#rouge's heart chapter 2

[dracarialove]

📄F it, I'm posting my finished fics here, too 📄

*Check the 'rouge's heart' tag if you haven't read chapter 1

[Chapter 2: Betrayal]

Rouge sat on the plush white living room couch, fiddling with a communication device while a random dramedy played on the television. Knuckles came down the stairs, doing up a navy blue tie, and hesitated when he saw her.

He'd hoped to slip out while she was washing dishes, but reluctantly approached the back of the couch to tell her goodbye. He leaned over the bat's shoulder and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek before straightening his posture.

"Bye, babe," he said nonchalantly, Rouge smiling as she turned to look at him. "I'm going to work."

"Work?" the confused woman repeated, watching him walk to the front door. "It's almost sundown!"

The echidna stopped at the mahogany entrance, one mitted hand on the doorknob. He replied over his shoulder, "Yeah... my boss is on a kick of working away from the office; he held a whole meeting about doing performance reviews on a more personal level."

He hesitated again, wanting to leave the excuse there as he squeezed the doorknob. But Rouge was staring at him, perplexed and expecting further clarification. "It's stupid, um... but he's the boss, you know? Kind of a weirdo, so I didn't want him coming here – I offered to let him do my performance review at the apartment."

"Oh," his fiancée replied, mulling over the explanation for a second. Then she smiled, allowing the echidna to let out the breath he'd been holding. "I guess there's nothing wrong with a little change. Strange, but I can't say it's the weirdest thing I've ever heard."

Knuckles chuckled, turning the doorknob. "Gotta go. Love ya."

She returned the sentiment and waved goodbye, her man quickly stepping out and closing the door behind him. Placing the communication device on the glass coffee table, Rouge stood from the couch, then turned off the TV and went into the kitchen.

She picked up her cell phone, thinking about calling Blaze for an evening chat. Before she could open the contact, a stack of papers sitting on the kitchen table caught her eye. Looking them over, it seemed to be a business contract, stapled and stamped, with Knuckles' signature at the bottom.

Figuring he would need it for work, Rouge picked up the stack and placed her cell phone back on the kitchen counter. Walking over to the front window, she could see that Knuckles' red BMW was already gone from the driveway, so she grabbed her keys and went out to her own car.

Stepping into her cherry-scented white Corvette, the bat predicted that she would be able to get the contract to him before his boss arrived – intending to wish him luck before she returned home. She admired the way her engagement ring twinkled as the sky darkened.

***

When she got to Knuckles' apartment, she parked next to his car, noticing a gray convertible sitting in the space on the other side of the BMW. It made Rouge raise an eyebrow as she exited her car, knowing that the convertible belonged to Julie-Su, one of Knuckles' coworkers. The bat had only met her briefly when she'd picked up her fiancé after an office party, so seeing the vehicle next to his struck her as suspicious.

'Maybe she lives in the complex somewhere,' Rouge thought, trying to justify it as she approached the stairs that led to the echidna's door.

Though she attempted to quiet the nagging voice telling her that something wasn't right, she also took each step cautiously, placing her weight on the balls of her feet to avoid clicking her heels against the metal.

The worried woman was tense, her fingers unconsciously bending the stack of business papers when she spotted a 'Do Not Disturb' sign hanging from Knuckles' doorknob. She almost immediately grabbed the knob, but stopped and leaned forward to extend one large ear near the door.

She heard his voice, low and muffled. Then a chuckle – a womanly chuckle. The bat's heart raced, her face flushing hot as jealousy rushed through her in an instant. She gripped the doorknob, pushing before it was even fully turned.

The door opened loudly, and she caught the two echidnas pulling away from each other as Knuckles gasped. Julie-Su's hand was resting on his knee, and there was a light smudge of pink lipstick on the redhead's lips.

Rouge's grip on the stapled papers tightened again, crumpling them in her palm as her eyes angrily darted between the pair. Julie-Su's eyes were large, staring at the bat in confusion while she removed her hand.

Knuckles' face twisted into an expression of horror and guilt. The betrayed woman couldn't find her voice for a moment, her gaze finally sticking to Knuckles and causing him to speak up.

"R-Rouge," he stammered. "Uh, w-what are you doing here? I-"

Her growing rage pushed her mouth to speak before she even knew what she wanted to say, interrupting the echidna with a raised tone. "How dare you! We're engaged!"

She thrust her left hand forward, flashing the ring – Julie-Su stared at it, her mouth agape as Rouge continued. "And you're having an affair?!"

While Knuckles nervously stuttered to conjure a response, the pink echidna blinked and her expression instantly turned to anger. She whipped her head in the cheater's direction, her long locks flicking around her body before settling. Pushing herself from the couch, she slammed her gloved fists against her hips and raised her voice, as well.

"Hold up, you're engaged? You said she wasn't your girl!"

Knuckles blushed in embarrassment, his tongue still too tied to reply. Julie-Su grabbed her purse from the floor and headed for the door, almost bumping into Rouge as she stopped and turned to him again.

"Lose my number," she ordered angrily, avoiding eye contact with Rouge as she walked out and stomped down the stairs.

"Wait, Julie!" Knuckles finally managed to shout, standing.

Rouge's expression twisted to one of disgust. "'Wait, Julie'? You don't give a fuck about me? I can't believe you!"

"Babe, let's just talk-" pleaded Knuckles.

She interrupted him with a scoff, dropping the papers and swiftly shimmying the engagement ring off her finger. "Talk? No, I've had it with you. We're through!"

Throwing the ring to the floor, she glared at him for a brief second before turning to leave. The bat struggled to tune out the excuses flying frantically from his mouth as he began walking around the couch. She slammed the door behind her, hopping off the balcony and gliding down to her car while Julie-Su pulled out of her parking spot.

By the time Knuckles reopened the door, Rouge was climbing into the driver's seat; she started the ignition while he leapt down the steps two at a time. Still seething, she refused to look up at him and jerked her car backwards, peeling away from the apartment in the opposite direction that Julie had gone.

'Bastard!' her mind shouted, the furious bat unable to hold back tears as she sped away. The rest of her thoughts were angry, jumbled, a flurry of incoherent emotions that forced rivers from her eyes while she tried to focus on the road.

Shaking, she gripped the steering wheel tightly and drove in silence – besides the screaming in her own head – until she reached a coffee shop where her foot dropped absent-mindedly against the brake. She swung her car into an empty space and sat parked, falling back against the black leather seat and staring angrily up at the sun visor. There were a couple of people sitting outside, so she didn't yell to herself like she wanted. Instead, she quietly cried it out, silently calling herself stupid and cursing Knuckles for his betrayal.

When her heart beat had slowed and the tears couldn't flow anymore, Rouge took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She gathered the strength to sit up again, then flipped the sun visor down and looked into the attached rectangular mirror. Her eyes were still wet, teal irises shining back at her, and transparent streaks ran down her cheeks.

Beginning to collect herself, she reached into the glove compartment for tissues and gently wiped away the moisture. Then, glancing at the coffee shop sign, she sighed and flipped the visor back up. She decided it would be a good idea to go inside for a quick cup of tea, not feeling well enough to go back home just yet.

After ordering, the tired-looking cashier handed her the steaming cup and yawned the moment she turned around; Rouge took the hot drink to a two-person table nearby and sat for a while, ruminating between sips.

She was still shaking a bit, mostly staring at her own reflection inside the mug. Soon, a male hedgehog exited the back room of the shop and relieved the other employee, who promptly left while Rouge remained lost in thought.

The black hedgehog looked her way, noticing the bat's glum expression and finding it surprising that she was alone. He wondered what was bothering her, perplexed that a pretty young woman would be sitting in a coffee shop instead of partying at the nearby clubs.

The stoic man kept a subtle eye on her, eventually becoming curious enough to approach the lone patron. He quietly cleared his throat before rounding the counter.

"Hi," said the hedgehog in a deep, smooth voice.

Rouge looked up, caught a bit off guard, and was met with the most striking crimson eyes she'd ever seen. They were matched by red highlights along his silky black quills, his expression entirely neutral as he stood in a gray apron, white chest hair escaping the collar.

She straightened in her seat, subconsciously perfecting her posture while her gaze remained glued to his. The bat was a little embarrassed that she hadn't noticed him walking up to her; and she wouldn't have been in the mood to speak with him if he weren't shockingly handsome.

"Oh, hi," she responded, her tone shaky from the crying.

"Are you enjoying your tea?" he asked, looking down and pointing at the half-empty cup.

"Oh, yes, I am," Rouge answered, then noticed the nametag stuck to his apron. "Do you work here?"

She immediately felt dumb for asking, but the hedgehog didn't miss a beat in his response. "Yes, I've been here for a while. Truthfully, I only took the job so I could get free coffee. It calms me."

Rouge appreciated the softness in his voice; although not very chipper, his energy matched hers in the moment. All things considered, she found it friendly enough that he was talking to her, the sad bat feeling a bit grateful for the light conversation. Although she was too drained to smile, her eyes brightened a little more.

"Not a bad gig," she said. "Seems pretty quiet in here."

The hedgehog nodded and there was a moment of silence between them. His eyes drifted back down to her mug, and she got the feeling that he didn't know what else to say. Then he looked back up and took a step forward, extending his gloved hand.

"Shadow," he said simply, ignoring that she had already seen his nametag.

She reached out and pressed her palm against his, shaking a couple of times. He had a firm grip, and his hand was warm. "I'm Rouge."

"I'll let you finish your tea," replied Shadow, taking his hand back as she let go. "But maybe you could come by tomorrow."

He shrugged and added, "If you have the time."

Rouge's heart skipped a beat and she managed a faint smile. "I just might do that."

He nodded again, then returned to the counter just before another customer entered the building. The newly-single jewel hunter finished her drink – sneaking glances at Shadow while he worked – then offered a quick wave to him before leaving.

She felt a little more energized as she climbed into her car, then made the drive back home and confronted the question of what to do with Knuckles' belongings.

[acourtofmoonlightandstars]

Find me - Chapter 1

Pairing: Azriel x fem!reader

Summary: At a ball you meet the one person you thought you would never see again, you left him once. Will you leave him again?

Word count: Currently no idea

Warnings: Some sugestiveness, angst and minor details of Azriels work as a spymaster.

Note: So this is loosely based on a dream I once had, it was heartbreaking so I thought I might as well use writing as therapy

Chapter 2

The ballroom was huge and the light flickering from the crystal chandeliers that hung above your head made all jewels, sequin and glitter reflect the light. It was a beautiful sight.

You walked through the crowd of people, looking for no one in particular. You had no idea how or when you’d gotten here, you weren’t even quite sure who had invited you. Usually you stayed within the borders of your own court. But it seemed that you’d made an exception for once.

Everyone seemed somewhat familiar. You smiled at the friends who laughed around the tables filled with food as they filled each other goblets with fairy wine, at the couples who snuck away to find somewhere a little more secluded to steal a minute or two and at those who filled the room with laughter that echoed through the room.

As a waiter walked past you, you grabbed a flute of champagne from his tray. You sipped at the bubbly drink as you scanned the room once more, hoping to see at least one person you recognized. And then you spotted him.

He was beautiful in his black suit, it was such a stark contrast from his usual leathers and blue siphons. His wings were tucked close to him, almost as if he was afraid to take up space. His hair was combed back, revealing his forehead and the slight wrinkle he had between his brows. Your breath hitched, and you suddenly wished you were able to turn invisible at will.

You wanted nothing more than to walk up to him and ruffle his hair, once again revealing his somewhat loose curls that you’d once loved to run your fingers through in the late hours of the night. You wanted nothing more than to once again kiss his lips, to taste him.

But you had left him, that much you knew. But you just couldn’t remember why.

His shadows pooled around his feet, and indicated the constant stream of information that was always available to the Shadowsinger of the Night Court. You felt something cold around your ankle, and as you hiked up your skirt you saw the little rouge shadow that had slipped past its master. It almost looked like a puppy happy to be reunited with its owner as it twirled around you.

You giggled, which only seemed to amuse it even more.

In the hope that you could turn it away before he noticed its absence, you looked towards where he had been mere seconds before, and your eyes met his right away. The eyes you had once loved to stare into for hours at the time, the hazel pools of a man you once knew, seemed sad all of the sudden.

It was an emotion that seemed so out of character for him, and you felt your heart breaking a little at the sight of it, especially knowing that you were most likely the cause of the sadness and the purple shadows that hung underneath his eyes.

Azriel furrowed his brows at the rouge shadow as he no undoubtedly tried calling it back to him. But it seemed like it refused to listen to his quiet command. He walked towards you with a confidence that would make lesser males crumble in his presence.

You felt the blush creeping up your neck before it settled in your cheeks.

“Excuse me” he almost whispered, as he went out of his way to not meet your eyes. He bent down and physically yanked the shadow from you. You could’ve sworn it looked almost sad to leave you behind.

He stood up, and quickly turned away from you, almost fleeing. You don’t know what came over you but you grabbed his wrist and saw him stiffen as your skin came into contact with his.

“Y/N… Please, dont” it was an almost silent plea, one who broke your heart, but there was no way you were letting him walk away from you.

