#nikolai lanstov fanfic

[frost-queen]

The privateer’s sun (Reader x Nikolai Lantsov)

Requested by: anon, Forever tag: @missmelodramatic, @theletterhart, @alex--awesome--22, @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly, @denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco @idkwhatmyusernameis,  @subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07​

Summary: Reader is a sun summoner as well under the command of Nikolai who you don’t get along with. When another sun summoner Alina Starkov boards Nikolai’s ship, you are overwhelmed with sudden jealousy. Back on land the little palace hold a ball to where you secretly hope Nikolai would dance with you, yet he chooses Alina over you. Over run with jealousy you take your leave only for Nikolai to chase after you, dragging you away to confront you. 

The boat rocked gently into the sea. The movement of water swaying around it. You were used to your sea legs now for being so long on the ship. You went through the door to the captains cockpit. Tolya and Tamar already there. Nikolai standing behind his desk, hovering over a map of the waters. Tamar cleared her throat loud to hint Nikolai of your presence. Nikolai looked up, noticing you. – “Ah Y/n, come!” – he said gesturing you over. You exhaled deep moving over to him. Once you were near the desk, he spoke. – “Can you light up a bit.” – he wiggled with his fingers, barely giving you any attention. – “It’s getting dark, and I can hardly read my maps.” – he chuckled, throwing you a witty smirk. 

You clicked your tongue, looking annoyed away. – “Poor eyesight.” – you commented on a mumbling tone. Tolya snorting loud as he overheard. – “What was that?” – Nikolai asked with a frown. You flattened your expression into a forced sarcastic smile. – “As you please.” – you spoke, mentally strangling him. You moved your fingers till a light appeared in the palm of your hand. Seeing Nikolai smile at his maps. You smirked letting the light shine brighter. So bright it filled the room with a blinding white light absorbing the room till nothing could be seen. 

Nikolai grunted, covering his eyes up with his arm, looking away from your glow. Tamar and Tolya also looking away. You absorbed your light once more, dimming it till nothing. – “I’m sorry was that too much.” – you outed teasingly. Nikolai fluttering his eyelashes to adjust his view. Nikolai jumped out of his skin when you set your hands loudly on his desk. – “I’m a sun summoner, not a candlelight to your pleasing.” – you spoke loudly making him swallow nervously.

Nikolai hummed mockingly. – “Here I thought you were a provider of light.” – he pouted his lips to taunt you even more. You rolled with your eyes, looking away. – “Watch your mouth… pirate.” – you countered, Nikolai gasping dramatically at your insult. – “Privateer! I’m a privateer Y/n!” – he corrected loudly as you could only smile, having gotten under his skin. Tamar rolling her eyes with a brief sigh. Tolya enjoying the tension rising between the two of you. You let your eyes go down on the maps he was overlooking.

“Fortune seeking?” – you questioned. He quirked up a smile. – “Why are you interested in joining?” – he teased. You snorted loud. – “It’s clear you need me thanks, but no. I’ll let the pirate hunt up to you.” – You laughed wrinkling your nose. Nikolai puffed his chest, crossing his arms. – “Well maybe I don’t need you.” – he answered. – “Good.” – you spoke turning around, making your way over to the door. Nikolai breathing loudly through his nose, hating that he did need you. – “It involves a lot of gold.” – he called out making you stop. – “Some dangers on the side and all the fun of an adventure. That seems like a deal worth taking… but I’ll leave that up to you.” – he lowered his gaze almost pitiful. 

You sighed loud, turning back. – “Well it’s intriguing, but to go with you it will put my life on the risk…” – you approached his desk once more. – “What percentage of the gold will I be taking?” – you asked smiling sweetly at him. Nikolai suppressed a loud groan of pleasure he could out right now from seeing that sweet smile of yours. – “Fair enough, you want some. I’ll give you seven.” – he responded making you laugh loud. – “Do you think I’m that foolish. Eighteen would just be fine.” – you said pressing your palms against his desk.

Nikolai laughed tauntingly. – “Why not just ask for all the treasures in my chest?” – he responded mockingly. – “Fifteen?” – you suggested leaning closer to him. – “Eight!” – Nikolai held on, leaning in closer too. – “Twelve?” – you pushed on. – “Maybe nine?” – He replied hesitantly. – “Ten!” – you commented practically all up in his face. Nikolai swallowed nervously caught by your up closeness for a second. Tamar and Tolya looking intriguing at each other. Suddenly aware of how close you were to him; you drew quickly back. 

Face flustered making you take a run for it. Nikolai sitting down breathlessly. Outside you touched your cheek for it’s temperature. The cold sea’s wind quickly cooling you down. You moved aside from the door, hearing movement. Tamar and Tolya stepping out. Tolya whistling loud while waving himself some cool. – “Now that was hot intense.” – he said, Tamar chuckling. – “It keeps the spirit lively with such bickering.” – Tamar commented walking up the deck. 

You overheard snippets of their conversation. Feeling the heat creep up again at the thought of Nikolai’s face close to yours. You turned away to the sea when Nikolai came walking out. His eyes falling briefly upon you before heading up to the higher platform. The wind catching his coat and hair. Peeking to the side, you caught him in all his glory. The sun setting behind him. Nearly gone to make room for the moon.

*

You gasped needing to see it for yourself. The new girl that had boarded the ship claiming to be Alina Starkov. She stood in Nikolai’s private room. – “I know who you are Miss Starkov.” – he said sitting at his desk. He hadn’t even looked up to acknowledge you having slipped into his room, coming to stand beside Tamar and Tolya. – “Sun summoner.” – he whispered teasingly with a smirk. Tamar looked over at you, watching your expression. Seeing how bitter your face began to stand. Alina puffed loudly. – “What are you a pirate?” – she replied with sarcasm. 

Nikolai chuckled catching you off guard. – “Privateer, there is a difference.” – he explained. The guy who was with Alina frowned. – “Isn’t it all the same?” – he whispered to Alina. Alina straightened her posture. – “Yes, I am the sun summoner.” – she expressed holding her hand to keep her friend back who clearly was against her confession. Nikolai smiled wider. She demonstrated lighting up the room. The light faded as Alina took a deep breath. - “You don’t have to worry I’m not going to sell you to Nyovy Zem.” – Nikolai said. – “You aren’t?” – Alina furrowed her brows. 

Nikolai got up from his seat, going around his desk to Alina. – “You’re a symbol.” – he addressed her with a flashing smile. The bitterness in your heart turning cold. Tamar seemed to notice it. Alina wasn’t the first sun summoner he encountered so why was he acting so warmly and teasingly towards her. There was nothing special about Alina Starkov. The only thing distinguishing her from you was that she was with the darkling. Trying to tear down the fold while he wanted to expand it.

You got so angry it made you clench your hand. Taking your leave with a loud exit. Nikolai looking behind Alina, seeing the door shut. He looked over to Tamar and Tolya wondering who just left. Tamar sighed dropping her shoulders down at him. Tolya moving his eyebrows up as if he should know. Nikolai furrowed his brows thinking till some realization slowly hit him. Having a slight clue of who it might be, yet he did nothing against it. You ran up to the railing, gripping tight onto it. Hands trembling as you so desperately wanted to scream your lungs out in agony. 

Rather wanting the sea to swallow you hole then have to listen to one more sweet word Nikolai said to her. Slowly losing it to jealousy you grunted waving your arms aggressively around. Needing to out it in a different way. Some of the crew members looking wary at you. You shot them a glare, threatening to blind them by moving your hand up till your chest to them. They swallowed nervously, quickly looking away. For the remaining day and later on time you kept your distance from Nikolai or Alina. No needing to put more oil on an already burning flame.

The sea made way for land. Roaming the halls of the little palace while preparation to tonight’s ball were fine tuned. The last set of flowers set in the ballroom. Passing quickly by you made your way over to your room. Nearly bumping against Nikolai in the hallway who was adjusting his cuffs. – “Oh.” – he outed looking up. – “Y/n.” – he said softly, eying you up and down. – “Should you not prepare yourself for the dance?” – he questioned. 

Tensing your jaw you felt your hand tremble, making you move it behind your back. – “I should as do you.” – you answered, Nikolai frowning. – “Clearly there is a lot of work to do on you.” – you teased, Nikolai bursting out in laughter. You caught yourself smiling instantly from hearing his laugh. Quickly dropping it as he caught a slight sight of it, half smiling. You bowed at him, taking your leave then. Nikolai looked over his shoulder to you, wetting his lips briefly. You went into your room, taking a deep breath. 

Feeling your cheek, it felt warm again. How was it that Nikolai was having such an effect on you. After sulking for half an hour, you truly needed to prepare yourself. Styling yourself with much effort. You joined the others following them to the ballroom. You entered as little people applauded for you. Coming to stand by the side, you noticed more applauded when Alina Starkov entered the ballroom with Mal by her side.

Already dunking a hole in your mood. Nikolai entered, surprisingly lifting your spirit up. He briefly made eye contact with you when greeting a few Grisha. You smiled shyly in return. – “Who will you open the first dance with, my King?” – a lord asked loudly of him. Nikolai chuckled flustered seeing all the attention on him. His eyes fell upon you, making you straighten your back unconsciously. He looked rather serious getting in motion. Your heart beating loud in your chest as his gaze remained on you, walking over. 

Breathing shallower you couldn’t believe he was making his way over to you. You smiled hopefully, nearly addressing him. – “Niko…” – you whispered, smile faltering as he moved past you, making you step aside. Heart shattering when he offered Alina Starkov his hand. Stumbling out of breath back, you felt like passing out. Nikolai walked back passed you, holding Alina’s hand. His eyes fixated on her. 

If your heart could cry, it would overflow the riverbanks and send waves of sorrow onto shore destroying all with the pain nestling inside of you. That pain forming into jealousy. How little eye Nikolai had for you ever since the arrival of Alina Starkov. Whatever made her more special then you? Both sun summoners, yet one forgotten while the other thrives.

Nikolai let go of her hand, taking a bow as she curtsied. They both waited for the music. A circle of people around them watching the king and the sun summoner dance. Music filled the room as it ached in you heart. Making you grasp for it breathlessly as if a hole was carving in it. Nikolai and Alina waltzed gracefully, only eyes for each other. A piece of your heart torn as it hurt so much. The way he looked at her made every sense in your body overheat with jealousy. 

It got so badly to the boiling point, you needed to escape before you would light up the entire room out of revenge. Nikolai and Alina had their palms pressed together, slowly turning as you slipped out of the room. Nikolai noticing you leave so suddenly. Tears stained your cheek making you wipe them quickly away. Overcome with such emotions you couldn’t hold it in anymore. Making your way away from the ballroom. – “Y/n!” – you suddenly heard. 

Nikolai had come into the hallway, calling out your name once he saw you. You ignored him crying even harder. – “Y/n!” – Nikolai repeated loudly coming to chase after you. Slowing down behind you. – “Y/n wait.” – he said grabbing for your arm. You swayed it forwards so his loose grip was off you. – “Y/n will you please stop.” – he asked wanting to reach for your arm once more, but you moved it out of reach. Nikolai tensed his jaw when you refused to listen to him.

“Y/n stop!” – he outed loud, grabbing you firmly by the arms. – “No!” – you answered, fighting with every might to be free of him. Nikolai tightened his grip on you, pushing you towards the side. Grabbing for the doorknob, pushing you inside the room afterwards. He closed the door out of breath. – “Why’d you leave so suddenly?” – he asked as you stood with your back at him. Wiping your tears away as you didn’t want him to know you were crying. – “You’d get your turn after the first dance.” – he explained not understanding you. 

You laughed foolishly at yourself. Have you truly taken upon the crown of fools. – “Don’t you understand!” – you spitted out, turning sharply at him. – “It’s not about… I never…” – you said uttering in such a messy state. Your mind all over the place as it pounded loud. – “You were looking at me!” – you outed trying to recall if you were correct. – “I thought… I thought…” – you said out of breath looking at him. – “You and Alina Starkov.” – you continued barely following your own train of thoughts. Nikolai simply smirked looking upon you.

“The first dance! With her!” – you called out in desperation feeling like you were losing your mind. Nikolai stepped up to you, moving his palm up your cheek as he kissed you teasingly. Eyes widening in shock as his lips retracted from yours. – “You were jealous I chose Alina for the first dance?” – he said still that silly smirk on his lips. It made you flutter your eyelashes rapidly to blink yourself awake. – “I feel flattered Y/n.”

He pressed his lips against yours again, catching you off guard. – “I would only dance with Alina once, the rest of the evening I would’ve dedicated to you.” – he spoke staring longingly at you. – “You would’ve?” – you asked shyly, Nikolai nodding as he brought his lips closer once more. – “To me there is only one sun summoner… and that is you Y/n.” – bringing your face closer to his, his lips crashed against yours. This time you surrendered by kissing him back. Arms going around his neck, drawing him closer.

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[corporalicent]

nikolai lantsov & katya tarasova (oc) - i was enchanted to meet you

As the night continued and the moon still had some light to her room, Katya had so many questions and no one could answer them, no one but Nikolai. But how can he answer them if they don’t know each other?

And, her future husband’s reaction made her think they had feuded long before his disappearance. What would he think if he saw her and Nikolai talking? Her conscience agrees she needs to be on her future husband’s side, and she doesn’t have to know everything about the lost prince. 

But her thoughts want to know what really happened.

excerpt from chapter two

[undiscovered-horizon]

"Femme fatale" - Nikolai Lantsov x Reader

[suggestive themes but nothing explicit]

SUMMARY: When you reveal how you won the suspiciously heavy bag of coins, Nikolai is overwhelmed with anger at the thought of you being intimate with another man. The thing is, he's never told you how he feels about you... until now.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 1.7k

<I cried on national TV today, I am anything but fine lmao>

>>Grishaverse-inspired playlist<<

The bag thuds loudly as you drop it on the nautical maps scattered on Sturmhond’s desk. Tolya, Tamar and the privateer in question suddenly fall silent, their excited chattering put to a halt. Three pairs of eyes glance once at you, once at the big leather pouch.

“Did you rob a bank on your way here?” Nikolai asks. Although framed as a joke, his voice reveals that he’s not exactly discarding this possibility.

“I know that look.” Tolya gives you a half-smile, crossing his arms on his chest. Even if he wasn’t a Heartrender, he’d still be proficient at reading people. “She ripped someone off.”

You shrug and wave your hand in dismissal. “Some whaler, roughly the size of a small elephant, was very eager to spend the night with me. At first I wanted to rip his face off but then I realized that I saw a ship docking around the same time we did, so the whalers must have just gotten their wages. I offered the man that if he can win against me in cards, I’ll let him do whatever he wants to me. He got so excited he didn’t notice the stack of aces up my sleeve.”

Tamar nods her head in acknowledgement. The small smile on her lips betrays a sense of proudness. “Beat him at his own game. I respect that.” It was your and Tamar’s thing - the whole crew probably knows that most commonly known methods of cheating were invented by either of you.

“Thank you very much,” you say as you take back the bag. “But I doubt this is anywhere near close enough to get Hyram to take the nightwatch for me, so I’ll be off.”

“Come on, sister,” Tolya taps Tamar’s arm, “we have things to do as well.”

When your hand pushes down the door handle, you hear Nikiolai calling out your name in a rush. “Stay for a moment,” he asks in a strangely anxious voice. You give the twins a questioning look but they only shrug in response - their previous conversation with their captain never once involved even a mere mention of you.

The door closes with a thud behind Tolya and Tamar. What used to be a lighthearted, friendly atmosphere suddenly turns absolutely uncomfortable and tense. You furrow your eyebrows studying Nikolai’s expression. He looks… angry. Slowly, you stroll towards his desk again but the closer you are to him, the more uneasy you’re feeling. Standing maybe a meter or two away from the table, you suddenly find yourself unable to move forwards as though some force is separating you two.

Nikolai sighs. He shakes his head and looks at you with a fiery glint to his eye. "Are you out of your mind?!"

The sudden loss of composure renders you speechless. "I beg your pardon?" Part of you realizes that this conversation is not going to end quickly, so you drop the bag on the floor next to your leg. Besides, the pouch filled with coins does weigh quite a lot.

"What if you lost?” His voice cuts the tense air like treacherous blades. Those bright eyes aren’t any softer. This outburst is already surprising but considering the details of his appearance, this is already a tempered version of the fury residing in his viscera. “Have you any idea what…” he cuts himself off and sighs again. Nikolai closes his eyes, rubs his face and only then resumes talking. “What could have happened to you?"

"What's up, boss?" you nod upwards at him with furrowed eyebrows. "This isn't the first time I'm conning people out of their money through frankly reckless wagers."

"This is different,” he drones his words.

"How so?” you bite back. His inexplicable irritation is rubbing off on you. “I knew I was going to win. Even if I didn't, by some chance, I would have fought them."

"By yourself?” his voice raises again. You’ve never seen him like this before, only further convincing you that something serious must have broken his patience. But considering your history of relatively legal enrichment, it seems unlikely that it’s this little bet that had set him off. “With whalers that make Tolya look like a spud?”

It’s like dancing. Except he’s clumsy for a man of his agility and keeps stepping on your toes. And just like guests do on weddings, the two of you are pirouetting around the main attraction, naively thinking that the other person will miraculously be enlightened. The orchestra is playing the music and yet the dancing guests refuse to tell each other the name of the song.

"Come on, talk to me,” you coax him impatiently. This… dancing is tiring and there’s still quite a few things you need to do before the crew goes to sleep. “Say the quiet part out loud."

Nikolai hangs his head. You see his shoulders slowly raise and fall - he’s taking a deep breath, calming himself down. He walks around the desk and sits on its edge, leveling his eyes with yours. Something about his expression is changed like Nikolai has discarded the anger in place of defeat or compliance; like the steam that urged him to fight simply run out, returning the level-headed captain to you.

His eyes meticulously study the right-hand side of the room, along with the leather pouch, before he looks at you. "Can I be embarrassingly honest with you?"

