#protector of childhood dreams

[dkniade]

Childe’s Story Quest: theme, storytelling, form follows function

Content Warning: self-destructive behaviour, mentions freezing and mutilation

Spoilers for the entire quest.

—

Showing both Teucer’s and Tartaglia’s perspectives throughout the quest sure reveals more about Tartaglia.

The quest on so many levels conveys its theme: the divided perspectives between a naive childhood lens and a disillusioned (??) adult lens.

One is unknowingly caught in a wonderful yet deceiving story (the tone and form), the other sees reality for what it is but tries to maintain innocent childhood dreams with these stories (the content and meaning).

Tartaglia was once the former, and is now the latter.

—

For example during the hide and seek cutscene, the tone set by the soundtrack “Foul Legacy” and the flashy cinematography & visual effects is very adventurous (in an anime way).

This is how Teucer views Tartaglia. (Teucer literally shuts his eyes and thinks it’s all a game.)

But the reality of the situation is shown moments before, where we see Tartaglia looking all soft and mortal against the dangerous Ruin Guards right behind him. Like, if you didn’t know what the game is, you’d think this is a moment of dramatic irony where the boy is gonna die because he doesn’t seem to notice the big scary automaton right behind him.

And it’s not that he’s weak in general, but in this specific moment he just defeated a few dangerous automatons, and he’s about to use his physically draining technique to fight off even more of them under the limit of ten seconds—all for the sake of protecting his kid brother’s innocent dream.

—

But really, this divide between childhood and adulthood is shown straight from the beginning. And I think the whole quest could be summed up with that nursery rhyme:

拉钩拉钩不许变，变了丢他去冰川。冰川冷，雪原寒，撒谎的舌头都冻烂！

The Chinese rhyme scheme is ABCBB.

Literally speaking it’s

Pinkie promise, pinkie promise, [you’re] not allowed to change [it], change [it and we] throw him [onto] the glacier. The glacier [is] cold, the snowfield [is] cold, lying tongues all freeze [and] rot!

(Note that 丢 is a verb that could either mean to throw away or abandon [something physical or abstract]. The syntax here is a bit odd because it’s a nursery rhyme. 丢他去冰川 doesn’t have a preposition so I’m not sure if it’d be “throw him onto the glacier” or “throw him into the glacier’s river”. Also, 冷 and 寒 are two different adjectives that both mean cold, essentially.)

But if I try to rhyme it with a bit of rhythm then it could be something like

Pinkie promise, pinkie promise, you’re not allowed to change it. He who goes back on his words gets thrown onto the glacier. The glacier’s cold, and so’s the snow. The tongues that lie shall freeze and rot.

English dub equivalent:

You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life. You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice. The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.

Rhythmically and tonally it sounds like a fun and naive nursery rhyme (emphasized when the innocent Teucer first says it at the start)—but the content is about the fatal consequence of breaking a promise… especially as a Snezhnayan (emphasized when the traveler and Tartaglia repeat at the end after the near fatal situation in the factory).

Ohh, so a character’s theme could also be done this way.

—

In hindsight as I was explaining how 丢 could refer to throwing away something physical (e.g. an object) or abstract (e.g. dreams), the person in the nursery rhyme could easily be a stand-in for childhood dreams, huh…

A childhood dream that promises to never change, but ends up changing anyway, so it gets abandoned at the glacier and is left to freeze…

拉钩拉钩不许变，变了丢他去冰川。冰川冷，雪原寒，撒谎的舌头都冻烂！

As Paimon says, “Wow... That one nursery rhyme kinda says all you need to know about Snezhnayan culture…”

Miscellaneous first reactions of third act

Teucer takes the path straight into the factory but the door immediately closes, so Childe is forced to enter from the side with a more difficult path

What goes into a world of danger and unknowingly get trapped? What has to use more lopsided methods to sneak in just to protect… Teucer symbolizes childhood innocence, and Childe is adulthood?

Hm, that overhead shot of tiny Teucer running into the factory with Childe and Traveler watching from higher grounds behind bars— It’s like Childe watching his younger self… rushing into the forest and into the abyss? Oh, and consistently Childe is forced to take the dangerous route and face all the difficulties while being unable to reach Teucer.

aw…

Paimon and the traveller witnessing Childe’s moment of vulnerability yet still needing to keep up the toysalesman illusion to Teucer in the domain is…

(Actually, this feels similar to Thelxie’s Fantastic Adventure where Zuria is optimistic about the plan and Freminet later pulls the two aside to tell them the truth about the condition)

Well, both have the theme of keeping up childhood dreams with stories don’t they

Wanting to keep up the illusion longer and not wanting to let Teucer see his weak side of him, huh…

Yet still wanting to fight the traveler in the future despite still recovering from a serious injury. What kind of self-destructive tendency is this

Ah, the idea of meeting Childe in his home turf is interesting considering Snezhnaya is so far from Liyue

It’s all so sad. Why does he trust the traveler this much even though they’re on opposite sides and fought in the Liyue archon quest not long ago

[tetsuskei]

i contemplate if childe has a bad relationship with his older siblings and parents or if he just focuses so much on his younger siblings to give them the life that he didn’t have when he was younger. or maybe it could be a mixture of both.

[nagipeko]

strokes my chin thoughtfully. there is some kind of diagram to be made between nahida yoimiya childe.

[casketears]

thinking fondly again of my unfinished omori au fic where mari has just died, and aubrey has been so thoroughly ditched by kel and hero, and sunny hasn't left his house in weeks, and aubrey (because naturally it all comes back to aubrey) is just so angry all the time but she doesn't know where to put it, so she tries to distract herself; make things normal again by going over to basil's house at least, but even that doesn't work because the fucking freak has scribbled over all of their shared memories. and she's so angry, and she's so hurt, and basil doesn't even have an explanation- he's just staring at her helplessly, like it's not even his fault when they both know it is, and she's just so fucking angry, and without even knowing it she's reeling her fist back and - yeah. she makes contact. and basil's nose is broken, probably, and there's thick blood pouring out of it, but when he turns his head again to face her it's not to match the stunned horror that she herself feels. it's to let her do it again. and anyway this au is called 'aubrey semi privately uses basil as a punching bag to cope, and he is worryingly okay with it', more at 6

[abyssin]

i know i've already briefly talked about childe & love & at some point, i Will need to touch on how his moral compass & violent tendencies work are on the same side of the coin for him but. i just genuinely think that his heart is the most interesting aspect of his character. for someone who bloodlusts so badly that he will hurt someone he considers a friend to better his fighting capabilities, he's also someone who will take a moment to look at his surroundings and. stop. breathe in. and bask in being alive. this is someone who drastically changed in the abyss, who was sent to the military by his father to tame a literal beast, who learned all the ways to savor the fleeting warmth of a dying human body, and yet he loves! to exist! more than a weapon embodied, he is driven by the thrill of being alive.

it just makes me really happy that for someone who could have portrayed as a moral-less, literal war machine who needs to be contained (arguably needs therapy), he's just... a Guy. granted, there's some irony to be found that he's grounded by his loyalty to the tsaritsa (something i will also need to expound on at a later point). but when the tsaritsa's goal is achieved - or not, even - he will find another purpose. that purpose may still involve a way to soothe his need for combat but... he's just in love with the world, with the people in it, with being in the moment. it's so naive and so childlike and so him. i imagine the first time he stepped out of the abyss and back to teyvat, he saw the rising sun as it melted away winter into spring. there's a lot to unpack from here after all he's went through in the abyss, but he was met by that sight and learned from there on that the world is so, so beautiful.

[ahmedmohamedqwaider]

“My Story: A Boy Fighting for His Family”

My name is Ahmed, and I am 15 years old. I never thought I would have to carry the weight of my entire family, but here I am, fighting every day to keep them alive.

We lost my father in the war. He went out one day to find food for us because we were starving. It was dangerous, but he had no choice. He never came back. He was injured and bled to death because there was no one to help him. Our neighbors found his body and buried him because we couldn’t even afford a proper burial. That day, we lost everything—our protector, our provider, and our hope.

Now, it’s up to me. I am the eldest son, and I have to take care of my mother, my twin brother Ahmed Abed, and my two little sisters. Every morning, I go out to find work. I earn barely $1 or $2 a day, which isn’t enough to buy bread for all of us. My brother started working too, but it’s the same for him. We rely on bread and whatever humanitarian aid we can get, but it’s never enough.

Winter is here, and it’s freezing. We don’t have warm clothes, blankets, or even a heater. We lost everything in the war, and the little we have now is falling apart. We live in a rented apartment, and the landlord is pressuring us for rent we can’t pay. I don’t know what will happen to us if he throws us out.

I want my brother to become a doctor. It’s my biggest dream. I want him to help people, to save lives, because no one was there to save our father. I’m ready to sacrifice everything—my childhood, my education, even my life—if it means my family can survive and my brother can have a future.

Please, if you’re reading this, help us. We don’t have much time. My family needs food, warmth, and a safe place to live. I just want to see my mother and sisters smile again, and I want my brother to have a chance to achieve his dream. You can be the reason we survive. You can be the hope we desperately need.

[hanasnx]

“ I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN’ YOU ” — logan howlett.

MINORS DNI 18+ ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ WARNINGS: fem reader ノ age gap ノ established relationship ノ size difference ノ suggestive content ノ sexual content: naughty daydreams about pussy eating, nipple play, and groping; masturbation; voyeurism.

“I’m gonna take care of you.” Those six words—six—have defined your relationship with your husband, LOGAN HOWLETT. There’s a great protector in him, this compulsion to mentor and house within him that stretches far beyond his own needs. You fall within that range, and as soon as you met him you latched onto him. It didn’t take long at all before your imprint was reciprocated. Now he thinks of you first in everything he does.

He may not always look it, but you’re a factor in all his decisions. Settling down, nabbing a good job—one that didn’t ask for his background—was all to put you up in a house in the mountains. Far away from civilization, an ivory tower made up of wood he cut himself, surrounded by acres of nature. He’s always thought of himself a hair on the wild side, somehow you tame that down. It’s good, he tells himself, you and him.

It’s a partnership, and all he wants out of you is your safety. He likes you where he can keep an eye on you, make sure you stay out of trouble, make sure you’re comfortable.

You wish you could explain just why he thinks he has to protect you, why he married you, why he pays all the bills and expects nothing in return. You wish you could explain just why this relationship comprises all facets of a real marriage except for intimacy.

Logan won’t touch you. You’ll eat off each other’s utensils, fall asleep on his chest on the couch watching a movie—hell, he’ll reluctantly incline in your direction with a roll of his eyes to let you peck his cheek good-bye when he leaves for work. Yet, he won’t even kiss you. Even before he married you, there wasn’t so much as a grope or a stray look.