You pulled him towards you, forcing him to face you. He had a pained expression on his face and his eyes were closed. Despite of that you still send a small smile his way. Your other hand found his other wrist and you slowly pulled his arms around your waist.

He reacted instantly and despite not even noticing, he pulled you closer to him. “I’m so sorry” You whispered as you raised your hand to his cold cheek. He leaned into your touch as he finally looked at you, a single tear escaping his eyes. Your thumb quickly whisked it away before anyone had a chance to notice it.

The shadows swirled around the two of you desperate to give you some privacy, and even his wings seemed to be shielding the two of you from wandering eyes.

“I don’t know why I left you, I won't ever leave you again, please just give me another chance” you whispered, your voice threatened to crack, as his eyes searched your face for any sign of a deception, any sign of what you were saying, was nothing more than a lie.

“Don’t say things you might regret…”

You shook your head and sent a small smile his way, it was filled with regret and sadness. “It’s always been you and I’m here now and I promise it won't ever happen again”

But were you able to promise him that? You still couldn’t remember why or how you had left him behind, it was like a distant memory that was locked away, one you couldn’t access.

He pulled you from the ground and you couldn’t help the giggle when he nuzzled his nose into the crook of your neck. Desperate for your scent, desperate to feel your heartbeat against his own. “You better mean it” he whispered against your exposed skin.

You pulled at his hair, ruining it even though he had most likely done his best to bend his curls to his will for the event tonight. But you didn’t care, you always liked him better with his bed head anyways.

He kissed his way from that sweet spot where your neck met your shoulder, he nibbled at your ear and kissed you from there, down your cheekbones until his lips hovered over your own. And in a blink of an eye he stole your shallow breaths from your mouth with his own. He ate every whimper and small moan, as if they all belonged to him and him alone, as if it would be the crime of the century if any other male heard it.

“You do know you’re in a public place right? Everyone can see you” the voice was teasing, but in no way cruel. Without letting you down Azriel turned towards the other winged male that now stood in front of the two of you.

Azriel laughed, and his brother realized he hadn’t heard that sound in months.

“I apologize Cass” and he felt you stiffen in his arms, and sent you a reassuring smile, before once again returning you to the ground. He was here, the Lord of Bloodshed, Cassian. But of course he was, they would all most likely be here.

“It’s all good. But Nesta is gonna hate that she skipped this ball tonight, she would’ve loved to see you take a female in front of all these fancy fae”

This time it was your time to laugh, and you flet how your muscles relaxed at his way of addressing the elephant in the room. Azriel couldn’t help but to pull you closer to his side, lips kissing the top of your head.

“So you must be the one who broke my brother's heart” Cassian said as he crossed his arms, to anyone beside you and Azriel, he would look angry, almost disappointed in the way he stood before you. But all you could see was the happiness he held for his brother.

Cassian sent you a small smile. “Don’t worry, I don’t judge, my own mate was indecisive as well”

You couldn’t help but almost wince at his words. It wasn’t that you were indecisive, or at least you didn’t think that was it…

“It’s okay. It all worked out in the end” Azriel said.

The night went on and his hand never left your hip, he pulled you as close to him as he could whenever he felt a male came too close to you. You adored his possessiveness. Now you just needed to feel like you’d earned it.

The two of you spent almost every day together after the ball. It didn’t take him long to introduce you to the rest of his family. The inner circle of the Night Court.

Your father had told you the stories of both their power and their beauty, but despite all the stories, they were kind, welcoming and warm. You felt right at home.

At no point did you regret making contact with him the night of the ball. In fact you could feel yourself falling in love with Azriel, a little more every day.

He adored you, and he spared no expenses in showing you exactly how much you meant to him. Everytime he came home from a mission, he would bring you flowers from the given court. He would either make you homemade meals, or take you out to eat at the most beautiful restaurants in the city.

He would take you on flights over Valaris, on walks near the Sidra or just down to the nearest cafe or bakery to pick up something sweet or warm whenever you felt a little down. Apart from that he spoiled you rotten with gifts, to such a degree you almost had more diamonds than Amren.

You were however your happiest whenever you woke up to him by your side, and nothing beat the beauty that was his eyes as they reflected the morning sun. They were like liquid gold. He was beautiful, and sometimes you couldn’t help but wonder if this was all a dream.

As time went on he opened more and more up to you. He told you about his life, both the good and the bad. About his childhood, who he had become after Rhys and Cassian had found him. He told you about his role in the court as both shadowsinger and spymaster, and how he had days where he loathed who he was and what he had done, and others where he celebrated the screams he carved from the lungs of his prisoners.

And despite his fears you didn’t flee or coward when he reached out for you. You had instead held him, and whispered sweet nothing in his ear, confirming that you loved him despite all he had gone through, and that you loved him because of who he was. He had cried in your arms at your words.

You saw him, all of him and you loved both the good and the bad.

At no point had you ever expected to be with a man of his profession, but here you were. The people of Valaris were quick to catch on. They always greeted the two of you, they helped you with picking his gifts and selecting his favorite sweets at the bakery he loved to visit each sunday morning.

The fact that you got to be his in Valaris of all places, was more than enough. Being out and public to all fae, to all courts, would only paint a target on your back. One that he feared would take you from him too soon, whereas you feared that you would be used against him. You had no interest in ever letting it come to that.

After All you wanted nothing more than to protect him, to keep him safe, and he felt the same. He had given you one of his shadows, the rouge that had left his side that night of the ball. After all it seemed like it liked you more than him anyways, but this way he would know if you were ever in any kind of danger.

Nesta had told him it was a little much, especially since the two of you were basically joined at the hip, it was rare that you saw one of you without the other. You were one soul separated into two people. It was clear for all to see.

The inner circle had quickly started making bets on just when the bond would snap for the two of you. And despite the fact that you always rolled your eyes when they began speculating, you couldn’t help but hope that they were right.

Your brother had his mate, and so did Azriels brothers. It would only be right if the two of you had one too right? And if so why wouldn’t the Cauldron grant you eachother? With every fiber of your being you hoped that he was yours and that you were his.

One morning you stood in the courtyard at the house of wind as the sun was slowly rising from its usual hiding place beneath the horizon. Azriel was circling you, wearing nothing but his boots and leather pants.

The look of his tattoos and his muscles were now covered with sweat that was glistening in the morning sun, was enough for you to skip practice and go back to bed with him. You wanted nothing more than to be entangled in him and his scent.

The sun that shone through the fine membrane of his wings made him look like a god of death and war. What a sight to see. He sent you a dazzling smirk as he saw the pure lust and adoration in your eyes. He most likely smelled it on you as well.

You smirked back and sent him a little wave. But it wasn't enough for him to lose focus on his task at hand. It rarely was.

“You look so beautiful angel,” he said. Despite what you might’ve thought he couldn’t help but adore you in the morning light either. He was mere seconds away from abandoning his workout only to throw you over your shoulder and have his way with you. Where that would be, he didn’t care. You chuckled. It was his favorite sound in the entire world, and he hoped that he would always be the one to make you laugh.

And then you felt it. It was as if the world shifted on its axis, it was like it had been so many months ago. It was the same feeling you had the first time you had left him. And as the memories came rushing back to you, you paled.

As your smile dropped and your eyes became distant, almost as if a fog now hid them from the world. “Y/N…?” You heard his fear and desperation as he said your name.

“Promise me you’ll find me, promise me” It was all you could say, you struggled with getting the words out as you felt yourself drifting from this reality. You saw him spring towards you, his wings giving him momentum.

And then everything went dark.

When you woke up the darkness was still surrounding you. You laid there with your eyes closed for a few minutes as you tried to recall his features, his name, where you had been. But there was nothing, nothing except an ache in that place that usually held your heart.

All you remembered was the feeling of running your hands through his hair, how his lips sent electricity down your spine as he kissed that sweet spot right beneath your ear, whenever he snuck up behind you. You remember his rough hands, and a feeling of something cold that you couldn’t quite place. Everything else was a blur.

As you opened your eyes you looked towards the small clock that stood on your bedside table. 06:45. You had to get up soon, but the mere thought of leaving your bed made your head spin. It felt like you had lost something precious, it felt like you had lost your heart, and in its stead there was now only a black hole filled with nothing but emptiness and pain.

You had no idea how to start your day, it felt like you should stay right here, stay at home and mourn the loss of him.

Maybe he remembers, maybe he will be able to find me. You thought as you tried soothing the emptiness in your chest by rubbing the palm of your hand over where it ached.

But how could he? He was after all only a figment of your imagination, he was after all only a character in your dream. But he felt real, and you could nothing but hope that someone, someday would ever love you as unconditionally as he had.

At the other end of Prythian, Azriel Shadowsinger, Spymaster of the Night Court, had woken with such pain in his chest that he for a second had been convinced he had been stabbed in his sleep. And as his dream, no his memories of you, flooded his senses he knew what he needed to do.

You had to be real, he needed you to be real. So he sent out his shadows in search of the one person who now held his heart, the one person he would never stop looking for, you, his mate.

I promise you angle, I will find you

note: aaaaah this is my first ever acotar fic! don't be afraid to leave feedback, I would very much appreciate it! I feel like a part two would be absolutely amazing, but maybe I'll just do it as a stand alone since it's kind of heartbreaking. But we'll see!

[satorulovebot]

CURSED SEAS CHAPTER ONE | the rouge captain.

↳ satoru gojou x reader

genre. heavy angst, pirate au, 18+ 

tags/warnings. alcohol, religious themes, death, themes of depression, and criminal activity, it's a pretty tame chapter tbh.

notes. 6.2k wc. yeah we’re back baby with another series because i can’t sit still. i saw fan art (image 1) and (image 2) of pirate gojo and said yk what i’m gonna do a pirates of the caribbean inspired series. idk enjoy some brain rot. also know just like my introductory paragraphs my first chapters are ass and fast-paced.

next. HELP WANTED!

general masterlist -> series masterlist

Captain Satoru Gojou.

You had heard whispers of the infamous Captain Gojou for years. His name was spoken with fear in every port town along the coast. Some say he is invincible, that his ship, the Infinity, is the fastest to ever sail the seas. Others claimed he was dangerous, ruthless, and cunning—a man who showed no mercy to those he deemed too weak to survive in his world.

A few years back, a body washed up on the shore of Saltstone Port. The man, who was no older than twenty-five, had his eyes gouged out of his skull, and the number six was carved into the pale skin of his back. 

The discovery shocked the quiet little town, but it would not be the last time a mutilated body washed up on the shores of Saltstone Port.

You don’t miss the stagnant air at Saltstone Port. The salty breeze, tinged with the scent of rotting fish and seaweed, clung to everything it touched. It was a place where tales of Captain Gojou’s cruelty were whispered in darkened alleys and over dimly lit tavern tables, the memory of that unfortunate soul with the number six forever haunting the minds of those who dared to speak of it.

As you stood at the edge of the small dock in Elysport, you stared out at the vast ocean. You had always wondered if there was something more beyond the horizon at Saltsone and Elysport. You had only moved to Elysport in the last few years; your father claimed that it was God’s will for you to move after the death of your beloved mother.

You were just ten years old when your mother vanished without a trace, disappearing one night after her shift at the tavern. It was as if the earth had swallowed her whole, leaving no sign of where she had gone or what might have happened. The days that followed were a blur of confusion and fear, the house feeling emptier than ever without her warm presence.

Your father was a broken man during the weeks your mother was missing. Each night, he would fall to his knees, clasping his hands in desperate prayer. His voice, once strong and filled with faith, now trembled as he pleaded with whatever higher power might be listening to bring his beloved wife back to him and his young daughter. He prayed until his voice was hoarse, until tears stained his cheeks until the candles had burned down to their wicks. He sought solace in his faith, but with each passing day, the weight of uncertainty grew heavier, casting a shadow over your home.

He searched tirelessly for answers, combing the streets and questioning anyone who might have seen her. But no matter how hard he looked or how many prayers he whispered, the silence was deafening. Your mother, the heart of your small family, had simply vanished, leaving behind only questions and a growing sense of dread.

Nine agonizing weeks later, your mother’s body was discovered in a small, rotting, long-abandoned boat that had been stranded on the beach for years. You only caught a brief, heart-wrenching glimpse of her before the smallfolk, who had loved her dearly, carried her away. The once beautiful features of her face had decayed beyond recognition, maggots crawling across what little flesh remained.

Your father was utterly broken by the loss. He couldn’t understand why God would allow such cruelty to befall his family. The woman he had vowed to cherish and grow old with was gone, leaving him consumed by grief and bitterness. He became distant, his once-steady faith shaken to its core. He could not understand who would do this to his wife—a kind-hearted tavern worker known for offering a warm meal to anyone in need. The only conclusion that made sense to him was that pirates were to blame. In his mind, they were the only people capable of such barbarism, convinced that only they would commit such a gruesome act against the mother of his child.

Your father has always been a devout Christian. He was a pastor at the local church when you lived in Saltstone Port. His sermons were filled with messages of mercy and compassion. He always insisted that no one was beyond salvation, preaching that even pirates can be redeemed in the eyes of God.

