#nozel x dorothy | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kalolasfantasyworld · 9 months ago

Text

I walk alone

Summary: Nozel walks through the shadows and sees scenes of what his life could have been.

Type: One shot

Genre: Heavy ANGST

Warnings: blood

Word count: 1551

Ships: Nozel x Vanessa, Nozel x Selena, Nozel x Fuegoleon, Nozel x Helia, Nozel x Briar, Nozel x Dorothy, Nozel x Helena

Author's note:

OCs in order belong to @thoughtfullyrainynightmare, @loosesodamarble, @koneko-pi and Helena is mine.

The vibes of this fic were inspired by @f-oighear's one shot: But the cold, dark gaze is your own.

Illustration is at the end.

Ao3

Is he in a dream? He does not know, but the shadows that swirl around him are ominous. He looks away, but it is the same on the other side. Shades of gray. There is a path and he walks on it, because what else can he do?

Each step feels heavy. He feels the burden resting on his shoulders. The burden of responsibility, burden of duty. It is suffocating, but he pushes on. He knows nothing else. Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! He keeps on repeating. My path is mine and mine alone.

So he walks by himself, dragging his feet, tripping. Shadows come closer.

He cannot take a break, but… his composure is shattering. Just a moment, a little bit.

So he stops, nobody will notice. He turns his head to the side and his lilac eyes widen, surprised.

The shadows part, just in that one spot, they swirl away and there is light. He needs to squint, because he is not used to it. Dark markings strangled him, kept him away from it, he kept himself from it, for fifteen years of his life. So how is this light apparent now?

He looks closer and he sees a flutter of pink. Pink? He smells wine, but why wine?

His eyes meet with those of amethyst color and he sees flushed cheeks.

“Hello handsome,” the woman winks. It is just that she is not talking to him. There is a man next to her. Man that could be his twin, because they both have silver hair, fair skin, lilac eyes. However it is not Nozel, because he knows himself and he is not happy. So how does this Nozel look as if he was? He wants to know the secret, wants to know how?

He takes a step closer… he falls on his knees.

The light is gone, only shadows remained.

He struggles to stand up. His legs are wobbly, because the burden is back. Somehow heavier than ever. Alone he pushes on.

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! The words are there, repeated like a mantra.

Yet another step, yet another drag of his feet and they hurt. The soles of his sandals are not enough to shield them from the hard rocks, which suddenly appeared on the path.

He looks at them.

However then suddenly a flash of light appears. His eyes dart to it and he is focused. His legs feel lighter, so he approaches it.

Silver? No she is not a Silva, he does not know her and yet she feels familiar. As if when he looks at the night sky he sees her. The moon looks down at him. And once again there is a man beside her. She is soft with him and he… he is soft with her. Yet another impossible twin.

So he wants to gaze longer, but the moment he takes a step closer, light fades again. The burden settles, crushes him. Markings strangle his neck.

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger!

He walks down the path. The sharp stones seem to break the soles of his sandals, but they are still fine… for now.

When the light appears again, he is not surprised and he runs to it, once again magically rid of the heaviness. He stops close enough so that he can see, but not too close, worried that it will disappear.

Why is his rival there? Why are they sitting under a tree? What are they talking about?

Fuegoleon seems to be calmly explaining something and the man beside him… listens. They are younger, teenagers. But he has no memory of that. What does it mean? This Nozel does not look burdened.

He cannot stop himself from taking a step. It fades… once again it fades…

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! But he wishes for yet another light.

His shoulders hurt. The burden digs into them. He is struggling not to trip. Not to fall down on the sharp rocks.

He sees it. He darts towards it. Somehow his prayer was answered.

Gold? Gold and green. The woman is standing in the water and smiling. She submerged her hands in it only to lift them up and splash them! He flinches, but she did not splash at him. The man beside her gets a little wet. He expects the man to snap. He does not. The man looks… happy?

He needs to take a closer look. He forgets and takes a step. The light fades.

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! Stronger to see another light?

