#prompts are pinned on my page

[violetsareblue-selfships]

good morning! :3

[august-anon]

Hello so your Fandom post says to ask about BNHA characters. Do you write for, Shirakumo Oboro, Shinsou Hitoshi or any of the class B kids? (all seperated). Thank you!

hello! so, i do not feel confident in my writing for any class B characters, I dont really feel like I know them all that well at all, and I also don't feel confident writing for Shirakumo because i am several years behind on BNHA at this point so i only really know him through fanfiction and none of his canon appearances in flashbacks or anything of the like

as for Shinsou, I could possibly get the vibes right for him? but like i said, i am Several Years behind on BNHA -- like, the last episode i watched was that one festival with the gentleman villain or whatever and theyre putting on a concert to make Eri smile -- so the only real canon instances I've had of Shinsou are, like, the sports festival lol, he is once again one that i know primarily through fanfiction rather than actual canon content to learn his personality and mannerisms

[dirtylilspawn]

ᴍᴀɴʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇᴅ

Summary: You prank the lads boys by aggressively manhandling them.

Fandom: Love & Deepspace

Parings: [Zayne x Fem!Reader, Xavier x Fem!Reader, Caleb x Fem!Reader, Sylus x Fem!Reader, Rafayel x Fem!Reader]

A/N: Works been killin my butt. But anyways I saw many prank tiktok videos about women aggressively handling their own partner. Whether it be kissing them, love bites, or putting them on top of the kitchen counter. Figured it make a funny small prompt of how it would go lol.

Warnings: Fluff & humor, suggestive stuff, cursing

════════════════════════════

ZAYNE

You've been feeling pretty clingy today.

You didn't know what it was that made you feel this way. Maybe just seeing Zayne, waking up in his bed, staying over at his place, not bothered by work, both of you doing very domestic stuff, made you feel really touchy feely. And Zayne was much aware of this notion from the very start of the day. Not that he every denied your loving affection, no not ever.

He accepted every hug or kiss, and returned it with much love. Oh, how it only fuels the fire of your clingy nature even more.

Here you are, coming out from the kitchen, to lean against the wall, with a glass of sweet tea in hand. You tilt the glass towards your mouth as your eyes were trained on one thing in particular.

There Zayne sat on the large couch, in the living room, with a book in hand. His eyes soft but narrowed in focus as he reads the pages, he's currently on. His back leaning on the cushions, skillfully flipped each page with his thumb. As his elbow was pressed against the arm of the couch, with a small portion of a sugar cookie the two of you had baked not long ago, in his hands. He immediately finishes it, taking it into his mouth with a small hum. Licking off any specks of crusts lingering on his fingers.

Watching this perfect, handsome, hunk of man as your sipping your tea just sent you up in orbit. It was too much to take in. Does he know how amazing he is, just sitting there? That's what you thought, the audacity of this man to sit and read so cutely, in his causal home attire -white shirt and grey sweatpants-

You had to do something about it.

You walk up to where Zayne was, placing the cool glass on top of the glass ottoman in the middle of the living room. The clink of the glass made Zayne look up at you. His demeanor calm and relaxed, before looking down at his book.

"Any thoughts about what you'd like for din-"

Before he could even finish that sentence, Zayne was attacked.

He found your hands squeezing his cheeks harshly, pulling him closer to your face. You bend down to kiss him on the lips. His eyes widening in shock and confusion.

But you continue you assault on him.

You kiss him very passionately and aggressively. Hands running along his jet-black locks like a crazy loon, messy up his hair. All while you muttered along his lips, words of affirmation.

"God dang it Zayne! You -kiss- are so -kiss- perfect -kiss- uugh!!"

You start to kiss all over his face. To his cheeks, forehead, nose, eyes, and anywhere else you could get your lips on. His book on the floor, as he had already dropped it do to your aggressive love session. His eyes still wide with so much confusion.

It didn't even stop there, as you suddenly push this man, laying his back onto the couch. Pinning him by his shoulders just to keep him still. Your kisses never stopping, as you go lower to his neck, giving him rough kisses down to his collarbone.

Finally, you pull away.

You had found yourself straddling the poor man, your arms still pinning down his upper body.

You look to see his full face that was very much a very funny and cute site. His ears were burning red, hair a mess as he stared at you with such unreadable green eyes. His mouth was slightly agape as if he was trying to figure out what to say to you in that moment. But he closes it, his lips in a tight line, eyes closed, inhaling a long breath to re-catch his own thoughts.

His head leans to the side as he opens his eyes, not looking you in your own eyes. Zayne's heart was pounding in his chest right now.

"You...-sigh-"

You couldn't help but laugh at this site of him. It was too funny to behold, seeing Zayne completely embarrassed and yet flustered at the same time.

"Caught you off guard huh?"

You quip with a prideful smirk on your lips. Zayne brings his eyes to look up at you. You could see he was trying to act all serious, and calm, but it was obviously faltering. As you could see the corners of his mouth flick up in a small grin. His emotions getting the better of him, as he lets out a laugh. A mix between disbelief and fondness.

"Well, I didn't expect to be attacked in my own home by my partner."

He states this, and you laugh even more. An endless supply of giggles and laughter that you couldn't stop. One that Zayne couldn't help but join in, loving the sound of your laughter.

You let go of his shoulders, before leaning down to give a soft kiss to your boyfriend. A sweet smile stretching across your mouth.

"Well, you're just going to have to get use to it. Because there's definitely more to come in the future."

He rolls his eyes at you.

"I fear for my safety."

He says this sarcastically of course, but deep down he's already preparing for the next attack. Just in case, so next time you do this stunt again, he'll be able to calm his heart. Because that shit made him feel like he was having a straight-up heart attack.

════════════════════════════

XAVIER

You were laying on your bed.

Stomach first, as your feet were up in the air. Your hands clutch onto your phone, watching silly videos. Xavier was up in your bathroom taking a shower from a hard day of working. You had already taken a shower first, reasons being that Xavier told you to go in first, and second was because he was already on the verge of sleep. You were about to say to take a shower together, but the man was already nodding off as he sat on your bed. So, you decided to allow him to take a quick nap while you take your shower.

It has been a long day for the both of you, as you had both just got done with work. A bunch of wanderers to take down here and there, nothing too serious of a threat to get badly hurt, but enough to feel exhausted. And it definitely showed with the both of you, glad that it was the end of the day.

Xavier wanted to come over your apartment, because he finds it more comfortable, and wanted to sleep with you tonight. Plus, you figured he was too lazy to go up to his own apartment complex that was just a floor above yours. You never complain, as you would also come over to his complex and sleep there sometimes.

As you were kicking your feet, over the audio on your phone, you could hear the shower suddenly turn off. Indicating that Xavier was all done with his shower. He soon later came out, opening the door the connected to the bedroom. He lets out a silent yawn; while wiping his hair with a small white towel, a large towel was wrapped around his waist. His body shinning in the dim light from the room lights, due to the excess water cascading down his chest and stomach. You can see his full tempting v-line below his abdomen making your face heat up from the delicious site alone. He looked so appetizing yet cute at the same time.

You turned off your phone, placing the device on the bed-side counter. You sat up before getting off the bed, making strong strides towards your gorgeous boyfriend. His eyes open a bit seeing you coming forth, watch as you wrapped your arms around his torso head leaning on his slight wet chest. You didn't mind though, as you snuggled with him, smelling his freshly showered body. The scent of sweet vanilla filling your nose; he used your body wash.

"Hmm...You smell good."

A goofy smile presents itself on your lips. Xavier smiles softly, leaning in your touch as his own arms wrapped around you. His arms holding onto your shoulders rubbing them gently. The small towel he held was draped securely around his neck. His head buried into your hair, nosed pressed against your hair, smelling you as well.

"So do you.."

He whispers this in a low hum, eyes closed as he embraces you. You could feel his heart beat slow and relaxed inside his chest. Xavier's soft snores making you chuckle. The fact that this man can sleep standing up still amazes you.

"Sleepy?"

"Hm."

Xavier hums again, as if to say yes, his arms holding you closer to his body. His body leans into yours, the weight of him not fully on you, as if he was stopping himself from falling on top of you. You let out a sigh rolling your eyes. The cuteness of this man was just too much; it made you giggle a bit.

Without a thought or hesitation, your hands go lower till you reached the back of his thighs. Xavier can feel this, but he doesn't back away nor think anything of it. That was until you used all of your strength, bending your knees, and you use this strength to pick up your boyfriend. Xavier eyes widen as he was suddenly up from the ground, your struggling of course but still it was an achievement. Carrying your sleepy boy by his own thighs, before waking back to the bed. Xavier was very shaken from this move, his hands clinging to your shoulders as he blushes heavily.

"[Y-Y/N]...what are you doing?"

You smiled looking up at your flustered boyfriend, "Carrying...ngh my exhausted boyfriend of course~"

It was all you said, and only Xavier could look at you with wide eyes and a simple nod of okay. His tiredness going away as he watched his own girlfriend carry him around, he didn't know how to feel about this, but it wasn't unwelcomed.

It wasn't long till you reached the bed, slamming the boy right on to the soft bed, making him lay on his back. His small towel was already gone, falling onto the floor when you picked him up. His other towel wrapped around his waist, was defiantly loose, clinging onto him for dear life. But still covered his crotch.

Once settled onto the bed, you crawled your way in between his thighs, your hands running along up his thighs to his stomach. Making way to his chest then finally his soft cheeks. You squish his cheeks in your hands, body resting on top of his. You lips lean in to kiss him on the nose before moving to his lips. His hands were now at your waist, rubbing your sides.

"Are you sleepy now?"

You say this pulling away, but it seemed like Xavier was chasing your lips. His cheeks were still flushed with pink, but his shock expression turned into a very sweet playful grin. His hands tracing along your back, slightly teasing underneath your tank top you were wearing.

"Not at the moment no."

You were suddenly rolled over, as Xavier had now turned the tables. His body pinning you underneath him, his baby blue eyes looking down at you with so much mischief. His hand made its way to your cheek, stroking it was such softness as if you were a delicate relic.

"I think I'd like to stay up for a little while, how about you~?"

You chuckle as you pulled Xavier by his neck, His face and lips close you yours.

"Sounds fine by me~"

You whispered back before his lips connected with yours passionately.

════════════════════════════

CALEB

Pranks were nothing but natural for you and Caleb.

Ever since you were kids you two would pull all types of small pranks on each other. Not mean big pranks that would cause problems in one's relationship. But small harmless pranks that make each other laugh and keep the relationship more fun and fresher. To get competitive and try to one-up each other the next month or two.

It was your love language.

And it was your turn.

Oh, how you've been dying to try and get Caleb back. You were still pouting over the last prank he did. You could remember it like it was yesterday. The man had deliberately placed fake cockroaches all underneath your bed comforter. You of course did not realize it. Already freaking out with disgust and fear, running to Caleb about your "unfortunate" situation. Hugging and whimpering to him while you pushed him to the problem. Only for him to laugh and say how those cockroaches were all plastic toys.

You then start to curse him, while beating his chest -soft punches- giving him the biggest mean mug pout. One that he finds absolutely adorable. He makes up for this by promising to take you out to this new big carnival that just opened up around the neighborhood.

Today was the day of the carnival.

And both you and Caleb were getting ready that late afternoon. Hoping to get there early and on time for the rides and games.

You closed the door to your shared room, checking your small purse to make sure you got everything you needed. You're wearing a nice yellow blouse, white tank top underneath with a light jean skirt. It wasn't going to be cold, just a nice warm day.

Once you made it to the spacious room where the living room and kitchen connected. You could see your boyfriend turned to you. His back bent a little as his focus was on his phone, scrolling aimlessly, elbows on the kitchen counter. He was dresses up as well, in a very familiar outfit. His sleeveless white logo shirt, with black jeans pants.

He looked so handsome in the moment. His muscular back and shoulders showing of through the white shirt, His long arms, especially his biceps that flexed a bit on top of the kitchen counter. His hips tutting to the side a bit. You couldn't see his face fully, but you could already imagine how he looked. Eyes narrowed but soft, probably biting his lip as he scrolls through whatever feed he's on, all while he's waiting for you.

It was in that moment...you had an opening.

Slowly, you sneak your way over to Caleb. Making sure your sock covered feet won't make any noise against the tile floors. It seems he doesn't notice you at all.

So, taking your only shot, as you make it behind him, your hand raised to aim for his ass. Immediately striking him down against his left cheek harshly, causing the man to gasp loudly. His eyes were wide, but before he could turn around and say anything, your hand that slapped his ass, remained there. Giving his ass couple of good squeezes while your chest was flushed against his back.

"Fuck, you're lookin so hot! Look at this ass!"

"[Y/N]..!"

You didn't give him any time what-so-ever. Turning him around roughly, only to push him back. You could see his very shocked and surprised face now. His cheeks full on flushed with red, a face that made you grip his cheeks with on hand to pull his close to yours. You give him a big fat kiss onto his lips, before pushing him off, making the man look at you dumbfounded.

"Face matches up nicely, not bad at all~"

You tease as your hands rested against his ass, giving his cheeks a squeeze while playing humping his waist. He looks at you so confused, as if you had two heads. There was a moment of pure silence. That was until Caleb begins to grin so big that it could hurt, before a big laugh erupts his whole body.

His chest heaving and rumbling as his hand makes it way to cover his eyes in embarrassment but much amusement as well. He couldn't stop laughing, and it made you laugh as well, your hands coming off his ass to just wrap around his torso. Head leaning against his chest.

"W-What was that pipsqueak!?"

Caleb's hand goes down from his face, looking at you with a big playful smirk gracing his lips. You smirk back with a wink.

"Nothing! Can't I appreciate my boyfriend's hotness?"

Caleb chuckles, leaning in to give your forehead a kiss.

"Never said you couldn't...but with a stunt like that, I say you must be getting even with me huh?"

Before you can retort back, Caleb grabs up by the waist using his strong arms. You gasp as you're now in the air, Caleb turning you to the counter so he can settle you done on the cool marble. Your legs wrapped around his waist, as your arms wrapped around his neck. He held your tightly against him.

"I would congratulate you on that prank of yours, but I would be lying saying that prank won't cost ya. We might be a bit late arriving to the carnival. After that bit, how can I possibly let you go...naughty girl~"

He says this as his head moves to your neck to place feathered kisses along your collarbone. It tickled causing you to giggle, the thought of missing the carnival making you wiggle in his hold whining.

"Caleb, nooo..!"

Yeah, you were definitely going to be late.

════════════════════════════

SYLUS

Catching Sylus off guard, can be a very difficult task at hand.

It seemed like no matter what, he always knew what move you were going to make. Calculating each future ten step you would say or do just so he can throw it right back in your face. And it definitely frustrated you.

A fierce man who was hard to take down.

In fact, he was the one catching you off guard. He was the one surprising you the most and getting you all flustered in the cheeks with his devious nonchalant attitude. It's a rare and very rare moment when Sylus was ever caught being flustered. And even in those rare occasions, he can easily and quickly hide it inside, composing himself as if it didn't phase him at all. As if he had already predicted your tricks, before you can ever see his reactions.

And so, you were on a mission.

A mission to complete subdue and fluster your Onychinus leader boyfriend. It took you half a month to come up with any idea. A good top idea to catch this man way off guard, just so you can win. You just wanted win over him, even if it's just one time. To get him stuttering over his words. And finally, you came up with an idea, a brilliant idea, one where you hoped and prayed that it will very much work.

You texted Sylus on how you'll meet him tonight at his place. He of course welcomed this arrival, his home literally opened to only you at any time of the day. You made your way, rushing to the N109 zone to Sylus's grand mansion. Preparing yourself for what was about to happen.

Once there, you greeted both Luke and Kieran who both welcomed you back. Wondering what the rush was, but you could only give them both a question back asking where Sylus was.

"Boss is-"

"-In his office." They both said.

Perfect!

Working out exactly how you wanted.

"Thank you, see ya later!"

They watched as you rushed down the hallway with a very confused but interested look, wondering what you were planning.

Sylus was in his office, just finishing up closing a deal via phone call. He sighed as he leaned against his chair running a hand through his own locks, looking around the room with his ruby red eyes. Mephisto was in his office - more luck for you -, and Sylus was thinking about you. Waiting for you to come to him.

He then hears a knock at the door making his lips curl into a smile. He can tell from just the knock alone that it was you.

"Come on in kitten."

Nothing.

The door didn't open, nor was there any sound before or after that came with it. His brow quirks at this peculiar moment.

"Kitten, I said you can come in."

He says this a bit louder, but again no answer, or door opening. And he was already confused from the start, because normally you'd just barge right in with that innocent smile of yours. But you didn't even do that. So, know Sylus was on edge but gratefully intrigued by what was going on. Wondering what you were planning behind that door.

He gets up from his chair, walking towards the lavish design door. Once he made it and he opens the door, he gets suddenly pulled by the collar of his shirt. His body leaning and his lips quickly connecting to yours. His eyes looked at you, wide and in disbelief but it wasn't over yet.

Using a tackling move on him, you swiftly used your leg to grapple behind his left leg. You used you full weight so that he would fall to the ground with a harsh thud. Your lips still on him as your hands moved to grab his own wrists and pin the above his head so that he wouldn't go anywhere. You were now straddling his waist, kissing him roughly before pulling back to only bite his cheek.

The man gasps as he was still to stunned to speak. He could only watch as you aggressively manhandle him. Your bites moved to his neck which caused Sylus to grunt lowly. His cheeks and ears red, still so confused. His brain trying to regain any semblance of reasoning but failing terribly so.

Once you pulled away to look at him, a big smile came to your lips as you looked at Sylus. His expression was priceless, funny, cute even as he looked up at you. You can finally say you've taken down Sylus.

Sylus clears his throat, lips curling into a smirk, shaking his head from your actions.

"Is...this some type of new fighting strategy of yours? If so, I'm not so keen for you to use it on other people."

You laughed.

"Nope, I just wanted to tackle you into submission. And I finally got you!"

You hear a big rich laugh come from Sylus. The pitch a bit heightened as he found this incredibly silly and adorable. He could just maneuver his way out of your hold easily or even use his evol to overpower you. But he doesn't, liking the proud face you made of finally overpowering him. Using your smart skills to gain the upper hand of the situation. It made his heart jump inside his chest happily.

"You know, if you wanted to over-power me, you could have just asked~"

"That's a load of bull and you know it! As if you'd gone easy on me if I did asked!"

Sylus laughs again, making you roll your eyes at him. But your body suddenly sits up right, as Sylus uses his strength to break from your pinned hands. He traps your arms behind your back with his one strong hand, his other hand gripping your chin gently, thumb rubbing the bottom of your lip. His eyes shooting down to your eyes, with his infamous smirk that made your stomach flip.

"You're right kitten. It's more fun to tease and let you work for your food, then to let you have it easy. But don't worry, I'll be gladly waiting for the next time you try to catch me off gaurd~"

════════════════════════════

RAFAYEL

You and Rafayel decided why not work out together.

Well, more like you were going to work out and train your body. But a certain purple-haired artistic man called before you could even go to your local gym. Of course, you picked up your phone hearing him complain about he was bored. You told him how you were going to the gym, and Raf found that as the perfect moment to come along with your endeavors.

He suggested going to his private gym he uses at home. He says he's been wanting to blow off some steam due to Thomas insisting -more like pestering to Rafayel - to create more art for his gallery. The deadline was almost due and Rafayel has been procrastinating with other projects. Telling Thomas there is no deadline to when it comes to art, he'll feel the inspiration when he feels it. And so here he is with you.

This is honestly a first for you.

Working out with him that is.

Watching that beautiful man stretching his own body with much ease as you both did warm-ups. Seeing his biceps and forearms flex as he does push-ups. The way his abdomen tenses when he did crunches. Or how he looked so pretty on the treadmill, running full laps. Hair bouncing, sweat dripping, muscles moving, ass tempting. Even when he took a few walk breaks you could hear his controlled breathing and pants.

He looked so pretty in those moments, truly you were captured by this handsome siren. God, you felt so lucky in that moment, you could watch him run all day long. So much so that you had completely lost track of time, your mind on auto pilot throughout your whole workout session.

The both of you were panting, sweat dripping down your foreheads, Body sore but refreshed in a way all in a day's good work-out. Rafayel sighs sweeping a hand through his front locks with a relieved sigh escaping his mouth.

