#kaladin fic

[joonipertree]

ok I'm gonna send my prompt by ask so it's more formal HIHIHI I'M SO EXCITED. idk how's gonna appear for you (if its my joel account), but here is @yujichoso 😭

ok so I was thinking about injured!reader (they are already in a relationship but it's not out yet) going to the clinic and it's Kal who's in charge of taking care for her and they're all flirting and saying doctor kaladin is kinda sexy and if you could add a kiss somewhere I'd love it too, a kiss that disoriente his system for the rest of the day 😭😭😭

You had half a mind to just go home and have Kaladin patch you up when he got back the second you stepped into the clinic. But alas, you loved seeing your beautiful doctor boyfriend at work. The only thing gnawing in your head was how worried he would get, just like all of the other times you'd gotten sick or injured.

With a little hobble and a lot of energy, you got to the front desk of the reception where a man sat looking over a computer.

"Is Kal- Dr. Kaladin in?" You asked.

The receptionist looked up and smiled politely before checking his watch. "He'll be free in a while, I'm afraid. He's running a bit behind. Is this an emergency?"

You shake your head, " I just fell hard but nothing besides that. I'll wait, okay?"

The man looked at the bruise that was slowly forming on your cheek before he leaned in, "I'm sorry if it's not the case but we're mandated to ask...did someone do this to you? A partner?" He whispered.

You shook your head vehemently, "No, no! Never, my boyfriend would never."

The man took a second to analyse you before he nodded, "Fill this form and take a seat okay?"

With slow limped steps and the realisation that the added weight is causing your other ankle to hurt, you sat down and waited patiently. It did cross your mind that you could just text or call him but you also knew that Kal might be busy and that this didn't really qualify as an emergency.

And Kaladin just got his lunch break, you'd prefer he'd eat first rather than fret over you.

"Hey, Sigzil." Your head whipped up at your boyfriend's voice.

Kaladin looked as fine as ever, even if he would disagree in that moment. With his long shoulder length hair braided back, tan skin and angular features with a defined nose. And oh he looked extra tall that day, in his white coat.

"I'm going on my break okay?" Kaladin said, deep voice with a tinge of exhaustion coming through.

Of course he didn't go on break yet! That man is always stalling for it, thinking of how he can treat others than take care of himself. It made you feel guilty for coming in before he could eat and not bringing anything but, maybe he wouldn't notice you?

Hah, Kaladin not noticing the love of his life was the biggest joke because he instantly clocked you in afterwards, doing a double take. His neutral face went from happy to confused to worried, being able to tell when something was wrong with you.

He strode forward, struggling to keep things professional and his anxiety from showing. No one really knew he was in a relationship and that you were his partner. And as much as he would love to be open about it, paranoia held him back from being openly affectionate towards you. But still, he crouched down so he was eye level, something that multiple people would probably recognise as unusual.

"You're hurt." He stated more than asked.

You nodded, "Sorry, I know you're going on your lunch break-"

"How?"

"I fell."

With a quirk of his eyebrows, you grimaced and continued, "So there was this mini hiking trail and I just sorta was climbing on a big rock and then next thing I knew, I was on a bunch of smaller rocks."

Kaladin stared pointedly at your fucking sandals that were inappropriate for any kind of adventurous walking. "You are a goddamn idiot."

"But....yours?" You made sure to whisper in case he didn't want anyone else to hear it.

"Hon, you should've called me immediately. Did you come here on your own? Were you waiting for me??"

You looked sheepishly at him, "well, I mean....I'm just following the law."

Kaladin's head dropped with a sigh before he got up, "the law between you and me is you call me when you get hurt, okay? Don't be a dumbass, stay here."

After a minute, he came back with a wheelchair and you felt a heat on your cheeks because oh fuck that was way too serious for a rolled ankle.

But you let your boyfriend help you up and put you on the wheelchair before carting you away. You leaned back and looked up at him, his face still looking good from that angle. You kicked your feet like a child, excited to be taken care of.

When you were in the privacy of a room, he didn't hesitate to pick you up bridal style and plop you onto the medical table. You swooned a bit at the feeling of his muscles flex against you.

But Dr Kaladin kept it professional for the most part, inspecting your ankle by pressing on them, you felt pain and it was inflamed but it seemed most likely a sprain.

"I'll have to lift your shirt up." He murmured, careful gloved hands doing so and prodding at your ribs.

"Take me to dinner first." You murmured and he rolled his eyes with a smile.

"I was thinking Pad Thai?" Kaladin played along, making quick work of his inspection.

"Are you this forward with all your patients?"

"My partner would kill me if I was."

"Boooo." You said with a giggle.

And while it was utterly unprofessional of him, Kaladin couldn't help but plant a kiss on your forehead before taking out the bandages.

"You're lucky it's only a few scraps and a sprain. I hope I don't have to convince you of wearing proper shoes to hike?"

"Won't make that mistake again, doctor!" You saluted.

"You stress me out."