There’s home in Logan. You live to please him. You’ll cook him whatever he wants, keep the house he built for you clean as a whistle, you’ll spend all your free time with him, grab him his nightly beer and light his cigar so he stays content—but you’ve never even seen him naked. You doubt you ever will. Regardless, you stay, you can’t imagine leaving this life, leaving him.

It’s defied your expectations the fairy-tales of your childhood gave you. Your knight in shining armor rescued you, yet refuses to plant even true love’s kiss. When you’d matured, you’d fantasized about an insatiable husband that found you so irresistible he couldn’t keep his hands off you. Logan’s never looked at you that way, even though he calls you his wife without hesitation, married you without a second thought.

“Is it because I’m younger than you? I’m only in my early twenties. That’s not a big deal!” you’ve reasoned with him, but he still treats you like you’re naive. He must want passion, you’re sure of that. Why else are you young and beautiful if not to take advantage of it while you still can? Just once you’d like to see him yearn for you, to show lack of restraint, to come home one day so hungry for you that you don’t make it out of the kitchen.

Those claws… those deadly metal claws… you wish he’d use them in fantastical and deviant ways. Just one would glide through your nighty like sheet paper, bareing you to your husband—a sight for him only. You lie awake next to him at night, envisioning raunchy dreams of him proudly boasting the size difference between you two, demonstrating his sheer raw strength by overpowering you and taking what he wants from you. You’ve run your fingers delicately over his lips and the rough pad of his shaved chin, but you can’t imagine just how good it’d feel against your tit, swirling his hot tongue around your perked nipple while his callused digits pinch the other. You can pretend his head is ducking between your thighs, the sensation of his soft hair tickling your skin and tangling in your fingers as his masculine jaw scratches the fragile tissue of your pussy. As starved as you are, even discomfort like that is enough to make you moan into your palm, only to check over your shoulder to make sure you still hear your husband’s snoring.

You steel yourself at the noise, the low rumbling of his sleep cautions you to stay quiet but to proceed nonetheless. Your hand creeps down your neck, your chest, your stomach… You really should leave the room, but you’d risk waking him up for real at the sound of the door. Instead, you fuck yourself yet again, the soft rocking of the mattress as you hump your own hand filling the ears of your kindhearted husband—who’s been awake this whole time.

[burquillos]

Kacchan, protector of childhood dreams

[nomohmoss]

protectors of childhood dreams

[dyns33]

Symbiosis

I missed Eddie x reader with silly Venom being in the way. Can't wait to see what they'll do in the next movie.

From the beginning of their relationship, Y/N had noticed that there was something different with Eddie.

She might have thought that it was because he was somewhat famous that he behaved eccentrically, sometimes talking to himself and seeming very agitated for no reason.

Without ever really bringing up these oddities, Eddie had been very honest with her about a lot of things. His childhood, his dreams, his ex-girlfriend, the loss of his job before becoming a journalism star again, his little problems with cleanliness.

"I mean, I'm a very clean person… Normally. All the time ! I wash twice a day, I take care of my teeth, I don't like living in filth but... Sometimes I'm not at home for a long time, and I'm totally focused on my job, and the stress… So, if I can seem a little dirty and messy, I'm sorry, I will never ask you to clean up for me and you can tell me that I stink by patting me on the back of the head. Yes, on the back of the head, I deserve it." Eddie muttered at the end of his sentence, looking to the side as if he were talking to someone else.

"I don't think you're dirty. You sweat a little sometimes, but that's natural."

“You’re saying that because you haven’t seen my apartment yet.”

“Does that mean you want to invite me to your apartment ?” Y/N asked, smiling shyly.

"Of course ! No, you don't… Of course, Y/N, I've been wanting to for a long time."

The presence of chickens was a little surprising, and it was true that the apartment was not in very good condition, but it was a bit like her idea of a bachelor pad, and it was quite reassuring to think that Eddie didn't often bring women home.

It meant something important to him, a sign of trust.

But that certainly wasn't the greatest evidence. No, this evidence took a little longer to emerge from the shadows, or from Eddie's shoulder, after a month of relationship.

Precisely the day he couldn't hold back the first "I love you."

The spontaneous, charming statement came in the middle of the small talk, and Y/N felt very happy, ready to respond that she loved him too.

It was then that the thing appeared between them, looking furious, showing its large teeth.

"No ! Eddie, no, you can't do that !"

“Oh, God, what is that ?!”

"Vee ! Vee, you promised me, man ! You're going to scare her ! And you have no right to interfere in my love affairs, go back inside ! Y/N, sorry, I'm really sorry, I’ll explain !”

“I have the right to give my opinion !” the creature replied, turning to Eddie. "You're ashamed of me, of us ! Anne accepted us ! Anne likes us ! If your new little darling doesn't accept us, then she's not good enough !"

“Anne didn’t really have a choice and we weren’t together anymore, stop talking about her all the time !”

After more or less managing to calm down the "non-parasite" that lived inside him, Eddie did his best to calm down Y/N, who was totally freaked out by what had just happened. He explained to her that Venom was an alien, a symbiote, who needed him to survive, who had helped him on numerous occasions, and who was not dangerous.

"I'm very dangerous ! I'm the lethal protector !"

"What does he mean ?"

"Nothing ! Well, he likes to fight crime, he's dangerous to the bad guys. You have absolutely nothing to fear, I promise. I… I'm so sorry."

Eddie then began to sob, despite all the comfort that Vee tried to give him by telling him that only losers cried like children and that he was pathetic to moan like that, putting them to serious shame.

Even though she was still scared, Y/N couldn't help but hug her boyfriend, trying her best not to touch the alien. She repeated to him that everything was fine, that it wasn't his fault, and that even though this situation was strange, she still wanted to be with him.

This seemed to reassure him, and make him very happy.

Unfortunately, there were three of them in this relationship, and Venom clearly didn't want to be with Y/N at all.

It was him that Eddie had been mumbling to since they met, often arguing about her, as the alien kept comparing her to Anne, his ex girlfriend.

Without any sign of lying in his eyes, he promised her that he hadn't been in love with her for a long time. Their breakup had been difficult, but she had found someone very quickly, Dan, a great guy, and they were married now, and Eddie was very happy for them.

Well, that wasn't easy to believe with Venom growling and hitting his host's head at the end of every sentence, insulting Dan and repeating how great Anne was.

But Eddie seemed really honest. He was friends with his ex, nothing more, and he wanted to be with Y/N now, even if his idiot parasite didn't agree.

He wasn't an optimist by nature, too much had happened to him in life for him to believe in miracles, but Eddie wanted to believe that Vee would come to appreciate her.

He was quite confident as Y/N was doing her best with the symbiote, trying to talk to him, offering him chocolate, keeping an open mind. Many people would have fled the moment they saw this thing coming out of his body. It was quite a good sign.

But like a wild animal, Venom refused to be coaxed. He wanted Anne, Anne was perfect. Nothing would change his mind. Nothing.

"He hates me." Y/N whispered sadly, even though she knew it was useless, because Venom was always with Eddie, even when she couldn't see him. None of their conversation was private.

"Hate is a strong word… He's stubborn, he believes he's right. It's not really against you. If I had always been single, I think he would adore you."

Eddie thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to Anne. In a sense he was right, because it was evident that there was no longer any romantic feeling between them, and that she was very much in love with her husband.

But Y/N couldn't help but do like Venom, and compare herself to the other woman. Beautiful, intelligent, great lawyer with a strong character. It seemed natural to fall for her.

If he sensed her discomfort, the journalist said nothing, spending the evening laughing with the other couple only keeping his hand on her shoulder, putting it back each time Venom forced him to take it off. He was kind enough not to ask her what she had thought of Anne, or if she was reassured. Maybe he was afraid of the answer too.

After that, things got a little complicated. Without doing it on purpose, Y/N put some distance between them. To protect herself, because she only thought of one thing.

One day, Eddie was going to listen to Venom. One day, he was going to see that even if he no longer loved Anne, he could find someone better, and he was going to leave her.

Well, the alien still had contradictory messages. If Y/N sucked, Eddie sucked too. A loser. When he wasn't busy asking for food or criticizing the young woman, he was insulting his poor host.

And if she ended up not listening to what he said about her, only caring about her boyfriend's opinion, she didn't like it at all that Venom treated Eddie so badly.

"No." she said one day, sitting on the sofa, while the journalist was still arguing with the alien for some stupid reason, before throwing up his arms and agreeing to go buy chocolate and tatter tots to calm him down.

"…Uh ? Sorry, Y/N, are you talking to me ?"

"You're not going out."

"Uh. I'll just go to Madam Cheng's. It'll only take a few minutes."

"Venom doesn't deserve chocolate. You stay here, watch the movie with me, and if he apologizes, then he gets some sugar."

“How dare you, stupid woman ?!” the symbiote shouted, showing all its teeth to scare her.

But Y/N wasn’t afraid anymore. Even though he was rude and mean, he had promised Eddie that he would never hurt her, and he seemed to be an alien of words. Aside from his screams, he had nothing against her.

“You, how dare you ?!” she replied, jumping off the couch, which seemed to surprise both Eddie and the symbiote. "I don't care what you think or say about me. I understand that you don't like me, that I'm not good enough, and you know what ? I agree ! Eddie deserves better than me. But he deserves better than you too ! You're an asshole to him ! I forbid you from talking to him like that, or breaking his nose, even if you fix him right after ! He's a great host, you should thank him and do everything to make him happy."

It was stupid, but she started crying as she spoke. Emotions tended to make her cry, even anger. At the silence of her boyfriend and her non-parasite, Y/N felt bad.

She then had the stupid instinct to go lock herself in the bathroom, to try to calm down and remember how to breathe.

From the other side of the door, she heard whispers, but was unable to tell what they were saying.

Then Eddie knocked gently, asking if he could come in, or if she would come out.

"… He's going to apologize ?"

"Yes, I promise."

Trying her tears to not give Venom another reason to make fun of her, Y/N opened shyly, not daring to look at her boyfriend right away, and stood stupidly in front of him, waiting.

“Vee…”

“I’m sorry, brave little morsel.”

"Hmm ? Oh. No, I meant an apology for Eddie."

“He already apologized, love.”

"I don't need him to apologize to me. He meant what he said, and like I said… He's not wrong. But it's nice."

"Little morsel…" Venom whispered, moving closer to her and looking almost sad. "I was totally wrong. I see it now. Eddie explained it to me, but I wasn't listening."

With Eddie translating what he said, the alien explained that for his species, symbiosis was important. They could have several hosts, but there was only one perfect symbiosis, just one.