But after your mother’s death, everything changed. His grief and anger warped his perspective, changing his view of life and love. The man who once preached forgiveness now called for the public execution of pirates, believing their crimes deserved the worst punishment hell could offer. An obsession now consumed him—a kind man who once spoke of compassion whose life was forever darkened by the loss of the woman he loved.

You now found yourself in Elysport, a bustling coastal city where the line between law and lawlessness begins to blur. The city's horizon is filled with the estates of wealthy merchants and the Governor’s home, a stark contrast to the docks below. The docks are always crowded, constantly filled with ships from all around the world, their sails billowing in the wind as they unload goods from distant lands. The scent of exotic spices and the sounds of vibrant marketplaces fill the air, mingling with the salty tang of the nearby sea.

In Elysport, you worked as a clerk for a small merchant. Your days were spent tallying registries, managing shipments, and handling mundane trade details. But your nights were different. They were filled with dreams of adventure, of sailing beyond the horizon where the sea meets the sky. Stories of legendary pirates and hidden treasures had always fascinated you, sparking a curiosity you kept hidden behind your daily life. Yet, you never imagined that those stories might come crashing into your own life one day.

One evening, as you were closing up shop, an old man stumbled into the store. His appearance was startling, to say the least—his clothes were tattered, his face weathered, and his hair a tangled mess. 

“Hello? Can I help you?” you called out from behind the counter, your voice slightly muffled by the shelves that obstructed you from view.

The man didn’t answer your question. Instead, his gaze darted around the shop, as if he was searching for anything suspicious that could get him in trouble. 

“You there!” he rasped, his voice rough. “I need a place to hide this.”

Your curiosity piqued at his words, you stepped out from behind the counter and faced the strange man who had entered just before closing. You assumed he was another last-minute customer, probably looking to buy something or bargain for a better price, knowing how tired workers down by the docks could be at this hour. 

You were curious but hesitant as you took the box from him. To your surprise, It was heavy for its size. The surface was adorned with intricate carvings, worn in places over time.

“What is this?” you asked, turning the box over to examine it more closely. The craftsmanship was remarkable, but there was something about it—something almost sinister.

The man watched you closely, his eyes never leaving your face. "It’s a map.” he said, "But not just any map. This map leads to something... powerful. Something that has been lost for centuries, tales of it told through generations of pirates, hidden away from those who would abuse its power."

You looked up at him, eyes wide and filled with curiosity. Why are you giving this to me?" you asked again, your voice trembling.

The man’s expression softened, a look of something almost like pity crossing his face. "Because you’re the one meant to find it," he said simply. "You’re the one who has been chosen."

"Chosen?" you whispered. "Chosen by whom? For what?"

The man smiled faintly, but there was a sadness in his eyes that made you uneasy. "You’ll understand in time," he said. "But know this: you must keep the map safe. Others would do anything to get their hands on it—dangerous people who won’t hesitate to kill for it."

Your breath caught in your throat at his words. You had always dreamed of sailing the seas looking for adeventure, but this... this… this was something else entirely. This was real, and it was dangerous.

You stared at him blankly, your mind racing as you tried to process the words the strange man had been saying. This was no ordinary treasure map. This was something that was hidden away for a reason.

"Why me?" you asked, your voice trembling. "Why would you trust me with something like this?"

The man’s eyes softened again, and he reached out to place a hand on your shoulder. "Because you’re different," he said quietly. "You have a strength in you that others don’t. You have a heart that won’t be easily swayed by greed or power. And most importantly... you have a destiny to fulfill."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning that you couldn’t fully grasp. You wanted to ask the strange man more, to demand answers to the questions swirling in your mind, but something in the man’s eyes told you that he had already said all he could.

"Keep the map safe," he repeated, his voice firm. "And trust your instincts."

Before you could say anything else, the man turned and walked out the door, disappearing into the darkness of the night. You stood there for a pregnant moment, the map clutched in your hands, your mind reeling from everything that had just happened.

You looked down at the map again, the tips of your fingers trace the markings, as if trying to unlock the secrets they hold. This was it. This was what you had always dreamed of, but it was also something far more dangerous, something that could get you killed.

You knew you couldn’t do this alone. You needed help, and there was only one place you could think of where you might find it.

The merchant’s ball.

It was an event you had never been invited to before—a grand affair where the city’s most powerful and influential figures gathered. But now, with the map, you knew you had to find a way in. You needed to find someone who could help you decipher it, someone who had the knowledge and connections to help you.

As the night of the ball approached, you found yourself growing more and more restless with each passing day. The very idea of the map’s existence gnawed at the back of your mind, its mysteries out of reach. The old man’s warning lingered in your mind, too—a treasure beyond your wildest dreams, but cursed. It was a puzzle you couldn’t solve on your own, and it only fueled your determination to get an invitation to the Merchant’s Ball.

But getting an invitation was easier said than done. The ball was exclusive, and the guest list was closely guarded. You knew you couldn’t simply walk in off the street, no matter how determined you were. You needed connections, and though you had some, they were weak connections at best. Your mind raced as you considered your options, running through the names of merchants and traders you had helped over the years. Some owed you favors, but whether those favors were enough to get you into the ball was another matter entirely.

You decided to start with a merchant you knew well—a grizzly man named Marcus, who had been in Elysport for decades. You had helped him with his inventory more than once, making sure that certain shipments went unnoticed by the authorities, and he had always been grateful for your help. You found him in his usual place, a small tavern near the docks.

“Marcus!” you greeted him with a smile as you approached his table.

He looked up, his weathered face breaking into a grin. “Ah, it’s you. Come to save me from my spending again?”

“Not this time,” you replied, taking a seat across from him. “I need a favor.”

His smile faded slightly, and he set down his flagon of ale. “A favor, eh? What kind of favor?”

You hesitated, choosing your words carefully. “I need an invitation to the Merchant’s Ball.”

Marcus leaned back in his chair, his eyebrows raised. “The ball? That’s a big favor, lass. Those invitations are hard to come by.”

“I know,” you admitted. “But I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

He studied you for a moment, his eyes searching your face. “What’s this about? You’re not one for fancy parties.”

You looked around the tavern, ensuring no one was listening, then leaned in closer. “I’ve come across something… valuable. But I need help deciphering it. The ball is my best chance to find someone who can.”

Marcus’s expression turned serious. “Something valuable, you say? What kind of valuable?”

“I can’t say too much,” you said, lowering your voice. “But it’s big, Marcus. If I can figure it out, it could change everything.”

He was silent for a moment, considering your words. Finally, he nodded. “All right. I can get you in. But you’ll owe me for this, understand?”

You nodded, a smile present on your face. “Thank you, Marcus. I won’t forget it.”

True to his word, Marcus got you an invitation, and the day of the ball soon arrived. You spent hours preparing, trying to calm the nervous flutter in your stomach. The dress you chose was simple yet elegant, a deep blue silk that flowed like water as you moved. You had never worn anything so fine before, and as you looked at yourself in the mirror, you barely recognized the woman staring back at you. But tonight wasn’t about appearances—it was about seizing an opportunity, about finding answers to the questions that had been plaguing your mind since that fateful night in the shop.

When the carriage finally arrived to take you to the Governor’s Palace, you felt a mixture of excitement and fear. The city seemed more alive than usual as you made your way through the cobblestone streets, the sounds of laughter and music drifting on the night air. As the palace came into view, its tall columns were bathed in the warm glow of hundreds of lanterns. The grandeur of it all was overwhelming and it was a far cry from the rough and weathered streets of Elysport that you were used to.

You clutched your invitation tight as you approached the entrance, the doorman barely glancing at it before stepping aside to let you pass. The moment you stepped inside, you were encompassed in a world of luxury, unlike anything you had ever seen. The foyer was vast with marble floors gleaming under the light of large crystal chandeliers. Ornate tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes of grand battles and lavish feasts. Servants moved about with precision, carrying trays of champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres, while the guests—dressed in their finest silks and satins—murmuring amongst themselves, their laughter filling the air.

You followed the flow of people into the main ballroom, your heart pounding as you took in the sight before you. The room was massive, with tall, arched windows that offered a view of the moonlit gardens outside. The walls were painted in rich, warm tones, and the floor was a mosaic of polished marble that reflected the golden light of the chandeliers. Musicians played soft melodies in one corner, their music blending in seamlessly with the murmur of conversation.

For a moment, you hesitated, feeling out of place. You had never been in a setting like this, surrounded by wealth and power. But you squared your shoulders, reminding yourself of the reason you were here. You weren’t just a simple clerk from the docks anymore; tonight, you were a woman with a purpose, a secret map, and a mission.

The ballroom was extravagant, to say the least. It made you feel sick that only a select few could enjoy things like this without worrying when their next meal would be or if they would be able to afford basic necessities. But were you any better than these people? After all the only reason you’re here is because you have good connections, just like the people in this room.

As you look to your left, you notice the couples dancing around the floor, their conversations blending in with the soft music. It was all very odd, like a dream you didn't want to wake up from.

“Enjoying the festivities?” A smooth and confident voice interrupted your thoughts. You turned to see a tall figure standing just a few feet away, his face obscured by a mask similar to yours.

You felt a shiver run down your spine, though you couldn’t quite figure out why. There was something about him, something unsettling in the way he carried himself, in the way he seemed to command the space around him. His mask was pale, almost ghostly, with intricate blue patterns that drew your gaze.

“I suppose,” you replied, keeping your voice light, though the unease you felt was seeping into your words. “These sorts of events are always a bit... overwhelming.”

He chuckled softly, the sound rich and smooth, “Yes, they can be,” he agreed, taking a step closer, his eyes—bright and unnervingly blue—locked onto yours through the slits in his mask. “But they can also be... enlightening if you know where to look.”

You felt your heart skip a beat, your mind racing as you tried to understand his words. Was he just making conversation, or was there something more to his statement? You couldn’t tell, and that made you more on edge.

“Is that so?” you asked, forcing a smile as you took another sip of your champagne, trying to calm your nerves.

He nodded, his gaze never wavering. “Indeed. You’d be surprised what you can learn at a gathering like this, especially if you keep your eyes and ears open.”

There was something in the tone of his voice, something that made you think he wasn’t just talking about useless gossip or civil conversation, at something deeper, something more dangerous, and it set you on edge.

The two of you sat in silence for a brief moment.

“Do you come to these kinds of events often?” you asked, trying to change the topic of conversation, though you couldn’t shake the feeling that this man was anything but safe.

“From time to time,” he said with a shrug. “But tonight is special. Tonight, I’m here for something—someone—quite specific.”

Your breath caught in your throat and you felt a chill run down your spine. It was the way he said it, the way his eyes seemed to pierce through you like daggers, it was as if he knew exactly who you were and what you were here for.

But, that was impossible, you thought to yourself. You were just a clerk, a regular person caught up in something far beyond your understanding. There was no way he could know about the map, about the treasure. No one knew. No one except—

“Do I know you?” you asked, the question slipping out of your mouth before you could stop yourself.

His smile widened, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Perhaps,” he said vaguely, his voice a low murmur that sent another shiver down your spine. “Or perhaps you’ll get to know me soon enough.”

Before you could respond, before you could even process his words, the doors to the ballroom burst open with a deafening boom. The music stopped abruptly, the room falling into shocked silence as everyone turned to see what happened.

A group of masked men stormed into the room, their swords drawn as they advanced on the crowd. Panic erupted, the guests screaming and scrambling to get away as the intruders began tearing through the ballroom, overturning tables, smashing glass, and sending the wealthy world of the Elysport elite into chaos.

You barely had time to react before you felt the man’s hand on your arm, pulling you toward the nearest exit. His grip was firm, his expression unreadable beneath the mask as he guided you through the panicked crowd, dodging the chaos that surrounded you.

“Stay close,” he ordered, his voice calm despite the madness. “We’re not done yet.”

And with that, you were swept away into the night, the sound of the destruction behind you fading as the mysterious man led you away from the scene, leaving you to wonder who he really was—and what he wanted with you.

The cool night air hit your face as you were pulled out of the grand ballroom and into the dimly lit streets of Elysport. The contrast between the noise and chaos of the ball and the quiet moonlit streets was jarring. You were still reeling from the events that had unfolded, your heart pounding in your chest, and your mind racing with questions.

The man holding your hand was strong, his grip firm but not painful, leading you through the labyrinth of narrow alleyways that twisted and turned through the dark city like a maze. The commotion of the party faded into the background, replaced by the distant sounds of the sea and the occasional creak of a ship down at the docks. The city was alive with the whispers of its nightlife, but you felt completely alone, alone with this stranger who seemed to know everything about you.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he slowed his pace and came to a stop in a small and secluded courtyard. The stone walls of the surrounding buildings loom above you and the walls cast deep shadows that obscured your surroundings. The man released your hand, leaving you standing in the center of the courtyard.

As you took a moment to catch your breath, thoughts reeled through your mind. Who was this man? What did he want with you? And why had he chosen to rescue you from the ball? You looked around, trying to get a sense of where you were, but the courtyard was unfamiliar, and the darkness made it almost impossible to see anything.