You vaguely open your arms in a welcoming manner. "I'm all ears, captain."

Nikolai stares at you with a newfound intensity. The words almost escape him but he forces them back down his throat when he presses his lips tightly together. You see his hands grip the edge of the desk he’s sitting on as though he’s looking for something to ground him or just an outlet for his clearly turbulent emotions. Finally, Nikolai speaks but his voice is uncharacteristically low and somber: "The thought of another man having you makes me want to break this ship into pieces."

A strange tightness in your chest and throat; suffocating warmth sets your tired muscles on fire, its flames temptingly brushing against your starved skin. Then, a moment of defiance and doubt - how can you know he’s serious? That he’s not just saying this to keep you close in case he grows bored or frustrated one day? Privateers, pirates, corsairs, you’re all cut from the same cloth; hungry, money-grabbing, opportunist cloth.

"Another?" you ask. Hopefully Nikolai remains oblivious to the effect his words had on you. "You're making it sound like there's already a man I should be spending my nights with."

"There certainly is a man foolish enough to give everything away for the chance at your affection."

"If he's so desperate,” you begin thoughtfully, your voice low, “why has he never said a word?"

"I'm afraid he might just lose his sanity if you tell him no."

Perhaps it’s your own corporeality or the undisputable vulnerability in his words that makes you forget the distrust and defiance you felt towards this consuming notion. Suddenly, the tension that prevented you from coming closer has disappeared if not shifted to be located behind you, dissuading you from leaving the room. The nervous, thrilling atmosphere is nudging you forward, towards the man sitting a mere meter or two away from you, his eyes boring into you with anticipation. Some devious voice in the back of your head notices the romance in the dim candlelight and steady rocking of the boat traveling the seas.

Your legs, betraying your will, push you towards Nikolai. He straightens his back noticing you walking in his direction, suddenly his muscles flexing and creating tension. No matter how one wishes to look at it, he appears ready, prepared to take action.

"Well,” you shrug slightly, “unless he asks, how can he know it's going to be a no?"

"Better safe than sorry, I suppose,” he answers quietly as though the lack of space between the two of you is pushing down his chest, squashing juvenile vitality out of him.

A breathy chuckle leaves your lips. You shake your head in amusement at the atypical uncertainty. "Said the famous privateer Sturmhond, known for his utter lack of bravado."

Then, like you had lifted a curse that clouded the blue sky above his head, Nikolai furrows his eyebrows in a confused expression. "Yes, that doesn't really sound like me, does it?"

"Not in the slightest.” You answer. His lips curve into a smile and you find yourself wallowing in relief at the familiarity of his easy-going, up-beat attitude. “This makes me think that the mysterious admirer simply can not be you."

"When did you become a detective?” he jokes. Whether it’s your lack of straightforward rejection or the fact that you’re steadily getting closer to him, Nikolai’s humor is only improving. “Amuse me. What would I have done?"

"I think…” your voice trails off as you fiddle with the hem of his frock coat, “that you would say something smooth and suave, then have me however you want. And I’d come crawling back every night."

In a quite unprofessional manner, if either of you even thought about that aspect at the moment, his hands slide up your thighs and hips only to rest on the curve of your waist. Then, Nikolai forcibly pulls you closer to him. First you yelp in surprise but soon you hear yourself gasping as his leg brushes against your groin.

A low chuckle leaves his mouth. "That sounds like a yes to me."

You can’t stop yourself from cradling his face, threading your eager fingers through his golden locks. Nikolai’s hot, ragged breath grazes your cheeks when you lean in. His lips are slightly apart, silently begging you to let him indulge in the sweet release of carnal desire. You lean closer to his ear, your voice comes out nearly as a growl:

"I'd say yes even if it's going to be the last thing I'm going to say."

His lips feverishly kiss your jaw and neck. A stifled moan escapes your lips and you swear you can hear Nikolai snickering.

[futurecorps3]

Hiii, could you write a nikokai fic where reader is like in love with kaz but he doesn't really pay attention to her. And then the crows meet sturmhond because of a heist and he takes interest in the reader form the first moment he sae her and makes her fall in love with him. And then whatever you want lol. Maybe kaz being jealous idk.

Sorry for any grammatical mistake, english it's not my first language.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥���𝐧𝐝𝐞

Masterlist<3

Summary: After years of being in love with the one and only Kaz Brekker, breaking her own heart, Y/N meets someone else... Pairing: Sturmhond x fem!inferni!reader, Kaz Brekker x fem!reader

Warnings: The usual crow violence, DRINKING, jealous Kaz, mean Kaz, "unrequited" love for a little while, Matthias is alive and well like in the books duh but this is ofc before Nikolai becomes king, idc I just want my Fjerdan hunk happy in Ketterdam, curse words, kind of a messy timeline. HURT AND NO COMFORT. Lmk if I missed any.

Word Count: 2.9K!! Requested: Yes

A/N: IM SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG! :( I've been looking forward to getting to this specific request because oh my god, also, I changed it up a little; making Kaz actually be in love with reader but never really trying anything. Tysm for requesting love! Hope you enjoy :)

˚ · • . °

Exhaustion. That's what she felt, and to be honest, it was even more frustrating when Y/N knew she was doing it to herself. Those persistent yet futile attempts at reading Kaz's silence or gaze as something else; a love message, a confession of his sins, any sign of vulnerability reserved for her. However, these attempts, though fervent, ultimately proved fruitless.

How could she confirm what she thought she saw if, after, say, he appeared distressed at her being in danger or fumed when some dick was being extra disgusting at the bar that night; he went back to being his usual cold self?

When she finally obtained concrete evidence that disproved her misconceptions ("Jesper, she prefers black coffee" or "Y/N, could you join me in my office for a moment?" simply to spend time together in quietude), he strategically distanced himself throughout the week, transforming those precious moments of tranquility and companionship into ordinary occurrences, leading her to, somehow, misunderstand them.

Another shot of vodka and the pain her thoughts evoked was replaced by the burning, bitter sensation in her tongue and throat. "A hangover won't make Kaz let you stay behind tomorrow, you know that?" Matthias smiled next to her.

Since he joined the crows, the Fjerdan had taken a special liking to his girlfriend's best friend; she was funny, kind hearted and could keep up his pace in drinking games. Nina couldn't be happier to see her loves get along so well, saying it's her dream come true. "Oh don't even start, Matthias" Y/N answered, feigning annoyance as she poured more of the burning liquid into her glass and pulled out another for her friend.

They silently toasted to nothing in particular and chatted about their books as they usually did. Matthias' romance novel had an interesting love triangle Y/N was eager to read when he was finished. From how he talked about it, the girl knew it was just her type of story. They were in the middle of a playful argument about a plot-hole Y/N thought she found when Kaz approached them.

His usual demeanor seemed a bit... shaken. If you asked the blonde, he'd say he only looked more agitated, but Y/N/N knew better; his hair was covering his forehead slightly, but he wasn't brushing it back. The limp was prominent still, yet he wasn't using his cane. Kaz was in a rush to get to her, maybe?.

"One of your fellow countrymen is starting a turmoil outside, doesn't speak Kerch. Will you please, for the tree's sake, go and talk some sense into his thick blonde skull?" Saints, why did she like him so much? Even like that, Y/N thought he looked rather divine. Matthias stood up from his seat and directed himself to the entrance.

"Since when do you care for what happens outside that door?" She asked with a grin, genuinely curious. "I wouldn't if he wasn't scaring off the pigeons. No wealthy tourist will endure the trouble that some drunk Fjerdan means just to get inside a place full of people that'll take his money" the boy explained, looking down at her.

Kaz's complexion, kissed by the soft glow of the candles, is pale yet flawless, as if untouched by the harshness of the world he inhabits. His sharp, well-defined features give him an air of enigmatic sophistication, further heightened by the way the light dances upon his cheekbones, emphasizing their elegant structure.

Y/N realizes she's staring. She looks away.

The bastard smirks. "Finding something intriguing, are we?" And oh, she wanted to stab him to see if that would wipe the stupid grin he carried. "Oh, please, Kaz. You give yourself too much credit. I was merely lost in thought, contemplating the mysteries of the world. Your face happened to be in the line of sight, that's all."

Quick, sarcastic answer, as if the seconds between her silence confirmed even further what he was saying. He scoffed, drinking the remains of alcohol on Matthias' glass and fixed his hair in the process. "Stop drinking, a hangover won't spare you from our meeting tomorrow".

˚ · • . °

She should've listened. The crashing waves outside only intensified the discomfort, while the salty breeze seemed to carry a tinge of regret. Even the beauty of the sea she was now too used to felt distant and inaccessible, overshadowed by the haze of her post-indulgence remorse.

Nina, taunting Matthias with a mature Ravkan song and Jesper shooting bottles in the warehouse, created an uneasy atmosphere for hungover Y/N. This unsettling environment made it difficult for her to focus on evaluating any potential deals they were to discuss with the privateer Kaz said they were meeting that day. Also, they had been waiting for over an fifteen minutes now! She was surprised Kaz was waiting still.

He checked his pocket watch subtly, sighing at the tardiness of their Ravkan guests. Then, he looked over at Y/N. Even with those deep baggy eyes and with her head on her hands in exasperation, she managed to awaken that odd feeling in his chest. He hated it. No, he despised it.

If he ever accepted that he was down hard for the girl, he could also get over the fact that she, too, liked him. Well, he wasn't dumb! There was no denying that Y/N's actions warmed his heart. He just knew loving was a dangerous thing to do, a weakness he couldn't afford after spending years building a reputation in Ketterdam.

Then came a loud bang on the heave wooden doors of the warehouse. "Fucking finally" Y/N sighed, going to open the door herself before anyone would, wanting nothing but to end this as soon as possible so she could go back home to sleep. She grabbed the handle and pulled, the bright light outside blinding her momentarily before seeing the privateer and his crew.

"Hello gorgeous! Here to see Mr. Brekker. I'm guessing you're one of his associates?" A sharp, slightly deep voice greeted. The girl shielded her eyes from the light and found captain smily offering his hand out. In Ketterdam, rumours ran as quick as blood on pavement; Sturmhond knew that. He needed no introduction. Every person involved in not so legal activities who didn't live under a rock had heard at least once about the dog of the sea.

She took it, shaking gently. "Y/N Y/L/N, but if you prefer nicknames, call me Haepha". Then she stepped aside, pretending not to notice the smirk on Sturmhond's face so his partners could come in. The rumors hadn't done justice to his captivating presence.

The charismatic privateer stood tall, his dark hair falling in unruly waves that added to his allure. His piercing blue eyes seemed to hold a world of secrets, and a mischievous smile played across his lips. Dressed in opulent garments that exuded confidence and flair, Sturmhond commanded attention with every step as his crew and he approached the rest of the crows.

"I'll stick to your name for now doll, too pretty not to use," And the bastard winked at Y/N, making a Shu girl who was walking behind him with the same confidence giggle. The worst thing about pretty men is they know they're pretty, and knew damn well how to get away with being cocky. She knew his type, so she brushed the wink off and walked towards her friends.

Kaz and Sturmhond shook hands. Everyone who was fast enough grabbed a seat in old boxes or even on the floor. Jesper offered Y/N his seat, knowing that the vodka she drank last night was no merciful rival, and stood behind her alongside his boyfriend. Inej lingered sitting in a window near them as Matthias and Nina remained standing, contrary to all the privateers' team.

Kaz started making introductions, all a mere formality, Y/N knew. "You've met Y/N, our inferni. Behind him are Jesper, sharp-shooter, and Wylan, our demo-man. The blonde wall-resembling man over there is Matthias, and Nina is a heartrender. Inej in the window, our Wraith" he pointed, everyone nodding or waving at the dark-haired man.

"A Wraith alright, didn't notice you were there sweetheart!" He pointed out and then introduced the twins; Tolya and Tamar. As well as Anya and Andrei, who were two members of his ship's company who wanted to come by and see who they were working with. When that was taken care of, plans were strategized by both leaders and positions were given to each member.

Y/N knew Kaz was characterized by having plans from A to Z for very elaborate heists, but even this one seemed out of his reach, almost too ambitious. But if Sturmhond's name lived up to the myth, nothing was quite impossible for him and Kaz's love for money could get him to plot even the tiniest detail.

Their objective this time was to steal some kind of jewel called "the moon's tears". It was a gem said to be worth four million kruge, to be bargained for even more; the crows' biggest heist yet. The vault it was in was widely known for its impenetrable security measures, including seemingly impenetrable barriers, intricate lock mechanisms, and a team of highly skilled guards.

Those two were absolutely insane! Even before one considered the noble who owned the vault and therefore the gem they were trying to steal, knew Kaz from the past. It was an extremely peculiar coincidence that a masquerade ball was taking place some distance away from the location of the vault, which represented the perfect opportunity for the work.

This would allow them to exploit the lack of security and sweep the gem away. Nina would ideally take care of the distraction, to keep the nobleman from returning home too quick, but her heartrending abilities would be helpful to make a quick work to make the few officers guarding the vault doze off.

So it became Y/N's job. A job she was to complete with Sturmhond.

After the meeting ended and Y/N's headache had worsened, a deep voice was heard from behind her. She turned to find the charming privateer flashing a smile at her. "Looking forward to working with you, darling" He commented, offering his hand out and all. She took it and shook half-heartedly, eager to just go home and sleep for the rest of the evening.

"Me too, handsome" Irony laced in her tone. "Doesn't seem like it, you alright? You look like a ghost. Lovely, yes, but still ghostly" The comment made her smile, tightening the grasp on his hand but not shaking anymore "Just hungover s'all" "Told you so!" Jesper proclaimed from their side as everyone directed themselves to the door.

The privateer smiled sweetly. "Got any plans this evening?" "Other than rotting in my room until my body stops hurting? Not really. Why?" Y/N looked down briefly, realizing she still hadn't let go of his hand and then released her grasp "Well, if my days at sea have thought me anything other than how to read the stars..." he started, tapping the necklace with a star charm the girl sported.

A "gift" from Kaz (some jewelry that wasn't redeemed from a heist he let her keep). "...is how to cure a hangover. Mind coming with me to a bar? You can decide which". Going to a bar with a complete stranger who had a reputation of being in trouble most of the time and who she were to work with? Sure thing.

"Promise youll make it go away?" "Promise".

˚ · • . °

And what a plot twist he was. Jesper had jokingly said to the girl that she shouldn't take a privateer's word but he did termiante her hangover with some strange, black-ish liquid she didn't dare to ask the composition of. Then they drank more.

As the drinks arrived, they raised their glasses, the clink of crystal breaking the spell of their silent connection. Sturmhond smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "To new adventures and unexpected encounters," he proposed, his voice smooth and velvety.

Y/N couldn't help but return the smile, feeling the warmth of excitement spread through her veins. "To embracing the unknown," she replied, raising her glass in agreement. They took a sip, the flavors dancing on their tongues. A comfortable silence settled between them, allowing the sounds of the bar to envelop them. After a moment, Sturmhond leaned in, his voice low and captivating.

"So, Y/N, what brings you to this lawless corner of the world?". He asked, genuine curiosity lacing his words. Y/N's eyes sparkled as she recounted her journey, the challenges she faced, and the dreams that fueled her determination. Sturmhond listened intently, his attention unwavering, as if she held the secrets of a hidden treasure.

As she spoke, Y/N couldn't help but notice the genuine interest in Sturmhond's eyes. He asked thoughtful questions and shared stories of his own adventures, effortlessly weaving tales of daring escapades that left Y/N hanging on his every word.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, a seamless exchange of ideas, dreams, and aspirations. Time seemed to melt away as they delved into deeper discussions, finding solace in the connection they were building. Laughter intertwined with their words, a symphony of shared amusement and understanding.

They became lost in each other's company, entranced by the way their thoughts aligned and their hearts danced to the same rhythm. And as the night wore on, their conversation continued, their new found connection growing stronger with every passing moment.

She couldn't help but think of Kaz, when exiting the bar, and on the way back to The Slat. When would he ever, in a million years, make her feel so seen? How could he? He seemed to be nothing but cold and a bad type of confusing to the girl.

Y/N was not blind, either. Sturmhond was known for his endless romantic encounters with women across the sea, and he was interested in her. Now, she could not deny the guy was a charming boy too pretty for this Earth, sharp as a knife and, as she found out that evening, shared a lot of ideals and interests with her.

Could he maybe work as a rebound? Maybe. Would she shamelessly use him as that? Could be. Having his eyes on her that whole meeting was no coincidence, and she liked his attention. Maybe what mends a broken heart was a handsome privateer.

They agreed to meet up the next day, his treat.

˚ · • . °

Back at the Slat, Kaz was fuming. No, not fuming; seething. A bar outing? She just met him! He could not believe his eyes when they were talking hand in hand like they had known each other from a previous lifetime.

In the little time that had passed since (most of) the crows had returned from the meeting, Kaz had already gotten four drunks kicked out, death-stared a group of dregs twice so they'd shorten their break time to get them to work and downed four vodka shots.

Why was he this mad? She wasn't even his and as far as she knew; he had no intentions of being hers either. The boy couldn't be mad at her, but he was, and Kaz knew very well he was being a big selfish shit. He could not blame Y/N either; the bastard she had been crushing on gives no signs of interest but a privateer handsome as the devil shows up with his attention completely focused on her? Of course she'd fall.

He just hated that feeling.

It's presence looms, heavy and suffocating, wrapping its tendrils around the heart, constricting with an iron grip. It whispers sweet poison into the mind, distorting reality and fueling irrational fears. Like a tempestuous storm, it rages within, lightning crackling with envy, thunder rumbling with resentment. It paints the world in hues of green, tarnishing every joyous moment with a bitter aftertaste.

And then his heart sunk into the depths of his dark soul when he saw them walk in hand in hand. That was the first time Y/N had walked into a room and not looked for him, he noticed. She was laughing at something Sturmhond had said as they walked up the stairs until they reached the door of Y/N's room. He kissed her hand and she kissed his cheek.

The privateer then walked down the stairs, noticing Kaz staring.