He feels the rocks. The soles of his shoes begin to have holes in them. It hurts! He pushes it down. He does not hurt. He is strong.

However when the light appears he does not have to pretend anymore… because the pain fades away.

The woman is not facing him. She has long, light brown hair, so long that it nearly touches the ground. He notices her ears… they are pointy? Then a man comes up from behind her. He puts his hand on her shoulder and she turns around. Her eyes… They are beautiful, peach colored. Her expression is serene as she looks up at the man. That man… he is not nervous… he is happy.

Maybe if he got a closer look he too..? However when he does the shadows remind him that he cannot. They swallow the peach eyed woman and the man. Once again he is alone.

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! Why is it on repeat?

He flinches. Pain. His shoes break down. The soles do not make it and sharp rocks dig into his feet. The burden, the duty lies heavy on his shoulders. He wonders will his spine make it? It has to. He is strong… right?

However he only feels strong, when the light appears again. His wide open eyes look at those with interchanging colors. Colors of pink, blue and purple. Why is that witch there? How is she not asleep? She makes a V-sign with her fingers and giggles, but she does not giggle at him. She giggles at the man whose cheeks are bright pink. He is embarrassed, but not in an uncomfortable way. This is softer. The man smiles tenderly.

He wonders would this expression look the same on him? So he tries, but the corners of his lips are not used to the movement. The muscles seemed to forget. An ugly grimace forms instead. He covers his mouth.

This time he is the one to step back. The light fades.

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger!

Something wet.... There is blood on his feet. He feels his back crack, he needs to lean forward, because the burden is too heavy. He wishes for the light no more. It gets worse with each one. Or maybe… just one more time? One more time, before he hurts his feet and they cannot walk anymore. One more time before he gives away to the burden. He walks, but it is hard. It is hard to breathe with the markings suffocating him.

He trips. His hands bleed. The rocks cut the skin open. White fabric on his knees tears. There are no tears streaming down his cheeks. He is strong. He tries to stand up.

The light shines. He looks up and suddenly he is able to walk, able to run, but he is scared. He worries that if he gets too close it will disappear again. However he cannot see from this far. His feet decide for him.

He takes a look. The man standing there looks the most like him, from all of those he saw. His expression flat and arms crossed over his chest.

He furrows his brows. What does it mean?

But before he can wonder, a flash of red appears and a woman comes from behind the man, she excitedly jumps up and wraps her arms around him. The man nearly stumbles… but he is not angry. And the woman laughs. Her dark chocolate hair falls on him and contrasts with the silver. It frames her bright smile and deep brown orbs… almost black. She whispers something to the man and he rolls his eyes affectionately. Affectionately..? How does one do that?

He wants to ask, so he opens his mouth… but no words come out. He tries again, but he is mute. He puts his hand to his throat. It burns. The markings burn, they suffocate. He tries to scream, but those two surrounded by light do not hear, because there is nothing to be heard. So he reaches out his hand.

The light..? Why is it… wet?

It disappears. Only his outreached palm stays. His eyes widen. It is red, just as that woman’s dress. Blood red and the droplets fall on the sharp rocks. Right… they cut it open.

Stron… He is not strong anymore. He falls on the hard ground. It hurts his body. The burden crushes his lungs. The markings tighten around his neck. The shadows swirl and blood… it spills. He lies there looking up at the dark. Nothing is there.

Nothing… nothing… nothing…

Something wet trails down his cheeks. Tears? His eyes open and he stares at the white ceiling of his room at the Silva estate. What was that dream? He wonders. Heavily he lifts himself up on the bed and looks to the side.

It is empty…

#Let me know if this needs more warnings #This was very spontaneous #I wrote it today #nozel silva #black clover fanfic #black clover oc #nozel x helena #nozel x fuegoleon #nozel x vanessa #nozel x oc #nozel x briar #nozel x helia #nozel x selena #nozel x dorothy #angstpril2024 #angst #cw blood #angstpril #one shot

30 notes · View notes

colorfuldestinysandwich · 6 months ago

Text

#nozel silva #dorothy unsworth #black clover nozel #dorothy xnozel #nozel x dorothy #black clover

12 notes · View notes

thoughtfullyrainynightmare · 7 months ago

Note

Hey! Could you please write a Dorothy x Nozel fanfic, and could it be angst with a good ending?