Before you could gather your thoughts, the man stepped forward again, more calculated and more predatory. His movements were fluid as if he were completely at ease in the darkness. He reached up, and with a swift motion, removed the mask that had concealed his face.

You gasped, taking a step back as the light of the moon revealed his features. The man standing before you was impossibly handsome, his striking blue eyes piercing through the shadows with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. His white hair, which had been partially hidden beneath the mask, now fell loosely around his face, giving him an almost ethereal appearance. But it was the look in his eyes that truly unsettled you—as if he could see right through you.

"You're a difficult person to track down," he said, his voice smooth and confident, with a hint of amusement.

You took another step back, your mind racing. "Who are you?" you demanded, trying to keep your voice steady.

He tilted his head slightly, a small, almost playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Who I am isn't important," he replied his tone light, almost amused. "What matters is what I know."

A chill ran down your spine at his words. You felt like a cornered animal, trapped with no way out. "W-what do you want from me?" you stuttered, trying to keep the fear out of your voice.

His smile widened slightly, but his eyes remained cold and calculating. "You know what I want," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have something that belongs to me."

Your heart skipped a beat, and your thoughts immediately jumped to the map. How did he know about that? The old man had warned you that it was cursed, that it would bring you nothing but trouble, but you didn't think it would be anything like this.

The man's smile faded, and his expression grew more serious. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied you. "Don't play games with me," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "I know you have the map. And I know you've been looking into it."

"I don't have it," you insisted. "I got rid of it."

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing you. "Is that so?" he took a step forward, "Because from what I've heard, you've been asking around about certain landmarks. Places that just so happen to match the ones on the map."

Your heart sank. He knew too much. There was no point in lying anymore. But you couldn't just hand the map over to him—not without knowing who he was and what he planned to do with it.

"Why do you want it?" you asked, trying to buy yourself some time. "What's so important about this treasure?"

The man studied you for a moment, his expression unreadable. "That's none of your concern," he said finally, his tone dismissive. "All you need to know is that it's mine. And I intend to get it back."

"And if I don't give it to you?" you challenged.

He smiled again, but this time there was no warmth in it. "Then I'll take it from you," he said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

You stared at him, trying to gauge his intentions. There was something about him—something dangerous and unpredictable—that made you believe he wasn't bluffing. But at the same time, you couldn't just give up the map. Not without knowing what it was all about, and what it could lead to.

"I need more time," you said finally, hoping to stall him. "Let me think about it."

The man studied you for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to your surprise, he nodded. "Very well," he said. "But don't take too long. I'm not a patient man."

He turned to leave, but then paused mid-way, glancing back at you over his shoulder. "Oh, and one more thing," he added, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Don't try to run. I'll find you. No matter where you go."

With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving you alone in the courtyard. You stood there for a moment, your heart pounding in your chest, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Who was this man? How did he know so much about you? And what was he planning to do with the map?

You knew you had to be careful. Whatever this treasure was, it was clearly important enough for someone like him to go to great lengths to get it. But at the same time, you couldn't just hand it over without knowing more. You had to find out what this was about—before it was too late.

You quickly made your way back to your small house, your mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. You weren't going to let anyone intimidate you—not even someone as dangerous as him.

As you reached your door, you paused, glancing around nervously. The man's warning echoed in your mind—he would find you, no matter where you went. But you couldn't let that stop you. You had to find out the truth, no matter the cost.

With a deep breath, you unlocked the door and stepped inside. The map was hidden in a small, secret compartment in the floorboards—a place you thought no one would think to look. You retrieved it, carefully unfolding the worn parchment and studying the markings on it.

You had to figure out what this map was leading to, and why it was so important. As you stared at the map, a new plan began to form in your mind. You would find someone new who could help you decipher it—someone who knew the legends of the sea better than anyone else. And then, you would find the treasure before anyone else could.

But even as you made your plans, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were being watched. The man's piercing blue eyes seemed to haunt your every thought, his warning lingering in the back of your mind.

You knew you were playing a dangerous game. But you had no choice.

And so, with the map clutched tightly in your hands, you made your decision. You would find the treasure—no matter what it took.

The city was bustling when you stepped out onto the streets, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone road. You knew where you needed to go—there was a tavern on the edge of the city, where sailors and pirates would gather to share stories. It was a risky move, venturing into such a place, but you were running out of options.

As you made your way through the streets, you kept an eye out for any sign of the man from the night before. You couldn’t afford to be caught off guard again.

Finally, you reached the tavern, it was a weathered building with a creaky old sign hanging above the door. The scent of salt and ale greeted you as you stepped inside, the dimly lit interior filled with the low hum of conversation. You spotted a few rough-looking sailors at the bar, their eyes looking toward you with curiosity as you made your way to a secluded corner.

You ordered a drink as you tried to blend in, waiting for the right moment. You needed to be careful about who you approached—trust was a rare occurrence in a place like this.

As the minutes ticked by, you watched the patrons of the tavern by studying their movements and listening to parts of their conversations. You were looking for someone who seemed knowledgeable, someone who might have heard of the map or the treasure it led to.

Finally, your patience was rewarded. An old sailor whose face had been weathered by years at sea, sat down at the table next to yours. He wore a tattered grey coat and a wide-brimmed hat. He seemed like the kind of man who had seen his fair share of the world, the kind of man who might know more than he let on.

You took a deep breath, gathering your courage, and leaned toward him. "Excuse me," you said quietly, your voice steady. "I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something."

The sailor turned to look at you, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied you. "Depends on what you’re asking.”

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal to the man before you. But you had to take a chance. "I’m looking for information about a map," choosing your words with care. "A map that leads to a treasure. But I don’t know where to start."

The sailor’s eyes flickered with a hint of interest, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "A treasure map, you say?" he repeated, leaning back in his chair. "Well, now, that’s a dangerous thing to be looking for, especially in a place like this."

You nodded, your heart pounding in your chest. "I know it’s risky," you admitted. "But I need to find out what this map leads to. And I was hoping you might know something about it."

The sailor stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving yours. "There’s a lot of talk about treasures and maps in these parts," he said slowly. "Most of it’s just nonsense, stories made up to entertain drunk sailors. But every now and then, you hear about something real—something worth risking your life for."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "If you’ve got a map, and it’s real, you’d better be careful who you share it with. There are people out there who would do anything to get their hands on a treasure like that."

You swallowed hard with the weight of his words sinking in. "I understand," you said quietly. "That’s why I’m being careful. But I need to know more about what I’m dealing with."

The sailor nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "Alright," he said finally. "I’ll tell you what I know. But it won’t come cheap."

You reached into your pocket, pulling out a small pouch of coins. It wasn’t much, but it was all you had. "Will this be enough?" you asked, hoping it would suffice.

The sailor took the pouch, weighing it in his hand before nodding in approval. "It’ll do," he said, tucking the pouch into his coat. "Now, let me see that map of yours."

You hesitated for a moment before reaching into your bag and pulling out the map. You unfolded it carefully, laying it out on the table between you. The sailor leaned over, his eyes scanning the markings and symbols.

After a few moments, he let out a low whistle. "Well, I’ll be damned," he muttered, more to himself than to you. "This is the real deal."

You leaned forward eagerly, your heart racing. "What does it say?"

The sailor glanced up at you, his expression serious. "This map," he said slowly, "leads to a place that’s been whispered about for generations. A place where a great pirate captain supposedly buried his most valuable treasures. But it’s not just gold and jewels we’re talking about. There are stories of powerful artifacts."

"But it’s not going to be easy," the sailor continued. "The path to that treasure is full of danger. There are traps, curses, and worse things that guard it. And if you’re not careful, you’ll end up just like the others who’ve tried and failed to find it."

You felt a chill run down your spine at his words. "What do you mean, 'the others'?" your voice barely above a whisper.

The sailor’s expression darkened. "There have been others before you," he said quietly. "People who thought they could outsmart the dangers and claim the treasure for themselves. But none of them ever made it back. Their ships were found wrecked, their crews dead or missing. And those who survived were driven mad by what they found."

You swallowed hard, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "So, what do I do?" you asked, your voice trembling slightly.

The sailor looked at you for a long moment before speaking. "If you’re serious about this, you’ll need to prepare yourself," he said. "Find a crew you can trust, people who know how to handle themselves in a fight. And most importantly, keep that map close. There are others who would kill to get their hands on it."

You nodded, "I’ll do whatever it takes."

The sailor nodded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that," he said. "Just be careful. This world is full of dangers, and not all of them are as obvious as a pirate’s blade."

With that, he stood up, tipping his hat to you before turning to leave. "Good luck, lass," he said over his shoulder. "You’re going to need it."

You watched him go, your mind racing with everything he had told you. The treasure was real, and it was more dangerous than you could have ever imagined. But you were determined to find it, no matter what it took.

You took the map and carefully folded it and tucked it back into your bag. With a deep breath, you stood up and left the tavern, your heart pounding in your chest. You had a lot of work to do, and there was no time to waste.

As you walked back through the city streets, the weight of the map seemed heavier than ever. You knew you were about to embark on a journey that would change your life forever, one that would test your courage, your resolve, and your very soul.

But despite the fear that lingered in the back of your mind, there was also a sense of excitement—a thrill at the thought of uncovering something that had been hidden away for centuries that not even the best pirates could find.

You had the map and you had the determination, now all you needed was the right people. And once you had that, there would be nothing stopping you from finding the treasure and claiming it for yourself.

The night was still young as you made your way back to your small home. You were ready to face whatever challenges came your way, to risk everything for the chance to uncover the secrets of the map.

And as you reached your door, the words of the mysterious man from the ball echoed in your mind: "I’ll find you, no matter where you go."

You knew he was out there, watching, waiting for the right moment to strike. But you weren’t afraid. You were ready for whatever came next.

series masterlist -> chapter 2

[lovestruckelf]

We Saved Each Other (Legolas x Reader Short Story)

Read on Ao3 "We Saved Each Other -Chapter 1"

CHAPTER 2: A03 or Tumblr

CHAPTER 3: A03 or Tumblr (HEAVY NSFW)

Summary: Reader and Legolas are ordered to keep a band of orcs away from the Woodland Realm. Their love for each other is their greatest strength as Reader saves Legolas from the blade of an orc and he returns the favour by guiding her back to health during the weeks after the battle. Their love flourishes into something deeper as they tentatively tip-toe around each other, wanting something more but being too reluctant to approach the subject until the tension becomes too much and they both finally fall into each other.

Note: This will likely only be a two chapter short story, possibly three depending on where it takes us. The first chapter is the lead up to the reason why this story was originally written as I didn't want to write a smut piece with no plot. Hope you enjoy it! Kudos and comments are so appreciated.

Pairing: Legolas x Reader (female elf)

Warnings: head trauma, stabbing, angst, smut, virginity loss, fluff fluff and more fluff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the second week you had woken up in the healer's rooms under observation after slipping into a coma for the better part of a month. The last thing you remember was battling a small group of rouge orcs that were trespassing within the King's forest. Your squad along with 4 others which were led by the prince had been ordered to remove them with haste. The sound of metal on metal and arrows flying through the air could be heard in all directions. Being the experienced warrior you are you were more than capable of holding your own as you took down orc after orc as though it was child's play. As always, your main concern was looking out for and protecting your closest friend and the other half of your heart who always fought alongside you. With the prince in your sight at all times, you continued to fell the foul beasts with both your knives and arrows. Glancing around to check on Legolas, your heart dropped when you noticed an orc coming up behind him with it's sword raised as the prince was already engaged in a hand to hand battle with another beast. Without hesitating you went to load an arrow into your bow to save the prince but your quiver was empty and you hadn't realised. Panic set in as you knew that you would not reach the orc in time before they cut down the light of your soul and you made a quick decision that left you defenceless. You yelled across the way, "Legolas! Behind you!" hoping your plea would reach the prince as you threw your long elvish knife with deadly precision and it embedded itself in the orc's skull.

With a deep sigh, you took a moment to recover from the shock and felt relief that Legolas was ok. That was until you heard the prince call out at you, "Y/N, ON YOUR RIGHT!" but before you could turn your head to see what Legolas was warning you of, you felt the sharp sting of a small blade pierce the side of your body and the scream that left your mouth echoed through the forest. You had no weapon with which to protect yourself as you brought your hand up to stop the swing of the sword the orc was hurling in your direction. Connecting your hand with the pummel of the sword and stopping it from running you through, you heard the prince yell out as he was frantically trying to reach you. You were looking directly into the orcs hateful eyes now and heard his evil laugh as he grabbed the hilt of the blade still embedded in your side and twisted. Letting out a blood-curdling scream, your sight was temporarily blinded from the pain of the action along with being headbutted with such force by the orc in front of you. Dropping to your knees, your vision was blurred but your hearing was still acute and you heard Legolas' screams and rapid footsteps approaching but so did the orc. The disgusting creature knew he was out of time and just before the prince reached you both, the orc raised the handle of the sword high above you and smashed you violently against the side of the head just above your right ear. You fell to the ground hard as darkness took hold of you and did not relent until you woke within the healing chambers of Mirkwood almost four weeks later.