"She's one of a kind, that one... Might stay a bit more after the job's done. See you tomorrow, Brekker"

The feeling was now leaving an empty, bottomless void in his soul. He bottomed his shot glass then poured another one.

˚ · • . °

Time kept ticking and the void intensified, but Kaz learnt how to deal with it.

He learnt how to deal with it when he kissed her after the job was done.

He learnt how to deal with it when Y/N took a break from the crows to leave with him for six months.

He learnt how to deal with it when she returned from her trip, beautiful tan skin and a diamond on her finger.

He learnt how to deal with it when he saw her crying herself to sleep because she missed him.

He learnt how to deal with it when she left for good.

He learnt how to deal with it when she was named queen of Ravka.

Kaz just learnt how to live with the shame and regret of not recognizing that the one thing he needed was right in front of him, hoping she'd have a place next to him.

˚ · • . ° .

Hi! Thank you so much for reading, hope you enjoyed:) I'm actually sorry for this one...

Remember, the best way to support writer’s works on here is by REBLOGGING WITH TAGS. I’d very much appreciate it if you did!

Thanks again, stranger. Hope you have a nice day<3

NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO REPOST AS THEIR OWN/TRANSLATE/OR COPY MY WORK IN ANY PLATFORM OR SPACE WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT CONSENT.

[wheres-mylove]

privateer’s treasure | sturmhond!nikolai lantsov x fem!reader

Summary: The infamous privateer finds himself something extremely valuable - a soulmate. But now he must face a pirate captain who is convinced that his beloved daughter was kidnapped by Sturmhond. It's quite complicated.

Disclaimer: English isn’t my first language!

Word count: 1.8k

The tavern was lit by the dim candlelight. There was a buzz of conversation not fit for a sensitive listener. Someone smashed the bottle of rum and got a solid reprimand from the owner. A night like any other.

“Son of a bitch,” Nikolai snapped and placed a pint of beer on the table with a loud bang. “Old coot. He just had to do it.”

“And do you have to use that gutter language?” asked Tolya, giving his friend an amused look. “This is exactly what the pirate world looks like, you know it. It's not the first time someone's stolen your job.”

“It was an extremely large and an extremely profitable one,” Lantsov continued with a scowl, leaning against a wooden bench. "Anyway, what kind of nickname is that, Silverbeard? He's just pointing out that he's gray and old. Should definitely retire.’’

Tolya miraculously refrained from laughing at the sight of his face. Like a disappointed child whose toy has been taken away.

“I would rather say that he’s a key figure, but alright.” He patted Nikolai on the shoulder. “Cheer up a bit, Tamar is asking around.”

His Majesty graciously took another sip of his beer.

“I don’t think she will find something serious enough to...”

“I have dirt on our captain,” said Tamar in a singing voice, appearing as if on call. “I asked here and there. Silverbeard has a daughter.”

Lantsov almost choked on his booze. He side - eyed the Grisha. Tolya raised his eyebrows.

“Should I kidnap a child and blackmail him? What an amazing idea.”

Tamar sighed and shook her head in disapproval.

“The child is actually an adult. About your age. She’s a young, pretty lady with an attitude, so her father watches over her like a hawk.”

“Should I kidnap a woman and blackmail him then? Even better.”

“Oh, Saints,” the girl groaned, putting her elbows on the table. “I know it’s not really your way, but I’m not asking you to hurt her. Just.. pretend that you're going to. The captain will give us this job without a second thought, maybe even a ship. That girl is the key to not one, but several chests of gold.”

“I can capture a parrot. Or one of his deckhands. Did you find out which one he likes the most?”

Tolya forbade the future ruler to drink more. Tamar was still trying to reason with him. A girlish figure in a hooded cape sneaked unnoticed in front of the tavern.

The footbridge creaked under Nikolai's shoes. He gazed over the peaceful harbor for the last time. When the sun comes up, they'll be far, far away, sailing on the high seas.

He smiled, and at the same moment was almost thrown into the water by the force with which someone ran into him.

“Sorry!” cried a sweet voice, holding him by the shoulder. “It's your ship, isn't it? Are you leaving now? Will there be a place for me? I'll pay,” the girl hurriedly said, waving a purse of gold in front of his nose.

The privateer blinked a few times, not quite keeping up, which was unheard of. He placed both hands on the stranger's cloak-covered arms to fully regain his balance.

“I’m fine, thank you for your concern,” he said, trying to see his interlocutor’s face under the hood. “Are you trying to drown everyone you meet or am I special?”

The girl sighed impatiently and shoved the payment into his hand with quite comical stubbornness.

“I have no time, do you take it or not? Can I go with you?”

Lantsov sighed deeply and decided that he was in the mood to be a menace. He threw the hood off the girl's head in one swift motion. She frowned, and our boy thought he'd never seen a more beautiful person before.

“Not that heavy, that little fortune of yours,” he added, perhaps to make her furious. It seemed like she was going to curse him and his entire family, but she was in too much of a rush for that.

“I’ll scrub your deck, just take me,” she said and jumped onto the ship without waiting for an answer.

“What’s the fuss about?” asked Tamar, who came to see what was taking him so long.

“Some pretty girl came and started bossing me around,” he explained simply. “I don’t feel like a captain no more.”

“Maybe you will feel like one when you finally sail out?” yelled the stranger, to which Nikolai widened his eyes.

Tamar tried to hide a smile, but then grimaced.

“Aren’t you in some serious trouble, darling? Because these two gentlemen don’t look very friendly.”

“Shit!” the girl exclaimed, now also seeing the men running towards the harbor.

“A criminal, great,” Nikolai murmured with a sigh. “Okay, let’s go. At least my deck will be clean.”

He kept on tapping his fingers on the desk. What an annoying sound. The lovely fugitive was giving the privateer a death stare.

“Stop it.”

“This is my ship and my desk.”

“Why do you make me sit here?”

“Because I happen to be a curious person. Otherwise I wouldn't have sailed the seas,’’ Lantsov replied, giving her a crooked smile. “I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Did you drown someone?”

The girl got up from her chair, pulled down her cape, and put it on the backrest, revealing the green dress underneath. It suited her. Not that he was staring.

She began a slow march through the cabin.

“You got the gold, so I don't really owe you an explanation,” she began, then groaned, noticing the boy's finger up in the air. “And deck. Gold and deck.”

Nikolai nodded, leaned back more comfortably and put his feet up on the table.

“I didn't kill anyone, I didn't commit any crime at all. I decided that a change of surroundings would do me some good.”

“And those two cuties supported you in this decision?”

“Listen here.’’ She banged her fists on the desk, keeping his legs trapped in between her arms. He was beginning to enjoy it more and more. “You ask too many questions. Those men were harmless. It’s just... the remnants of a previous life.”

“Poetic,” the privateer remarked, tilting his head. “Okay then. I won't push. We'll start from the beginning. The name’s Sturmhond.”

Her mouth curled up in a smile. Not that he was looking at her lips.

“(Y/N),” she introduced herself and shook his hand. “And that nickname you have is a bit pretentious.”

Not that she thought about his name beforehand. And wondered why he's so captivating.

If Sturmhond noticed one thing, it was that (Y/N) had not yet taken the opportunity to leave them. And there have been several of them since she jumped on the ship. In the harbours, where he had some business to do. She could have turned on her heel and gone her own way. He wasn't going to say it out loud. But neither was he going to deny that quiet hope in his heart. That she'll stay with them forever. With him.

It turned out that life at sea was no stranger to her. She could do a lot more than scrub the deck. Water was her element, as was his. You could see it in her step, her eyes and her smile.

Like a bird set free.

Nikolai Lantsov didn't ask about her past. He didn't ask what she was running from. To be honest, he'd like to run away with her. Some things he hasn't told her yet, either. She didn't know she was sailing with the prince.

(Y/N) was like a treasure that found him on its own. Except every treasure had its price.

Sturmhond found out about that later, by facing Silverbeard's sword pointed at his chest.

“I’ve just come ashore. What is it?” he asked, raising his hands up. He looked back where Tamar and Tolya were reaching for their weapons.

“Draw your sword, bandit, we’ll do it the old way. But first you tell me where she is!” yelled the pirate, stepping forward. Tamar flexed her fingers on the axe.

“Who is where?” Nikolai looked at Silverbeard's men and had a feeling that he recognized them from somewhere.

“My daughter, you miserable rat! You kidnapped my only daughter and you're acting stupid. The sword!”

“I didn’t kidnap anyone. Especially your daughter. I mean, I was advised to do that, but...” Nikolai bit his tongue too late, and Tolya raised his eyes to the heavens.

“Saints, when you say something. Maybe we should all just calm down.”

“Oh, you were advised to do that? Who ordered this? What have you done with her?”

“I didn’t kidnap anyone! The old man is delirious,” groaned Lantsov.

“Dad?” (Y/N) jumped off the footbridge and emerged from behind Tolya's back, with shock painted on her face, staring straight at Silverbeard.

Nikolai looked at the girl, then at the captain with his mouth wide open.

“Fuck.”

Tamar started laughing nervously. (Y/N) stood between Sturmhond and her father. He slowly lowered his weapon, disbelieving his eyes.

“I kidnapped the girl that I was going to kidnap, but decided not to,” Sturmhond summed up in an emotionless voice. He felt the captain's furious gaze on him. “She kidnapped herself! She wanted to go with me!”

“That’s right, I asked him to help me,” confirmed (Y/N), then glanced apologetically at Sturmhond. “I am so sorry.”

“No, no, no problem. Your daddy loves me, he wouldn’t hurt me, now would ya?”

“I’m a little confused,” Tolya said suddenly.

“But why?” asked Silverbeard in a breaking voice. “Then why did you run away? You had everything you could ask for.”

“I lacked freedom, dad. He gave it to me.” The girl winked at Sturmhond, and he blushed like a youngster. “You couldn’t keep me in a gold cage forever. I want to sail. Without your constant protection.”

Silverbeard took a deep breath.

“There was no kidnapping. For clarity,” Nikolai said, putting his hand on (Y/N)’s shoulder. “And she is a great sailor. If you are worried about her safety, she wasn’t and certainly will not be harmed on my ship.”

The old captain nodded, and with tears in his eyes summoned his daughter to him.

“We must have a drink,” Silverbeard said over the girl’s head, holding her tight. “I think we have a few things to discuss.’’

“I agree. Can you do me a little favour and put that sword away?”

(Y/N) grabbed Sturmhond's hand as he passed by.

“Maybe with a glass of rum in hand, but he'll still try to threaten you. Don't let him, okay?”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Sturmhond said, and taking advantage of the moment when Silverbeard turned his back on them and headed for the tavern, he quickly pecked her on the cheek.

“Pretty low for a privateer,” she observed, then kissed him, properly, on the lips.

Nikolai Lantsov smiled broadly. Slightly dumbfounded.

“Yes, your dad can definitely give me a preaching. You know what they sing about sailors and captains’ daughters.”

[jahayla-parker]

Hello, may I please request a Nikolai x female reader fic where she gets menstrual migraines please, currently battling through the thick of it

Royal Pains : Nikolai Lantsov x Reader

Descr: 1.6k wc, Nikolai helps y/n through her menstrual migraines as best as he can. Hurt/comfort.

Warnings: sickness, vomiting and pain, medicine

Notes: I’m sorry you’re feeling this way! Menstrual symptoms are the worst, especially when your hormones are out of wack. 💜

Y/n woke up with a groan. She flipped over in bed, arching her body over the piled up comforter in discomfort. Not today. Any day but today. She and Nikolai had plans. She’d only been up mere seconds and could already tell those plans weren’t going to happen. The throbbing in her head, the stiffness in her neck, the nausea flowing through her body, the desire to either cry or go back to sleep.. it all pointed to one thing. It was that time of the month. Why was she cursed with not only suffering through having to have such a time of the month, but also such horrendous ones at that? Every month it was the same.

“Darling?” Nikolai’s tender voice rang out in the room in a hushed tone.

Y/n groaned in response as she tried to turn her body so he could greet him properly. Only, in doing so, she realized how he was carrying something in his hands. She squinted briefly only to quickly stop upon the tension making her already-present migraine worse.

“Easy love,” Nikolai scolded lightly as he carefully sat beside her on the bed. “Has it set in already?” He asked rhetorically. The pout on her lips and the way her eyes were watering already told him his answer. “Why don’t you try some of this?” Nikolai suggested, passing her a cup of tea.

“How did you know?” Y/n asked as she slowly moved to lean against the headboard to sip. “I didn’t even know it was coming,” she complained with a frown before taking a sip of the hot beverage.

Nikolai laughed softly, “I know my Queen, y/n/n”. He noticed the way she looked up from her cup with a tearful expression. He gave her a loving smile and shifted closer. “Shhh honey, I know, I love you too”. He brushed some stray hairs from her forehead as he watched her sip on the tea. “I asked them to add some tonics to it, hopefully it’ll help,” he explained.

Y/n set her tea back on the metallic tray Nikolai had carried it in on and offered him a warm smile. She took his hand and squeezed, “thank you”. She opened her mouth to offer to try to stick it out long enough for them to see to their original plans for the day. But instead her eyes screwed shut as another wave of pain joined the constant ache behind her eyes. “Saints,” she mumbled, unconsciously tightening her grip on Nikolai’s hand in the process.

Nikolai frowned sympathetically as his chest ached over how uncomfortable she looked. There had to be more he could do. He gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand as he looked around their room for something. Anything. Catching sight of the attached bathroom, an idea came to mind. Nikolai moved the tea tray to the nightstand and stood up. He leaned down and pressed a small kiss to her forehead when she promptly opened her eyes to gaze up at him worriedly. “I’ll be right back y/n/n,” he vowed.

Y/n closed her eyes again as Nikolai moved from her side. She tried to stifle her groan as she pressed her heavy head back against the pillows. She winced lightly at the spike in her pain’s intensity from her movement. Bad idea. She tried to keep her breathing steady despite the throbbing behind her eyes. She didn’t hear when Nikolai had returned. Whether that was due to him intentionally trying to be excessively quiet or due to her lack of attention, she couldn’t say. She only knew he’d returned when she felt his light warm breath grace her face as he lowered a cool washcloth to her closed eyes. She gasped at the cold sensation but quickly relaxed back into the bed and let out a sigh of relief.

Nikolai smiled faintly. It was progress. “Is there anything else I can do love?” He asked sweetly.

“Mmmmnnnmmm,” y/n mumbled with a soft roll of her head side to side against the pillows. “I just don’t feel good,” she explained needlessly. That much was obvious. Yet it somehow felt relieving to say it nonetheless.

“I know lapushka,” Nikolai hummed. “Why don’t I go tell Nertesky that we’ll be staying in today and then we can cuddle while you try to sleep?”

Y/n reluctantly removed the wet cloth from her brows. “If we’re not going, won’t you have to work?” She asked with a poor attempt at hiding her frown.

Nikolai shook his head. “I wasn’t planning on anything of the sort,” he reassured her. He again leaned down to kiss her head. “I’ll be less than a minute”.

It was in that moment that y/n noticed Nikolai hadn’t changed out of his sleeping attire from last night. He truly hadn’t planned on leaving her side today. Y/n felt herself smile lightly at the notion as she placed the rag back over her eyes. She wordlessly curled into his side as he returned to bed and cautiously moved to hold her to him. “It hurts,” she whispered after a few moments.

“I know,” Nikolai sighed with a frown. “The tonics should kick in soon, until then try to sleep so you don’t feel it,” he suggested, feeling pretty useless.

Nikolai squinted as he entered their bedroom, having a hard time adjusting to the severe lack of light in the room compared to the rest of the castle. “Y/n/n?” He questioned as he moved closer to the bed. His heart seized upon seeing the way she’d pulled the sheets over her head to block more light. Her head was still hurting. “Let me get Jelentsy,” he suggested, already spinning back to the door to request their healer.

“No,” y/n whined. “Nik?” She called out, blindly reaching for him without moving the blankets away from her face.

Nikolai quickly spun back to her and rushed to her side. He took her outstretched hand in his and squeezed tenderly. “Maybe they can help,” he explained.

“It’s like this every month,” y/n reminded him. “It’s f-“

“Don’t you dare say it’s fine,” Nikolai interrupted. He lowered the blanket down from her face slowly before running his thumb over her brows lightly. “It’s not fine. You shouldn’t be feeling this way. Especially not every month”.

“I’m sorry,” y/n hummed, melting underneath his gently touch.

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for my dear,” he whispered. “I just wish there was more I could do”.

“I know, but they’ve already tried,” she reminded him.

Nikolai sighed and nodded to himself. Hopefully the team he’d sent to Kerch would be back soon. They’d had some recent medical advances and he was hoping their associated texts would bring about some solutions to his wife’s problems.

“My head is pounding,” y/n cried as she curled up against Nikolai. “This sucks,” she complained, her throat sore. Her menstrual migraine had caused her nausea to turn into actual vomiting. Said symptom only made the pain in her head even worse. It had turned into a vicious cycle. Luckily she had Nikolai to comfort her.

Nikolai’s arms wrapped around her tightly as he pressed a kiss to her clammy scalp. “I know, I’m so sorry sweetheart,” he sighed, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. “I’m so sorry,” he echoed quietly as she merely cried against his chest, hands clutching his shirt tightly as she went back to wordlessly dealing with her pain.

“This is the third time I’ve had to pick you up and put you in bed,” Nikolai commented in disbelief. Instead of scooping her back up yet again, he knelt to the floor beside her instead. “Why the heck are you wanting to lie on the floor so badly?”

She sniffled as she shrugged, still curled in a ball on the cold tile flooring. She couldn’t explain it, it just felt better. Between the migraine induced vomiting and the throbbing in her head, it just felt right. She cried quietly as another bout of nausea took over. She gripped the bag in her hands tighter and brought it back to her lips as she dry heaved into it. She groaned and moved to lay her head back on the floor.

