standing on the table in front of Lucy keeps trembling nervously. A drop of dye falls on the bed sheet that Lucy is draped in as if in another shroud.

“It’s green,” Lucy murmurs as she casts a glance at the swamp-coloured stain on her knees. In truth, she does not care much about the future colour of her hair – it is no longer possible for her to go for a stroll in daylight anyway.

“That is just for now. On your hair, it will look red,” assures her Carmilla. That was how she introduced herself: “Call me Carmilla. This one is my favourite name.” It was her idea to dye Lucy’s hair. “It’s a small town, darling. You don’t need to be recognized. It’s enough that this much people are aware that you do not rest in peace.” ‘This much’ means her Arthur and Professor Van Helsing and Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris. Lucy watched them from behind the wall of someone’s moss-covered crypt while Carmilla – back then she didn’t know her name yet – was covering Lucy’s mouth with her hand and whispering in her ear: “See what they brought with them? They came to murder you. Forget what they meant to you, for they have ceased caring what you meant to them.” Lucy struggled to break away but couldn’t, because Carmilla, petite and delicate and outwardly not older than she, was as strong as five adult men – neither could she not look at the sharp wooden stake in Arthur’s hands. Then she let Carmilla lead her away from the graveyard, and left Arthur and the others by the crypt, possibly to wait for her until morning.

“It smells like grass,” Lucy observes. The dye smells of grass indeed and, ever so slightly, of cucumbers, for some reason.

“It’s henna, my dear. It’s made from dried leaves.” After the final dab, Carmilla throws the brush into a basin, pulls the bed sheet off Lucy, tears off a piece of fabric with ease, and wraps it around Lucy’s hair. “Now you have to wait for about two hours, and then wash your hair.”

It appears that Carmilla finds it all amusing – dyeing Lucy’s hair, picking out her own dresses to give her. Lucy follows her instructions almost mechanically, without much thought. The world around her is now far too full of sounds and smells and colours, much more than it used to be, and her new life is far too full of rules she doesn’t understand properly yet and finds perplexing. Therefore, if Carmilla needs her in order to stave off boredom, then she needs Carmilla in order to learn to navigate this new world without dying for the second time. Besides, she is all but constantly starving, and Carmilla is a much more experienced huntress than she, and doesn’t mind sharing, seeing as she doesn’t waste time on small children, and adults have plenty of blood to spare to satiate the two of them.

There is never any blood left for the ones they suck it from, though – unlike Lucy, Carmilla doesn’t let her prey walk away.

“It is high time for us, child, to discuss what we are going to do next,” says Carmilla, as if having sensed that Lucy is pondering over the reasons why she needs Carmilla and Carmilla needs her. She sits down on the edge of the table, and looks at Lucy downwards. In the dusk, her eyes shine like those of a cat. “What do you remember about the one who granted you eternal life?”

What does she remember about the one who killed her?

“Not much,” Lucy says tentatively. Strange as it may be, these memories are clearer now than they were back when she was alive, but still fairly vague, still seeming as much of a nightmare as before. “He was tall, with long dark hair, with a sharp nose. With a dark moustache. With a… cruel face. I don’t know who he was and where he came from – I’ve never seen him in Whitby before.”

“I know who he was,” says Carmilla. Her face, usually so sweet and gentle even as she drinks the blood of another victim, looks just as cruel now. “Vlad Dracula, a Transilvanian count.”

“Are you acquainted?”

“Not in person,” Carmilla looks away. She still looks angry, but aside from hate, a certain suppressed pain is discernible in her countenance. “He took something from me.”

“Took something?” Lucy echoes.

Carmilla gets up, approaches her from behind, and puts her hands on Lucy’s shoulders.

“Have you ever been in love, darling?” she asks. Her dainty hands stroke Lucy’s shoulders through the thin silk of the dressing gown.

Lucy thinks of Arthur – but she is no longer able to think of him the way she used to when she was alive. She is drawn to him as strongly as never before – but at the same time she is also drawn to her other two suitors, whom she only used to fantasise about briefly and lightly, and she cannot figure out what part of this attraction is love, and what is hunger. She thinks of Arthur’s slender neck, of blue lines on Dr. Seward’s pale wrists, of the outlines of veins on Mr. Morris’s strong arms. Of Mina in her bed, blanket thrown off in her sleep, throat bared to the July night. Of their blood that calls to her more vehemently than the dreams of kisses and embraces – although of those as well.

“Yes,” she replies. If there is one thing she is sure of, it is that she has been in love.

“So have I,” Carmilla tells her quietly. Her hands stop moving.

“What was his name?”

“Her name is not important,” and Lucy feels, inexplicably, a strange joy upon hearing how calmly Carmilla pronounces that ‘her’. She pictures Mina again – Mina, who probably has no idea that her Lucy is gone. “What is important is that she was special. Against my nature I knew that I would not deal with her the same way as with all my previous lovers. I wanted to make it so that we would always be together. To make her the same as me and you. She knew what I was, and agreed to my proposal, just asked me to give her time to settle some affairs she was to leave in the past. That’s how special she was.” Suddenly, Carmilla’s nails sink into her shoulders. “Then he came.”

“What happened next?” Lucy asks. It hurts, but not too much – her reborn body is far tougher than before. She can bear it for a while if it helps her find out what Carmilla wants from her after all. “He bit her first, didn’t he?”

Carmilla snorts with disdain.

“No. What would that have changed? What would have a man’s bite meant against mine? No, he just drank her dry. All to the last drop. When I found her, she was already dead. Not dead like us, my dear – completely dead.”

So that’s it.

“You want revenge,” Lucy says. Carmilla loosens her grip a little, and bends down so that her cheek is touching Lucy’s.

“Do you not?” she enquires.

Lucy thinks of Arthur – of the sharpened stake in his hands, of the wedding they didn’t get to have. Of her mother, dead with a mask of horror on her face. Of herself, a carefree and happy girl that exists no more.

She enjoys wandering at night, but she used to love the sun.

“Probably,” she admits gingerly. Carmilla puts her chin on Lucy’s shoulder.

“Then,” she says with satisfaction, “come to London with me.”

The next couple of hours they spend preparing for the journey – packing dresses and shoes, undergarments and toiletries. In the process, Carmilla enlightens Lucy on the subject of the enemy they are going to face. According to her, he’s not just a vampire – he’s also a sorcerer, and thus more powerful and dangerous by a long way.

“How will we beat him then?” Lucy cannot help wondering. Carmilla shrugs.

“By the power of grief and rage, love and loss,” she says. “Also, we’ll catch him by surprise. He doesn’t expect you to come for him, all the more not me. Men like him have a short memory.”