"I'm exhausted, I don't know who's working me to death, you or Thomas~"

Rafayel grins while joking making you roll your eyes with a small laugh.

He goes into a corner of the gym. There was L-shaped counter with a sink. A mini refrigerator that was set up top, And a round circular table in the middle. Rafayel immediately went to the fringe to grab a bottle of water. Leaning against the table he unscrews the cap taking a few gulps of cool water down his throat.

You do the same, following your boyfriend, but your eyes were only trained on Rafayel. His left arm, behind him, hand placed upon the white table to stabilize himself. His back a bit arched, showing the indent of his pecks and abs through his black sleeveless tight compressed shirt. His waist looking so snatchable as his legs slightly crossed over one another.

Drinking the cool water did nothing to ease the burning tension inside of you.

Rafayel places his water down on the table, his hand reaching out to his shoulders to rub them a little. All while he rambled on and on about his problems, Thomas nagging, and blah blah blah.

That was it you can't take it anymore.

"I swear, I bet Thomas is calling my phone about no-"

Quickly you made your move on Rafayel. You grab at his thighs tightly making him blush and shut up. But then you start to lift him up, causing the man before you to gasp and wiggle in your hands.

"[Y/N]! Aah w-wait!"

You didn't listen to his gasps and pleas, as you use your full strength to pick him up and place his ass on top of the table. His legs wide and spread for you, almost wrapped around your waist. His water bottle accidently falling, spilling onto parts the table and floor. You kept a good tight hold onto him, giving his thighs a good squeeze,

Your lips meet his to kiss him briefly, a tease at the most. Before moving to his cheeks and nose, even his exposed neck.

Rafayel's hands were on your shoulders, not knowing whether to push you off of hold you close to him. His face was redder than a tomato, ears included, as he watches his own girlfriend assault him like this.

You then pull away with mischievous smirk on your face, all you could see was Rafayel with that sweet brattish pout pursing his plump lips. He looks at you, eyes narrowed but it was soft. Rafayel gives you a look of incredible disbelief and shock from what just happened.

"I-I can't believe, did you just..?!"

You laugh at him, causing his cheeks to flush even more. His eyes looking away from your gleeful face. It was adorable to witness it. Seeing him in this type of position. Your hands moved, sliding up to his ass, you can feel him tensing up, his breath getting heavy as though he was working out again. You gave him gentle pats at first, but them with your right hand gave him a hard smack placed upon his cheek.

Rafayel lets out a gasp mixed with a whine, his eyebrows furrowed in a glare. Looking at you with such a appalled face. He was truly was embarrassed.

"H-Hey watch it!"

"What, are you embarrassed baby~?"

Rafayel says nothing, the nickname only making him groan, letting out a long dramatic sigh. His eyes once again still darted away from your owns.

"This must what it feels like to be a woman, being preyed upon by others. I'm all defenseless here, it's scary thing. My own bodyguard taking advantage of me, in my own gym."

"It's not my fault my boyfriend is so beautiful. You really are, looking so pretty while you worked out today."

Rafael didn't really say anything, but you can he was trying not to let your words get to you. But it was failing, as your compliments only made his heart race even more. Fidgeting while you held on tight to him trying to distract himself with the gym appliances around the room.

"Sooo...you're saying you don't like it?"

You give him another kiss on the cheek playfully, making him turn his head finally towards you. His legs bringing you even closer, wrapping fully around your waist to lock you in. While his hands wrapped around your shoulders. It made you giggle, his actions way louder than his actual words.

"I never said that."

You smile as he can't help but smile back at you. He couldn't prolong his pout anymore, he's just too damn infatuated - and slightly aroused - at this new position of his. He leans in to kiss you on the lips, the kiss starting off as sweet before slowly turning deep and passionate. His eyes haze over with a growing smirk of his own.

"I'm definitely not going be able to finish my art piece now cutie~"

════════════════════════════

[vivid-badsquad]

love when adultz follow me then have minorz dni in their bio like ur ziding with the enemy

[dawngyu]

𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐑: 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍

pairing: knight kang taehyun x crown princess reader genre: royalty au, forbidden romance, monarchy, power imbalance, court politics, treachery, longing, slow burn, mdni. (more to be added)

Keep your head high.

You are to be the future queen of this nation.

You echo the words under your breath, the hundred-page script drilled into your skull, etched into your bones with every curtsy and correction. Your hands won’t stop shaking. You feel your eyes burn, but you don't dare blink.

Fairy tales are for the forgotten. Lies dressed up in gold leaf and ink. In your world, love is a coin, and no one walks away whole. The dress is perfect. White stark silk spun fine as breath, stitched with a thousand careful promises none of them intend to keep. It fits like a story meant for someone else. Isn’t this what little girls are supposed to want?

A crown, a kiss, a kingdom?

“You look beautiful.” Your head turned swiftly at the sound, drawn as though by instinct. Familiarity crashes into you, and with it, the breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding finally escapes your lungs.

“Taehyun,” his name fell from your lips like a hymn. Of all the lessons they forced upon you, all the names and titles committed to memory, his was the one truth your heart would never forget. “You came.”

He remained where he was, as if the very sight of you had rendered him still. You moved, not with grace but with desperation, as though your soul had caught fire. He was still out of reach, yet you already felt his embrace, the ghost of his hands pressed over your skin on your countless nights.

“I knew you would look this beautiful,” he murmurs, the words barely rising above a breath. He leans in as soon as your body met his, burying his face in your hair, heedless of the silken pins or the hours of preparation. The scent of jasmine and fear clings to him now, and he lets it. None of it matters. Not when your sorrow carves itself down his cloak; stiff, and now stained with the truth of you. The emblem of the crown catches your tears like a confession.

He holds you tighter. For when he crossed the threshold, ironclad boots echoing in a hall meant to keep you caged, he broke every vow but one.

“Run away with me,” he breathes, his voice shaking, heart laid bare and offered in your hands. “Run away with me, princess.”

‎₊ ˚ ⊹ ིྀ ‎‎‎‎‎RELEASE DATE: TO BE ANNOUNCED

note: I made this little teaser during a quick prompt writing session with my girls! It made me think of my bbg @xylatox and her man, Taehyun — and since I’ve never written for him before, this fic was born! Can’t wait to share it here soon. 💖

taglist: open! let me know if you want to be tagged. perm tags: @heesmiles , @lovingbeomgyudayone , @virtaideen , @hyukascampfire , @fancypeacepersona , @bamgeutori , @lilbrorufr , @beomieeeeeeeeeeees , @xylatox , @yunverie , @imlonelydontsendhelp , @moagyuu , @immelissaaa , @readinmidnight , @pagelets , @wonderstrucktae , @boba-beom , @seodami , @izzyy-stuff , @gyudollies

[confessedlyfannish]

Writing Prompt #12

Bruce is reading the paper when the pour of Tim's coffee goes abruptly quiet. It would be hard to pinpoint why this is disturbing if it wasn't for the way the soft, tinny sound the vent system in the manor makes cuts out for the first time since being updated in the 90s. The pour, Bruce realizes, has not slowed to a trickle before stopping. It has simply stopped. And there is no overeager clack of a the mug against the marble counter or the uncouth first slurp (nor muttered apology at Alfred's scolding look) immediately following the end of the pour.

Bruce fights the instinct to use all of his senses to investigate, and instead keeps his eyes on the byline of the article detailing the latest set of microearthquakes to hit the midwest in the last week. Microearthquakes aren't an unusual occurrence and aren't noticeable by human standards, which is why this article is regulated to page seven, but from several hundred a day worldwide to several hundred a day solely in the East North Central States, seismologists are baffled.

Bruce had been considering sending Superman to investigate under the guise of a Daily Planet article requested by Bruce Wayne (Wayne Industries does have an offshoot factory in the area) when everything had stopped twenty seconds ago. That is what he assumes has happened (having not moved a muscle to confirm) in the amount of time he assumes has passed. His million dollar Rolex does not quite audibly tick but in the absolute silence it should be heard, which confirms the silence to be exactly that—absolute.

While Bruce can hold his breath with the best of the Olympian swimmers, he has never accounted for a need to remain without blinking without being able to move one's eyes. Rotating the eyeballs will maintain lubrication such that one could go without blinking for up to ten minutes. But staring at the byline fixedly, he estimates another twenty seconds before tears start to form.

These are the thoughts Bruce distracts himself with, because he doesn't dare consider how Tim and Alfred haven't made a (living) sound in the past forty-five seconds. About Damian, packing his bag upstairs for school after a morning walk with Titus that was "just pushing it, Master Damian".

There is a knife to his right, if memory serves (it does). In the next five seconds—

"Your wards and guardian are fine, Mr. Wayne," the deepest voice Bruce has ever heard intones. For a dizzying moment, it is hard to pinpoint the location of the voice, for it comes from everywhere—like the chiming of a clocktower whilst inside the tower, so overpowering he is cocooned in its volume.

But it is not spoken loudly, just calmly, and when he puts the paper down, folds it, and looks to his right, a blue man sits in Dick's chair.

He wears a three piece suit made entirely of hues of violet, tie included. He has a black brooch in the shape of a cogwheel pinned to his chest pocket, a simple chain clipped to his lapel. Black leather gloves delicately thumb Bruce's watch (no longer on his wrist, somewhere between second 45 and 46 it has stopped being on his wrist), admiring it.

"You'll forgive me," the man says with surety. "Clocks are rather my thing, and this is an impressive piece." He turns it over and reveals the 'M. Brando' roughly scratched into the silver back. He frowns.

"What a shame," he says, placing it face side up on the table.

"Most would consider that the watch's most valuable characteristic." Bruce says, voice steady, hands neatly folded before him. Two inches from the knife. To his left, there is an open doorway to the kitchen. If he turns his head, he might be able to get a glance of Tim or Alfred.

He doesn't look away from the man.

"It is the arrogance of man," the man says, raising red eyes (sclera and all) to Bruce, "to think they can make their mark on time."

"...Is that supposed to be considered so literally?" Bruce asks, with a light smile he does not mean.

The man smiles lightly back, eyes crinkling at the corners. He looks to be in his mid thirties, clean-shaven. His skin is a dull blue, his hair a shock of white, and a jagged scar runs through one eye and curving down the side of his cheek, an even darker, rawer shade of blue-purple.

The man turns the watch back over and taps at the engraving. "Let me ask you this," he says. "When we deface a work of art, does it become part of the art? Does it add to its intrinsic meaning?"

Bruce forces his shoulders to shrug. "It's arbitrary," he says. "A teenager inscribes his name on the wall of an Ancient Egyptian temple and his parents are forced to publicly apologize. But runic inscriptions are found on the Hagia Sophia that equate to an errant Viking guard having inscribed 'Halfdan was here' and we consider it an artifact of a time in which the Byzantine Empire had established an alliance with the Norse and converted vikings to Christianity."

"The vikings were as errant as the teenager," the man says, "in my experience." He leans back in his chair. "I suppose you could say the difference is time. When time passes, we start to think of things as artistic, or historical. We find the beauty in even the rubble, or at least we find necessity in the destruction..."

He offers Bruce the watch. After a moment, Bruce takes it.

"The problem, Mr. Wayne, is that time does not pass for me. I see it all as it was, as it is, as it ever will be, at all times. There is no refuge from the horror or comfort in that one day..." he closes his hand, the leather squeaking. And then his face smooths out, the brief severity gone. He regards Bruce calmly.

"You can look left, Mr. Wayne."

Bruce looks left. Framed by the doorway, Tim looks like a photograph caught in time. A stream of coffee escapes the spout of the stainless steel pot he prefers over the Breville in the name of expediency, frozen as it makes its way to the thermos proclaiming BITCH I MIGHTWING. Tim regards his task with a face of mindless concentration, mouth slack, lashes in dark relief against his pale skin as he looks down at the mug. Behind him, Bruce can see Alfred's hand outstretched towards the refrigerator handle, equally and terrifyingly still.

"My name is Clockwork," the man says. "I have other names, ones you undoubtedly know, but this one will be bestowed upon me from the mouth of a child I cherish, and so I favor it above all else. I am the Keeper of Time."

"What do you want from me?" Bruce asks, shedding Wayne for Batman in the time it takes to meet Clockwork's eyes. The man acknowledges the change with a greeting nod.

"In a few days time, you will send Superman to the Midwest to investigate the unusual seismic activity. By then, it will be too late, the activity will be gone. They will have already muzzled him."

"Him."

"There is a boy with the power to rule the realm I come from. Your government has been watching him. The day he turned 18, they took him from his family and hid him away. I want you to retrieve him. I want you to do it today."

"Why me?"

"His parents do not have the resources you do, both as Batman and Bruce Wayne. You will dismantle the organization that is keen on keeping him imprisoned, and you will offer him a scholarship to the local University. You and yours will keep him safe within Gotham until he is able to take his place as my King."

This is a lot of information to take in, even for Bruce. The idea that there could be a boy powerful enough to rule over this (god, his mind whispers) entity and that somehow, he has slipped under all of their radars is as frustrating as it is overwhelming. But although Clockwork has seemed willing to converse, he doesn't know how many more questions he will get.

"You have the power to stop time," he decides on, "why don't you rescue him? Would he not be better suited with you and your people?"

"Within every monarchy, there is a court," Clockwork. "Mine will be unhappy with the choice I have made," he looks at Bruce's watch, head cocked. "In different worlds, they call you the Dark Knight. This will be your chance to serve before a True King."

Bruce bristles. "I bow to no one."

"You'll all serve him, one day," Clockwork says, patiently. "He is the ruler of realms where all souls go, new and old. When you finally take refuge, he will be your sanctuary." He frowns. "But your government rejects the idea of gods. All they know is he is other. Not human. Not meta. A weapon."

"A weapon you want me to bring to my city."

"I believe you call one of your weapons 'Clark', do you not?" Clockwork asks idly. "But you misunderstand me. They seek to weaponize him. He is not restrained for your safety, but for their gain."

"And if I don't take him?" Bruce asks, because a) Clockwork has implied he will be at the very least impeded, at worst destroyed over this, and b) he never did quite learn not to poke the bear. "You won't be around if I decide he's better off with the government."

"You will," Clockwork says, with the same certainty he's wielded this entire conversation. "Not because he is a child, though he is, nor because you are good, though you are, nor even because it is better power be close at hand than afar.

"I have told you my court will be unhappy with me. In truth, there are others who also defend the King. Together we will destroy the access to our world not long after this conversation. The court will be unable to touch him, but neither will we as we face the repercussions for our actions. I am telling you this, because in a timeline where I do not, you think I will be there to protect him. And so when he is in danger, even subconsciously, you choose to save him last, or not at all. And that is the wrong choice.

"So cement it in your head, Bruce Wayne," the man says, "You will go to him because I tell you to. And you will keep him safe until he is ready to return to us. He will find no safety net in me. So you will make the right choice, no matter the cost."

"Or, when our worlds connect again, and they will," his voice now echoes in triplicate with the voices of the many, the young, the old, Tim, Bruce's mother, Barry Allen, Bruce's own voice, "I will not be the only one who comes for you."

"Now," he says, producing a Wayne Industries branded BIC pen. "I will tell you the location the boy is being kept, and then I would like my medallion back, please. In that order."

Bruce glances down and sees a golden talisman, attached to a black ribbon that is draped haphazardly around the neck of his bathrobe, so light (too light, he still should have—) he has not felt its weight until this moment.

Bruce flips the paper over, takes the pen, and jots down the coordinates the being rattles off over the face of a senator. By his calculation, they do correspond with a location in the midwest.

"You will find him on B6. Take a left down the hallway and he will be in the third room down, the one with a reinforced steel door. Take Mr. Kent and Mr. Grayson with you, and when you leave take the staircase at the end of the hallway, not the elevator."

The man gets up, dusts off his impeccably clean pants, and offers him a hand to shake.

"We will not meet again for some time, Mr. Wayne."

Bruce looks at the creature, stands, and shakes his hand. It feels like nothing. The Keeper of Time sighs, although nothing has been said.

"Ask your question, Mr. Wayne."

"I have more than one."

"You do," Clockwork says. "But I have heard them all, and so they are one. Please ask, or I will not be inclined to answer it."

"What does this boy mean for the future, that you are willing to sacrifice yourself for him?"

There is a pause.

"So that is the one," Clockwork says, after a time. "Yes. I see. I should resolve this, I suppose."

"Resolve what?"

"It is not his future I mean to protect," the man says. "It is his present."

"You want to keep him safe now..." Bruce says, but he's not sure what the being is trying to say.

"I am not inclined," Clockwork repeats, stops. His expression turns solemn, red eyes widening. In their reflection, Bruce can see something. A rush of movement too quick to make heads or tails of, like playing fast forward on a videotape. "Superman reports no signs of unusual seismic activity. With nothing further to look into, you let it go in favor of other investigative pursuits. You do not find him, as you are not meant to. He stays there. His family, his friends, they cannot find him. His captors tell him they have moved on. He does not believe them, until he does. He stays there. He stays there until he is strong enough to save himself."

Clockwork speaks stiffly, rattling off the chain of events as if reading a Justice League debrief. "He is King. He will always be King. He is strong, and good, and compassionate, and he is great for my people because yours have betrayed his trust beyond repair. He throws himself into being the best to ever Be, because there is nothing Left for him otherwise. We love him. We love him. We love him. My King. Forevermore."

The red film in his eyes stall out, and Bruce is forced to look away from how bright the image is, barely making out a silhouette before they dull back to their regular red.

"I am not inclined," Clockwork says slowly, "To this future."

"Because of what it means in the present," Bruce finishes for him. "They're not just imprisoning him, are they."

"They will have already muzzled him."

Clockworks is right in front of him faster than he can process, fist gripping the medallion at his neck so tight he now feels the ribbon digging into his skin.

"Unlike you, Mr. Wayne," and for the first time, the god is angry, and the image of it will haunt Bruce for the rest of his life, "I do not believe in building a better future on the back of a broken child."

"Find him," the deity orders, and yanks the necklace so hard the ribbon rips—

Clack!

"sluuuuurp!"

"Master Timothy, honestly!"

"Sorry Alfred!"

[hollyhomburg]

Prey Animals (Masterlist)

—  Pairing: Yoongi x reader, Bts x reader

—  Subgenders: Omega! Reader, Beta! Yoongi, Alpha! Namjoon, Alpha! Jimin, Alpha! Taehyung, Alpha! Hoseok, Omega! Jungkook, Omega! Seokjin

—  Genre: Omegaverse, Mafia au, Polyamory au, Found family, Suspense, Eventual Smut, Enemies to friends to lovers, Angst with a happy ending, Hurt and Comfort,

—  Summary: In a world where Beta's are rare, valuable, and often have more than one pack; Beta Min Yoongi does everything he can to keep his mafia heritage a secret from his primary pack. Little does he know he's not the only one who's living a double life.

—  Words: 80k so far

—  Warnings: Violence, Blood, Murder, sexual and physical abuse, PTSD, themes of healing, suspense, mute character's, depictions of eating disorders, healing, hospitals, epilepsy, assassins, spyies,

Before you read:

This is the second version of this story, it's better, edited and longer. But if you want to read the first (near complete) version of this story you can read it on tumblr here, or on Ao3 here. there's like a million words of it lol.

not everything is tagged in this version. there is quite a bit of triggering content. i go into much more greater detail about the m/c and the abuse that she suffered at the hands of Geumjae in this version. if there is anything that doesn't get a tag and you feel it needs it, please don't hesitate to tell me!

This version is a lot longer than V1, and because of that the chapters don't line up, chapters 1-13 cover chapters 1-4.

While there are only a few things that have been taken out/restructured, but yoongi and the m/c get a dedicated slow burn love story in this now. i've also added 60k to what we did have so please give this tons of love!

i will not be reblogging these parts nearly as much as the others, because i want there to be less crowdedness on my feed. i will try my hardest to respond to comments if there are any this time around.

~-~

Prologue: Omens

Summary: you watch your husband murder someone, and try not to make it worse

Part 1: The Beta

Summary: Seokjin meets Yoongi when he's at his lowest.

Part 2: The Funeral

Summary: The death of a king pin makes the whole picture come crumbling down. In 120 days, Yoongi will decide who rules the criminal empire.

