#kaider fanficiton

[just2bubbly]

Clandestine Visits

Masterlist

Summary: "Dark lines, not scattered at all. You would not take many lovers in this life. No heartbreaks for you." In moments of busy schedules, Cinder and Kai take out time to visit the marketplace. Their evening takes a turn when they meet a mystic lady, some felicities are better kept uncovered. Ship: Kaider Words: 2.9k

Cinder's Perspective:

She was huddled on the lush bed, her mind lost in thought as she gazed at the dark blue ceiling over her. This small moment of relaxation had not been taken for granted as she had fewer of these in recent months.

Cinder had taken the immaculate opportunity to throw out her extravagant heels as soon as she was in the safety of closed doors. She had been going on parading herself, politely shaking hands, smiling till her cheeks hurt and doing more of the same on the next day for the last 2 months. Going from one union to another- meeting their leaders, signing treaties, going to meet Lunars that had come through, working in and out of offices for her nation. 

Without having to say, Cinder had been exhausted. 

Now she seemed to have found herself in The Commonwealth, next to someone she was rather fond of. Her work didn't make her inside quench as much as the sight of Kai did. Distance and time do stuff to you that cannot be put into words. 

There was a knock at the door, three taps before it was opened. She didn't bother to wake up, already guessing who had disturbed her. 

"I was thinking," she said, feeling the bed dip in beside her. 

"Yes," he muttered, staring at her. 

"I want to go out."

"The marketplace?" She hums in confirmation. 

"Well you can go anytime you want to, I can make clearance for you if you desire."

"I know. I'm not sure if I want to see how much life has changed in the last year."

"It's changed quite some, true. Even your shop has got some interesting modifications," he mentioned.

Now that got her curious as she rolled closer to him, "What do you mean?"

"Maybe you should see it for yourself," he said, cushioning his head at the nape of her neck. 

"You know I can't just vanish anymore."

"But I can," he said, holding back a smile. 

"You want to go undercover?"

"Don't make it sound so mysterious. Just look around for some time and come back. No one usually notices," he explained. 

"How often do you do this, Emperor Kaito?" she asked in astonishment.

"Often enough that Torin knows about it," he explained rather casually. 

"And he doesn't seem to get a seizure out of your safety?" She asked, feeling incredulous, Mateo, her personal secretary would kill her if she pulled a stunt like that.

"I have help minutes away if things go wry. Besides, the marketplace is a shabby place for the Emperor's kidnapping."

"No one gets kidnapped in a fancy place," she said with little wit. 

"That's beside the point, would you be coming along?"

"I would be a fool to deny it," she said already moving. 

He chuckled at her enthusiasm, "Cinder, not right away. I have got a meeting in 10 minutes and you have to be present at the signing at 1400." His words brought her back to the reality of the work remaining to be done. Her shoulders dropped down as her excitement got driven away.

"We could go away at 1700, get an hour or two before the state dinner," she suggested, looking at the notes scattered around her retina. 

"Works for me. I'd reschedule some of my work- "

"You don't have to, Kai," she said cutting him off, not wanting to keep Kai away from his work. Hosting an intergalactic icon along with doing royal duties was nothing short of an abundance of overflowing works.

"You don't have to worry about it, I'd like to spend time with you," he spoke, his words making her fill with adoration. She wasn't going to deny him something that they both wanted. They both knew how scarce time they got to spend together in the last year. Shooing away all concerns of her mind, she brought down her lips to his, kissing him till her heart contended. Her hands went frenzy as they were drawn to his already messy hair. 

"How do you still look beautiful with hair looking like a pigeon's nest?" she muttered, somewhat jealous as her breath mingled with his. He smelt like new sheets and mints, and Cinder couldn't help but get drunk on it.

"I'm quite charming," he laughed, already moving to devour her lips again. 

..

Read Further on ao3.

Tagging: @cinderswrench @gingerale2017 @shellyseashell @kaider-is-my-otp @linhcinder686 @kaiderforever  @slmkaider @salt-warrior @cindersassasin @impossiblesuitcase @deprivedmusicaljunkie @cosmicnovaflare @ikosburneraccount @mirrorballsss @fangirlforever0704

[salt-warrior]

WHEN EARTH TURNS TO ASHES

Masterlist

Chapter Ten: Overprotective Shadow

Lights faded in and out between Cinder's dreams of the past. Dreams of a mother who only wanted her to be happy, of a boy who loved her, a sister that idolized her, and a friend who tried to find a cure for Selene's problem. All of them were painful.

The mental agony of Cinder's dreams dulled the pain of reality for a short time. She wondered if she had finally died—if She had found a way to kill her yet— but Cinder couldn't remember anything. The last thing she could recall was driving to school, and then–

A sudden jolt shot through Cinder, her eyes snapping open as memories flooded her mind. The accident, the fire, the boy. What had happened to the boy? What if I killed him, too, Cinder worried. But no, it shouldn't work like that. Don't they have to love me?

"Even my wildest fantasies couldn't imagine you being this hot awake." 

Cinder flinched, turning to see a boy sitting next to her. She hadn't noticed him before, and maybe that had been for the best. His mere presence agitated her.

Could it be him? Selene looked into the man's eyes; they were a clear crystal blue. No, her savior had born eyes of copper and flames.

"No pun intended." The annoying man winked, leaning back in the plastic hospital chair. He had sandy brown hair, a strong jaw, and an easy smile accompanied by the dimples of a church boy. He wore tennis shoes, blue jeans and a Star Wars t-shirt with Han Solo on the front and captioned "I know."

Cinder frowned. The boy smiled. "Who the hell–"

"Ah, no need for blatant questioning and accusations." The man stuck out his right hand, a crooked, wicked smile on his face. "Carswell Thorne, at your service." He cupped his left hand to the side of his mouth, as if he were telling her a secret. "But you can just call me Thorne."

Cinder blinked, and Thorne lowered his hand, smile disappearing. "Where's all your fire?" Thorne exclaimed, giving her a questioning glance. Cinder glared at him, and he seemed to realize his mistake. "I mean your personality, not the car stuff," Thorne clarified.

"Why are you here? I don't know you," Cinder croaked, her voice scraggy from lack of use. "Where's..." Cinder was about to ask for someone she knew— someone who loved her— but they were all dead.

"Am I that disappointing?" Thorne inquired, exasperated.

"I mean," Cinder clarified. "Where's the boy with the eyes?" she flushed, realizing how stupid she sounded, but she had only seen the eyes of her savior, nothing more.

Thorne stuck out his jaw, his face perplexed. "I'm a boy, I have eyes, I feel like I meet your expectations just fine."

Cinder huffed, wanting to strangle Thorne the more she talked to him. "There was a boy who pulled me out of my burning car. Where is he?" Cinder felt her stomach roll with dread. What if I killed him too?

"Oh, you mean Crown. He's not here." Thorne nodded his head like a complacent beach boy. "Speaking of which, I should probably call him. He's a little too excited to meet you. A bit like a puppy." Thorne rolled his eyes. "Well, I guess you've already met, but you were a little out of it. Understandably."

Cinder hit him. Not hard, but a simple backhand to the shoulder. She was done with this man, who she had never met before, and his stupidity.

"Aces, ow! What was that for, Selene?" Thorne put a hand to where Cinder had struck him, his face indignant. He was so caught up in his "injury" that he didn't notice Cinder freeze, her face pale as parchment. "Sel–"

Throwing herself forward, Cinder covered his mouth with her uninjured hand. Pain laced her entire left side, but she didn't stop. Thorne's muffled protests pursued, and he tried to get Cinder's hand away from his pie hole. Cinder refused to let go, too scared of what would happen if he said her name. That was until he licked Cinder's hand. She retreated immediately. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he died.

