#non-specific reader

[kratenz]

Hi! I was wondering if you could maybe write some Harlan x gn!reader? Not forced of course!

ofcourse! thank you so much for requesting. this, in short, is the morning after with harlan.

judging by the state of things, it had been a night, for sure.

you woke up groggy and dazed, slowly peeling your eyes open in pure exhaustion. you know you didnt drink anything— you were never the type to— but the sunlight cascading through the blinds still gave you a slight headache. actually, upon second thought, that would make sense. you hadnt woken up with the morning sun in ages.

you had a slight habit of staying up late, and therefor waking up late aswell. so it would make sense for you to feel groggy when, for the first time in a while, you woke up at— you check the clock— 7 am. dear god.

theres a blissful, peaceful silence in your head for a mere moment as the fog of sleep once again attempted its siege of your brain, calming and relaxing...

but then you remember. you have an alarm clock. this one has roman numerals. and you dont have these blinds either, your bedsheets are not this colour... and all of a sudden you see the clothes strewn across the floor. oh my god. oh my god. oh my god. for a second your brain and heart turn into overdrive, a sharp intake of breath as you wildly look around where you were, who you were with.

you get shaken out of your thoughts by an arm being lazily draped across your chest, a sleepy, comforting voice accompanying the gesture. "g'mornin, toots. god its so early..." and at that moment, a part of you feels safe. you roll over to see bright blue eyes staring at you, safe for the occasional sleepy just-woke-up blink. a slight smirk played on his face, boxy features looking so soft and squishy and nice...

"goodmorning." you utter out, bewitched. partially by the man in front of you— or, eh, well, laying beside you, but also because memories of last night started replaying in your head like an old videotape. "goodmorning, harlan." the 'you look so handsome' goes unsaid. you think he knows that you wanted to say it, anyway.

the frankly evil smile grows even wider, almost dopey, as harlan reaches out; a ruffle of sheets, a small shriek from you, and suddenly you were laying ontop of his chest. smiling. like an idiot.

"do you really think i was going to let you go after last night?" then, after a beat, "youre beautiful."

[attackurheart88]

hiii. Could I request some headcanons for Hisoka? Sfw/fluff. The reader is a child (killua and gon's age, and travels with them) and somehow got attached to him. Even though gon and killua find him super creepy and don't trust him, y/n doesn't find him off-putting at all and wants to hang out with him. Like at heavens arena, instead of being disgusted at his little show he put on, she was amazed he could do such things. Reader doesn't have a dad so he kind of takes that role in her eyes. She thinks he's really cool and follows him around when he's in the area. Reader is also training as an assassin (not quite as good as killua though) so she doesn't find his desire for killing scary. I just want some cute hc's between hisoka and his little admirer :)) it's okay if you don't feel comfortable writing this though. Thank you anyway!

“Are you a magician?”

Hisoka looked down in the direction from which the small voice came. It was a child who couldn't be more than thirteen years old. The same child who was staring at him for the last 2 hours.

Their eyes were wide and sparkled with anticipation.

“Not exactly, but I suppose I can do a bit of magic~” Hisoka smiled seeing your expression light up.

“Can you do a trick?!” You were bouncing up and down excitedly. You truly were a kid. Hisoka wondered how someone like you wound up taking the ex-

Someone bumped into Hisoka’s shoulder and kept moving. Interrupting his train of thought.

“Child you wanted to see a trick yes? As you wish~”

Within a few moments, the man who bumped into Hisoka, arms evaporated into flower petals. Immediately everyone backed away leaving just you Hisoka and the rude man on the floor.

Hisoka observed the look of fear and hatred on everyone’s face. Surely by now, even the child would stare at me the same way.

But he was wrong.

“That's so cool!” You were even more happy than before. Hisoka stared at you in disbelief but that look quickly turned to amusement. You were going to be a fun new toy for him to play with.

“I wanna do that too!” you whined tugging on his arm.

Hisoka bent down till he was able to make eye contact with you.

“You seem like a good kid. What's your name?”

“Y/n.”

“Y/n huh. You can call me Hisoka. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

__________

- For the rest of the exam you were glued to Hisoka’s side

- While others were running like crazy to catch up with the examinator you were riding his back

- Getting lost in the forest? Not a problem when Hisoka knows the way

- Need help finding your target? Hisoka already killed them.

- It wasn't until the end of the exam when you and Gon had to go help Killua that you left his side.

- The dynamic between you two would slowly grow into a father-and-daughter relationship.

Headcanons:

- Hisoka is the kind of guy who buys you ice cream after a long day of training

- Hisoka is the kind of guy to take pictures of everything you do

- Hisoka feels calmer going to sleep knowing you’re safe next to him

- Hisoka loves to make you laugh by doing tricks and tickling you

- Hisoka is the kind of guy to dress himself up in Princess outfits to make you smile

- When you are sad you have Hisoka wrapped around your finger.