Part 3: The Alpha

Summary: Seokjin meets Namjoon when things are finally getting good, will the introduction of an alpha disrupt his and yoongi's little pack?

Part 4: Of Violent Dogs

Summary: Kim Namjoon will kill. That is a fact that you can count on.

Part 5: The Pups

Summary: Namjoon meets Jungkook in the Emergency room. "he's sick Joonie, and you can't make him better." that doesn't mean he's not going to try.

Part 6: Prey Animals

Summary: A death and A dinner party (a woman that yoongi can't take his eyes off of.)

Part 7: Hoseok

Summary: Yoongi brings home a stray, but luckily he's going to stay. (Yoongi won't, Yoongi is going to leave)

Part 8: Just Not her

Summary: Yoongi cannot decide if he trusts you or not. After being followed, he interrogates you to figure out your motives.

Part 9: Ribbons

Summary: A dinner at the Moon house prompt Yoongi to get closer and closer to you. But how close can he get before he pricks his finger?

Part 10: Junk Drawers and Daydreams

Summary: Yoongi just wants to figure you out. Just that. He promises.

Part 11: Warm Monsters

Summary: Yoongi's attraction gets harder to ignore, as does your suffering.

Part 12: The After

Summary: In Yoongi's absence the pack sort of falls apart.

Part 13: Bruises and Butterflies

Summary: One life doesn't equal seven.

Part 14: City of eyes

Part 15: Last Dance

Part 16: Three Graves, Two Brothers, One gun

Part 17: The House

~-~

Commonly asked questions:

Why the different name? because i thought it would be confusing to have two series's by the same name on the same page

Why are you editing this story? because i want to put it up for physical purchase either on amazon (ew i know) or some other alternative, the beginning of the story had always bugged me because it was not paced the same as the rest of it.

[xetlynn]

Hello :D

I was wondering if you could write something were jinx and reader have a reunion after the time skip and jinx gives the reader claggors goggles because she saved them for the reader to get back knowing that they were close and they should have them

(I apologize if I explained it wrong(feel free to ignore this))

I loved this idea<3

arcane imagines- Jinx

watching you

[arcane] [main page] prompt: in which jinx spots you, following you to make sure you weren't a hallucination.

“Fucking hell.” You mutter under your breath, climbing onto the roof of a building, scraping your knee as you do so. You were currently on the run from authorities for breaking into someone’s house. You thought it was abandoned, a place to take cover in until you could find another. 

It’s been rough for the past 7 years after Benzo, your father figure passed away. Ekko offered you shelter but you would have had to join the fireflies. You declined. You weren’t a peacemaker, you weren’t a fighter. You just wanted to be alone. You weren't fighting for others.

You missed your life before everything went to shit. You missed your best friend, Claggor. You missed the only girl you ever fell in love with, Powder.

Who’s now going by the name Jinx, or so you heard. You haven’t gotten the chance to bump into her. And you didn’t know if that made you upset or relieved. 

Upset because obviously you miss her. Or relieved because she changed. She’s not your Powder anymore. As Ekko has told you after the many a times of bumping into you. Pleading with you to just join the fireflies. That you look worse and worse every single time he sees you. 

You declined. Clearly. 

Eyes were set on you from another building, they’re been watching you for weeks. Swearing up and down that you were just another hallucination. The blue-haired girl follows you from each roof-top, always two behind you. And when you jumped down, finding a good alleyway where you wouldn’t be caught. 

Jinx does the same, more swift and careful not to be heard.

As you walk in the dark alleyway you scan around, searching for a place to seek shelter for the night. Humming lowly just so you could comfort yourself. 

You heard the steps behind you, you attempted to act as if you couldn’t tell. A pit filled in your stomach knowing you’re most likely about to be dragged into a fight. You needed to make the first move. 

Running wasn’t a choice. 

You slow down a bit, feeling the person get even closer to you. Sharply turning around you snatch the person by their collar. Pinning them against the brick wall. “Who the hell are you!?” You grit your teeth, the unknown person’s hands go up in defense.

“Is that any way to treat an old friend?” Their voice was raspy but familiar, their head going back to drop the hood. Your nostrils flared, eyes widening, keeping your hand tight against their collar bone. Not ceasing your hold.

“What the hell? You glare. 

“It really is you.” Her eyes seemed to have softened with a slight tilt of the head. “Of course it’s really me, the hell are you doing following me like that, Jinx?” You spat out the name in distaste, like it was vomit. 

“So you know my name? Still obsessed with me?” She giggles, not even struggling against you. Letting you pin her up against the wall without a complaint. 

Your gaze was hard, not faltering. She grins at you.

You roll your eyes, dropping her. “What do you want?” You sigh. 

“Why aren’t you with boy savior?” Jinx ignores your question, her arms crossing. “Ekko? Because I’m not a fucking fighter. I keep to myself and he can’t respect that.” You sit down on a wooden crate, manspreading and leaning forward. “Seems like you fight a little bit.” Jinx snorts, reminding you of what you did. “I fight to protect myself. No one else. I’m not anyone’s body guard but my own.” 

“Mm, not even if I asked you to be mine for old times sake?” She says in a teasing tone, crouching down to look at your face. Expecting you to blush but instead your face is stone hard. “Not even yours, Jinx.” You divulge causing her to frown. 

“I’m leaving.” You push past her, she loses balance.. Falling on her ass as you step away. “Wait!” She crawls back up to her feet, grabbing onto your arm. You glance down at her hands, flickering to her face. She didn’t seem like the type of person Ekko explained. 

She was still similar to the Powder you remembered. “I have something to give to you. One thing and then we can go our separate ways.” Hers bored into yours, pleading with you. 

“What is it?” Your body slumps, and she lets you go. “You have to come with me. It’s at my place.” She walks ahead of you, putting her hood back over her head. You stand there for a moment before joining her. You didn’t really have anything else to do. Or anywhere to go so what did it matter. 

If this is a death-trap you’d still willingly go, you were getting tired of fighting to live.

You seemed numb to Jinx. Even as Jinx and not Powder anymore her love for you overpowered the anger that she wanted to feel for everything. It’s been a long time since she was Powder but yet she knew you like the back of her hand. Like she was back to being 11 years old and stuck at your hip. She didn’t like that you were so similar to her now. So mentally… fucked.

“Right around this corner.” Jinx tells, going down an even darker path. You nod your head even though she wasn’t looking. Hands in your pants pockets. 

“Here.” She murmurs, the two of you climb to a lit up area. Filled with color and glitter. 

You stood behind Jinx as she dug through her stuff. “Close your eyes.” She orders, you didn’t argue, doing as told. “Gonna kill me in a kinky way?” You joke lowly. She snickers. “You found out my master plan.” 

“Found it.” You hear her whisper. She turns to you and takes in your features as you can’t see what she’s doing. She’s surprised you weren’t fighting with her, until she noticed your demeanor. 

The same demeanor she finds herself falling into. You truly don't care whether you lived or died.

“Give me your hand.” She says, her voice almost breaking due to her realization. “Man, are you a freak or something?” You scoff, jerking your hand out. 

“Hah! You wish.” She carefully places something in your hand. It was a hefty little object, you were confused on what this was. Her hand stayed hovered over yours. “I kept this… in hopes I’d see you again. After a while I didn’t think I was going to. But then I spotted you a few years ago. And then again this year. I’ve been watching you.” She admits and you scrunch your nose. “You really are a freak.” 

She huffs out a small laugh. “Possibly. But I know you’re into it.” She nudges you. “You can open your eyes, you weirdo.” 

You slowly do so, looking down at your hand. You let out a gasp, gripping onto the object. “I know how much he meant to you. You should have it.” She simply tells you. Tears brim your eyes. “I- Powder- you. Sorry.” You take in a deep breath, a tear quickly dripping down your cheek. “Thank you, Jinx.” You pull her into a tight embrace. Her arms stuck at her side as her shoulder grew wet. 

Claggor’s goggles, a piece of your best friend that you lost 7 years ago. 

“Heh, don’t get all sappy on me.” She pats your back and you take that as a sign to let her go. “Sorry,” you sniffle. “You don’t understand how much this means to me.” You wipe your tears away, clinging onto the goggles. “Don’t mention it.” She waves a hand. 

“I don’t know how to thank you.” 

“Like I said, don’t mention it.” She awkwardly holds herself, missing your warmth even though she’s the reason you let go. “Right.” You nod your head. 

It grows quiet, you play with the glasses. Rubbing your thumbs over the grooves and crevices. “I’ll take my leave now. Thank you.” You give her a gentle smile, the first genuine one she’s seen from you this whole time. 

Her mouth slacks open, going to stay something as you are walking away. “Nice to see you again, by the way.” You look back at her one last time.

[harmonyrae]

The Doctor's Wife

Synopsis: When you agreed to an arranged marriage to your childhood friend you never imagined it’d be like this. You knew what was expected of you, locking away your wild spirit to be a proper wife. The little boy you knew has grown into a handsome doctor, still as quiet and frigid as you remember. You’re both so different, how will this marriage ever work?

AN: I tried my best to be historically accurate - my Google history is crazy. I now have 10 pages of notes dude... Some modern terms are used for a smoother reading experience. Images from Pinterest.

Content Warnings: SFW (future works could have NSFW elements fyi), slightly suggestive, SO MUCH TENSION, angst & fluff & humor, religious elements (vows), Zayne is Mr. Darcy coded and I am unwell

Word Count: 6.5k

“I cannot believe you are going through with this… You were supposed to be more troublesome than I was! And here you are, avoiding the miserable experience all-together.”

Sera unwraps another curl and twirls it. She stares at you through the mirror of your dressing table, her glare speaking volumes. You wince as she tugs another wrap out, freeing the curl. You pick at your fingernails and sigh.

“Seems Mama learned from your mistakes - ow!”

Sera pulls another wrap out, harsher than she needs. You turn around to face her, forcing her to stop torturing your poor scalp. Your bedroom door opens and Cora and Theo enter. Theo sets down a cup of tea in front of you before shooing Sera away. She starts to gently unwrap your curls while Sera sits on your bed with Cora.

“But agreeing to an arranged marriage? Winnie…”

“We all know I wasn’t going to find a match without Mama’s intervention. You’re right Sera, I am more troublesome. This is easier and… and I want… this.”

Cora nudges Sera and she crosses her arms, agreeing to let the matter rest. When Cora meets your eye her smile wavers. She straightens her back and takes a deep breath.

“Has Mama… spoken to you?”

You squint at her, your brain foggy after the many conversations your mother has had with you lately. From the proposal of the arrangement, the fitting of your wedding dress, confirmation of the special license, she notices your confusion and continues.

“About… what… ahem… about marital duties?”

You laugh so hard you bump the leg of your dressing table, nearly spilling your tea. Your sisters simply stare at you, all wearing serious expressions. When you realize they want an answer you clear your throat and fold your hands.

“You are referring to intercourse?”

“Winnie!” All of your sisters shout in unison.

You burst into another fit of giggles, prompting Sera and Cora to stand and huddle around you. You look around at them and grin. You missed this, saying something to rile them up. It’s who you are, not at all sensible and rather wild - as your mother would say. 

“Winifred, how do you know about… that?”

Cora inches closer and whispers, you know she is worried you’ve been indecent. You’re starting to wonder if the truth may be worse. 

“I read a book.”

“What kind of book?! And where did you get it?” 

Sera doesn’t bother whispering and Cora slaps her shoulder. Theo finishes unwrapping your curls and begins pinning them back, she leans forward, just as eager to know. 

“Zayne could read his fathers books, I did not see a reason why I could not. So I stole one. Brought it home to read, forgot about it and found it a few years ago. I’ve read it quite a few times now. It’s all rather fascinating.”

Your neighbor being a doctor was extremely helpful, especially with Ellie being sick so often when she was young. Zayne always accompanied his father on his visits and quickly became your friend. He was a quiet child with his nose in a book while you ran wild, catching frogs and building dirt castles. But when you’d spend afternoons at his home, he would suggest the library. Zayne would read out-loud and you found yourself mesmerized by the content. You regularly requested the medical books and he was happy to comply. Your insatiable curiosity pushed you to steal one of them to read for yourself.

You point to the loose floorboard at the end of your bed and Sera spins, diving down to fish out the book. She holds it up and her brow furrows. 

“It… It’s about childbirth?”

You nod and chuckle as she opens it, flipping through the pages with a grimace. 

“Apparently, one cannot properly explain the intricacies of childbirth without explaining how the child came to be in the first place. Our bodies are fascinating, no?”

“Does your future husband know you stole one of his fathers books?” Cora teased.

When your mother told you Zayne’s parents were arranging his marriage and were requesting you - you were stunned, but not against it. You cried when he went away to university. Then argued when he came home just to leave for medical school a few weeks later. And you spent weeks in bed anxious he would never return from the battlefield where he served as a surgeon. He is one of your dearest friends, his company agreeable, his livelihood secure, you didn’t see a reason to decline.

“Well, his father never asked for it back when they moved last autumn. So I assume not.” 

“Explain to me once more how Zayne gained his title?” Theo asks.

“The Earl of Akso died without an heir and he had no living male relatives. The Queen had to grant the title, and the estate, to someone and she chose Zayne.”

“Why Zayne?” Sera exclaims, earning her harsh stares from both Cora and Theo.

“He was a sawbone.” 

“A what?” All of your sisters shout in unison, once again.

“A surgeon in the army. Apparently, he was the most trusted when it came to amputations. He never lost a patient who needed one. His superiors recommended him to the Queen. He was granted the new title and the land as a reward of sorts for his service.”

“So he is an Earl and a surgeon. He would have had every young lady in the Ton vying for his attention. Why would he want an arranged marriage?” Theo asks.

Cora urges Sera and Theo to step back. She extends a hand to help you up and leads you to stand in front of your mirror. She retrieves your dress and comes up behind you, resting her chin on your shoulder.

“Have you seen him since he returned?” 

You look down and adjust your stay, pulling the strings tighter. Cora sighs and taps your arms, you raise them and she slips the dress over your head. Cora smoothes out the ivory silk, fluffing the ruffles around the collar while you straighten the lace sleeves that fan over your fingers. She turns you around and swats your hands away so she can button the front.

“Can we return to the topic of how this book prepares you for this evening?”

Sera holds the book up and smirks. You feel your cheeks flush.

“I know what is expected of me. It does not serve me to be anxious over it.”

Sera frowns and drops the book to your bed. She walks over to hold your trembling hands. 

“To be anxious is to be human, Winnie. You’re getting married today. You’re going to be a Countess. That is certainly worthy of a bit of anxiety.”

She smiles sweetly and you finally allow your shoulders to slump forward. Cora pulls you into a hug, Sera wrapping her arms around both of you. Soon, you feel Theo at your back. You close your eyes, allowing your sisters to hold you in their safe embrace. The creaking of your door makes you jump and you look up to see your mother watching you all. Her eyes fill with tears and she rushes forward to join. You chuckle as she lets out a muffled sob. 

“My sweet girls.”

The hug does not last long, Ms Jennings arrives to announce the carriage is ready and your mother pulls you towards the door. You glance over your shoulder to look around your bedroom. 

“Mama, please make sure my books are stored properly before they are sent. And my dressing table, I still want it, even if there is one for me at the estate, I want this one. And –”

“My dear, Ms Jennings already made arrangements with Ms Lucas at Akso manor. We must get to the church, come now!”

Sera grabs your mothers arm and leads her out of the room. Cora and Theo follow closely behind, allowing you a moment to yourself. A moment to say goodbye to your childhood. Whatever your future as the Countess of Akso may hold, you doubt your wild spirit will be welcomed. As you close your bedroom door you feel as if you’re locking a part of yourself away.

The ride to the church wasn’t long, but due to Cora’s condition you had to make several… stops. When you arrive, Rafayel is pacing outside of the church. Cora giggles as she tries to calm him, making the rest of you giggle in return.

“I was certain the carriage's wheel snapped or a wild animal attacked! What happened?!”

“Darling, you know I’ve been getting sick more frequently, especially in the morning.”

“Did you drink the ginger tea? Your mother said she would make you a cup before you departed! Why did you not drink it?!”

“Rafayel! I did drink the tea! I… I still…”

Cora’s smile fades as her breathing turns heavy. She rushes around the side of the church with Rafayel right behind her. 

“She is carrying more than one child, I’m sure of it. She was not nearly as ill when carrying Leonardo. Poor girl can barely eat.”

Your mother has been speculating ever since Cora and Rafayel told her. Sylus and Caleb stand just inside the church doors waiting for their wives. Caleb quickly circles around Theo, his hand placing hers on his arm. Just like Rafayel and Sylus, when Caleb found out Theo was with child she was suddenly made of glass. Caleb leans close and whispers in Theo’s ear. 

“Did you know Winnie’s betrothed was a military surgeon? Nearly fainted when he walked in. That’s the doctor!”

Theo gasps and tries to peek through the doors.

“The doctor who saved your arm? I must remember to thank him!”

Your mother places a hand on your back and you pause. Sylus and Sera walk into the chapel hand in hand, followed by Caleb and Theo. Rafayel and Cora shuffle into the corridor and your mother pats Cora’s damp forehead with a handkerchief before they stroll down the aisle to their seats. You straighten your collar over and over until your mother grabs your hands.

“I’m so proud of you darling.”

You force a smile. You weren’t particularly nervous about the marriage, but the thought of standing in front of a crowd made your stomach drop. You clutch her hand and she leads you through the door.

You let your mother lead you, focusing on each step and keeping your breathing steady. However, all of your willpower disappeared as soon as you looked up at the altar. The little boy you knew was long gone, in his place stood a tall gentleman with a frigid expression. While he may look intimidating, you were not easily frightened. Especially when he looked so incredibly handsome. His dark hair was the same, longer and more fringe across his forehead. Dark eyebrows framed brilliant green eyes, his mouth set in a barely there smile. His pressed black suit clung to his trim frame, his shoulders rolled back to keep his chest held high. He met your eyes only once while you walked and swiftly looked away. When you arrived at the altar you were sinking your nails into your mothers hand. 

“Winifred… please.” Your mother whispered. 

You loosened your grip, but remained frozen in place. The priest, Father Hartford, nods and steps forward, looking between you and Zayne before addressing the audience.

“We are gathered together here today, before God and this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony. This union, an example of the promise betwixt Christ and his Church, its purpose honourable amongst all men. These vows are not to be taken lightly, or to satisfy men’s carnal lusts; but taken reverently, soberly; considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained. If any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else forever hold his peace.”

You look over your shoulder at the small audience, Zayne’s family sit quietly and yours follow suit. Your mother digs her elbow into your side and you face forward to see Father Hartford staring at you. You flash a smile and lower your head.

“I shall now ask both of you, if either of you know any reason, why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, confess it now.”

You quickly look up to see Zayne eyeing you. He returns his gaze to the floor. Father Hartford continues.

“Zayne, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”

“I will.” Zayne says quietly.

“Winifred, wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded Husband, to live together in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”

Hearing the word “obey” makes you shudder, but you grit your teeth and swallow your pride.

“I will.”

“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

Father Hartford steps forward and your mother passes your hands to him, he guides you forward to stand in front of Zayne. He releases you and motions for Zayne to step up. Zayne reaches out and takes your right hand. You shiver as his skin touches yours. Father Hartford begins to quote the vows and Zayne repeats them. 

“I, Zayne, take thee Winifred, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance.”

Father Hartford turns to face you, quoting the vows again. Keeping your eyes locked on Zayne’s hand, you repeat them slowly.

“I, Winifred, take thee Zayne, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance.”

Father Hartford then turns to pick up a small case, opened to reveal a ring. The thin silver band holds a stunning sapphire with two pearls on either side. You gasp and glance around to give apologetic looks to those around you. Zayne’s timid smile brightens as he picks up the ring and carefully removes the glove from your left hand. His voice shakes as he quotes his final vow to you, sliding the ring on your finger. 

“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”

He holds your hand and turns, both of you kneel before Father Hartford who begins his lengthy prayer. Of course he has to thank every saint, today of all days. He finally looks down and motions for you both to stand. 