During your recovery, Legolas did not leave your side. When you eventually woke from your coma he was there and each morning after that as your eyes adjusted to the new day's light, he was there still. This morning was no different as you looked over to the side of the bed and found the elf you loved most in this world sat within the chair resting, his hand moulded into yours as you both slept. The wound in the side of your body was healing well and the pain in your head was slowly fading with time. You had insisted that you be allowed to return to your own private chambers to continue your recovery but the healers and the prince would hear none of it, concerned that you may have sustained greater injury that was not able to be seen. Being kept for observations was the final decision and even though you wanted nothing more than to rest in your own bed, you agreed for the sake of your best friend. The compromise was that if all was well and your body continued to mend after two weeks of observations then you would be allowed to return to your chambers and this morning marked the agreement.

Slowly you moved to sit up and while your wound was healing well, it was still tender and you tried to not make a sound as you shifted your body back up against the headrest. Sensing movement, Legolas' eyes snapped into focus and his body jolted awake looking at you with great concern. "Shhhh, my love," you began, squeezing his hand reassuringly, "it is well." Legolas sat on the edge of his seat eyeing you over, making sure all was in fact well. You began speaking again, "Good morning, my prince. I really wish you would take proper rest within your chambers. I am quite alright now." Looking up into your eyes while shaking his head slightly and holding your hand in both of his now, Legolas responded, "Good morning, my y/n. I trust you slept well?" Looking back into his eyes with the same amount of love you smiled, "I think you know the answer to that already. You never leave my side. Please, take some rest." Legolas brought your hand up to his lips with both of his and laid three gentle kisses on top of it, "I shall rest when you are back on your feet, meleth nin". You smiled down at him as you watched him press his lips against the back of your hand and you felt love spreading throughout your body. "Well while on that note, this new morning officially marks two weeks since we came to our agreement.". You watched the prince with curious eyes wondering how he was going to respond. With your hand still within both of his and his breath gently caressing the back of it, you noticed he did not move or say anything. Instead just sat there as he understood your meaning.

Trying to get his attention once more, you removed your hand from his grasp and gently placed it against the side of his face, "My love? Did you hear what I said?". Legolas subtly nodded his head and let out a defeated sigh, "Yes, meleth. I heard you. I just do not completely agree with the choice but a deal is a deal. You are still healing and must not push yourself to the point of beginning the recovery all over again. Your tenacity is one of the many things that I love about you, but you must look after yourself and listen to your body. Can you do that please? For me?" You felt that your heart would burst from the words spoken from your beloved which were full of love and concern for you and you couldn't help the smile that lit up your face. This was not lost on the prince who was thoroughly confused, "I'm serious, y/n. Do not make me worry for you". This elicited a small chuckle from you which further confused the prince, "I know, my love, I know. Forgive my actions but I believe you would be concerned for me whether by my choice or not." Legolas playfully scoffed a little, "Well, yes, I suppose you're right. Just don't make me worry more than is absolutely necessary." Grabbing his hand now, it was your turn to bring it up to your lips as you placed a small kiss upon his knuckles, "You have nothing to fear. My recovery continues and I will feel much better from the comfort of my own chambers."

You saw a small wave of reassurance wash over Legolas' features as he moved to sit back comfortably in his chair. His hand remained within yours and you couldn't help but listen to your feelings telling you there was more on his mind. Gently squeezing his hand to get him to look at you, you decided to ask him. "Legolas, there is more you're not telling me, is there not? Do not feel as though you need to hide anything from me. What troubles you?". With a deep sigh, Legolas sat foreword once more and gently ran his thumb over the top of your hand while deep in thought. Watching him and allowing him to gather his thoughts, you wondered what could be plaguing his mind. "You are still not completely well, y/n. It worries me you being on your own within your chambers. What if you have a fall and reopen your wound? Or worse, fall and hit your head while it is still healing in ways we cannot see? There would be no one there to help you until it would be too late and I cant... I cant..." the prince's trembling voice fell silent as his head hung low and he shook it, fighting back the tears. Your heart lurched in your chest as your heard the turmoil in his voice, "Hey, shhh shhh, my love. Please, look at me." you gently requested as you tried to bring his face up to look at yours. He allowed you to guide his eyes up to look into your own and what you saw left you heartbroken. Glassy eyes that were full of unshed tears bore into yours and you gently ran you thumb over one of his cheeks. "What can't you do, my love. Tell me". Legolas' eyes closed as you asked him to finish his earlier statement and the unshed tears fell down his face. Opening his mouth, a shaky breath escaped before he began speaking at a volume no louder than a whisper, "I can't... lose you again, y/n. I can't."

Legolas' words left you speechless and you brought your legs around to hang them over the edge of the bed to bring your body closer to the prince's, providing him comfort. "Oh, my love. You won't lose me, I promise. I'm here and I'm staying." you swore as you brought your arms around his shoulders and he placed the side of his head against your chest wrapping his own arms around your waist, silently weeping. Running your hand through his hair to soothe him you heard him speak, "But I did lose you, y/n. For almost four weeks I did not know if I was ever going to look into your eyes again. Hear the sound of your voice or be able to caress your lips with my own. I was living in hell and then my father came to see me and spoke of what would happen should you have left us. I couldn't breath let alone bare the thought of living in a world without you in it. Especially knowing that I was the reason why your life was in the balance in the first place." The prince took a breath and a moment to collect himself before continuing, "When you woke, I felt as though my life had purpose once more. The relief was like nothing I had ever experienced. It was like my life had started anew and a new sun shone upon me for the first time. My soul embraced yours as it returned to us and hasn't let go." The sheer amount of love and pain in Legolas' words had you breathless and shocked. "My love, I'm so sorry to have put you through all that emotional turmoil." you said as your hold on his body tightened, trying to ground him to the present.

You felt Legolas shake his head against your chest before he moved away to look at you. Bringing your face between his hands, he brought your forehead down a little so he could gently place his lips upon your forehead before replacing them with his own. You both closed your eyes as you took in the presence of the other and let the intensity of the moment wash over both of you. Legolas whispered, "Do not apologise, meleth. It is me who should be seeking forgiveness as you protected me and left yourself defenceless. Your loyalty almost cost you your life and for that, I shall never forgive myself." Bringing your hands up to hold the top of his which still held your face, you gently shook your head, "Would you not have done the same for me? No forgiveness is necessary. It was an act of love, not loyalty, and should it had been my last, I would have gone onto the next world with a full heart knowing you lived by my hand." Legolas gently moved his face away from yours slightly to look into your eyes and you saw a mixture of admiration and love within them as he took in your words. The next thing you felt was his lips upon yours as he kissed you passionately in response to your candour. The amount of love flowing through Legolas in the moment had overwhelmed him and it was the only response he felt he could provide after hearing you speak. His thumbs caressed your cheeks as he kissed you desperately and your hands rested on his wrists, caressing him the same. The kiss was long, intimate and spoke more truth than any words ever could.

Reluctantly breaking the kiss, the prince brought his hands down to hold yours within your lap as he moved closer to the edge of his seat, closing the gap between you both. "Meleth, I am aware of our agreement regarding your return to your chambers as of today. If I may, I have one more request if you would listen to it?" You looked at your beloved and nodded your head encouraging him to continue. Taking a deep breath, Legolas found his courage, "If you would have me, I would ask to join you in your chambers to ensure your health and safety until you are able to truly take care of yourself without assistance. I would request separate sleeping quarters are made up so you can be comfortable with your own space as needed." The request had shocked you as people of your realm did not share chambers until marriage but you understood Legolas' concern and if you were being completely honest with yourself, the idea excited you a little which you kept hidden. "My love, we are not wed nor have we even spoken upon the idea. Would your father even approve of such a thing?" you asked reluctantly, not wanting to know the answer. Legolas tightened his grip of your hands and smiled, "I have already spoken with him about it and it took some convincing but he saw my reasoning and agreed that you would need support for at least a little while." Your heart jumped at his response and you tried to hide a smile that wanted to overtake your features. Seeing the hidden smile, the prince couldn't help his own smile as it lit up his face, "Don't pretend to be happy with this new development." he teased and you gave him a playful smack on the side of his arm. "Is that how you thank someone who is looking out for you?" Legolas joked. You said nothing and just sat there beaming at him, trying to hide your full excitement. The prince continued, "So, will you have me as a temporary roommate then?" Looking back into his eyes you nodded without hesitation, "Of course. I wouldn't say no to the Prince of Mirkwood heading to my every request."

Legolas chuckled and playfully kissed your lips again before standing, "Do not get used to it, my lady." He moved to walk away from your bed and your hand instinctively tightened around his, "Where are you going?" you asked almost too urgently. Smirking down at you and kissing the top of your head, the prince spoke once more, "No where, meleth. Do not fret. I am getting a healer to look over you again before I take you back to *our* chambers." The way he said 'our' sent a shiver down your spine and it settled directly in your core. This sensation was brand new to you and you were not sure of what to make of it. What was this feeling he had pulled from you just now? You barely had time to consider it as Legolas returned with a healer who examined your still healing body. After some moments, the healer looked at both you and the prince before giving you the all clear to be moved. Legolas reached out with both his hands for you to take them as you gently stood from the bed. Once on your feet and steady, the prince brought his arm around your waist and pulled you in closer to him so he could fully support you. The proximity of your bodies and the way his hand felt flush against your waist had that shiver flowing through you again in all the same places as before. Legolas felt your heart jump, the beating increased and vibrating throughout your body as he held you, feeling his own body temperature spike in response. Certain muscles growing tense and hard as he uncomfortably walked you towards your chambers. This temporary roommate situation was going to be very interesting.

[dragon-kazansky]

Symphony of dreams

Morpheus x Female Reader

You are his lover. When Morpheus was captured, you fell into the deep sleep. He has no idea until he returns to his realm where Lucienne tells him what happened. Unable to help you until he gets his tools back, he is more determined than ever to get his full power back.

{Masterlist}

{Next Chapter}

Warnings: None really. Just the start of the story.

Chapter One - See you soon

☆☆☆

The Dreaming. The place people go to at the end of the day. When they're all tucked up in bed and drifting off, they come here. A realm full of stories and adventures. A realm where dreams and nightmares thrive.

The Dreaming is also home. Home to many creatures and beings. It is the realm of the lord of dreams and king of nightmares. Dream. That is how he is commonly known. Morpheus, to those who really know him. He's Darling to his wife.

His wife. A woman he met many years ago. She was a gift to him. A gift he fell in love with once he learned how to open his heart to her. She has been by his side for many moons now.

This is their kingdom. Their life. Their home.

Now, Morpheus was about to leave his realm in search of a rouge nightmare. It wasn't often anyone left The Dreaming, but occasionally, Morpheus had walked among the mortals.

He stood on the steps of his throne, tools in hand, preparing to make his leave. The Corianthian was free, and he had to stop him. Beside him, his wife stood with his helm in hand. She looked just as beautiful as she always did. Lucienne stood at the bottom of the stairs, a glint of worry etched into her gaze.

"My lord, you are coming back, aren't you?"

"Why would I not return, Lucienne?" Morpheus asks.

"Of course he will come back," you say, looking at your husband. "He will always come back."

Morpheus looks at you with a gentle gaze in his eyes. His hand is being held by your free one. He loves the way your fingers curl around his.

"As powerful as you are here in your realm, dreams rarely survive on the waking world." Lucienne explains.

Morpheus takes his helm from you and puts it on. You take a few steps down to stand beside Lucienne. Morpheus takes his leather pouch out and pours some sand into his palm.

"Nightmares, on the other hand, seem to thrive there."

With a quick gesture, Morpheus throws the sand up, and it swirls around him. You do not take your eyes off him until he is no longer standing on the steps of his throne.

You sigh softly.

"See you soon, my love."

☆☆☆

"My lady, if I may?" Lucienne approaches you as you read in the library. Morpheus had been gone no longer than 45 minutes so far.

"Yes? What is it, Lucienne?"

"If I may say, do you really think it was a good idea to let him go?"

You smile as you close the book in your hand and look up at her. "Morpheus is capable. He can bring our nightmare back home. Have trust in him, Lucienne. He will come back to us soon."

Lucienne offers a smile and nods. She leaves you alone to continue reading. However, the book no longer holds your interest. You look at the ring on your finger.

"Come back to me, darling."

☆☆☆

2 hours have passed. There has been no word nor a whisper about what was happening in the Waking World.

You were sitting on the steps of the throne room, waiting. In your hands, you played with your ring, needing to feel aome aspect of him. The ruby sparkled, but it showed your nothing of where he was.

"My lady."

Jessamy flew in and landed nearby.

"Jessamy."

"He will return. He would never just leave."

"I know. I'm just worried."

The raven cocks her head to the side as she looks at you. She can see the worry on your face. Your eyes focus on the way you turn your ring between your fingers.

"The Corianthian is a complicated being." Jessamy tries to softly remind you. "Perhaps Morpheus is just having a hard tike locating him."

"Perhaps..."

Or perhaps something has gone wrong.

☆☆☆

A whole day passes. Morpheus has not returned home. You're pacing the floor of your chambers. You grow restless with each hour that passes without a word from him. Morpheus has never left you without a word before. He would have contacted you by now.