I'm really craving Dorothy x Nozel content because it's an unpopular ship 😭

Thanks!

Hello! Thank you for the patience!

I was trying to think of something fitting for the topic, and this did end up being more angst than fluff. BUT I do promise you a fluffy ending. This time Nozel does the comforting

Pairing: Dorothy x Nozel Genre: Hurt-comfort Fanfic type: Oneshot Length: ~1.8k Contains: Very vague manga spoilers (spade arc), themes of self-doubt and trauma while growing up, my personal headcanons as to why Dorothy left the Witches' forest, bonding over parent trauma, Nozel comforts Dorothy, hugs and affirmations, Nozel tries

The battle in Spade. Devils pouring out from the deepest depths of the Underworld; the realm of creatures believe to be without a heart. Only that they did. Not that by the terms given by those dwelling on this realm, it could be qualified as one. But... it was a heart nonetheless. Granted that such hearts, such creatures, that were there to bring nothing but death and destruction for their own amusement onto the earth, which is why they needed to be stopped.

That had been why Nozel and Dorothy, among their peers, had been there. On that battlefield. To prevent that evil from spilling into their lives, into the world, their place of residency.

They went to war, so that they might live.

So that maybe, hopefully, both of them might live. Truly live. Not just be alive, but live. And while both their bodies still drew air, living ... that would be the next uphill battle. To learn to do that. To shed themselves of ghosts and corpses of past doings that still lingers around as ghosts. In the corridors, the shadows, painted onto the walls. Both in places that were hidden, and in plain sight.

For Nozel, those shadows were much more prominent, no matter how much he tried to keep them concealed. Because he was a proudful man. Someone who needed to upkeep appearances and walls so high they might climb all the ay up to the heavens themselves. A proper Tower of Babel, on top of which he might linger, away from the reach of all, but be punished whatever deity there was in the heavens that had stayed silent for all his life. Through all the choices he had to make all by himself, when there was no one to guide him. No one older and wiser to show him the way, but instead, he had to find answers for himself.

Answers that had proven to be wrong, in the end and through out the process of making decisions. A road he had travelled, but hadn’t known how to turn back either.

All the sins that he had been able to admit to Dorothy. Spill all the burdens that had laid so very heavy on his shoulders, but which had wound around his throat as a spell, to keep him from speaking out in the realm of the humans. But Dorothy wasn’t quite so limited. Because her magic had allowed him to talk and her to listen.

That was how they grew closer. First as colleagues, then friends, and then more...

She held his hand and tried to offer a shoulder, while having very little to say. Because how does one reply to all the things he had to share?

The things, for which he, and Noelle, had gotten a revenge. A retribution. A compensation. If one could call it as that.

But it was a way forward. A step into the right direction, now that he would be allowed to speak about it as well.

One step forward.

One more thought in the raging sea within his mind, as they walked back, after the battle. Into the sanctity of the Royal Capitol, into the Silva estate, holding hands. Their knuckles were pale from squeezing so hard onto each other, as if afraid that they might wake up from a dream, and end up into a nightmare that would be called as the real world.

“Nozel?” She whispered in a voice that was barely audible.

“Mhm?” His hum was just as quiet.

“I’m...” there was a lump in her throat that she swallowed. One of hesitation, of things she wasn’t sure if she should say, or not.

But she had already gotten this far.

They had already gotten this far. And now that he was freed of the curse, then maybe... maybe it’d be alright if she talked about it.

“What is it?” He asked, still squeezing onto her hand, partially fearing what she might have to say, and partially not daring to leave whatever it was unheard.

“I’m... I was thinking that since...” she still hesitated, which evoked a sense of fear within Nozel. A fear unlike he had never felt before. Because... because there was a possibility that she’d say something, about which he couldn’t do anything.