"What the aces and spades?" Thorne exclaimed, scrunching his nose. "Look, S–"

"Don't call me that!" Cinder yelled, startling Thorne enough to make him drop all his flirtations. "Don't call me S... don't call me that name."

Thorne softened, taking a gentler side to things. His face lost its mischievous gleam, and he leaned forward in his seat. "Okay, what do you want me to call you then?"

There was a slight shock to seeing this calming side of Thorne. She wouldn't have believed he had a tame side if she hadn't seen it staring into her face. "Cinder. Call me Cinder."

Thorne's face contorted with horror, and then he seemed to be attempting to hold in laughter. Apparently his considerate side wasn't that strong. "You're kidding. You're..." Thorne looked at Cinder's face, taking in her expression before sobering. "You're not kidding."

Cinder glared. She wouldn't much mind if her gaze caused him to alight in flames. "Okay, Cinder," Thorne said. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna call your boyfriend. Like I said, he wants to see you." Cinder continued to glare, but didn't stop him.

Pulling out his phone, Thorne dialed a well acquainted number, fingers dancing. It only took one ring for a frantic voice to answer on the other end. Cinder could hear the faint voice of a boy, though not what he was saying.

Cinder kept her eyes on Thorne, making sure he didn't say her name. Apparently Thorne had the memory of a goldfish.

"Yeah, Sel–" Cinder interrupted Thorne with another backhand. "Ow! Would you stop that?" Thorne pulled the phone away from his face, glaring at Cinder.

"I told you not to call me that!" Cinder bellowed.

"I remember that, thanks." Thorne remarked sarcastically.

"Obviously you didn't, because you just called me that." Cinder huffed, feeling too drained to argue with such gusto.

"Well, Kai won't recognize you by any other name! That's what the nurse said your name was. I'm sorry that you're sour about it," Thorne bit back.

"Just don't call me that name," Cinder growled.

"Fine." Thorne turned back to his phone, bafflement coloring his face like paint. "The girl," Thorne glared at Cinder pointedly, "she's awake. And I've got to admit, I much preferred her asleep."

Cinder scowled, but refrained from hitting Thorne again. She was so tired, and the annoyance it took to simply engage in a conversation with Thorne was draining. She only half-listened to the rest of his conversation, before her mind spun into blackness.

***

Kai glanced into a window. It was dark enough that he could see his reflection, and the way his hair was a complete mess. He ran a hand through it to tame the tangles, wishing for once he had followed Thorne's advice on how maintain his hair. Kai hated putting gel in, though.

What are you doing? Kai asked himself. She just woke up from a coma, and why do you even care? She's just a girl. But she wasn't just a girl.

The hospital was busy, people flitting in and out of rooms as visitor hours drew towards a close. Kai's body was vibrating with nervous energy. He was finally going to be able to talk to her. He would talk to Selene.

Cinder.

Kai was confused by the name change, but Thorne had been adamant about it, complaining of bruises as he relayed the information to Kai. Of course some people hated what their parents named them. Kai himself despised being called Kaito, but Cinder wasn't even close to Selene. Kai had thought it was a joke at first, Thorne being inappropriate as always, but it wasn't.

No nurses stood in with Cinder as she lay nearly motionless on her bed. She was awake, staring down her arm at the patched skin that had once been burns, dark hair falling down around her face.

The treatment they had used on her was new, and worked on healing skin incredibly fast. Already Cinder's flesh was looking healthy, and only a little bit patchy and pink in some parts. Kai marveled at the progress that had happened in only ten days.

"Hey," Kai tapped his knuckles lightly on her door, startling Cinder from her awe. Looking at her sent shivers down Kai's spine. He remembered the first time he'd seen her, surrounded by fire, and how he'd thought she looked like an avenging angel. Even without the fire she still had a blaze about her that made her seem dark and powerful.

Selene always had a darkness about her— almost as if her shadow was a living being there to torture her forever. Kai shook Cress's words away, although not before noticing that Cinder did seem to have an overprotective shadow.

"You look really good." Kai smiled, before feeling his stomach fall. "I mean, you always looked good. You never looked bad. I was just meaning that you look better. Your skin is looking great." Kai cringed. Your skin is looking great? He sounded like a creep.

"That came out wrong." Kai said, biting his lip before sighing exasperatedly. "What I meant to say is that you've healed a lot since I last saw you."

Cinder stared at him, not saying a word. Her eyes were huge and brown and beautiful. Kai looked away from them, knowing that if he continued to gaze into her eyes he would never be able to look away.

"My name is Kai, by the way." Kai said, sitting down in the cold plastic seat. "Well, it's Kaito, Kaito Crown, but only my father really calls me that. You can just call me Kai." He didn't know why he was babbling so much. Kai hardly ever babbled, and it was only when he was nervous.

"I don't know if you remember me. You were basically unconscious, but you did look at me for a few seconds before blacking out." Cinder blinked, still not speaking. Kai wondered if Thorne had been making up the story about her beating him up. She was so mellow.

"I'm also sorry about Thorne. He's a pain, but he means well. I asked him to stay with you while I was... away." Kai didn't know why he wasn't telling her about his visit to Olympia. She had a right to know that he had gone snooping in her business, but something about her stare and the rejection of her name made Kai think she wouldn't be too happy about it.

"Why'd you do it?" Cinder whispered, her voice defiant.

Kai froze. Did she know that he had been investigating her past? Kai had told Thorne not to tell her, but he never was good at keeping secrets. "Do what?"

"Save me." Cinder's voice was as cold as her stare. Kai worried that the floor would open up and he would be sucked down to Hell.

It was such an odd question. In the moment of the crash, there had been no other answer than to save the girl on fire. It hadn't been a multiple choice test; his only option had been to save her.

"It was the right thing to do. The only thing, really. I couldn't just leave you there," Kai muttered, wringing his hands together. He didn't dare glance at Cinder— he could feel her burning gaze.

"Oh, so you're the noble type. You could have gotten yourself killed, or terribly injured. You shouldn't have done it," Cinder snapped.

"Well, I'm fine. You're alive, and I wouldn't change anything about it. I'm sorry if I disappointed you." Kai felt attacked. Maybe it was due to the fact that he was being attacked, but he was going to consider all of the possibilities.

Cinder sagged, her shoulders closing in toward her chest and her face cracking. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant." She paused, then whispered, "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome," Kai murmured, feeling undeserving of her thanks. It physically hurt Kai to look at her showing so much pain and humility. She was just a girl—a teenager—and she deserved to be saved. She deserved to be loved, and she had never gotten that.

"Listen, Cinder," Kai moved closer to her. "Can I ask you why you changed your name?"

Kai had crossed a line. He could tell by the way Cinder tensed up, regret and guilt stabbing him the moment the words had left his lips. Why did he have to be so rude and nosy? She was lying in a hospital bed feeling terrible, and Kai had brought up something to make her feel even worse.

"No. You can't." Cinder's eyes filled with rage. "Nor are you allowed to ask me why I ran away from home or why I have no emergency contact or anything else about my life."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." Kai curled in on himself, moving away from Cinder. He felt defenseless against her words, and terrible guilt was eating at him for digging into her past without permission. He felt like a trespasser.

"You may think that I'll worship you just because you saved me, but I didn't ask you to." Cinder's words cut like knives. "I may owe you my life, but you won't get my past."

Kai nodded, choking on the words that he should have been saying. He needed to apologize, but the only thing that came out was: "I– I think I should go."

Cinder didn't even look at him as he walked out the door.

[salt-warrior]

FOUR MONTHS KAI—

Oh my stars this is absolutely adorable!! I love it!! Beautiful writing🥺

“First Date”

It is Valentines Day and Cinder and Kai are finally having their first date.