Nikolai frowned as he watched her. He had no idea what was going on. But if she felt she was better off on the floor, so be it. He sighed sympathetically before moving to curl his body around hers as he too laid down on the tiles that covered their bedroom floor. Nikolai held her in silence for awhile until he heard a light knock on the door. She groaned against the floor before flipping over to bury her face in his chest. “Come in,” Nikolai answered, hands over y/n’s ears. When his general stood before him with a confused by empathetic expression, he felt his heart speed up. “Do you have it?” He asked, hopeful.

Nikolai was practically smiling as y/n hummed quietly and rested against the pile of pillows he’d propped up behind her. The solution from Kerch had come and now she was feeling better. Not healed. Her pain wasn’t gone. But she had expressed that it took the edge off. Meaning her tears were no longer constantly flowing down her reddened cheeks. It was a small victory, but one Nikolai was proud of as he gently held her to him. From now on, their healers and medical staff would have the recipe for the solution on hand and a supply always at the ready. For as much as he hated the notion of it coming back, he knew it would. At least now he had a way of trying to help her when it did.

Nikolai Lantsov Masterlist

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[bey0nd-1he-stars]

Wedding bands - Nikolai Lantsov

Masterlists

Pairing: Nikolai Lantsov x reader

Wordcount: 1268

Warnings: none

Summary: You finally tell your friends and crew what your ring is for.

The wind blew in the sails, carrying the Volkvolny across the open seas. Almost the whole crew were up on deck, a few squallers minding the sails but mostly letting the natural wind do the work. Tamar and Tolya had gathered a small group of people and settled down for a few rounds of cards. Nikolai had sat down on the floor up on quarterdeck, a map laid out in front of him. You were out on request of the king so Nikolai hadn’t bothered to tailor himself. You kept close to Ravkan shores anyway and it was his waters so neither of you were especially worried. You stood behind him, watching over his shoulder as he studied it. Usually he would keep all of his maps down in the captain’s cabin but the sun was out and the soft breeze was refreshing. And you were out here on deck. That was always a plus. 

After a while Nikolai rolled up the map and stood to leave it in his cabin. You just gave him a nod and a smile before Tamar shouted for you to join them. They had sat down on the main deck at a bench and used a crate as a table. You smiled in thanks when Tolya handed you a set of cards. Your ring flashed in the sun when you took them from him and you saw his gaze flickering down to it for just a second. When you’d played for a while, Tolya brought it up.

“What’s that ring for? You always wear it and you’ve been wearing it since I met you,” he placed down his card in the pile and looked up at you. You smirked and placed down your card as well, leaving you victorious, “you know I won't tell you.” He shrugged, “worth a shot.” Tamar looked at you with raised eyebrows, “your heart rate picked up,” she stated with a smirk and placed a card in the pile. A faint blush covered your cheeks and you looked away from her for a second, and that was your mistake.

“You’re in love with someone!” she exclaimed and turned to face you fully. You let out a surprised huff and laughed softly, “what?” 

“Who’s in love?” Nikolai’s deep voice cut you off and you all turned towards him. The sun made his hair look golden. His hazel eyes looked like they had pieces of gold flowing in them and the blue of his jacket complimented his looks very well. It blew softly in the wind and tugged at the ends. Your Y/H/C hair was up but a few strands got caught in the wind and Nikolai had to tear his gaze away from you, his breath caught in his throat for a second. Tamar smirked and turned to you again. 

“Dear Y/N here. Her ring is a ring from a lover.” 

“Well that’s no news,” Nikolai smiled and sat down beside Tolya and you all returned to the game but continued talking. Tolya seemed a bit upset at his statement, “what do you mean ‘no news?’ You knew?” He turned to Nikolai who just shrugged and smirked at him. Tamar let out a huff, “you bastard,” she mumbled and both you and Nikolai burst out laughing. 

“But I’m right, then? You are in love?” Tamar pressed. They’d finished playing and Tolya had lost. Now the cards just laid in a pile in the crate and all the attention was directed towards you. You searched for Nikolai’s gaze and he gave you a quick, almost unnoticeable nod.

“Yeah, you are. I'm in love.” Tamar smirked at that and gave you a nod to continue. 

“What? What do you want me to say?” you laughed and started gathering together the cards again in a proper pile. 

“Well, is it a promise ring? Or how far along are we talking?” Tolya said and encouraged you to tell them all of it. Nikolai just shook his head in amusement. That it could be so interesting to know about your love life, but he stayed anyway. He wanted to see their reactions if you decided to tell them the truth. 

“It’s… It’s a wedding ring, actually,” you confessed and twisted the ring on your finger. The gemstones glittered in the sun and the gold shined. You had decided to just wear the wedding ring on your finger and hung the promise ring and the engagement ring on a chain around your neck, hiding away the Lantsov emerald from plain sight. Tolya gaped at your statement and then he turned to Nikolai.

“You knew she's married?” he asked, stunned that you’d told Nikolai and not them. You were all very close friends and Tolya thought that you’d tell them all if you were to tell anyone. But so the case didn’t seem to be because Nikolai knew. Your husband chuckled, “fortunately enough, I do.” Tolya turned to Tamar, feeling a bit betrayed but in a joking manner, of course. Tamar, intrigued, turned to Nikolai too, deciding it probably would be easier to get him to spill what he knew than to try to ask you. 

“Do you know who he is?” She lifted an eyebrow at him and leaned forward and rested her head in her hand. Nikolai’s gaze flicked to yours, amusement swirling in his eyes and a smirk resting on his lips. 

“Would be weird if I didn’t.”

“Well, tell us,” The twins demanded. Nikolai just smirked and with a laugh he lifted his own left hand where a golden wedding band rested on his ring finger. 

“Him? You’re married to him?” Tamar turned back to you, surprised but when she thought about it, it made sense. You always hung around Nikolai, often touching him, whether it was a hand on his shoulder, a hand threading through his hair or your elbows or knees touching. And if you weren’t with him your gaze always traveled the area as if taking in the scenery, but in reality, you were just looking for him. She’d never thought about it before but those days when something went bad or when he was hurt, or maybe just having a tough day and he disappeared into his captain’s cabin, you disappeared too. You watched as the puzzle pieces started to fit together in her head and you just nodded.  

“How long?” Tolya wondered out loud. Nikolai smiled, “a few years.” You nodded along with a smile “how long have you seen me wear this ring?” 

Tamar smiled, she knew you were telling the truth, but still, it was fun to tease you both, “prove it,” she demanded with a laugh. 

“Prove it?” Nikolai wondered, “what do you mean prove it? Isn’t the rings pretty big proof, or how do they marry in Shu Han?” Tamar smirked, “I demand to see a kiss.” Nikolai turned to you and you just shrugged. They were your closest friends, it didn’t matter if they saw you kiss one time. You took the hand Nikolai reached out to you and he pulled you to your feet. With one arm around your waist and one cupping your face, he pressed his lips to yours. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him closer to you, burying your hands in his golden locks. You heard them cheer you on and Nikolai smiled into the kiss. When the two of you pulled away, Nikolai held you close to him anyway, looking into your eyes and smiling like an idiot, happy that you finally could show your relationship among your friends.

[igotanidea]

Nikolai Lantsov x inferni!reader : Traitor

It was the same nightmare over and over again. Making her wake up in the middle of the night in tears with heart beating way to fast and ragged breath.

If only it was just a nightmare.

But it was more.

It was a memory.

Flahsback

“Here she is. My favorite Inferni.” Darkling smiled with his brightest smile, greeting Y/N as she entered his chambers.

“General Kirigan” she acknowledged him without any hesitation in the voice, and yet screaming inside. He was nice, too nice and she knew exactly why. He needed something from her. More precisely, he needed her.

While everyone at court were fooled by Kirigan’s charm and well put-on pretenses, Y/N was the only one to see right through him. The king, the queen, all the Grishas…. So silly when confronted with his bright smile and practiced speaking.

If only Nik was here…

But “the puppy prince” left few years prior, leaving her alone to deal with the potential enemy of the state and it hurt like hell. Firstly, because it seemed like Nik never cared about her at all, secondly because all the court and royal family believed her to be insane and mentally impaired the very second she even hinted at Darkling’s intention being dishonest. Y/N knew he was searching for the sun summoner and why was he doing this, but had to keep it a secret. It was like being torn into two opposite direction. She had to protect the royal family and Ravka she swore an oath to and that came with exposing Darkling, but at the same she had to protect herself and that meant getting into general’s good graces to avoid getting hanged for treason. And still protect the Lantsov, even that fool or a price Vasily.

Being some sort of double agent came with a heavy price.

Poor girl.

This was why she was called upon Kirigan every night and walked into his chambers. He always wanted something in return for keeping her secrets. Sometimes he needed her big brain and Inferni skills, sometimes it was .... more .... but it always, always left her with scars.

“Please Y/N. There is no need for formalities here.” He eyed her with those predatory eyes

“Why am I here tonight, general?” Y/N asked, still keeping her head high, back straight and gaze hardened.

“I….” he took a step closer and waved a hand towards the guards dismissively. The men bowed and left immediately “I have needs tonight.”

“Why… why don’t you ask Zoya?” she hissed “she’ll be more than happy to help you with those.”

“Oh, yes, Zoya…. You are not really in the good terms lately, are you?” he smirked, grabbing her hips and pulling her closer. “but then, you are not really anyone’s favorite Grisha, even in your own order, am I right?” his grip became unbearable “do not worry, dear. It’s a fair exchange. You give me that fire of yours and I keep you protected from anyone else” he muttered into her ear and she knew she was trapped for that night.

***

After everything she was left with pure hatred towards herself. She knew this was just a begging since intimacy was the first step. And after he made her a sobbing mess on his mercy, there were more …. practical tasks. Fires, strategies and plans she was always good at making.

But even with her help, Kirigan was slowly slipping. Slowly, yet consistently, and soon enough Grisha started seeing past his charm. Especially when he brought the sun summoner to the little palace. Y/N though herself to be smart enough to warn her about general’s purpose and tried to reach towards Alina.

Sadly, she was not.

And her attempt to warn miss Starkov ended up with the real, physical scars on her back. Those that could never properly heal even with Genya’s help.  The tailor was probably the only person in the palace who knew who did this to Y/N, but never said a thing. At least she was a bit of support.

However, the pain coming from the cuts was unbearable and was following her for days.

And so she made a decision to flee and search for Nikolai to bring him back to the country. She escaped during the night and when it was discovered the next morning she was quickly announced the wanted traitor.

***

She found Nikolai a few moments later, by accident, while walking the streets in some small village. She was exhausted and was slowly losing hope for the future when she heard noises coming from around the corner. A man and a woman, Shu, judging by the looks were laughing and bantering with each other and when Y/N raised her bloodshot eyes she saw the person she was so desperately looking for.

“Ni….” she started, but he was faster.

“Leave us.” He commanded his companions and only when they left he came towards her, wrapping arms around her. “Y/N” he whispered, breathing her in but quickly pulling away “you look terrible. And you could definitely use some cleaning.” He smirked “Why are you here?”

“Nik….” She sobbed desperately, tears falling from her eyes like a fountain she could not contain once they started “I….”

“Hey, hey, it’s ok. Sh….” He hugged her tightly against his chest “you can tell me. Although I may have to warn you, no one here, except Tamar and Tolya knows my real identity. I’m Sturmhond.”

“The pirate?” she frowned, looking at him with surprise in the eyes

“Privateer….” He hissed “Now come on, whatever happened to you, you are safe now.”

He took her upon the ship and listened carefully to her story. She told him everything, except for the part how Darkling damaged her. It was not important, the country had to be put first. And it was, since they both created a plan to save it. First, get the sun summoner, secondly get Nik back to his prince-self and third, defeat the Darkling.

***

They were spending too much time together on the Volkvolny. There were to many jokes, silly fights and tension. And soon the crew started making ambiguous allusions to the character of their captain and the Inferni’s relationship. And Y/n soon had enough of it so gathering herself she confronted Nik about it.

“Captain, can I have a word with you?” she entered his cabin, not really caring what the answer would be.

“My favorite Inferni….” Unknowingly he used the same words as Darkling and it made her flinch “missed me that much?”

“With all those comments I hear all the time it feels like you are always with me” she rolled her eyes

“Is that why you are here? Came to make the rumors a reality?”

“Not exactly. I came to remind you I will never….” She never get to finish when with one long stride he was right in front of her, grabbing her waist and connecting their lips. At first she froze, shocked by the unexpected action but when he tried to pull away, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him back to her.

“You were saying….?” He muttered

“Oh, shut up…” Y/N locked her hands around his neck, wanting more and knowing he could give her that. She did not protest when he lifted her and walked her to the bed, laid her gently and slowly started to undress her. Saints, she wanted more and more and more, getting so greedy. “Nik….” Her little moan only spur him on.

“Tell me what you want…” Nikolai’s lips moved onto her neck, hands getting under her coat, caressing the skin on the sides and stomach.

“I want….” She panted and smiled lightly, teasingly “I want you to show me if you are truly as good as you are bragging to be.”

“Hm…” she smirked “not sure if you ready for this, love.”

***

As much as she hated to admit it, he was good. Really, really good and left her fully satisfied when she fell asleep in his loving embrace and woke up in them a couple hours later. Her back to his chest. 

“Where did you get those scars?” he muttered kissing along her neck and shoulder, avoiding the damaged skin.

“I…. I don’t really want to talk about it.” She sighed deeply “at least not yet.”

“That sentence just confirmed you see us together in the future. I mean, of course you do, you caught a prince, fireball. A big fish, am I not? ”

“You are unbelievable….” She turned to the other side to face him

“But you love me, don’t you? You admitted that quite a few times …”

“I hate you.” she punched his chest “what time is it? Isn’t your crew going to look for you?”

“Maybe. But those marks I left on you will be enough of the explanation.”

“Marks?” her eyes widened “oh my…..”

“Besides, I am also sure they heard you scream my name.”

“I’m going to kill you, Nik!”

“Come on, it was good, wasn’t it?” he caressed her shoulders “you can admit it, I won’t judge. After all, I am the one who lost his mind for you.”

“You lost your mind when you were a kid, and never found it since.”

“And all of it, because of a certain Inferni which I feel in love with.”

“What….?”

“I’m serious, Y/n.” he looked straight into her eyes “I love you.” 

“I love you too, Nik.”

“Great. Now that we got this covered, time to get up and get back to work!”

***

Besides that little unplanned thing, everything went smoothly. Soon, Alina and Mal joined the crusade and they all returned to Ravka happily, ready to stand against Kirigan. Sad part, old rumors did not die and soon, the prince heard about Y/N’s past and about her apparently being a traitor.

End of flashback

She was with Kirigan again. He was too close, causing her so much pain and she could not endure it all. Her skin aching, reddening and bruising. Again and again and again.

And that made her woke up. Sweaty, shaken and terrified, turning around and trying to reach to other side of bed but she found it empty. He was probably in the adherent room, listening to all his advisors and Grisha filling him in on the country situation.

“Nikolai?” she came thought the door and surprisingly found him alone, sitting on the chair, head hung low, running a hand through his hair. “What happened, my love?” in a second she was next to him grabbing his hand and caressing it gently.

“I… I’ve spoken to some people.” He started “about the country.”

“Is it that bad?”

„Were you conspiring with Darkling?” he said suddenly, his voice cold as ice and she could not recall any time in the past he was so indifferent towards her.

“What?” she gasped taking a step back, utterly terrified by that simple question. No,no, no, no. Oh, saint, please no.

“Answer me, Y/N. Were. You. Scheming. With him?” now his tone was angered, he was clenching his teeth to prevent himself from yelling.

“How could you even ask me that?” she stuttered, her heart breaking.

“I have every reason to suspect you have not been loyal. First of them being the fact you never told me about your past here. You were not ready to talk about it, huh? Now it would make sense why you have those marks on your back. This was punishment, wasn’t it?” he stood up, towering over her and suddenly she felt so small, so vulnerable against his rage. How could she ever explain it to him to make him understand?

“Nik…” poor girl trembled, hurt beyond any recognition “you don’t believe the rumors, do… do you?”

“Give me a reason not to.”

“You have no right to judge me! You don’t know what it was like! What is felt like to be forced to do things you don’t want to just to keep yourself alive!”

“Don’t I?” he looked straight into her eyes and that struck her with the force of lightning.

“You…. You really think what they say is true…. You….Oh my god, you think I am a traitor!” she cried and hid face in hands to avoid looking at him. He thought she betrayed the Lanstovs, so how come at this moment it felt like he was the one to do exactly the same to her.  

“I’m not accusing you of anything. “I just don’t….” he took a sharp breath and closed his eyes “I don’t want to see you right now. I need to think.“

“Nik….” She cried “Please, you have to listen to me…. It’s not what …..”

“What I have to is for you to leave.”

“Please!” she tried again, reaching for his hand, but he just turned around “Nik, I love you, I was nothing more than loyal, all my life and this is what I get in return?”

“Leave.” he commanded with his price voice

“No.” Y/N was not going to give up so easily

“Don’t make it any harder than it already is.” He warned coldly, but his eyes showed that it was painful for him as well.

“Let’s just talk about it, love, I’m begging you. Darkling, he….”

“I’m sorry Y/N….” his voice broke a bit “you leave me no choice….”

“So what, you are going to call your guards to escort me? Put me under lock and key until you clarify the situation?” she mocked “Don’t bother. I’ll make it easy for you. Might as well save any remnants of dignity I have left. “

 “I promise, you will get fair judgment if you cooperate.”

“Fair judgement? How…. How is this fair?” she sobbed “how is this fair that you believed them against me? I….. you know what? Fine. I’ll go.” Y/N angrily wiped away the tears and fixed her pants “You may not have Lantsov blood in your veins, moi tsar, but you surely act like one.” She turned around and walked away with the guards, missing that utterly broken and hurt expression on his face. But he had it coming.

***

He regretted treating her this way the moment she walked thought the door.

He was torn.

He was a king, he was supposed to be firm, unwavering and deliver objective justice by not being biased by personal likings and feelings.

But it was so damn hard.