One can’t make another person love another. It is not something that can be forced upon a person, and thus... ought she say what he dreaded within the depths of his very soul, there would be nothing he could do about it.

And that would be a defeat after a victory. A loss that he couldn’t have predicted.

“I was thinking that since...” she started again. “You are confronting you demons,” she attempted to joke. “I might have to confront mine.”

He stopped, but didn’t let go of her hand.

She... has demons? Of her own? He found himself wondering as he stared at her with a look of disbelief, because for all this time, he had thought that he had been the one with troubles.

Sure he knew that she had left home for a reason to come to Clover Kingdom, but the reasons could have been many.

“You’re not the only one with a troubled parent-child relationship,” she attempted to joke again, but her smirk was laced with sorrow.

And it twisted his stomach. It made a wave of nausea wash over him, along with a horrid realization sink in. One that told him that he had overlooked the burdens of the one he held most dear, the one who had always been there. Helping him. Supporting him. Offering him a shoulder to cry on when no one else would. Or could, for that matter.

“And it’s about time I face my mother...”

“How-, was she ...” he tried, but the words died in his throat. Even though now that it had been brought up, he wanted to know.

No.

He needed to know.

He quite simply had to know. And if it was up to him, he would know.

“It’s not exactly an easy thing to hear...” she gave him a gentle smile that almost looked like she was pitying him.

She was pitying him.

Such a strange thing.

Because in that moment, that topic, that time and place, she... it should have been the other way around if anything. If someone was to pity someone else, it should have been the other way around.

“Tell me.”

She looked around the corridor where they stood, and it was only then he realized where they were still standing. Which was why he began walking further into the estate, dragging her along, nearly desperate to get to their shared bedroom as quickly as possible. But the ever-winding corridors felt so long. Far longer than in a long, long time. And he found himself praying that she wouldn’t lose confidence during the walk. During the minutes that it would take for them to reach the bedroom.

And as they got there, the door closed shut, he finally realized that he must’ve been holding his breath. Because he was gasping for air. His chest was heaving.

But as he placed his hands onto her shoulders, and looked at her, he was sure about the words he spoke: “Tell me.”

There was a pause during which her eyes flickered. A pause during which she seemed to question if he really wanted to know. But she could see no lie in his eyes. No hesitation. No doubts. Which was why her lips parted to explain.

“My mother... she felt a need to... try an make a couple of us improve our magics. So that we would be the strongest witches,” she began as her eyes fell down. “My sister... she had the ability to control the fate, which was why our mother made it so that she’d... need to control her own fate. She was locked away, pried away from the world in an effort for her to break out and take a hold of the fates that she was supposed to wield...” her tone was hushed. Quiet. Barely there. “In order to make her fate wielding magic stronger, she’d need to take a hold of herself first. That was how our mother tried to force that ability onto her. Force, specifically,” she emphasized. “And for me... Because my magic is that of dreams...” her voice quivered. “There are many ways to strengthen dreams, but my mother works through opposites.”

Nozel was almost sure where this was headed, but he didn’t-, dare finish the thought. Because the image of a mother was sacred in his mind. So this... this didn’t ... seem right. In any way.

“So my mother made it her mission to make my life quite the nightmare. Quite... literally. So that I would escape into my dreams,” she spoke with a tone that was barely audible. “It doesn’t sound like much but... you see... my mother’s magic can be... scary... The images she can conjure...” she paused for a while, and her eyes shifted around, as if she was seeing something in the space that existed between the two of them. “There is a reason why in Glamour World I have teddies and cupcakes and... all the things a young girl might wish...”

She paused again, for a moment that seemed like a fraction of an eternity.

But it seemed like she wasn’t capable of saying more. Not at this time though.

So, he settled in taking half of a step forward, and wrapping his arms around her.

“I’m here,” he whispered against her hair, while holding her as tight as he dared.

He wasn’t good with words, but he could do something. He could hold her close and tell her that he was there.

Because he was. And he would be.

“It’ll be alright...” he tried.