Already towards morning, Lucy bends over the bathtub and washes off the henna. Examining the strands of her wet hair in the candlelight, she sees that they are red.

“I have learned to do without mirrors a long time ago,” remarks Carmilla, hugging her around the waist. “But sometimes one cannot help missing them. Let me assure you, darling, that this colour looks good on you.”

Red like dried blood – her own blood spilled by Dracula, his blood that will get spilled when she and Carmilla get him, the blood of Arthur and Mina and Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris who – somehow it feels so easy to believe it right now – will all be with her sooner or later.

Lucy smiles.

“That’s what I thought,” she says.

#lucy westenra #carmilla #dracula #bram stoker #joseph sheridan le fanu #lumina #my fic #gella talks dracula #talk talk talk #the last hurrah before plunging back into the abyss of work and hate

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bellemorte180 · 4 years ago

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My Soul to Take....

A/N: okay, this is COMPLETELY unfinished and like I said, ends rather abruptly. Idk if I’ll ever finish it but here is what I have. @clichefangirldreamer, hope you like it.

Mystic Falls

May 2010

The invitations had been sent out and all of those who had been invited, who were not family, were confused. In the weeks following the spell Bonnie performed, it had been quiet. There were no mysterious deaths within Mystic Falls. There were a few strange accidents about fifty or so miles away from the town but nothing that caught either Bonnie's or Elena's attention. It was Damon who pointed out the weird deaths and swore that it wasn't him.

It was clear that the Originals were hunting for prey but it wasn't often and far away from Mystic Falls. Damon explained that it was most likely because they were so old they didn't need blood as often and when they did, they must be masters at covering their tracks. Stefan still had not returned from wherever he had gone and he made no attempts at contacting any of them; even Damon. It stressed Elena to no end and she found herself spending more and more time with Damon.

Even though it was their clear intent on staying in Mystic Falls, the Originals made zero contact with any of them; outside of the occasional glimpses they saw of them in town. So, it confused all of them when an invitation arrived to dine with them on the second Saturday night in May. Damon all but refused to allow Elena to go but Bonnie felt compelled to accept the invitation, Caroline's number still burning a hole in her wallet and Elena wasn't going to see her best friend walk into the lion's den alone. Thus Damon found himself dressed up in a suit and dragged to the Mikaelson Manner for dinner.

The manor was huge and had a very old southern feel to it. It was located about five miles outside of the town's boundaries. It was surrounded by woods and the property was completely fenced off by a large black iron gate. The front had a roundabout as a driveway with a fountain in the center. The manor was completely white with stone pillars standing tall in the front. There were at least three balconies that could be seen and large windows with shutters on the side. The front entrance hall, when the three of them were granted entrance by a compelled butler, was home to a massive grand staircase.

“I'd rather be dining with Katherine down in the tomb.” He muttered dryly and Elena smacked his chest. He simply rolled his eyes at her and rubbed his chest as though she actually had wounded her. Elena hissed at him to be silent, knowing full well that Damon had a tendency to allow his mouth to get him into trouble.

“I do wonder why they are keeping her down there.” Bonnie mentioned casually. In truth, she forgot about Katherine. For all intentions and purposes, Katherine was gone. After the curse she placed on Caroline, they all knew that Klaus was not going to let her go. So, instead she was still rotting down in the tomb; a fact that Damon found much pleasure in.

“Why little miss witch? Going to use that favor of yours to break her out?” Damon smirked at her.

“Elena!” Bonnie hissed. She had never mentioned to Damon that Caroline offered her a favor in return for the spell she casted. She also wanted to keep that quiet but it was clear that Elena was becoming closer to Damon and Bonnie wasn't sure exactly how she felt about that.

“Welcome!” The three turned to see Caroline strolling towards them, her stiletto heels echoing off the hardwood flooring. She appeared stronger than when they had seen her previously. She was smiling at them widely and had this complete air of happiness that surrounded her. She was in a little black dress and her long blonde hair was piled on top of her head in an impressive updo. The diamond earrings that hung from her earlobes framed her face, drawing attention to her face instead of her body. “I'm glad you could make it. Come, we are having cocktails in the living area. Mr. Salvatore, I understand that you're a bourbon man?” Damon nodded, eyeing her with suspicion. “Perfect. If you would like to be infused in blood please let me know. I can have one of the waitstaff prepare it as such.”

In perfect hostess fashion, Caroline linked her arms with Bonnie and led her guest into the living area. They noticed that they were not the only ones in attendance. All of the Mikaelson siblings were there including the dark vampire Marcel. Damon recognized Rose-Marie, the vampire that warned him of Klaus returning but didn't pay any attention to the dark haired vampire by her side in favor of the one who was leaning against the fireplace in a deep conversation with Klaus.

“Stefan!” Elena's voice cried out and she made her way across the room to him. She launched herself into his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. It took her a moment to realize how stiff his posture was but she quickly became distracted by the sound of breaking glass. Her head turned to see Rebekah, who wore a silk green dress, with a broken glass in her hand and a murderous look upon her face.

“Sorry. I don't know my own strength.” Rebekah muttered. Stefan stepped away from Elena and she looked at him with a hurt expression. Damon pulled her away, concerned that the blonde vampire might attack her in a fit of jealousy.

“Yes, well, accidents do happen.” Caroline replied and snapped her fingers. As though they were trained to perfection, several waiters appeared in order to clean up the mess quickly. Bonnie stood in amazement for she had never seen such flawlessness plan executed before her; for she didn't even see the staff until they were needed. “Now, most of you already know but for those that do not, I only have one rule to my soirees, no bloodshed. That can be handled after.” Caroline turned to Klaus and pointed her finger at him. “And that includes you.” Klaus took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“I would never dream of ruining one of your carefully planned evenings with bloodshed Sweetheart, especially when you slaved over it for the past week despite the fact that you should have been resting.” Klaus kissed the back of her hand again, smirk firmly in place while Caroline just narrowed her eyes.

“Now Caroline, we have attended many of your gatherings in the past and most didn't end in bloodshed.” Kol chimed up. “In fact I remember one in particular where you looked fetching! Vervain weaved through your hair and everything.”

“No one wants to hear ancient history brother.” Elijah replied, narrowing his eyes at Kol, who had spent the majority of his day in the laps of college girls who now remembered nothing of the terror Kol put them through.

“I wouldn't be so sure. Bonnie enjoyed the history lesson from Freya and I. Didn't you Darling?”

“Don't call me 'darling'”

“I do like them feisty.” Kol leered at her and Bonnie scowled right back.

“Kol. Stop or I'll snap your neck.”

“Freya! Caroline said no bloodshed.”

“I'll allow it.”