He loved her, like no one before, with all his heart. Nik had already forgiven her for everything or at least desperately wanted to do so, but King Nikolai had duties, obligations and had to protect Ravka and put it first. He could not tolerate any symptom of not being loyal. Not under the current circumstances. 

But she was so broken…. So hurt and scarred. He was the reason tears showed in her eyes and that urge to just run after her, grab her, pull her close and kiss the pain away was overwhelming.

Nik would believe a single word of denial of those allegations coming from her mouth, but king Nikolai needed hard proof.

He had no idea what to do apart from running hands through his hair in despair.

As if that could help

***

“I don’t envy her. First she was used as a Darkling toy, now got into the black books of the prince”

 “She should have been more careful. Playing double with Lantsov and Kirigan couldn’t have ended well.”

“But still, in addition to those scars on the back she will have some mental damage. I pity her. Truly.”

“I don’t. She always had too big appetite and ambitions for her own good and…..”

“What are you talking about?” Nikolai peeked through the door, overhearing the guards chattering

“Moi tsar” they both saluted and bowed in respect

“What is this about?” he insisted, demanding explanation “Talk. Now.”

And that was how he learned the other side of the story.

And it left him heartbroken and full of unimaginable amount of guilt.

She was never going to forgive him for treating her this way, but he was ready to beg on his knees just to see even a glimpse of warm feelings from her.

***

While Nikolai was listening to the story and swimming in regret, Y/N was lying on her bed, back to the door, curled up, sobbing and shaking. It was just too much. It felt like she was accused of so many terrible things, since she was 15. First by Lantsovs, then by Kirigan, then by her fellow Grisha (give or take a few exceptions), and now by Nikolai. The last one hurt the most.

He should have believed her, not the gossip.

He should have listened.

He shouldn’t have ask her for explanation of the matter.

He broke her heart with the use of one little word.

Traitor.

How could he think she would ever betray him or his famliy. Even after everything the Lantsov did to her?

She got scars because she never lost hope he will return and put Ravka back together.

She was used, manipulated and laughed at, just because she saw more than anyone else.

And now….

Now he wouldn’t want to see her.

“Y/N…..”

“Genya?” Y/N propped herself on the elbow, meeting with the scarred face of her best friend. “What…. what happened to you?”

“nietchevo’ya……”she whispered looking down onto the floor, hiding her damaged face behind hair

“Oh, Genya!” the Inferni stood up and hugged the tailor, both of the girls started crying even more “I am so, so, so sorry. You did not deserve this. None of us ever deserved this.”

“I….” Genya stuttered “I should have taken your side. Back then….. But I chose to be silent and …..”

“Sh, sh….” Y/N caressed her hair “It’s in the past. We cannot dwell on that. We need to stick together now, that;s the only way….”

“Please, forgive me for everything …..”

“You did nothing wrong, my friend.” Y/n looked her straight into the eyes “you hear me? Nothing. We have to make hard choices sometimes and carry the results with us. But it doesn’t make us bad people. It does not make us monsters.” 

“Is that what you truly believe in?” a small, broken male voice came from behind and both girls turned around only to spot Nikolai, with disheveled hair and reddened face.

‘moi tsar” Genya try to bow, but Y/N stopped her from this

“not until the coronation.” He simply stated

“I will leave you two alone….”

“Y/N…”  Nik whispered taking a step forward trying to make her back away “I… I don’t even know how to begin expressing …..”

“Why are you here, Nik?” she fixed her gaze on the floor, not ready to look into his eyes

“I know everything now.”

“Which is?” now she raised head, single droplets falling down her cheeks “You know how I got the scars? Did they tell you how I was treated by everyone here? By Darkling? By your mother? By Apparat? Like no one.”

“I know….”

“Did your informer told you I created dozens of plans and strategies in case of any attack from Darling attack on your family and shared them with generals and they called me insane? Did they tell you I was a playtoy? Did you believe them only because you saw Genya damaged in similar way? Did they tell you…..” she broke and fell onto the ground, clutching her heart desperately. It was all coming back and she could not breathe, feeling the panic attack taking over her.    

“My love.” In a blink of an eye, Nikolai was next to her, embracing her, hoping she would not push him back. Luckily she clung to him tightly, searching for that safety and protection she always felt in his arms. He messed up. Really bad. And yet she wasn't figthing him. “Saints, I swear I never meant to cause you any harm.”

“I…. I…… I know….. I.... need to tell you the whole truth, you deserve it."

"You don't have to say a single word, darling."

"I want to..... I....." she took a sharp, shaking inhal ready to go on, but was stopped.

“No. Hush. I’m so sorry.” He kissed her head and pulled her closer “I can’t even tell you how, love. I was torn between being your Nikolai and the king everyone wants me to be. Guess I failed at both.”

 “No.” she shook her head and slightly moved away, but still staying in his arms “you… did not....”

“I did, my love, if it puts you in such state.”

“No.” she gulped “you, Nik, have the power to make Ravka a better place. To make everything better. I know it. And it comes with hard choices and  …..”

“And you should never be one of those. You are my priority and I;m sorry I was blinded.”

“Heavy is the head who wears the crown….” She quoted the poem they used to know and mock as children “guess we only understand the true meaning behind it now.”

“I love you….” he cupped her cheeks and wiped the tears away

“I love you too….”

“Can you forgive me?”

“As long as you promise to never doubt me in the future. And to talk to me if something bothers you. I will never cause you any harm.”

“Guess now you will have to.” He smirked “You’re gonna have to make us even.”

“Idiot.” She rolled her eyes “you are an idiot, moi tsarevich. Here, I just offended the head of the country. Is that enough for you?”

“That’s a start.” He smirked and captured her lips in his, slowly, gently, caressing her scared back at the same time. “I swear to you, everyone who ever hurt you will be punished. I will hit Kirigan with everything I have. And as for my mother.... mother of Ravka" he muttered "I should have known what my family was capable of. I am sorry, my love...."

"Just be better."

"I will do the best I can as long as you are by my side." she nodded" now, come on, we got job to do and I need you with me.”

“Ugh! After a kiss like that I was expecting a bit more of an apology..."

“I solemnly swear to continue once we are done. Is that worth waiting for?”

“Let’s hope you can live up to your promises, prince.”  

@bradleyroosterbradshawfr

@hauntedenthusiasttragedy

[corpsebasil]

heyy hope youre feeling ok! unis a bitch lmao, can you do one where y/n is betrothed/married to vasily and maybe shes a secret grisha? idk but shes sneaking around with nikolai but then vasily finds out or nikolai goes off to be sturmhond? something super angsty, you can decide how it ends! have funn

I have an idea but I’m not sure if it’s exactly what you want.

HESR ME OUT OKAY—

Warnings: cheating, smut, angst, etc 18+

^ that’s you getting caught with Vasily

Three years, seven months, eighteen days, three hours, and…six minutes since Vasily married you.

He isn’t abusive at all—not physically. He just likes to avoid you like the plague as if his Queen wasn’t the most important person in his life. If you’d wanted kids now you wouldn’t have them; Vasily had a son from his previous marriage, a union was was annulled after the girl was caught doing interesting things in a closet with her brother.

“I can excuse infidelity,” Vasily had said. “but not raw-dogging your family.”

Touche.

Now, somehow, it’s been a year since you’ve even laid eyes upon the King. He’s cozying up to foreign girls in the Southern cities, you assume. Vasily has never bothered to hide his own infidelities, of course, and you yourself have heard rumors of a bastard or two walking around the continent.

“You’re boring me.” A voice calls out and you glance up from your desk, your hand stilling over the paper’s you’ve been reading. Nikolai, slouched on the sofa in your private study, is barefoot and relaxed as he watches you work. “Entertain me.”

“I’m not a court jester.” You say, raising a brow as you look back to the paper. “Your brother’s son wants me to give him Sun Cast.”

“Sun Cast?” Nikolai snorts, tucking his toned arms behind his head. In a white button-up and rolled sleeves, dark pants perfectly cut against his strong legs, he looks absolutely sinful laid out the way he is. “Doesn’t Sun Cast have a Lord?”

“Yes, Lord Barlow. But your brother’s son—”

“He has a name.”

“—insists that he be given the castle upon his eighteenth name day.”

“A decent request for a future heir.”

“Sun Cast has more brothels and taverns than any city I’ve ever been to. More than any should have a right to have.”

“I know.” Nikolai smirks, wiggling his brows at you. “Excellent quality as well.”

Your annoyed look only makes him smile wider as you force yourself to scan the paper again, reading your brother’s son’s—Zorin’s—request. Finally you sign the document carefully, rolling it back up and pouring a wax seal onto the edge.

“I still don’t know why he couldn’t have just asked his father.” You continue, standing to tuck the paper into drawer. You’ll take it to the Council tomorrow. They can deal with Prince Zorin. “Vasily would’ve said yes without a second thought.”

“Yes but Vasily isn’t here,” Nikolai points out, standing as well to follow you out of the study. He stretches leisurely, a dramatic and slightly erotic sounding groan leaving him as he does so. At your unamused expression he winks. “and you are, my dear. Even if he had to wait a week he still got what he wanted.”

“He knows I can’t stand him.”

“I’m sure the feeling is mutual.” You roll your eyes as Nikolai approaches, lifting your chin up to meet his gaze. His fingers are warm on your jaw as his eyebrows furrow, expression suddenly more intent. “You’re doing a good job, you know. Being Queen. Everyone can see it.”

“All everyone sees are the endless meetings, and the bags under my eyes, and the other morning I snapped at a maid—”

“—and they still love you.” He interrupts smoothly, reaching up to use both his hands to cup your face. You pout, almost comically, and he grins. “Trust me. You are doing a good job. Vasily’s doing whatever he’s doing—”

“I know what he’s doing.”

“—and you’re here, keeping the kingdom together. We all commend you for it.”

You sigh and nod against his palms, peering up at him as he watches you for a moment. Your eyes narrow slightly and you give him a mischievous little smile.

“Why haven’t you ever requested Sun Cast, oh Lord of High-Quality Brothels?”

Nikolai’s answering smirk, followed by his words, make your blood run hot.

“I don’t need a brothel to make love to a beautiful woman, Your Majesty.” He says, cocking his head to the side. Your skin flushes pink as he tucks your hair behind your ears, his fingers lingering. “Or to admire one.”

You pull away, flustered and blushing, and it’s obvious Nikolai is holding back his laughter.

“Get out, you heathen.” You scoff, reaching over to grab the nearest rolled up piece of paper. You hold it like a weapon, armed and ready to defend your honor against visuals of Nikolai inside a brothel and what exactly he was doing in one. “Get out.”

“Hey, hey—hey!” Nikolai gasps dramatically when you whack him on the arm, then shrieks, diving out the door to your study as you give chase.

-

Three months later, Vasily brings his new mistress to court. High-born, of course, and very pretty, but it makes a mockery of not only your marriage, but also the crown.

“He can’t parade his whore around court for everyone to see.” Ser Dominik is ranting, halfway through the bottle of wine he and Nikolai have been sharing that evening. “I don’t care if he has bastards in the cities—we know about them. Bringing some woman from Saints knows where makes Y/N look like a cuck—”

“Easy.” Nikolai interrupts smoothly, raising a blond brow as his vivid eyes, such a startling blue, meet his best friend’s. “Don’t call her what you were about to call her.”

“Sorry.” Dominik mumbles, setting his goblet on the desk. He and Nikolai have been sequestered in the Prince’s rooms since dinner, talking about the red-headed beauty that had sat on the King’s lap all night. She’d fed him grapes and cheese from the platter in front of them, giggling shamelessly as you’d sat, stiff and annoyed, at the opposite end of the banquet table. “It’s just—Y/N…” Dominik trails off and Nikolai gives his friend a half-hearted smile.

“…is going to unleash Hell?” The prince offers. “I thought she was going a send her fork straight into the girl’s jugular when she had the audacity to refer to Y/N as Vasily’s ‘ball and chain’.”

Dominik laughs, then Nikolai does, and soon the two are shaking their heads in both disbelief and amusement.

“God, I hate your brother.” Dominik chuckles, taking a sip of wine. “No offense.”

“None taken.”

“You should check on her.” The knight suggests, raising a brow at Nikolai. “I’m sure she’d like to see you.”

“Me?” Nikolai’s brow raises in return. “Why me?”

“You know why.”

The silence that falls is tense and Nikolai swirls the wine around his glass, staring down at the purple liquid.

“I’m not sure what you’re suggesting.”

But he does.

In the past several months since you’d beaten him within an inch of his life with a piece of paper—his words, not yours—he’d grown closer to you. He spent as much time as he could—going to shows, spending evenings at the taverns you favored, even attending balls in distant cities as your guest.

He was your ‘date’, as some said. ‘Guest’, you’d both insisted.

But then there was the way he always found excuses to touch you. Holding your arm as you walked through the gardens together, teaching himself to braid your hair on cold nights when only books and the fireplace was your company, his hand on the small of your back as he directed you places, your smooth thumb wiping a trace of sugar from the corner of his mouth when you’d shared pastries together, his eyes always lingering on your soft, warm lips and—

“Don’t.” Nikolai blurts, his gaze darting up to Dominik’s open mouth. The poor knight hadn’t even begun to speak, yet.. “Don’t add fuel to the fire.”

The rumors, he means. Rumors of the way Prince Nikolai seems to gaze at you with lovesick adoration every time you look away.

“I’m not.” Dominik says, then blinks. “I won’t.”

“Good.” Nikolai stands abruptly and forces a stiff smile, lifting his brows to his friend. “I suppose I should check on our Queen, then.”

Dominik, watching his brother with a slightly amused smile, nods.

-

It’s a month later when Vasily decides to formally announce his mistress as his official lover. The entire court had been opposed, of course, to the diadem that had been placed upon the ginger’s head. You, seething and humiliated, had fled the throne room.

That night Nikolai arrives in your rooms to, as he refers to it, ‘talk shit’. You’re laughing and in a better mood than you could’ve hoped for soon, but then a knock hits your door.

“Lady Wife,” Vasily drawls, drunk and leaning heavily against the door of your chambers. Nikolai and you had been in the middle of a rather competitive card game. “Come with me.”

You had, to Nikolai’s dismay.

You’d endured it, knowing damn well that his mistress was sleeping in a room not far down the hallway.

You hate him.

Hate him.

-

“Don’t.” You start, almost two weeks later when Nikolai slips into your study, watching you organize your desk. “Don’t say it.”

“I miss you.”

You stiffen and clench the scroll in your hand, effectively crushing it.

“You let him have me.” You snap, then turn away. “I’m sorry. Don’t—”

“What would you have me do?” He breathes, coming up behind you to turn you around. You face him, eyes damp as he grasps your waist. “You have to talk to me, Y/N.”

“I wanted you to do something.”

“Do what?”

“It’s like—” you tuck your hair behind your ears, frustrated. “It’s like no one gives a shit that he’s disrespecting me every day. If anyone were to defend me I thought it would be you—”

“I cant.” He snaps, fingers digging into your skin. “I cant do a thing and I hate myself for it, trust me. Saints, if I could kill him I would—” he stops, noticing your wide-eyed gaze. “Forget that.”

“Nikolai.” You don’t even know what you’re begging for. “Please, just—” Please what? What?

“Y/N..” He groans, low in his throat, and leans into you, brushing your nose with his. “I want to protect you.”

“I know.”

“You shouldn’t be his. You shouldn’t be—you should be—“

“What?” You murmur, lips a fraction away from his. “Should be what?”

He grits his teeth and digs his fingers harder into you, making you gasp.

“Mine.” He finally says, reaching up to cup your neck in his hand. “You should be mine.”

The first kiss is bruising.

Youre both desperate, clinging to one another harshly as he tugs at the laces of your dress.

“Nikolai, you—“ you gasp, your eyebrows raising when he drops to his knees before you. His lips travel along your calf to your thigh, fingers tugging your underwear down in a quick movement: “Nik—” Your eyes roll back when he glides the tip of his tongue through your folds.

Fingers tangled in his hair you jolt, arching against him as he lashes his tongue against you, working you desperately towards your finish.

“Mmm..Nik—” You moan, nails scratching his scalp and he thrusts his tongue in and out of you, the warm muscle searching out the spot that makes you see stars. “Nik, I—”

He doesn’t let up.

You come against his mouth and gasp, his greedy tongue lapping up every inch he can reach. Then he’s lifting you onto your desk, scattering papers to the side.

“Please.” He mumbles against your mouth, hands tugging his pants down. “Please, I—”

Nikolai’s thrust is deep and quick, making you cry out into the skin of his shoulder. He grips you roughly, moving in sure, quick movements, slamming your cervix to Hell. Things on the desk rattle noisily, a several quills rolling off and hitting the floor. Your words are a jumble of moans and incoherent praise as he fucks you, hard and deep, making your head spin.

“Tell me you want me,” he begs, nipping the skin below your ear. “Tell me I’m yours.”

“Mine,” you gasp, walls pulsing around him as you reach a second peak. “fuck, Nikolai, yesyesyes—”

He groans as he finishes inside you, thighs hooked around his waist as his mouth crushes against yours, drawing your whimpers between his lips.

Moments later he sighs, burying his forehead into the crease of your shoulder.

“Still mine?” He questions, rubbing the ache out of your hips as your throat tightens.

“No.” You mumble, and he moves away.

Sorry

[wh0refornikolailantsov]

hiii! maybe one bed trope with Nikolai??? please!!

Don't mind if I do...

One Bed - Nikolai Lantsov

Content Warnings: Suggestive Content. Not Beta/Proof Read.

Nikolai Taglist: @hauntedenthusiasttragedy , @writingmysanity

You stare at Nikolai, arms crossed, an unimpressed look on your face and Nikolai tries not to smirk. "You didn't feel like mentioning this aspect of it all?" you ask, gesturing to the room. He shrugs.

"I said we would be having to pose as a husband and wife for this," he reminds you. "Mrs Sturmhond."

"So you did know this was going to happen," you state looking at the one bed in the room you've been given to share.