The worry seeps into your bones as you whisper his name and try to calm your racing mind.

A knock sounds at your door.

"Yes?"

Lucienne comes in and looks at you. The expression on her face tells you that there is still no news.

"I need to find him."

"My lady, you must not leave the realm. Please, rest."

"How can I rest when I don't know where he is? Morpheus would have sent word if he needed mkre time. Something has gone wrong, I can feel it."

Lucienne reaches out to rub your arms gently. She tries to get you to focus on her, needing you to calm down a little.

"I am aware Lord Morpheus would never leave you this long without sending a message back. I, too, fear something may have happened, but we must remain calm. This realm needs a ruler until his return, and he has bestowed that role to you. Please, my lady, get some rest. Who knows, he may be by your side when you wake." She offers you another smile.

You take her words to heart and nod. Lucienne leaves you in your room. You can not help but worry. However, you do as she suggests and get some rest.

You climb into the bed, which feels colder without Morpheus because you, and close your eyes.

"Come home, Morpheus."

☆☆☆

Lucienne knocked on the door to your chambers. No one had seen as of yet that day. It was unlike you to sleep in unless Morpheus had kept you up.

"My lady?" She calls, knocking on the door again.

No answer.

"My lady?" She tries once more.

Still no answer.

"Forgive me, my lady." She whispers as she opens the door herself. She is greeted by the sight of you in bed, fast asleep.

Lucienne approaches the bed. She would never dare enter your chambers without permission before, but it seemed you needed slight assistance in getting up today. Perhaps your heart was saddened by Morpheus not being present and needed the extra rest.

She felt for you.

"My lady, you must wake."

You did not stir.

"My lady?" She frowns as she takes in your current status. Something feels wrong. Lucienne reaches out and touches your hand lightly.

Something is wrong.

"My lady?"

☆☆☆

Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. Months turn into years.

Morpheus sits in his glass cage, trapped by the circle around him. Rodrick Burgess did this. He had tried to summon Death but instead received her younger brother. Now he was trapped.

Rodrick Burgess kept Dream down in his basement, stripped of his clothes and his tools. Morpheus had no way to contact The Dreaming. He had no way of contacting you.

His beloved wife. He missed you. He missed the sound of you voice. He missed your eyes. He missed the touch of your hand.

His ring. It was missing. They had stolen that, too.

Morpheus was without you entirely. These mortals had taken him away from his kingdom and away from his wife.

Vengeance.

He needed it.

☆☆☆

A century had passed. Morpheus had seen Alex Burgess grow old. Rodrick had since died, and Alex took over.

Morpheus could only hope his imprisonment would soon end. He had to return home. He had to return to you.

Alex had come down to the basement one last time. He pleaded once more. Morpheus, as always, said nothing. He just watched. Alex used the same words they had told him for decades. It would change nothing.

Alex gets back in his wheelchair and Paul takes him away, the wheel of the chair rubbing away a line from the circle. They had no idea what they had just done.

Morpheus waited.

He watched the two guards currently watching over him. One of them was talking about a holiday. Sun, sea, sand. Perfect. Morpheus looked at him. The guard yawned.

Today was the day Morpheus went home.

Using that dream, Morpheus escaped into it.

In the Waking World, the guard was shooting at the glass of his cage. It cracked and weakened. Soon, it shattered, and Morpheus was able to get out. In his hand was sand that he had taken from the dream. He blew it gently. The guard went to sleep, and Morpheus turned around to enter the portal back home.

But first, he had to deal with Alex.

☆☆☆

Alex Burgess would never wake up again. Eternal sleep was his punishment. For now, that was good enough. Morpheus was free to return to his realm and see the damage that had been done from being away so long.

He mostly just wished to see you again. A century was far too much time to be away from your side. His heart ached to be with you again.

Lucienne knew he had returned. She felt it.

Far out from the gates of his realm, he lay in the sand. Lucienne ran all the way out there to get him. She had never felt such relief before.

She ran over and shook him gently, waking him up. His blue eyes opened, and he saw her familiar and friendly face. He was home.

"Lucienne," he whispered her name.

"Your home, my lord." Lucienne was beyond happy.

"I am." He smiled.

She helps up to his feet. He takes a moment to look around. Lucienne is alone. He can only assume you are waiting back in the palace for him. The thought of seeing your smile again made his heart burst with joy.

The two make their way to the gates. Morpheus opens them. They slow open.

"Forgive me, sir, but the realm, the palace, they are not as you left them." Lucienne says, looking at him solemnly.

Morpheus looks at his realm.

Everything was in disarray. The palace was crumbling, falling apart. The luscious greens that surrounded his palace were gone. The realm looked... empty.

"What happened here?" He asks. His home, his realm, was nothing like it was. "Who did this?"

"My lord, you are The Dreaming. The Dreaming is you. With you gone as long as you were, the realm began to decay and crumble."

"And the residents? The palace staff?" Morpheus asks.

"I'm afraid most have gone."

"Gone?"

"Some went looking for you."

"And the others?"

"They thought, perhaps, you had grown weary of your duties, and..."

"What? Abandoned them?" He didn't want to believe such a thing. "Had they so little faith in me? Had my own subjects not known me?"

"If I may, sir, there is one other thing..." Lucienne said, not sure exactly how she was going to break this news to him.

"What is it?"

"It's about your wife, my lord."

Morpheus felt his blood run cold. Had you abandoned him, too? Had you, the woman he adored above all others, lost faith in him?

"Where is she?" He asks.

"Inside, sir."

Morpheus turns back to his palace. You were still here. You hadn't left. He cursed himself for even doubting you. You would never leave him, not willingly.

He makes his way toward the palace, or what's left of it. Lucienne follows him, knowing he does not yet know the full extent of what happened.

"Where is she, Lucienne?" He asks.

"In your chambers, my lord. But sir -" Lucienne doesn't get to finish what she wants to say before he is at your door. He knocks, but there is no answer. He opens the door, ready to scoop you into his arms and never let go of you again.

However, the sight the greets him is far from what he expected. Morpheus swears he hears his own heart shatter.

"No..."

You lay in the bed, peaceful, quiet, asleep. He walks over to the side of the bed slowly and looks down at you. He reaches out to touch your hand.

"How long?"

"My lord-"

"How long has she been asleep?" He looks up at Lucienne.

"I assume, from the moment you were trapped. I told her to rest while we waited for your return. She... did not wake again."

Morpheus turns back to you and caresses your cheek lightly with his finger.

"I will bring all the dreams and nightmares back home." He says softly. "I will fix this." He does not take his eyes off of you. "I will wake you from your dreamless slumber, and we will be together again. I promise," he whispers.

Lucienne can only watch her king gaze at his beloved. She had done everything she could to keep things going in his absence, but she knew this would hurt the most.

The Dreaming would be rebuilt. That much, he was sure of.

☆☆☆

@missdreamofendless - @mischievousvillainy - @kpopgirlbtssvt -

[mermaidgirl30]

✨Crimson Tango: A Dance of Diamonds and Revenge Chapter 2 - It Always Ends Badly✨

Series Masterlist

A/N: Me and @mountainsandmayhem are having so much fun writing this Moulin Rouge au! We hope you enjoy chapter two ☺️ Comments and reblogs are always appreciated ❤️

Word Count: 5.7k

Pairings: Joel x fem! reader

Rating: Explicit (18+ Only)

Chapter Summary: Joel and reader finally meet. Things get a little heated till reader’s uncle interrupts. Plans take a turn for the worst when your uncle introduces you to Terrance, the man you absolutely loathe.

Chapter Tags: Flirting, feelings, fluff and thoughts of smut, angst, longing, grief

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

In the bright lights of your room, you notice things about the handsome stranger that you couldn’t quite see while you were up on stage. Like his eyes… They aren’t just dark brown. No. They’re lighter than you expected, almost the color of honey and copper mixed together. Light flecks of warmth reflecting off them. It almost reminds you of sunlight. Beautiful, warm. And just for a second you swear you can see home in those bright brown eyes that call to you. And his face is so beautiful. So smooth, tan, angelic.

“I - I’m sorry,” Joel stutters, using every ounce of self preservation he has to tear his eyes away from you.

You turn your back to him to put the dressing gown on properly, tying the satin pink sash in a bow to make sure the gown doesn’t slip off. The spike of adrenaline from performing always seems to cloud your mind and you must have forgotten to lock your door again. You glance over your shoulder to see Joel's wide brown eyes looking at your guitar and pottery wheel. “It’s okay, I should have locked the door,” you reply shyly.

You spin back around to face him, and in the sensual lighting of your bachelor style living quarters he might be the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen. You wonder how old he is and if he’s married. You find yourself hoping he’s not. A married woman wouldn’t let her husband work in a place like this.

“Perhaps I should come back another time,” Joel says hesitantly.

“No, no please. Stay.” Your heart thunders in your chest, you’re sure he sees you as others around town do, a whore. That title has never bothered you before, let them think what they want to think, you know what you are. You are the Sparkling Diamond. The one that all men want, but can never have. You’re their fantasy, and unbeknownst to them you’re an untouchable fantasy. But Joel’s opinion feels like it should matter, you can’t explain why, but you want him to know that you aren’t like the other girls that work here.

“Alright,” he murmurs out, tugging at the collar around his shirt that is starting to feel too tight. “I just need to fix that dripping faucet for you and replace that light and umm, then I’ll be out of your way, ma’am.”

You say your name and his right cheek lifts slightly as he repeats it back to you. It’s never sounded sweeter coming out of someone’s lips. He glances quickly at your guitar and pottery wheel again before walking further into your room to inspect the sink.

“You’re Mr. Miller, right?” You had heard some of the women talking about the handsome new handyman your uncle had hired earlier.

“Yes, just Joel will do, ma’am.” His heart is hammering in his chest, he wouldn’t be surprised if you could hear it across the room. He opens the cabinets under your sink and sees a pipe with a steady drip running down to the floor.

You repeat your name again with a laugh.

“Sorry, that’s not how I was raised, darlin’.”

Darlin’. The nickname gives you butterflies low in your stomach and warmth floods your body. You feel your cheeks flush as Joel glances over you slowly.

His breath gets caught in his throat with how beautiful you look with a slight pink blush lighting your cheeks. His mind flashes to you on top of him, that blush spreading down your neck and chest slowly. Soft breasts in his palms as you bob up and down on his cock.

“Darling,” you repeat back dreamily, “you could just call me that if you like. I like it,” you blush crimson as you flutter your long eyelashes at him.

Joel is thankful his face is now hidden under the sink, the big grin across his face would definitely give him away. You watch his strong arms flexing as he tugs and pulls on the hardware under your sink. Watch the way his bulging biceps cling to the flannel every time he reaches and flexes his muscles. The sight alone makes you gulp with desire.

“Okay, if that’s the case then,” he raises his head to lock eyes with you, “can you please turn the water on, darlin’? Let’s see if I’ve fixed this.”

You pad over to the sink in your barefeet, toes painted the same red as your fingernails. You lean over Joel's outstretched body to turn the water on. Everything happens all at once; first, the water sputters and then shoots out of the faucet with much more pressure than usual, then the pipe underneath pours down on Joel. Before you can even comprehend what’s happened, Joel has you scooped up in his arm, while the other reaches to turn off the tap. He’s completely soaked now and when the two of you lock eyes you both start laughing. Neither of you can really remember when you’ve laughed like this. Warm, genuine laughter as he walks you away from the wet floor of your kitchen area.

“Shit,” you laugh, ‘I’m sorry! You’re soaked.”

Joel places your feet gently on the ground at the foot of your bed. “I think we need to replace that.”

You stumble slightly when he puts you down, like a few minutes of his touch has already made you weak and boneless. He grabs the hem of his shirt and lifts it up to wipe his face. You should look away, but instead you let your eyes wander down to the exposed skin of his abdomen, your bottom lip sliding in between your teeth. His flat abdomen has a little trail of hair that leads to the one spot you haven’t been able to stop thinking about since you saw him. Between that and the v shaped divots of his hip bones, you’re mesmerized. You want him, need him. Badly.

His brown eyes lock with yours as he lowers his shirt slowly, keeping his eyes intently focused on you. Your breaths come out shallow, causing your breasts to rise and fall rapidly. His eyes dart to your parted lips as you step closer to him. His warmth and mahogany smell wraps around you, enveloping you in a thick fog. He’s taller than you, much taller. You have to crane your neck up to look at him. One of his hands grazes against yours and you suck in a nervous breath as you feel electricity run through your connected skin. His fingers are soft and warm, but also rough and scalding all at the same time. The hands of a hardworking man.

“Darlin’?” He says in a cracked whisper.

“Y-yeah?” you coo, fingers reaching for his, your pointer finger linking gently with his pinky.

Joel hears Edward’s voice, don’t touch my girls. But his hands seem to have developed a mind of their own as he finishes intertwining your fingers with one hand, the other tracing a gentle line up your arm towards your shoulder.

“You have to stop looking at me like that…” he says, pushing your soft curls off your shoulder, brushing your exposed collarbone, his delicate touch causing your clit to throb. He’s so handsome, so… gentle. Soft.