Word Count: 753

Read it on AO3 

Since I am still working on my other fic, I wanted to write something small for Valentines Day. I hope you enjoy it. I know its extremely short, but I just think it’s adorable.

taglist: @arushahisatroll @cerenoya  @scrlettdragna @salt-warrior  @winterrhayle  @starry-tea-party @cindersnightmare @strawberry-seraph  @shellyseashell @cinderswrench (let me know to be added or removen !)

Keep reading

[salt-warrior]

WHEN EARTH TURNS TO ASHES

Masterlist

Chapter Thirteen: Where the Letter Lies

Kai whistled cheerily as he walked up the stairs to Cinder's dingy apartment building; keys clinked in his hands merrily, and the overall mood of the visit was exciting.

Over the past week, Kai and Cinder had developed something close to friendship. While he knew that she was still lying to him on multiple fronts, he liked being around her. She hardly ever talked, but that had never bothered Kai. He talked enough for a dozen people.

On this particular day, Kai had been sent to Cinder's apartment to retrieve clothes for her to go home in. She had been offered a multitude of used clothes the hospital had on hand, but Kai had been vehement on getting some of her own to go home in. He wanted her to be comfortable, and maybe even a little nice for the party he was going to throw her.

Cinder didn't seem to realize that today was her birthday, but Kai knew. He had been planning the celebration since the time she had forgiven him. While it wasn't going to be the party of the century (Kai didn't want to overwhelm her), it would be a good opportunity for Cinder to reconnect with some people she had left behind. In other words, Kai had invited Cress.

After much convincing over the past week, Kai had talked Cress into coming to Cinder's twentieth birthday party. She had argued that 'Selene' wouldn't want her there, or that she would ruin the entire celebration with her presence. Kai had taken matters into his own hands and said that Cinder would be more than happy to see an old friend. He only hoped that he was speaking the truth.

Kai opened the door to Cinder's tiny apartment with the twist of a key. He stared at the dank living space with a somber mood. He could see everything from his vantage point by the door: a bedroom holding only a bed; a tiny bathroom barely large enough to accommodate a toilet, sink and the smallest shower known to man; and a kitchen with a microwave, fridge, and stool behind a small counter.

Crossing the room slowly, Kai walked into her bedroom. He felt uncomfortable entering a ladies quarters, but Cinder had told him most specifically where to find her clothes. The twin bed with rumpled sheets turned out not to be the only thing in the room. Shelves lined the walls all around the messy bed, and a thin layer of dust had begun to settle on top of the clothes resting atop the shelves.

Cinder didn't seem to have much variety in her clothing. Kai grabbed a gray t-shirt and cargo pants that matched everything else on her shelves, thanking his lucky stars that he didn't have to grab any feminine apparel; Iko had already volunteered those articles for Cinder.

Kai glanced around the room once more before tugging the beige sheets off the bed; he never could stand an unmade bed. Kai stripped the bed until it was nothing but a beat up mattress. He would have washed the bedding, but there wasn't enough time. Thorne was set to come and decorate the place in less than an hour.

Kai tucked the fitted sheet all around the corners of the bed and under the edges, sitting atop the bed to get the uppermost corners. When he got to the top right corner of the mattress, however, something was already tucked beneath its edge.

Reaching his arm deeper under the bed, Kai felt the worn starch of a paper envelope. He tugged at it gently, sure not to tear the lumpy package. When Kai's hand re-materialized from beneath the mattress, it was carrying a faded white-letter envelope.

The seal of the envelope was broken, and Kai's curiosity won over without much resistance. He lifted up the lip of the white paper, and pulled out three items: a folded up piece of paper with words scribbled in messy cursive, a water-stained photograph, and a small braided bracelet.

Kai studied the photograph, but no breakthrough came. He held the circle of braided string, trying to guess what its significance might have been. It looked about the right size for Cinder's delicate wrist, though judging from its worn quality she hadn't been its original owner. Finally, Kai unfolded the sheet of paper. He felt guilty going through Cinder's things. He knew what he was doing was wrong and a complete invasion of her privacy, but he couldn't help himself.

The sheet of paper had but a few words on it written in dull black ink. Kai read with ravished interest, reading it three times before the words began to make sense.

My dearest Selene,

I am writing you this letter because I am afraid. I am afraid that my time with you is numbered down to days, and while I cannot give you much, I can give you my words.

This life that you live is not one I ever wanted from you. If I could, I would have you be a Queen. You do have a Queen's name, after all. But life is unfair, and while you deserve someone that can take care of you, I have never been too great at my job.

As my final promise to you, I swear on the only thing I love—you— that I will protect you with the force of a whirlwind of fire. Selene Channary Blackburn, I love you. You are my world, and the only thing that I truly love. I will burn this Earth to ashes if only to prove my love for you.

Love, Mommy

***

Cinder trembled from nerves as she stood from her wheelchair and moved herself— with the help of Kai and Nainsi— into the car. The cold wasn't helping either, seeing how the ground was covered with snow and ice.

Nainsi trotted away with a soft word of goodbye, while Kai placed Cinder's crutches across the backseat of his car. She felt awkward watching them work while she sat and did nothing, but the nurses had been strict; Cinder wasn't allowed to do anything physically exerting for at least another six weeks. They were only allowing her to go home on behalf of the fact that Iko had volunteered to check on Cinder everyday, along with Kai.

Kai, finished with his work, pulled himself gracefully into the car. He fired up the beautiful machine with practiced hands, turning up the heater to full blast. The sudden heat sent a shiver through Cinder's veins, and Kai glanced over at her with concern.

"Are you cold?" Kai asked, and without even waiting for a response, took off his hoodie and placed it in Cinder's lap. "Here, take this. I'm too hot with it on anyway."

A blush crept up Cinder's cheeks, but Kai didn't seem to notice. She pulled the gray hoodie over her head clumsily, her left arm still bandaged and unfeeling. The sweatshirt was still warm from Kai's skin, and it sent tingles along her flesh. It smelled of laundry detergent, chocolate, and whatever cologne Kai used. It was the best smell Cinder had come across before, and she had to resist the urge to shove her entire face in it and inhale the scent of Kai.

"Thank you," Cinder whispered, no longer trembling. There was something calming about Kai. He was a constant in her life, no matter how hard she pushed him away. He was pure and good and kind, and Cinder was still wondering why he had decided to stay in her life.

"I should have brought you one of yours, but I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry," Kai said, his shoulders rigid and lips pulled tight. He looked guilty, and Cinder had to resist the urge to roll her eyes; only Kai could feel bad about not considering to bring a girl a jacket and then giving her his own.

Cinder pulled the sleeves of the delicious smelling jacket up around her frozen fingers. "It's not your fault. I forgot to tell you where they were, anyways." Cinder smiled at him, though he continued to not look at her. Maybe he was just a careful driver. "I like yours better, anyways."

Kai laughed, and Cinder bent her head down in embarrassment. She had not intended for those words to come out of her mouth, no matter how much she had been thinking them.

"Hey, Cinder?"

"What?" Cinder mumbled in anguish, her cheeks still brightly colored.

"Can I ask you a question?" Kai bit at his bottom lip, and Cinder watched his face with anticipation.

"I think you just did," Cinder mumbled, her walls rising up as the flashing red lights began to play throughout her head.

"What actually happened to your mother?" Kai asked timidly. "You don't have to tell me, but I know that she wasn't arrested. I... I can tell when you're lying."

Cinder knew that last part was a lie. In order to be an expert liar, you had to know when others were lying, and Kai had absolutely no practice with lying. She decided to let it go, however. She liked Kai a lot, and knew that he wasn't trying to take advantage of her.

Silence filled the car like ice water, chilling Cinder. There had only ever been one other person whom she had told the truth to. That person had betrayed her.