"I knew it was a possibility," he says, unable to keep the laughter from his voice.

"You are a scoundrel," you tease him, giving him a gentle shove.

"Come on," he gives you a smirk, and you want to do anything to keep him looking at you, "it could be worse."

"Could it now, pray tell," you joke.

"I could have sent Tolya to pretend with you," he offers, "he snores."

"Yes but at least Tolya is immune to my charm," you say.

"Oh is that what worries you love?" he asks. You give him the most convincing laugh you can.

"Not at all Captain," you say, "because you're sleeping on the floor."

"I am your Captain," he reminds you. "Besides if you cannot resist me just tell me as much and I will respect you conceding."

"You wish," you say, not meeting his eye. The look drops from that of a jokester to a more smug look, the longer you won't meet his eye.

"Oh, that really is the reason isn't it darling?" he asks.

"Stop talking," you tell him. "Or I will make you sleep on the floor."

You lay staring at the ceiling, trying desperately to think about anything else, literally any other thing than Nikolai beside you. You can feel the weight of his breathing, the heat of his skin radiating between you. You feel like you're going crazy.

"Love," he says, his voice heavy with sleep. "If you are getting this restless I can-,"

"It's fine," you say. "I just cannot get comfortable."

"Okay," he mumbles, rolling over and snaking an arm around your torso, pulling you closer to him, embracing you in the warmth and sleep. Your breath hitches and you feel yourself freezing up and he pulls his arm away instantly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-,"

"No," you reassure him, "it's fine. It's nice... I just wasn't expecting it."

"May I?" he whispers against your ear, you give a small nod and he returns to holding you. You can feel his heart beating against your back, the gentle exhales of breath against your skin.

"Nikolai?" you whisper into the darkness.

"Yes?"

"You fidgeting," you tell him, feeling the gentle taps of his fingers against the skin above your hip, a soft repeated pattern, soothing in its own right, but right now, with him, you feel like it is setting your skin on fire.

"Am I?" he asks.

"If you keep doing that, I can't promise I'll behave," you say honestly. His hand doesn't still, but you feel him chuckle. You realise he thinks you're joking. "Kolya," you say, voice coming out more sultry than you meant it to, but it wakes him from his sleepy state with a jolt. You turn your head to meet his eyes, a look of seriousness in them.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asks, a grin threatening to break his poise.

"No," you admit, rolling over to face him, "but I wouldn't advice you continue."

"Why is that?" he asks, nudging closer.

"Because we are in someone else's bed," you remind him. He chuckles.

"Fair point."

The sunlight flits in and the bright orange strips of light catch the dust floating, bringing you back to your consciousness. Nikolai's arms are still wrapped tightly around you, and his hair is all dishevelled with small wisps betraying the natural direction of his hair. You cannot help but smile at how soft he looks, and you gently correct some of the stray tendrils. A quiet laugh breaks through Nikolai's tired smile. "You okay there love?" he asks, not opening his eyes.

"Why do you call me that?" you ask, and his hand finds yours, lacing his fingers between yours.

"Because I like the way you blush when I do," he admits. You know his smugness is half of his charm but right now you want to shove him.

"We need to get up, they will be expecting us," you remind him. He shrugs slightly.

"I mean they think we are newly weds, they'd probably expect us to be a little late," he teases, running his thumb gently under your chin.

"Get up," you tell him, slipping out of bed. He watches you, sitting up.

"Why would I want to get up when I could stay right here, with you giving me that look?" he asks, crossing his arms over the bedsheet.

"Because if you get up, and we get those over with, I might just let you finish what you started," you say. And you're sure you've never seen Nikolai move so quickly.

"What are you waiting for love?" he asks buttoning up his shirt. "I am sure they're expecting us."

[littlest-w01f]

Shaken

"Overstimulation" with:

Stermhond x Reader

Kinktober 2024 Masterlist

Summary: Being unable to sleep at night on the Volkvolny, the Stermhond provides you with the perfect distraction

Cw: Overstimulation, fingering and oral!F receiving, MxF, Smut 18+ MDNI

As you stood at the rail, gazing out over the vast expanse of water stretching endlessly to the horizon, strong hands came to rest gently on your shoulders. The scent of salt spray and pine-filled your nostrils as a deep, rumbling voice spoke close to her ear.

"Sightseeing, little one?" The Stermhond asked, coming to stand beside you, hand draped over your shoulder. "Or perhaps... looking for a distraction?"

You turned to face him, taking in his ruggedly, slightly scared, handsome features. A smirk played at the corner of his lips as he looked down at you, his arm still resting on your shoulder.

"I… I was hoping to clear my head," You replied, barely above a whisper. You couldn't help but feel drawn to him despite not knowing him for long, despite the danger he represented. There was something about him that both excited and terrified you. "I've never been on a ship before... It's... Daunting... And I can't sleep"

The Stermhond chuckled, a low, sensual sound that made your heart race, his bold red hair framing his face a little, contrasting against his beautiful green eyes. "And what thoughts were troubling you so, little one? Perhaps I could provide a more… stimulating distraction."

"Is that an offer?" You teased, a coy smile playing across your lips. Despite everything you knew about pirates, or privateers, as he called himself, there was an undeniable allure to this man. His rough edges called out to the adventurous spirit inside you. "Because it seems like you're rather good at making them but would you be able to keep up?"

The Stermhond grinned, a playful glint sparking in his vibrant green eyes as he leaned in closer, bringing his face mere inches away from yours. He smelled like sea air and something undeniably masculine that made your knees weak. "Why, little one, when it comes to distractions, I'm an expert," He murmured, his voice a rich baritone that sent a thrilling shiver down your spine.

At that moment, surrounded by the endless blue expanse, the thrill of the unknown, and the intoxicating presence of this pirate, you felt a hunger stirring within you, a primal urge to surrender to the wildness that dwelled in these waters and in the man standing before you.

His breath ghosted over your skin, sending tingles racing through your body. You could almost taste the salt on his lips, the promise of adventure and forbidden pleasure hanging heavy in the salty air between you. His hand slid from your shoulder to cup your chin, tilting your face up to meet his intense gaze. "Tell me, sweet thing, what sort of distraction do you crave?" The Stermhond purred, his thumb stroking your lower lip as he waited for your response, emerald eyes burning with desire.

You kissed him hard, standing on your toes, as your lips met his, a growl of approval rumbled in his chest. The kiss was fierce, passionate, and filled with an unspoken promise of untamed pleasures yet to come. Your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling yourself even closer to him, your breasts pressing against his firm chest.

He began to peel off his layers, revealing muscles earned from the life at sea, each layer discarded leaving you wanting more. The sight of his muscular torso sent a jolt of arousal coursing through your veins.

With surprising strength, the Stermhond hoisted you on a single arm, breaking the kiss only momentarily as he walked back to his quarters inside his ship. Once inside his quarters, he tossed you onto the soft bedding, the motion, paired with the ship's movement causing you to bounce enticingly as you landed. With a predatory grin, he towered over you, his towering frame casting a shadow across your curves.

He pulled you up, singlehandedly undoing your corset, pulling your dress as he kissed you roughly, he wanted to hear his name from you, but his identity was too big a secret, "I want you moaning 'Nik' as I fuck you." As he spoke those words, pressing into you fully, adrenaline coursed through your veins, your heart pounding wildly in your chest. His rough kisses left you breathless, his hands exploring every inch of your body as if committing it to memory.

With a swift tug, he removed your remaining garments, exposing your bare body to the cool air of the cabin. The contrast of warmth and cold made your skin prickle, heightening your senses. He wasted no time in lowering his mouth to your breasts, taking a nipple between his lips and sucking hungrily.

You let out a gasp as he effortlessly undid your corset, pulling your dress down to reveal your cotton garments underneath. His touch was possessive, claiming every part of you as his own. His words echoed in your ears, sending shivers down your spine. "Nik…" You whimpered, feeling his hardness press against you through your clothing. The thought of being taken by him was both terrifying and exhilarating.

His calloused fingers trailed over your soft skin, tracing the curve of your waist and hips before settling on the apex of your thighs. He stroked your slick folds, teasing your sensitive bud as he watched your face contort with pleasure. "So responsive already," he mused, relishing how easily he could stoke the flames of your desire.

His fingers circled and rubbed, building delicious pressure as you writhed beneath him. You arched your back, pushing your breasts further into his hungry mouth as you gasped and moaned his name.

"Please," you panted, desperate for relief from the building tension. "More…"

With a wicked grin, he started to kiss down your body, kissing his way down your quivering stomach, he settled between your legs, spreading them wide to grant him unfettered access to your most intimate area. His hot breath fanned over your slick folds, sending waves of pleasure rippling through your body. He licked along your slit, tasting your sweetness, before focusing on your throbbing clit, flicking it with the tip of his tongue.

He descended upon your cunt, his tongue delving deep to lap at your slick folds. He groaned at the taste of your arousal, savouring the tangy sweetness as he explored every crevice. His hands gripped your thighs, holding you open for his ravenous ministrations.

He flicked his tongue rapidly over your clit, the stimulation sending shockwaves of pleasure through your core. At the same time, he thrust two fingers into your tight channel, curling them to stroke that sensitive spot inside that made your legs quiver.

"Nnngh, yes!" you cried out, your nails digging into his scalp as he worked you over with relentless fervour. The dual assault of his mouth and fingers had you teetering on the brink of climax, your inner walls clenching around his digits in anticipation.

He continued his oral assault, alternating between long licks and focused attention on your swollen nub. Your juices coated his chin as he lapped at your essence, the obscene sounds filling the cabin mixing with your increasingly loud moans.

As your peak approached, he doubled his efforts, sucking your clit between his lips and flicking it mercilessly with his tongue while pumping his fingers faster, deeper, determined to make you fall apart on his mouth.

"NIK!" Your cries reached a fever pitch as your orgasm crashed over you, your inner walls spasming around his plunging fingers. He worked you through it, prolonging your ecstasy until you collapsed back onto the bed, spent and panting.

As you rode out the aftershocks, gasping for air, he slowly withdrew his slick fingers, bringing them to his mouth to lick them clean, savouring the taste of you. "Mmm, you taste divine," The privateer hummed.

Rising above you, Sturmhond captured your lips in a searing kiss, forcing you to taste yourself on his tongue. He settled himself between your thighs, grinding his thick cock against your quivering cunt. You could feel how hard he was, how much he wanted you.

Breaking the kiss, he gazed down at you with raw, animalistic lust blazing in his eyes. In one smooth motion, he pushed himself inside you, stretching you deliciously around his girth. A low groan escaped him at the sensation of your heat enveloping him so perfectly.

Your cries echoed throughout the ship, a lewd symphony that only added to the eroticism of the moment. Each thrust of his cock sent vibrations through your body, amplifying the sensations. You could feel every vein, every ridge of his shaft buried deep within you, stretching you to accommodate his size.

"I'm going to ruin you for other men," He growled as he drew back and slammed into you again, setting a punishing pace as he took you hard and fast, the slap of skin against skin ringing out in the small space. "You'll only be mine."

Your moans increased in the wooden walls as he pounded into you relentlessly, the force of his thrusts making the bed creak ominously. Each plunge of his cock seemed to strike that magic spot deep inside, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through your nerves.

The privateer's grunts grew louder, more bestial, as he chased his own release. He hooked your knees over his elbows, angling you to take him even deeper, the head of his cock slamming against your cervix with each brutal stroke.

"Nik! Nik! Oh gods, yes!" you wailed, your voice hoarse from screaming. Your nails scored down his back as he ravaged you, the pain only serving to heighten your pleasure. The intense pleasure triggered your next climax, sending you spiraling into yet another mind-shattering orgasm. Your inner walls clenched and rippled around his cock, milking him for all he was worth.

As he stayed inside you for a long while, he pinched and pulled at your clit to make you cum on his cock, your juices gushing out and coating his shaft as he rolled his hips, grinding against you to prolong both your orgasms, your brain turning mushy from the overstimulation. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent as he shuddered and jerked above you. He bit down on your shoulder, panting heavily, he collapsed onto you, his weight pressing you into the mattress as you both struggled to catch your breaths. After a moment, he lifted his head to gaze down at you, a satisfied smirk playing about his lips. "Still think I can't keep up?"

Sturmhond's movements became erratic, driven by primal instinct as he neared his climax. His cock swelled within you, his balls tightening in preparation for release. He leaned down, capturing your lips once more in a bruising kiss, muffling your screams as another powerful orgasm tore through you simultaneously with your last one. He roared your name like a battle cry, his seed spurting into you in hot, pulsing jets.

"Not bad for an old man," You panted, a mischievous glint in your eye despite your exhaustion. Your words seemed to ignite something within him, a renewed surge of energy and lust. With a growl, he flipped you over onto your stomach, pulling your hips up to present yourself to him. His hand cracked across your ass, the sharp sting quickly followed by soothing caresses.

"You're playing with fire, little girl, besides, I'm only two years older than you." He warned, landing another hard spank, watching his cum spurt out of your cunt with each impact. He spread your cheeks, exposing your dripping cunt to his hungry gaze. Leaning in, he dragged his tongue through your slick folds, savouring the musky flavour of your cum mixed with his own seed.

His fingers probed your stretched opening, scooping up the creamy fluid before bringing it to his lips for a taste. "Mmm, look at you…so messy, so dirty…" He murmured, his voice a low, seductive purr. "I'm going to have to punish this naughty cunt."

Without warning, he plunged two fingers knuckle-deep into your soaked heat, curling them to rub that sensitive spot inside. His thumb found your clit, circling it firmly as he finger-fucked you with ruthless intensity.

You whined with your face pressed into the pillow, sound muffled as you screamed in pleasure. His rough handling sent waves of bliss coursing through your body, rendering you utterly helpless beneath him. You could do nothing but accept his brutal fucking, the slap of flesh echoing in the room with each powerful thrust of his fingers.

"Oh gods, yes! More!" You begged, your hips bucking back against his hand, seeking more of that exquisite torture. The feeling of being so thoroughly taken, so completely fucked, drove you wild with desire.

"That's it, take it like the desperate slut you are." He growled, adding all four fingers to your already stuffed cunt, thumb still massaging your swollen clit. The stretch burned so good, pushing you right to the edge of too much. Just when you thought you couldn't take anymore, he scissored his fingers inside you, spreading you open wider.

Tears streamed down your face from the overwhelming stimulation, drool pooling on the pillow below. Your entire body shook and twitched with pleasure, your mind hazing over with pure lust. He worked you closer and closer to another explosive climax, the pressure building in your core to unbearable levels.

His relentless assault on your cunt pushed you over the brink, your body convulsing as another orgasm ripped through you. Your inner walls clamped down on his invading fingers, rhythmically squeezing them as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over you.

As you came undone beneath him, squirting your release all over his hand and the bed, he continued his merciless fingering, continuing to pump his fingers in and out of your quivering cunt, drawing out your pleasure until you were a boneless, trembling mess. Finally, he slowed his movements, gentling his touch as he coaxed you through the final tremors. Only when your body went limp did he finally withdraw his drenched digits, admiring the sight of your gaping, twitching hole left behind.

With a wicked grin, he dived back into pleasuring your sensitive cunt. His tongue lapped at your wetness, savouring every drop of your sweet cum. He focused especially on your throbbing clit, flicking it mercilessly with his tongue.

He licked and sucked at your sensitive flesh, alternating between broad strokes and teasing flicks, keeping you balanced precariously on the knife's edge of sensation.

"Too much," You cried out, buckling your hips as he held them still, it felt like you could cum from a single touch by him, "Ah-"

Your legs began to tremble, threatening to give out entirely if not for his firm grip on your hips. He could feel you teetering on the brink again, your body tensing, preparing for another shattering climax. With a final, hard suck on your clit, he sent you hurtling over the precipice once more, your vision whiting out as rapture consumed you.

Your orgasm crashed over you like a tidal wave, leaving you gasping and shuddering helplessly beneath him. He rode out the aftershocks with you, his tongue never ceasing its relentless assault on your oversensitive clit until you were a whimpering, spent mess.

Finally, he pulled back, giving your abused clit one last tender lick before crawling up your body to claim your lips in a searing kiss. His tongue delved deep, tasting himself on your tongue, mingling with the remnants of your own arousal.

Breaking the kiss, he looked down at you, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction and a hint of cruel amusement. "So many orgasms in one session? That's impressive," He mused, wrapped an arm around you.

His laughter rumbled through his chest as he gathered you close when he noticed your dropping eyes, tired, your sweaty bodies pressing together intimately. He rolled onto his side, pulling you with him so that you lay draped across his broad frame. One large hand stroked idly along your spine while the other tangled in your damp hair, gently massaging your scalp. For several long moments, you simply lay there, basking in the afterglow. Gradually, your breathing slowed, and heart rates returning to normal, eyes dropping shut.

[heyimadison]

madison’s recs: may 2024

okay listen I know I said I would do better but this month was a busy one for me! I graduated, had a whole situationship, went to see noah kahan, and started practically working every position at my job (i’m so tired). anyways, THESE authors have been my lifeline through the haze of it all. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!! 🩷🩷

grishaverse

— nikolai lantsov

garnets and silver @happyhauntt

dcu

— jason todd

it’s so sweet @angelfic

challengers

— Art Donaldson

the pro 2 @youvebeenlivingfictional

stranger things

— steve harrington

everytime every corner @rustedhearts

pjo

— clarissa la rue

the trees fate @breadbrobin

acotar

— azriel

tattos older than you @surielstea

shut out @azsazz

penance @↑

out of order @↑

all’s well that ends well @↑

The nature of things @↑

poison awake @hattiewritesalot

@cafekitsune divider creds!!

[corporalicent]

i was enchanted to meet you

nikolai lantsov x katya tarasova (original character)

"The most unwilling man to get married, Vasily Lantsov got engaged with Katya Tarasova, a lady from a nobel Ravkan family. Their engagement was celebrated until rumors of his younger brother’s return flooded the scene. “Prince Nikolai has returned to his family!” everyone said.