You hold in a moan, his strong, thick fingers feeling like heaven on your skin. “Like what?” you ask quietly, locking your fingers with his as calloused fingers drag along yours smoothly. It’s like fire burning your skin. Warm, tempting, smoldering, life ending.

He steps closer, so close that if you could take a full breath your barely covered breasts would graze against his body. Your nipples are hard and sensitive against the silkiness of your dressing gown, begging to be released from the material.

“Like you want me to kiss you, baby girl.”

Baby girl, fuck.

His gentle touch continues up your neck and you can’t hold it in anymore, a moan slips from your lips as you lean into his touch. His eyes haven’t left yours, and they darken as he watches your body responding to his fingers. He traces your jaw line, stopping below your chin and lowering his face to yours. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

A breathy ‘yes’ starts to come past your lips when a loud knock on your door has you both jumping apart like you had touched a live wire. Joel rushes into your kitchen, grabbing a towel to clean the puddle of water on the floor quickly. You tighten your dressing gown and head to the door, opening it just a crack.

“Hi, petal,” your uncle says, “just checking on the sink situation. Did Joel stop by?”

You open the door the rest of the way and gesture for him to come in.

“Sorry, sir,” Joel says from his crouched position on the floor. “I think we’re gonna need to replace it. The one pipe is stripped and you can’t get a good seal without the threads.”

You smile at Joel from behind your uncle. He appears to be rambling. Nervous rambling.

“Do what you need to do, Joel. This is the room of our most prized possession. If she wants it, she gets it.”

If she wants it, she gets it. The words run through Joel’s head over and over again like a broken record on repeat. Like how you were practically begging him to kiss you seconds ago. Those smooth, glossy lips tempting him to dark places he shouldn’t go. He shouldn’t, he knows better. But he’s beginning to realise he has no sense of self preservation when it comes to you.

Joel notices the way your eyes glaze over with sadness when Edward calls you a possession and that’s when he feels it again. The connection, the tight string that pulls him to you. He can tell that you hate that, that you want to be seen for you and not just the fantasy you put out there for those sick men.

He can’t say no to you, he’ll never say no to you. To hell with the rules, he’d already broken them the moment he saw you. He wants to know you, he wants to play guitar with you and maybe you can teach him how to use that pottery wheel. He’s truly, royally fucked. Ruined. But so be it. As long as he could have you, he didn’t care about the consequences because all he wanted was you. His Sparkling Diamond.

“Petal, come to my office when he’s done here, please?”

You nod and smile sweetly, “Of course.”

After he leaves, Joel sighs and leans against your porcelain counter, crossing his strong arms across his chest, his soft chocolate eyes staring back at you. His eyebrows knit together and you can see him grinding his teeth together while his jaw clenches into a tight fist.

“Sorry.” It comes out of your mouth instinctively. You don’t know what you’re sorry for but it’s certainly not for almost kissing him.

“No, I want to, darlin’. I really want to. It’s just…” he walks towards you slowly, almost hesitating before he reaches for you. He’s known you all of twenty minutes and he already can’t stand being in the same room with you and not touching you. As his hands come up to lightly cup the back of your head he continues, “It’s just that doing that will get me fired.”

“Didn’t you hear him? If I want it, I can have it.”

You let your hand roam over his chest, and he can’t help but melt at your touch. “Fuck, baby girl. You’re so…I’m just…”

“Are you feeling flustered, Mr. Miller?”

“Very,” he says before crashing his lips into yours.

His lips are soft and fit perfectly against yours as they nip at your bottom lip and devour you nice and slow. You run a hand through his soft tousled curls and hear him groan against your mouth. He likes that, likes your fingers wrapped around his hair.

He slides his arms around your waist and pulls you tight against his broad chest, making your head spin with want and need. You can smell every inch of him, feel the mahogany and woodsy scent seep into every crevice of your skin. It’s intoxicating, electrifying. You want him, you need him, crave him like you’ve never craved anything else in your entire life. It’s him, it’s only him.

It takes everything inside you to break the kiss, and both of you whine out when you part. Joel fights the urge to readjust himself, he doesn’t want you thinking he’s like every other guy in here. He’s not looking for a quick fuck, he never wants to do anything quick with you.

“Fuck,” you say breathily, “I have to go. I don’t want to go, but he’ll come back.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be back tomorrow.” His thumbs graze the sides of your waist affectionately as he pulls back.

“Can I see you again?” Joel didn’t realise the elation that could come from those five little words. You step into him, resting your cheek against his chest, hands roaming his broad back. “Please?” you almost beg.

Joel groans at your touch, “Nothing would make me happier, darlin’.”

Before he steps out of your reach, you look to your acoustic guitar and back up into his warm brown eyes. “I saw you looking at my guitar earlier. Do you play?” you ask with your eyes focused on him intently.

“Mhm. Been playin’ a long time,” he replies and tucks a strand of hair behind your ear, making you want to melt into his touch forever. “And you? I’m guessin’ you also play?” he asks with the cock of his thick eyebrow.

“Yeah, a little. I kinda taught myself as a child,” you say shyly.

A low whistle escapes his lips. “Taught yourself, yeah? Smart girl.” A smirk curls against his lips and it nearly knocks the breath from your body. “I could give you lessons, you know. If you’d want, that is.”

You don’t hesitate at all before you squeak out. “Please! I’d love nothing more,” you almost shout with a huge grin on your matted red lips.

“Perfect. It’s a date then…” he says as he slides his hand through his tousled curls nervously, making his brown flecks of color pop with his shy smile. You nearly explode at the thought of his strong arms around yours, his calloused hands guiding you along the strings as his smooth lips trace your neck line, whispering praises to you each time you learn something new.

Good girl. Doin’ so good for me, baby girl. Learnin’ so fast. Such a good girl… The thoughts nearly take you down to the floor.

“Well, guess I should let you get to Edward,” he sighs, already starting to move his arms from your waist. The feeling of him leaving makes you feel empty, hollow. A lost void in the darkness. You don’t want him to go…

After managing to pull yourselves out of each other's arms, Joel slips out of your room slowly, sending you a flirtatious wink and a small smile before closing the door gently. When you peel your eyes off the now closed door, you throw on a pair of pink lacy panties and a wrap around dress before heading out to your uncle's office.

When you open your door, you enter back into the chaos and madness of it all. You forgot that all of this was happening all around you when you were alone with Joel, almost like being locked in his eyes turned off the whole word. The burlesque is still hustling and bustling with men, dancers swarming them on the dance floor as they grab and take what they want from the women. You decide right then and there that you are done with this place and then roll your eyes bitterly as you make your way down the grand staircase, then down to the wooden floor, clicking your heels across the wood as you saunter your way to your uncle’s office.

You can feel the eyes roaming over your body, hear the cat calls the men make as they whistle and call your name. You tune them out, pretend you don’t hear the barbaric things they yell at you.

What could your uncle possibly want to talk about that couldn’t wait till tomorrow? Was he letting you come up with a new routine, maybe let you coach some more of the children on how to do kicks and twirls and little dance numbers? You liked the children, loved seeing their faces light up when you showed them a dance move or two. Maybe that’s what this was about. You hoped it was.

When you cross the dim lit hallway with red wallpaper and dark wooden floors, you turn the golden doorknob into your uncle’s spacious office. “Hi, uncle! You wanted to see me?” you ask brightly. As you turn you stop in your tracks, the door shutting quietly behind you. There’s a strange man standing almost menacingly near your uncle.

“Oh, uhh. Who’s this?” you ask cautiously, taking in the tall stranger that stands at the corner of your uncle’s long, wooden desk.

“Oh, petal. So happy you made it. This is Terrance. Terrance, this is our Sparkling Diamond.” Your uncle says your name to Terrance and he smirks at the mention of it.

Something about him makes your skin crawl. You can’t place what it is, but your gut and intuition are telling you to be afraid of this man and to run. Bile rises in your throat from questions that swirl violently in your brain.

Why was Terrance in here alone with your uncle? And why were you being introduced to him? Something wasn’t right. Something was off, very off.

Maybe when you’re 18, you can join them. No, that wouldn’t be it, he promised you that you would just be a dancer.

You blink away your thoughts and take in his appearance. He stands maybe six feet high, he’s built but somehow frail at the same time. When he takes his black top hat off and nods his head at you, you see the thinning hair that sits atop his head. It’s ash blonde with grey streaks running through every other strand. And his mustache is almost slimy looking, wet and slicked over with a grease like gel to hold it in place. You find yourself comparing it to Joel’s soft, trimmed beard and mustache. It’s nothing like this man’s. This man is… unkempt.

You take in his wrinkles, see the way his leathery skin pulls at the evil smirk that encases his chapped lips. This man is much older than you. Much, much older. Maybe the same age as your uncle or even older. You can’t tell, but he was way too old to be after a girl like you.

“So good to finally get to meet you, m’lady.” He takes your hand and brings his lips over your knuckles, planting a wet, sloppy kiss on your skin that makes you cringe. When you drop your hand back down, you run it over the back of your dress as you wipe the drool off your hand.

My lady? Just who did this guy think he was?

“Are you here to meet some of the dancers?” you ask him cautiously as you watch his grey eyes turn cold, calculating, and vindictive, but most importantly lust filled.

You watch his eyes scrape over you like sharp glass tearing through your skin, see the way he looks at you like a fresh piece of meat. He hones you like a hawk, piercing eyes scanning every inch of your body. You feel as if he sees right through the thin dress as he undresses you with his glazed over eyes. You cross your arms over your body and wrap the dress tighter around you, pretending as if that’ll make you feel slightly less exposed. It doesn’t help, not one bit.

“Not exactly,” he says, the vowels getting caught in between his teeth as he draws it out, words hooking on his annoyingly proper accent.

“Ummm, about that,” your uncle says nervously. He wipes at a bead of sweat on his forehead as his green eyes become big and wide before he says his next words. “He’s here for you.”

Your blood runs cold, veins constricting as you feel ice run down your bloodstream. You repeat the words in your head, almost positive you misheard him. He’s here for you. Here for you. But you hadn’t misheard. You heard him just right.

Maybe when you’re eighteen, you can join them.

“For me?” you whisper out, wide eyes looking over at Terrance as he runs his rough tongue along his bottom lip seductively, grey eyes hounding your body as he nearly combusts from his desire for you.

You see the way he looks at you, like a dog would a fresh bone. You see the way his fingers dig into his top hat as he stares at your breasts as they sit halfway exposed from the dress. There’s nothing but lust and desire in his eyes. Nothing but the mere inkling to rip your dress off and expose every inch of your body for him to indulge in. He doesn’t look at your eyes, or face, doesn’t even seem to care that tears are burning in the back of your eyes as he manages to violate you without even touching you.

Your uncle is selling you to him…

You hold your head high and bite your cheek before you say something hasty. You tear your watering eyes off Terrance, not able to look into the lust filled pits of his eyes anymore. Joel… Joel would never look at you like that, would never make you feel as small and feeble as Terrance just did. Joel looked at you with passion, need, like you were the only girl in the entire world. And that’s all you could think of now was him. Joel… the one you wanted.

“That’s right. For you,” Terrance smirks out the words as you stare distraughtly at him.

Your uncle looks between the two of you, the lines of his forehead wrinkling into worry lines. He looks nervous, sad even. And you know then this had to be a sick joke. He couldn’t be serious. He wouldn’t.

“Terrance, can you wait outside for us at the bar? Maybe go grab yourself a scotch? Need to speak to my little petal here,” your uncle says. Terrance nods and moves toward the door, sliding up behind you as you feel his hand brush up against the back of your dress, dangerously close to your ass. You suck in a breath and let him pass through the door, waiting a few seconds till you can’t hear his light footsteps down the hall anymore. Then you attack.

“What do you mean he’s here for me?” Your voice is raised, anger biting back as you snarl down at your uncle sitting calmly in his leather office chair.

“He’s…. uhhh he’s….” he stutters, nervous drips of sweat falling from his forehead as he takes a hand towel and dabs at his drenched skin.

“Just tell me!” you demand, almost screaming at him as your red polished fingers slam on top of his desk with a jolt, making a stack of thick papers fly down to the floor.

He sighs and nods before telling you. “He paid me money to have you…” he whispers out defeatedly.

“You sold me? To him?!” you yell loudly as your face floods with hot heat, anger and broken trust filling your insides like hot lava.

“Petal, I can explain,” he pleads as he holds his hands out, begging you to let him speak.

“Don’t!” you cry out, pointing your index finger in his direction as you see the shiny red polish shimmer back your way. “Don’t you dare call me that!”

Silence fills the air and you have to swallow the sob that creeps up your throat. Your hand falls to your side, “You lied to me,” you say quietly, hurt seeping through you as you feel your heart shattering. He was the one person you always counted on to be honest with you.

“Sweetheart, I didn’t lie,” he says defensively.

His defensive tone comes out cockily and you feel the anger bubble back to the surface, “You lied to me the day you started making me entertain those men! The day you made me sit on their laps as they looked at me like I was just a wet hole for them to fill.”