"You're right, my mother isn't in jail," Cinder commended with a huff.

Neither of them said anything after that.

***

"Are you sure you don't need any help with that?" Kai asked, placing a hand on Cinder's lower back as she stumbled forward on her crutches. She stiffened, but didn't push him away. Kai took her right crutch from her, and wrapped his arm gently around her waist. She slung her uninjured arm clumsily around his own waist, and they set off, Kai bearing most of Cinder's weight.

Cinder was able to wear her prosthetic, but she wasn't used to it. The crutches were a completely different matter, though. While they did help, Cinder often couldn't tell if she was holding the left one. She never said any of this to Kai, but he could tell.

"Thanks," Cinder whispered gratefully.

"Anything for you, my lady," Kai said, and while he meant it as a joke, he really would do just about anything for Cinder.

"Why do you care so much, Kai?" Cinder stumbled over the icy ground, but her words were steady. Kai contemplated the question, not entirely sure himself. Thorne had asked him the same question, along with Kai's father. There was just something so intriguing about Cinder.

"Everyone deserves to have someone who cares," Kai answered simply.

Cinder hummed in acknowledgement, nodding her head softly. "Thank you— for caring."

Kai blushed deeply, his arms tightening around Cinder. The cold bit at his face and arms, but he was filled with warmth from the inside. He wanted nothing more than to be close to her for the rest of eternity; to feel her warmth.

The duo trudged into the apartment building, anticipation clawing at Kai's skin. He was beginning to wish that he had not initiated a party, but instead gotten to spend an evening alone with Cinder. He wanted to listen to her voice tell him stories, and comfort her through the shadows of her past. He wanted to be with her.

They made it up to Cinder's floor only a short elevator ride later. Cinder was visibly sagging with relief and Kai began to wish that he hadn't thrown her a party for an entirely different reason. Sure it was her birthday, and she was finally getting home, but she looked exhausted.

Kai pulled the apartment room key from his pocket as the couple found themselves in front of the door. He opened the door with misery, knowing in that moment that he had messed up big time.

"Happy birthday, Fire Angel!" Thorne yelled, tossing glitter into the air. Kai had specifically told Thorne to leave the glitter at home, but he had always been a terrible listener. "Only one more year till you're legal!" Kai could have died of shame.

"Happiest of birthdays, Cinder." Iko smiled cheerily, her blue braids tied up in a messy bun. She looked weird out of uniform, but still absolutely gorgeous.

"Happy birthday, Selene," whispered Cress, standing in the shadows of the dark apartment.

Cinder flinched, shoving herself away from Kai as fast as she could. "What is she doing here?" Cinder's tone was indignant, but betrayed.

"I–" Kai stammered, his entire demeanor small and vulnerable. "I thought–"

"What did you do, Kai?" Cinder's face held more betrayal than any ancient biblical kiss ever could. "Why?"

"I thought you might like to see her again, she's your friend, after all," Kai defended, though he wished that she would scream at him.

"I can just go–" Cress stammered, her face pale. Her short blonde hair hung around her face in soft waves, and her clothes were bundled on like as if she were an an arctic eskimo.

"No," Cinder cut in. "I need to go. I have to get out of here. You guys–" Cinder's eyes filled with sadness. It hurt Kai to see her like this. It devastated Kai to know that he had brought this anguish upon her. "I have to go, and I don't want to ever see any of you ever again!"

Cinder stole her crutch back from Kai, and slammed the door closed behind her. Iko rushed out after her, glaring at Kai.

Kai wanted to die. He longed to be cut into a thousand tiny pieces. He wished that Cinder would punch him, kick him, scream at him for doing something so cruel and stupid. How had he not thought this through better? If Cinder hadn't kept in touch with Cress, it must have been for an excellent reason, and Kai had opened old wounds with his foolishness.

"I'm so sorry," Cress sobbed, her blue eyes supernovas of sadness. "I– I thought she wanted to see me again."

"So did I," Kai said. "Don't apologize, Cress. This isn't your fault. I lied to you and Cinder. I shouldn't have ever done that."

"No, no, no," Cress cried, "you don't understand!"

Thorne, who had remained silent since Cinder's leaving perked up. "What? What don't we understand?"

"I should... I should have told you the truth when you came to Olympia." Cress buried her face in her hands. "I know why Selene left, and it's all my fault."

[salt-warrior]

Alright, so I technically closed this but I love you and I love this song and my morning has sucked so I’ll write this drabble🖤 thanks for the request @cinderswrench you are just lovely in every way🖤🖤🖤

#16: Easy Peasy by The Happy Return

“I don’t want to be alone,” Kai whispered, holding out his hand to Cinder. She stared at it for a moment before taking it; her fingers were ice cold.

“So wait,” she grinned. Kai rolled his eyes at her and pulled her close to him. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her. He never wished to be parted from her.

“But waiting’s getting old.”

Cinder laughed and pulled away from him. She grabbed his hand once more and brought it up to her lips. She kissed his palm gently, then gave him a final smile before she turned and walked away, leaving him alone.

[salt-warrior]

Thanks @impossiblesuitcase​!!!

#2: I Don’t Want to Miss You (Like I Do) by Austin Weber

“I don’t want to miss you like I do,” Cinder whispered, her hand pressed up against her port screen as if she could touch Kai’s face through the glass and thousands of miles. “I guess there was just some part of me that though by this point I’d be through.”

Kai laughed, the sound somewhat tinny through the port, but no less beautiful. She wished that he was laying beside her in her massive bed and that they were laying side by side, grinning at one another with only the light of the stars to gleam upon them. Or better yet, she longed to be upon the earth, the place she still thought of as home.

“To the other side of love?” Kai asked, blinking slowly as a somber look overcame his features. “Where it’s not just you I’m thinking of?”

“Yeah,” Cinder breathed, her head beginning to pound. “Something like that.”

“The last thing I’ll do is forget you,” Kai said, giving her a sad smile through the port. He was still sitting at his desk despite the lateness of the hour, but his work had long since been forgotten as they spoke to one another. 

Cinder let out a weak chuckle. “But missing you isn’t that much better,” she sighed. “I wish I could find an attitude to keep myself from missing you. It’s not quite brokenhearted or blue—it’s a special kind of woe.”

“Ah,” Kai grinned, leaning his head toward his camera until all Cinder could see was black hair. Then he fell back against his chair once more, biting his lip. “My melancholy heart feels the same.”

“You don’t want to miss me either?”

“Not for another moment,” Kai muttered, rubbing a hand over his sleepy eyes.

“You won’t stop, will you?”

Kai gave her a look—one that silenced all concerns of him ever forgetting her. It was a look that one only gave a person they truly loved. 

“Never.”

[salt-warrior]

You dedicated this beautiful, wonderful, fantastic, lovely fic to me? I am but a little bug, you god. I’m getting a little misty right now. I loved this chapter so, so much. Everything about it was literal perfection. Shut up this fic is a thousand times better than the other side of sorrow I Hecking love this with my whole heart. They’re just too precious. And them eating and chilling and talking afterwards made my heart so happy. Ahhhhhhhh I’m a puddle right now😭

Cut, Comb, Detangle, Repeat - part iii.

For @salt-warrior

Chapter 3: Detangle (my Thoughts, my Hair and my Heart)

iii.

If Cinder had to select a phrase to represent the situation, she would've chosen “calm before the storm”. It was by no means a stormy day, but the artificial and ever placid voice of the door announcer gave no indication of the stress about to rage through her office.

The empress’s office was situated along the edge of one of the palace's cliffs, giving the wide windows a full view of the bustling city. Cinder snuck a glance outside as she sighed, ruminating over a difficult proposition from the chief military officer. Her office was lined with artful décor, books and nodes, holographic albums of her friends and husband and scattered mechanical projects she tinkered with in her spare time. It wasn’t cluttered, at least not by her standards, but her standards had never been particularly neat.