“Not fair!”

“Kol.” Klaus replied with a tone that couldn't be argued with. Kol fell silent but glared at his older brother. Klaus turned to his wife and smiled at her. “I do have to agree with Kol on one thing though. You did look beautiful that night.”

“Why were you wearing vervain? Wouldn't that have burned you?” Elena asked and Caroline looked at her with a small smile. It was the first time that Caroline looked at her without a hint of contempt. She either was trying to separate her from the previous doppelgangers or she was just really talented at hiding her true feelings. Elena couldn't be sure which one it was.

“It was when we were still human. The village elders held a Summerfest each year at the close of summer. It was a way to welcome the Autumn season and choose which animals we would keep through the winter and which we would slaughter. It was a night of merry making and lots of drinking.” Caroline chuckled. “That year the elders asked me to help prepare for it. It was a great honor bestowed upon me.”

“A great honor upon me as well.” Klaus replied and smiled at her. The two shared a look for a moment, memories of the first few months together flew through their minds. “Although you did not make it easy love. There were times I thought you would walk away completely.”

“I do not think I could have if I wanted to. Despite others who may have tried to convince me otherwise.”

“She was jealous, Sweetheart. She just wanted to get under your skin.” Klaus replied. He held her close and kissed the top of her head. Most could see that Klaus was not going to allow Caroline out of his arms for most of the night. Having her awake again was still new and hard for him to believe. “It has been a thousand years and her memory still haunts you.”

“Who?”

“One of your ancestors, doppelganger.” Kol chuckled. “You see, you and Katerina are not the first who enjoyed playing brother against brother.” Both Klaus and Elijah hissed. “What? It is the truth, right? She had you both wrapped around her pinky until Klaus wised up and fell the blonde bombshell I am proud to call my sister.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere Kol.” Caroline teased.

“Wait, you're saying that both Klaus and Elijah loved a doppelganger when you were human?” Damon asked with a smirk. “And here I thought the love story of Klaus and Caroline starred only them from the beginning of time.”

“It is our families misfortune to be cursed with the doppelgangers.” Rebekah snapped. Her eyes glared into Elena's. Stefan walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered something to her. She relaxed slightly. Elena however looked at them with a look of contempt and hurt written on her face.

“Tatia was not a curse Rebekah. She may have been jealous and petty but you did not know her like I did.” Elijah replied.

“A thousand years and you're still in love with her.” Klaus stated. Caroline snorted and rolled her eyes but Klaus could tell that she was tense. She always did hate when the conversation turned to Tatia; no matter how many times Klaus reassured her that the girl meant nothing to him now. “Do the Salvatore brothers a favor and do not fall in love with this one. You do seem to have a type.”

“Elena has enough admiration. She is safe from my affections.” Elijah replied. “And I will not lie and say that Tatia did not hurt me, especially when she made it obvious she had been with you. However, I loved her enough to look past it; at least till a point. Without her, vampires would not exists”

“Sounds more like a prehistoric soup opera if you ask me.” Damon chuckled. He raised his bourbon to his lips and fixed his eyes on Klaus and Caroline. “Why don't you enlighten us with details Dracula, Dracula's bride. Whoo me.”

Ancient Mystic Falls

Summer 1000

The fire burned high and the merry cries could be heard from those who were dancing around it. Ale was passed around and for one of the few times, the village wasn't plagued by what could possibly happen with the wolves. It wasn't a full moon and they simply let themselves enjoy the moment. Summer was coming to an end and they were to embrace the autumn season.

Klaus rested his back against a log with a drink in his hand. Ale wasn't one of his favorite drinks but it served a purpose. It helped drown out the memory of Tatia and his brother. True, it had been months since he saw them in the woods and months since he walked away. He knew Elijah had feelings for her but seeing Tatia giving herself to him in the same manner that she did with him was too much to accept and forgive. What hurt the most was his brother's betrayal; Klaus had thought that Tatia had chosen him and Elijah knew that he had taken her to bed.

“Niklaus.” Elijah's voice sounded from beside him and Klaus turned to look at him. He had not really spoken more than a few sentences to him in months and no matter of groveling could Elijah get his brother to break. It was the betrayal that hurt more than anything else and Elijah knew that. He took a seat on the ground and watched his brother glance into the fire absentmindedly. “Please, Niklaus at least speak to me.”

“Tatia looks lonely. Perhaps you should go to her.” It amazed even Klaus how Tatia's name did not come from his lips in bitter resentment anymore. Elijah's eyes moved towards the brown haired girl dancing around the fire in a mask. She was being twirled around by one of the village elder's sons. “Do not worry though brother, I am not one of the many men who you have to fight for her affections anymore.”

“She is hurt by your abandonment.”

“Her heartache is not something that haunts me anymore.” The brothers fell into silence. Neither knew where to go from here. Klaus wanted nothing more than to have the relationship he once had had with his brother but he just wasn't ready for forgiveness just yet, no matter how much grief it caused his mother. Instead of sitting in nothing but silence, Klaus stood and walked away from Elijah completely; taking another sip of ale.

“Perhaps it would be best to rid your soul of the darkness that plagues it Niklaus.” Klaus stopped abruptly and turned. Ayana stood watching him with curious eyes. Klaus had never been close to the witch but he knew that his mother trusted her. She was extremely powerful and even Klaus could feel the magic radiate from her. He knew of his mother's abilities and that Ayana taught her almost everything she knew; his mother passing the magical knowledge onto his brother Kol. Ayana was one of the elders of the village and highly respected one at that.

“What do you know of my soul?” Klaus snapped at her, feeling guilty the moment he did but Ayana did not look offended. If anything she appeared to be far more amused than anything else.

“We are a mix of people here. There is no place like it in the world. Your family comes from far away, a land full of vikings. Your father gave up his wealth and privilege to protect his family.” Klaus knew this and wanted nothing more than to tell the witch that she knew nothing of his father or his family. “I came from somewhere farther south. Where cliffs and rocks clashed with the sea. You could taste the salt in the air. I miss it sometimes.”

“If you miss it, why leave? Why come here?”

“To escape the darkness that was created a thousand years ago.” Ayana moved forward and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I followed the light.” Ayanna motioned her hand to the fire and as though he was under a spell, Klaus looked across the fire and saw something beautiful. Long blonde hair hung down around her waist and the purple flowers that lingered in the fields weaved through the braid at the top of her hair. He could hear her laugh as she danced with the other girls around the fire. “Caroline's family came from a kingdom hundreds of miles from your father's home lands.”