It was a clumsy attempt and he knew it, but- .... But he tried. And as she wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed back, he knew that she could hear him. That she could feel it.

That he wasn’t going anywhere, and he’d be there to listen when and if she wanted to talk more.

“I’m sorry you needed to bear through it,” he added, which sounded far too much like a rehearsed line for a manual of some kind. A dry statement said when other words failed.

But the sentiment of being genuine was there.

“You didn’t deserve it,” another dry statement, and his jaw tensed from how stupid it sounded to him, when said out loud.

“I know,” she smiled against his chest. “But it’s good to hear it,” she added as her thumb begun stroking his back over his clothes.

Not everything was exactly alright with the world. But... little by little, things were getting better. Things were growing towards a bright future. A future where they might be together, and well.

There might have been more demons to conquest, but... they’d do it together.

#nozel x dorothy #dorozel #black clover fanfiction #black clover oneshot

10 notes · View notes

the-geek-librarian · 10 days ago

Note

Dorothy x Nozel ship, or Vanessa x Nozel ship? And why?!

Pd: I love you very much, I really enjoy all your posts and I really like your blog, please never stop! (I needed to take the opportunity to say this) 💞✨

OH MY GODDDDDDD THANK YOU SO MUCH????

This means the world to me you have no idea. Anon thank you truly, also sorry for the late reply, Ive had your ask in mind for a long time now but i just couldn't really find the time to give you a proper answer.

Again, thank you it really means a lot to me that ppl like my shit lol.

To the topic at hand tho, Nozel x Nessa or Nozel x Dorothy?

Nozel x Dorothy!! Why? Well, it really has to do with the Chap when we hear abt Megi for the first time, We now Nozel cant speak abt the curse to anyone or it will spread, this has been waghyting him down for all his life. He literally can't be truthful about the most traumatic event of his life with anyone, not even his own siblings. But then we get that Chapter where we see Dorothy knows about how Acire dead, she could not. By any means just magically know this by herself, so that means, Nozel trusted Dorothy enough to tell her about his biggest trauma his has ever lived through and is still suffering from to this day.

This implies so much trust and understanding from both ends, trust that Dorothy wont use this against him for her own gain. This in my eyes puts them WAYYY above Nozel x Nessa no hate to you who ship them ofc.

Another thing to be added is this can also be purely platonic, it can be that Nozel simply found a friend to confine and trust. And the fact that Dorothy is a wicht makes this so much more fun bc a highy royals lover and or bbf, how ever you choose to see them is a witch from the closed off with forest. I find this so funny

#black clover #nozel x dorothy #nozel silva #dorothy unsworth #thank you for the love anon

5 notes · View notes

lyranova · 10 months ago

Note

Hi Lyra! How about Nozel x Dorothy for your ship ask? I’ve seen it around a handful of times & am kind of curious. Thanks ^^

Hiya Acacia! I’m so happy to see you and I hope you’re doing well 🥰!

Nozel x Dorothy: A ship that makes sense and compels me! Admittedly I never thought of the two as a ship until I started getting requests for them, and tbh I actually like them! I can see the vibes and tropes, and considering out of all the Captain’s she is the only one who knew about Megicula and why Nozel couldn’t tell Noelle about it, it shows just how much he trusts her! Nozel x Dorothy kind of gives me Zera x William vibes but in a different way 😆! They’re probably tied with Nozel x Vanessa when it comes to “canon character ships” for Nozel 🥰!

#asks #acacia💜#my lovely mutuals #nozel x dorothy #dorothy x nozel #nozel silva #dorothy unsworth #ship ask game #thanks for asking!