“As Zayne and Winifred, have consented together in holy wedlock, witnessed before God and this congregation. I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” The rest of the ceremony is a blur, Father Hartford sings one final hymn to bless your future children and everyone signs the register as they file out of the chapel. You barely realize you haven’t let go of Zayne’s hand once since receiving your ring. You keep waiting for him to let go, but he doesn’t. You exit the church and walk past your families, Zayne helps you into his carriage. He sits across from you, finally releasing your hand. The door closes and the carriage pulls away, headed back to your family home for the Wedding Breakfast. 

Your eyes stay focused on the ring on your finger, gently stroking it through your glove. Zayne clears his throat and you jump. When you look up, you see him watching you. 

“You look… lovely today.”

It feels like the words were painful to say, but you nod and thank him for the compliment. The rest of the ride is quiet. Zayne stares at a small notebook he pulled from his breast pocket and you watch the winding streets pass by. Arriving at your home - well, your previous home - Zayne helps you out once again and you hold his arm while you walk inside. He isn’t pushing you away, but his indifference is confusing. You’re not sure if he’s happy or irritated. 

The liveliness of the Wedding Breakfast doesn’t help ease your nerves. Your mother and Zayne’s mother engage in, what you like to call, a polite argument over a “motherly duties.” Sera joins in and, in her kindest tone, tells Zayne’s mother that a woman can do anything she pleases. Cora decides not to comment, since the argument started over her performance with Rafayel in Verona. She sips her ginger tea by the window and watches Rafayel and Sylus play with their children. 

“Sylus, Sephie has her feeding soon, don’t tease her with cake!” 

Sylus puts the cake down and gives his daughter an apologetic look. She starts to tear up so Rafayel tickles her to stop the waterworks. Persephone bursts out into a fit of giggles which causes Leonardo to throw his hands up in excitement, tossing cake crumbles all over the floor. 

The past year has been overwhelming with two babies squealing and babbling. Between Theo getting married and both of your sisters having babies early in the summer you didn’t have much time to yourself. You had completely forgotten your debut was coming up. Your mother seemed to be equally overwhelmed, it was clear she wanted to marry you off quickly and quietly if possible. A notion you welcomed, no balls or promenading? Perfect. 

Sera takes Persephone away for a feeding. Sylus offers to hold Leonardo for Rafayel, who curls up behind Cora to massage her shoulders. Caleb and Theo watch Ellie play the piano. Your mother avoids Zayne’s mother by leaving to “check on the kitchen staff.” Zayne’s mother and father collect another slice of cake while telling Zayne about their plans for their new life in Prague. You enjoy your people watching time, since sooner than later you’ll be ushered into the carriage with Zayne and taken to his estate. Your mind starts to wander as you twist the ring on your finger.

What if Zayne is disappointed in your… performance? He went to university in a big city, surely he partook in certain… activities…  Isn’t that how men bond while away at school? Will he expect you to bare a child quickly?  What if you cannot have children at all? 

“Winnie?”

Zayne’s soft voice brings you out of your spiral. He extends his hand.

“Are you prepared to leave?”

Taking his hand you stand and are guided to the front door. You hadn’t realized everyone had already gone outside to see you off. Your mother lunges at you, pulling you into a hug. She’s not usually so expressive with her emotions. Your sisters wrangle you into another group hug before you give your niece and nephew a kiss on the forehead. Sylus, Rafayel and Caleb shout their goodbyes. Zayne’s parents wish you well and Zayne helps you into the carriage. And just like that, your old life is left in the dust kicked up by the carriage wheels.

A few quiet minutes later, you convince yourself to start a conversation. Zayne sits on his side of the carriage, scribbling in his notebook. You try to see what he’s writing, but the carriage jostles you around too much to get a good look. You clear your throat, earning you an inquisitive glance.

“Do you recall when I was angry with you for leaving for medical school?”

He hums softly.

“Well, I was not truly angry. I should not have shouted at you as I did. You were traveling abroad to study and I was… possibly…”

“Jealous?”

His accuracy is almost painful, but true. 

“Perhaps. I never had the chance to apologize before you were sent away…”

“There is no need.”

“Well, I was worried… is all… You went away and I wasn’t sure you’d… come back.”

“The medical centers were well protected. I was never in too much danger.”

You scoff loudly. He raises a brow and you cross your arms.

“I heard of a doctor from Madrid who died serving at one of those ‘well protected’ centers. You don’t have to make it seem safer than it was for my sake.”

“You’re right. I also don’t have to talk about it all.”

You open your mouth to argue, but decide against it. Maybe talking about his time as an army surgeon was not a good idea. You tap your foot and search for a new topic. 

“Oh, I saw you quite enjoyed the macarons. Rafayel bribed a baker at a coffeehouse in Verona to give him the recipe. Private box seats every season. Rafayel said it’s completely worth it. Mama’s cook has gotten very good at making them. The first few batches were horrendous! But now, they are almost always served at tea. I can… try to get the recipe… if you like… or–”

“Thank you. That is very kind.”

His short answers leave you questioning your previous relationship with him. It had been so easy to talk to him, not that he offered many words back then, but he was just… different. You decide to just look out the window for the remainder of the ride. It’s not long before you see lights in the distance. You scoot over and pull the drape back to get a better look. 

The huge three-story manor was more like a palace than a house. Set at the center of a large plot of land with a dense treeline at the edge of the meadow. A large garden, a barn, a stable, the buildings kept popping up. From the carriage you see the crisp white window panes against dark brick, thick ivy covering walls and corners of windows. 

“Is all of this… how much… where…?”

You can’t form a sentence, the fact this is your new home completely baffles you.

“Several acres past the treeline. I’ve been told there’s a lake and separate servant housing, but have yet to see it for myself. The entire west wing is at your disposal. Speak with Ms Lucas in regards to any furniture you may need. A bedroom has been made up for you, she will show you where it is once we arrive.”

His words slowly sink in and your chest tightens. How could you discuss these things with your sisters without hesitation, but now you can barely breath? 

“Are we not… we won’t be…”

“I do not expect anything from you Winnie. I will be quite busy as my father is leaving for Prague tomorrow, so I will be the only physician in the city. You may live as you please, I will not interfere. I only ask that you inform me of any events you wish to attend or host. Ms Lucas will show you where my study is, that is where I will be most often if you have need of me.”

“Zayne, we are married…”

“Yes, and I see no reason for that to interfere with our lives.”

The carriage comes to a stop in front of the manor. An older woman approaches and waits for the coachman to open the door. Zayne hops out and offers you his hand. You don’t bother to take it, he’s sending you to a separate WING of the house? 

The woman steps forward and Zayne gestures to her.

“This is Ms Lucas. Ms Lucas, this is Winifred.”

“Please, call me Winnie.”

She curtsies - that will take some getting used to. Zayne straightens his jacket and starts to walk for the front doors. He calls out over his shoulder before entering the house.

“I shall see you at breakfast.”

And just like that, he is gone, disappeared into his labyrinth of a house. Leaving you alone with Ms Lucas and your questions. 

“What do you mean you haven’t –”

“Sera!”

Cora tosses a biscuit at Sera’s head. She glares at her and Sera grumbles under her breath as she picks up the biscuit to dip in her tea. You set your cup down and cover your face with your hands. Theo instantly leans over and wraps her arm around you.

“Perhaps he is being considerate? It was an arrangement after all, you did not court or even have a moment to speak before your wedding day.” 

Theo offers a reasonable explanation, but it does not settle your discontent. 

“Are you upset he hasn’t fulfilled his marital obligations or that you wish for him to pursue you and he has not yet?”

“Sera, you really must try the strawberry macarons Mr Tribble made this morning! Here!”

Cora shoves a puffy pink macaron into Sera’s mouth. Sera tries to push Cora away and gives a muffled shout as crumbles fall from her mouth. You stare at your hands to hide your flushed cheeks. You and Sera have always been so similar, making it much easier for her to read you. Sera finally tosses etiquette aside to speak with her mouth full.

“I will not hold my tongue any longer! Are we not all married? Do we not care about Winnie’s happiness? She clearly brought it up to ask us for help!”

Before Cora can shove another macaron into Sera’s mouth you reach out and take her hand.

“Sera’s right… I… I don’t trust anyone else. I just… I don’t know what to do…”

“You’ve been married a fortnight, have you not spent time with him?” Theo questions. 

“We have breakfast and dinner together. I spoke with him in the library once and he showed me where he placed his books from university. I inquired about which book I could read and he suggested I start with a book on anatomy.”

“Perhaps he’s impotent!” Sera shouts.

Cora throws her head back and groans while Theo covers her mouth in shock.

“Sera, are you intent on causing me such pain?”

Sera takes Cora’s hand, but doesn’t hide her amusement.

“I have not heard either of you offer a reason for his behavior beyond him being ‘considerate’ - if he’s a man with a pulse he surely has interest. Sylus could barely wait until we were in the carriage before he –”

“I do not wish to know what Sylus did or did not do!” Theo groans.

You find yourself laughing, it’s been so long since your sisters have sat down for tea. Aside from the more intimate topics of discussion, it is like you were children again. Cora clears her throat and shakes her hand out of Sera’s grasp.

“Have you not considered attending a ball? Even if he does not speak to you, he may dance with you? And if not, you have an opportunity to make friends with other married ladies.”

“Why would I do that? I have you all. And I don’t like balls, the dresses are too stiff!”

Cora leans back and rests her hands on her stomach, in just two weeks she has gotten larger and can barely walk. With your fascination and your sister’s current condition, you found more books on childbirth in the library. You discovered birthing twins is rather dangerous. Your attempt to subdue your anxiety was an utter failure.

“My love, Rafayel and I winter in Verona. And once the children are older we may spend more time there.”

“And Sylus’s dukedom is a day and a half away. His responsibilities there mean we do not visit nearly as often. Especially since Sephie was born.” Sera offers.

“Caleb opening the orchard was a brilliant idea, but we were wholly unprepared for how busy the season was. If he is not preparing for the upcoming autumn, he is attending military academies to assist with drills. And this season, we have two garden parties and a gentleman who is determined to host his wedding by the lake.” 

“You’re going to allow another wedding on the property?” Sera exclaims.

“No, ours will be the only wedding the estate hosts. Until our children are grown, of course.”

Theo’s wedding in the orchard was the most talked about wedding of the season. The apple blossoms in full bloom, an onslaught of military men in uniform, the Queen herself in attendance. You sigh, relieved no one else will have the privilege to such an experience, Theo deserved it. And you doubt Caleb would let anyone take that away from her. 

“I mean to say…” Cora continues. “We will not always be here. You need friends, Winnie.”

“I thought I married one…”

You sit in silence as your sisters look to each other for who will speak next. Bowing your head, you stir in another teaspoon of sugar and listen to the soft clink of the spoon against your cup.

“You mentioned… he hasn’t walked the grounds yet?” 

You look at Sera, her usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with a look of concern. You nod.

“Confront him, demand he takes you on a walk. Bring a picnic and only ask questions about him. The more you know, the better prepared you will be when you flirt with him.”

Tea spews from your mouth in a mist, Sera chuckles as Theo and Cora dab at your damp dress with their napkins. Cora glares at her while Theo tries, unsuccessfully, to hide her smile.

“Is that not what you want?”

Sera crosses her arms, you’ve missed her direct approach. Cora leans forward to argue, but you lift your hand and she pauses.

“It is.”

Sera leans back, savoring her victory. Cora and Theo exchange glances, but don’t argue. Sera’s plan was not bad, you only doubt your ability to captivate Zayne long enough to gain his attention. Let alone his affection. 

Two days pass before you finally put the plan in action. Requesting your own cook, Mr Maddston, to learn to bake macarons meant he would have a few failed batches. When he presented you with the perfect cherry macaron, you giggled with excitement. He prepared lunch and packed a basket with a blanket. Now you just need to convince Zayne to join you. 

“He returned home before noon from an appointment. He should be in his study.”

You give Ms Lucas a hug, something she was still getting used to. You are unsure what kind of treatment the previous Countess showed her, but you would break through her rigid exterior sooner or later. You rush down the hallway towards Zayne’s study. You take a breath and knock. When you hear Zayne welcome you in, you quickly open the door, if you wait you might lose your resolve. 

“Oh… hello.”

Zayne looks surprised, you were a few hours too early for dinner. He closes his book and wipes his ink-stained hands on his handkerchief. You enter the room and hold the basket in front of you. Zayne eyes the basket. He’s curious, good.

“You have not yet walked the ground.”

Once again, he looks rather surprised. It is not a question, but a statement. 

“Correct. I have not had the opportunity.”

You step closer so you are directly in front of his desk. He cocks his head and you smile.

“We shall remedy that. I have a picnic and the sun is exceptionally warm today.”

“Winnie… I –”

“I would rather not go alone, so please.”

You watch his expression change from indifference to concern to acceptance. He stands, straightening his jacket. 

“Of course.”

He follows you out of the house and into the garden. He stays by your side as you weave through the gap in the hedges into the open field and towards the dense treeline. Your white linen dress billows in the breeze and the fresh scent of wildflowers washes over you. You stop suddenly and Zayne watches you bend down to touch the ground. Before he can ask, you slip off your shoes and leave them behind, striding across the field barefoot. You look over your shoulder to see him standing next to your shoes, staring. 

“Come on then!”

You wave your arm and beckon him to follow. The ground is soft beneath your feet, the grass and flowers tickling your ankles. Zayne jogs to catch up with you.

“You should not wander through a field without proper shoes, you may hurt yourself.”

You stop once more and turn to look at him. 

“This is the best way to truly walk the grounds. Off!”

You look down at his feet and he stammers.

“I… I beg your pardon?”

“Your shoes. Off!”

He looks at you as though you’ve gone mad. After he realizes you are quite serious, he reluctantly obliges. Leaving his shoes behind, you start to skip towards the treeline. 

Once you’re in the forest, you slow down allowing Zayne to catch up. You walk side-by-side, you’re not sure what you want to ask first or if you should just enjoy the silence. A branch snaps behind you and you squeal, bumping into Zayne. He rests a hand on your shoulder to steady you. When you look back, you watch a young deer hop through the foliage. 

“Oh! Do you think they’re looking for their mother?”

“It’s possible. Or a patch of berries.”

His voice is soft, like when he was young. He was just stating a fact, a thought, nothing special, but this is the Zayne you knew. The Zayne who indulged your whimsy and even encouraged it at times. You’d missed him desperately. 

“Do you still despise hunting?”

You look over to see Zayne nod.

“Then our deer friend is safe here. Good.”

The sun peeks through the dense canopy. Patches of flowers line the path you follow. When you don’t hear Zayne’s footsteps beside you, you turn to see him kneeling to pick a few wildflowers. The butterflies in your stomach flutter as he stands and presents the small bundle of white to you. Taking the bouquet, you pluck one of the flowers out and tuck it behind your ear.

“Thank you.”

He nods and continues walking, leaving you to catch up with him. 

“What was your favorite thing to study? In medical school?”

Zayne looks over his shoulder, he slows down so you can match his pace before answering.

“We learned mostly from watching and then practicing. The simpler the procedure, the better. However, I did enjoy studying more complicated procedures not commonly performed anywhere other than the battlefield.”

“Like what?”

“When I learned how many officers died during amputations, I worked to better the procedure as a whole. Make it safer for the patient and more streamline for the surgeon.”

“I heard you never lost a patient when performing an amputation. That’s rather impressive.”

“Yes… well… the patients may disagree. They’d prefer to return home with all of their limbs.”

“You gave them a second chance at life. What they chose to do with it is their decision. I find it rather impressive how you went from reading your fathers books to saving lives.”

You spot a small smile forming and grip the basket in your hands tightly. Looking away to hide your flushed cheeks, you spot the edge of the lake.

“Ah! The lake! Shall we stop here to eat?”

Zayne nods and helps you spread out the blanket. You sit and pull out the dishes, Mr Maddston has outdone himself. Two pigeon pies, stewed sweetened fruit stowed in glass bottles, pastry biscuits, one large cold plum-pudding, a few slices of bread and cheese, a tin of mixed biscuits, two cherry macarons and a large glass bottle of tea with two cups. Zayne chuckles at the feast set before him. 

“Are those…?”

“Macarons? Yes, cherry. Mr Maddston said he’s going to try baking different flavors. So, expect a new macaron with your daily tea.” 

Zayne smiles, a genuine one that lingers. Your cheeks warm as you watch him gingerly take the macaron and take a bite. His look of sheer bliss fills your heart with pride.

“Enjoying your dessert first, doctor?”

His ears turn the lightest shade of red. You pour him a cup of tea and as his fingers graze yours you hesitate. He catches the cup before you drop it and reaches out to hold your hand fully.

“Are you alright?”

You nod and try to laugh off your flustered appearance. You both fall into a comfortable silence while you eat. You occasionally stop to ask a question about his schooling or his parents. Or even to reminisce about your childhood. Once you both are sufficiently stuffed, you lie back on the blanket.

“Thank you for joining me. I know you’re a very busy man.”

“Thank you for convincing me. Or rather forcing me.”

You scoff and cover your eyes with your arm. 

“Well, I didn’t know how else to spend time with you.”

The silence serves as a brutal reminder that your direct nature is not always appreciated. You sit up and turn to Zayne. He focuses on his hands as they fold his napkin into a tiny square. 

“I apologize, I only meant… I… I’ve…”

“It’s alright. I did not realize you desired my company. I did not wish to… to…”

As you both stumble over your words, you look out to the lake. The sun shimmers across the water, a pair of swans float by and one of them flutters their wings splashing the water onto their mate. They swim around each other and nuzzle their necks together. 

“Swim with me!” 

You jump up, cutting Zayne off and extending your hand. He sighs, unsure if you’re serious. When he doesn’t take your hand, you turn on your heel and take off towards the shore. 

“Winnie!”

As Zayne gets closer, you pick up the pace. Leaping over fallen branches and ducking to avoid low hanging ones. When you finally stop near the water's edge, Zayne nearly collides into you. He breathes hard, the hair on his forehead damp with sweat. You begin to lift the skirt of your dress and feel Zayne grab your arms.

“Winnie, what are you doing?!”

You laugh breathlessly and pull away to continue removing your dress. 

“Zayne, we are married. There is nothing improper about me swimming in my chemise in front of you. However, I must ask…”

You toss your dress over a nearby log and wade into the lake, the cool water soaking the hem of your chemise, making you shiver. Looking over your shoulder, you notice Zayne’s ears are considerably more red. You turn and kick your feet to splash him. He stumbles back and you giggle as he steadies himself. Your heartbeat quickens as you watch his expression become a tad mischievous.

“Are you going to join me?” 🐝❀❄️

(If you DO NOT want to be tagged in ALL REGENCY AU fics, just leave a comment. Keep in mind, each story hints at the futures for each pair sooooo…)

𝕿𝖆𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙: @trishiepo0 @not-so-quite-human @kitsunetori @babyx91 @libriomancer @lilyadora @crowskitten22 @letharue @silverbrain @alastor-simp @drama-trauma @0tterteeth @mysticcollectionvoid @godzillaglitter @godoffuckedupcats @kiude @tati-the-fangirl @mtcozylove @3fingersofscotch @stxrrielle @angelicspaceprince @hebreeee @beykyuns @sylusgirlie7 @goblynn @moonberry69 @laddelulu30 @mariojins @zhongtar @emneedshelp @m00nchildwrites @plsdonttakemyname @hauntedbysmut @withering-dream @lostwingz2236 @simpfortheseven @havenhope-art @lly5duck @freddy-2002-blog

[vaadazen-codes]

How To Get Started Making Visual Novels

Wanna make a visual novel? Or maybe you've seen games like Our Life, Blooming Panic, Doki Doki Literature Club, etc. and wanna make something like that? Good news, here's a very basic beginners guide on how to get started in renpy and what you need to know going in! Before you start, I highly recommend looking at my last post about writing a script for renpy just to make it easier on you!

LONG POST AHEAD

Obviously, our first step is downloading it from their website

thankfully, its right on the home page of their site. Follow basica program installation steps and run the program. I highly recommend pinning it to your task bar to make it easier to access.

From there, you're met with the renpy app, it's a little daunting at first but let's talk about what all these buttons are for.

Projects

This part is simple, it just lists the current projects in the chosen directory. You probably won't have any in there of your own. You should still see Tutorial and The Question!

Both of those default projects are super helpful in their own ways, i highly recommend testing out the tutorial and playing around with it just to get comfortable with some of the basics.