“You know her?” In truth, everyone did. It was a small village and everyone was connected somehow. He knew Caroline through her friendship with his sister but Klaus wondered if they ever shared more than a word or two. The vision he had of Caroline consisted of the sixteen year old girl who made sure the girls finished their chores in quick order. The elders adored her and was trusted among everyone. While Tatia was the girl every man desired, Caroline was the one who seemed to be the most overlooked. In that moment, Klaus wondered why he never really saw her before and how foolish the rest of the village was.

“I was the one to ask her to ensure everything was perfect for tonight.” Klaus looked at Ayana's small smile. The summer festival was given to the village as a gift from the elders. Never before had they had given such a responsibility to someone so young. “She is full of light, is she not?” With that Ayana walked away but Klaus didn't notice. His eyes focused on the smile that was casted upon Caroline's lips.

He moved around the fire just to get a glimpse of her. He saw Rebekah grab her hand and whisper something in her ear. Caroline blushed and laughed, shaking her head. His sister pouted and begged for something. Caroline narrowed her eyes before rolling them and reluctantly agreeing to something. Then a soft melody came from her lips and Klaus was frozen. He had never heard such breathtaking melodies that touched his soul. He once thought his mother had a beautiful voice as she sang to her children in the morning but suddenly, Klaus realized that he was completely wrong.

He simply stood transfixed, listening to her voice. There was something in the air; as though her voice casted a spell. Those around him seemed to agree that her voice was enchanting but none of them seemed to be completely lost in her. He didn't understand what was happening to him. He had known her for years but it felt like this was the first time he really saw her; he didn't understand but it was as though he felt magic in the air, drawing him towards her.

He looked to the ground and saw a mask made of deer skin and fur lying on the ground. He grabbed the mask and placed it upon his face. While not everyone wore masks during the festival, many did. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tatia still dancing around the fire with a mask firmly on her face. Instead of gravitating towards her, as he would have months prior, he moved towards Caroline and his sister. He wanted nothing more than to take Caroline's hand but he knew that she may seem suspicious since he never spoke with her outside the normal pleasantries.

Instead, he held out his hand to Rebekah and smiled at his sister. Rebekah's smile grew bright and she happily took his hand while Caroline took another villager's. The siblings danced happily around the fire and once the dance demanded a switch of partners, Klaus happily took Caroline's hand. They spun and danced. Klaus basked in her laughter as he spun her around; her hair flaring around in the night. When the dance came to an end, Klaus took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Before Caroline could question him, Klaus weaved his way through the crowd.

The village returned to normal the next morning. Villagers returned to their chores. Women cooked and reared the children. Men built the huts, repaired shelter and hunted for food. Klaus wandered through the huts looking for his sister. He finished his chores as quickly as possible and left both Elijah and Finn behind with questioning looks upon his face. It was still warm, for the fall chill had not set in, and Klaus knew that some of the young ladies would be washing their laundry at the river.

Once he reached the section of the stream that didn't reach the woods yet but ran down towards the Falls, he saw a line of several of the village girls washing their families clothes. Laugher could be heard coming from the river. He eyed the girls, seeing his sister speaking with Caroline. Caroline laughed and Klaus latched onto the sound. He reveled in it for a moment before he made his way towards them.

“Rebekah.” He called out and his sister looked up. She smiled at him the way his sister always did. She had her moments when Klaus wanted to rip his hair out but she could be sweet. He walked up to them and looked down at the girl. “Good morning Caroline. Thank you for our dance last night.”

“Of course. It was enjoyable. Although I am surprised, you normally are one who does not dance unless forced.” Her tone was playful but Klaus could see the curiosity behind her blue eyes. It was true. Normally, he would enjoy the ale, socialize with those he liked and would run off with Tatia once she had danced with Elijah. Yet, last night he felt the need to dance with her.

“That is true but I felt rather compelled to do so.” He flashed a dimpled smile at her. “You have a lovely voice.” Caroline flushed slightly but continued to gaze at Klaus with questioning eyes. “Rebekah, a word?” Rebekah, whose eyes were darting between her brother and her friend, nodded and began to follow her brother into the woods.

“Nik, what is it? You know how father feels about us interrupting our chores.” Rebekah hissed. Mikael grew angry whenever he learned that one of his children was not being what he considered productive. In truth, it was usually Kol, who was easily distracted by magic, that ignored his responsibilities but Rebekah knew the consequences. Mikael would never strike Rebekah, for she was his favorite, but if he learned that Niklaus was the one distracting her, the punishment would be severe.

“I will only be a moment and father will never need to know.” Rebekah nodded and looked at him. “I wanted to ask you about Caroline.”

“Caroline?”

“Yes.”

“What of her?” Rebekah was surprised. Klaus had never taken an interest in her before. Her and Caroline had been friends for years, one of the few people her father allowed her to associate with, and no matter how many times Rebekah mentioned her, Klaus never seemed to be listening. Yet, looking at him now she could see the vulnerability written upon his face. “Oh no. You cannot fancy Caroline! She is the closest person outside of my family that I have!”

“I have no intentions of hurting her-”

“What happens when Tatia bats her eyes at you again? What happens when she tires of Elijah and comes to you? She will because she is a fickle little girl who cannot keep her legs closed.” Rebekah hissed. Her hatred of Tatia was never concealed. She hated the tension Tatia caused between her brothers and was of the opinion that the only way for that tension to end would be for Tatia to be gone.

“I'm done with Tatia.” Rebekah cocked her head, challenging him to prove her wrong. “A few months ago, I saw her with Elijah. They were intimate.” It felt strange to be discussing such things with his baby sister but she knew what went on between a man and woman; despite the fact that she was innocent. “I had known, both Elijah and I did but it was different seeing it with my own eyes.”

“Oh Nik. That's why you've been so sad.” Rebekah reached out and touched his arm. “Tatia never deserved you. Neither of you.” She watched her brother. She had known the pain both Klaus and Elijah felt watching the girl he had feelings for being with the other. She wanted them both to be happy and there was a change that Klaus was done with Tatia for good. “No. Caroline is not spoken for. Some have tried but she is stubborn. She makes them work for it and if she finds them disappointing, she walks away. She won't make it easy on you.”

“I wouldn't ask for anything less.”

“Every morning when I gather the water for the day she joins me. Since we need more pales than her family, she helps bring them back to our hut before heading to hers.” Klaus couldn't help smile at that. From the little he knew of Caroline, that seemed to be something would do. “She is a helper Nik. She sees a problem and she will do anything to make it right. Do not make me regret this.”

Just as Rebekah had indicated, Caroline was waiting for her by the river to collect the day's supply of water. She appeared completely unsurprised to see Klaus accompanying his sister. He had thought that he would be greeted with a wide smile and shocked eyes. While Caroline did smile coyly at him, he was also greeted with a cocked eyebrow. She was expecting him and he silently cursed Rebekah. At least she had the decency to look ashamed.