"Thank you!"

He took care to wrap you well, patting your head afterwards. You patted his in return because really, he did all the work.

"Okay so now I suppose I should walk outta here like we've never met each other in our lives right?"

"Hmm?" He said as he took off his lab coat, showing a black dress shirt underneath, "no I'm taking you home and we're having Pad Thai."

"Kaladin."

"What?"

"You have a few more hours of work, why would you take me home?"

"Because you're hurt and someone has to take care of you."

"I can do it on my own!"

"You shouldn't have to when I'm here." Kaladin said sternly, packing his bag for the day.

"You have a job--"

"I don't have any more appointments and everyone can handle the walk-ins. My staff is more than capable. Now, do you wanna piggy back or get a wheelchair?"

"I can wa--"

"That's a very dumb thing to say to your doctor."

You grumbled for a second before accepting defeat, asking for a piggy back since he was offering.

Kaladin called in to the desk and let them know that he was off, he could hear the smirk in their voice but didn't bother commenting on it.

Once you were on his back, you melted into him and realised that maybe getting injured wasn't the worst thing in the world.

"You're a pain in the ass."

"I'm yours."

"I need a refund."

A/N: Im sorry this is rushed but i hope its what u wanted!!! I am always open to more requests.

Also...yes i did try to hike in sandals....very bad idea....I am kaladin's worst nightmare.

[ineffablywriting]

swallowed oaths

When Kaladin wakes up beside Raya after a night of drunkeness, he feels the only honorable thing to do is marry her - which is what he's always wanted since they were kids. But Kaladin has never been as good with words as he is at sewing people together after slicing them with a spear.

When Kaladin proposed to Raya after waking up beside her, she felt her heart race and then break all within the span of a few words. All she's ever wanted was to marry the boy with the dark eyes and intoxicating soul. But not like this.

Or,

a story of a drunken night, a boy who lives by honor and a girl who just wants him to love her

Kaladin Stormblessed was broken. And not just physically. He watched Syl buzz around him as he lay there waiting for the stormlight to heal his broken bones and hoped for the millionth time maybe it would heal his broken soul as well.

But life had never been kind to Kaladin and he knew, though he’d never admit it, the only medicine his soul needed was forgiveness. And that was something Kaladin didn’t think he deserved. Something he didn’t think he’d ever earn.

Something he’d never give himself.

He pushed the thoughts of Tien and his men aside as his bones knit back together and his stormlight faded, all used up to glue together a man who didn’t think he was deserving of it.

“Kaladin! You alright, lad?” Teft called, landing beside him with a pouch full of bright gemstones. He threw them at Kaladin after Kaladin grunted at him, before flying off to rejoin the battle.

His most recent skirmish with Leshwi had drained him of energy as quickly as it had sparked some life into his soul.

This is what I am now, Kaladin thought, sucking in the stormlight and lashing himself back into the sky, a man who only feels alive when killing.

He ran his Syl-spear through a flying fused, red eyes burning out as he pulled her free. Another person dead at his hands.

He hated himself for it.

-

Maraya watched as a shirtless Kaladin carried a bridge across the plateau, his men lined up behind him.

It had become almost as ritualistic for her to watch him these days as it was for them to carry the bridge.

At first she didn’t understand why they still ran their bridges. It had been a long while since they’d had to do anything like a bridge run, yet the men continued to train. Continued to run that bridge back and forth under Kaladin’s stern orders.

And then one day she’d understood.

Normalcy was something that was lacking these days with Radiants and their squires, and the Parshendi with the Fused, literally flying through the skies.

Running a bridge? That was something normal. Something they could control. So, Raya assumed at least, Kaladin and the rest of Bridge Four ran their bridge back and forth until their muscles burned and their brains switched off.

Except for Lopen, of course. Raya still didn’t know what to make of him.

And normal for her these days was to watch the tall Alethi man with the dark, somber eyes, run a bridge with his shirt off.

She wasn’t the only one, of course. There were plenty of other young women scattered across the plateau, some watching from within the confines of their private palanquins, while others wore outlandish clothing and stood directly under the hot sun, all with the hopes of catching the gaze of the most intense man Raya had ever met.

Because, though he’d never admit it, Kaladin had become the most eligible bachelor in The Tower, something Adolin never failed to remind him of.

Raya smiled at the thought before immediately frowning again.

Something wasn’t right.

Bridge Four had come to the end of their training session and while the rest of the men gathered around Lopen, draining water skins, Kaladin walked off, away from the group of smiling men.

She thought maybe he was going to burn off some more energy like he sometimes did before joining his men, but this time Kaladin kept walking. All the way until he was off the plateau and passing through the Oathgate back into Urithiru.

Raya stood up, her frown deepening, and rushed over to the gate herself, nodding her thanks at the Radiant who was assigned gate duty today.

She had no chance of catching Kaladin, she knew that. Her legs weren’t long enough and- what was that noise, the thought to herself.