Kai often came into her office under the guise of “cleaning up the bric-a-brac,” but given it was just an excuse to see her during the day he rarely acted on the motive. He had usually reared his head around the door by now, but Cinder wasn't perplexed by his absence. Surprise meetings were so commonplace she didn't bother to memorize meeting schedules; royals had to be ready for presentation at all work hours in the case of impromptu announcements. Cinder would be ushered to meetings regardless of whether she had remembered them or not.

She would probably sneak into his office later anyway. That was the plan, but she hadn’t expected it to eventuate only seconds after plotting it.

Cinder called out to grant entrance upon hearing the door announcer. It whistled open to reveal a slumped figure on the other side.

Cinder had never seen Torin look so harried. The man was so quintessentially proper, scrupulously obeying protocol and believing diplomatic etiquette to be the solution to most if not all problems. Of course, this was just how Cinder had perceived him, and Kai had assured her that he had lightened up significantly since the revolution. She supposed she could see it, as the adviser had grown to forgo heavy sighs at the questionable actions of the Lunar Queen, then Ambassador, and now, with the sweet promise of forever, the Empress of the Eastern Commonwealth.

“Your Majesty,” he fumbled, “your, uh, assistance is... required. The emperor. Immediately.”

Cinder’s eyebrows shot up at the word whisker. Torin never stumbled over his words.

She pushed the chair from her desk and picked up her port to clip it to her belt before reconsidering. The nervousness emanating from him - increasing with every second she delayed - impressed upon her that the only thing she needed to bring was herself.

With all his promise of change, Torin had still remained the figure of responsibility in Kai’s life, and now, Cinder’s. It was comforting having a real, proper adult who had it together that they could turn to. And for what it was worth, he seemed to have a humorous side beneath the professionalism. She also knew that Kai cared deeply for Torin, the man he’d known since birth and the closest remaining father figure he had left. She of course could always turn to the nurturing Garrison Clay for guidance, but he was fairly busy these days caring for the country she'd recently forsworn.

She couldn’t immediately wrap her head around what was of concern, the abrupt and out of character performance from the adviser muddling her thoughts. It wasn’t until they passed the primary doorway of her office - following Torin’s brisk but urgent steps - that she broke past the confusion and grasped that something was obviously wrong. What that was she could not formulate the words to ask, the whirlwind of thoughts all taking place in a matter of seconds.

The trip from her office to Kai’s was a mere two minutes, the official working quarters always kept a room apart. The only intersecting rooms were sitting areas and short paths filled by externally louvred windows. His office door caught her eye and a sense of dread set in.

Torin surprised her by ignoring the security outlet adjacent to the door. For him to gain access he needed verbal approval from the emperor within, but Torin didn't even press the button to request entry. He paused and straightened his jacket, then gestured to his empress, then to the wall. Cinder blinked and shook her head to clear the fog of confusion but promptly set into action to override the security.

No sooner had the door slid open did Cinder rush in to the sight of her husband, crumpled in on himself. Her audio interface spiked with distressed sobbing resounding in her ears. She couldn't even hear her own gasp and the unintelligible noises emitted from her mouth over the sounds from across the desk. In a few quick strides Cinder reached Kai and rounded the table to his side, immediately fastening her arms around him. He didn't look up, head still bowed and wracking with chilling sobs. If he recognised her touch it didn't show, but he transferred his face from his tear stained hands to her open embrace.

Cinder got to work, brushing his sweaty bangs away from his forehead and readjusting him so he could sink into her hold.

“Hey, love, Kai - babe it's me.”

Whether he heard her or not Kai desperately wrapped his arms around her with filmy eyelids sealed. Cinder was too focused on the distraught husband enveloped in her arms to hear Torin slip through the door and press the key to slide it closed, leaving the couple alone. His sigh bore some relief knowing the empress would be the best person to help His Majesty in this current predicament, but was still largely underpinned by immense concern for the distressed monarch.

Cinder's eyes darted up for a second to assess their surroundings. She was still standing, no chair close enough for her to take without relinquishing Kai, something she was not going to do. The couch was there, but it was just too far away than Cinder thought he could handle moving in his state.

Finally she decided on the quickest solution. She looped her arms underneath his shoulders and hoisted him up into her chest. Having secured him gently enough, she used her core to lower them both onto the ground, careful not to disturb him with any jerky movements. Kai gasped out a little and Cinder soothed him by pulling him entirely into her lap, laying his head on her breast.

Taking a hand against his forehead she found him feverish, though she doubted any physical sickness was causing his blotchy red complexion. Sure that it's coolness wouldn't disturb him, Cinder ran her metal fingers through Kai's tousled hair. She murmured non-sequential affirmations, if anything to assure him of her presence.

Tears had splattered on his portscreen resting forgotten on the desk. The rest of his watery sobs found residence dripping down his chin, now into Cinder's blouse. They grew and fell in strength, intervals of soft chokes to downright cries having no relent. Cinder wished she could release the tears welled up in her missing tear ducts, feeling a throbbing in her temples as her body raged at being unable to share her husband's sorrow.

“I-” Kai attempted to speak, but was cut off by his own choking sobs.

Cinder wiped her thumb along his undereye. “It's okay, take your time babe.”

He took in a breath, interjected by a hiccup, and gasped to regain some control over his waning bodily agency.

Cinder pressed a kiss to his brow.

Kai took another shaking breath.

Cinder kissed his eyelid.

“Cinder.” Another pause, another breath, and another kiss to his cheek to find a pattern of safe reckoning in his mind.

“I don't...I don't know what,” his diction became jumbled, “what, happened.”

The pads of her fingers skated over his cheeks, anchoring his mind with the physical touch.

They fell into the best silence they could manage, interrupted with his laden breaths and the pucker of gentle kisses as she slowly rocked him back and forth.

Kai had been stressed all week: she had noticed the increasing frequency that he ran his hands through his hand, jabbed his fingernails into his palms, clenched his hands till his knuckles went white. They’d been working on slowing down a bit, keeping their free time without conversations about work and engaging in anything to distract them. Normally it worked when they went through rough patches, whether in leadership challenges or random flares of anxiety.

Cinder had comforted him like this before, but he never broke down like this at work. It was always after-hours, in their room, and it was never this bad.

They stayed bundled up on the floor for five minutes, then ten, and it wasn't until fifteen that he turned his croaks into sounds.

He spoke, though the cracks in his voice gave signs doing so was painful. “I was just...thinking about dad.”

She pulled him higher up her chest and he could hear the thrumming of her hummed response.

He didn't speak again, having given his explanation - not that she’d needed one. She would comfort him forever if need be, reason or not. Stars knew he had done the same for her what seemed like countless times. They would talk about it later, when they were in bed and less anxious and feeling like some, at least some of their ever mounting responsibilities could be stripped back.

There was no trepidation between them, and gradually he craned his head to kiss her arm, her chest. The rhythmic swing of them together, on the ground, swaying to and fro alleviated enough of the drowning sensation for him to bring his hands up. As his eyes dried he could more clearly look at her, and he pulled the lock of her hair that had fallen out of its comb into his fingers. He rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, reveling in the grainy sensation of the microscopic ridges along the strands.

“I love your hair,” he murmured. He brushed the shorter sections off her cheek. “It was always so messy.”

She grasped the hand in hers and brought to rest on her cheek, then released hers to leave his cupping her face.

His eyes traced the planes of her chin and jaw. “It used to be shorter.”