“Rebekah, Niklaus. Good morning.” Caroline smiled at them before turning her gaze onto Klaus. “When Rebekah told me that you would be joining us this morning, I have to admit that I was rather curious. You've never collected water before, why the sudden change?” She was challenging him and Klaus couldn't help but toss her a dimpled smile.

“Oh, look Ayana. I need a few herbs. Excuse me.” Rebekah all but ran from them. This caused Caroline to laugh loudly. Her head was thrown back and Klaus couldn't help but enjoy the sound of her laughter. It was musical and joyful. He had thought that the sound of her voice signing a tune the other night was the most beautiful sound but her laugh was far more hypnotic. Klaus wanted nothing more than to be the reason why she laughed.

“She is not very subtle, is she?” Caroline asked.

“Rebekah and subtlety are not two things that mix well.” Klaus teased and Caroline nodded.

“Well, since you requested to speak with me this morning, the least you could do is help me gather water for your family.” Caroline smiled and bent to pick up one of the wooden pales before turning her back on him. Klaus bent down and grabbed two before running after her. He was surprised at how quickly she walked to the point that he was all but running to catch up to her.

“Slow down love or I would think you're purposely running from me.” With that Caroline stopped abruptly and Klaus nearly crashed into her. Caroline turned and looked at Klaus. Her blue eyes darted across his face as though she was searching for something.

“Rebekah told me that you have taken an interest in me. I do not understand the sudden change. You have known me for years, since we were children. Rebekah and I played in the flowers while you and Kol pretended to sword fight. Even then you just accepted me as your sister's friend. You were never mean but you never spoke much to me either. So, why now?”

“I fancy you.” Caroline sucked in a breath, not expecting him to be so blunt. There was a hint of vulnerability there that made her heart clench. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“Yes!”

“Why?” Klaus paused. “You're beautiful. You're strong. You're full of light. I enjoy you.” Caroline could not help but be flattered by his pretty words but she hardened herself. She was not one who would fall for the first man who paid her compliments. If that was the case, she would be married with children chasing her skirt already and probably with a brute of a husband. She saw the misery her mother's marriage was made of and wanted nothing of the sort. While her father was not violent, there was no love between them. Perhaps she was a dreamer for the times but Caroline made a vow that she would never marry a man who was unworthy of her affections.

“Years of silence, of nothing and suddenly you expect me to believe that you fancy me? Emotions and feelings take time to grow. You never noticed me before.” Caroline replied. “And what of Tatia?” That caught Klaus off guard. While he was not going to hide the fact that he had a history with Tatia, he did not expect her to be aware of it already. “That is the worst kept secret in the entire village. Everyone knew that you were courting her but everyone knew that Elijah was as well; and the fact that there is a rift between you and Elijah.” Klaus's eyes closed and Caroline reached out, taking his hand in comfort. “It has been obvious that you have been sad. Rebekah told me yesterday that you ended things and took a step back; allowing Elijah to continue his relationship with her.”

There were two items flashing through Klaus's mind. The first was that Rebekah did not explain that Klaus caught Elijah and Tatia in a compromising position but rather just stated he stepped away. The second was the wave of sympathy Caroline seemed to have for him. Her compassion for him caught him by surprise. Outside of Rebekah, never had someone shown him such compassion, not even his own mother who kept him at arms length for fear of Mikael's temper.

“You're right. I did walk away.” Caroline said nothing but allowed him to continue. “I walked away months ago. I will not lie to you and say that I never had feelings for her but I had months to mourn them and let go. While I am still angry with Elijah, it has more to do with the fact that he betrayed me and not Tatia herself.” Caroline nodded, understanding his words and accepting them.

“Why me?”

“I saw you with vervain in your hair and you looked happy. I never saw anything like it.” Klaus paused, taking a deep breath. “And then you began to sing. I will never lie to you and say that I have been nursing a childhood infatuation. You are right when saying that I always acknowledged you as my sister's friend. Another girl in the village but hearing you sing; it was as though I was seeing you with fresh eyes.” He took a step forward, standing tall over her. Tatia always looked down bashfully when he stood too close but Caroline stood her ground; looking into his eyes with equal force. “Take a chance. Get to know me. I dare you.”

“I guess it is a good thing that I can never refuse a challenge.” Her voice was breathless and her blue eyes flickered across his face. She knew that he was not lying to her but she still would hold him at arm's length for the time being. Much like Klaus himself, Caroline never thought of him as a romantic partner. She could admit that he was handsome but so were his brothers. She knew him well enough through Rebekah to know he was not cruel like his father; in fact she felt sympathy for him in that regard. Despite all of that, she would at the very least, give him the chance. “Once our chores are done for the day, you may walk with me around the edge of the trees.”

This caused the smile on Klaus's lips to grow wide with joy. “I promise that you will not come to regret this.” Caroline laughed, seeing Rebekah approaching out of the corner of her eye. He reached down and took her hand. She marveled at the feel of his lips on her knuckles. It was improper and if the wrong person saw them, she would be married by the end of the week because her parents would insist upon it. He smirked at her again and turned, heading off in the other direction.

“I think I already am.”

When she was nervous, Caroline had a tendency to bite at her nails. She rushed through her chores, not even snapping at the girls who would rather giggle over the men of the village than finish the tasks assigned to them. Instead she just let them waste their time and completed the tasks herself. The work took the fear of what would transpire later in the day off of her mind. However, once the chores were completed and instead of walking back to her family's hut for sometime spent either alone or with her mother, Caroline made her way towards the base of the woods.

She did not have to wait long before she heard footsteps approaching her. She turned to see Klaus approaching her with a wide smile on his lips. Caroline could not help but smile back at him. Once he reached her, he held out his hand and she linked their fingers together. She caught sight of his dimples but before she could comment, Klaus pulled her into the woods. His pace was quick and Caroline was practically running in order to keep up with him. They weaved through the trees but stayed away from the deepness of the forest. She could see the darkness out of the corner of her eye but the sunlight still graced her skin. Overtime, Caroline knew that darkness would encroach upon the trees but for now, she was perfectly happy to run in the sun.

“Where are we going?” Caroline asked.

“I want to show you something. I asked my brother to help me. I hope you don't mind. He won't stay for long.” Klaus added and Caroline could tell that they were getting close to the falls. She had only been to the falls a few times because it was dangerous during certain times of the month. The wolves lived on the side and crossing into their territory was an unwise decision.

“Elijah?”