It sounded like someone heaving, struggling for breath. The surgeon in her immediately tuned into the noise and she followed it down an empty corridor. She could see the edge of a very slight shadow hidden inside a little nook. It was so faint that if she hadn’t been so laser focused she would have missed it entirely.

She rushed over to the person hidden in the darkness before slowing down. She had to think rationally. She didn’t want to spook whoever it was, but she also wanted to make sure they were ok.

She took a couple of steps, making sure to scuff her boots so the person in the shadows would hear and notice her presence. They moved further into the alcove at the sounds

“Uh- hello?” She called quietly, making sure to keep her voice soft and soothing. “Are you ok? My name is Raya, I just want to help.”

And then she saw him

Kaladin.

He was hunched over, hands on his knees as he took in huge gulping breaths of air as though there wasn’t enough oxygen in the world to keep him alive for much longer.

“Oh stormfather,” she cursed softly, rushing over to him.

“Kal,” she pulled at his arm gently until she was able to push herself into the tiny space in front of him. “Kal,” she called again, “look at me,” she urged him. She pulled at one of his hands until it was resting against her chest, right above her heart. She held it there with one hand before using the other to take his other hand and place it over his own chest. She could feel the frantic racing of his heart and tried her best to ignore the way her own broke for him.

“Breathe with me, Kal,” she murmured. He was still hunched over trying to make himself smaller, she thought, that when standing on her toes she could place her forehead against his own.

“Breathe with me, Kal,” she repeated again, over and over again, until finally Kaladin wasn’t gasping at the air, and the curtain of despair in his eyes faded enough that he could see her half standing in front of him.

“Raya,” he finally spoke, his voice raspy and broken. “I - sorry.”

“Don’t apologise,” she scolded him, her words fanning across his face. “This is not something you apologise for,” she said more gently.

Kaladin looked away from her and didn’t reply. But she knew he didn’t agree. She knew him better than he did.

Kaladin Stormblessed was a man with many burdens, most of which were not his to carry.

Her fingers twitched with the need to wrap him up in her arms and hide him away from the world, but she just swallowed the instinct back and tried to step away from him. She didn’t think he’d appreciate her advances, didn’t think he felt the same way for her at all.

Raya had been at Urithiru for two months now, having left with a small group from Hearthstone when Kaladin had come for one of his visits to see his family, and he’d never sought out her company. He’d never even introduced her to any of his friends.

Teft had noticed her, of course. Teft seemed to notice everything.

He’d come to find her one day and introduced himself - ‘if that storming boy won’t do it, then I’ll have to do it myself. Have to do most everything around here myself,’ he’d grumbled at her, while she’d stood there staring at him with wide eyes. His eyes had softened when they looked down at her, his words trailing off. ‘Don’t let the lad get to you,’ he’d told her. ‘He’s a fool, but he’s a fool who cares for you. Just doesn’t know how to show it. He ended things with Lyn as soon as you got here,’ he explained, while Raya had stood there unsure what to say. So Teft kept talking. ‘Claims it was mutual, and storms it probably was, no one wants to be with someone who’s heart is with someone else. Stormfather listen to me, I sound like a lovesick fool,’ and then he’d just walked away, leaving Raya in the Atrium, surrounded by strangers unsure what to think or feel.

Shaking herself out of the memory, she slid out of the alcove and back into the corridor where she could breathe freely again, without the warmth from Kaladin’s body tempting her to reach out and shake him into noticing her feelings for him.

“Come on, Kal,” she held out her hand for him, not caring that it was her safe hand, always covered by a glove. She thought the custom ridiculous but still wore it everyday.

Kaladin looked at her outstretched hand and then back to her face, his eyes - once again dark - piercing her soul and making her heart race.

There had always been something about Kaladin’s eyes that had drawn her in, even when they’d been younger spending their days running around Hearthstone chasing winds, there had always been something about Kaladin’s eyes. They’d always seemed endless, like the storm itself.

Back then, she’d always ignored the way he’d made her heart skip when he’d looked at her, because everyone knew he was going to marry Laral. And then everything had changed in the worst possible way. Laral was betrothed to someone else and Kaladin and Tein were both gone and Raya was left behind chasing winds that didn’t seem as friendly without them.

“You go, Raya,” he told her, his voice still gruff. He tried clearing his voice, ignoring the hand she’d held out to him until she awkwardly let it drop.

“Kal,” she took a step forward and froze when Kaladin seemed to shrink away from her. Storms, that made her heart ache painfully.

“Go, Raya,” he turned away from her. “I just need a moment,” and then, as though he felt bad for being so blunt with her, he explained. “Dalinar relieved me of duty today.”

“Oh,” Raya spoke without thinking, the surprise in her voice unhidden.

Kaladin laughed bitterly. “It was the right thing to do.”

“But not an easy thing to accept,” Raya whispered softly.

Kaladin turned to her with surprise.