Part of him wanted to keep his host to himself, jealous and possessive, but that wasn't possible, because contrary to what his attitude seemed to show, he cared about Eddie's happiness.

That was why he was so insistent that he return to Anne. Because from the memories he had seen of his relationship, he had seemed to be in perfect symbiosis with Anne, and since there was only perfect symbiosis, then he had to do everything to get her back, even if she was married to stupid Dan.

He didn’t hate Y/N. It really wasn't personal, it was just logic and survival instinct.

What Venom failed to understand was that human relationships weren't like symbiosis. And in the end, if he had to compare the two, it was now obvious that Eddie's perfect match was with Y/N.

Yes, his ex had helped them, and she would help them again if necessary. But so did Y/N, who had accepted Eddie's special situation, who had stayed despite the horrible things Venom had said, who protected her lover and tried to please the alien.

"Babe…" Eddie sighed, taking her hands. “If anyone is too good for anyone else here, it’s you.”

"He's right."

"… Thank you Vee."

"But you always say she's too good for you. Once we agree, you might be happy !"

"Eddie… You're saying that ?"

"Of course. I still don't know how I managed to seduce you, or why you didn't run away when you saw Vee, or what I did to deserve that such a great girl could think that she's in love with a guy like…"

He jumped a little when she kissed him to stop him from saying any more nonsense, but Eddie quickly relaxed, clinging to her, pinning her against the wall to accentuate the kiss.

Right in their ears they could hear Venom purring in pleasure. They didn't mind until he licked their cheeks.

"Vee ! It's disgusting !"

"You're not listening to me ! I'm telling you to get into bed ! You're going to hurt Y/N if you stay here. A Lady should be caught in satin sheets, surrounded by rose petals, after foreplay of at least twenty minutes, and satisfied several times."

"… What ?!"

"I really like this idea. Eddie, where are my rose petals and at least twenty minutes of foreplay ?"

"Y/N ! Don't team up against me, please !"

"I can help him with endurance. And the rest. I've seen a lot of videos."

"… Okay ! Remind me to take care of my internet history tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, yeah. Less talk, more passion. Little morsel is waiting, I can feel it, and she's ovulating."

"… Aren't you supposed to go get chocolate from Madam Cheng ?"

"Yes ! And I will take the opportunity to explain for the hundredth time why there are things that should not be said."

“But Y/N is wet.”

"And here we go !"

Despite Eddie's explanations, Venom continued to want to give advice and do everything to make his relationship with Y/N perfect.

After all, he had almost ruined everything, so he felt he had an obligation to help these two idiots be happy, living in harmony and understanding what to do to satisfy the other in every situation.

Even if Eddie was already a caring and kind boyfriend, who Y/N didn't want to leave at all despite this little characteristic.

That said, after the alien took the initiative to help with his tongue once, she wasn't really complaining about it.

[foreverdolly]

ೃ࿔ SAVAGE BONDS part 4 『 feyd rautha x atreides!reader 』

summary: destined to one another since conception, your very life belongs to feyd rautha. as a token of good will you are sent to the strange planet of giedi prime a week before your wedding ceremony, only to learn that it is far more hostile than you imagined it would be. a failed assassination attempt has tempers flaring and sparks flying when it is decided to be safer to sleep alongside feyd. you hate to admit it, but he has played the part of a "protector" better than the guards who were tasked to watch over you. whilst you have been dreading this union all of your life, feyd has been anticipating it. meeting you as children had left him awe-struck. . . and a bit obsessed.

warnings: !SMUT HEAVY IN FUTURE PARTS!, feyd is super overprotective in this fic and kills multiple people in your honor, blood and gore, it's a dark romance folks, political marriage, forced proximity, temporary unrequited love, a lil dubious consent in some scenes, there's a lot of talk about breeding, enemies to lovers (in your mind, not his), there's a "who did this to you" scene, knife play, blood kink, breeding kink heavy, lots of scent marking/marking.

there is a mild noncon scene in this chapter. read at your own risk or skip past it.

word count: 5.2k

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In that strange place between waking and sleep- that's where you currently existed. You made a home there, wading through the waters of confusion as the events of last night came flooding back to you. At first none of it felt real. It was all a dream. . . it had to be. 

But there was a foreign warmth beside you and something heavy weighing down on your chest, and while your limbs were numb with sleep you could still register that it wasn’t you. Not your arm. 

Not your warmth. 

So you opened your eyes and joined the land of the living once more. 

The mornings on Caladan were lovely. Light filtered through your curtains regardless of the frequent overcast, the sprawling farmlands vibrant and oh so alive all around you. Your childhood home was all blue-grays and greens. The halls smelled briney- slightly citrus during the spring and summer months. The air was always humid, despite the chill; moisture clinging to your skin and clothes. 

Feyd’s room was slate gray and black, slightly bigger than the one you had been sleeping in since your arrival on Giedi Prime. The air was acrid, the scent of iron so heavy in the air that it almost tasted sweet on your tongue. It was on your palate now, nearly causing you to gag when you took in a deep, steadying breath. 

You had wanted to go home the second you stepped foot on the industrial planet, if only because you despised change. You wanted your family, your horses, your ocean-side view. Now, looking back at how childish your home-sick reasonings were, you couldn’t help but feel naive. 

Not one, but many, had conspired against you. They had hopes that their pale prince would cut his losses and grow bored of you, but took it upon themselves to rid their hallowed halls of your presence. Anger began strumming through your veins, begging for release. 

You did not let the feeling take shape. Acting on hate alone would be your undoing, you knew that. Yes, you were not as strong as some of Geidi Primes weakest warriors, but you made up for it with your. . . inherited gifts. 

Your hand flew to your neck, hissing when your fingertips made contact with the tender skin. You groaned, your larynx screaming at protest. Did this mean. . . 

No. 

No, no, no.

You sat upright in bed, Feyd groaning as his arm was flung off of your chest due to your haste. Unable to process the reality that he had been touching you so casually, you instead focused on the fact that the noise you had just emitted sounded choppy. Garbled. Useless.

“My voice,” You started, eyes widening to the size of saucers as the words reached your ears. It was exactly as you feared. “I can’t use it.” 

You could barely speak normally, let alone be able to manipulate the Voice. How long would it take your throat to heal? A few days? A week? A month? It had only taken two days for a few of the Baron’s men to plan out their attack. Who knew when they would try to strike again? You were a sitting duck and you refused to die like this. 

“You won’t need it.” Feyd’s deep voice sounded beside you, the sheets rustling as his muscled body rolled over on the plush bed. 

You tried in vain not to be distracted by his naked chest- by the planes of perfectly toned abs and the swell of his biceps as he stretched them above his head. It was gross to be attracted to him; disgusting, really. 

Even in the light of day- if you could even call the murky gray that came in through the blinds light- the shadows seemed to pool around the bloodthirsty man. He wore them like a second skin. Had become them and learned to wield them at will. 

His face was once again spotless, no blood to be found on him from last night's activities. He had been utterly soaked just a few hours ago. It had dripped down his sword arm, his nightshirt clinging to his chest and shoulders. . . and he had washed it all away down the drain like the lives he had taken meant nothing. 

And it probably didn’t mean a damn thing to a man like him. Someone so used to reaping souls and shattering lives. 

Your chest swelled as you turned to face him, scooting as far back on the bed as you possibly could. When you had fallen asleep he was lounging on the couch. He must have slipped into bed once you were asleep, outwardly lying about the fact that he would put distance between the two of you. 

“I am not safe here.” You spat out, your broken voice still dripping with venom. 

He seemed bored, as if your worries were unfounded. “I will cleave the heads off of anyone that even looks in your direction.” He said simply. Not a threat but a crimson stained promise.

Gone was the starry eyed girl who saw nothing wrong with the galaxy. Your innocence had been stripped from you the second that the man’s hands had found their way around your throat. Your body finally seemed to register pain now that you were fully awake. Your back felt like hell- a purple bruise no doubt marring your skin where it had connected with the heavy dresser. And your cheek? You brushed your fingers over that spot next. It felt hot under your touch. 

“I can protect myself.” That was a lie. You could taste the horribly constructed fib on the tip of your tongue and it was bitter. Impossible to stomach. 

Feyd sat up on his elbows then, looking over your face. His eyes hardened on your cheek, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth when his eyes started to dip lower. How was it possible that anyone expected you to ever grow used to his presence? His eyes on you felt like a hot brand. You attempted to flinch away from him as his hand reached out for your neck, but he touched you anyway. 

“I should have savored that kill. Taken my time.” His voice was still gravely from sleep, but the anger was clear on his face. 

Seeing you like this, for whatever reason, enraged him. You didn’t want to know why. . . at least you told yourself that. A man like Feyd couldn’t possibly care for anyone and you doubted that he would ever be capable of such an emotion. 

“Do you truly take joy in murdering others?” You couldn’t understand him. There was no common ground between the two of you. He was a complete mystery to you. 

They hadn’t even been your deaths, and yet here you were, feeling torn about all of the blood that had been shed. Feyd had killed seven men last night. Were you really worth all of that? 

“I’m culling the herd,” He sat up then, his eyes sparking with a sick sense of delight that had your stomach roiling. This sounded like the ramblings of a madman.“They were weak, body and mind. Disobedient soldiers should always be purged. They were a disease, and I treated them as such.” The corner of his lip tugged up into a small smirk, as if he was reliving the moment that his blade cleaved through flesh and bone. 

“You went overboard on my behalf.” They would hate you more now. Those guards no doubt had loved ones, all of whom would be gunning for you now. 

“Would you rather I left them all alive? Given them a small slap on the wrist?” He was leaning in now, as if being closer to you would give him a better understanding of where you were coming from. 

The sheets wrapped around your limbs, acting like restraints as you tried to back away from him and his intimidating presence. You couldn’t help but feel as though he was sizing you up, questioning whether he could swallow you up in one bite. His eyes, lidded with sleep and hazy with something you couldn’t quite discern told you that he would eat very, very slowly. Your fingers twitched at your sides, his eyes narrowing as though he could smell your fear in the air that the both of you now shared due to your close proximity.

“No,” You hated that you were agreeing with him. “They would have found another way to kill me. I just hate that you had to make such a show of it all.” I hate that I couldn’t kill them myself. 

Who were you to decide if someone lived or died for their crimes? And yet. . . you were glad that they were dead. You couldn’t find it within yourself to feel sorry for them. They got exactly what they deserve, so why did you feel so awful about it? 

Because the “old” you would have begged for their lives to be spared. That sweet, innocent girl would have abhorred the blood and gore, which begged the question: who did that make you now? Has this place truly changed you so intrinsically in a matter of days? You hated the idea that you were adjusting to the environment. It terrified you.