“No, Kol.” That surprised Caroline. From everything Rebekah has told Caroline about her brothers, Kol was the biggest troublemaker. He was also the only child to inherit his mother's magic. He was a natural at it and liked to express it as much as possible. However, instead of using his gifts to heal those like his mother, he used his powers to pull pranks upon each of his siblings. It infuriated Rebekah to no end.

Before she could inquire more, Klaus pulled her into a clearing that she had never seen before. It was nothing more than a field but it was filled with rows and rows of vervain. Caroline had not known that it grew here for she thought that it only grew at the base of the giant white oak. She couldn't help but reach out and touch the beautiful flowers. Klaus reached down and picked one, placing it in her hair.

“How?” Klaus turned and pointed. Leaning up against a tree on the far side of the clearing was Kol and beside him was the youngest Mikaelson, Henrik. Kol whispered something to the young boy and Henrik's laugh echoed through the flowers. Kol waived before pulling his younger brother away.

“I asked Kol to make the vervain bloom here because I know it is your favorite flower. I thought you would enjoy seeing thousands of them bloom at once.” Klaus smiled at her and he saw Caroline bend down to pick another flower. She smelled them, taking in their scent. “You've never looked more beautiful.”

“Flattery and cheap tricks will not win my affections.” Caroline snapped but he could tell that she enjoyed seeing the flowers. It had taken some convincing but Kol agreed to do the little bit of magic in exchange for Klaus's taking over one of Kol's chores-grooming the horses. While it meant Klaus would spend the better part of the week with the horses, it was worth it to see Caroline fighting her enjoyment. “I am not someone who can be easily bought. If that is what you think of me, I shall find my own way back to the village.”

“Come on, take a chance Caroline. Talk to me.” Klaus smirked as he sat down on the ground in the middle of a million vines of vervain. “Come on, get to know me. I dare you.” He had her there and he could see it. Caroline was fearless and never one to turn down a challenge. Despite herself, Caroline found herself sitting down on the ground facing him.

“Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

“I want to talk about you.” Caroline shook her head in amused annoyance. “Your hopes. Your dreams.” She laughed again. “Everything you want in life.”

“Just to be clear, I am too smart to be seduced by you.”

“Well, that is why I like you.”

Ancient Mystic Falls

Autumn 1000

The weeks pressed forward and the leaves began to change, falling to the ground. The village prepared for the upcoming winter by gathering what they could for food storage and prepped their cattle. Huts were reinforced and logs gathered for fire; lengths were taken to keep them dry. Chores increased for the young as expected. Despite the work, Klaus still met Caroline every day at the edge of the woods. They did not venture far into the woods as they had the first time but they still strolled until the sun was completely set.

The village began to notice the time the two spent together. Ayana smiled at the two of them, as though she was seeing a long awaited event to take place before her. Soon it was known that Klaus was courting Caroline, even if the young woman in question refused to acknowledge it. Even though the two spent copious amounts of time in each other's company, Caroline found it hard to allow herself to be open about her intentions with Klaus.

Klaus could not be considered a patient man but found that with Caroline, he was willing to wait as long as possible for her to realize that he was serious in his attraction to her. He could see the walls that Caroline put up around her emotions and it was a slow process to chip away the stone that enclosed her heart. He could see that his attempts were not for nothing. Her smile was brighter when she saw him, her laughter louder. Her hand reached for his, linking their fingers together. It gave him hope...even if it drove him to distraction. Despite all of his patience, Klaus found that there were times that he wanted nothing more than to make Caroline see what was directly in front of her.

“Why are you so stubborn?” Klaus huffed. It was not a good day. Due to Kol's incompetence, Klaus had to endure another lecture from their father. He should be pleased that it was only harsh words and nothing violent but it made him late in seeing Caroline. When he arrived, it was clear that Caroline was keeping him at arm's length for the day. There were times when she was open with him and readily enjoyed herself and then other times that she was cold and distant. “Why can you not simply recognize that my feelings for you are real!?”

“Recognize your feelings!?” Caroline hissed. Klaus never pushed her. Never once asked for more than she was willing to give. Yet, today she could tell that his mood was foul and hers had not been much better. “You cannot just come into my life and expect me to believe that your intentions are true. Men lie and they make promises and then they leave you to cry well into the night. I refuse to let that become my life.”

“I have spent weeks trying to convince you that I want you. That my feelings for you are real.” There was vulnerability written on his face. She could tell that her reluctance was hurting him and that made her feel guilty. She did not want to hurt him but the possibility of falling for him scared her more than she expected.

“What do you want from me Nik?” It hurt him to hear such heartbreak in her voice and he loathed that he was the one who put it there. He wanted her to see that he was not playing some game with her. He knew that she was still suspicious of Tatia and thus made a special effort to not even glance in Tatia's direction when they were in the same part of the village as her. “Just tell me what you want.”

“I want your confession.”

“My confession? I have done nothing. Confession about what?”

“Me.” Caroline startled slightly. “As soon as we are done here, I will leave you to your thoughts. I will walk away and leave you in peace if that is your choice. You will never again have to look me in the eye and cover our connection with the cold hostility you sometimes process. You will never have to break down your walls for me only to rebuild them before we meet again. You will never have to face the part of you that cares for me. If you want nothing of me, I will let you go. You will be free. I just want you to be honest with me.”

Caroline could see the pain that this gave him. She could see the disappointment and hurt that letting her go caused him; but he was willing to do it if that is what she wanted. Caroline enjoyed Klaus even when she pulled away from him. She fought the feelings that were developing inside of her because she didn't want to become the one thing she feared the most; and Klaus had that power to do that to her.

“I just turned seventeen. I know that I am of marrying age and it is something that I have been thinking about for years. You are not the first who has tried for my hand but I refused them all. I know that if I do not choose soon, my father will do it for me.” Caroline closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I want to build a life for myself. A home with a husband and children. Up until a few weeks ago, none of those things included you. The fact that you have so suddenly made those plans so real terrifies me.”

“I see.” She saw the hope fill his eyes and he stepped forward. Part of Caroline wanted to back away but she held her ground. Her head tilted upward and looked into his eyes. He was close enough to touch but neither reached out.

“No, you do not.” Caroline hissed. “Yes, I cover our connection with cold hostility because yes I hate myself for allowing you to have such power over me. I hate that the future I dreamed about is so close that I could touch it. I hate it because it is only a dream and never reality. I hate the feelings that I have because I know that one day, it will break me and I will have no escape. I will be trapped, only to be broken over and over again. I hate that it will be you to be the one who breaks me.”

“Where is this coming from Caroline? What have I done to make you feel this way?”