“Don’t look at me like that, Kal,” she smiled softly, her words sad. “It’s like you’ve forgotten how well I know you - knew you,” she corrected herself. Glancing away and missing the frustrated frown on Kaladin’s own face. “Ok,” she finally said. “I’ll go. But if you need someone to talk to, Kal, I’m always around. I know you have Bridge Four now, and Syl told me Adolin looks out for you too, but if you’re ever in a bind, you’ve got me too,” she said gently, even if you don’t want me anymore, she thought to herself.

And then she walked away.

-

“You talk to Raya?” Kalain asked a buzzing Syl later.

He hadn’t been able to shake the surprise he’d felt at the admission that Raya had been talking to Syl, well, it was the other way around he supposed.

He’d made a mess of his friendship with her, he knew that. But what was he supposed to do?

Raya had blown into his life like a storm from his past. He’d never thought he’d see her again. And then, there she was, training with his father to become a surgeon.

It had all happened so quickly when he’d first seen his parents. They were alive, Raya was there and then everything had been overshadowed with the fact that he had a little brother.

He hadn’t known how to face her back then, how to explain to her that he’d failed to keep his brother safe and how broken he now was because of it. He couldn’t find the words to tell her how everyone around him seemed to die and he couldn’t let her be one of them. So he’d not said anything at all, and then he’d left Hearthstone, thinking that would be it. She’d hate him as much as he hated himself.

So he’d gone back to Urithiru, somehow confessed everything to Teft after drinking one too many cups of violet. He remembered Teft smacking on the head and telling him to grow up and nothing else of the night.

And now Raya was everywhere.

He’d gone to see Lyn as soon as she’d arrived in Urithiru to explain things to her, though he hadn’t been sure why or what he was going to say, only to have Lyn break up with him. He’d been upset but not surprised, and even a little relieved. It had been a confusing mix of emotions at the time.

He wasn’t a fool, Kaladin knew she watched him train. Those dark green eyes of hers piercing his soul as they tracked him during training. Yet he never approached her. Never looked at her, or even acknowledged her presence at all. It got him a berating from Teft every time. But Kaladin knew this was for the best.

He wasn’t good for her, and she was too good for him.

Syl landed on his shoulder. “I like her,” she declared. “Why don’t you speak to her?” she asked him with that childlike innocence of hers.

“It’s better this way,” he told her, shrugging his shoulders and trying to brush off her question.

Syl huffed at him and flew off his shoulder, floating in the air in front of him as they walked towards the tavern. Adolin had all but threatened to drag him there if he didn’t show up willingly.

“It’s not better,” she told him. “You’re always sad, and whenever she talks to you a little bit of the sadness goes away. I can see it.”

“It’s better for her,” Kaladin explained.

“No, it’s not,” Syl glared at him. “You make her sad when you don’t speak to her. She tries to hide it but I know. I can see it. I can sense it. You’re bad at this,” she told him, matter of fact.

Kaladin sighed. “I know.”

Syl was silent beside him for a while. And then she finally asked him, “why won’t you really speak to her, Kal?”

Kaladin didn’t reply as he opened the tavern door and for once, Syl didn’t push him. She really was gaining more and more sentience.

“Bridgeboy,” Adolin yelled, waving him over as soon as Kaladin was through the door of the tavern. He was sitting with Shallan and… Raya.

Her back was to him but Kaladin had always had a sixth sense for her and would have recognised her even if he’d been blind.

He clenched his jaw, a wave of irrational anger coursing through him. He felt himself suck in some stormlight instinctively before he realised what he was doing. What did he think he was going to do, stormlight couldn’t help him in this situation unless he used it to fly away. He considered it for a moment and realised how much of a coward that made him. “Bah!” he cursed under his breath. Syl watched him curiously, wondering what he was going to do.

“You can’t hide from her forever,” she told him, twirling around his head.

“I’ll kill Adolin,” he replied. “He did this on purpose. I don’t know how he knew, but I know he did it on purpose. Did you tell him?” he glared at Syl.

“Nope!” she grinned at him, clearly pleased with what was happening. “I swear, I didn’t!” she insisted, seeming a little disappointed that she hadn’t thought to conspire with Adolin to do something like this sooner. Kaladin continued to glare at her.

“Bridgeboy, hurry up! There's someone I want to introduce you to,” he waved at Raya who was sitting across from him. She seemed as uncomfortable as he felt, her posture stiff as she faced forward and refused to turn to look at him. A part of Kaladin wished she would turn around.

“Quit scowling,” Syl hovered in front of him, her hands on her waist as she tried to mimic his face. “You’re going to scare her away,” she huffed.

Kaladin took in a deep breath and forced his face to relax with every step he took forwards.

He didn’t want to deal with this today.

He knew what Adolin was up to. He hadn’t been very subtle about him. Neither him nor Shallan. They'd been trying to set him up with someone ever since he and Lyn had called it on their relationship.

“Brightlord, Brightness,” he nodded at the two of them, using their formal titles to show his displeasure.