- He does anything to make you feel better

- Becoming known as Hisoka’s child is both a blessing and a curse

- On one hand, everyone is afraid of you or wants to get on your good side

- On the other, those with a grudge against Hisoka would come to you

- Thankfully Hisoka is there to keep you out of harm

- Sometimes

- Despite his affection for you

- Hisoka won't hesitate to leave you stranded somewhere or beat you to a pulp to turn you into a “ripe fruit”

- When you do something wrong Hisoka would make you sit in a corner and eat your favorite dessert right in front of you

- Being Hisoka’s “child” means watching him do stupid things

- Like robbing a bank

- Killing sprees

- Singing off key

- Rizzing Illumi

- And giving weird looks to your friends. (gon and killua)

- When Hisoka has somewhere to be he likes to drop you off with Illumi or the Phantom troupe

- So they eventually become your aunts and uncles

- Your life with him is fun and chaotic

- You grow to depend on him for help, guidance, and attention

- And Hisoka learns to care for someone other than himself

-In the end, it's a win-win

[marz-barzz]

The joy of carnality

Sfw, potentially suggestive (no bits or tits), I was inspired by cannibalism as a metaphor for intimacy

°. •┈꒰ა🌹໒꒱┈• .°

I love the smell of your perfume. It was sweet and filled my nose like a deadly smoke, warning me of the danger ahead.

And yet I proceed, holding you as you kiss my neck. Your bites were harsh, but I loved them all the same, your lips soothing the damaged and tender skin. Relishing in the way you devoured me, my eyes shut as I inhale your captivating scent by the lungful.

Your lips stain red with blood as you rip through the tender meat of a lamb. Your pearly white teeth, neat as a military graveyard, blood tainting their pristine white, like a wolf biting into a fresh kill. I imagine it's my blood instead, indulging on my flesh with grace as you chew through each piece of meat, sipping my tears of bliss as if wine in your silver goblet.

I adore your smile. The fangs in your mouth are just a tease and a delightful rush for my poor soul and bring me down to my knees. Silently, I plead with my eyes to give into the sin of devouring my depraved skin.

The sound of your moans when you feast on me sends me to hell and burns my skin with the fires of passion. For the temptation of your hunger drives me mad in the best ways I've ever known. How you hum and giggle in delight as you taste me. Elegantly thin fingers hold me as you sigh with satisfaction, your gluttony satiated for now as I lay unfurled and a mess from your love.

°. •┈꒰ა🌹໒꒱┈• .°

[falloutwithmegirlypop]

Norm McLean x unenthusiastic reader

Fluff, nervous reader, no gender specified. Vault doesn’t open, Norm steals your private property (accidentally

Everyday was the same in the vault. Every morning, wake up, breakfast, exercise, study, chores, listen to weirdos spout about positivity all day, eat again, go to bed. It’s not even the people that really got on your nerves, they could be as happy as the want to be. It’s the fact that they wouldn’t stop talking about that made your blood boil. You even agreed with some of it, but did everyone really have to be so exhaustingly enthusiastic all. The. Time? No, and in a perfect world, you could live your boring life, mind your own Buisness, and be left alone. Truly, you simply didn’t see the reason for being so persistent about everything, we live in an underground vault in the apocalypse for gods sake.

You thought you would have to live your entire life surrounded by people you couldn’t stand. So, you never made an effort to meet people. It’s pretty easy to keep to yourself when you follow the exact same routine everyday. Just waiting out the day so you could have some time to yourself. Play on your Pip-Boy, read a book for the millionth time, maybe do some art or write in your diary. Which is why when some jerk in the hallways bumped into you on your way back home from your post, you were pretty miffed. The electricity overview papers you had in your hands, and the papers for your most recent job report, all ready to be dropped off in the overseers office were out of their neat pile, and now strewn across the floor. You REALLY did not have the energy for this.

As you turned your accusatory stare to the little punk who tripped you, you were surprised to see Norm, the overseers son. You had never talked to him, interacted with him, or even got a good look at him. You only knew who he was from the mandatory, positivity vault meetings. He was small, with a thin frame, prominent nose, nice hair and annoyingly pretty eyes- wait, what the hell were you thinking, you’d never even met the guy, surly he was just like his goody two shoes sister. But you were still staring, and he was starring back through tired, half lidded eyes. You saw that he had also lost some papers in the fall, now lying on the floor next to you.

You jump up and dust off you suit. You mumbled quickly

“sorry, excuse me”

Expecting nothing more than an annoying, long winded interaction, involving but a wide smile, cheery voice and obnoxious apology. Norm just stood up, dusted himself off as well, muttered a half hearted, brief apology, grabbed his papers, and walked in the other direction. You were shocked, you had never had a conversation so brief. Despite the bad terms, you were thankful not to be monaloged at for thirty minutes. You picked up your papers, reorginized them into a messy pile, dropped them off and headed back home.