“Nothing. You've done nothing but be everything that a girl could want in a man who courts her.” Caroline whispered. “Sometimes I lose myself in the idea of what could be between us. Other times reality is played out before me.” She looked down at her hands. “I am terrified of becoming my mother.” Klaus's brows creased at that, not understanding her words and he said as much. “My mother has loved my father since they were children. It was no surprise when he requested her hand and when she fell pregnant with me, she was ecstatic. That is until she learned that my father was unfaithful to her.”

“It is common for men to find pleasure outside the home.” The moment the words left his lips, Klaus realized that it was the wrong thing to say and attempted to backtrack. “But that does not make the pain the woman feels any less real.”

“My mother still cares for him but knows that he never really loved her in return. It has made her bitter. My father loved another. Someone he could not have and married my mother because it was expected. The truth tore my mother to shreds and is only a shadow of the woman she used to be. She lives with the knowledge everyday that she was not his first choice. I want to be someone's choice and not what is expected.”

“Is it a woman in the village?”

“No. It was before my parents settled here and before I was born.” Caroline paused, wondering if this would change everything. “And it wasn't a woman at all.” That confession caused shock to be written all over his face. “It was why they fled England. My father and his lover were found out. While he was never in love with my mother, he cared for her and for his child. His lover was executed and they ran.”

“I see.”

“And now you hate me.” Caroline turned to walk away. It was always a fear of hers that someone would discover her father's secret and turn away from her- she never thought she would be the one disclosing it. She could not bear to see the scorn in Klaus's eyes and wanted to run as fast as she could from him.

“No!” He grabbed her hand. “I could never hate you Caroline. I cannot hate you for something that you did not commit.” He took both of her hands into his and kissed her knuckles. That was the only intimacy that she allowed and Klaus knew that it was something he could not push. She was an innocent and he wanted to keep her as such until he was able to lay claim to her. “Is that your confession then? Is that what you feel for me? Fear that I will break your heart?”

“If you promise that you will never look at another as you look at me right now, I will be honest with you. I will be honest with you about what I feel for you.”

“Caroline, I will never be able to see such beauty in another for it does not exist elsewhere for me. I know that other men say pretty things and never mean a word of them but you are the exception to every rule I have been taught. If I had you, then there is no need for me to find pleasure elsewhere. I promise.” Her eyes traced over him, her hands still linked with his. She moved closer and Klaus remained still. She was so close that Klaus's forehead almost rested against hers. She had never been that close before and he was afraid that his restraint would break and he would devour her lips like the many times he had imagined.

“Good.” With that, Caroline leaned up and pressed her lips to his gently. It wasn't deep or passionate but it was enough. It was enough for him to understand what Caroline was feeling. He could sense her fear and vulnerability, almost as though it was his own. He also could feel her desire and everything that she wanted in life. Klaus could feel that she could possibly want it with him.

Like every month before it, the full moon came. The villagers flocked to the caves with fur from the animals they killed and food for the night. Most gathered before the sun set and prepared small fires. The only thing that differed this month was the fact that Klaus escorted Caroline to the caves and settled near her family. Neither parents of the couple said a word, for the attachment was obvious, but they kept a close eye. Elizabeth and Bill looked on with smiles while Esther watched them with curiosity and fear. Mikael ignored them all together.

Caroline leaned against the stone wall with Klaus on one side and Rebekah on the other. Henrik found his way to them and settled beside Klaus. The three of them amused the young boy for a while until the sky grew dark and the only light was the fire lit before them. Henrik fell asleep easily and the rest settled into conversation. In the darkness, Klaus easily took Caroline's hand knowing that beside Rebekah, no one would notice. He would hold it until her mother called her away in order to sleep for the night. Despite their courtship, it would be improper for Klaus to hold her as she slept.

“She is staring again.” Caroline whispered and Klaus looked up to see Tatia's eyes on them. She was a ways down but the flicker of the flame made out her person easily. Caroline had been complaining that Tatia had been watching her. The other girl never approached Caroline or sought her out but during their chores she could feel Tatia watching her. She never appeared angry or upset, but rather curious about her. “I think she hates me.”

Klaus said that if it continued or if she bothered Caroline, he would request Elijah to speak with Tatia. Caroline declined, not wanting a row to break out between the brothers over her. In the weeks that Caroline and Klaus began their courtship, the relationship between the Klaus and Elijah eased slightly. While they were not exactly on speaking terms, they no longer avoided one another. They exchanged pleasantries, completed what was expected of them and moved on. It was progress and that pleased Caroline.

She refused to be the reason they endured a set back.

“She is harmless and her emotions towards you are irrelevant.” It was true. There really was not much Tatia could do. The village knew of Tatia's reputation and anything she would say would hardly be believed; with the exception of Elijah and any other man that was infatuated with her. There was no hint of violence but if it came to that, Caroline knew that she was stronger than the other girl. “She is just angry that I chose you and not her.”

Caroline smiled and Klaus leaned in to kiss the top of her head. A cough echoed and they saw Caroline's mother watching them. Her eyes were hard but there was a gentle tone behind her eyes; as though she couldn't be too angry with them. The village knew by now what the end result of their courtship would be. The question was becoming when the event would transpire. While they have not been courting long, there were those who wondered why Klaus had at least not approached Bill for his permission to marry Caroline yet.

The slow progress of their courtship was something Tatia had taken notice of. Caroline could always feel the girl's eyes on her and she could not help but feel self conscious. When she was younger, Caroline always compared herself to the other girls in the village, including Tatia. Despite the fact that Tatia was a couple years older, Caroline desired to be like her in a way. Tatia was beautiful, vivacious and had a laugh that pierced the air around her; however she was also catty, cruel and did anything that drew attention to herself. She married very young, gave birth to her daughter only months after her wedding and was widowed within the year. Caroline wanted that attention and always envied Tatia for it, especially since she did nothing to earn it. Now that she had Klaus, Caroline could not help but feel as though Tatia would do anything to take Klaus away from her.

Caroline was about to reply when her mother called for her. Klaus smiled at her and Caroline moved towards the section that her mother and father were occupying. The cave was completely dark, with the exception of the flames from the fires and most have lain down to sleep. She laid upon the soft fur located beside her mother and closed her eyes. When the morning came, Caroline made her way from the cave, only able to give Klaus a smile. Esther ushered her children out of the cave quickly, sending a curious glance as she did.

“He is going to have to speak with your father soon.” Elizabeth said, pulling Caroline from her musings. They walked across the lane that went back to their hut. Caroline looked at her mother in confusion, which only caused Elizabeth to smile. “Klaus. His intentions are clear and the village wonders why he has not made an offer yet. Your father will accept of course. He likes Klaus and thinks the two of you would do well together.”

“What?” Caroline blinked, her mother's assertion taking her off guard.