Feyd could see the anger churning behind your wide eyes, no matter how hard you tried to mask it. You were beautiful like this, so accepting of his nature. . . and yet you still fought him. Still fought this. He adored you for it. Loved you for it. There it was again- that word. He let the phrase sink into his bones, settle inside of his chest. 

‘I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. 

Look at what I can do for you. Let me kill again for you. Let me prove my worth. Let me have you. Let me taste you. Let me devour you until there is nothing left.’ 

He was so close now that the heat and smell of him was clouding your mind. Much like the smog outside, he was poisoning the air around you. The sheets tightened around your legs as you tried to kick them off of you, hellbent on escaping the bed and dressing for the day. You were starving, sore, and in desperate need of another hot bath. You still felt dirty after last night, like the stains hadn’t been completely washed away. 

He was looking at you with those eyes. God, his eyes. . . they were blue, bottomless pits and you were sinking. . . drowning. You found it hard to breathe while he was looking at you like that. He was assessing you with a heated gaze that unwillingly set your insides ablaze. His hands were suddenly on the sides of your upper thighs, the insides of his wrists brushing against them. You could feel skin against skin, your thin nightdress doing nothing to shield you from his touch. 

“You wanted them dead, I can tell.” And he smiled at that, a genuine one full of misplaced mirth. 

“I don’t want anyone to die.” Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth, so heavy that you suddenly found it hard to speak. 

“I didn’t take you for a liar, little Atreides.” His head tilted to the side as he licked his lips. He was so close to you that his tongue nearly brushed against your parted lips. 

And then he was pulling away, his warmth being ripped away from you far too quickly. Feyd left you on the bed as he sauntered over to his closet, unabashed of his half naked body- almost as though he was proud to show it off to you. His broad shoulders, toned back- it was well earned. It was the body of a warrior- of a killer. 

You had to remind yourself that he was a murderer, tearing your eyes from him. It was almost as though you couldn’t get enough oxygen. Your lungs ached as you realized that he had practically siphoned it out of the room with his commanding presence. 

He terrified you down to your very core. It was as though he was seeing your soul for what it truly was. . . 

And it was as black as his own.

The Na-Baron’s hand against the small of your back felt more like a collar than anything. You couldn’t help but wonder if that was how you appeared to others now, like nothing more than a pet. It was a silent show of ownership, as were his hardened eyes as he turned his head to glare at each and every guard that passed in the hall. Their familiar uniform had your knees buckling and your hands shaking. He must have felt those tremors, for his fingers tangled themselves into the fabric of your shirt, like he could anchor you to him. ‘You’re safe with me,’ the gesture seemed to say. 

The floor had been wiped clean of last night's massacre and it was almost as if it had never happened at all. You wished that you could delude yourself into believing that it hadn’t, but your aching bones were a constant reminder. An Atreides did not belong here. 

The distance that you craved was not something that Feyd seemed keen on granting. When you had finished bathing earlier, your skin scrubbed raw, you had found him lounging back against the bed, eyes trained on the bathroom door. His presence was stifling, as were the halls of this strange empire. They appeared to be tightening around you, reminding you of your lack of freedom. 

A canary in a gilded cage. 

“I’ve been filled in on the events of last night,” The Baron said as a way of greeting when the two of you found your way into the dining room. “You had your fun it seemed, nephew.” He didn’t sound angry, which was good you supposed. Then again, he didn’t sound very approving either. 

Feyd paused for a split second in the doorway, his lips pursing in confusion. You recalled him saying that the Baron always ate his meals in his own quarters. Your throat bobbed as Feyd’s hands urged you further into the room. Suddenly you were no longer hungry. Like a child, you wished that you could dig your heels in and refuse to make your way any further inside. While his nephew scared and confused you, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was an absolute waking nightmare. From his pale, unattractive face to his plump, gluttonous build- even his eyes seemed completely void of any light. Your quivering worsened because you knew, even if Feyd wanted to keep you alive for whatever reason, that he would not disobey his beloved uncle. You would never expect that of him. If the Harkonnen wanted you dead. . . then so it shall be. 

“It was very enjoyable.” Feyd said simply, sitting down in the chair directly beside you. 

The Baron, at his spot at the head of the table, felt miles away. He was assessing the two of you, his gaze bouncing from your form and then to that of his nephew. It wasn’t until Feyd placed his arm over the back of your chair that he finally smiled. It looked more like a sneer than anything else, and all at once you wished to punch those teeth right out of his skull. His ill treatment of your father would never be forgotten, forced marriage or not. 

“You two look. . . close.” He concluded, folding his hands in his lap as he sat back. His dark robes hugged all of the wrong places- he was greed in the flesh. 

Feyd didn’t say anything, but he did lean in closer. It occurred to you that he was acting almost like a shield between you and his uncle. All at once your shaking stopped, your eyes flickering up to meet his face for the briefest of moments before you finally looked down at your plate. Again, the food did not appeal to your appetite. There were no fresh fruits or vegetables. Everything was brown, beige and white. The meals here were void of any color or variety and you found it fitting. 

“We slept together last night, as it should have been from the very beginning.” Feyd said, no room for arguments. His tone was final- absolute, even in the face of the one person that he answered directly to. 

Your cheeks were suddenly blazing hot as you realized how easily his statement could be misunderstood. Your lips parted, as though you could defend yourself and set the record straight, but the Baron was already nodding. He didn’t care either way. You were sent here to procreate, afterall. What the two of you did or didn’t do meant nothing to him. As the daughter of Duke Atreides you were nothing more than a pawn- a bargaining piece at best. Your blood boiled as you stabbed your fork into whatever meat had been served. It was all you could do not to brandish the small serrated blade that laid beside your plate and shove it through one of Vladimir’s overly assessing eyes. 

“I just thought that she might have wanted her own space before the ceremony,” He started, gesturing towards you. It was as though you weren’t even in the room at all. “But I’ll make sure that her things are brought to your room.” 

You did want your own space. Desperately. This whole situation felt wrong, and yet you were helpless. A few more days in your own room was nothing, really. Not when the two of you would be sharing a room for the remainder of your lives. 

“It’s our room.” Feyd corrected, using his free hand so that he could take a sip of his drink. 

His arm brushed against the back of your neck as he leaned forward ever-so-slightly so that he could place the cup back down on the table. The brush of his skin against yours sent a chill down your spine. 

“Very well. Your shared room.” And the Baron seemed pleased.

The cogs started turning in your head as you stared at that expression on his face. Was that gloating that you sensed?

He looked as though he had won. 

It would make no sense at all for the Baron to be so concerned with the status of your relationship, and yet there he had been, smiling as if he had bested you. Did he know something that you didn’t? It would be dangerous to voice the thoughts that you were having- unwise. Feyd was sure to take his uncle’s side on everything. At the end of the day you were little more than a warm, wet hole to breed. . . right? 

Your skin crawled, your breathing growing more and more shallow as the seconds passed. What would your mother do if she was put in a situation like this? The urge to talk to her was stifling, and yet you were here alone. You had no allies here. You had been left to your own devices. 

“You aren’t going to beg me to train with you today?” Feyd asked from the open door of the bathroom. 

He’d left it wide open while he changed, as if he was daring you to gawk and stare. You were too busy panicking to even care that he could very well be naked mere feet away from where you sat on the bed. The Baron was guilty of something, that you knew with certainty. You bit down onto your lower lip, staring blankly ahead at the wall as you became more and more consumed by your frightening thoughts. 

“What are you thinking about, little one?” His voice was right beside your ear and you jumped back, staring wide eyed at where he was kneeling before you. 

He stared up at you expectantly, waiting for you to tell him what currently had you so quiet. His uncle had been unusual at breakfast, more so than Feyd was used to. The Baron was a busy man, and the last thing on his agenda was to eat with his nephew and his bride-to-be. He was cautious, and yet he didn’t want you to know. He would handle your safety from now on, even if that meant going against those that shared the very blood that pumped through his own veins. 

The expression on your face had him leaning closer. You were so meek. . . so fearful. The need to protect you was overwhelming. How could someone ever want to hurt you? His eyes flickered over your bruises for the one hundredth time that afternoon, rage settling like lead in the pit of his stomach. 

“I’m thinking. . .” You started, eyes becoming glassy. “That I was sent here to die.” 

Feyd, for the first time in his life, felt helpless. He did not know how to calm you down. The man didn’t know the first thing about comforting someone, but the thought of leaving you to your own devices and panic had a gasp escaping his throat. 

“Do you not believe me when I say that I will protect you? Have I not proved myself?” Actions spoke louder than words, or at least Feyd had always believed that, and yet you didn’t seem to understand what he was trying to say. His actions weren’t enough. 

“You’re protecting me because you have to. I understand that well enough, but that doesn’t mean that something won’t happen. You are the enemy Feyd. My enemy.” You spoke with so much conviction and looked at him like you hadn’t just gutted him. 

Feyd felt as though you had physically slapped him across the face. The chase was fun, but this. . . this wasn’t you acting hard to get. This was you drawing a very clear line in the sand. You didn’t like him and perhaps never would. And maybe it made Feyd even more despicable than anyone ever thought possible, but part of him did not care. You could fight it all you wanted, it did not negate the fact that you belonged to him. It did not negate the fact that he cared for you. . .

Cared so deeply that it had him questioning whether or not he had ever really known joy or a true sense of belonging before now. 

“I am not them.” He rasped out, knowing that you’d understand exactly who he was implying. 

He was not like the others. He never had been. He had a penchant for cruelty and a talent for killing, but he would never hurt you for sport. He knew of Harkonnen men that battered their women simply because they could, but the mere idea of putting his hands on you made him want to sink his blade into his own chest and twist. How could he ever explain that to you? Put his emotions into words when you knew so little about him? How could he tell you that he’d been dreaming of you since he was a child? Vivid, prophetic dreams that left him lonely and impatient. 

“But you are.” There was a strange glint in his eyes that had your words leaving you in a breathy whisper. You were being vulnerable with him. Showing him your worst fears and letting him know that you currently had no more aces up your sleeves. The Voice was useless to you right now, and no matter how skilled you were in combat, it would mean nothing if you were up against an entire planet of people that wished you dead and silenced. You had kept the fear bottled in for three days now, and you had no one to confide in. 

You would regret this, you knew it with a surety that nearly had you choking on a sob. This information could be used against you. He’d make sure that you met your end the second that you birthed him an heir. . . 

So why did he look offended by your words? 

His plush lips parted, blue eyes widening for a second as he fully comprehended what you had just uttered to him. Having you as his would be sweet, yes, but it paled in comparison to the idea that you would eventually care for him in the same way that he did for you. It lit a fire inside of him, and he didn’t understand how to make you see. 