She hadn't had it long since she’d been queen. An empress wore headdresses and complicated updos, with innumerable pins and clasps and intricately weaved solid gold clips. There were tassels and rods to hold everything in place that were always moving so that it took her maids never-ending minutes to secure it all in place. After the sometimes hour was complete the hair was moored and unmoving, not even the harshest gales able to dismount it. But fringes were inconvenient, always just too short to fit in a clip or falling out regardless of the copious amounts of hairspray. Cinder did not bother to request a cut knowing she might avoid the complaints from her hairstylists.

Cinder laughed, a small barely audible chuckle within her torso. “It grew when I did.”

He raked his hands it, careful that his nails didn't dig into her scalp. It was the slightest touch of delicate fingertips. He kissed the ends when he reached them, and remained with his head bowed into her chest.

She hunched over and kissed just underneath his earlobe. There was a scar there from when she’d cut out his ID chip fives year before. He went on detangling the plain brown strands like they held all the wonders of the world.

Torin rescheduled all meetings the emperor and empress had that afternoon and slumped into his office chair. He cared for both of them now, teaming up with Cinder when necessary to coax Kai into caring for his physical health. They were as adult as they could be in their circumstances, and he wanted to support that transition as much as possible. But for as long as he’d known Kai, he knew the boy needed others to prop him up in times of struggle. Cinder matched him well that way.

Later the adviser proceeded to the emperor’s office just as Nainsi entered with tea. He saw the couple had moved to the couch and were chatting in low voices. Kai, though being held in Cinder’s arms was still brushing her hair therapeutically. She gave a half suppressed laugh at one of his quips, and lay her head onto his in exasperation. Kai drew the hair over his face like a veil and brought his opposite hand to rest on her calf. Torin backed away from the door with a satisfied breath, the corners of his lips reaching upward points in his relief.

<^><^><^>

“I really thought she was going to break up with him for me.”

“Mhm.”

Kai breathed in the scent of shampoo and felt as her blanket of hair tickled his eye lashes. “Because I was a Prince.”

“Oh you definitely played that card with me. ‘Why wont you come to the ball with me? I'm the prince'!” she mimicked his grumpy harrumph.

He rolled his eyes, at himself more than anything. “She married the architect and broke my heart. Then I realised it was never going to happen between us.”

“You had a thing for unavailable women, huh?”

“Ah yes, you weren't impressed by me and in that moment, I was sold.”

“I was very impressed by you.” She nuzzled her nose against his, though it was upside down.

“Not like the other girls I dated, before. They were nice, but you know, no real spark. Besides,” his eyes slipped shut and he gave a closed lipped grin, “I must've had a thing for mechanics.”

“Implying you've liked several mechanics." She flicked his nose. "Is that why you always got the palace mechanics to install your port upgrades, hmm?”

He shook his head. “No, I'm just stupid.” He picked up his hand and without opening his hand poked her under her jaw. “You have the brains in this relationship.”

“I like that. You can be the pretty one.”

He shook his head. "Love, you're beautiful.”

“Oh trust me I'm happy to look average. Less adoring fans that way.” She exhaled in relief.

“Eh, to me - you are gorgeous. And I made sure to rub it in Levana’s slimy face at the wedding.”

She blew hot air which rippled along his cheeks and nose. “Of course you did.”

“She glamoured herself to look like you.”

Her lip curled in surprise. “Really? Actually, I wouldn't put it past her.”

“She didn't wear your face well. Too grumpy and evil. I could've stabbed her for doing it, oh wait, I did.”

Cinder laughed and rubbed her hands up his forearms. “You wanna go to bed?”

He startled a little. “Really? Isn't it the afternoon?”

She rubbed her finger tips in circles around his scalp. “I meant we could get away from the office. You've been in here all day.”

He mused on the options. “We have dinner later.”

“Yes.”

“I don't think I can go anywhere.”

“So, bed?”

He inhaled a long breath and twisted to the side. He kissed her cheek where it lay on his face. “In a few more minutes.”

“I'm not going anywhere.”

Dinner was usually the most formal affair of the day. Multiple course banquets were held, even on the days when it was only Cinder and Kai dining. The dining hall was traditional and inviting, but they loved it the most when it was occupied by their friends. The royal respectability was utterly trashed with the occasions of prawns tossed around the table and chili flakes accidently sprinkled into the endlessly refilled pots of jasmine tea. Times where Cinder seriously considered banning Thorne from using soy sauce as he drowned everything in it. Times where they requested forks in advance because Wolf grew frustrated by the finnicky coordination required for chopsticks that he lacked. Times were the beautiful culinary presentations were marred by homely Tupperware containers of Scarlet's cakes that everyone gorged themselves on.

But even when it was just Kai and Cinder, Cinder and Kai, the hall was always formal, no matter how random the conversations or casual the clothes. Kai didn't need that today.

They retired to their bed and Kai had slept soundly in her arms. He was still asleep when she got up to request two special orders from the chefs: One, to prepare nothing for dinner and two, to make a personal dish she knew was the recipient's favourite. Cinder hardly used paper, but the eco-friendly napkin tucked into the plate of steaming goods left on Torin's desk came with sprawled, untrained handwriting: Thanks Torin, from your ever grateful royal trainees. She hoped it’d be legible, given she'd never attended school or had time to build up writing dexterity in her hand.

She made another order, one that she ducked out of the palace to pick up. She thought of using a glamour to disguise her appearance for conspicuity sake, but the teenager delivery girl didn't even glance at her face. “Here's your food, and here's the scanner.” Cinder wasn't going to complain; her job would be much easier if people were similarly agreeable, and in turn, did their jobs without needless strain.

She returned and found Kai in an armchair with his dedicated book port in hand. Reading fiction instead of work documents was a good sign. “Come on,” she called as she entered, rattling the food bags, “balcony time.”

The sun was dipping low, as did too Kai's eyelids. The balcony was enough floors high that even staff below wouldn't be able to see them. The air bounced of their skin, and any sticky perspiration was remedied with the swig of saké.

Cinder unpacked the telltale takeaway containers filled with gooey, fried and terribly unhealthy street food.

Kai gasped. “Real food, like overly sweet, oily junk food?”

Cinder stuck her disposable-sustainable chopsticks into a piece of sweet and sour pork, the sauce oozing off it. “Yep. It hasn't even gone through nutrition testing. For shame.”

He stole the piece off her utensil with a single bite. “Tragedy.”

They munched quietly and happily, having their fair share of stealing each other’s bite, it nothing else but for competition. That was until Cinder drowned her bulgogi in a mountain of gochujang, which Kai sneaked and choked on.

“Where's your spice tolerance? Weren't you raised on this stuff?”

His nose reddened. “Its not usually-” a cough -“so concentrated.”

More quiet chewing, before: “We should go there in person next time.”

“Uh I'm pretty sure they're takeaway only,” she said, like it was a throwaway point of conversation.

He gave her a pointed look. “There's like a thousand joints that serve the exact same greasy food in the city. At least one of them will be sit in.”

She swallowed a bite. “Last time I tried to get into any of them I got: ‘we don't serve cyborgs, ever’.”

“Not even empress cyborgs?”

“Hmm. I could be an exception.”

He tucked his hands under his thighs, his thumbs still trembling from his earlier bout of anxiety. “We should go, have a night on the city like we do when the crew is here.”

“Sure. I could glamour us, if you don't want to get mauled by paparazzi.”

He sat forward, curious. “You've always insisted against that.”

“I know,” she sighed, “but I think I need to be reasonable. As long as I'm not manipulating anyone, I'm not sure that it's the embodiment of evil when you’re just using it to go on a date with your husband, discreetly.”

He nodded. “You know I would never judge you for it.”