You hardly slept that night, despite your great desire to do so. Your brief run in with Norm played over and over in your mind. Before you knew it, it was morning, and your moderately tolerable schedule had been thrown off completely, you got up, ate breakfast, showered, then exercised- then you went to answer your door, and- before you knew it, right in front of you, was Norm McLean. In your stunned silence, you were suddenly incredibly aware of your heavy purple eye bags, your ratty hair, and your unbrushed teeth, as well as that you had been staring at the man infront of you in complete silence for nearly fourty seconds. Norm was giving you a sceptial look. As your brain regained function, and your hands stopped fidgeting stupidly at your side, you saw a small set of papers in his hands. Before you could start to roil in the embarrassment of seemingly the only tolerable man in the vault seeing and reading your job reports, he spoke.

“You dropped these, picked them up on accident” Norm said flatly.

“Sorry, thanks for bringing them back I guess.” You yelped meekly, furiously trying to subdue the extremely non-characteristic butterflies in your stomach. In an attempt to deescalate your emotions, you began closing your door. That is, before he spoke up.

“Unenthusiastic performance in all areas, huh? Can’t say I haven’t been there. I think I’ve always been there, actually.” Norm spoke with great undetstanding, and if you thought about it, you could swear you heard gratitude in his voice.

“Yeah, no matter where they put me I always get the same report. Electricity isn’t as bad, less people bothering you.” Norm smiled at your reply, suddenly attentive to the conversation.

“Well, I thought there was nobody I could stand in this vault, guess I was wrong.” He gestured to the inside of your room, “mind if I come in?”

Suddenly, your world was on fire, everything collapsing around you. You nodded, probably too excitedly.

The two of you spent the entire rest of the day together, talking about annoying people in the vault, the McLean’s, your life, his. You played some video games together, and then read in a comfortable silence. For the first time in forever, you were enjoying the company of your peers. You completed your day together, both equally unenthusiastic. but, having each others company somehow made everything easier.

The next day, the two of you did the same thing, and then the next, and for the week, and a month, and before you knew it. You had spent a year together. Not before long did you admit to having feelings for one another. And after a couple years of dating, the two of you were set to be married. The two of you, alone in a vault of over 100. Unenthusiastic together.

[fun-k-boards]

People who just put reader when they actually mean curvy but also skinny, cishet, fem reader who has long hair, is white and American, has a wealthy family that's nuclear, likes to wear dresses and skirts, likes to wear makeup and nail polish, likes specific foods and wears high heels everywhere are my fucking enemy, especially if it's for a game WHERE THE PLAYER ISN'T LIMITED AND IS CUSTOMISABLE!!

If you do this I hope you get trapped in a ball pit full of legos, it takes approximately five seconds to put 'Oh btw the reader is basically just an oc but because I'm annoying I'm going to say it's a reader anyway to get more reach'

[the-s1lly-corner]

Slasher: babe I hear the ice cream truck

Reader: *sighs* go get my wallet

[babbymochiiii]

💋 ANGEL: JOHNNY SUH

↪︎pairing: angel! johnny x ngs! reader

↪︎genre: mythical creature au

↪︎warnings: suggestive context about one-night stand and the memories reader remembers of the night they had together.

↪︎synopsis: you had a one-night stand with angel! Johnny, to which you try to leave without him noticing, but he ends up cornering you ;)

↪︎word count: 703 words

reqs are open! ⭐️

divider credit @saradika-graphics 🖤

You woke up to the feeling of the sun’s rays hitting your face. Stirring in your sleep, you covered your face with your hands before sitting up. The cold air sends a shiver done your spine which causes you to cross your arms across your chest. The sudden sensation of your skin meeting your own skin, you looked down to see that your chest was exposed to the air.  

Sudden realization strikes you once you look around the room to see that you aren’t in your apartment. You looked down towards the bed and leaned towards the end to see your clothes scattered around along with someone else’s clothes.  

Knowing that you had a one-night stand, you grew confused as to why the man you slept with wasn’t in the room with you, until you heard the shower running down the hall. Slowly, you got off the bed and started to dress yourself. As you put on the last article of clothing, a sudden memory popped up.  

“Angel, are you sure you want to spend the night at my place?” A drunk Johnny says with his words slightly slurred.  

“Mmm, you know it baby.” You giggled as you ran your hand through his blonde hair.  

“Then to my place it is.” He smirked as he held you tightly in his hold before his white, lush, wings fluttered open and shot up to the sky in high speed towards his apartment.  

Shaking your head, you stood up straight and started to make your way towards the apartment door. As you touched the doorknob, another memory popped up that made you blush.  

“I’m going to make you my own songbird.” He said as he towered over you and left kisses down the navel of your chest.  

Upon seeing the memory, it caused you to quicken your pace unlocking the front door. Once you unlocked and opened the door, the feeling of the wind gushing towards you and your body being slammed against the now closed door, gave you some sort of whiplash.  

“Where do you think you’re going angel?” He says as he looked down at you with a cocked eyebrow.  

Not being able to make eye contact with him, your eyes trained towards his chest. To which you could tell that he had just gotten out of the shower by the small water droplets on his toned skin.  