“Come off it, Bridgeboy,” Adolin grinned at him. “We’re all friends here. Sit.” he pointed at the seat across from him, right beside Raya. “This is Maraya.”

Kaladin finally looked at her, and found her frowning at the glass of yellow in front of her.

“Maraya,” Kaladin forced out, the name sounding so foreign on his tongue. He watched as Raya’s frown deepened and her hand tightened around her glass. It seemed as foreign to her as it was to him.

“Nice to meet you, Brightlord,” Raya finally spoke, glancing up at him quickly before looking away again.

Kaladin scowled at the title. He hated being called a brightlord, and he hated it even more when it was Raya calling him that. She glanced at him again when he didn’t respond, and her face blanched. He realised too late that he was glaring at her and rushed to smooth his face out but she’d already seen.

“I - uh, I think I should leave. It was lovely to meet you, Shallan. Thank you for the company, Adolin,” she spoke to them without formality and Kaladin hated how somehow he’d ended up the spoiled brightlord in this situation.

“Do you two know each other?” Adolin frowned, his eyes suspicious. He was a lot more inquisitive than he let people believe.

“No,” Raya said at the same time Kaladin said, “yes.”

She looked up at him with a surprised frown and he realised he was still standing.

He had only a moment to decide what he was going to do. Raya had already expressed her desire to leave, he could continue to stand and allow her to exit the booth, or he could slide in beside her and block off her exit.

He didn’t allow himself to overthink it and slid into the seat beside her.

She’d already begun to shuffle her way out, that when Kaladin sat down, the entire right side of his body slid against hers; and even through his uniform and her own clothes he felt his skin burn where they touched.

He wanted to jump back up and race out of the tavern, but he’d already sat down and Raya had moved away from him, leaving a cold gap between their bodies.

Adolin sighed across from them. “Ok, Bridgeboy, explain,” he said, waving over a waitress to take their orders. “Three yellows, please,” he said.

“Violet for me,” Kaladin and Raya spoke at the same time, looking at each other in surprise before turning back to Adolin immediately.

He smirked at the two of them. “Make that three violets. And keep them coming,” he added as an afterthought.

Neither Raya nor Kaladin argued.

“Now,” Adolin turned back to his companions. “I want to hear the whole story, from the beginning. And I’ll have questions,” he warned them.

Kaladin had never been so glad to see a glass of violet placed in front of him.

-

When Kaladin woke up the next morning, his head throbbed. He hadn’t burnt off the alcohol with stormlight before going to bed, so he sucked in some light now, burning away some of the pain but not all.

He groaned as he sat up, the bedsheet sliding down his bare chest. He glazed around trying to spot Syl but she was nowhere to be found.

It took him a moment too long to realise that he wasn’t alone in the bed.

Kaladin froze, his heart sinking and gut clenching at who could possibly be in bed beside him and what that implied.

No, no no!

He squeezed his eyes shut and sat frozen in bed, until the person beside him stirred and groaned.

He instantly recognised her voice and Kaladin felt his heart begin to race.

Stormfather, what had he done?

He didn’t think it had been possible to hate himself any more than he previously had. But he'd never been more wrong. Kaladin despised himself at this very moment.

Raya sat up beside him, blessedly holding his bedsheet to her chest.

Kaladin clenched his jaw and swallowed, hating himself more because he liked having Raya beside him. It felt right, Storms curse him.

“Kaladin?” she spoke softly, wincing at her own voice. Kaladin knew how she must be feeling, but couldn't bring himself to say anything. For once in his life, Kaladin had no idea what to do.

“Storms, what have I done?” he whispered, anguished.

“Kaladin,” Raya put her hand on his naked shoulder and he flinched away from her, as though her touch burned him. “It’s ok,” she tried to reassure him.

“Ok?!” Kaladin whirled on her. “None of this is ‘ok’. There is no honour in what I have done.”

“We.”

“What?”

“What we have done, Kaladin. I am as much to blame. I am sorry,” she looked down, her cheeks red and eyes sad. And all Kaladin wanted to do at that moment was to wrap his arms around her and bury her inside him where no one could harm her. Himself at the very top of that list.

“Storms, storms, storms!” he cursed again, finding his pants and slipping them on before moving out of the bed. “Get dressed,” he told her, turning his back to her and walking to the washroom.

Raya sat there for a minute, trying to push back the tears that threatened to fall, before getting dressed herself. She was halfway to the door when Kaladin walked back in, a determined gait to his stride.

“Where are you going?” he asked her, looking at her face but never meeting her eyes.

“I - I thought you wanted me to leave,” she admitted, shuffling where she stood.

“No,” Kaladin shook his head. “We need to fix this.”

“Kaladin, I don’t know if you’ve forgotten all your medical training and replaced it with swinging spears and swords,” she said sarcastically, unable to hide the bitterness to her words, “but there is no fixing this.”

And the he said something Raya had only heard him say in her dreams, something she’d thought would only bring her joy and never the amount of hurt it did in that very moment.

“We’ll get married.”