Feyd needed you to open your eyes and understand that he was not your enemy. He was the only person on all of Giedi Prime that was absolutely, without any question or doubt, on your side. He would burn the entire planet to ash if he had to. He’d serve his uncle’s heart on a silver platter and let you eat your fill if it meant that you would come to understand his level of utter devotion. 

You blinked and suddenly you were on your back, a small grunt escaping you as his calloused palm pushed against your chest, too fast for you to even register. He was on top of you, straddling your hips. The weight of him on top of you had your teeth clenching, your traitorous body reacting in a way that sickened you. Civilizations had worshiped at the feet of long forgotten Gods that weren’t half as beautiful and cruel as Feyd-Rautha. 

“You are my wife-” He started to speak, but you were quick to interrupt him, refusing to back down. 

“Not yet.” You seethed. 

Feyd couldn’t help but want to fight you on that, to challenge the unnecessary bite in your tone. If you were so hellbent on treating him like an enemy then so be it. He’d push you to a breaking point. He’d make you love and trust him. He’d show your true enemies such cruelty that you’d have no reason to doubt his convictions. 

And before he could reign in his emotions, before he could feel any guilt, he was lurching forward. Long fingers tangled themselves into your hair as his lips pressed against yours. Unyielding, he dominated your mouth, teeth sinking into your lower lip. He needed to taste you- your mouth, your blood. 

Sweat, tears, slick. He wanted all of it on his tongue. 

The years spent waiting and biding his time had been worse than he realized, for the second his lips pressed against yours he found it hard to stop himself. The need that coursed through him now was more powerful than anything else he had ever experienced. You yelped against his mouth in pain, trying your hardest to flinch back at the sharp pain in your lip. The mattress and his unyielding grip on you kept you from moving even an inch. He took advantage of that small sound, his tongue lapping at the roof of your mouth lazily, the salty iron of your own blood invading your senses. 

And he was everywhere. His weight was on top of you, his arms on either side of your head, his fingers buried in your hair- and you couldn’t get away. You tried bucking him off, hands grabbing at his training shirt so that you could try and pry him off of you. The muscles in your arms strained as you pulled, thighs quivering as you tried your damndest to flip him over onto the bed. You would not kiss him back. 

No matter how badly your instincts were telling you to give in. That voice in the back of your head was loud, but the sound of your own pounding heart in your ears drowned it out. Your body burned as he slid his hips down slightly, changing his angle so that he could grind himself against you. The friction sent a jolt of what felt like lightning shooting up your spine. It took all of your self restraint not to moan into his mouth, which would no doubt motivate him to push this even further. 

You felt him. All of him, even through all the layers of clothing that separated the two of you. He was hard, to what must have been a point of physical pain, over a mere kiss. His lips were unexpectedly soft on yours, far softer than the very few men that you had kissed in the past. They moved languidly against yours, and you wanted to be disgusted by the fact that he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. 

You hated the part of you that craved this. You could deny it all that you wanted, but the dull ache between your traitorous legs told you what your mind could not: a sick part of you wanted this. Maybe it was the very same part of you that had wanted those guards dead. 

You should hate him. You wanted to hate him. You needed to hate him. 

And then his hands were sliding down the back of your neck, his lips sliding down the base of your throat- 

“Stop! Feyd, stop!” You finally found your voice, sucking in a breath of air. You felt dizzy, and yet your body was more alive than it ever had been. 

Traitor. You were a traitor to your family. 

He sat up then, eyes glazed over, his thick lashes casting shadows on the tops of his cheeks in the dim lighting. 

“Do you hate me?” He panted out, voice thick with an emotion that you couldn’t quite place. It was as if he could read your mind. 

“Yes.” You lied. This lie was even harder to swallow than your last for whatever reason. Maybe it was the heady look in your eyes or your swollen, well kissed lips. . . but Feyd knew you weren’t telling the truth.

“I’ll fuck you until you want me,” And his harsh, horrible words didn’t quite match the tender way he cupped your cheek. “And then you’ll want me so badly that you’ll love me.” 

He got off of you then, forcing himself away from you before he made a mistake. Today was not the day to claim you, not with the previous night so fresh on your mind. He would figure out a way to apologize for his loss of control later. For now he needed a change of scenery, preferably one that didn’t have a bed. . . or a couch. . . or a table. . . or a counter- 

“Pig,” You spat in his direction, quickly fumbling to straighten out your now wrinkled clothing. 

“Your training clothes are in our closet. Put them on.” He was still breathing heavily, pacing around the room with his hands on his hips. His cock was straining against the confines of his pants, begging him to turn around and finish what he started- make good on the promise he just made to you. 

“Are you crazy?” You screamed at him, lurching up from the bed as though you were going to attack him. 

Slowly he turned to face you, his features twisting into something that looked a tad bit like forlorn yearning. 

“Yes,” And he nodded, not denying the fact. “Yes I am.” 

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[dkniade]

“童话里的护梦人”…从技术上说这并非“Protector of Childhood Dreams”而应该说是“Dream-Protector from Fairytales”

…which would then fit into his whole epic hero/knight thing, protecting Teucer’s innocence

[cursedfallingmoon]

Once upon a Dream || Yan GB Sleeping Beauty x GN Reader

Characters: Rory

Summary: A cursed prince with no social know how

Warnings: Yandere themes, possessiveness

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who first met you when the King and Queen were celebrating his birth. A christening. You were very young, but you barely remember it in your current days. You do, however, remember the Dark Fairy Queen that had placed a curse onto this enchanting newborn as revenge against the King who had wronged her.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who ends up being kept away in a hidden cottage in the forest with the three good fairies as his protectors. All throughout his life, he grew up without knowing of his royal prestige. He found great comfort in the forest and the little critters within it. He did wander quite a lot when he had finished his chores.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who grows up beautifully and full of kindness for everyone and everything around him. He has an ethereal aura around him, and he handles everything with great care. It would make anyone who saw swoon. However, he has a lack of social interaction due to living deep in the woods and the only people around him are his caretakers.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who memorizes the forest from just exploring in his free time. He knows where the best berries, fruit, and wild vegetables are. Along with the best wild flowers grow. It was an average day when he found a scared, lost horse with a saddle on it. He approached the horse with a calm, steady hand in front of him. He placed the hand on the horse's face and tried his best to soothe it.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who follows the now calmed horse to a clear field of grass and wild flowers. There was also a clear view of the castle that was in the distance. His “aunties” had told him stories about the castle and the King. They also told him stories about the villages that surrounded the kingdom. He was so caught up in watching the castle, he didn't hear or notice the rustling behind him.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who becomes startled when he sees you running toward the horse. You looked soaked, and your clothes stuck to your skin in all the right places. He was flustered by not another human in the forest, but by the fact that you looked so enchanting. He remained silent as he watched you fuss over your horse. The care for your animal is very clear to him.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who is brought out of his trance when you walk up to him with your horse following you. You were so sweet when you thanked him for watching your horse as well as calming the horse down. You go on to explain you were bucked off your horse because they were spooked. Your voice when you spoke to him was so soft. His heart was fluttering. He wanted you to stay so he could hear your voice more and to befriend you.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who finds himself missing you over the next few days. Even when he's asleep he has dreams of you, as if he has met you some time before. There was so much longing in his heart. This is so different for him. He was acting so much out of character that even his “aunties” took notice. Rory would go out for long hours and not come home till the sun had set. What was he doing? They were worried that the Dark Fairy Queen would find him, but they couldn't share their concerns with him.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who becomes so excited when he sees a familiar horse. He runs up to you, his face all aglow from excitement. He starts to gush about missing you. He doesn't know how to converse with another person, but he's trying. He's all blushy in front of you. He helps you off your horse with a gentle hand. Even touching you is awkward. He keeps a hold of your hand and drags you through the forest. He talks so much about his knowledge of the forest he's lived in all his life in hopes that you would be impressed.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who ends up ranting to you about his interests. He shares things he remembers from his childhood, funny stories that involved his “aunties”. He didn't know when or how to stop. He just spilled everything to you. But to his joy, you were listening with a smile. He wanted so badly for his “aunties” to meet you. However, whenever he seemed to bring up this enchanting stranger in conversations, they would show so much hesitance. It didn't matter anyway. He was happy to just spend time with you.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who asks you a bunch of questions about the village and the castle of the kingdom. You tell him the stories of a prince that was cursed when you were younger. You don't remember the name of the prince, but you're glad to share it as best as you remember. You also tell him that you're not from this kingdom but a different one. You entertain him with stories about your kingdom and what it was like. He is so happy to listen.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who becomes very upset when you disappear for a couple of months. He feels completely betrayed that he's left alone just to wait for you to come back. Well, hope for you to come back. His “aunties” share with him that you were most likely visiting from another kingdom. He cries and begs for you to come back. He was acting as if you died. Those were very long weeks for everyone within the cabin.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who has his animal friends of the forest help him feel better while you're away. This usually entailed dancing with Rory and listening to his fantasies about you. He also had an increase of dreams about you. They were usually the same thing. You would come find him and whisk him away to your kingdom where the two of you lived together and had a family of your own. He acted very much like a love sick fool. Sometimes the Dark Fairy Queen's crow would take notice when he was watching over the boy.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who is so happy when you come back to him after a few more months of your absence. You apologizes profusely about leaving so suddenly without giving him a goodbye. Rory was so grateful that you cared about his feelings this much. He forgives you with a tight hug. What shocked him the most was that his "aunties" were right. You were just visiting. But what made his mind explode the most was that you were visiting the King and Queen. He hoped that the prince you had told him about didn't take you from him.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who clings to you even more now that you're back. He gives you updates that he thought you would find important. Little things that happened in his daily life. He shared his overwhelming longing for you to come back and the dreams he had of you. It bothered him so much that you couldn't see him everyday. Like when you did when you were visiting. That's when his eyes lit up when an idea popped into his head.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who decides that he'll go with you the next time you leave to go home. He declares it out loud for all to hear within the forest. He doesn't give you any chance to argue. He runs immediately after his declaration to share his decision with his “aunties”. He skips to his secret cottage, not taking any notice of the pair of eyes with wings that follow him.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who becomes utterly distraught when his “aunties” deny him to let him leave. They were very adamant about not letting him leave with a stranger. They never met you and they couldn't take any chances. He becomes so upset that he runs out the cabin and declares that he would run away with you. He runs through the forest to try to find you.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who finds you in a secluded lake alone. You looked just as enchanting as he did when you two first met. You were watching the ducks swim around. You must have tried to find him, but got lost along the way. However, his eyes scan over you and his face falls. You were surrounded by crows. There was one large crow that was much bigger than the rest perched on your shoulder.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who can't help but find the scene unsettling. When all the crows turn to look at him his back shivers. You follow the crows' gazes to see your blonde haired friend standing not too far away. He fights against the unnerving feeling and runs to you. The crows let out a deathly caw as they're scared away into the tree tops. He throws his arms around you, hugging you as tight as possible. He sobs against your chest.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who startles you with his change of moods. He was just so happy moments ago and ow he's this sobbing mess that has a deathly grip on your body. He was so cheery and was planning to leave with you, even if you didn't agree. He hiccups between his words as he tries his best to explain to you how his “aunties” don't want him to leave with you. However, he twists the story to make it seem like his “aunties” were the villains. This was all in hopes of you agreeing with him. You don't though, and he hates you for it.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who sees you leave the forest once more. He hates how you have to go partake in some royal's birthday when his is tomorrow. Why couldn't you have stayed for him? As he watches, his eyes never leave your figure. Tears well, and he slowly makes his way back to the cabin with his “aunties”. There they tell him that he's actually a prince. The fairies tell him of his true past and the curse that was placed upon him. The more he's told the more his trust breaks. By nighttime, he's in a carriage to the castle.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who is embraced with open arms by his actual royal parents. He's pushed into his birthday party with such suddenness. Frazzled, he tries to go about interacting with others, but there are voices in the back of his head. Voices that lead him through the castle, ending up in a secluded room where one spinning wheel stands. He reaches for the spindle, pricking his finger on its sharpness. There his eternal slumber commences. When he is found by father, he shrieks and brings him back to his royal chambers. The three good fairies make everyone within the castle fall asleep alongside their prince before they rush out to go find you.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who is asleep all the while you fight for him. He's awake just from your touch on his hand. The amount of love he holds for you is immense. He doesn't care how long he was asleep. You're here, and you're the one who saved him. Everyone else has awoken, and they go through with the party in honor of the prince. Rory tells everyone there that you saved him. All the guests go about singing your praises.