“Leaving? W-who said anything about leaving?” You chuckled nervously.  

“My eyes are up here sweetheart.” He said as he took hold of your chin and made you look up at him.  

The fierce blush that took over your face once you made eye contact with the man had you feeling breathless. All the memories from last night all came piling up which caused you to moan.  

“Remember now?” He teased.  

“Johnny stop- “  

“That wasn’t what you were calling me last night.” He smirked as he leaned in towards your neck.  

“J-Johnny!” You gasped out as you looked at him with wide eyes.  

He laughed at your reaction causing some of his feathers to ruffle up slightly.  

Mesmerized at the sight of his beautiful white-ivory feathers ruffling up, you unconsciously reach towards them and place a gentle touch on the wings.  

This caused a shiver to run down Johnny’s spine causing him to quickly take hold of your hand and pin it towards your side.  

“Do you not remember the punishment I gave you last night when you tried to touch them?” Johnny said in a serious tone.  

“I- “you stopped yourself from talking as you looked down towards the floor as a blush covered your cheeks.  

“You look at me when I’m talking to you.” Johnny said in a deep voice as he took hold of your jaw and made you look back up at him. “Would I have to teach you a lesson again?” he said as he narrowed his eyes towards you.  

The way he used the tone with you caused butterflies to erupt in your stomach. Though you couldn’t see it for yourself, your eyes glazed over as you looked at him with big doe-eyes, which caused him to smirk knowing that he had you under his grasp.  

“To the bedroom — now.”  

embarrassingly enough…💀 when I first wrote this it was an Pro Hero Hawks but Johnny…I had a phase in 2021 what can I saaaaaay 💀

Anywhoooo! I hope you enjoyed the short drabble! 🖤 should I do more mythical creature x nct? Would love to get your guys suggestion!! 🥰✨

With so so so much love from me to you!! 🕷️ MWAH MWAH 😚❤️

[fairyboygenius]

ghost with a partner who also has a past with being SAed is so special to me. they learn together that sex can be about more than asserting power and causing pain and that you’re not inherently a bad person for desiring people because sex, when it’s consensual, can be incredibly satisfying and a great experience for both parties. i feel like he’d be gentle at first, afraid of hurting you like the person or people before him did.

i do also think he would be into CNC but only after a lot of therapy and many long discussions with his partner- you or johnny or whoever- to make sure that this is something you’re both okay with. all kink is prenegotiated with him and he doesn’t spring anything on you.

[lacnunga]

In the wake of the IA situation, I've seen a lot more posts circulating about using your local library and I just. Sigh

[wolveria]

No hate to anyone who writes this way, but am I the only one who can’t relate to readers who’ve had lots of flings/sex/relationships/etc?

[gay4abby]

Can you write a Limoreau short fic where Jordan is arrested and sent to jail for using the female bathroom like the pervert he is and Marie is his cop who blows his dick off for wanting to assault women while they are peeing. Also can Rufus be the Maga judge who orders Jordan to face the firing squad.

i honestly envy every person you’ve never met. i don’t know who you are but your terf flat back having ass is someone i hope who will experience a fate worst than death because killing you is doing not only everyone else a favour but its setting up shaytaan (who i absolutely hate mind you) to deal with a waste of space like you.

i’m not above telling someone to off themselves bc people like you exist in the world so, consider the following: please fucking k!•• yourself, take a razor and just slice it through your achilles tendon while you’re at it. take a knife and run it through your eyeballs then eat them, take that same knife and stab yourself in the back of your brain where the pain centre is so you know you die of absolute morbid pain.

you want this fic so bad write it yourself and then send it to me so i can doxx you ‹𝟥

[roxy-bat-wolf-pack]

Imagine:

You find out Peter Parker is Spiderman🕸

Non gender specific reader/ Spiderman

It was a complete accident when you found out Peter was Spiderman.

He doesn't see you just outside his room. It was supposed to be a surprise

He pulls the mask over his head and leaps from the window without a backward glance

You stand shocked and your instinct to run takes over

Aunt May ask what's wrong, but you can't even get words out.

How do you even explain that your best friend is Spiderman

Does she even know?

You can't sleep that night, your mind is racing

You pull out you phone with intentions to text him but after what feels like forever you give up

How do you even start that conversation

"Hey btw I was spying on you and saw you change into your spidersuit. Nbd, it's totally chill!" Yea right

At school the next day, you try to play it cool, but he definitely notices the way you are looking at him

How do you face him?

Your face turns red from remembering all the times you confessed your undying love for Spiderman to him

Your locker is decorated with magazine cutouts of the webslinger, your best friend!

You decide the best corse of action is a note, telling him you know and his secret is safe with you

He tries to talk to you but you're just too nervous

The look on his face when you can't speak to him is like a punch to the heart

This will all be better when he reads the note

The ball is in his court now

That night, you sit by you phone waiting desperately for his call

Will he be ok with you knowing? Will he be upset?