“After all,” she stretched out her arms, her veins glowing blue in the dwindling light, “I do wanna take our kids into the city - when we have them. Better than keeping them cooped up here forever to become..." she gestured, grasping for words, "sheltered and socially frustrated. A glamour can give them the actual experience, all the untainted poverty and mess and such, but all the things the royal experience hides.”

He brushed his bangs from his forehead with the rim of the glass, the liquids already mostly drunk. His childhood hadn't fit Cinder's description of normality, and he agreed. He may be less stressed if he hadn't grown up so isolated and removed from society.

“There's no point in masking all the bad things with royal treatment. Glamours can provide that opportunity, and…” she trailed off.

“Dinners out are a good step, in that direction,” he offered, perceptive as he had grown to be.

She used the end of her chopstick to dislodge food from her teeth while nodding in response.

They were good in this balance, and it made them good rulers for the country. Cinder had been the very lowest of society, experiencing first hand the disenfranchisement and struggle of those considered worthless. Kai had the greater perspective, the concept of how issues melded and clashed with each other, the greater scheme of things that was in some ways static and yet ever pliable. She provided the personal reality, he fit it in to the broader reality. Neither of them were really good at recognising where they simply couldn't help a situation, but simple moments like this that could be had by any other couple in the country narrowed that scope into feasibility. Compartmentalise where necessary, even when it took sticky fried food to awaken their senses into realising that.

With the dark sky lulling his eyes to droop, the buzz from the alcohol and the warm fullness of his belly comforted him. Cinder's hand running pattering movements over his thigh did even more so.

His hand was gripping his chopstick, a habit of all the times he took his gut-wrenching stress out on his hands. Cinder told him he’d get premature arthritis. She picked his hand up and wacked her chopstick against his, a mini battle.

He wasn't to win when the impeccable reflexes of her metal hand was a variable, and she grabbed his utensil in a swift pluck. “Victory,” she cheered in a whisper yell.

“My sincerest congratulations,” he murmured with an earnest, content smile.

She giggled, and when she kissed him with lips glossy from sesame oil and tingly from the sake, he could've melted with the fading liquid sun.

Notes -

Parts: 1 2 3 4

If you were curious, the part about Kai falling in love with a chef who married an architect is actually canon! You can read about it from Marissa here. He really is such a hopeless romantic.

For Elwin, who dedicated a crack fic to me like the sweet person she is. I started writing this chapter months ago and lo and behold a week after I started she published The Other Side of Sorrow which is about a similar thing. We must be telepathic. I also chose this one for you because it has the most kaider and you're a sucker for it. if you have read her fic yet (you probably have), go check it out! It did everything this fic does better!

tags list: @cinderswrench @cindersassasin @just2bubbly (I can remove or add anyone)

[salt-warrior]

I got a request for a fluffy honeymoon fic on instagram so here we are...

Complete and Utter Bliss

Summary: Cinder and Kai have just gotten married and are now enjoying their time away from responsibility on their honeymoon. (WC: 1.2k)

Kai awoke to the sound of birds chirping; they were singing the song of morning, and joy, and all things good— because in that moment, nothing in the world seemed bad. He was in a room that was filled with light: the kind that was soft and warm. He was away from responsibility for the first time since the Rampion Crew had kidnapped him, and the relief was nearly overwhelming. And best of all, he had Cinder there with him, wrapped within his arms.

Her breaths came softly, almost like a sigh at every exhale. He knew that she too was experiencing some of relaxation that they both had become unaccustomed to. For her to sleep in past him was a near miracle, and Kai was glad that she was finally getting some rest.

It had been a long few weeks, what with the wedding and everything. The world had not stopped staring at them for months since they had announced their engagement, and now it was all over.

Cinder let out a slight groan, then breathed in deeply in that kind of way people tend to do when they're waking up from a restful sleep. Kai pulled her closer to him, closing his eyes and savoring this moment of simply holding the girl he loved.

"Good morning," Cinder yawned, turning her face so that she could look at Kai. He grinned at her, then placed a kiss against her cheek. She leaned back into him, releasing a sigh as she did so. Kai nuzzled his face in against her neck, breathing in everything that was her.

The day before had been one of the greatest of Kai's entire life. Of course it had been long, and there had been a few bumps in the road, but in the end, he had married Cinder and that had meant that the world was good.

She had walked down the aisle in her oriental red and gold gown, stitched with the emblems of his country and her moon— with no veil in sight. Thorne had given her away, with tears in his eyes and a wink at Kai. They had stood at the altar, and Kai had not tried to stab her with scissors.

It had been everything that a person could wish for.

And then of course, they had made their vows— and Kai had meant every word of love that he had professed. They were pronounced as husband and wife, and then they had kissed in front of the entire world, a kiss that would have made poets weep and artists tremble.

They had kissed as if the world was ending— because it almost had, and they knew what it felt like. They kissed as if it were the first kiss of their entire life, because it was the first kiss of their life together. And after they had kissed, they had stared out at the world and smiled, silently daring anyone who opposed their union to tell them that they weren't perfect for each other in every way imaginable.

But all that could be heard were cheers: the hoorays of their greatest friends, the clapping of their regal guest, and the catcalls made by Thorne, as he wiped the residual tears from his face.

The memory of the day was something that Kai could never forget; it was one of those moments that people live for, and remember when everything else is going wrong.

And now, Kai was beside the woman that he loved more than anything else in the world, and he could have died in that moment, perfectly content.

Cinder brought her hand up and gently ran it through Kai's hair, playing with the inky locks. Kai kept his eyes shut, enjoying the peace of the moment.

"This is one of those moments," Cinder whispered, her fingers curling around a lock of Kai's hair. "That's just absolutely perfect."

"I would have to agree, my Empress," Kai said, smiling as he placed his lips against her neck.

"Don't start on that again," Cinder scolded, and Kai could imagine her giving him the stink eye.

Kai laughed, pulling back from her and propping himself up on his elbow so he could see her face— it was exactly as he had pictured it. "Well, it's either that or Mrs. Emperor Kaito, and that just sounds weird."

"Gah," Cinder groaned, turning so that she lay on her back, staring up at Kai. "Why can't you have a normal person name?"

"Cinder, we are some of the least normal people in the galaxy, and you're criticizing my name?" Kai asked, mock offended.

"Okay, fine, valid point, Mr. Linh Cinder."

"Um," Kai raised an eyebrow. "Don't you mean Mr. Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn? Because I'm pretty sure that's the woman I married yesterday."

"It's just a pseudonym, detective," Cinder hissed, glaring at him.

Kai laughed, then leaned down and kissed his wife. She reached up and cupped his face, her metal fingers splaying across his cheek so gently, that Kai nearly forgot their coldness.

He remembered the first time that he met her at the marketplace, and how he had been so pleasantly surprised to meet the cute mechanic. He recalled the days that he had practically begged her to come to the ball with him, and the weeks after the ball in which he had agonized over her and the feelings that he felt towards her. He thought of the time she had kidnapped him, and how they had shared their real first kiss during those stolen weeks in space.

His thoughts danced with the memories of a revolution in which she had been so brave, and the days thereafter that she had nearly died. The memory of finding her bleeding and dying on the throne room floor still caused him pain— the kind that twists a person's insides.

But after all the pain, there was only goodness. There had been the ball, and Scarlet and Wolf's wedding, and their engagement. There had been the months since Kai had placed that ring upon Cinder's finger that had allowed for them to be on the same planet for the first time in two years.

And after all that they had been through, both the good and the bad, they were now here together, in a beautiful little cottage in the French countryside. There was nothing in the whole world except them, and it was complete and utter bliss.

"I love you," Kai said, breaking the kiss. He stared into the eyes of his one and only love, and was filled with the purest sense of finally being at peace.

"I love you too," Cinder replied, smiling up at him for only a moment, before pulling his lips back to hers, and kissing him senseless.