Upon his return to the palace, the lady and the found prince started to spend a lot of time together, the time her fiancé doesn’t spend with her. In that period of time, they became good acquaintances and an alliance in the court. But this friendship will turn to something more."

chapters: 1 (text edit: 01/09/23) / 2(coming soon)

[undiscovered-horizon]

"Sea shanties" - Nikolai Lantsov x Reader

[mentions of a minor injury and blood]

SUMMARY: Alina catches Sturmhond in a surprising moment of weakness when he's quietly watching you sing to yourself and fix the net.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 2.7k

>>Grishaverse-inspired playlist&lt;<

☽ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ☾

The cold wind nips at your exposed skin and part of you beckons you to return under the deck to finish sewing the net back together. But you dread returning among the sailors: despite truly being a lovely bunch, their constant chattering and liveliness can wear you out. The berths and cabins are warm, yes, but the sea is silent, predictable and, most of all, doesn’t expect engagement. As long as you let her be, she leaves you alone in return. Here, where cold wind tugs at your clothes and saltwater spray your face, you can finally take a deep breath and relax your tense shoulders. Stitching the nets is a very monotone, maybe even boring, activity but it’s exactly what you need. Your hands fix the knots on their own, guided by experience, allowing your mind to let go of duties and worries, to slip away into much more pleasant thoughts.

“I’ll wander, weep and moan. All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home,” you sing barely above a whisper. Truthfully, you can’t recall where you learned the song. It’s as if you’ve always known it, the melody haunting you whenever you’re getting lost in thought.

Alina lets out a sigh of relief when she finally finds Sturmhond. For a moment she was really considering whether he could snap his fingers and vanish. He’s leaning against the doorframe but his broad shoulders still block most of the view of the deck. Sturmhond is completely oblivious to her presence and Alina has a bit too much spite in her to let the opportunity go. She quietly approaches him, harbouring a wicked hope that maybe she can scare him and single-handedly rub away that smug smirk of his.

She stops a pace or two behind him, taking in a deep breath to yell right into his ear. "Sturmhond, I-"

But the privateer is quick to silence her:

"Keep your voice down!" he hisses at Alina.

The Sun Summoner frowns at the privateer. Not only did she not scare him but also seems to be interrupting something. And considering his wish to keep things quiet, Sturmhond is doing something he knows he shouldn’t. She stares at him through half-closed eyes, beaming with suspicion, when she hears a faint hum distracting her from constructing some passive-aggressive remark. Alina recognizes your voice, although it sounds a lot softer than what she’s used to. Being the boatswain, you’re mostly heard yelling out orders for the maintenance crew that you’re watching over; forcing seafarers to tie perfect knots, no matter how many tries it takes them and raising Hell for the smallest error in repairing sails. Even if you might come off as harsh, credit is due as Volkvolny’s sails and equipment are kept impeccable. Your discipline has definitely played a significant part in Sturmhond’s successful betrayal of the Black General.

Listening in, over the howling wind and crashing waves, Alina and Nikolai eavesdrop on the sombre song you’re singing quietly to yourself — a story of a woman mourning her lover who never returned from the sea. Despite the heaviness of the words leaving your mouth, your voice is rid of dread as though such a woeful story is nowhere near relatable to you. Alina doesn’t notice that detail but Sturmhond surely does. In fact, it brings him a sense of relief: after all, how could he compete with a dead man for your love? 

A mischievous smile creeps onto Alina’s face as she’s looking between you and Sturmhond. As far as she can tell, you’re completely oblivious to the small audience watching you go about your duties. The sailor, however, is unable to control his soft expression and that lovesick, mellow look in his eyes. To be honest, Sturmhond looks so removed from reality, he might actually be unaware that there are more people in the world than just him and you.

“So, genius privateer Sturmhond, the fright of the sea is in love with the boatswain,” Alina whispers, barely holding in an impish snicker, “but instead of his usual bravado he cowers away, settling for watching her from afar like a creep.”

He seems to ponder her words for a moment, nodding his head ever so slightly. “That is a bit embarrassing, isn’t it?” he asks. Nikolai appears to be well aware of his affliction but rendered powerless in the face of his heart’s desire, he can only accept the state of things.

“I wanted to say pathetic but either way works.”

Sturmhond looks at Alina out of the corner of his eye but only for a moment, unwilling to waste any more time not admiring you. “Wouldn’t it be more pathetic to be the best privateer in all of Ravka’s history but not know love?”

Alina clenches her fists. She puckers her lips, suddenly feeling hot as blood rushes to her face. Saints have mercy - he’s right. The sole act of seeing eye to eye with the blond man isn’t as terrible as the act of admitting it and stroking his ego. “I hate to say it but I agree,” she grits through her teeth.

Nikolai notices her discomfort. He doesn’t hide a certain satisfaction in the effect he has on her - it’s amusing to see her paper mache confidence falter, although he is painfully aware that this will prove problematic later on. “Oh my, I might think you actually tolerate me.”

She forces herself into a contemptuous scowl - it’s a little overdone to be considered natural. “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Alina dismisses him.

“You know, I might be an incredible captain and all but without her…” Sturmhond shakes his head. His eyes follow your barely noticeable movements as you weave the net back together. “This whole ship would have already sunk.”

But she doesn’t believe him - not entirely. If she is to believe Tamar, and Alina doesn’t have much reason not to, Sturmhond chose Volkvolny despite having more captain-worthy vessels available. “Somehow, I don’t believe you’d allow that.”

“Right. If she wasn’t on this ship, I wouldn’t be either.”

Alina almost comes to the conclusion that you’re the sole reason he chose Volkvolny to be his flagship but she mostly dismisses that thought - Sturmhond may be doting but he’s far from completely losing his mind. He simply doesn’t give the impression of someone who’d shuffle his life around just to be able to creep on his boatswain. Little did she know at the time but the strangeness and dread the future holds is going to prove her wrong.

Their conversation is halted when one of the sailors on night watch passes by them. Alina recognizes him by the burn mark spreading across the right side of his face. Tolya called him ‘Marquis’. His long, blond hair sway in the cold wind. As he’s carrying a heavy crate from starboard to port, he’s quietly singing along to your song with certain carelessness as though he’s not entirely aware he’s doing it:

“My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold. There is nothing can console me-”

Alina yawns. She’s had a long, exciting day and tomorrow is not going to be any easier, that she’s sure of. Whatever she wants to tell Sturmhond will have to wait until dawn when the captain wriggles free of his heart’s restless desires. Even though at first she’s annoyed that she has to wait because Sturmhond decided to play a lovesick teenager, she quickly finds it may be for the best: an in-depth discussion will surely erupt between the two of them and doing so when the moon is high just doesn’t seem like the best idea. Aside from that, she can really use a few more hours of sleep.

The Sun Summoner murmurs something resembling ‘Goodnight’ to Sturmhond and turns around to go back to the room she shares with Tamar, when a great wave shakes the ship, throwing her against a wooden wall. Despite the impact not being exceptionally painful to her, she’s sore anyway, the sound of it carried quite well.

Hearing a thud, you look up out of reflex. Glancing around the deck, your watchful eyes stop on Sturmhond, who’s staring back at you. The privateer gives the impression that you’ve just become privy to a side of him he’s not so keen on showing. Perhaps ‘side’ doesn’t quite mirror the idea. ‘Layer’ seems more fitting. It’s as though he dropped the facade of quick wit and evasive answers, only to show the exhaustion of a man carrying the world on his shoulders for a day too long. Despite the silence and distance between you, this staring feels intimate; both of you are showing something raw to one another in the gullible hope that the other will keep it secret.

He appears different, more calm than smug, than he does during the day, although still beautiful enough to make you flustered. Truly, he looks like he breaks the hearts of naive girls for a living. Despite that, as well as your experience with sailors in general, you found yourself craving his attention. Whether it’s intentional or not, Sturmhond has the ability to make people feel seen and their efforts acknowledged. Considering that establishing your position among sea dogs as a woman is a real challenge, maybe it was your hurt ego that clawed at any possibility or delusion of your exceptionalism. And maybe the privateer never intended for you to be hopelessly in love with him. Sure, the two of you have flirted back and forth but you never assumed it means as much to him as it does to you. It’s just the way he is, right?

A sharp, stinging pain in your finger makes you yelp. Discarding fantasies about the blond man in an awful frock coat, you look at your sore hand, now noticing a drop of crimson slowly rolling down your skin.

“Well, shit,” you whisper to yourself.

You put the bleeding finger against your lips. It’s a small cut, it shouldn’t bleed longer than a minute or two and then you can get back to-

“Are you alright?”

Sturmhond’s worried tone elicits mixed but engaging feelings from you. On one hand, you’re giddy at any crumb of attention he gives you. On the other hand, you just failed at the second easiest maintenance job a ship can have - one Hell of a way to make a good impression on the captain that always seems to fall on four paws.

“Yeah, just pricked my finger with a needle fixing the net. Nothing fatal.”

“Why are you doing this anyway? You’re a boatswain. This is a deckhand’s job,” he says as he grabs the net from your hands and tosses it aside.

“Believe it or not but I actually enjoy this. It’s peaceful, helps me get my mind off of things.”

He gives you a cocky half-grin. “Pricking your finger is just a tasteful addition, I presume?”

“Oh, you know, just trying to enrich things,” you joke back.

Sturmhond lets out a quiet, resigned sigh. Of course, you told everyone to go to sleep and finished the odd jobs yourself. “Have Tamar look at this,” he says in a soft voice. Despite the suddenly mild demeanour, his smug expression stays in place. “I’ll get someone else to finish.”

“Alright, captain,” you reluctantly agree. “But can it wait a few minutes? I like it here.”

Your gaze returns to the sapphire waves and black firmament, the line of horizon barely distinguishable between them. To your own surprise, Sturmhond sits down next to you on a barrel. “Just a few,” he says insincerely. You may not know it but he’s willing to sit there with you for much longer than a few minutes. 

Volkvolny bobs on the waves, headed somewhere in the South-East direction. Cold water sprays on your face and clothes but you don’t mind it. It’s quite refreshing. Only now do you notice how quiet the ship is. Most of the crew must already be asleep, revelling in the few hours of rest they have until dawn. The thought of sleeping sailors makes you aware of your own exhaustion, both physical and mental.

You barely stifle a yawn. Too tired to think twice, you lay your head against Sturmhond’s shoulder. He doesn’t shy away, quite the contrary - he wraps his arm around you, pulling you closer to his torso ever so slightly. He smells like expensive, imported cologne and seaweed. The fragrance is hardly likable but you’ve grown to earn some masochistic pleasure from it simply because it belongs to him. The blue frock coat he’s wearing feels nice against your skin.

“Why do you always sing that song?” he asks after a few minutes of silence.

“I always sing or hum doing manual jobs. It’s a habit I can’t kill,” you answer quietly. It’s hard to keep your eyes open and you can hear your words starting to slur. “I grew up in Novokribirsk. I know a lot of shanties.”

“Know anything happier than mourning a sailor?”

“Hardly,” you let out a tired chuckle. “Somehow, sailors have an aversion to happy songs. There’s one you might like.” You clear your throat, trying to recall the song from your cloudy, tired memories. “I’m a broken man on the Os Kervo pier, the last of Ravka’s privateers.”

Sturmhond furrows his eyebrows and he shakes his head in disapproval. “No, it’s still depressing.” Whether he means to or not, his finger is gently brushing circles against your arm.

“Alright, another one, um… Oh! Don’t haul on the ropes, don’t climb up the mast. If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last.”

“Ominous and tedious. I’m actually surprised you can put both in one song.”

To Sturmhond’s dissatisfaction, you pull away from him. Still, the distance between you is considerably small and you feel each other’s breaths on your skin. With half-lidded eyes out of exhaustion, you give him a wide smile. His breath shakes in his chest.

“You know, you might be the most optimistic sailor I’ve ever met,” you confess.

He could kiss you right now. Saints only know how much he wants to. If the odds are in his favour, and his vanity would like to think they are, you might even kiss him back. Or at least not slap him. Would your lips feel soft and warm against his? Would you taste of saltwater and rye bread like he always imagines? Would you giggle nervously after? In that specific way that makes him forget to breathe?

But Sturmhond can only hope your tired mind can’t compute his nervousness. “Does that title come with a prize?”

“Well, I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Is being the most optimistic sailor truly worth such honour?” he says in an overly dramatic tone. He jokingly puts his hand on his chest. “Are you not underestimating your presence, my lady?”

“You get extra credit because I like you. A lot.” 

Sturmhond swallows nervously. Since when does he get nervous around women? For a moment you’re just staring at each other again. The desire to push his lips against yours is back flooding his mind, now stronger and more desperate than before. The first chance might have been a coincidence but the second… He slowly leans in, watching your face for any signs of discomfort. But you look just as lovely as you did in the morning. His nose almost brushes yours and-

“I might have a happy one,” you suddenly speak up. You look back at the sea, furrowing your eyebrows in deep thought. “Saints, how did it go?” you whisper to yourself. “Prick your finger, it is done. Roll her out and spread her wings, the time has come for better things.”

Having mastered self-control, Sturmhond doesn’t make his disappointment visible. The third time’s the charm, right? “First one that doesn’t make me want to drown myself.” The bitterness in his voice is almost inaudible but you’re too tired to notice.

“I’ll sing you the whole thing but that has to wait until morning, alright?”

“I’m holding you to that.”

His heart quickens its beat when you lay your head back on his shoulder. He should probably tell you to go back to your berth and get some sleep but maybe it can wait a few minutes? He likes it here.

[rajghafa]

“Salvatore” — Nikolai Lantsov x Fem!Reader

SUMMARY: She had fell in love with Nikolai Lantsov a long time ago, but her feelings were kept a secret, between so many tragedies and not sure of what his reaction would be, she had never before uttered a word about it, until they both had a evening alone in the sea.

A/N: this is one of the fics I am reposting because I accidentaly deleted my old account lmao, it was a request of a celebration on mine, based on “Salvatore” by lana del rey, but I have rewritten some stuff and honestly I don't think it s that related to the song any more? anyways, you can still hear it while you read it tho! and omg I have totally lost the ability of writing a summary. Anyways, I hope you all like it, feedback is always welcomed!

WARNINGS: English is not my first language.

WORD COUNT: 2.090

[MASTERLIST] [MOODBOARD]

She looks at Nikolai with gleaming eyes, taking in how the wind agitated his hair, making his curls rise and show more of his face. Sometimes she would simply follow him with her eyes, satisfied with watching his movements, it calmed her, a soothing moment between everything they had to solve. Today was a rare day, both of them taking time to escape for at least some hours, only them in one of Nikolai's small boats, just on the like old and distant days.

Nikolai seemed so relaxed and fulfilled now that it was impossible for her to not smile, trying to disguise it by turning her face away from him, staring at the horizon. It was hard to be around him once she realised her feelings were turning into something else, something different from only friendship. Most of the time she can control herself, not giving him so many looks or smiling that kind of smile, but it eventually got harder, and she had to distance herself from him, bury herself with work, and find new things to learn. 

Now was one of those moments where she could barely breathe, overwhelmed with feelings, her heart beating in that fast rhythm she had grown accustomed to. Thankfully, the smile was gone, and she focused on counting every single piece of rock she could see on the small piece of land in the distance, but it was to no use, since her thoughts insisted in remembering that was the first island her and Nikolai had found alone when they were teenagers, it became a property of the crown as soon as Nikolai could convince his father. It was such a small thing, really, but it was a beautiful place, a refugee.

The sound of a sigh  made her look in his direction again, and her heart started to spiral in her chest, her breath was slow to come, the moment seemed to be passing by in slow motion. Everything was excruciating to look at, especially the golden boy across from her.

Nikolai's curls shone brightly, his white skin now seemed ivory, and his cheeks had that adorable tone of pink. He had never been so hard to be around like now, she had to force herself to tear her eyes from him, to not think about how warm his skin would be now, how good it would feel to stretch her arms and finally touch him, to allow herself to appreciate him in full form. Sometimes she'd think that Nikolai seemed to be always frozen in summer, a particular sun illuminating his face, but never had she seen him exactly like that, shining like now.

As if they had a life of their own, her eyes trailed back to him, watching as he threw his head back, resting it against the boat, exposing his neck adorned with his two favourite necklaces that now shone brightly because of the sun rays reaching them. His shirt had the three buttons open, showing more of his chest as the wind blew strongly once again. It made her eyes wander more, to places she had prohibited herself to think about, places she should not look.

She felt it then, that he was about to open his eyes and was fast to look away, turning her attention to the sea and closing her own eyes to try to erase those thoughts from her mind. Trying to focus on the sound of the sea proved itself useless, so instead she started to count, which was also useless once the prince opened his mouth.

“Why were you staring?” She can hear the smirk on his voice.

Of course, he felt it too, the same way she could feel it, would just know when it was his eyes on her. She tried to not think about it too much, they did have a connection, that was impossible to deny, but it didn't have to be romantic, she also knew that, and she tried to not see things where there weren't any.  So when she somehow knew it was him staring or that he was about to say something or when she would turn around before he had even touched her, she would simply decide it was their years of close friendship together, it was that and only that.

“Shut up.” she says with a chuckle.

“If that's your wish, darling.” Nikolai jokes, making her roll her eyes, “where’s the bottle?”

She grabs the Kvas bottle by her side, extending her arm to him, “haven’t you drunk enough?” 

Nikolai scoffs, a playful smile gracing his lips right after, “what’s enough for the King of Ravka?”

She smiles sadly, it was a joke, yes, but she could still hear the tiredness in his voice, and she knew how hard everything had been since he was crowned.

“You tell me.” she says, relaxing against the boat once again.

Nikolai opens his mouth, and then closes it again. “I was not… I don't really think I wanted to say that,” he sighs.

She tilts her head, worried, “it's okay, I understood it.”

He gives her a small smile, “you always do.”