It rings, and you're glad to find that he sounds happy on the other end, relieved even

"I'm so glad I don't have to keep this a secret from you anymore. Lying to you killed me, but I just wanted to keep you safe"

You're so relieved. Honesty in your relationships is so important to you

"You mind if I swing by? No pun intended!"

He always finds a way to make you laugh

"Yea tiger, swing on over. You know it's always been my dream to have Spiderman show up in the middle of the night."

[darylspissslit]

Heard you were looking for some Daryl inspiration??

Thank you for all your love on The Dog series and I’d love to return the favor!!

Request/Inspo/Idea: Daryl and wife!reader reunite on the highway after the barn/farm burns down ! He thinks she’s still out there but like emerges from the woods!!

Thank you 💕✨

Thank you so much I love this. The dog series is so cute thank you for bringing it to life 💗💗

So this isn't the greatest and it wasn't proofread so idk how it turned out. But I got something done so that's a plus 😅.

The flames were bright. The sound of Walker teeth clacking and loud groaning quickly being drowned out by the pulse that seemed to beating like a drum in your ears.

The farm was overrun by the dead and soon the fire would finish the job. Spreading from the barn across the field to the farmhouse to devour what the walkers couldn’t.

You tried to find Daryl in the chaos. Fighting off the dead while looking for the living. For a second you thought you could hear Daryl’s bike over the moans of the herd. Trying to clear a path to the entrance of the farm you started running. Shouting for Daryl as you saw him drive off with Carol behind him but he couldn’t hear you over the rumble of the bike speeding down the dirt road, you were alone.

You ran through the woods just trying to get away from the walkers following you. You were up all night fighting and running. Not knowing where to go you decided to try and make it back to the highway where there was food still left for Sophia and hopefully someone else in the group would be there, hopefully Daryl would be there.

“I gotta go back an’ look” Daryl said walking back to his bike.He was arguing with Rick about leaving the group to search for you.

“The farms overrun. She probably ran” Rick said resting his hands on his hips “we’ll wait for a few more minutes” he said trying to compromise. He didn’t want to lose another person and going back to the farm so soon was a death sentence.

“Nah I ain’t waitin” Daryl said in a gruff tone turning back to us bike. Rustling in the trees startled the group. Swiftly lifting his crossbow and aiming at the trees, Daryl slowly started walking towards the sound.

You came tumbling out of the treeline falling to the ground. You were exhausted, covered in dirt and spider webs. There were still a few walkers behind you that weren’t able to put down loosing your knife in a scuffle with a walker at some point in the night. You tried standing up only for your legs to shake and give out.

“Y/N!” you heard Daryl shout as he started running down the side of the highway. Taking down a walker with his crossbow and bashing the heads of the other two with the end of the trusty weapon.

Daryl grabbed your arm helping you up and quickly pulling you into him for a hug. Wrapping your tired arms around his waist you buried your face in his chest and started crying.

“I… I thought I lost ya” Daryl’s warm breath caressed the top of your head as he cried. “I tried to find ya but I couldn’ see anythin but walkers and smoke” he squeezed you tighter

You cried harder remembering seeing him driving off the farm. You were right behind him. “I ran after you” you choked out looking up at him.

He looked down feeling ashamed for not looking harder but you weren’t upset with him for leaving you behind. “they were everywhere I’m so sorry” he said sadly resting his forehead against yours.

“Its okay. I’m alive. I did learn how to survive from the best” you said lighthearted and kissed him sweetly. “I love you” you said hugging him tightly again. “I love ya more” Daryl replied kissing the top of your head and holding you close for a moment.

[orgasming-caterpillar]

Wow I don't wish bad things on anyone but I hope this guy gets a fucking enlightenment or something dumb fucking hoe

[manicpixie-tieflingboyfriend]

Question for the bg3 fic likers

[artaxerxesthegreat]

Secrets and Trust

A/N: This is my first ‘song fic’, and boy was it a rollercoaster of emotions. Not sure why I wrote this, and I’ll probably delete it later, but for now I’ll share it with the masses. Please note, this is kind of sad and horribly written.

Warnings: MDNI, 18+ only, reader is the middle sibling of T'Challa and Shuri, Song fic [Lift me up], not alpha/beta read, angst, a lot of angst, sadness, so much sadness, in universe death, BPWF spoilers, non-gender specific, one curse word, mild gaslighting (?), alludes to drowning, implied smut, T’Challa might be OOC, K’uk’ulkan might be OOC, family hurt, slice of life (?), enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers. Again(?), I used the original script for some parts

A/N2: If I missed anything, just let me know. I usually write WOC fics, so this is my first non-gendered fic, I hope I did alright.

A/N3: All rights to Ryan Coogler and everyone that helped him make this wonderful movie. Song credit to Rihanna and co.

K'uk'ulkan/Namor x POC!Sibling!Reader

“No matter what happens, I will always be with you.”

That’s what my brother said— that’s what he’s said since the day I was born. A promise he has kept, no matter what.