Yan GB Sleeping Beauty who is finally happy. Back at home with his actual family, and he can be with the love of his life without worry. The transition from being in a cottage to being a prince has been hard. He doesn't understand how the nobles interactions go, but he has you to help guide him. While looking for you, however, he saw you in the royal garden in an all too familiar scene. You with crows all around you, and one large crow perched on your forearm.

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

Property of @cursedfallingmoon! Do not repost or translate without my explicit permission! Reblogs are welcome!

[novascharms]

teach please me — tutor!reader x soccer player!rafe

reader's life is meticulously planned, from high school to becoming president of the country—she knows exactly where she's headed and every step to get there. but her airtight plan hits a snag when the principal ropes her into tutoring rafe cameron, the school’s star soccer player, who’s failing algebra and at risk of being benched next season. the team needs him on the field, and reader needs the principal’s glowing recommendation to secure her spot at her dream school. balancing her ambitious goals with rafe’s chaotic charm might just throw her perfectly crafted plan off track.

word count — 3.5 chapter index — prev. chap. masterlist

a.n — LAST CHAPTERRR WHATTTTT????

twenty

saturday, march 1st

rafe had always been quick to anger, a spark that could ignite into a wildfire in an instant. it wasn’t new, not even when he was small. sarah had learned to handle it, to temper him.

when they started kindergarten, sarah had this white backpack covered in strawberries. she’d seen it in a shop window during their family trip to andalucia that summer, and she wouldn’t stop talking about it until their mom finally bought it for her. it wasn’t even a proper school bag—too small and flimsy—but she adored it, carrying it everywhere like a prized treasure.

on their first day of school, she proudly wore it to recess, a bright little girl with her beloved strawberry bag. but then a boy decided he didn’t like it. maybe he thought it was too girly or just wanted to be mean, but whatever his reason, he grabbed the bag and threw it over the fence, far beyond where any of them could reach.

sarah’s wails echoed across the playground, pure heartbreak in a five-year-old’s voice. a teacher could’ve retrieved it, sure, but rafe didn’t wait for that. instead, he marched up to the boy and sank his teeth into his arm so hard that the boy’s scream rivaled sarah’s.

rafe got in trouble, of course—a big punishment that involved missing dessert that night. but as their mom scolded him, sarah slipped half her chocolate chip cookie under the table to him with a quiet giggle, a silent thank you for being her fierce protector.

as they grew older, rafe learned, at least somewhat, to channel that temper. he stopped biting people, but his anger still ran hot, boiling over when he couldn’t contain it. sarah was always there, the cooler head, the voice of reason. she wasn’t exactly calm herself—she had a sharp tongue and wasn’t afraid to use it—but she was measured in a way rafe wasn’t.

their childhood was a constant cycle of rafe charging into fights and sarah pulling him back. later, topper joined her, both of them learning how to talk rafe down, to cool him down.

rafe got his own ways to calm himself down like soccer or sex. over time, he got better at managing it—sort of. it was never perfect.

you were the closest he got to completely controlling it.

it was hard—almost impossible to get angry with you and when he did, he found it even harder to stay mad at you or to express anger toward you.

around others though? his control was shaky at best, but it was there. most of the time.

but not now.

his heart was already breaking, watching you storm out, your tears seared into his mind, your words still cutting him like shards of glass. and then, as if the universe wanted to twist the knife, sarah appeared at the door, standing there with two suitcases and an expression that shifted from excitement to confusion the moment she saw his face.

rafe’s chest heaved with uneven breaths, his vision blurred by the tears that hadn’t stopped falling. he stood frozen, staring at his sister like he couldn’t fully process what was happening.

sarah didn’t need to ask. she could see it—the pain etched into his features, the trembling in his hands. without hesitation, she dropped her bags right there and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into her embrace. “it’s okay,” she whispered softly, her voice a soothing balm against his raw nerves. “i’m here.”

for a moment, he stood stiff, his body locked in place. but as her words sank in, something in him broke. his arms came around her, clutching her tightly as he buried his face against her shoulder. his composure shattered, his sobs muffled by the fabric of her sweater.

sarah looked over his shoulder, sharing confused glances with the others in the room—his friends, equally lost but clearly shaken. her hand rubbed gentle circles on his back, her voice low and steady. “what happened? was that her?”

rafe finally pulled back, his red-rimmed eyes meeting hers. he looked dazed, as if he didn’t fully understand the answer to her question himself. his face was pale, blank, and then, as if a switch flipped, that blankness shifted. his jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. something was bubbling up inside him, something sharp and volatile, like that temper that had always been so terribly hard to contain.

he spun around, anger radiating off him in waves.

“what the fuck is wrong with you? what the fuck is wrong with both of you? are we in fucking kindergarten for you to be acting like this?” rafe’s voice roared through the room, the sharp edge of his anger slicing through the tension. it was the kind of rage they hadn’t seen since his fight with topper, a stark contrast to the lighthearted smiles he’d worn just hours ago.

adriana, unfazed, leaned against the wall with a smirk. “what? you don’t want your little rory gilmore wannabe over there to know exactly who you are? isn’t that kind of part of the deal in a relationship?”

rafe’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, and while he’d never lay a hand on a girl, he was damn close to asking sarah to do it for him. his chest heaved as he stared her down, barely keeping himself in check.

“please, don’t tell me this is all because of what i said at the bon—” his words trailed off as his mind churned, flicking through the hazy memory of that night.

his gaze snapped to kiara, who stood to the side, eyes wide as she watched the scene unfold. “y/n said she was going to try and find me, right?” his voice was sharp, demanding. kiara hesitated, then nodded. “she was going to ask cora if she knew where you were.”

everything clicked. the pieces fell into place like a sick puzzle, and rafe scoffed bitterly. he turned toward cora, his eyes blazing. “of course. the fucking bonfire. that’s what happened. you told her where to find me, and i was with adriana behind the beach bar—”

“with adriana behind the beach bar?” sarah cut in, her voice laced with disbelief.

“it wasn’t like that,” rafe snapped, shaking his head violently.

adriana, always ready to stir the pot, opened her mouth. “please—”

“no, shut the fuck up,” rafe barked, cutting her off before she could weave another lie. “it wasn’t like that, and you know it. one, you were drunk off your fucking ass. in what world would i have done shit with you? and two, i was literally letting you down gently. you know that, adriana. you know that wasn’t what it looked like. and i bet i know exactly who told her otherwise.”

cora shrugged with infuriating nonchalance, her lips curling in a slight smile. “how was i supposed to know you’d be macking behind the beach bar, rafe? maybe you should just be more careful.”

“wait, so you were making out behind the beach bar?” topper’s voice cut through, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“no!” rafe practically shouted, his voice strained as his frustration boiled over. “we weren’t doing shit behind the beach bar. i was telling her—” he jabbed a finger in adriana’s direction, “—that i do not, and will never, want to do or be anything with her!”

sarah’s voice broke through, her tone dripping with rhetorical disbelief. “and you led y/n straight to them so she’d see them together and assume the worst?”

the room was silent, the answer obvious to everyone.

pope shook his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “and now you’ve shown her his valentine’s day letters, full of all the shit he did before her, to…” he made air quotes, “‘show her who he really is.’”

adriana scoffed, completely unfazed. “whatever, pope. it was funny. she just doesn’t have a sense of humor.”

rafe snapped. the tension in his body erupted into motion, and he stormed toward adriana, his rage barely restrained. “fuck you, adriana,” he snarled, his voice low and venomous.

sarah’s hand shot out, gripping his arm to stop him, and topper stepped between them, shoving a firm hand against rafe’s chest. “rafe, don’t,” topper said sharply, his voice steady.

adriana, as if determined to push every button, hurled another insult, her smirk never faltering. "come to think of it, i think she might've smiled when i showed her lexi's lacy reds." rafe lunged again, and topper shoved something into his hand. “rafe!” topper barked, shaking him out of it. rafe looked down, his breath hitching when he realized it was his car keys.

“go,” topper said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “go get her back. i’ll deal with all of this.”

rafe’s jaw tightened as he looked between his keys and the chaos in the room. without hesitation, he nodded. he turned to sarah, pressing a quick, grateful kiss to her forehead, and then he was gone, tearing out the door into the cold night and climbing into his car, determination coursing through his veins.

he called you over fifteen times on the way to your house, his voice breaking in every voicemail. speed limits became meaningless as he pushed his car to its limits, desperate to reach you.

when he finally did, his heart dropped. there you were, stepping out of a car he didn’t recognize.

“thanks for the ride, angelo,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. you couldn’t muster a smile, but angelo gave you one anyway, warm and understanding. “anytime, y/n,” he replied softly.