8 notes · View notes

hehedraws · 2 years ago

Note

Could I request u draw Nozel x Dorothy? 👉👈 And if u can't do both, then just pick ur fav of those two? I love that ship but can't draw to save my life

here you go! it took a while to draw nozel, i hope he fixes his hair soon

#black clover #nozel silva #dorothy unsworth #nozel x dorothy

31 notes · View notes

bdebruxa · 1 year ago

Text

👀

#dorothy unsworth #black clover #black clover fanart #nozel x dorothy #dorothy x nozel

17 notes · View notes

tummyisyummy · 2 months ago

Text

Okay so another new gen idea

Here is a fan kid for Dorothy and Nozel

He does inherit mercury magic but also have a narcolepsy type situation. I imagined Dorothy’s sleeping situation would also transfer to him. So he does randomly go to sleep sometimes.

25 notes · View notes

a-crimson-dawn · 2 years ago

Text

Merilliam May 2023 - Day #1 - Realisations

It was a baffling find.

Knowing a person who had only recently betrayed you happened to hold feelings for someone you were related to, that was.

They'd all been sat down at "The Dreavy Hinker" - Sukehiro's idea, naturally -, the men at one table, the women chattering at another. Being the conversations hadn't interested them, the men did not pay much attention, only occasionally trying to sneak a subtle peek at the other table. (Purely out of professional reasons, of course!)

Awkward as they all were, rarely interacting with one another beyond work, it was decided the safest topic of conversation would, in fact, be work. Something which Sukehiro must have found terribly boring because he seemed to make a drinking game out of it and which prompted the Ripper man to try and provoke the rest of the captains at every turn. The Boismortier lad seemed so distracted he'd settled for doodling pictures of some young woman he must have liked in his journal, and, surprisingly enough, not even Vangeance was paying much attention.

Every now and again he'd blink and ask "I'm sorry, what?" or "I didn't catch that, sorry," or "I um… yes…" with all the conviction of someone who had no idea what question they were even answering.

All in all, the evening was going swell, and clearly, no one was desperate to leave the gathering.

A gathering which, naturally, Julius had organised.

Because of course he had. (Hell would freeze over before Nozel would suggest such a frivolous waste of time.)

Regardless, William Vangeance - a person whose "distractions" had lead to mass destruction before - was currently distracted. So could you really blame Nozel for being ever so slightly - or very - paranoid? When his cousin's cousin caught his gaze it was apparent he was not the only one with such opinions and so, they made a point to quietly investigate it. Subtly. Without -

"So, Vangeance, you got a crush or something?" Great. Of course Sukehiro couldn't keep his mouth shut or his mind on the topic if it would kill him not to. "'Cause… you seem to be more interesting in the ladies than our… enlightening conversation…"

A conversation the foreigner himself wasn't even paying attention to!

… Although, he had to admit, there might have been some truth to it, since Vangeance's cheeks seemed to turn a little red. Wasn't from the alcohol either - for once he didn't seem to order whatever Yami had, and so was almost certainly sober.

"Ahaha… my apologies," he responded, nervously. He entirely avoided the question, though. "What was it that you were saying about increasing security?" he turned his attentions to the captains of the Crimson Lion Kings and Silver Eagles. The colour had faded and it was as though he'd never been distracted in the first place. Yet…

"You're not still fantasizing about Sisgoleon are you?" Now Yami had Nozel's full attention. Fantasizing? About Mereoleona???

Faintly he could hear the sound of coughing and spluttering and turned to find a surprisingly inelegant version of Vangeance choking over his juice.

"I-" Cough. "-wouldn't say-" Cough, cough. "- fantasizing…" Cough. Wheeze.

Once the coughing fit was over and he seemed to regain some self-control, Vangeance twirled the juice glass in his hand, looking down at it instead of anyone at the table. "I respect her as a warrior…" he spoke under his breath, clearly no more convinced of that being the only reason for his distract than anyone else there.

Except maybe Kaiser. "Well, I suppose she is an admirable woman," the older man conceded.

"Oh, sure… she's good in a fight…" Yami drawled, nodding. "And I'm sure she's also good in -"

"Please do not speak so crassly about my sister, Sukehiro. Least of all in front of my face, it makes my drink taste sour," Fuegoleon cut him off.

"I agree," Nozel made a point of glaring at Yami.

"Ohoho, I on the other hand would love to know what else this man believes I'm good in,~" a voice boomed, and he could practically hear his relative grin as she approached the table.