Lift me up

Hold me down

“Come, jump in! I will catch you, I promise!” 

His smile— bright, shining, radiant, warm… full of mischievousness.

“You are lying, T’Challa!” I shout back, a smile ever present on my face.

“Aye, what are you talking about? I would never, scout's honor.” He salutes me, standing up straight, but I just shake my head.

“You have never been a boy scout, T’Challa!” 

The river we were swimming in was full of joy and laughter. 

My heart never felt so full.

Keep me close

Safe and sound

“It’s okay, it’s alright.” My brother holds me closely as the realization of our Baba’s death finally takes its toll on me. I was so strong for so long, fighting the pain I felt— being the emotional rock for our baby sister, but seeing his sarcophagus being taken from us to the Hall of the Kings, sent me over the edge.

I cried for days.

Burning in a hopeless dream

Hold me when you go to sleep

Keep me in the warmth of your love

When you depart, keep me safe

Safe and sound

“Are you alright?” T’Challa’s soft voice breaks the silence that I’ve been trying to hide in. When I don’t answer him, he turns me over to look at him. Tears, still running down my face, tell him all he needs to know. Wrapping me in a tight hug, he lets me cry until I can’t cry anymore.

It feels like hours go by before I finally speak.

“Is it really true?” My voice is hoarse, tears dried on my face.

“… It is.” His voice is as soft as ever.

“And you are sure there is no cure?”

He doesn’t answer right away, only sighs, staring up at the ceiling as we lay side-by-side. That’s all I need to know, I can feel the tears beginning to form in my eyes again.

But I fight them, clearing my throat, I ask the question that tips the scales.

“And you want me to keep it a secret?”

Now he looks at me, sadness in his eyes, regret in his body language.

“It is wrong for me to put such a burden on you, but mother and Shuri are not ready for this. They will never rest to fight this illness, and I will not live the rest of my days in a bed. I am the Black Panther— and I will be the Black Panther until I cannot. My duty is to my country, my people, and my family. One little illness— curable or not— will not change that fact.”

My lip quivers, as a tear rolls by, wiping it away fiercely I ask, “How… how long?”

“About a year.” 

The tears all but gushed out my eyes as I hugged him tightly, all the jokes we’ve made about him losing weight, being the skinniest Black Panther to have ever lived. Even about M’Baku using him as a toothpick after he is done eating his vegetables, all came rushing back as the news of his illness hits me twice over. 

“I am so sorry, my brother.”

“What for?” He pulls back with a confused smile.

“All the insensitive jokes we’ve made. They were wrong, uncalled-for, and I am sorry.”

“Don’t be.” His smile— as bright as the sun, as calm as the sea.

“… We only have a year?”

“Yes.”

Nodding my head, I look at him with conviction, “Then let’s make the most of it.”

Lift me up

Hold me down

Keep me close

“You should be resting!” I hiss at him, but he just smiles, leading me to a small house.

“There will be plenty of time for that, but first you must meet someone— someone important to me.” Again with that warm smile, I simply smile back as we walk into this unknown house, “What does a man have to do around here to be welcomed?”

“T’Challa, what are you—” I start to chide my brother, when the sound of running feet and a child’s voice interrupt me.

“Baba!” 

A small boy runs into my brother’s arms, hugging him tightly. Shocked, I simply stare at the two, and when they look at me… it’s the same smile, the same eyes, the same warmth.

“Oh… T’Challa.”

Safe and sound

…“You said, ‘no matter what happens, you’ll always be with me’… but I can’t feel you anymore, brother. Your warmth is gone, your family is lost without you, your mother and baby sister are full of regret and guilt because of your secret. Your smile is gone, your soul is gone, and I don’t know what to do. How am I supposed to go on, when you never told me what to do when you are gone?! How am I supposed to be strong?! That was you, I, I can’t do this on my own… I need help, T’Challa. Please, bring me a sign— a sign that tells me you are here with me, guiding and helping me. I beg you, brother, do not abandon me.”… 

The cool night air hits me, making me shiver as my small fire has died down. I made my way to a secluded part of the river tribe, trying to understand why my brother did things the way he did; from keeping his illness a secret, to his son. 

I know why, but… why? 

Why have me keep all these secrets, why put that much faith and trust in me? Why leave me so soon? Why couldn’t we have more time?! Why was he taken from us?!

“WHY?!” My scream travels across the water, my knees give out as I sob on the shore.

Then there’s a sound.

Fluttering.

Bird wings…           

“…what…” Looking up, I see the bird—well, it's not a bird. It’s a man… a man with wings on his ankles, “What…?”

I should be worried, I should be terrified, I should be calling for the Dora Milaje, but I don’t. I stare at this man, this otherworldly being, with confusion and wonder. Who is he? Where did he come from? — He’s wet, did he swim here? Is he a fish? —A fish with wings? Are there others like him? Is he alone? Why are his clothes so ancient looking?

Then he laughs.

Realization sets in, I’ve said all this out loud.