“are you sure you don’t want me to come in?” ivy asked again, her tone tinged with worry. you shook your head, your hands twisting nervously. “i… i just want to be alone. but i’ll call you and the others tomorrow?” your voice cracked, shaky and unsure, and ivy nodded, sadness in her eyes as she gave you a small wave.

you watched them drive away, their car’s taillights disappearing into the night. you stood there, rooted to the spot, the glow of your house’s porch light illuminating your figure. your parents were still awake; their silhouettes passed behind the curtains. they’d see you if you went inside, ask questions you weren’t ready to answer.

but you didn’t have anywhere else to go. the weight of it all crashed over you like a wave, and your hands flew to your face as the tears overtook you. standing there on the quiet roadside, you felt utterly lost and quite stupid.

then you heard footsteps. soft but purposeful, they broke through the stillness, louder than your muffled cries.

you turned sharply, your breath catching when you saw him. his chest was heaving, his hair disheveled from rushing, and his face streaked with tears. panic surged through you. before he could say a word, you stepped back, already planning your escape.

“no, no, wait!” his voice cracked as he rushed forward, blocking your path to the door.

“m-move, rafe.” you stammered, your voice trembling with anger and hurt. “get out of my way.”

but he didn’t. he stood there, his eyes wide and desperate, filled with a softness that made your chest ache. “please, i know how this looks,” he said, his voice breaking as he stepped closer. you noticed his hands were shaking, his entire body trembling with emotion.

“b-but you told me…” his voice faltered, and your breath hitched as his hands cupped your cheeks, his touch impossibly gentle. he tilted your face toward him, forcing your gaze to meet his tear-streaked one.

“you told me you know my heart,” he whispered, his words shaky but urgent. “you know my intentions. remember that?”

your tears fell harder, your body shaking as the dam broke completely. you tried to look away, but he held you there, his forehead brushing against yours, his breath mingling with yours.

“you know me,” he repeated, his voice firmer now, but still raw with pain. “just… just give me the benefit of the doubt. let me explain. please.”

you clenched your fists, your nails digging into your palms as you struggled to keep the flood of emotions at bay. his eyes searched yours, pleading, begging, filled with a vulnerability that cut deep.

after a long, agonizing moment, you exhaled shakily and stepped back. his hands dropped from your face, and the regret that flashed across his features was almost unbearable to witness.

“fine,” you said quietly, your voice wavering.

relief washed over him, his shoulders sagging as he exhaled sharply. his eyes darted to the front door just a few feet away, then back to you, his expression still raw with emotion.

"can we go inside—"

"no," you cut him off sharply, your voice steady despite the storm raging in your chest. "and you stay right there." you point to the spot a couple of feet away, and the distance feels like a safety net you desperately need.

"alright," he says softly, nodding as his eyes lock on yours. there’s a gentleness in his gaze that only makes the ache in your chest worse. he shifts his weight, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "just… bear with me. this might take a minute. and you can’t cut me off, okay? just—just let me talk all the way through. can you do that for me?" his voice cracks slightly at the end, and it feels like a plea, like there’s nothing he wouldn’t give for you to agree.

you nod, your throat too tight to speak. his face falls slightly, as if your silence physically hurts him, but he takes a deep breath and straightens up.

"it was a little over two months ago," he starts, his voice trembling, "that principal oakley and my dad had a pretty firm conversation with me about my grades. i needed to fix them was the main consensus. sarah had just left after spending christmas with us, and i was in a shitty mood when school started. i didn’t know how to fix anything nor did i feel like it. my last tutor quit mid-session because i was being an asshole, and my dad was… furious. i had to make sure the next one didn’t leave."

he shifts, his hands moving restlessly as he talks, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie. "eventually, our algebra teacher suggested you. oakley agreed, and that first thursday after break, he called me in for a meeting with him and my new tutor." he lets out a dry laugh, his eyes flickering to yours with something like regret. "he hadn’t told me that you didn’t even know about it."

your stomach twists as the memory clicks into place, but you stay quiet. he notices your expression and swallows hard.

"so we meet," he continues, his voice softer now, "and i walked out of that office completely and utterly… enthralled. i’d never been so fascinated, so captivated by someone within five minutes of meeting them. you were rattling off about your recommendation letter, and i wasn’t even subtle about it. if you had spent two seconds looking at me, you would’ve seen it."

he pauses, his voice catching. "you would’ve seen that i looked at you the same way i’m looking at you now. like a man who’s so… stupidly in love with you, he doesn’t even know what to do with himself."

your breath hitches, and you feel your knees threaten to give out. he takes a shaky step forward but stops himself, his fists clenching at his sides. "i fell harder every single day. there hasn't been a moment, not a second, since i met you that i’ve wanted anyone but you."

"the bonfire…" his voice dips, heavy with regret, "it wasn’t what it looked like. cora and adriana—they pretty much set me up. adriana was drunk and wanted to hook up—that's why she was all over me— but i didn’t want anything. we were friends or i thought we were so i was trying to let her down gently. what you didn't see was when i walked her back to the bar for some water to sober up. nothing happened, and it never would’ve. not with her. not with anyone else."

he wipes at his face, his hands trembling. "as for the letters…" he sighs deeply, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the words. "i only opened three. then i threw them out. they had to have dug through my trash to find them which is..a level of pathetic i don't even think i can process right now."

you feel your pulse pounding in your ears, your stomach knotting as he continues. "the one from lexi? the one that said i'd see her next friday? the boys from the soccer team and some other teams across obx throw a kegger every month, it's always the last friday of the month. lexi is just some girl from.." he pauses with a sigh, "god, i don't even know where she's from. we..sometimes sleep together after the kegger, it's really a no-strings thing, i don't feel shit for her, she doesn't feel shit for me. the last kegger was yesterday and i didn't even go which means i last slept with lexi..late december, during the winter break. two weeks before you and i even met." he explains, eyes darting for a moment beofre he’s looking at you again. “the underwear are..really hers..” he says and your lips purse. he shifts like he wants to come to you but he stops himself. “i don’t wanna lie to you, we did stuff like that. i kept them to give them back next time i saw her because she’d like kill me if i tossed them. i still mean what i said, though. i don’t like her, she doesn’t like me. it was meaningless sex. i’ll call her right now to prove it to you if you don’t believe me.” he’s almost begging but you shake your head subtly. “i believe you.” you mutter quietly.

his voice cracks again, and you feel your resolve start to chip away. "the one about telling a girl i loved her? this will sound..terrible but i don’t know who wroe that letter.." he says and the look on your face says a thousand words. he's immediately scrambling, "i know how it sounds," he says, voice thick with emotion. "and i’m not proud of who i was before you. i’ve slept around, dated girls—too many girls, but none of it ever felt right. none of it meant anything until you."

he steps closer, his eyes searching yours. "you made me better. you make me better. in every way. and i know you probably feel like you can’t trust me, like i’m going to hurt you or cheat on you, but i swear, i haven’t even thought about another girl since you. i love you." his voice cracks, and the raw sincerity of it cuts straight through you. "i love you so much. and if you just… give me one chance, to prove it to you..because i can make you happy, i can make you the happiest girl in the world if you'll let me."

you stare at him, every word sinking in like an anchor pulling you under. your hands are trembling, and tears sting your eyes, but you can’t stop yourself from whispering, "you… really love me?"

he lets out a strangled laugh, his hand running through his hair again. "i didn’t talk to my best friend for three weeks because he said something shitty about you. i fractured his nose for it. i suffered through..the absolute worst blue balls of my entire life because i could see you weren't ready for anything but what i gave you and i didn't want you to panic and run away, i spent hours at your house even when i didn’t need to be, just to be near you, i listened to you talk about things i barely understand because the sound of your voice is my favorite thing in the world."

you can’t breathe. everything he’s saying crashes over you like a wave, pulling you under.

"i put everything else aside to be with you. i put you above everything. you're above it all. i’ve made it so clear." he continues, stepping closer still.

his voice is breaking now, and he steps closer as your tears spill over, hot against your cheeks. every word, every moment, every puzzle piece starts clicking into place, and the weight of it is too much.

"i know i’ve overwhelmed you," he says softly, his voice full of regret. "and you probably need time, but i hope—"

and suddenly, you’re moving. you don’t even realize it until you’re standing right in front of him, grabbing his face, and pressing your lips to his.

he lets out a sound somewhere between a gasp and a relieved sigh, his arms wrapping tightly around you as if letting go wasn’t an option. his lips move against yours, warm and desperate, like this is the moment he’s been waiting for.

it’s messy and frantic, all teeth and tears, but neither of you seems to care. his breath stutters against your mouth, and he makes a sound deep in his throat, somewhere between a sob and a gasp. his arms wrap around you like he’s terrified you might slip away, one hand splayed across your back, the other tangling in your hair.

"i love you," you choke out between kisses, the words spilling from your lips like a prayer. "too..and i'm sorry, i'm so sorry. i should’ve trusted you, i should’ve—“

"hey," he murmurs, his lips brushing yours as he pulls back slightly, his voice a soft rasp, "it's alright. what were you supposed to think? i know i have a..reputation."

you shake your head fiercely, cupping his face even as your fingers tremble. "but you've show me anything but that, rafe," you whisper, voice thick with emotion.

"anything but that. you've been kind, you've been patient—you've protected me. you've cared for me in ways i didn't even realise i needed. and you've never—never—made me feel like there was anyone else. not once. the way adriana and cora talked about you, the way they painted you like some selfish, heartless asshole—it wasn't you. and i should've known that. i did know that."

his throat bobs as he swallows hard, his hands tightening around your waist. "that's not completely true," he says suddenly, voice barely above a whisper.

your heart stutters in your chest.

you stare at him, the air between you turning unbearable heavy. "what?"

rafe exhales sharply, his grip on you tightening for a moment before loosening, like he's fighting something within himself. "i don't even know why i'm about to tell you this," he murmurs, shaking his head slightly. "but i need to. i want to be honest with you."

your stomach churns with a nervous kind of anticipating, but you stay silent, watching him carefully. he looks wrecked, eyes glassy, jaw clenched. you want to kiss it better but don't or maybe you can't.

slowly, he leans in, his forehead pressing against yours, his nose brushing against yours in a way that makes your chest ache. it's soft, intimate—charged. it feels like a confession. like a goodbye.

your breath catches again.

"rafe.." you whisper, barely able to get the word out.

his hand slides up to cradle your face, thumbs skimming over your damp cheeks, his touch so gentle, it makes you want to break apart. "just let me say this," he pleads quietly

his hands slip from your face to take your hands gently, his thumbs tracing the ridges of your knuckles. you can feel the tremor in his fingers as he guides you toward your front steps. he sits first, his back leaning against the pillar, and you settle across from him.