[salt-warrior]

This is so soft and Kai crying like- oh my stars you just made my heart get all sad. But then Cinder was just talking with him and ahh you nailed kaider. Just wonderful I love this🖤

Longings and Comm

Summary

"I swear if I could come, I would have been near you in a heartbeat."

Absence always seems to make the heart grow fonder and Cinder and Kai are no different in this vast expanse. After a busy day at work with Lunars, Cinder relies on Kai to make her smile but what happens when unexpected inquiries are made and feelings are slipped off.

Ship: Kaider

Words: 1502 words

__

Cinder's Perspective

She was so done with everyone. Every single one of them and this headache was killing her and unlike her usual headaches caused as a result of grief. This one was a real fucking headache caused because of annoyance and extreme anger.

She did something very un-queenly, like shouting in her chambers with a colourful string of swear words going in her mind.

1.2.3.4

Like every meeting that had ever happened, this was nothing different. Well, except for the appearances of lunar aristocrats. As if the stars surrounding her knew exactly what she wanted, Kai commed with such perfect timings that she wondered if Iko was behind this. If she was, may God bless her best friend, her only true companion on this entire dreary planet.

"Thank Goodness you commed. I am so angry-"

He chuckled at her loud outburst, mildly interrupting her. She would have glared if it was anyone else but Kai. However, the voice of his chuckle was enough to calm her down.

"Welcome to Royalty Queen Selene!"

"Stop saying it as if I have won a lottery ticket to visit Earth"

"So is that what you are missing? Earth?" he asked with a smirk tugging at his lips.

"You would know," she said, awaiting him to smile one of those shy smiles reserved for her.

"Kai! I miss Earth and people who can't perform bio-electric manipulation. Heck, you don't know how lucky you are! "

"Why?" he asked, his eyebrows quirking as his curiosity peeked in.

"Well, there are many reasons..." she was going to narrate each one of it to him unless he said otherwise.

Noting her long pause for permission, he granted, "Start Cinder, I'm all ears for you today."

'Ah! This guy was too good for his own self' she seemed to exclaim inside her head.

"Let's start then. I would say sit down as there is a long list of reasons. Firstly, these obnoxious Lunars- they are obsessed with fashion and by fashion, I mean an eerie sense of fashion. My eyes are hurt by just looking at them and that's not my individual statement, even Iko agrees. Plus, my cybernetics and the device goes haywire on me trying to pinpoint their true looks every time I glance at them; making it extremely difficult to focus. Secondly, their love to change appearances, like someone might be having blonde hair today and tomorrow they might turn out bald or something like that. I have a hard time remembering people, providing that I have cybernetics it is saying something. I can look through their glamour and see their true appearances but even then I have a hard time recalling them like hell, Luna needs some form of a database so that I or the computer in my brain can memorize all of them. At least earthen leaders have the decency to come dressed up in proper attire. Lunars, one man showed up in pyjamas to the cabinet meetings." She huffed and stopped to catch her breath.

Seeing that she was somewhat done with her ramble for the day, she groaned for what felt like the umpteenth time in the day.

"You have it bad, Cin, I absolutely agree but c'mon you have me and other people to complain to. Besides, how are you?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry to waste your time with my problems. I should not rant like this but my aristocrat citizens are chaotic and useless who loathe agreeing with me." She grumbled.

"You are not alone actually. Vargas and Camilla gave me a headache today but thanks to you I at least have one thing less to worry about"

"And that is?" she inquired.

"Letumosis and Levana, Cinder. How do you seem to forget that you are the revolutionary?" he teasingly asked. It was not like she was fetching compliments just because she was the one who killed Levana. The fact that she was the revolutionary often slipped from her mind if not for Thorne's remarks and a few graceful acknowledgements here and there.

"My court tells me otherwise!"

"Don't listen to those lunar fools, Cinder. You are THE revolutionary. Hero of the entire universe-"

"Stop praising me like some goddess" she cut off him shortly before he decided to go into a full-blown speech about how wonderful she was. Believe her; he had done that at the last annual Peace ball before everyone.

"Besides Emperor how could you call lunars fools before the Queen of Luna? You have lost your fine touch of diplomacy Kaito."

"Well just the way you called them and I quote 'obnoxious Lunars' before a few moments. And don't you worry I'm not losing my fine diplomatic touch anytime sooner. "He joked along.

"Good, it would be a shame if you did." She exclaimed adding to their playful banter.

Soon they fell into a comfortable silence. She had forgotten about her worries, for the time being, thanks to Kai and his very charismatic personality.

"How are you?"

"Uh?" he looked confused because of her out of the blue question.

"I meant how you are doing, like not the meetings and world leaders but just you!" she clarified. It was not likely of Cinder to generally indulge in talking about emotions with anyone. However, Kai had patiently listened to her ramble so she could hear his inner turmoil if any as well.

"Oh," He said for having nothing else to say. Taking his time to answer, he sighed, "I am good, maybe. I dunno, I have never been asked about just myself like this before. I am satisfied with my lot but responsibilities make me jittery. Even then I have Torin who assists me, I am so thankful for having him. Other than that I have a sickening feeling every time I have to attend meetings with world leaders. Yet I am happier in my place than ever before. I know this sounds weird and unintelligible- " He inhaled sharply, stopping in his track, bitting onto his lips.

"Don't worry, Kai. I completely understand the feeling." She assured him. He had completely moved into pessimism within few seconds. Behind the glorious facade of being royalty, sadness and despair are what remains hidden for a long time. Cinder completely understood how it felt to have everything yet feel unhappy about something that you could never have.

She had missed his moist copper-brown eyes but his swiftly moving to rub away the moisture from them did not go unnoticed.

"Hey, it's okay, Kai," she consoled.

She said in a comforting voice, wishing to be near him and just hug him tightly while he cries his heart out.

"No, no. I'm sorry I just feel like crap for a few days and I miss you." He mumbled, his voice becoming husky,

"I miss you too, Kai. I swear if I could come, I would have been near you in a heartbeat." She said, as her synthetic heart continued to long to touch him.

There was some commotion on his end.

"Your Majesty" someone called for him.

"Cinder, I'm sorry to end on a sad note but I have to go. I am fine, don't worry, I will call you tomorrow or maybe tonight, what time is it?" he asked.

"It's 2200 here."

"Okay, so I will call you tomorrow without fail, but sorry now that I have to leave. I am sorry to sadden you with all my feelings-"

"Stop apologizing, Kai. It's completely fine. Besides, it's okay to let it out from time to time."

He was called urgently by someone in the background; making him quicken his pace as he mumbled incoherent words to her.

"I miss you, call you back later. Love-" he said as the comm was ended by him. He had failed to complete his sentence and she contemplated if she should comm him again just to hear him finish his words. However, that would be a foolish thing to do when he seemed to be in so much hurry.

"Love you too, Kai." She said for the ears who would not hear it.

__

A/N: This was supposed to be fluff, but things took a new turn and I could not undo it. To be honest, I can't imagine Kai and Cinder going through their two years apart relationship without slipping 'I miss you' in  any and every conversations.

Your views will be very much appreciated! Be sure to like, reblog and comment if you like it! Tell me if you wanna be tagged!

[salt-warrior]

OH MY STARS THIS IS SO CUTE I AM LITERALLY IN LOVE AHHHHH

Also, if you ever do a tag list, could you tag me?🥺

Frozen Hands, But You Warm Me To My Toes

“She would spend the rest of her life watching as Prince, no, Emperor Kai gave speeches and passed bills. As he went on diplomatic missions around the world. As he shook hands and kissed babies. She would watch him marry. She would watch as his wife gave him children - because the whole world would watch it happen.”

But in those moments the whole world wasn’t watching, laying there was where there was something to really live for.

Keep reading