Her heart beats a bit stronger, and afraid her voice might betray, she simply nods. She takes advantage of the moment he is serving himself and repeats Nikolai's previous actions and throws her head back, closing her eyes to avoid looking directly at the sun. It takes mere minutes, though, until she feels it, a burning and familiar feeling coursing through her body. He is staring at her.

She tries to stay quiet, not move and keep her eyes closer, waiting to see if the feeling will go away. Something feels different this time, something heavy in the air, and she is hesitant to open her eyes and joke about how he is the one staring now. Her insides seem to burn, unquietness consuming her and making her leave out a sigh, escaping her lips before she can think better, she hopes it sounds like a relaxed one, but deep down she knows Nikolai can always decipher her.

Like words being whispered in her ear, she finally gives up and searches for his face, afraid of what she might find.

It was like looking at him for the first time.

Nikolai was already staring at her like she felt, but never before had his eyes looked like that. Never before had she felt as if the surrounding air was heavy and buzzing with electricity. Something unspoken grew between them, while they stared at each other in silence, hypnotised by one another. His eyes seemed to burn, and in correspondence her skin seemed to be singing to him, as if asking for the fire to get closer.

She felt like floating, feeling the warmth of the sun while your back was cold from the water, like her body was being consumed by every single feeling she had buried for so long. 

At the beginning, before her feelings had developed to something more, every time they would hang out, it was like walking in paths only they could see, as if Nikolai could create a new universe for them, they were young and naive, and they would play almost all day. Soon they were both teenagers and their games became more of adventures, they would escape late in the night and only return in the morning, they would secretly learn how to sail and join parties in disguises. Somewhere between all those adventures and laughs, she had fallen in love, it had no use in denying what it was. Sometimes she would still refer to it as only feelings, but she knew what it was. Knew it since the day she could still feel his touch lingering on her skin even after hours passed, since the day his smile became her own sun, and his tears a dark night. But so much had happened, so much was still happening, and she just never had the chance to tell him. There is also the fact that she doesn't know how he will react, if he will reciprocate the feelings and even if he did, if it would be possible for them to have anything. And now those same paths only they walked were a maze, they would still find each other at every turn, but there were too many things left unsaid, waiting.

His hazel eyes seemed to shift, reading her face, searching for something, and before she could say anything, he leaned in and grabbed her hand. He had found what he was looking for. His fingers entwined with her own, summer was cold compared to how warm his skin felt against hers. She wished to never let go of him ever again.

Her heart was undecided, not knowing if it would beat crazily or stop right there. Nikolai looks down at their hands for just a second before searching for her eyes again and letting it go to trail his fingers up her skin. His light, feathered touch, finally bringing the fire she so desperately wanted it to consume her.  He stops at her shoulder, gently pulling her closer, even then, a small smirk is forming at the corner of his lips, and his eyes are filled with what she can only describe as desire. Her heart decides it then.

Nikolai watches her, observing how her eyes move to his lips and then back to his face again, the smirk he has is quick to disappear once she closes her hands on his wrist and moves it to her face, her touch had not ever felt like this before. It feels like she is dancing, so enchanting and agile.

“Nikolai,” she whispers, and  her voice never had been so vicious as that. Nikolai could beg for her to speak again, he wants to hear her non-stop, his name had never been said like that. “Do you…” she trails off, seeming to rethink her words, but he has no time for that, he wants to hear her again, desperately needs to know what is going through her mind. He can understand her, he always can, but he needs to hear it this time.

“What, darling?” He asks, not bothering to hide the desperation in his tone.

“I want you.” 

His body answers first, his fingers that were now on her cheek cupping her face, pulling her even closer, his own body already leaning in. He stops then, mere inches away from her face, “If that's your wish.” He whispers, not knowing how he was able to form these words, but happy he did when he watches her smile.

She moves and closes the distance, Nikolai holds a breath now that their foreheads are touching.

“Sometimes,” she leans in just enough for her lips to brush against his, making him sigh and tension beneath her, “I feel like I was made just for you.”

Before Nikolai can respond to her confession, her lips are pressing against his. His brain short-circuits, overwhelmed, but his body does what he so fiercely wants. It feels like everything he wished for, it feels better than that. His free hand searches for her desperately, pulling her into his lap. Nikolai wants nothing more than to never stop, he has waited for this for too long.

When they do back away, he can only hope she can feel the same, that she can feel him singing to her, heart beating so fast he might collapse. 

“Or, that we were made for each other.” She whispers then, eyes hazy and dreamy. 

Nikolai doesn't even know where to begin, how to answer, there are too many words to say, too many things to confess, and this uncontrollable desire to kiss her until he gets drunk.

“Do you see that?” She asks, vulnerability taking over her features now, worriedness dripping from her voice. Her fear was senseless, Nikolai thinks, because no man loved her as he did.

“I would be an idiot not to see,” Nikolai kisses the corner of her mouth in awe, “how could I not see, my darling?”

They kiss again, messier than before, all the confessions so strongly kept hidden now coming out. Every stolen glance, every joke told just to hear each other laughs, every lingering touch pushing them closer.

“I dreamt of you for a long time.” He confesses, holding her face so that she can stare at him. “I’ve seen it all along.”

“Nikolai,” she whispers his name, happy tears filling her eyes.

“You’re meant for me.”

[iliveiloveiwrite]

Confessions and Confidences // Nikolai Lantsov

Request: what about a nikolai fic with the "there was only one bed" trope? IM A SUCKER FOR THAT TROPE PLEASE- something like nik and the reader went somewhere like ravka ovest (during siege and storm/ruin and rising) to promote his return and they end up staying for the night in a hotel somewhere but it wasnt the one they made a reservation in so there's only one room. - @the-massive-simp

A/N: Thank you so much for your request! I am so sorry it has taken me so long to write it, but I have to tell you - I loved writing this so much. I hope you like it, and I hope I have done it justice.

Warnings: female reader, pining, mutual pining, lots of feelings, friends to lovers, one bed trope, fluff, cute.

Word count: 2k+

“Tell me how I did… honestly,” Nikolai requests, loosening his tie and rolling his shoulders to relieve the tension that had built there over the last three hours.

The carriage jostles you from side to side, leaving you faintly nauseous as you meet the eyes of the Ravkan prince. A fond smile creeps over your face. “You had them eating out the palm of your hand.”

Nikolai pauses; his fingers a freezing on the tight Windsor knot of his tie. He meets your gaze only fleetingly, but long enough for you to see the insecurity hidden in those crystalline blue eyes. Nikolai returns to his ministrations, fiddling with the navy blue tie as he asks you. “Do you think so?”

He huffs before giving up with the tie. You roll your eyes, scooting forward on the carriage bench, reaching for the wrinkled material. “I don’t think,” You murmur, working on the tightened knot. “I know so. I was in the crowd, Nikolai. I hear every gasp of awe and every hum of agreement.”

Nikolai’s gaze fixes on your face, searching for what he does not know, but his eyes do not leave your face as you battle with his godforsaken tie.

Silence falls in the carriage as you work with his tie, feeling it begin to loosen. A shout of victory rings true when the navy material gives way and Nikolai feels the tie relent. Satisfied, you sit back, crossing your arms over your chest. “I know,” You laugh, “I’m amazing.”

Nikolai snorts, tipping his head in recognition of your talent. “Of course,” He drawls, “I would never have done it without you… or the valet riding in the carriage behind us.”

Pouting childishly, you kick his shin. “Hush,” You say, “You know you would never survive without me.”

“Naturally,” He answers with a coy grin.

You smile at each other; unabashed, joyful smiles that leave your cheeks hurting in a matter of moments. You meet each other’s gaze; a silent battle breaking out over who will break and look away first as the tension begins to build. A tension that had become more and more noticeable over the last few months; feelings that you thought you had long since buried making their way to the surfaced with every touch, every laugh and every glance sent your way by the blue eye prince sat across from you.

You break first, turning your face to stare out of the window. “So,” You state, clearing your throat. “Are we heading back to Ravka tonight?”

Nikolai shakes his head. “It’s far too late and I think we all deserve a rest. I had someone ride ahead to find a hotel for the night.”

“Lovely,” You sigh, already dreaming of the bubble bath that awaited you.

Nikolai laughs, settling further into his seat as he lets any anxieties over tonight leave him in a rush. Instead, he thinks of the warm, comfortable bed waiting for him in his hotel room.

—————————————————————————

The scout Nikolai had sent out earlier meets the royal party close to their hopeful destination. Nikolai thanks the scout, promising him extra money in his wage packet and a day off for himself and his horse to recover.

Shocked by the prince’s generosity, the scout leads the party to the hotel in silence, thinking of what he would do with his newly awarded day off.

As the carriage stops outside the hotel, it becomes clear that it isn’t grand but rather a family run establishment that looks well loved. Nikolai exits the carriage and falls for its charms. He greets the owner with a warm handshake.

“We are honoured for your business,” The owner states, bowing at the waist.

“We are honoured to be your guests,” Nikolai replies, gesturing to you and the rest of the party.

The owner smiles. “I have provided my best rooms, but I’m afraid you may have to share if that is no trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” You smile, seeing the stress leave the owner’s face. “If you would give us the room keys, we can allocate ourselves.”

“Of course,” The owner allows, returning to his desk to find the keys he had put aside earlier.

You turn to Nikolai in the meantime. “How do you want to do this?”

Nikolai shrugs; he goes to speak but is interrupted by his valet, Roberts. “Sir,” Roberts begins, “With all due respect, we have already sorted ourselves out.”

“Oh?”

Roberts nods. “We often have to share on the road so we tend to stay with the same partners. It would seem that yourself and Miss (Y/N) may have to share this time too.”

You pause for thought, glancing at Nikolai. “Thank you, Roberts,” You dismiss with a friendly smile. You watch Nikolai watching the hotel owner hand everyone their room keys before he stops in front of you both.

“Your room key, your highness.”

Nikolai takes the key with a simple nod of gratitude. The owner smiles before departing. The rest of the party have disappeared, noting the time and the early start in the morning.

“Come on,” You murmur, nudging Nikolai to get a move on. “There’s a bath with my name on it and you’re holding the key.”

Nikolai breaks out of his trance, smiling in a way that could disarm entire armies. “Well, we wouldn’t want that. Would we?” He offers you his arm. “Are you sure you don’t mind sharing with me?”

“No,” You answer, fixing him with an unimpressed look. “I don’t mind so long as I have dibs on the bed closest to the window.”

The blue eyed prince laughs. “Deal.”

It’s a short walk to your shared room. Up a flight of stairs and along the corridor to the fourth door on the right. You quash yawn after yawn on the walk to the room, feeling your bones grow heavier as the tiredness begins to settle in. Finally, one yawn escapes you just as Nikolai slides the key into the lock.

“Will I have to fish you out of the bath when you inevitably fall asleep in there?”

You scoff. “Of course not. I’m wide awake.”

“Sure you are.”

“Stop arguing with me and open the door, Lantsov,” You command in time to his laughter.

“As you wish.”

The door clicks open to reveal a small and modest room. The late summer sun bathes the room in a warm light showcasing the bathroom to the left of the entrance, a single cream armchair and a bed.

A lone bed. One bed. Big enough for two, but not what was expected.

You pause at the sight of it. Numerous pillows and a duvet that all but screams comfort and coziness – they taunt you as you know this could be a problem.

“I’ll take the chair,” You announce, hauling your things to the corner of the room, ready to make camp for the night.

“Absolutely not. I’ll take the chair. You have the bed.”

“You’re royalty. Your title deems you to have the bed.”

“I’m also a privateer and have slept on much worse than an arm chair.”

You glare at the stubborn blonde. “It seems we’re at an impasse.”

“I agree. What shall we do?”

You sigh, “Look, I’m exhausted and you’re practically dead on your feet. I’m fine with sharing the bed if you are.”

Nikolai hesitates for a single moment before agreeing. You smile, happy that things are settled. “I’m still sleeping by the window, and I have first dibs on the bathroom.”

“I would expect nothing less,” Nikolai laughs, perching on the end of the bed to toe off his long worn in leather boots.

His laughter follows you to the bathroom where you immediately set the bath running and shut the door. You sit on the edge of the bath, testing the water temperature now and then as you try to calm your pounding heart. It was one thing to share a room with Nikolai, but it was another thing entirely to share a bed with the man who was the main character in your dizziest of daydreams.

Adding plenty of bubbles, you begin to talk yourself through the night. You let it become your mantra as the bath finishes and you undress. You repeat your actions of the evening to yourself as you slip underwater, wondering if it was all going to go to hell in a hand-basket.

Meanwhile, Nikolai undresses before rummaging through his overnight bag to find a pair of night trousers to sleep in. He remains shirtless, knowing he would get too warm in the night. Ready for bed, he closes the curtains and settles under the covers. He fluffs the pillows once… twice… before huffing and getting back out of bed. He paces the floor, back and forth as he feels panic mounting in his chest, rooting there and cutting off his breath. It was one thing to share a room with you. It was another thing completely to share a bed with you. Not when he found himself reaching for you in the middle of the night; not when he wants to be the first and last person you speak to everyday; not when he yearns for you with every fibre of his being.

The bathroom door opens, steam pouring out and Nikolai freezes. You look deliciously rumpled; soft and warm with your skin still flushed from the heat of your bath. Nikolai clenches his hands into fists; resisting the growing urge to pull you into his arms, confess everything and kiss you senseless.

“Aren’t you in bed yet?” You ask, hanging your towel to dry.

Nikolai shakes his head, doing his best to rid himself of the quickening of his heart. “Too much on my mind for me to settle.”

You come over; any of your own anxieties fade as you press a hand to his cheek, seeing the slight panic reflected in his blue, blue eyes. “You were great tonight, Nikolai. A true Ravkan prince. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Thank you,” He whispers, leaning into your touch.

“Let’s go to bed,” You say, a tired smile on your face as you pull away from the blonde, leaving him cold from the lack of your touch.

Doing your best to quash any butterflies, you slide into your promised side, letting out a moan of comfort. “This has to be heaven,” You announce sleepily; the words drowned out by a yawn.

Nikolai chuckles, sliding into bed next to you, finding it much easier to settle with you beside him. He fluffs the pillows, plumping them so they sit better under his head, and waits for sleep to come.

He waits and waits. He feels tired; he feels the weariness sitting upon his shoulders and his eyes want to close but they remain open, staring at the ceiling. “Are you awake?” He asks the darkened room.

Your sigh breaks through the room. “Yeah,” You answer, a slight tone of frustration to your words. “It’s as if I am so tired that my body won’t settle, and my mind won’t shut off.”

“I understand that all too well,” Nikolai sympathises, turning on his side to face you.

“Something you experience often?”

Nikolai nods, humming in agreement. “More now than before,” He explains softly. “It used to happen when I was away; my mind would be too loud, but I would go out on deck and stare up at the sky and watch the stars as they blazed their path across the sky. Instead of focusing on whatever what bothering me, I would think of the stars and what their paths would hold. They were directing us somewhere, but to where?”

“And what about now?”

He sighs. “And now I feel pulled in a thousand different directions. The role I play within my family and the role of Sturmhond…”

“You are beloved either way, Nikolai.”

“I don’t want to let anyone down.”

“You couldn’t. I was in the crowd tonight, Nikolai. I heard the whispers between couples and families; they were all in support of you. They agreed with your motivations, they loved your presence. If they could have you for themselves, I’m certain they would. I know there were a few ladies in the crowd willing to try.”

“You always know what to say…” He croons.

“I know you, Nikolai.”

He smiles; bright and true. It lights up his face, only enhancing his handsomeness. It makes your heart skip a beat. “Now, tell me about the ladies wanting me to themselves.” He chuckles, enjoying the slight boost to his confidence.

You huff, crossing your arms across your chest. “I shan’t. I’ve done enough for your ego for one night, I think.”

Nikolai splutters, incredulous at your refusal. “But… But…”

“Nope.” You refuse, shaking your head.

A smirk grows on his face; he leans closer to you before stating, “I understand now… You’re jealous.”

“Jealous?!” You cry, annoyed at how quick he hit the nail on the head. “I am not jealous.”

“Yes, you are. You’re jealous.”

You huff, casting your gaze to your lap, overcome with your feelings. It was all becoming too much; loving him from afar. Hearing the young women tonight, listening to how attractive they found Nikolai and how they believed they would make the right match for him. It hurt; it hurt hearing it and knowing that deep down it was true. Nikolai would find someone and love someone and marry someone who wasn’t you, and acknowledging that hurt more than anything.

“Hey,” Nikolai prompts gently, “I’m joking. I don’t expect you to be jealous. I’m sorry if I’ve gone too far.”

“But what if I am? What if I am jealous?” You breathe, your heart beginning to pound at your candor. Throwing caution to the wind, you meet his stare, seeing the understanding land there in the slight raise of his brows and turn of his lips.

“Well…” Nikolai begins, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear. “I would have to tell you not to give it a second thought. There’s nothing and no-one to be jealous of.”

“Oh?” You whisper, feeling hope begin to bloom in your chest.

His thumb brushes your cheekbone as he hums in response. “You have nothing to be jealous of. I’ve been yours for a while now.

“Mine?”

Nikolai nods; his blue eyes no longer clouded with panic, but clear with intent and starting to brim with hope. He presses a kiss to your cheek; quick and fleeting. “Yours. I think I always have been.”

“I think I have always been yours too.”

“Thank the Saints,” Nikolai breathes, relief written clearly on his face. “It would have been awkward if this was one sided, love.”

“Oh Hush!” You laugh, nudging him slightly.

Nikolai grabs your arms, pulling you into an embrace that feels like the beginning of everything. You settle into him; your face pressed against his bare shoulder, inhaling the all too familiar scent of his cologne - oud with notes of vanilla.

A kiss is pressed to the top of your head. “We’ll talk more in the morning, but I want you to know that I’m eternally grateful for one bed.” Nikolai murmurs, promises ready to be made on the tip of his tongue.

You kiss the junction between his neck and shoulder, humming your agreement before sleep finally claims you both, deep and dreamless and in anticipation for what the morning holds.