At this point, Yami's cocky attitude turned a rigid after he'd flinched at the woman's voice.

"Mereoleona, do not encourage his perverted ideas." He was not about to listen to talks on anyone's sex-life, especially not in a public space. If he was going to talk about sex, it would not be here or with this particular collective of people. There were definitely more ideal people to talk about such intimate things…

And they would never be so crass about it.

"Aw, Nozel-dear.~"

Apparently the ideal person had overheard their conversation too. Great.

"No need to be so shy about physical intimacy. After all, we're all adults here - and I'm sure Yami-dear only has the highest praise for Mereoleona skills in the area of -"

"Lady Unsworth, do not mistake this man's crass words for respect. It is obvious he has zero respect for women," a cold voice huffed, and it was apparent then that even Captain Charlotte had overheard. Wonderful.

Sukehiro shot the woman a grin. "Hmm… I didn't see you complaining about my crassness and lack of respect for woman yesterday…"

Not caring to know about the implications, he instead look to Dorothy. "I am not being shy, Lady Unsworth. I have no desire to speak of such things in public. I was sure you would have guessed as much by now…" He was royalty, after all; he had much more dignity and self-respect than that!

By the time this back and forth had finished, it seemed Vangeance had vacated his seat, sneaking off somewhere.

---

Finally things had resolved themselves. Sukehiro was chasing after the Roselei woman with his own clumsy apologies, Kaiser claimed it was past bedtime for him (and probably had more interest in being around his wife than them), Rill had gotten so drunk he passed out at the table (they would likely have to take him to his headquarters, but for now the two royals figured they could make use of the peace and quiet) and Vangeance was still nowhere to be seen.

"I didn't think he would have such feelings… for my sister no less," Fuegoleon began awkwardly. "Well… I suppose he was always reserved."

If Sukehiro were to be believed, Vangeance wasn't particularly subtle about his sentiments. So apparently, everyone, including the man's crush herself, had just been completely blind to his constant excuses to be around Mereoleona in any capacity and the other small hints. Not like he would have known about the comic incident, though….

The comic incident, for anyone unacquainted with the event, was a moment in time during the Grey Deer years, when Sukehiro - being the upstanding member of society - had hoarded a particular genre of graphic novels (also referred to as "manga" - that were targeted at the adult audience. They were absolutely filled with obscenities and filth, and yet, he had to admit even he'd once fallen for the dark haired man's goading. So occasionally, a fellow magic knight would hesitantly borrow a book - with some returning for more.

As it happened, Vangeance fell for it too, and - according to Sukehiro's claims, anyway - chose specifically one involving red haired woman that didn't look too different from Mereoleona and just so happened to have a more dominant personality. Sukehiro, apparently teased Vangeance for this "coincidence" and the younger man had denied it, however, considering all the other hints, even Nozel had to admit it was rather suspicious.

Even so, at the time, he'd had no idea.

"… Yes, reserved…" And from there, Nozel couldn't help but feel a little bitter.

The same reservation had Vangeance ignoring his responsibilities and not informing the magic knights of a terrorist right under their noses. The same reservation had cost lives. It was a confusing reminder, but a reminder nevertheless.

"Well, I suppose at the end of the day it is up to my sister whom she does or does not see…" Fuegoleon swirled the wine in his glass.

"Hmm…" But for it to potentially be a traitor?

"… and, it is not as though we know whether she reciprocates those feelings or not," he reasoned.

Nozel figured there was only one way to find out. "Perhaps we ought to ask her." Besides, the straightforward way seemed to work well enough for Vangeance, so, for a straightforward woman like Mereoleona, it would surely work just fine. Not like they could hide it - if simpler, the woman wasn't daft, she was perfectly observant in her own right.

The red haired captain cleared his throat and nodded, seeming to hesitate, as he looked to Boismortier. "Perhaps first we should…"

Well, yes, it would be a bad idea to leave the young man lying around in a tavern. Nozel nodded.