Embarrassment takes hold of me, I cast my eyes to the sand beneath me, “I am sorry, stranger.”

“You are not at fault, Querido.” (Dear one) His voice is a calm baritone, his eyes as dark as onyx, his smile… as radiant as the sun.

Awestruck, I simply stare up at his man. His smile widens, and I have to look away, remembering myself.

“I’m sorry.” Bashful, I cover my face.

“Again, you did nothing wrong.”

A sense of peace fills my spirit, one I haven’t felt in a long time; all thanks to this stranger, I finally feel safe.

Drowning in an endless sea

Take some time and stay with me

Keep me in the strength of your arms

Keep me safe

“Really?! Threats! That’s how you introduce yourself to my mother, are you crazy?!” My voice echoes off of the cave walls. I know full well that Attuma and Namora are standing right outside his hut, but I couldn't care less, “My mother, my sister– hell, even the council are losing their minds on what to do about you!”

He had been silent the whole time I was ranting— a good 5 minutes— but at the mention of the council, his eyes burn.

“My instructions were simple.” His voice is calm, but there’s an edge to it that angers me further, “This proves that Wakanda cannot be trusted.”

“Trust?!” My anger spills over, “How can you speak of trust when YOU threatened MY family, and my country?! How can you sit here, in your hidden little hut, painting your little pictures, living in your perfect little world when you barely give my family time to process the existence of a whole civilization living underwater?! You speak of trust, but show none— you haven’t given us a reason to trust you?!”

Not missing a bit, he replies, “Have I not trusted you? Did I not bring you here, to my people, my kingdom, my home— treated you with the utmost respect, deserving of a god, sheltered you when you needed an escape from your ‘home’? Tell me, In yakunaj.” (My love)

I see red, “This coming from the man who still has not told me his name.”

“I have told you—”

“—No,” I hold up my finger, stopping any more words from falling from his lips, “No, you told me what your people call you, what your enemies call, but never have you told me what your friends call you— what your mother called you.” 

My voice grows soft towards the end, but where I’ve calmed down, he’s picked up; a blind man can see the anger in his face. I’ve stepped too far over the line, and the caves are quiet, too quiet. No one says anything, no one breathes too loudly. As time stretches on, it dawns on me that I was never meant to know his name. 

Casting my eyes to the ground, I nod in understanding, walking to the hut opening. Looking over my shoulder, I hold my head up high, fighting tears.

“I’m sorry.”

This time, he didn’t forgive me, this time he didn’t stop me.

This time he didn’t save me.

Safe and sound

… Sirens, singing, floods, screams, pain, panic, death— all of it surrounds me, all of it chases me.

There is no escaping it.

No Black Panther.

No warriors.

No winged god to take me away.

Just fear, snaking round my throat, closing tightly around me until I can’t breathe. 

Right when I think I’m going to pass out from the shock of it all, he shows up.

Still as breathtaking as the day I met him— still as deadly. 

And his eyes.

Vengeance, revenge and… regret…?

My mother stands tall, Riri is scared, I… I don’t know what to feel.

… Water, screams, broken glass, cold water, no air… it’s too much

And yet.

Not enough…

… Opening my eyes, I cough, spitting out copious amounts of water. It burns so much, my eyes are stinging, my ears are ringing. I hear Shuri screaming, but I’m too dazed to process it; until my vision clears, landing on our mother.

“You did this!”

“It could have been different.”

“Bury your dead, mourn your losses. In one week’s time, I will return with my entire army.”

…

“Where are you, T’Challa?”

…

Lift me up

Hold me down

Keep me safe

Safe and sound

“Wakanda only needs one Black Panther, and you made it, Shuri.” My sister looks at me shocked, “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have this, you take it.”

“But… but how can I be… You are next in line.”

“And as the next in line, I am telling you to take the herb, take up the mantle of the Black Panther, protect our people because I cannot.” Fighting tears, I push the herb in her hands closer to her, “There is too much— too much you do not know, and I cannot with good conscience take this herb. Please, sister, do not make me take it.”

Shuri can see how difficult this is for me, and nods, assuring me that she will do her best.

“That is all I ask for, my dear sister.”

Burning in a hopeless dream

Hold me when you go to sleep

Keep me safe

We need light, we need love

The sound of the battlefield was all I could hear; that and the pumping of my blood  in my ears. I’ve always known the Talokanil were skilled fighters, but never did I think I’d be fighting against them. Many I’ve clashed my blade with were friends of mine, but in war, there are none.

We are enemies… oh how I wish it were different. This is not how it should be.

Then my sister’s Sunbird comes by, her helmet is off, her stance is strong.

And next to her… is him.

“Talokan, retírar a! Volvamos tin wotoch. K ba'ate'lo' waye' ts'o'ok u beetik.” (Talokan, stand down! Let us return home. Our fight here is done.)

A feeling of relief washes over me, I look at my sister as she salutes us, “WAKANDA FOREVER!”