AN: please let me know what you think and whether it’s worth writing a part two. I’m still trying to get myself into the mindset of writing Kaladin and Syl. They’re…tricky haha.

[dearherondale]

I like to think most of us prefer aroace Kaladin as canon (me included) but ngl the thought of him having to go to his tippy toes to kiss leshwi after just trying to kill each other is just *chef kiss*

[diabolicalworldwriter]

there's something sadly funny about the way that Kaladin goes into literally every situation thinking "Too bad I'm not cool anymore 😔"

I mean. I get it. Depression fucks your brain up and you feel detached from yourself and any skills you have or had. The PTSD and chronic fatigue are keeping him from doing things he once managed with far less effort. And it's rather impossible to feel like you can just... do things like you used to when you're struggling at a basic level to simply be.

Still, literally everyone who knows him is like "Kaladin you're so storming cool" and he goes "They're referring to the person I was, who is dead. I'll never be cool again. I'm sorry."

The most hilarious thing? He walks into these moments, thinking 'too bad', and then he does the most objectively amazing thing possible while everyone else just watches in awe.

Kaladin, three seconds after absolutely changing everyone's outlook on life: Aw, it's too bad the person I just was died again. Guess I have to find something else to be cuz I sure can't pull that off anymore.

[stew4]

The best part of stormlight modern aus is thinking about all the different bridge four incarnations.

school club? Dance team? Literally any kind of sport team? Factory workers? Apartment floor? Diner workers? Backstage crew? Just some guys?

someone has thought it

[sweatersexual]

Adolin was not quite awake, but on some level he was aware of the shifting in bed and the panting breath of someone beside him. What did wake Adolin was the night air on his abdomen and the firm touch of a hand on his gut. Not a loving caress, not rough either, but probing, assessing.

Adolin opened his eyes, and he could see Kaladin leaning over him in the darkness. His hand kept probing along a line on Adolin's torso until he reached a spot just above Adolin's opposite hip. Kaladin's shoulders dropped then, breathing out tension in a relieved sigh.

Adolin put it together. "Thaylen oathgate again?" he asked.

"Yeah," Kaladin confirmed in a hoarse whisper. "Sorry I woke you, I just had to check."

Adolin wrapped both arms around Kaladin's back and pulled him close. He could feel Kaladin's heartbeat start to slow down after the nightmare he'd just had. "I'm okay," he reassured him. "I'm all right."

"I know," Kaladin murmured into Adolin's shoulder.

"Think you'll be able to fall back asleep?"

"Probably. Maybe. Not like this though. You're not as soft as Shallan."

Adolin smirked as he glanced toward where Shallan slept on his other side. Kaladin wouldn't be able to sleep on her in this position either. He'd be too worried about crushing her. It was adorable, really.

"You're full of crem," Adolin said fondly, letting a hand glide up to stroke Kaladin's hair.

Kaladin chuckled as he settled his full weight against Adolin, despite his words, and Adolin couldn't help but chuckle back.

Apparently this was too much for Shallan, who groaned and flung a lazy hand toward both their heads. One of her knuckles caught Adolin on the cheek. "Goslee'boys," she grumbled.

"Kaladin had a nightmare," Adolin informed her. "Don't you care?"

"Yeah. So sleep."

"Love you too," Kaladin murmured.

Shallan groaned and rolled over, snuggling up to both of them. She ran her hand along Kaladin's back.

"Mm-hmmmm," she said, settling into Adolin's other shoulder. "Now shaddup."

[stormscience]

Crackfic - Szeth Gets an Axehound

Kaladin gives Szeth a therapy axehound. Szeth cannot find a polite way to tell him that he finds his new pet horrifying.

Gift for @blindradiant

[nevertheless-moving]

aromantic/asexual Kaladin. Shallan/Adolin mad horny.

once they realize he's sincerely not interested they back off (not sure if he ever noticed them coming on in the first place) and just, you know, sometimes fantasize. Not making it his problem. maybe they talk with eachother about how unreasonably hot he is, it's ok they're married, if there's anyone you decompress with about inappropriate horniness its your spouse. Not sure who breaks first and pitches the idea of, ah, bedroom lightweaving. But would he be mad? or worse, hurt? It's not like he'd ever find out...but storms what if he did? is it wrong even if he never knows? Can we ask for permission? Would it be worse to ask?? It would so much worse to ask.

I wrote it. They ask. Shockingly wholesome.

[its-cosmerely-an-obsesh-wound]

So I’ve been thinking a lot about the chasm scene from WoR, can you imagine if they lived in our world and Kaladin was sharing his experience in the military and mentioned “bootcamp” and then Shallan is all like:

[fictionisalwaysbetter]

Asking for a friend does anyone have Kaladin/Shallan fic recs thats is just the two of them please? I need them😭🙏🏽

[illegiblehandwriting1]

i can't remember if an interaction ever happens like this, (probably) but imagine Kaladin being as stoic as ever, he's on duty (idk if this is during Words of Radiance or just before Rhythm of War, so he's either in the warcamps or Urithiru probably. If warcamps then its after the chasms. actually yknow what this is both fanfic and random bullshit, i do what i want and say fuck canon)

So he's standing guard like he's supposed to, except Shallan decided that a productive use of her time is to go and bother him. Radiant thinks it's rude and the respect she has for both him and any soldier means she hates this, but Veil is totally in on it.