"By the way, you don't happen to have feelings towards Lady Unsworth?" The red haired male asked as he lifted Boismortier.

Taken aback by the sudden question, Nozel stomach twisted. He couldn't very well have the world knowing about his affairs of the heart. Not now, not in the world they lived in. It would only put the lady in danger and would surely affect his reputation or…

"You need not answer if…"

"I apologise for -"

The two of them looked around to find Vangeance re-entering the building, only to look down to Boismortier with a frown.

"He's drunk and unconscious, not dead," Nozel figured he'd clarify.

"Ah…"

Ah, indeed. They wound up standing in silence for a few moments.

"Well, I suppose since you're here, you could make your intentions towards my sister clear to us," Fuegoleon said after a while.

William bit his lip. "I'm sorry- I know it's wrong of me, after everything I have done…" his gaze trailed from the fire mage's arm to the floor. That was as good a confirmation as any, as far as Nozel was concerned. "I-I wish I could change this, but… I can't."

The atmosphere quickly grew uncomfortable, Nozel's insides squirming, telling him to get out of there. He was never good with emotions and clearly, Vangeance and Fuegoleon weren't the best either, considering none of them could hold eye contact right about now.

"If it is any consolation, I doubt my feelings are mutual…" the masked man let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"So… you and my sister are not together?"

Vangeance shook his head. "I doubt that is even a possibility." Beyond the man being a traitor, there was the simple fact that, while well-liked and a noble, he was not a high ranking noble. (A high ranking knight, perhaps, but…) He might have been a lord, but then, so could anyone with a bit of land to their name, or with sufficient merit… and no one really knew of any Vangeance house. It would therefore not do for the two of them to marry - royalty only married into either royalty or the creme de la creme of noble society. And that wasn't where Vangeance came from. Besides, Mereoleona did make it clear she would only get with someone who was strong enough not to die in a deathmatch, the implications of which, considering she was a straightforward person… did not bode well for someone like Vangeance who had different romantic aspirations, clearly.

(Then again, perhaps that statement had come from a moment of obsessive desire to find someone to give her a proper fight… and maybe she didn't mean it as literally as they'd all thought. Still, that did not suggest she would want to be with Vangeance, of all people.)

Fuegoleon and Nozel looked between each other, with the latter hoping the former would say something, because the awkwardness only seemed to grow.

Fortunately, there would be no need for that.

"I can take Rill to the Azure Deer headquarters," the youngest offered, looking to the young man in Fuegoleon's arms. "I did reside there once, so I know where it is… and I am sure the two of you must be tired?"

He seemed almost hopeful for it, though Nozel wasn't really sure why that would be the case. If he were optimistic - like Fuegoleon - he might chalk it up to a desire to make up for his past actions. However, Nozel Silva was nothing if not a cynic.

Even so, his relative seemed to nod. "That would be… nice…"

Just when he didn't think it could get anymore awkward. Still, taking Rill with him, William disappeared.

Once more it was just the two of them… now with a confirmation of their suspicions. And nothing else to talk about. And no, he was not about to talk about his own… romantic interests…

"How the hell does Vangeance claim to know what is and isn't a possibility as though he knows both of us?" a voice exclaimed and the two men whipped round to find that someone had clearly been listening to their conversation the whole time.

When in the world did Mereoleona of all people learn to be this stealthy?

"Maybe you should be asking him that, sister?" Fuegoleon said in an exasperated tone that betrayed nowhere near enough surprise to encourage confidence in Nozel that the two of them hadn't planned this together somehow.

Dammit. He almost felt tempted to drink right now. If only Sukehiro didn't insist that he was an emotional drunk.

---

A/N - Okay, so I'm a little over six hours late with my first entry, but hey, I did a thing!

#black clover #merilliammay2023 #mereoleona vermillion #william vangeance #mereoleona x william #william x mereoleona #merilliam #fuegoleon vermillion #nozel silva #yami sukehiro #yami x charlotte #dorothy x nozel #nozel x dorothy #charlotte roselei #dorothy unsworth

13 notes · View notes