“WAKANDA FOREVER!!” We echo back victorious. Our enemies— no, our new allies make their way back home, and I’m left feeling empty. Their king is the last to leave, our eyes never meeting, words never exchanged. My sister knows something is wrong, even when we get back home.

Then I tell her.

I tell her everything.

From T’Challa’s secrets, to my affair with the underwater king.

She leaves… angry, confused, sad, and feeling very much alone.

I thought it best that I leave Wakanda for a bit, but where would I go? My life is here, and yet… it doesn’t feel like home anymore.

Nakia offered me a room in her house in Haiti, but I couldn’t go there, not while my sister is clearing her head there.

So I begin walking along the riverbank, I watch the sunset, feeling a rush of emotions— good and bad.

…“Brother…” My eyes are closed as I feel a breeze blow by, “Thank you. Thank you for your protection, your love, and for keeping your word… I was too focused on my anger and pain to realize that you were here the whole time. You have guided me, challenged me, and made me strong— stronger than I could ever imagine, and for that I thank you.”

Sitting down in the sand, I dig my toes in it, drawing nonsensical patterns, “My days seemed so grim and dark without you here, but I finally am starting to feel the sun again. It’s light, finally making these bones warm again… I do hope you forgive me for telling Shuri everything, she was less than pleased, and rightfully so. I wish you could have met… him, though. If you were here, there may not have been a war to begin with… I miss you, T’Challa, and I miss him.”

Bringing my knees to my chest, I cry.

I’ve been doing so much of that lately, it’s annoying, it makes me angry— it makes me feel weak.

And yet I cannot stop.

I’ve heard that crying is supposed to be therapeutic, that it makes you feel better afterward, but I only feel sad and foolish.

Only my brother wiping away my tears, telling me everything is going to be alright made me feel better, but he isn’t here anymore.

So I cry more.

“I-I know… I have to move on, I have to let you go but—” The warmth of the sun is gone, and back is the darkness that has had a hold on me creeps in, “I need help, I need strength… and forgiveness.”

…

“You have done nothing that requires forgiveness, Ch'ujuk.” (Sweet one)

My head snaps up at the voice, the voice I’ve heard more times than I should have. The voice that made me cry with laughter, and cry with anger and hate.

He sits next to me, staring out at the water; his clothes are that of a poor man, bandage on his foot from where my sister clipped him.

“My, how the mighty have fallen…” I couldn't help myself, and he doesn’t say anything. Just glances at me, giving me a weak laugh, “… I’m—”

“I swear, if you apologize one more time, I—” Now he turns to me, annoyance in his features as I snap back, because I want him to finish his sentence.

“—You’ll what, fishman?”

A challenge is what I’ve presented him with, one he’s faced many times before, all ending the same way.

Me beneath him, in the best of ways… but that was before.

Now we stare at each other, debating on what to do next. Do we give in? Do we act as if that war from a few weeks ago never happened? The words that were said… the actions, and consequences of those actions.

No.

It won’t ever be the same.

And it will only get harder. 

“… I should have listened to you.” His voice and words catch me off guard, “There was a better way to make myself known to your people and your family. It never should have gotten that far, and I…”

I watch him closely, waiting to hear the words, so I can tell him to fuck off and dry out on a beach somewhere, but as the seconds tick on it gets suffocating. 

Tears are in his eyes, “I am sorry, U Majestad (Your majesty). I was scared, rash, and reckless. I should have consulted you— shown you trust…”

lift me up in your arms

“It doesn’t matter now, does it… Namor?”

The pain etched on his face at the use of that name riddles me with guilt. But he deserves it, and he knows it.

(Hold me down) I need love, I need love, I need love

Lifting an arm out to me, he watches me with bated breath, hoping I’ll accept his side hug.

And against my better judgment, I do.

(Keep me close) hold me, hold me

Warmth, safety, sunshine— sunrise and sunset.

(Safe and sound) hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

More tears. More crying.

But this time… comfort.

(Lift me up) hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

“You can hate me for all eternity. I deserve that, and more— but please… do not call me that name.”

I nod, trying not to sob uncontrollably, “What should I—”

I’m silenced with a kiss, a soft one that turns mournful and needy rather quickly. He kisses the air out of my lungs, and I have to push him back to take a much-needed breath.

A sound of discontent leaves him, but he kisses the tip of my nose, resting his forehead against mine.

“Ch’ah Toh Almehen.”

(Hold me down) hold me, hold me

“What?” I say breathlessly.

“My name.” He runs his thumb across my cheek, “Ch’ah Toh Almehen.”

I place my hand over his, pull my head back, staring at him, completely beside myself. After a year of being with him, telling him my heart's desires, my hopes and dreams, never did I think I’d hear him tell me his name.

His name.

Smiling, tears run down my face again as I hug and kiss him.

“I like it…”

His smile is bashful, warm and inviting. Leaning in to kiss him again, I whisper.

(Keep me safe) we need light, we need love

“Ch’ah Toh Almehen.”

-----

The end (Horrible, I know)