Create New Project

The first step to actually making your game into a game!

You'll be met with a prompt letting you know that the project is being made in English and that you can change it. You can click Continue.

From here, you'll be asked to input a project name! Put in your games title, or even a placeholder title since this Information can be changed later! (this is also the title the folder will be in your file browser, be sure to name it something you won't overlook)

Now we get to choose our resolution!

If you have no idea what to choose, go for 1920x1080! This is the standard size for most computer monitors and laptops, but it will still display with moderately decent quality on 4k monitors too!

You can choose 3840x2160 as well. This is 2x the measurements of the default, with the same ration. These dimensions are considered 4k. Keep in mind, your image files will be bigger and can cause the game to have a larger size to download.

Now we get to choose our color scheme!

Renpy has some simple default options with the 'light mode' colors being the bottom two rows, and the 'dark mode' colors being the toop two rows.

You can pick anything here, but I like to choose something that matches my projects vibes/colors better. Mostly because depending on how in depth you go with the ui, it minimizes the amount of changes I need to make later.

Click continue and give it a minute. Note: If it says "not responding" wait a moment without clicking anything. It can sometimes freeze briefly during the process.

Now we should be back at our home screen, with our new project showing. Let's talk about allll that stuff on the right now.

Open Directory

This just opens that particular folder in your local file explorer!

game - is all the game files, so your folders for images, audio, saves, and your game files like your script, screens, and more.

base - this is the folder that the game folder is inside of. You can also find the errors and log txt files in here.

images - takes you to your main images folder. This is where you wanna put all of your NON gui images, like your sprites, backgrounds, and CGs. You can create folders inside of this and still call them in the script later. EX: a folder for backgrounds , a folder for sprites for character a, a seperate folder for spirtes for character b, etc.

audio - Takes you to the default audio folder. This is empty, but you can put all your music and sound effects here!

gui - brings up the folder containing all of the default renpy gui. It's a good place to start/ reference for sizes if you want to hand draw your UI pieces like your text box!

Edit File

Simple enough, this is just where you can open your code files in whatever text/code editor you have installed.

Script.rpy - where all of your story and characters live. This is the file you'll spend most of your time in at first

Options.rpy - Contains mostly simple information, like project name and version. There aren't a ton of things in here you need to look at. There is also some lines of code that help 'archive' certain files by file type so that they can't be seen by players digging in code however. Fun if you want to hide some images in there for later or if you just dont want someone seeing how messy your files are. We've all been there

Gui.rpy - where all of the easy customization happens. Here you can change font colors, hover colors, fonts, font sizes, and then the alignment and placement of all of your text! Like your dialogue and names, the height of text buttons, etc. It more or less sets the defaults for a lot of these unless you choose to change them later.

Screens.rpy - undeniably my favorite, this is where all of the UI is laid out for the different screens in your game, like the main menu, game menu, quick menu, choice menu, etc. You can add custom screens too if you want, but I always make my own seperate file for these.

Open Project - this just opens all of those files at once in the code editor. Super handy if you make extra files like I do for certain things.

Actions

last but not least, our actions.

Navigate Script - This feature is underrated in my honest opinion, it's super handy for help debugging! In renpy you can comment with # before a line. However, if you do #TODO and type something after it, it saves it as a note! You can view these TODO's here as well as easily navigate to when certain screens are called, where different labels are (super great if your game is long, and more. It saves some scrolling.

Check Script (Lint) - also super duper handy for debugging some basic things. It also tells you your word count! But its handy for letting you know about some errors that might throw up. I like using it to look for sprites I may or may not have mispelled, because they show up in there too.

Change/Update GUI - Nifty, though once you start customizing GUI on your own, it isn't as useful. You can reset the project at any point and regenerate the image files here. This updates all those defaults we talked about earlier.

Delete Persistent - this just helps you delete any persistent data between play throughs on your end. I like to use it when making a lot of changes while testing the game, so that I can reboot the game fresh.

Force Recompile - Full disclosure, as many games as I've made and as long as I've been using Renpy, i have never used this feature. I searched to see what it does and this is the general consesus: Normally renpy tries to be smart about compiling code (creating .rpyc files) and only compiles .rpy files with changes. This is to speed up the process since compiling takes time. Sometimes you can make changes that renpy don't pick up on and therefore won't recompile. In these cases you can run force recompile to force it. Another solution (if you know what file is affected) is to delete that specific. rpyc file.

The rest of your options on this right hand side are how you make executable builds for your game that people can download to extract and play later!

Sorry gang! that was a whole lot of text obviously the last button "Launch Project" launches an uncompiled version of the project for you to play and test as you go! Hang in tight because my next post is about how to utilize github for renpy, so you can collaborate easier!

[readychilledwine]

A Page From Another's Book

Eris Week - Day 1 - Bonds and Bargains

Summary - After 2 full years without you acknowledging the bond, Eris is willing to do whatever it takes for just a moment of your time

Warnings - Smut, choking (kind of), mating bonds, forced proximity, slight manipulation, and possibly a few missed errors. If you see them, no, you didn't 👀

A/N - Happy @erisweekofficial! I have challenged myself this week to try to use both prompts in one fic. Why? Because I could not choose! They were so good this year.

🍂Eris Week Masterlist🍂Eris Masterlist🍂Master Masterlist🍂

Dividers by @tsunami-of-tears 💕💕

The look in your eyes was not what a male wanted to see from their mate. You looked at Eris like you hated him, a soft snarl always playing on lips too plush to have been real.

But Gods that look did things to him. Things that had his own smirk growing as you two stared at each other in silence, waiting for Rhysand to finish looked over the contact for trade Beron had forced his heir to come present. Rhysand was using his hand to hide a smirk.

The scent of the bond between Eris and y/n was potent. Honey and apples. Ginger and cinnamon. The High Lord understood now why so many of his family members complained about the way his and Feyre's scents mix. He could hardly tell who was who anymore but he couldn't stop breathing it in all the same.

“You can go sister, I believe I can hold my own against our dear Eris,” Rhysand dismissed you so easily. Your eyes met his in silent conversation before you stood, black dress swishing as you did and walked out of the room.

Eris felt himself relax then, body melting as he and Rhysand began to show each other vulnerability, “You told me she'd warm up to me by now.”

Rhys pinched his brows, “Y/n is a complex creature. Beautiful as the rising moon, complex as the stars.”

“And crafted from the very darkness between them,” Eris's fingers rolled, nails tapping the table in a pattern of annoyance. “What do I do?”

“Force her into a bargain,” Rhysand was half joking as he struck out a line on Beron's trade agreement. He paused, sharp mind and eyes hitting Eris. “That.. May actually work.”

Eris looked at Rhysand like he had grown two heads, “She would not make a bargain with me, she hates me.”

“She likes knowledge more than she hates you, trust me. And, Eris Vanserra, you live in a court she has never been able to go to.”

Eris fell into a brief moment of silence, “And you believe this could work?”

“It turned out well for me,” Rhysand picked at his jacket. “Make a bargain with her, force her to spend time with you.”

Rhysand slid the contract back over, a look of annoyance on his face as he did, "Your father,” the word spoken with such disdain, “needs to learn what fair terms actually means.”

“I do not believe my Father would know fair if it bit him in the ass,” that snake like smirk came forward. “Luckily, it will be me you deal with soon-”

“Is it not you I deal with already,” Rhys groaned. “Anyways, y/n. Bargain her a week in Autumn in exchange for intel.” He said it so casually, having accepted what the Fates and Cauldron decided would be with you the second the bond snapped during the war with Hybern.

And what a dramatic way for it to have snapped. A fight between Autumn and Night's emissaries leading to you pinning the heir to the ground, dagger at his throat.

It was one thing you and Azriel had in common:

Going for the jugular whenever you two deemed it fit.

Rhys waved a hand dismissing Eris, “I'm sure she is in the hall, waiting to guide you to your room.”

And you were, leathers clinging to every curve, one wing stretched out while you pulled your arm across your body, “Sore, assassin?”

Defiant eyes met his, narrowing slightly as he stared, “Only by the sight of you, heirling.” You began to walk away from him, forcing Eris to follow you to his room in Hewn City. Footsteps fell in time, breathing in sync as the bond between you two pulled and flickered.

It wasn't tense, but the quiet that lingered was thick. There were mountains of emotions between you two. Anger that lingered from years of what he claims was all an act and lies.

“You look beautiful today,” you were the only being he ever spoke this gently to. “Your hair has gotten longer.”

“Are we making casual observations?”

Eris smirked at the way your held a bite yet your eyes were soft. You were truly the most beautiful creature he had ever gotten to lay eyes on. In a dress, armor, casual clothing, leathers. Your confidence was unmatched. You owned every room you walked into. He admired that about you.

Eris opened the door to his room, hand going just above the small of your back to usher you in, “I have an offer for you.”

You leaned against the wall, a shadow coming to check on you. It indicated he was on a time crunch, that your brother would be coming soon. “I am listening.”

“Come with me to Autumn. A week of your time in one of my private residences in exchange for intel on my father.”

Your mind began to race at the possibilities. Bringing home info to Rhysand that the Night Court could use was like dangling a sparkling object infront of a fish. He knew you would bite. “What is in it for you?”

“You. Just one week where I get to see my mate in my court, in our fashion, enjoying our food. Such a small thing to give me in exchange for the knowledge I will give you, and your ability to stay safely in a court you've never enjoyed.”

It was tempting, so tempting the shadow on your shoulder panicked and ran to Azriel. “What's the catch?” You moved to sit on the chair, long legs crossing at the ankles as the two of you continued staring each other down.

“No catch, my lady.” He moved to you, a hand touching the loose hair from your braid. It was a bold and dangerous choice, touching you so freely. “Just a week in exchange for information. That's all I wager.”

His hand raised to you, the freckled skin calloused from training and earning his place as a general, but so soft. Hands spoke volumes to you, and his were so similar to Rhysand's. You raised your hand slowly and took his, feeling the warmth from his skin heating yours.

The bargain mark for you was nothing, a small rune on the inside of your left ring finger, but he flinched slightly before moving to the mirror across the room and pulling up his shirt. He rolled his eyes at the small matching rune above his heart. “What does it say?”

“Agape,” you responded quietly. “We need to leave if you plan on getting out of this alive. Azriel is coming.”

He grabbed your without hesitation, without even putting his shirt back on. Fire and smoke surrounded you before the silence of a cabin. Soft whimpers immediately started before howling. Loud howling. 12 hounds all began to point their noses to the skies they couldn't see. It was a celebration of his arrival home before the smallest then began to pawn at the door.

Eris just smiled as he made his way over, “Be back before dinner,” he told them, patting each one on the head as they can out into the warded clearing. Your feet carried you behind them, eyes wide in wonder as you took in the colors of the trees.

Warmth.

A fireplace with a good book and spiced cider.

Chilled air and pumpkins.

You had always longed to see Autumn, but Beron's prejudice towards Illyrians always got in the way. “Eris..” You were speechless as you admired the woods, the crunchy leaves on the ground. “Its-”

“Home,” he finished as he leaned on the railing watching his hounds. “We're right on the border of Autumn and Winter. There are times where the run rises and sets on the creek and lake near by that makes the snow of Winter appear like it is on fire.” His smile was so soft, eyes relaxed, muscles even slowly loosing tension. “This is my favorite cabin I have. The village nearby is quiet, open minded, hates my father.”

“That seems to be a reoccurring theme,” you jumped in.

Eris smirked but didn't say anything. “Can I offer you more comfortable clothing? A drink?”

Night one with him was filled with you two reading silently, one of his hounds being the first to inch his way into your lap and cuddle. Rhysand had not checked in, Azriel had not searched for you. Not even a mocking letter from Nesta. It was peace, bliss that allowed your guard to fall down.

He allowed you to sleep alone in a spare bed, not even asking as you used your ability to shift to get rid of your wings for the night and stole his sweater to sleep in.

The smell of bacon woke you from your lay in. A rare lazy morning that had you stretching as you walked on in just his sweater.

It felt so domestic, natural to both of them. He wordlessly handed her coffee and sugar, sipping his own. He was shirtless, lean form on display and making your brain spiral to the what ifs. His sweatpants hung low on his hips as he continued cooked breakfast, knowing you could not do it.

“How far do you powers as a wild form go?” You glanced at him, not ready to speak without at least getting one sip of coffee in. His hands shot up in defense, a graceful step back as he did. “I am asking because I wanted to leave you with some marks so you could do shopping. Observe the village here.”

You only hummed, reaching for a finished piece of the crispy bacon and bending down to give it to the sweet hound that had attached himself to you. “What's his name?”

Eris sneered as you gave his well trained pet a piece of bacon, dark brown eyes meeting his like it was a victory, “That is Whiskey.” The Hound seemed to skip away as you stood up, “And you will not spoil him.”

“Says the male who had 3 in his bed last night and the rest all in fluffy dog beds that a nicer than what some poor lower fae have.”

“They are orthopedic. Smoke hounds require comfort for their limbs,” his tone was definitely defensive. Almost parental. “They are faithful companions. They deserve comfort.”

You were thankful for your ability to hide laughter, but your eyes began to betray you. This male was not the one you knew, the one who you believed left your dear friend for dead. “To answer the earlier question, it's limitless, like Tamlin's ability, only less effort and my scent is hidden.”

“So you can spend my coin today,” he tossed the bag casually on the counter. He moved the pan from the heat before reaching around you, “You are even beautiful in the morning.” He'd carry the torch for you. He'd carry it even if you rejected the bond, as pathetic as that was.

Day two with him was filled with heated glances that grew the more he showed you who he was. Touches that lingered as he took you from shop to shop, purchasing candies, clothing, books.

He was a handsome male. You'd be a fool to lie if you said otherwise.

The third evening is when things became more. The bond was humming, desperate for anything to happen between you two. Music was playing softly as you two read again. You books on the history of Autumn, Eris a novel he refused to let you see the cover of. His fingers swayed his bookmark in a small dance, the movement as smooth as you had witnessed as he and Nesta glided across the floors of Hewn City.

“You're staring,” He said without looking to you. “Did your high lord never teach you it's impolite to stare?”

“Maybe if your bookmark wasn't waving all over the place while you read your smut,” you muttered back at him. Amber eyes met yours, brows raised as he mouth tried to formulate a response.

“It's not smut. It's a love story!”

You snatched the book from him, the brief contact of your body against his making the bond pound, “Her body sang for him. Each roll of his hips setting fire to her veins,” Your voice reading those lines had the scent in the air shifting. He could no longer mask his need for you as he took a deep breath. “His length filled her, reaching places inside of her she'd never find without him, pulling sob after sob from swollen lips as she held to him.”

“Enough.” He grabbed the novel back and drank his whiskey like a shot as he stared at you now.

No more words passed as you tell held eye contact.

No pointed remarks. No jokes.

The music seemed to fade as the bond began ringing in your ears.

2 years. 2 years if knowing who your mate was. 2 years without even so much as a kiss.

It was finally too much. You had never enjoyed slow burn romances. Why turn this into one when the longing lingered all the same.

Perhaps he closed the gap. Or maybe you did, but it happened. His lips on yours in a passionate kiss, dominating you quickly by tugging your hair back to angle your head.

There was no looming war. No assassinations waiting to happen. No lingering past wounds. Not as he lifted you, laying you down infront of the fire place.

Not as he pulled your shirt off, then his own.

Not as he kissed down your body, nipping and marking his favorite places to remind him to spend more time there later. Neither of you could wait. Neither of you wanted to.

Your bodies were born ready and aching for each other. Like two halves forced apart and just waiting to collide.

Even in the heat of this moment, he looked at you, eyes searching for a sign of doubt, for anything that didn't ring a resounding yes. All he found was lust. Heavy deep want weighing on both of your souls.

He reminded you that you two were nothing more than stardust. Stardust given life and form. Needs and wants. A chance.

You understood the book now as he filled you, stretching you after time spent without a partner. You understood that now, too. Understood why Lucien was all too happy to wait as well.

It had never felt like this. Sex had never felt like coming home. Like your soul was nurtured as he wrapped your legs around his hips. As he moved, he used the bond to instantly get his feedback. He wanted you to sing for him, to cry his name, and when he found that soft spot inside of you, he knew he could have it.

His movements focused on that spot as you grabbed his forearms, back arching off the ground for him, mouth falling into a silent scream.

“Look at me, y/n,” he panted. “Look at me when I make you see the heavens.”

His thumb moved to your clit, circling and rolling it in time with his hips, watching as your breasts bounced.

There wasn't an inch of you Eris wasn't instantly falling in love with. You were exquisite. Not too thin, curves in all the right places. Muscles strong and flexible.

“You are better than I dreamed,” he moaned. “A muse hidden to all but me.”

You whispered his name, eyes squeezing shut as the coil began to build and tighten. He would be the death of you. You of him if he wished, “Eris.”

“Sing for me, my fire.”

The coil built more and more, “Eris!”

He kept pushing and kept hitting that spot. He wouldn't last, not with the way you two fit like a puzzle. With the way your warmth hugged him. But you were also there, dangling from the edge by a string Eris held in his hands.

“Eris, please?”

“What do you need,” he whispered. “I want to hear it. Beg for me it.”

Your hands trembled as you moved his hand that wasn't occupied with your sensitive clit to your throat, eyes looking at him in silent understanding.

Life had not been gentle or kind to you, nor to him, love would not be either.

He squeezed softly, only enough to make you feel the euphoria. His pace picked up, driving hard and faster into you.

It was a chain reaction as you hit your high, screaming his name like you had in all of his dreams. He followed you over, groaning loudly before he praised you and worked you through your heightened state. Screams fell to soft whimpers, whimpers to pants.

Eris waited until the shaking set in, until he knew you were done to pull out before standing to grab a cloth to clean you. Soft kisses were shared as he took care of you before wrapping you both in a blanket.

You two said nothing as you processed what happened.

You didn't even mention the mark on his left hip. One that you knew. That matched Mor’s only hidden mark.

You just processed. Processed that you knew deep down that you loved him. Processed that in few days the bargain mark you shared would disappear from you both, fulfilled and nothing more than a smear on your histories.

In a few days, you'd be going back to the Night Court.

And you couldn't help but you find yourself considering if that was truly home.

How could it be when it wasn't where your mate was?

General Taglist:

@hnyclover @glitterypirateduck @slytherinindisguise @mischiefmanagers @bloodicka @starsinyourseyes @the-sweet-psycho @mariahoedt @rinalouu @sarawritestories @starryhiraeth @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @cumuluscranium @loneliestluvr @eternallyelvish @azrielsmate3 @daughterofthemoons-stuff @meritxellao @aria-chikage @hungryforbatboys @lilah-asteria @fandomrejects @sleepybesson @tayswhp @itsswritten @milswrites @littlest-w01f

[lovebugism]

How about steve with the prompt "You look so hot today, babe." "Hotter than yesterday?" "Hotter than yesterday." 

ty for requesting xoxo — steve always thinks you're pretty (yes, even in granny panties) (established relationship, fluff, 0.6k)

bug's one year celebration ♡

Steve knew you loved him the first time he saw you wearing his socks. He knows you love him still because of the underwear you have on.

It’s perhaps the tamest pair of cotton he’s ever seen you in, covering most of your ass and rising high on your waist. You’ve paired it with a freshly washed body, smelling distinctly clean and radiating with the warmth of your scalding shower. Wet hair, small shirt, no bra, bland underwear.

There’s something so emphatically domestic about the combination. Something soft and angelic, diabolically so. You might as well be telling him you love him without saying a damn thing at all.

“Have I told you how hot you look today?” Steve wonders from the center of the bed, curled in the sheets he hasn’t left all day.

“Uh… not since this morning…” you answer distantly where you stand before the mirror of his dresser. You kiss the tin of your chapstick (‘cause you hate putting your finger in it) and then correct yourself. “Actually, no— you said I looked pretty. Not hot.” You flash him a look over your shoulder, bare-faced and pink-lipped. You leer at him lightheartedly. “So you’re slacking today, Harrington.”

“Well, you look really hot today,” he atones with a crooked smile.

“Hotter than yesterday?”

He thinks for a moment, squinted eyes and jutted lips. Then he nods. “Hotter than yesterday.”

“You said that yesterday,” you scoff.