“despite how it all looks… i haven’t had a girlfriend in close to three years,” he starts, his voice uneven. his gaze flickers away from yours for a moment, like he can’t bear to see the reaction on your face. “it’s just been… flings, hookups, fuckbuddies. i’ve done some girls so, so wrong, and i never apologized. hell, i never even cared. i think a part of me wants to care now.” he pauses, exhaling shakily. “the thing is, i don’t think i care about being a good man. i just care about being the right man for you. about being good enough for you. i've hurt a lot of people and it never mattered to me. none of it mattered until you..you forced me to look in the mirror, to reflect because i wanted you—i want you. i want you to be proud of me, i want you to want me and see me as a good person even though i haven't always been. i think i'm scared that you'll see me for who i really am and know that i'm not good enough for you."

your chest tightens as his words spill out like a confession he’s been holding in for years. his voice cracks slightly as he continues. “i don’t even know how you’ve got me this fucked up about you. you just… you look at me with those eyes, and i want to be honest. i want to tell you everything about me, and i want to know everything about you. sarah and i have tried to figure it out so many times—”

your eyes widen. “you talk about me to sarah?”

his head snaps up, disbelief flashing across his face before he leans back against the pillar with a soft, breathless laugh. it’s a sound that’s equal parts relief and affection.

you can’t stand the space anymore. you shuffle closer, your knees brushing against his. when he lowers his head to look at you, his blue eyes are clearer, more focused, but still brimming with emotion.

“i love you,” he whispers again, like it’s the only answer he has.

your heart skips a beat, and before you can think twice, you blurt out, “i cheated on a test.”

rafe freezes, his brows furrowing, his eyes locking onto yours with confusion. it’s as if he hasn’t even begun to process what you’ve just said. “bullshit.” his voice is low, almost amused, a smile tugging at his lips as though he thinks this is some kind of joke.

“it's not,” you say quietly, a sheepish smile tugging at your lips. “i had too much on my plate. i forgot to study, and i cheated. no one—not even hazel—knows.”

his smile falters, and something shifts in his gaze—a quiet seriousness settling there as he studies you. “why are you telling me this?” he asks, his voice quieter now, almost cautious, like he’s afraid of the answer.

your hand lifts instinctively, resting gently against his cheek. his skin is warm beneath your touch, and his eyes search yours, looking for meaning. “because,” you whisper, your voice barely audible as your nose brushes against his, “i am the most unbearable person about my grades. about my future, my career. i put so much emphasis on doing everything right—on justice, on my morals, on my willingness to do good, to be good. i’m all of those things, rafe, and yet i still cheated. and it wasn’t okay. it really wasn’t.”

your voice breaks just slightly, but you press on, your fingers tracing a soft, grounding pattern on his cheek. “i have nightmares about it sometimes, about someone finding out and throwing me in a jail cell for it,” you admit, and a small, embarrassed smile escapes as rafe’s lips twitch upward at the thought. his smile is faint but real, and it gives you the courage to continue.

“but i’m a human being,” you murmur, your words gentle now, like you’re trying to reassure not just him but yourself. “i make mistakes. i make choices that aren’t considered okay sometimes, and yet, i still get the chance to wake up the next morning and try again.” your gaze holds his, unwavering, as you whisper, “everyone has weak moments, rafe. everyone has times when things are really shitty, and they express it in different ways.”

his expression softens, his vulnerability showing through the cracks in his carefully guarded exterior, and you take a breath, your tone filled with quiet determination. “i don’t think you’re a terrible person. as long as you’re trying—always trying—to be better, to be a good, kind person, i could never hate you. i could never give up on you.”

his breath hitches, and you see the tears gathering in his eyes, making them glisten in the dim light. he swallows hard, his jaw tightening as though he’s trying to hold himself together.

his shoulders shake as he exhales, and you realize he’s crying. tears glisten in his eyes, trailing down his cheeks, but his gaze never leaves yours. “thank you,” he breathes, his voice barely audible, yet full of a raw, unfiltered emotion that sends your heart spiraling.

you press a kiss to his forehead, your hand still cradling his face, and whisper, “always.”

your lips finding his again. it’s not rushed this time—there’s nothing hurried about the way your mouths meet. instead, it’s slow, deliberate, and you kiss him like you’re trying to kiss away every ounce of pain he’s carrying.

"it’s okay," you whisper against his lips, your voice soft and soothing. "it’s okay, rafe. i love you. i love you too. i promise, it’s okay."

his forehead falls against yours, and he closes his eyes, his breath coming in uneven breaths as he clings to you. "don't go anywhere," he pleads quietly.

you press one soft, lingering kiss to his forehead, whispering, "i love you, and i’m not going anywhere."

end <3

but not really cause there's an epilogue yaaayyyy.

just in case some of you won’t be reading the epilogue, i wanted to take a moment here to express my immense gratitude for reading teach me. writing this story has been an incredible experience, but sharing it with all of you has been even more special. this was my first time putting my work out there, and seeing your reactions, analyses, and thoughts has been unbelievably rewarding.

i hope you enjoyed the journey as much as i did. i also hope everything made sense and that you’re not walking away with lingering confusion—but if you are, feel free to drop a question in the comments! i’d love to discuss anything you noticed or clear up any inconsistencies.

thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart for reading. i hope my next story will be something you love just as much.

lots of love and kisses, nova

chapter index — prev. chap. — epilogue

taglist — @rafeysworldim19 @my-name-is-baby @pogueprincesa @fveapplestall @chalametlover444 @slutglimreqpers @uarmyhopeworldwide @junxe3 @bakuhoethotski @wintercrows @magicalflowerstranger @kinderwh0r3 @bigjuli444 @singlethreadofivy @stylestarkey

let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist & interact with post to remain tagged <3

[rafeandonlyrafe]

sfw masterlist (contains no smut but may still have mature themes, please heed any warnings!)

a place we could escape sometime words: 2k

rafe being an aggressive lover headcanons words: 800

before dinner words: 350

birthday morning words: 300

crybaby words: 400

drunk words: 700

fruit stand words: 1.2k

hoodie words: 1.1k

jealous words: 200

just friends words: 3.1k

legacy words: 4k

locked in words: 1.7k

m.i.a. words: 900

office hours words: 1.4k

pretend words: 1k

redemption words: 1.2k

savior words: 500

t-ball words: 1k

nightmare words: 350

only a little jealous words: 700

apocolypse words: 3k

the very first night words: 700

reluctant friends to lovers words: 1.3k

second chance words: 800

how you get the girl words: 900

childhood friends to lovers words: 800

a collection of soft moments with rafe words: 2.4k

live like a kook words: 5.2k

sleepy reader request words: 700

just not home words: 1k

black eye words: 500

talk to me words: 800

party's over words: 1.1k

savior words: 1.1k

who did this to you? words: 1.4k

defending you words: 1.9k

silent treatment words: 900

broken words: 500

emergency words: 1.2k

grilled cheese words: 300

everybody wants him, that was my crime words: 2.1k

wisdom teeth words: 1.1k

bad dreams words: 400

kook princess words: 3.3k

dealbreaker words: 500

love tested words: 1.1k

stupid baby words: 600

orange peel theory words: 1k

grumpy words: 400

i am a rich man words: 1k

girliest girly girl words: 800

destruction words: 1.5k

little protector words: 800

good boys words: 1.5k

tatted words: 1k

girls night guardian words: 1.3k

safe words: 1.1k

the pogues and the princess words: 1.8k

gamers words: 800

the compound part one words: 2k part two words: 2.6k

pink unicorn words: 600

chew toy words: 600

babys first flight words: 1.3k

vodka red bull words: 300

sanctuary words: 900

just add water words: 5k

babysit words: 300

w for wheezie words: 1.5k

out for a run words: 900

keeping secrets social media au

pizza night words: 2.2k

tee time words: 1.5k

deliveries words: 1.2k

separate lines words: 600

followed (part one) words: 1.2k accused (part two) words: 1k

in sickness and in health words: 1k

your friendly neighborhood spiderman words: 3k

finding freedom words: 4.2k

sunny words: 500

vip section words: 400

wax words: 400

yoga words: 1.2k

first moments words: 1.5k

hormonal hunch words: 800

tracked words: 1.5k

eventually words: 700

favorite girl to see words: 700

healing touch words: 700

range words: 700

never truly gone words: 2k

bodyguard words: 2.1k

over the clouds words: 1k

slap words: 1k

escape from isla nublar words: 2.6k

crash words: 2k

gone wrong words: 500

gold ring words: 1.3k

5 acts words: 2k

[randomcryptid]

They are haunting me, I need them to fall in love and then have a divorce arc.

Yapping below👇

There are multiple ways I could set up for them to start dating .

Politics (truce?)

Young Ink sneaking into dreamtale to give them a childhood friends story line.

(I could imagine the reunion similar to the nowhere king and the women. Where dreamtale was one of the first au's made and ink really wanted to learn more about people and emotions and decided to sneak in while telling themselves it's fine as long as it doesn't affect the story. And nightmare slowly gets to know some one who doesn't hate him on sight and dream gets a friend who isn't just here to moch off his good vibes. I like to think ink slips sometimes and accidentally tells the twins about au's but not his job and nightmare starts planning to run away from dreamtale but wants to convince dream to go with them. Ink for some reason or another (punishment for interfering with a story too much) gets locked out of dreamtale during the apple incident but manages to take dreams statute (I like to think he looks more like petrified trees then stone) and keeps him safe in the doodle sphere. While nightmare tries to get out of dreamtale but can't control his powers so he just rampages but eventually manages to get out but only to extremely negative au's (horrortale , ect) and slowly starts making a name for himself as he looks for his brother and ink , who he has no idea is the protector of the multiverse. And doesn't find out for a while since all his information is so outdated and few people knew ink when he was younger. I also think these events would make ink very afraid of interfering with au's and getting to know people. I imagine when dream gets out? Unpetrifies? he wants to return to dreamtale but finds out he can't go in since it's so negative (nightmares doing) and eventually makes a team to try and fix the emotional balance but I don't think ink would join him (which would be a point of tension between them , which would be even greater since I imagine ink lets dream stay in the doodle sphere since he feels guilty thinking he messed up this guy's life. I also like the thought of error and inks fighting being softer like because ink can't get upset that error is out here destroying worlds since he's like I did that too on accident ,maybe I can convince to do something more productive. Ink meeting error he's just like me fr but unlike me I think he deserves a chance because he has an actual soul and not just a job description)

OR

I like the idea of an ink who is aware of the multiverse and is like ?!?! That would be entertaining only to get invested in the relationship and slowly get uncomfortable with the closeness a relationship brings. I could see nightmare agreeing to be in a relationship either due to his ego or he wants to use this to his advantage. Till nightmare gets comfortable with their relationship thinking this guy gets me while ink internally is freaking out eventually leading to them arguing. (Divorce arc) And now they try to avoid each other but keep running into each other due to reasons (I haven't decided)