So she's just pestering him for his entire shift, and he's standing there, not looking at her, completely dead-faced, offering the occasional clipped answer, and generally being incredibly annoyed, but at some point, she says something either humorous, heartwarming, or both, and without really thinking about it, just COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUSLY, his face breaks into a small little grin. Not a sarcastic one or a bitter one, just a little smile of joy that breaks through his perpetual storm. The moment he realizes, of course, he very quickly hides it, but of course Shallan catches it.

And she just gasps playfully but also genuinely surprised, but she keeps it lighthearted in the hopes she sees it again. "Storms, what was that? Captain Kaladin? Was that a smile from the Captain Kaladin, whose scowl could curdle milk?"

And he glares at her, because he wasn't smiling and he was on duty and frankly, she had been annoying him for ages and he wanted her to shove off. But she grins up at him.

"Oh, come on, Captain, don't make all the troops run off in fear now! You have a lovely smile, it's wonderful!"

And she pokes him in the side, just to get a little twitch and a deeper frown.

"Aw, that usually works on my brothers. Well then. I'll have to figure out something else, won't I?" Her mischievous expression softens a little, and she just tells him, "You really do have a lovely smile. I don't know why you try to hide it." And she just sits down and spends the rest of his shift telling jokes and ridiculing passerby, no longer trying to annoy him, but just there to keep him some company and maybe make him smile again.

And if a grin broke through his stormy facade every once in a while, well then, she wouldn't point it out. She just took a Memory and carried on chattering loudly about axehounds and lavis polyps and how Adolin had worn his shirt backwards and that lady's hat over there looked like a pile of cremlings had eaten too much and died on top of it, hoping that smile might stick.

(Later, Shallan finds Adolin and runs up to him, screaming, "I MADE KALADIN SMILE!" and Adolin's like "WHAT IN THE ALMIGHTY'S GOOD NAME, I DIDN'T KNOW HE KNEW HOW TO DO THAT" and they just freak out about it and generally make fun of him. That night, Kaladin has a dream about Tien and wakes up crying, only to wonder what reminded him of the time Tien had visited him in the clinic for hours on end, talking and keeping him company as he tried and failed to get his stitches as perfect as his father's.)

[joonipertree]

Kaladin x reader!

Modern Day!AU, Kaladin is a veteran in this but it isnt that explored, sunshine x moonshine couple. For the two (2) people who wanted this @huntsphury @yujichoso

A sleek black cat with oak brown eyes clambers on top of Kaladin as he naps on his couch, dark long hair strewn across the throw pillow that you added for a decorative touch. It was comfy, plush and soft enough to leave his defenses down. Thus, the cat's able to jump him and knead into his stomach. If Kal had been awake, the cat wouldn’t have gotten as lucky. But it did mean that Kaladin had woken up, eyes squinting open as his hand automatically patted Syl’s head. 

His body was stiff, back aching and bones weary, skin not settled in just yet with drool dripping from the side of his mouth. When he looked down, he noticed a blanket gently draped over him and it made his heart squeeze. An act of kindness for an asshole like him? What a treat. He didn’t have to wonder who it was, Syl had no opposable thumbs and if anyone broke in, Kal would’ve killed them by now. 

So he got up, let Syl trot off with a huffy look. Kaladin scratched his stomach as he tried to catch sight of his partner who had strictly decided a while back that they were angry at him. Not that it was unjustified, just that you had contradicted yourself in the span of one night. 

Kaladin dragged his feet against the wooden floor towards the only bedroom in the apartment- the one the two of you shared. Kaladin glanced outside at the potted plants out on the balcony, a space not wide enough for a lot to be done but the two of you had spent plenty of nights sitting there, huddled together while the city quietened down to a car passing by. You'd just murmur to him about your fears and he would intertwine your fingers with his. On some nights, there was laughter that echoed back from the concrete.

Kaladin passed by the kitchen, an open space with colourful and chipped mugs and plates, mismatched cutlery and a fridge that held week old reminders with magnets and a picture of the two of you together. It was from a polaroid camera, the two of you having just been to your third date four years prior. You held a toothy grin, arm as high above as you can go with Kaladin lowering himself to fit beside you, staring up with dark eyes and a perpetual grimace. 

Kaladin smiled with his teeth when he remembered that day, he’d gotten done with practice where he’d fallen and busted his lip open. It was something he was used to but when he met you for coffee, your eyes were so full of panic and your hands were having a hard time deciding where to go. Kal had brushed it off, listened to you ramble and chide him because he liked the sound of your voice. By the end of it, you’d taken the very brave action to kiss him square on the lips, making sure you didn’t touch the injury but doing so as a form of ‘get better’. 