Steve tilts his head on the pillow, honey hair as wild as his eyes. He smiles, lopsided and pink. “Only ‘cause you keep getting hotter.”

“Well, I think it’s because you’re a boy, and you can see my underwear,” you argue half-heartedly. You cross your arms over your chest and angle your hip to the side, thighs rubbing like a harmony. “And now you don’t know what to do with yourself, like a Victorian child who just saw an ankle.”

“Well, yeah, that’s the half of it. But you’re also just pretty.”

Your nose scrunches. “You’re also just pretty, too.”

“C’mere,” he beckons with outstretched arms and grabby-hands. You gravitate towards him without thinking, crawling onto the mattress on your knees. His hands grip your waist the moment you’re in reach, wrenching you around until your back hits the bed. He smiles when you squeal.

The comforter wraps around his waist when he turns to lay over you. He kisses at your pulse, then gets lost in the way you smell. He runs the tip of his nose over the expanse of your throat. The softness of his barely-there touch makes you shudder.

“You smell good,” he mumbles, burying the words into your skin.

“Cozy by the fire,” you say as you twirl your hands in his hair.

“Hm?”

“Cozy by the fire. That’s the soap I use.”

He hums into the nook of your neck. “Mm. That makes sense. You smell all warm,” he mutters and melts further into you. He’s pressed so intently against your body that the rest of his words are nearly inaudible. “I don’t wanna get off you…”

“Then don’t.” Your arms wrap around his neck as you hold him closer to you. Even if he wanted to move, there’s not a world where you let him.

“I’m not crushing you?”

“Yeah,” you murmur into his temple. “But in a good way.”

He laughs against your pulse. Your heart starts to beat with it. “What does that mean?”

“Don’t make fun of me! I just like feeling you.”

Steve figures he knows what you mean. ‘Cause sometimes he gets jealous of your pillow, all green with envy because he can’t be stained with your scent the same way it can. “Fair enough,” he mumbles.

You linger there for a while. Pinned between his body and the mattress, like a flower pressed in the pages of a book.

[kenzdawinz]

Forbidden Desires…. Professor Lilia! x Student!Reader

First and foremost, thank you to the lovely @jubshead for being my beta for this chapter!! Secondly, this is a little idea i've had brewing for a while... I am inspired constantly by my fellow Lilia writers, but for this piece i was especially inspired by Soy Celosa, Lo Siento by the talented @ariascoven

Warnings: smutty daydreams, fingering (reader receiving), alludes to masturbation

Word Count: 1.6k

Professor Calderu's Women's History class was quite possibly the most interesting course you'd ever taken. It wasn't just because of the content, although you found it intriguing, it was certainly due to the teacher. 

Lilia Calderu was the most divine individual you'd ever seen. Each afternoon she arrived in her lecture hall with a determined stride, hair pinned into a messy updo and elaborate crystal necklaces swinging across her slightly exposed chest. She'd announce in a voice so loud and so clear that even those half asleep in the back could hear her say: "Today we will be discussing…" 

Most days you had no trouble concentrating on class, Lilia spoke of women's history so vividly it seemed as if she had lived it herself. You would hang on her every word, eagerly absorbing as much knowledge as you could, all in a hopeless attempt to impress her. You were always so attentive, desperately shooting your hand up in the air to answer any questions she made to prompt discussion. 

But today your mind wandered. No matter how much you tried, you could not pull yourself away from the fantasies your mind usually reserved for late at night, when you had the freedom to sneak a hand between your drenched thighs. The image of you bent over your professor's desk, skirt bunched over your ass as Lilia leaned over you from behind, pressing three fingers firmly into your dripping cunt. Her purrs tickling your nape as she whispers in your ear "You like that baby? Come on y/n…. tell me how much you like my fingers in you baby… y/n.. y/n?"

"Y/N!" 

Your head snaps from its resting place in your palm at the sound of your professor's voice. It had come not from your daydream, but from the very real and very annoyed woman at the front of the class. 

"If you're going to sit in the front row, darling, at least stay awake." Lilia chides. 

From her crossed arms and pursed lips, you can see she is clearly annoyed with you. 

"That goes for the rest of you too! I know you students were probably busy partying this weekend and getting up to who knows what-" 

At the sound of protests she tsks and silences the class with a wave of her arms. 

"Ah ah ah! I don't want to hear it. If you can party hard, you can study hard. Stay awake and attentive in my class or get out. I won't be offended by your absence. I have no use lecturing students who would rather be somewhere else." 

She gives you one final displeased glare and turns back to the projector, jumping back into her lecture as if she had never diverged from it. 

Shame bloomed across your neck and tears threatened to fall from your eyes. You blinked them back hurriedly and attempted to focus on her lecture, internally scolding yourself. You lamented the foolish daydream that caused you to upset your professor, if it was any other class you wouldn't care, but knowing that you had annoyed Signora Calderu left you feeling utterly dejected. You wanted her to like you. At the very least you had hoped she found you a pleasant study. There was no way she would feel that now…. 

The lecture went by slower than it normally would, your embarrassment at having been called on and used as an example for the class had left you quiet. As Signora Calderu announced the end of class, you wrote down the textbook pages she recommended reading for her next lecture and began to pack your bag. 

The only thing on your mind was getting back to your dorm room as fast as possible, to drown your shame in little Debbie cakes and a half assed frozen margarita you kept in your mini-fridge. 

You stopped dead in your tracks when your professor’s voice called out to you, "Y/n, come here for a minute please." 

You took a deep breath and turned around slowly, plastering what you hoped was an easy smile on your face, taking a few nervous steps towards her.

She was sitting at her desk, reading glasses perched delicately on the tip of her nose as she glanced at a few papers. The sight made your core thrum and you grasped your necklace pendant, stroking it in a desperate attempt to calm your arousal. 

"Yes, Signora?" You ask gently. 

Lilia glances at you briefly and pulls her reading glasses off her face, setting them on her desk. She releases an annoyed sigh and fixes her sharp gaze on you. 

"Is there a particular reason I caught you daydreaming in my class, doll? You're normally so eager to participate in discussion and today you seemed like another hungover delinquent." 

The comparison makes you bristle in slight anger and you quickly jump to defend yourself. 

"I'm sorry Signora." You announce huffily. "But I can assure you I am not hung over! And frankly I'm a little offended you would even suggest-" 

She quirks an eyebrow at you and cuts you off. "Oh? What's so outlandish about the notion that a pretty, young college girl, who's normally so attentive, is slumped over in class because she's riding off the weekends extracurriculars?" 

Your mouth drops open in shock and instead of answering her question like any normal, sane individual, you stutter out before thinking. "Y-You think i'm pretty?" 

As soon as you hear your own words escape you, you go red and lightly clasp a hand over your mouth. Quick to utter an apology, "Oh! Oh, Signora I am so sorry. I didn't mean to-" 

Lilia cuts you off again with a laugh. Her teeth gleam under the fluorescent lights as she grins at your embarrassed state. 

"No need to be so ashamed, baby." She smirks. "It's an honest question. But yes, I do think you're rather lovely. Do you not find yourself attractive?" She asks with a gleam in her eyes. 

You balk at her momentarily before swallowing your own surprise. 

"I think… I think I'm pretty enough." You offer blushing. "I just didn’t expect- well Ii didn’t expect you to say it." 

Lilia tilts her head at you and softly hums under her breath, as if she is analyzing your behavior and filing it away to use later. She smiles at you before teasing lightly. "I may be old, honey, but I'm not blind. I know a pretty girl when I see one. You should take more pride in your appearance." 

You blush even more at the pet name and the compliment. "Well, thank you Signora… and- and I'm so sorry about earlier in class! I really didn't mean to get so distracted I just-" You swallow thickly at the memory of your daydream. "I suppose I’m just overly tired today." 

Lilia purses her lips and hums. Her eyes scan you as if she knows you are lying, but decides not to call you out on it. "It's fine dear. Just…don't let it happen again. You're one of my best students. I'd hate for you to begin to blend in with your peers." 

You nod sharply, eager to prove your worth in upcoming classes. As you move to leave the class you suddenly turn back around with a gasp. 

"Oh! Signora this may be an ill timed question considering I was not my best today in class… but I was wondering if we could meet sometime during your office hours to discuss a special interest of mine? I'm doing some personal research on the Salem Witch Trials, and I heard from Professor Harkness that you might be able to stir me in a new direction. I think I've exhausted most of my own resources." 

Lilia's face lights up with a delighted smile. "Is that so? Well, I'd love to help you, hun. Is the research an assignment for another class?" 

You nibble your lip nervously, "No actually. It's just a topic I've always been interested in. I try to um.. to research things that interest me in my own time. I like to think it keeps my education from getting too dull." 

Lilia looks at you appreciatively, "I'm glad to hear that, baby. Too often students take classes just to the degree and not to really learn. Tell you what-" She says as she grabs a slip of paper and a pen, beginning to scribble down on it. "Here's my personal cell number. Send me the research you've compiled so far and I'll take a look at it. Then we can pick a time to meet up and go over some new stuff, ok?" 

She hands you the slip of paper with her number on it. As you reach for it, the tips of your fingers brush hers and you slightly shiver at the contact. 

"Thank you, Signora!" You gush. "I really, really appreciate the help. I'll send my research to you as soon as possible." 

She laughs lightly and puts back on her reading glasses, dismissing you with a wave. "No rush, baby. Just go home and get some sleep. I don’t want you drifting away in my next class." 

You give a small laugh yourself and, with another thank you and a polite goodbye, you leave her classroom, beginning the walk back to your dorm.

Well that's that! Comments and constructive criticism valued and enjoyed. Lemme know any ideas you have for future chapters, i plan to make this a multi-chapter fic with some decent slowburn and plenty of smut to come later on.

dividers by @strangergraphics

[bunny-jpeg]

Hi Bunny,

I've been following your page for awhile and was wondering if I could order some John Price Lemon slices and beer brownies on the house??

I adore your stories and writing style, and you are in fact someone's girlfriends favorite author 😌

Hope your day is wonderful n thank you ♥︎

bakery menu!

want to submit your own order? then hit up the menu! i know i've been horribly lacking at call of duty bakery fics! but with call of duty i'll get an idea in my head that is seperate than the bakery fics. i still deeply love my boys (and esp john price), so i'll try to be more on top of the call of duty fics because so many of you have been so sweet with your prompts <3 (also john price would totally love beer brownies just as a dessert, lol)

lemon slice: "i'm sorry, what was that? i can’t hear you over all that noise you’re making." + beer brownies: "stick your tongue out anymore and you'll look like a dog." + on the house (matcha latte: collars/bondage)

cw: smut/pwp, dom!price, sub!reader, dirty talk/degrading language, age gap (20s/40s), wife!reader, wife/domestic kink, carpet sex, oral sex, pet names (puppy, baby girl)

price liked being the man of the house. while most times your relationship was an equal affair. price admired you like flowers did the sun. he'd never hurt his baby girl, even with the age gap that would make some gawk at. a man in his near fifties with a woman who was just out of university. plus, he made her a stay-at-home wife within three months of dating?

there had to be something else going on. even your parents were a little shocked at the news. but neither of you cared, you were happy. and since your parents wouldn't let you move in with such an older man, the only thing to do was to get married. and now every night price got to be the man of the house and have his lovely girl serve him.

after dinner was served you were on your knees in front of him while he watched television. it was hard for him to focus on the game while your nose was nestled against his dark pubic hair. his grip on the can of beer was tight, any tighter and he'd crush the thing in his palm.

he was so much bigger than you, stronger than you. there was a weight to him that could leave you pinned under him. he was so strong and masculine that you couldn't help yourself but be enthralled by him. you continued to pleasure him orally, but occasionally you made small noises which was accompanied by your thighs rubbing together.

"i'm sorry, what was that? i can’t hear you over all that noise you’re making." he said as he took you by the head of the head and made you look at him. you panted heavily and looked at him with a lustful expression across your features. poor little wifey got too excited.

price chuckled and patted your cheek a roughly, "stick your tongue out anymore and you'll look like a dog." he laughed a little, "maybe i should get the collar out, since you like being my puppy so badly." you whined in response and price pulled away to tuck himself back in his jeans. when he got up, he looked down at you and said, "you stay put, i don't need you getting in trouble, baby girl." then left for the bedroom.

you waited patiently and felt heat curl in your gut. you liked price like this, domineering. when he used his age, height, size against you. when he made you feel small in the best ways. when he returned you could see the green collar in his hands.

it wasn't a neon green, but rather a rich forest green. you swallowed and shifted a little in your spot. when he sat down on the couch with a 'huff' he patted his thigh so you'd climb onto his lap. you did without question and he placed the pretty collar around your neck. then his hand was on your bare thigh, he got to see you naked up close. after dinner you stripped down to give your husband dessert.

"pretty little thing." he said, his voice hot. you squirmed a little at his hands on you. on between your legs and the other supporting your back. he made a vow to love and protect you. even when you panted heavily from his touches.

his calloused fingertips grazed across your wet cunt and he dipped his head against your neck where he laid kisses across the heated skin.

"john."

"i got ya, sweetheart. my little pet." he teased your clit a little and you shuddered. he pulled you closer to him and teased your clit a little more before he said, "get on your hands and knees, beautiful. your mouth isn't enough tonight."

you scurried off, you were naked save for the ankle socks with little bows on them and the pretty green collar. you got onto the carpet and rested your face against your arms with your hips raised. price took one last swig of his beer before he got up and rubbed himself through his jeans. you looked at your husband, coyly, "like this?"

"i've trained you so well." he said as got down on the carpet. while a this age, it was hard to do it on the floor. but, he knew it was either that or up against the couch. the latter would only cause more pain in price's bad knee.

"thank you." you blushed, heat rose in your cheeks as you felt his pointer and middle finger touch your achy cunt again. your back arched. then you heard the clatter of his belt being fully taken off.

"this is how a wife should greet her husband every night. give him a fully belly and you walk away with a full cunt. ya like when i make a mess of her, don't ya?" he watched your back arch from his words. he got his cock out of his jeans and rubbed the slick head up against your pussy, "been missin' her. had to finish myself off in the washroom at work because i was thinkin' about it."

price hated to admit it, but he loved the differences between you two. he kept his pretty wife happy at home, and maybe soon you'd have some company with a pet or a baby. price wasn't getting any younger, about time he used the last of his swimmers for something good.

he pushed his cock into you with ease and watched your tense up. it was really hot. in his honest opinion, you looked beyond beautiful. he was glad he got a ring on you as soon as he did because if anyone else tried to get their hands on you. that would be a problem. you whimpered and clawed into the cream carpet.

you knew your knees were going to be raw by the time your husband was done with you. but, you'd happily accept it regardless.

his pace was steady, on the faster side but every thrust had a force that made your toes curled. you loved your big, hairy husband. you adored how he made you feel, how he could easily move and twist you to his liking. he was dominant and strong, he never wanted his wife to worry.

"that's a good girl, my good little puppy. hearin' your little noises right now." he groaned, "you're a beautiful little thing. you know exactly how to get me goin'. lettin' my fuck you until you see stars." his pace picked up and you gasped into the floor.

"john." you arched your back. your body craved your husband. more than most else. you were never a party girl, but even if you were, your drug of choice would be having your husband, the cervix bully, make you cum time and time again.

it was slightly price's fault why you never went to parties. when he was home from deployment, he wanted to savour every moment with you. hard to go out with friends on a friday when price had you in a full nelson on his bed with his cock hitting just the right places. price didn't need boys sniffing around what was his. not that you'd give them the time of day. he held onto your hips tightly and pushed you further into the carpet as his cock dragged against your softest areas.

he said, "so pretty under me. you take me so well." you could feel your heartbeat in the back of your head as he continued to push up right against you. the feeling was erotic, as were the sounds of your sweet moans, "pretty in your collar. maybe i should've just gotten you a collar instead of a ring. a nice leash as well to make sure that you didn't go runnin' off. be a proper pup for me." he groaned as he continued to fuck you.

his motor mouth made heat wash over you. it was hot in a way that made you want to cry out for more. poor mrs. price, must be such a shame to get fucked into a state of bliss by your domineering, stronger husband.

it wasn't long before you could feel the sparks in your brain as you panted heavily against the carpet. your knees were rubbed raw as were your forearms. thankfully not carpet burn on your face (this time). you panted heavily before you let out a sweet noise, your attempt to tell your lover you were cumming. your cunt tightened around his cock, which only spurred your husband to move faster.

"that's it, that's my baby girl." he groaned as he rammed his cock as fast as he could. he could hear your soft, post-orgasm moans. your back arched a little more before they dropped. which meant price had to hold onto them to get at the right angle of your pussy, "my good little wife."

a few more heavy thrusts and price finished inside of you. trusting you to keep the boys safe.he gripped onto your hips and really pushed into you as he tensed up. he then relaxed and felt his heart hammering in his chest as he slowly pulled out.

a string of cum connected his cock to your pussy. really a match made in heavy. he licked his lips before he slowly got up with a bit of help from the coffee table. he wasn't the spry young man that he used to be. but you loved that about him, your burly old man.

not that you'd say that to him.

your hips dropped as you laid on the floor for a moment. achy and feeling euphoric at the same time. it was cute in price's eyes, after he got his cock back into his jeans once more. he picked up his wife and held you in his arms. he kissed your heated cheeks while you wrapped a leg around his waist for support.

"i got ya, baby girl. now let's get the wife to bed before i get hungry again." he knew you were on another planet right now. you held onto your husband tightly until he tucked you naked into bed, with the covers pulled up to your chin.

"what about the dinner dishes?" you asked.

price patted your cheek, "don't worry about them, beautiful. i can handle them." then let you rest with the familiar collar around your throat. <3

[confessedlyfannish]

Writing Prompt #11

It's an innocent ("please," Jason sneers, "there's nothing innocent about a plagiaristic propaganda machine encouraging minors to dance for sick ol' pervs while it spews misogynistic hate speech.'"

"okay, boomer,"

"the fuck did you just call me, replacement?") TikTok, one of those ones that kind of simmers in the background for a few weeks until someone with a decent enough following posts it on the Platform Formerly Known as Twitter and from there it seriously catches traction, blowing up until Tim knocks on Bruce's office door, phone in hand. Damian stands behind him, arms crossed and clearly simmering.

Bruce, fresh off a series of zoom conferences, raises an eyebrow.

"Okay, so you haven't seen it," Tim decides, striding forward.

Bruce's eyebrow jumps a smidge higher, on the edge of concern, as Tim thrusts his phone into his grasp.

"So," he begins, reaching over to refresh the mobile page "there's a video that's been making the rounds on Twitter and—well you should probably see it," He sighs over Damian's scoff as he clicks through the pop-up asking him to sign in or join TikTok, and presses "Watch Again", unmuting the video.

🎶 "Doo, badoo-badoo-badoo Badoo-badoo-badoo-badoo,"🎶 an upbeat background song hums as someone, presumably a student, films a school hallway with their phone. They walk past students talking near their lockers, some of whom flash peace signs and silly grins as the camera swings their way before continuing on.

But the main point Bruce gets stuck on is the all lowercase white text at the center of the screen that an automated woman's voice awkwardly narrates:

"when you go to school with bruce wayne's other long lost lovechild"

The student filming comes up behind a much taller student who faces away from him, in conversation with a black haired pale teenaged girl. She spots the cameraman and shoots him a confused, disgruntled look, saying something to the boy who then turns around.

Bruce quietly observes as the camera zooms in on a boy around Tim's page, possibly older. Tall and broad-shouldered, with a strong jaw, he raises an eyebrow at the one filming, looking beyond the camera, pitch black hair with blue undertones falling into his blue eyes. The camera momentarily zooms too far into those eyes then abruptly pulls back as he quirks a puzzled smile at the viewer, mouthing out an easily understandable "hi?".

The TikTok ends and seamlessly transitions to a person balancing their cat on an exercise ball with minimal success and this time Bruce presses the Watch Again button. The heart on the right side claims 750k likes.

Damian scoffs, louder, as it ends. "Clearly it is a hoax, but it has been popular among my classmates."

"The board hasn't made much noise about it—" Tim starts.

"And they won't," Bruce says, lifting his eyes from his phone. "Wayne Industries doesn't give statements on videos like these, no matter how viral they become. I've been getting lovechild claims since before I adopted Dick."