“Marriage. That is of course what Klaus is after?” Elizabeth looked at her daughter closely, eyeing her as though she could see any misdeed. However, Caroline just looked at her mother confused. While Caroline knew the concept of what happened between a man and a woman, she was still innocent. “Klaus has not done anything improper, has he?”

“What?! No. Mother of course not.” She shook her head and she could see Elizabeth relax. “I just was not expecting you to bring it up.” Ever since their argument in the woods, Caroline could not help but allow herself to dream about becoming Klaus's wife. It still frightened her but she could tell the difference in his mannerisms with her compared to the ones her father showed her mother. “Do you think he will speak with father soon?”

“I spoke with Esther and- Oh!” Elizabeth stumbled slightly and dropped the basket full of blankets she had been carrying. Caroline put down her own basket and began helping her mother gather the blankets that spilled out onto the ground. Soon another set of hands joined in and Caroline looked up to see Tatia looking at her curiously again. Tatia handed a few blankets to Caroline and gave her a small smile; a smile that Caroline could not tell was genuine or not.

“Thank you.”

“Of course.” Tatia replied and stood. She held out her hand and a small girl, no older than three, grabbed it quickly. “Come my sweet, perhaps if you are a good girl, grandmother will make that bread you like.” Tatia took her daughter and left Caroline standing there, watching her. Tatia never really paid Caroline any attention before nor would she stop to help someone else. She wanted to believe it was an act of kindness but Caroline was intelligent enough to know otherwise.

The weather was growing colder. The first snow had yet to fall but the ice could be felt in the air. When Caroline breathed, it felt as though ice invaded her chest. She wrapped the furs around her tighter, waiting for Klaus. He was late and it was beginning to worry her. There were only a few times that Caroline beat him to the forest and it was due to him being held up by one of his siblings. When she was the first to arrive at their meeting place, Klaus was soon to follow.

Caroline had now been waiting for an hour and Klaus was nowhere to be seen. At first she had been angry, thinking that Klaus had forgotten about her. While she tried to be more open with Klaus, there were times that she still expected the worst out of him. She knew that he had done nothing to deserve it but deep down she still feared that he would betray her the way her father betrayed her mother. He was a man and it was expected; she just hoped that they would be the exception. When time pushed forward and he still did not come, Caroline began to worry that something had happened to him. When she heard the leaves behind her crinkle, she felt herself relax.

“Niklaus, I should be very cross-” Caroline paused, she saw that her intruder was not Klaus, but instead his brother. He looked haggard and stressed. He was not dressed in appropriate clothing for the weather and she could see the concern in his eyes. “Elijah? What are you doing here? Where is Nik?”

“He sent me. He is indisposed. He sent me to let you know that he is unable to meet you. Niklaus did not want you waiting in the cold.” Elijah could not meet her eye and Caroline narrowed hers. Elijah and Klaus relationship was progressing but not to the point where Klaus would send Elijah's to deliver a message for him. That was normally done by Henrik or Rebekah. As she looked Elijah over, Caroline noticed that there was a tiny fleck of blood on his knuckle. She reached out and grabbed it.

“What happened? Where is he?”

“He is alright. Rebekah is tending to him.”

“What happened?”

“Caroline-”

“Tell me or I will find him myself.”

“He mentioned you were stubborn.” Caroline only poured her gaze into him, letting him know that she was serious. “He and our father got into a rather harsh discussion. Our father is not one for mincing his words, especially when it comes to Niklaus.”

“He beat him.” Caroline stated in a matter of fact tone with a touch of venom mixed in as well, taking Elijah by surprise. Klaus had disclosed the nature of his relationship with his father and the knowledge that Mikael could become violent towards his son was unsettling for Caroline. “Where is he?”

“At our hut.” With that, Caroline moved past Elijah quickly. He grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him again. “It would be unwise for you to go there now. Father left in a storm but he will be back at some point before dark.”

“I do not belong to your father and even if I did, I would still go. You cannot stop me.” The conviction in her words had Elijah really considering her. He never thought much of Caroline in any sense before. He liked her well enough and knew Rebekah was fond of her. He was taken by surprise when he learned that Klaus had started courting her and even more so when he was clearly serious about pursuing her. Selfishly he was pleased because it meant that Klaus was less likely to return to Tatia but he also wanted his brother to find happiness.

“You love him.” The words caught Caroline by surprise. Did she love Klaus? In truth she did not know. She knew that her emotions ran deep but they had only been on this course for a short period of time. Love came after marriage for those who were lucky. If Klaus asked for her hand, she would give it but her heart was another matter. Unless she had already given it without her realizing it? “I'll walk you but it is best if you leave before father returns.”

Caroline nodded and the two set off at a brisk pace. They were silent and Caroline found that they could not reach the hut quick enough. When they arrived, Elijah opened the wooden door and ushered Caroline inside. She had never been in their family hut before, not even with Rebekah, only seeing the outside of it. It was bigger than hers and was made up of about four rooms. The room Elijah ushered her into was a common room. There was a long table in the center and a fireplace built into the far wall. Esther was stirring something in the cast iron pot that was placed above the fire. When Esther saw that Caroline had accompanied Elijah back, she just motioned her head towards one of the doors on the other end.

“Caroline.” She turned to see Esther looking at her. “You should not be here. I would hate for my son to take another beating because of you.” Caroline paused and just glared back at her. She had always got the feeling that Esther did not particularly like her. However, her mother and Esther have spoken about the possibility and Elizabeth never once mentioned that Esther seemed opposed to it.

“What?” Before Esther could elaborate, Caroline heard Klaus hissed and she took off towards the sound. The sound came from a room in the very back of the hut. The room had several small beds made of hay and it was clear that this was the room for the older boys. Klaus was lying on his stomach, shirtless and Rebekah was dabbing what appeared to be wounds on his back with a cloth. “Nik?”

Both Klaus and Rebekah looked up to see Caroline's eyes filled with tears. She edged closer and saw that there were deep gashes on his back that appeared to be from a whipping. Not only that but there were old scars beneath the fresh ones, telling Caroline that this was not the first time Mikael has whipped him. She brought her fingers to the base of her eye and wiped away the tears. She held out her hand to Rebekah, asking for the cloth she was holding. Rebekah nodded, stood, gave the cloth to Caroline and left the room. Rebekah left the door open and sat down on a wooden stool just in sight of them both. Caroline knelt down on the floor and dipped the cloth into the bucket of water before attending to the wounds. Klaus hissed again, his fingers digging into the bed.

“Sorry.” Caroline whispered.

“It is alright.” Klaus replied. “You shouldn't have come.”

“Everyone is saying that.”

#klaroline #old fic #not finished

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