The two of you had kissed a couple of times before but you still turned red and apologised but he didn’t have any of it, kissing you back as gently as he could so that you didn’t have to taste the wound. In the picture, the lip still looked fucked but in Kaladin’s head it had healed that day. 

Kaladin walked into the room, staring at the lump that lay in the far right of your bed, illuminated by the lines of streetlight that came through the blinds. He watched your steady breathing, hyper aware that there was life in you. And you were, as you should be. So with his mental checklist ticked off in his head, a list that he kept tabs on less and less as time went on, he took off his shirt and laid down on the bed.

The movement disrupted you enough that you scooted closer to him, finding his warmth despite the night breeze being a bit too humid. Kaladin opened his arms, placing his chin over your shoulder and letting you meld into his body. There was a flutter of your eyelashes on his shoulder as you opened your eyes and then an intake of breath when you realised what you were doing. 

You were supposed to be mad at him. 

And you were.

The second his rough calloused hand placed itself on the small of your back, you decided that your body wouldn’t let you make the mistake of moving away from him. So you breathed him in and let yourself relax, not really expecting anything else to happen.

“I’m sorry I pushed you away.” His low voice was gravelly from lack of use. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how I was feeling. I’m sorry I raised my voice at you.”

Silence, for a beat then another. Before you opened your mouth, and spoke with a croaky voice hoarse from crying, “I don’t like it when you yell at me.” 

Kaladin’s grip tightened around you, pulling you deep into him and burrowing his face into your neck. “I know baby, I’m sorry.”

You wrapped your arms around him, snuggling in to let him know that it was okay, ensuring that sentiment with kisses along his shoulder. And Kaladin withered in your hold, feeling loved unconditionally. ‘Unconditional’ was a type of love that he never wanted to subject himself to, feeling broken and too fucked up to deserve something like that. He always had to prove to himself that he should be loved but you did so without a chance for him to justify it. Your kindness seeped into his skin and overflowed from his eyes. 

Pretty soon you were on your back and he was above you, hardened lines visible in the dim room setting. They smoothened the second he saw your pretty eyes look up at him. Kaladin’s chapped lips met yours, calloused hands cradling your face as his hair cascaded down the sides. You felt safe like you always did, not a single fear in your heart as he nipped at your lower lip and massaged your sides so you could melt into a puddle. 

When Kaladin moved back, it was only an inch away, not wanting to be any further from his beloved. 

“I’ll make you some chocolate chip pancakes in the morning, okay baby?” He whispered, patting your head as you sighed and giggled at his words. Kaladin held onto the giggles and threaded it into his memories so that the next time he was upset, he knew what he was going to ruin if he ever fucked up. 

“I get mad at you and you suddenly think that pancakes are the best breakfast food in the world?” You booped his nose, feeling the little spark of brattiness ignite as the tension dissipated. 

“Hey, all I said was that having chocolate chip pancakes the majority of the mornings was not a good decision. Having it when I’ve fucked up seems to be the perfect excuse no?” Kaladin said, peppering in kisses between his words to hear that little giggle of yours more.

“Whatever, you little gremlin.” You gave him kisses as well, feeling your eyelids get heavier. 

Kaladin settled back into bed, pulling your body over his and letting you sink into his solid form. 

[cosmereplay]

Sometimes I think I'm normal about Shakadolin again and then someone mentions Shallan and Adolin feeding a pastry to Kaladin and I realize no no I'm still insane about them actually

[itsyaraz]

Has anyone here considered Cognitive Shadow! Tien as a viable theory? Because I am VERY convinced of it and will be devastated if it ends up not being canon.

[sorchasolas]

I FINALLY FINISHED THE SELF SOUL-CASTING FANART!!!

This is mostly inspired off of the fact Kaladin is wearing a havah in The Art of Devotion

@trishyeves

[kaladinsspear]

Have some rambling fandom thoughts :)

Okay, cards on the table, I hc Kaladin as aro/ace. My opinions on who he ends up with in cannon are ambivalent at best. Mostly i'd be curious as to how Sanderson manages to squeeze another relationship in with all the plot going on. This may just be wishfull thinking on my part, but my honest prediction for book 5 is that Kaladin ends up in multiple committed and fulfilling relationships, just not a romantic one.

All that being said, cannon is about 65% of my enjoyment of a story. There is something delightful about picking the story apart and reassembling it like papier-mâché. Sometimes you get incredibly transformative art that has almost no resemblance to the cannon you constructed it from. Omega Dalinar weathering an unexpected menopausal heat is definitely something you could choose to create with your papier-mâché project, or you could create a flawless immitation of cannon which explores some of the off screen Kaladin/Leshwi interactions. Both are what I love about fandom. ^_^

So yes, Kaladin is aro/ace, but Shakaladolin is my jam and I will happily play with all the ships.😌