Which Tim knows, which is why his insistence on showing Bruce this one raises his hackles. He pins Tim down with a stare and despite Tim's perfected PR mask, he can see Tim is unsettled.

"B...he really, really looks like you." Tim admits. Damian scoffs for a third time and Tim shoots him a glare, "I get it, you don't see it, but you haven't seen the pictures of Bruce when he was younger."

"I don't need to!" Damian says angrily. "You're all being ridiculous!"

"All?" Bruce asks. Tim shifts awkwardly. "The family group chat has been talking," he says.

"I see," Bruce says. Because he does. Many claim Damian to be his doppelganger, but the boy actually favors Talia not just in skin tone but in the shape and color of his eyes, as well as the soft slope of her mouth and ears. Whether those features will sharpen once he goes through puberty is anyone's guess.

But this young man has Bruce's eyes. Martha's eyes.

That night they have a suspiciously full house for dinner, with even Jason dropping in, but no one says anything until Barbara wheels in for dessert, carrying a manila folder on her lap.

"What?" she says, when everyone stares. "Dick told me it was crème brûlée today!"

Bruce extends a hand wordlessly, and Barbara sheepishly hands the folder over.

"Bruce," she says, before he can open it, "I wouldn't have looked into this normally, but,"

"Just say it," Jason says, leaning back in his chair. "Take away the gray hairs, the receding hairline, and the wrinkles and the kid's a dead match."

"Take it back, Todd," Damian growls, "Father has a very full head of hair!"

"Not to mention a failed track record at keeping it in his pants, Exhibit A," Jason continues, pointing a fork at Damian, "oh wait," he says gleefully, "kid is definitely 18, so I guess that would make you Exhibit B!"

The table erupts, cutlery tinkling as Damian gets a knee up on the table to hurl himself at a cackling Todd, Dick jumping up to grab him as the others lean out of the way—

"Ahem!" Everyone stops cold as Alfred stands in the doorway, porcelain ramekins of crème brûlée stacked perfectly on a silver tray. Under his gaze, everyone sits back down, Damian and Jason both quietly uttering a "Sorry Alfie/Alfred," as they straighten up.

Bruce is oblivious to the chaos, Barbara biting her lip beside him as he stares blankly inside the folder at the printed copy of an adoption certificate.

Two days and several million likes later, another TikTok goes viral from the same user. Caught in the moment as whoever is filming runs up to the group, the same young man is chatting with a blonde in a red letterman jacket, a partially formed crowd around them. Even with one leg still in the cafeteria table, he towers over everyone.

"—sh. Look, we're all possibly Bruce Wayne's son!" the boy snarks. He has his hands out, palms up as if he's making a great point, and as he looks around he catches sight of the cameraman and his smirk drops.

"Ah Mac, c'mon dude not again—" and the TikTok ends.

[lightsoutmatthews]

It´s always been you - Nathan MacKinnon

summary: you and Nathan used to date but things came to an end one day in Nova Scotia. Attending the Makar´s wedding together wasn´t something you planned on doing, but unfortunate circumstances leave you no other choice. What happens when old feelings who seemed to be forgotten, aren´t as forgotten as you thought they were?

pairing: Nathan MacKinnon x female!reader

word count: 8.8k

warnings: alcohol consumption, heavy make out, allures to sex (no on page intercourse) probably still advise to read at your own risk if you are not +18

authors note:

I know Cale did not get married in Mexico but for the sake of the story we will imagine he did

I took this idea from a prompt list over the summer, unfortunately I can´t find it anymore to tag the creator

--------------------------------

The Makars wedding invitation came when you were still together, now it was pinned to the pinnboard in your new apartment, weeks after you and Nathan had broken up.

It wasn’t that the break-up came out of the blue, fights had cracked your relationship. Nathans hard working ethic when it came to hockey often something that got in the way. Not that you blamed him. But he and the Avalanche once again failed to make it further than the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Stars in six games.

He grew cold. Not the first time it happened. Nothing you hadn’t dealt with before, but you were tired of it. The arguments, the storming out and the days without hearing from him after he left for Halifax were the final nail in the coffin you needed to end things.

You flew to Nova Scotia just like you were supposed to but left the next day with a broken heart and the determination to find a new apartment as soon as possible. You did after a few days somehow, finally moving out of your… of Nathans apartment.

You moved on, trying not to think about him too much, trying not to let the different corners of Denver remind you of memories the two of you shared.

Then the week of the wedding came.

Cale and Tracy would get married in Mexico, something that had been planned months in advance. Something you had planned together with Nathan. Something you had also booked together with Nathan.

You tried talking to Tracy, hoping she and Cale had another room so that you could attend. Attending together with Nathan something you weren’t ready to. Unfortunately, there were only so many rooms they booked for the wedding.

Tracy said it was your choice if you´d attend but in the same breath she made clear that there was no way they would ask Nathan to not attend. Not that you ever expected them to.

So, tomorrow you would leave for the wedding. How it would pan out something you would deal with when you got there. But then the message pinged your phone.

Nathan MacKinnon: We should talk about the wedding.

No hello. No how are you. Just we need to talk about the wedding.

At first you were unsure if you should reply. Starring at the phone for minutes, the chat open, his words doubling over in your mind.

I Yes, we should.

No indication as to where, how and why exactly, nothing more than his text.

Nathan MacKinnon: I emailed them asking if I can cancel the reservation and book two separate rooms, they declined and said we would not get our money back if we cancelled.

I I asked Tracy the same thing, she said basically the same to me.

I You can go. I don’t need my money back either. Cale is your friend and teammate.

Nathan MacKinnon: I don’t want to keep you from the wedding of a friend.

I And what is your plan? Are you offering to sleep on the beach?

You were slowly getting annoyed with him. Dealing with this over text pissed you off. If he wanted to speak, he could at least have the guts to call.

Nathan MacKinnon: We could attend like planned. Sharing the hotel room. We were together for three years, we can deal with this.

You rolled your eyes.

I Yeah, and there´s a reason we´re not anymore.

Nathan MacKinnon: We can be civil with each other for one week. For our friends.

You swallowed. Hard.

He was right and as much as you did not want to share a hotel room with him for a week, Tracy and Cale wanted both of you there. They planned this expecting you to be there together. For the sake of their special day you could pull through, right? You wouldn’t have to be around him aside from when you would both be sleeping, right?

I You´re right. It´s just a week. We cohabitated without speaking for almost as long before.

You knew it was a low blow. Throwing his behavior at him years after it happened but you could not let him think this would be anything but you doing this for the sake of your friends.

Nathan MacKinnon: I´ll let Cale know, see you there.

--------------------------

Two days later you got off the plane in Mexico. The heat outside hitting you like running into a wall. It had been warm in Denver but August heat in Mexico was a different beast.

Just like the entire plane ride the shuttle to the resort had you overthinking. What had you thought agreeing to room with Nathan for a whole week? He was your ex-boyfriend for goodness sake.

Anger was still lingering underneath your skin. Maybe even a little love that was still left for the man who you shared a life with for multiple years.

You weren’t prepared to face him again, but when you stood in front of the wooden hotel room door with shaking hands you knew there was nothing you could do.

You stood there outside the room for longer than you probably should have. The heat from the burning sun giving you a sunburn through your shirt but it was still more comfortable than facing who was inside the room.

You heart couldn’t beat faster if it tried. Not even running a marathon could made you breathe this heavy.

But when the door opened a few seconds later everything stopped. The droplets of sweat on your face suddenly more prominent than ever. The slight breeze that was brushing over your skin spreading goosebumps alongside your arms.

He looked the same as when you left him in Halifax. Unsurprising, given it had only been a couple of weeks.

He was a little more tanned. His hair seemed blonder, probably from the sun as well. His bright blue eyes hidden by a pair of sunglasses you hadn’t seen him wear before.

The world moved in slow-motion as you looked up at his tall frame. His lips were moving but didn’t register any words that left his mouth, too caught up by this being the first time you met him since the breakup.

“I´m sorry, what?” You breathed out, voice quiet. His brows furrowed and a shiver immediately ran down your spine. “I said, there you are, the front desk called the room asking if you made it her okay. I was just leaving to meet some of the guys at the beach, see you later.” Before you could get another word out, he was already ten steps down the path vanishing as quickly as he apeared.

The door snapping shut right in front of your nose pulled you back into reality. The interaction leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Of course, you came here hoping to interact with him as little as possible, but somehow you did not expect him to give you the cold shoulder.

With a loud sigh you finally gathered the courage to enter the room. The coolness of the air-conditioning a strong contrast to the heat outside. Nathans familiar smell hung in the air, indicating that he had been here for quite a while.

Stepping further into the room you noticed his suitcase next to the small couch that formed the center of the main part of room. To the left was a door to what you guessed the bedroom and to the right another door that probably led to the bathroom. You would explore in a second because what really captured your attention was the patio. It held a small pool, some deck chairs and a path that led right to the beach.

The beautiful turquoise that you were faced with at the end of the path took your breath away. The palm trees and flowers that lined the path down to the sand nothing like you had seen before. Cale and Tracy picked a beautiful place to get married and you would enjoy your time here regardless of the man you had to share a room with.

----------

The first wedding activity followed that evening. You hadn’t seen Nathan until shortly before you had to leave. His eyes lingered on your flowy sundress a little too long for your liking when he opened the door, but he went for a shower without any word.

The resorts restaurant where Tracy and Cale held their welcome dinner was equally as beautiful as the rest of it. The sun, which was dipping low over the ocean, colored the surroundings in a soft orange glow.

When you stepped into the area reserved for the wedding party you were greeted with people, friends, you hadn’t seen since the hockey season ended for the Avs in mid-May. Susanna Ranta and Mel Landeskog immediately embraced you with hugs and how are you´s before pulling you a chair on their table.

Mikko and Gabe acknowledged you with soft smiles but no words. Their two girls the ones you had been closest with while being in the wag circle of the Colorado Avalanche, you considered them more than acquaintances but since they´re still Nathans friends, they´re not yours.

----------------------

He entered the patio with the confidence that surrounded him wherever he went. He was walking like he owned the place, his light summer pants rustling with the steps he was taking. The navy shirt matched them perfectly.

You always appreciated his ability to style himself. It had always been easy to match if needed.

His large strides led him to your table, Mikko and Gabe obviously being the guys he wanted to sit with.

His eyes roamed, once again lingering on your frame for longer than a normal glance should be. Goosebumps formed at the back of your neck when his piercing blue eyes met yours for a brief second, before he looked away again and pulled out the chair across from you.

The energy around the table shifted as he sat down. The air was heavier than before. Everyone obviously knowing your history. No one knowing how they should react. Susanna asking if you had a good trip here broke the silence a short while after. Following that the guys broke into their own conversation.

You didn’t miss how Nathan´s eyes flicked to you occasionally. Lingering. Almost longing.

You ignored it, rather falling into comfortable conversation with Mel and Susanna about the summer. They painted beautiful pictures about the home countries of their partners. Sweden and Finland always having been countries you wanted to visit.

Gabe and Mikko clinked themselves in when they picked up on the topic, raving about how you really needed to visit and how you could stay at their places no questions asked. Many polite smiles and nods were shared. You knew you didn’t belong into their circle anymore, but they still felt like the friends you were when you and Nathan were together.

--------------

The itinerary told you tomorrow would be a relaxing day with different activities planned. You talked with Mel and Susanna about joining Tracy and some of her friends at the beach and later at the resorts spa. You had seen the place when you walked here. The epitome of luxury combined with calm, and relaxation immediately drew you in. A massage truly was what you needed after the past weeks.

When you returned to the room after taking a walk along the beach. Nathan was already there. You were faced with his muscular back as you walked through the door.

He was hunched over his suitcase, looking for something. His back muscled moved as he searched, his big biceps, which hiding behind used to be your save space somehow seemed even bigger than before.

The memories of being snuggled up against his side on the couch, his arms wrapped around you, keeping you save, flooded your mind. You blinked rapidly to wash them away before making yourself known.

“Do you still need the bathroom?” He flinched, apparently, he hadn’t heard you come in. The air shifted when he stood. The space suddenly feeling incredibly small.

“No, all finished. You can take the bed too, I´ll take the couch.” You took at the uncomfortable looking piece of furniture. It was small, there was no way it could hold all six feet of him. He probably would have to tuck in his legs to fit.

“I can´t let you do that. Your back will kill you tomorrow.” His eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t reply. “How else would we solve this?”

“Let´s just sleep in the bed. We´re both adults, Nathan, we can handle sleeping side by side. We did it for years.” He brushed his hand through his already tussled hair and sighed. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“It´s fine. Let´s just go to sleep and get this over with as quickly as possible.” You could see that he swallowed hard. But he didn’t say anything this time either, just gave you a single nod before going back to searching in his suitcase.

You didn’t bother making any more conversation, leaving for the bathroom instead, where you took a long shower, delaying the return to the bedroom where he undoubtedly would already be asleep or still scroll through his phone.

You took your time brushing your teeth, going through all the steps in your skin care routine, spending extra time on massaging the creams in just to spend more time away from him.

After, you scrolled through your phone for another five minutes but when tiredness took over your vision and you were ready to go to sleep you mustered up the courage to go outside again. The doors to the balcony were still open, the soft sounds of waves crashing to the shore mixing with unfamiliar animal sounds. It gave you a sense of peace, the bustling atmosphere of Denver usually not holding this sense of calm.

You paused for a second, watching, breathing in the salty air that filled the room, before closing the door. The absence of the nature sounds casting it in silence.

No sounds were coming from the bedroom either but when you entered Nathan was still awake, typing on his phone.

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes found and roamed your body as soon as he spotted you. They followed you as you walked only looking away when you sat down on the other side of the bed. You didn’t miss how he settled on his usual side. The side he had taken in your shared home as well.

You weren’t sure if it was out of habit or because he knew that you preferred to sleep on the side facing the window and you shouldn’t be touched by the gesture. But you were.

--------------

When you woke up the next morning something heavy was draped around your waist and your back was unusually warm. Yes, you were still in Mexico, but this was not the heat from the sun already burning down outside.

Your mind didn’t process, just took in the warmth and went back to sleep. Not for long until you realized who exactly was giving you this warmth. Turning around quickly but carefully you were faced with a sleeping Nathan. His arm still wrapped around you as his chest rose and fell slowly, steadily.

Being close to him again was familiar, comfortable even, his body one you fell asleep next to for a long time. But when your brain caught up with the situation you scrambled away from him which woke him up, blinking heavily to get rid of the sleep in his eyes.

When he grasped what had happened, he ran his hand over his face and sighed loudly. “I´m sorry.” He broke the silence, his voice still heavy with sleep. “Force of habit, probably,” he continued.

You knew you should call him out on it, tell him it cannot happen again. But you couldn’t say the words. So, you just glared at him, and he glared back at you. Until he ripped his glance away and got up, almost running out of the bedroom, fleeing an uncomfortable situation.

You let him. It was for the better.

---------

After breakfast you met up with some of the girls to go to the spa. The group enjoying almost the whole day getting pampered. You had never felt so relaxed. The situation with Nathan this morning being pushed out of your mind as soon as the misuse started rubbing your back, easing you of the tension that had followed you since you had left Nathan back in Halifax.

Chatter follower as your group made their way to the pool early afternoon. You would meet with the girls respective partners for a late lunch. Everyone being paired up again as soon as you arrived stung a little more than you expected. This should’ve been you and Nathan as well.

Said man was leaning against a chair a few steps away from his friends and their partners. He looked as misplaced as you felt.

Mel shot you raised eyebrows as you kept looking in his direction. Taking in the body you were once completely familiar with. The subtle shake of your head made her look away again.

Thoughts filled your mind. Thoughts about the vacations you and Nathan had taken. Last year’s off-season, when you spent the summer at his house in Halifax. He was walking around shirtless most of the day when you were at home because the heat was unbearable. As little clothing as possible was the only option.

The number of times this had ended with him dragging you inside, taking off the little clothing you had left and worshipping you until the both of you passed out, were uncountable. The best summer of your life, you had described it to the other girls when the both of you returned to Denver in early September.

“You´re starring.” The voice right next to your ear snapped you out of the memory. Gabriel Landeskog was standing there, shooting you a shit eating grin while wiggling his eyebrows into his friends direction.

You swatted at his chest and laughed. “I was not starring.” Both of you knew it was a lie, but he let it slip. “He was starring too, he´s just better at covering it up.” Gabe´s confession made you heart beat faster. You took a second to take in a deep breath. The sun suddenly feeling way to hot on your skin. The closeness to Gabe suddenly being too much for you.

“I´m going to get another drink,” you mumbled, hoping he heard it, before you almost sprinted away. The floor burning the bottoms of your feet as you walked. You ignored it, just wanting to get away from the situation. He was starring too. Gabe´s words echoed through your head.

But you reminded yourself that you couldn’t go down this road.

----------

In the early evening the whole group met up at one of the resorts bars that had been reserved for the night. You didn’t return to the group after Gabe had stated the obvious to you earlier. You didn’t see Nathan prior to the party either.

You knew he had been in the room when you retuned from another walk on the beach. His swimming trunks were drying on the balcony and a pair of his sneakers were missing. You didn’t question where he went, it wasn’t your problem anymore. As much as the past two days had given you a familiar feeling with a hint of habit.

-----

Arriving at the party Tracy handed you a colorful looking drink which you immediately took a big sip out of. She didn’t question where you went that afternoon, just shot you a knowing look and nodded to the back of the terrace where Cale was surrounded by his teammates, Nathan included.

You ex-boyfriends eyes found yours as soon as you stepped further into the space. The neon lights reflecting, giving them a slight sparkle. He was sipping from a bottle of beer as he more or less listened to Miles Wood telling a story.

Your glance was looked on his for a while. It was like this was a game. Whoever looked away first lost.

It was him who broke away, when Cale wrapped his arm around his shoulders. Looking like he had already some beers in his system, rocking back and forth, clinging to his friend for support.

The warmth that fled through you as you kept looking at him was familiar. It felt like every other party you had attended together. Him wandering off to chat with people, but always keeping an eye on you, always making sure you´re okay and had everything you needed.

Maybe it was a force of habit, like the cuddling this morning.

“You and Nate seem awfully like you used to.” Mel said next to you, making you jump. “It´s nothing.” She shook her head laughing. “Sure, nothing, just like it was nothing when you ran away this afternoon after my husband told you that he´s been behaving just like you.” She took another sip of her drink, and you followed suit, avoiding having to answer immediately.

“It´s nothing, Mel. We used to be together, we´ve only been split up for a few weeks. Old habits die hard.” The blonde raised her eyebrows. “Sure, keep telling yourself that you and he are not shooting longing glances at each other all day.” With a wave of her hand, she left again, disappearing as quietly as she had shown up at your side.

-----------

Hours into the party the music was drumming in your ears, louder than it probably was. You were a few cocktails deep into the night and the soft buzz had made itself known as you almost stumbled into a waiter who was trying to deliver another load of beers to the group of Avalanche players sitting around one of the few tables that were placed around the open space.

You were desperate to sit down at one. Your feet burning from the heels you had been wearing all night, but every chair was occupied. So, you opted to lean against the fence that split the bar area from the rest of the restaurant it belonged too.

The sun was low on the horizon, telling you it was not that late, yet people were leaving, the early starting hour of the party something no one was really used to but most of them appreciated since tomorrow the wedding activities would resume with the rehearsal dinner as well as final preparations for the big day two days from now.

Tracy and Cale had been the perfect example of a couple heavily in love, preparing for the best day of their lives. When slower songs were played the couples gathered on the makeshift dance floor and danced, clinging to each other. This should have been you as well. You should be out there with Nathan.

The more you thought about the man, the more it stung and that odd feeling of longing and missing something you once had crept its way into your mind. When Nathan took one of Tracy´s friends for a spin jealousy was probably written all over your face. You tried to hide it but old feelings that you should’ve buried deep inside you bubbled up again, telling you that you maybe weren’t as over your ex as you thought you were.

---------

When a thunderstorm made its way upon the resort everybody retreated to their rooms. The silent bolts of lightning followed by the blaring rumble of thunder let shudders move all over your body. You had never been a big fan of thunderstorms. Sleep being impossible most nights they occurred.

Whenever he was home Nathan had held you. Rubbing soothing circles on your back until you fell asleep and he knew you were safely tucked in his embrace. There was nothing more you wanted to do right now than to experience this again.

Maybe it was the alcohol or the protected feeling he always gave you as soon as you were pulled against his chest but the thought of not having it today made you let out a quiet sob. Emotions crashing down on you heavy.

There was so much that was better when Nathan was in your life. Being with him but not actually being with him had shown you how much your lives had been intervened when you were together.

The silence of the room did not help the sadness that was suddenly overwhelming you. Lightning casting the space in a bright flash every other minute followed by the walls almost shaking from the thunder and the thoughts of the past made the tears fall quicker than you imagined.

You tried to take deep breaths. Grounding yourself by lying flat on the bed trying to calm down. When it didn’t work you curled yourself into a ball and let the tears fall. Stopping them would be more exhausting than just letting them out anyways.

You weren’t sure when the door opened but at one point Nathan returned from wherever he went when the party started to clear out. The feeling of not being alone anymore something that calmed your heartbeat like it knew that the man on the other side of the door would slip into bed momentarily providing the comfort you so desperately craved.

Only this time you would get it. He would turn around, facing the door, maybe scroll through his phone for a few more minutes before he would close his eyes and sleep. All that without acknowledging the stare you were currently in.

Your heart wrenched at the thought. Another sob leaving your mouth, the sound probably louder than you wanted it to be.

With the sheets pulled up higher, hoping the fabric would absorb some of your heartbreaking cries you turned around and faced the window again. Lightning still flashing outside, rain heavy and loud against the glass.

The darkness was heavy too. Like it was hiding secrets you never wanted to come into the light. Specifically, the thoughts about how much you missed being around Nathan.

He came into the bedroom at one point, using his phone screen as a flashlight. Your shoulders were still shaking. He can´t see this, you thought, quietly pulling the sheets even higher to try and hide not only from him but from the world.

When a strong arm wrapped around your waist moments later you flinched harder than you probably should have. The warmth of his body a strong contrast to the cool room. “Shhhh. It´s okay. I´ve got you.” He mumbled into your hair, softly brushing some of it out of your face. You were stunned by the tender action. This being the last thing you expected him to do.

He pulled you into his chest and interlinked his fingers with yours. The familiarity of his hand in yours something that calmed you down in an instant. There were many questions in the air but there was no time for them right now. That was a conversation for the next morning.

As he kept rubbing soft circles over your back, whispering soft nothings in your ear, you finally drifted off to a light sleep.

At this point just glad he was there for you, like the last time there was a thunderstorm. Little did he know, he was part of the thunderstorm that was brewing inside you.

-------

Waking up in Nathans arms the next morning felt less uncomfortable than it was the morning prior. His massive arms were still wrapped around you, your head resting on his chest, while his legs were tangled with yours.

When you looked up at him, he was already looking down at you. His eyes soft, roaming over your face, a small smile spread across his lips. Everything about this moment felt like before. Like the breakup had never happened and you were here at the wedding happy and still very much in love.

Were you still in love?

“Morning,” Nathan mumbled. “Hey,” you whispered back. His grip immediately loosened around your waist. Like reflex you pushed yourself further into his chest until he wrapped them around you again.

If this was the last opportunity you had of being close to him before everything would go back to how it was yesterday you would take it. Regret be damned.

Silence spread through the room again. The sun casting it in a soft glow. The chaos from last night almost forgotten.

You weren’t sure how long you just held each other. Both taking in the comfort the other person brought, maybe for the last time.

You felt him move and even though your eyes were closed you knew he leaned his head down again when he placed a kiss, nothing more than a light brush, to the top of your head.

The tender action made you whimper into the fabric of his shirt.

When he placed a hand on your cheek and made you look at his again it was filled with so many emotions at once. Longing. Regret. Love.

His eyes started to flicker between your eyes and your lips. Your thoughts racing a mile an hour trying to figure out what his next move would be.

On the one hand you desperately wanted him to lean down and kiss you. Feel his soft lips against yours again after weeks of being deprived of them. On the other hand, this would complicate things so much. What would happen if you went down that road again? What would you want to happen?

Before you could overthink too much Nathan took the decision from you and leaned down to connect your lips. For a second at first, like he was trying to see what your reaction would be. When you did nothing but look up at him with pleading eyes he leaned back down, the kiss much more heated this time.

It felt like he was pouring every emotion he had into this kiss. Everything he didn’t say, everything he wanted to say but maybe was too afraid to.

You interlaced your arms behind his neck and pulled him closer into the kiss, equally trying to pour as many emotions into it.

You didn’t know how long you made out like that but at one point he started to slowly move his hands to the hem of your shirt and that’s when you pulled back. “Nate,” you whispered out of breath. Your lips were swollen from the minutes they had been on his.

He immediately pulled his hand back. “Sorry.” He rushed to get up, so fast he got tangled up with the sheets, almost planting onto the floor face first. “God,” he said, smashing his hand against the nearest wall when he stood solid again.

You were surprised at his sudden outburst. “Sorry, I´m…. shit… I´m sorry. I shouldn’t have.” Words failed him as he kept brushing his hand through his hair and over his face.

“Nate,” you said, quietly at first, but when it gained no reaction from the man across from you, you repeated yourself louder. “Nate!” His eyes snapped back to you, and he stopped in his motions.

“Will you calm down, please,” you plead. His eyes seemed darker in the morning light, but they were still equally as piercing when they starred directly at you. “Why are you sorry?” The question left your mouth before you could think about it.

“I… We broke up. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, we´re here to celebrate our friends.”

You leaned your head back against the headboard and starred at the ceiling. “Don’t be. It´s not like you forced me into this.” From the corner of you eye you saw his posture relax at your words. “Still, we´re her for four more days. I don’t want you to not be able to look me in the eyes at breakfast later.”

When you got up and walked over to him you did the least rational thing you probably should have done in this situation. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss.

He placed his hands on your back and pulled you flush against his chest, deepening the kiss immediately.

When you wrangled yourself out of his hold another few minutes later, he eyed you curiously. “See, now we´re equal,” you whispered against his lips before pressing one last kiss to them and rushing out to the bathroom.

------------------

When you arrived at breakfast Nate was already sitting at a table with the Landeskog´s, Miles Wood and Ross Colton. Everyone greeted you with a warm “good morning,” before you sat down at the only empty chair. Obviously, it was next to him.

“Do you have any plans until the rehearsal dinner?” Miles asked mid chew which made you chuckle. “Nothing exciting.” Was the collective response.

You didn’t miss how Nate kept eying you from his seat. The kisses had not left your head ever since you had stormed out of the bedroom and locked yourself in the bathroom under the disguise of getting ready for breakfast.

How soft his lips felt against yours, how perfect you still melted together was all you could think about when you looked at the man sitting next to you.

“What´s up with you two?” Ross called out after he apparently observed your subtle non interactions for a few minutes. “Nothing,” Nate replied too quickly which earned him a round of raised eyebrows.

You tried to look anywhere but into Nate´s general direction. When your eyes met Gabe´s across from you his face held a knowing smile, but he promised you with a subtle nod that he wouldn’t say anything until the two of you said something first.

You appreciated that, there was nothing to tell anyways.

The rest of the day was spent tanning at the beach. You finally took the chance to continue to read you book while the other girls had another day at the spa and Tracy was running around with her wedding planner for last minute preparations for the big day tomorrow.

The guys followed your idea and set up a game of volleyball at the beach. Every now and then you ogled the group, they´re hot athletes, there was nothing wrong with that.

Nate´s eyes caught you starring more than once and he shook his head with laughter before pushing his sunglasses into his hair and shooting you a wink.

It was a simple gesture that shouldn’t make butterflies flip in your stomach. The kiss from the morning once again playing on repeat in your head and you wanted to do nothing more than to walk over to the group and beg Nate to give you another.

“What are you daydreaming about?” Tracy´s voice almost made you jump out of your chair. “Nothing really. Just thinking.” You put the bookmark back into the book and put your whole attention to your friend. The subtle voices of the guys faded into the background and started to mix with the waves crashing down on the shore. You tried to focus on that instead of giving away what you and your ex-boyfriend had been doing just hours prior.

“Just eye-fucking the ex-boyfriend, what´s the big deal really, right?” Your eyes shot up and you starred at her like she just caught your red-handed. “I knew it,” she almost shouted. “You still have feelings for him. Shit, I owe Gabe 50 dollars.”

Your brows furrowed. “You and Gabe placed a bet on me still having feelings for Nate?” She grinned. “I´m sorry?” It was more a question than a real apology. “You two were so good together, we were just rooting for you.”

“We were for a while, then we weren’t anymore.”

She placed a comforting hand on your arm. “You both looked out of it at breakfast this morning, what happened?”

“Nothing really,” you paused, considering your next words carefully. “He comforted me last night when the storm happened.” She placed her sunglasses on her head, eying you suspiciously. When she didn’t say anything, you hoped that she believed you.

It wasn’t a complete lie. You just left out that after that the two of you made out in the morning, twice.

“I have to get back to the venue. If there´s anything you want to talk about you know I´m always here for you, right?” Your arms wrapped around her before she could finish speaking. “Of course.”

She smiled when you let go of her again. “Keep ogling your ex, Cale told me Gabe told him he likes it.” With that she got up and left you alone again.

------

For the first time on the trip Nate and you walked to the room together after the afternoon spend on the beach. You didn’t speak much, your actions from the morning and a conversation that should be held still looming over you.

At the same time you still felt the overwhelming urge to it again. To do more.

“You can go shower first if you want to.” Nate mumbled as he pulled out his phone, seeming like he suddenly had really important notifications. “Yeah, sure.” The tension surrounding the interaction wasn’t lost on you. But neither of you acted on it.

You grabbed your clothes for the rehearsal dinner out of the bedroom and locked yourself in the bathroom once again while he did god knows what.

The hot water of the shower did nothing to clear your head. You were spiraling. On the one side you wanted to act on the tension, on the other hand you didn’t want to go down that road again. There was a reason you and Nate broke up. There was no way it would work a second time…. Right?

-----

The rehearsal dinner went without any specific happenings. You and Nate arrived together, which raised the eyebrows of some people, but you shrugged it off.

When the group made their way over to yet another bar for one drink before everyone would go back to their rooms early in the light of the day tomorrow you walked close to him. His hand brushing yours every now and then, sending shivers down your spine as you continued to try to ignore the feelings that were coming back to you.

The wind picked up as you sat on the open balcony built directly over the ocean. You rubbed your shoulders trying to warm up a little in your thinly strapped dress. It had been an immediate yes, when you saw you had packed it and Nate´s reaction was worth freezing now.

“Here.” A blazer was draped over your shoulders. The navy color something you immediately recognized. Your “Thanks,” a mumble at best but you slipped into the fabric and let the warmth engulf you. It smelled like Nate´s signature aftershave. The mix of wood and cinnamon something that felt like home to you, even after being apart for a while.

Tracy raised her eyebrows and wiggled her fingers between you and Nate when she spotted you wearing it, but you just waved it off. “Nothing,” you mouthed.

The look on her face told you that she didn’t believe you at all, but she turned back to the conversation she had prior leaving you and the man next to you alone.

-----

The group exchanged goodbyes and see you tomorrows soon after. You and Nate walked back to the room together, the tension that had built between the two of you so thick it could’ve been cut with a knife.

You didn’t say anything, just followed him into the room quietly when he unlocked the door with the key, he fished out of the pocket of the blazer you were still wearing. Even engulfed by the warmth you shivered at the look Nate was giving you as he subtly touched your arm to steady himself while searching in the pocket. A look full of lust but mixed uncertainty, as if he was debating if he should act on it.

He brushed his hand over your arm he was still holding, unintentionally it seemed, innocent almost but his eyes didn’t lie. He wanted you, and he wanted you now but there still was this hint of almost insecurity in his eyes.

Neither of you spoke as he closed the door, placing the key and his phone on the shelf next to it. You shrugged off his blazer and let it fall to the floor with a soft thud. His eyes snapped back to yours, roaming over your body.

The moment you enter the bedroom, he had enough and decided to act on what had been lingering in the air the entire day. He pressed you up against the wall next to the door, the one where he stood just this morning.

His lips were on yours, just for a second, before he traced the column of your throat. You turn your face to the side and see the cheeky grin on his face.

“See, I don’t know if you´re still mad at me for how things ended between us.” He pulled your chin up, having you meet his gaze before pressing his lips to the corner of your mouth. “But if you are, forget it, I’ve been thinking about this for the entire night and I know you have too.”

And then his lips were on yours again. His tongue swept into your mouth and danced with yours. The woody scent that weavers around him fills your nose. His kiss was demanding, claiming and deliciously slow, as his fingers laced with yours at your side, pinning you deeper into the wall with his hips.

You could feel him hard already through his pants. He parts your legs with his knee and trails his finger down your cheek to your jaw, under the curve of your ear.

“I thought about this since this morning actually.” He pulled your dress down to expose more of your chest. A low groan escaping his lips before he carefully bites into your shoulder, releasing it as he moved on to your collarbone.

The dress hit the cold floor of the room as he pushed the straps down your shoulders, his fingers finding your pearled nipples effortlessly through the lace of your strapless bra.

“I thought about it all through dinner too. Do you know how hard it was for me to not drag you out of your chair and back to this room?” His voice was gravel in your ears as heat pools into your panties.

You whine against him, inch yourself closer to him. He pinches your nipple. Hard. Before reaching down, cupping your pussy, pressing the heel of his palm into your clit. All you could do was whimper.

You were in sensory overdrive because his other hand was still working slow on one of your nipples.

He looked up and let his eyes rake over every inch of your body, standing before him just in your bra, panties and heels you matched the dress with.

“This might be the hottest thing I´ve ever seen,” he growls as he stands, grabbing your arms, pulling you back onto the bed.

You moan. His lips meet your shoulder blade as you pant. Taking the few seconds, he took to undress himself. You need him to touch you. Somewhere. Anywhere.

His fingers trail under the back of your thong, sliding downward to your ass as he grips you tight with his other hand. A low grumble rumbles through him as you arch your back at the move.

“Fuck, yes.” You breathe out. “What do you want, sweetheart?” The man in front of you far from the man you were met with this morning. This version of Nate one you had only seen in the bedroom after particularly rough games, when he desperately needed to take out all the buildup tension.

Those nights were some of the bests of your life.

“Answer me,” he growled against your ear as he kept trailing your body with his hands but not acting on anything just yet.

Another moan left your mouth as he trailed over the one particular spot, he knew all too well.

“Fuck me, Nathan,” you breathed, seconds before pleasure was taking over your entire body.

--------

Waking up the third morning in paradise felt different than the other two. You woke up in Nates arms, just like you did the other days but this time there was this funny feeling in your stomach.

Warmth and butterflies mixed with that delicious burn from the actions of last night between your legs. The sun was already peeking through the curtains, but you knew that it was still very early.

The wedding would be until midday so there was no rush in getting up and getting ready, especially since neither you nor Nate were in the wedding party. So, you snuggled back into his embrace, his arms immediately tightening around you as he grumbled.

“Good morning,” he whispered and placed a soft kiss to your head. “Morning,” you mumbled back, pressing yourself even closer to him.

Neither of you said anything but soft touches and kisses that were exchanged spoke for you. He connected your lips softly on multiple occasions and followed it up by trying to remove even more space between your bodies.

“How are you feeling?” The question was heavier than expected. How were you feeling?

For one you were feeling good, happy to be in this place again, like you had returned to a place you hadn’t been at in a while but loved endlessly. At the same time, you were feeling conflicted. What would all of this mean for you and Nate?

How would this continue when you returned to Denver? When he got back to Halifax? Would this continue? Was this just a vacation fling, a way to close this chapter of your lives?

Looking up into Nate´s warm eyes, that softened at the attention you were giving him again, you let out a heavy breath.

“I don’t know, Nate,” you paused. “Conflicted, maybe? But also, happy.” A soft smile spread on his lips. “No regrets?” Your eyebrows shot up. “No, no regrets.” He leaned down again and captured your lips with his.

After you made out for another few minutes you looked at each other again. Questions lingered in the air. Unspoken confessions and feelings. The only thing you were sure off was that you were happy. Happier with him than you were without him.  

You missed him. Every day since you broke up. You didn’t realize it before. Not when you saw him again the first day you came into the room. Not the first time you kissed post breakup and not last night.

Looking back at the weeks that had passed since that morning in Halifax you suddenly noticed subtle details that were related to missing him.

How he always opened doors for you. How he put your coffee in the fridge before he left for practice or morning skate so it would be cold when you woke up. How your car was never low on gas.

Things you didn’t really think about until now.

“What´s on your mind?” Another heavy hitting question.

“What does this mean for us, Nate?”

Silence.

“What do you want it to mean?” An unexpected question, that at the same time was giving you the feeling he had already made up his mind.

“I don’t know. I need to think about it.” Silence, which he met with silence. Only for a while before he spoke again.

“How about we just get through this day, celebrating our friends and we figure everything out tomorrow?” You nodded. That gave you time to think. To bring your thoughts and feelings in order and to figure out if you wanted to do this again.

“Yeah. Good idea.”

---------

The wedding passed in a blur. Tracy was the most beautiful bride you had ever seen and when Cale shed a tear seeing her walking down the aisle you couldn’t hold yours back either.

Nate, sitting beside you, which obviously raised eyebrows with his teammates and their partners, grabbed your hand rubbing soothing circles to the back of it as you watched your friends exchange their vows.

The reception dinner was delicious, followed by speeches that had you holding your belly laughing, which probably was a side effect of the multiple glasses of champagne you indulged in as the hours passed.

Nate rarely left your side. Once to chat with his teammates, more often to supply you with more drinks or a snack from the massive display of sweets, desserts and fruit the Makar´s put up.

It was almost like before. The routine something you grew familiar with and missed. His protective eyes something you craved. But you still hadn’t made up your mind.

There were pros and cons to getting back together with him. You were weighing them all day.

Sometimes the pros won, sometimes the cons did but you weren’t closer to a conclusion either way.

The dance floor opened shortly after the cake was cut. Everyone was jumping around, screaming, celebrating, having a good time. You were surrounded by your friends, having a blast. Experiencing joy you haven’t felt in a while.

When the newlyweds came together for their first dance and invited everyone to join them you stepped to the side as everyone coupled with their respective partners.

You watched everyone for a bit before a familiar hand was held in front of you. “Dance with me?” “With you? Always.”

With a smile he led you out to the others. As you wrapped your arms around his neck he placed his on your waist.

The both of you swayed in silence for a few seconds. Enjoying yet another intimate moment.

“Come to Halifax with me,” he whispered. “Let´s figure this out. I know we can.”

Goosebumps. Confirmation that he had really already had made up his mind in the morning.

The world around you slowed down when you looked him into the eyes. The other wedding guests that were still mingling around you blurring into the background, their voices quieting.

“What?” your breath hitched. Nate´s touch burning at your wrist sending splashes of memories through your mind. How he held you for the first time. How he had wrapped his arms around you after winning the Stanley Cup. How you held him after he lost in the playoffs earlier in the year.

“After this, come back with me, like you were supposed to. Let´s try again. I love you. I never stopped. Do you have any idea how much I wished to take my actions back? To follow you to the airport and apologize?”

“I waited for you. Before security.” A subtle change in his hold which felt like a bigger than it was. “I wished for nothing more than for you to come and try to save us.”

He stopped swaying and placed his hands on your cheeks, making you look him directly into the eyes. His stern determined look burning into your memory.

“We both needed this time to realize some things, we know this. It was the right thing to do at the time. But we realized this is not how it was supposed to end.”

“Nate…” the words came out quieter than you expected. You weren’t even sure he heard them.

“I already told you I still love you. Please, let´s go back to us,” he plead, grabbing your hands, squeezing them.

A smile spread across your face. All the worry, all the doubts that had crept into your head disappearing the more he said. You looked up at him with light in your eyes.

“We need to talk this out, Nate. Not here, but when were back in Nova Scotia. There is still a reason why we broke up.” But based on the look on his face he didn’t listen to a word you said after you said, “when were back in Nova Scotia”.

“Thank you. For giving me another chance. I promise you I won´t waste it,” he said before dipping you back and kissing your right there in the middle of the dance floor of your friends wedding reception, clapping and whooping from your friends in the background.