Your uncle cringes but you aren’t done, “You lied to me the moment you promised I’d never have to be fucked by any of those men! And now look. You fucking sold me to an older man, who spent the whole time looking at me like I wasn’t even a fucking person! Like he just wants to use me till I’m no more, until I’m nothing!” The words get caught on a choked cry as you feel a wet tear slide down your cheek. You swear with how quietly still the room is that you hear it splash on the floor.

Your uncle just looks at you with sad, distant eyes. Eyes that say they’re sorry all on their own. It makes you burn hotter, the betrayal cutting a clear knife down your back. You trusted him. You fucking trusted him. And look what he did. Sold you out to get fucking paid. Pathetic.

You turn toward the dark door and reach for the gold handle, but he stops you before you can twist it open. “Please, wait. Let me explain,” he begs as he stands from his chair, nearly knocking over the large picture of the Eiffel Tower off the back of the red walls.

You drop your hand from the door and walk back over to his desk, crossing your arms tightly over you as you wait to see what good excuse he gives you. “So, tell me. Go on. Tell me why you did this to me. I’m waiting,” you say coldly, eyes burning into his as he gulps and runs a hand through his sandy overgrown hair.

“I got a visit from some government people today. They don’t like what we’re doing here, petal. They threatened to shut us down. They found out it was more than a bar. Found out exactly what goes on here every night, and they don’t like it. Not one bit.”

He takes a large gulp of his brandy drink and shakes his head as he continues. “They’re making us pay double the property tax now. Says they’ll let us stay open if we keep that agreement. But do you realize how much money that is every year? And then Terrance walked in. I offered him any other girl, multiple girls if he wanted. I tried introducing him to other dancers, but the only one he wanted was you. I saw no other way, sweet pea. I was desperate.”

You take a step back and peel your eyes to the floor, your eyebrows knitting together as you take in his words. Your eyes grow wide at the information he just told you, but you can’t say anything. You’re too shocked from everything he just said, the words hitting every single nerve ending in your body like a freight train crashing right into you.

“They wanted to shut down the Moulin Rouge…” you barely whisper, your voice coming out as quiet as a helpless mouse.

“That’s right, petal. I had to strike a deal or they would’ve shut us completely down tonight. We would’ve ended up on the streets. All the women and children of this place; unsheltered and without work or food. Can you imagine?”

“No… I can’t imagine that…'' you say starstruck, your mind in a thick cloud of haze as you slowly face him again. His face is so sad, so drenched with apologies as he looks right at you with eyes that scream to you to forgive him. And you can’t say no, you can’t deny him that. Not even if what he did was cruel and selfish. But it wasn’t really that selfish because he was saving the Moulin Rouge. He was saving everyone that lived here, even you…

He comes around the desk and steps in front of you, taking one of your hands in his as he looks at you with sincere eyes. “You know I’d never do anything to hurt you on purpose, right?”

You stare at the floor and purse your lips, deep in thought as you gulp down tears and meet his eyes again cautiously. You nod your head slowly as you continue to listen to him.

“I love you like my own daughter. And I promise you, if this incident didn’t happen today then I never would’ve taken him up on his offer. I never would’ve sold you like that, but I was desperate. I saw it as the only way out of this deep hole I got myself into. And I’m so sorry, so very sorry…”

You drag your tongue over your pristine teeth and look at him with hurt eyes, but you understand why he did it. He was desperate, only trying to save the ones he cared about. But that dark, nagging thought at the back of your head continues to scream at you, trying to tell you that he would do it anyway. If it was a large sum of money, would he still have sold you out? Without the government getting involved? You’d never know…

“How much?” you ask thickly.

“How much what?” he asks with furrowed eyebrows.

“How much did he offer you for me?” you ask coldly, choking back tears as you stare up at him with hurt written all over your face.

“$300,000…”

Oh.

Your eyes go wide at the large sum of money. $300,000? Holy shit…

“That’s a… wow. That’s a lot,” you gasp in shock.

“It is. It’s enough to save us, petal. Enough to keep it all going,” he smiles, eyes turning a bit brighter as he says it.

“How long am I supposed to entertain him or be with him or… whatever this is,” you ask in disgust, not wanting to think about his sloppy hands and greasy moustache on your clean skin.

“It’s not forever, petal. He’s much older than you. Maybe a few years with him, if that.”

“A few years?!” you shriek in surprise. “But he… but I don’t…” The words leave your mouth in choppy stutters. Your throat feels dry and constricted, and you can’t find the strength to finish your sentence.

“I know, petal. I know. Again, I’m so sorry. I know he isn’t your first choice. But he’s got a lot of money. He can take care of you. Maybe in ways I never could…” he says sadly, eyes dropping to the ground. He means he couldn’t save you from your impending doom. He couldn’t save you from the grimy hands of Terrance, the man that came and wrecked your life like a ship caught in a raging storm. But he’s the one that sold you… your uncle. The man you used to see as your hero.

“I don’t want him to take care of me. I get along just well on my own,” you say proudly with your chin raised high, trying your best to sound brave when your entire world is getting flipped upside down like a coiled up ball of yarn, no way of untangling your way out.

He sighs and shakes his head sadly. “I’m sorry, petal. I did what I could. Why don’t you just go back to your room and take a nice long bath. Don’t worry about Terrance tonight. You can see him tomorrow night.”

Tomorrow night. That meant he’d expect to sleep with you, show you off like his prized possession amongst all his rich friends. You feel a wave of nausea roll over your stomach, feel the backs of your eyes sting with fresh tears waiting to fall like raindrops down your face, feel the pure need to run to Joel, have him wrap you in his strong arms where it’s warm and safe. Where you belong. Where your heart burns.

You don’t turn back around to say goodnight to your uncle, you just place your hand on the cold metal knob and twist, stepping back into the loud hallway as men chant and girls twirl and dance for the men vulgarly. You walk past them lifelessly, holding in your tears till you reach the staircase, making yourself walk faster as the anxiety starts to crush you.

You grip the cold railing of the staircase and climb up each step with the weight of the world on your chest. It’s hard to breathe, hard to filter in fresh air when you feel as if you’re stuck underground with no escape in sight, suffocating on dirt and the stench of Terrance, weighing yourself down as you remember him carving his cold eyes over your body like a hyena ready to make you his dinner.

As soon as you enter the dark hallway, you turn the opposite way of your room. Your body almost having a mind of its own as you head to the dance studio. This room where you teach the children, a place of innocence and laughter. You close the door behind you, slide down the back of the door and end up on the floor as you curl your head into your knees, feeling the wet tears hit the pink material of your dress. You choke out tears knowing what you’ll have to do tomorrow, grab your silky hair between your polished fingers as you think of his dirty paws all over you.

It’s not forever. You can fake it. You can do this.

But you aren’t sure you can because every time you even think of Terrance your mind goes to Joel. Joel, Joel, Joel. He’s the one you want, the one you need. And you want him so badly that even thinking about him hurts.

Joel. He can’t find out. Not yet. What would you tell him? What would he do? You’d have to keep it to yourself. At least for a few days. Yes, just a few days. You could do that… right?

[cherrybloosomgirl29]

Wade and Logan Full House AU Part 2

Rogue’s Date

summary: Remy asks Rogue out on a date. Feeling overprotective Logan drags Wade to go spy on them.

A/N:

so sorry if I suck at writing Gambit’s voice; this is my first time attempting it. I promise it will improve as the series goes on and I practice more. Also make sure to leave and comments if you have ideas for future chapters.

AO3 Link

“Do ya think he was askin’ me on a date? I mean Remy and I are friends but… a date?”

“Yes really!!!” Kitty squeals. Rogue has been terrified about the idea of having a romantic relationship ever since the manifesting of her mutant powers. The memory of her leaving her first boyfriend, Cody, in a coma for months is still haunting her. “Come on Marie, you gotta say yes!”

Rogue looks at her little sister and smiles “Well alright, one date can’t hurt. After all, Remy knows he can’t touch me like that; it should be fine.” Rouge feels her heart swell in excitement. Yes, she was nervous about something going wrong and accidentally hurting her friend, but she was excited to finally go out on a date with someone who understood what it was like to struggle with mutant powers.

“Hey Remy,” Rogue says with all of her southern charm.

“What is it chere?” Remy says with a sly smile. He was in love with this girl, and his heart practically burst out of his chest when she looked at him, but he hid it all behind a mask of Cajun charm.

“I say yes. I’ll go out with you. But you gotta pick me up at my place, ya hear?”

Remy nods the same sly smile on his face. He was finally going out with the girl of his dreams.

The creaks open as Rouge and her three sisters arrive home from the school day. Rouge’s excitement is palpable. Of course, her sisters already knew about Rouge’s date tonight, but they kept silent, eager to witness how Wade, and especially how Logan will react.

“There’s that smile. What’s up Ro?” Wade says, smiling slyly. He knew about Rouge’s little crush on Remy Lebeau; she always wears the same smile after hanging out with him.

“Well… I got asked out on a date. It’s with Remy, don’t worry he’s a good guy and a nice boy, I promise I’ll be home early.” Rogue exclaims, rushing through her words nervously. Despite her excitement, part of her was still nervous about the date.

“That’s great Ro. Just remember-”

Suddenly Logan bursts into the room. “A DATE?!” Logan exclaims. “With Remy Lebeau, that kid is nothin’ but trouble Marie.”

“Oh Lo he’s fine!” Wade exclaims. “Let the girl have fun.”

“Let’s talk in private for a minute,” Logan whispers gruffly to Wade. “Girls, go on ahead and get ready for afterschool training. Start without us, we'll be there in a minute.

Logan pulls Wade into their bedroom, closing the door so Rouge can’t hear.

“Why are you acting like this?” Wade asks. “The girl just wants to have fun. It’s been a long time since she’s been able to open up to someone like that. Hell, she just started opening up to us.”

“I know, but I’m nervous Wade. She is still scared of herself and her powers. She is really anxious about this, I can tell.” Logan says, eyebrows furrowing, a palpable concern for his daughter on his face.

“She’s gotta put herself out there Lo. It’s the only way she’s going to get her confidence back. She’s a beautiful, smart, and caring girl, the world deserves to see that.”

“I know Wade, but why does it gotta be that Cajun kid? He’s a player. He’s got that written all over him. What if he touches her? What if he makes her feel uncomfortable? What if-”

Wade cuts him off, “shhh… now you're the one getting anxious. I understand you just want to protect her, but you have to let her go sometime.”

“Okay I’ll let her go. On one condition.”

Rouge breathes hard after a tough training session with Jubilee.

“Damn girl, you whipped my ass this time. Don’t do that to Remy later or he might not wanna go out again.”

Rouge laughs off Jubilee’s comment. She knows her sister is just joking, but Rogue’s fear of scaring, or even hurting Remy is still very real. She tried to take out all of her anxiety on her workout, but she can still feel the anxious thoughts clouding her brain.

“Hey, It’ll be alright,” Jubilee says in a comforting tone. “You’re a badass and if he doesn’t like you that’s his loss.”

“Thanks Jub.” Rogue sighs, accepting the comforting back pat from her sister.

Rogue quickly heads upstairs and gets ready for her date. She decides on wearing a soft pink dress that reaches just below her knees with elegant white gloves for safety. She decides on wearing low black heels and her hair in a long braid behind her back with the two white pieces left out and curled to frame her face.

“Ooo la la la! That’s my sister!” Kitty squeals when Rogue makes her way down the stairs, purse in hand.

“Thanks Kitty. Remy should be here any minute now.”

Logan and Wade come into the living to see their daughter all dressed up. A bittersweet feeling comes over both men as they see the scared girl they took in all dressed up and confident ready to go on a date.

“You look beautiful kid,” Logan says quietly. “Just remember if he makes you feel uncomfortable in ANY way you call us, alright?”

Rogue nods, “yea I know.”

“Just remember other thing,” Wade says “Boys ain’t shit.”

Rogue giggles and hugs tightly, making sure to not make any skin to skin contact. “Okay, he’s ya’ll I better be headin’ out.”

A few minutes later Logan and Wade are in Logan’s truck on their way to some mysterious location. Laura, who decided to tag along, sits in the back seat tapping a steady rhythm on the window.

“Okay Lo, tell me where we are going,” Wade says with an air of nervousness in his voice.

“Well I told ya I’d allow this whole date thing on one condition. Well this is my one condition.”

“We’re following them aren’t we?” Wade sighs with a disappointed but not surprised expression on his face.

Logan just nods and keeps driving.

Rogue and Remy arrive at a diner he picked out soon after. They order a key lime pie to share and nervously pick at.

“Sorry if I seem a bit on edge. I just haven’t done this in a while,” Rouge says sheepishly.

“That’s hard to believe chere,” Remy says his eyes soft and looking deep into Rogue’s.

Rogue blushes and is about to respond when she sees something out the diner window. It’s… Logan’s truck? Suddenly Rogue knew exactly what was going on and a wave of anger and embarrassment washes over her.

“Sorry Remy I gotta take care of somethin’ real quick, I’ll be right back.” Rogue says nervously before angrily walking out of the diner.

”HEY Y’ALL!” Rogue exclaims as she raps on the window of Logan’s truck.

Wade jumps in surprise, suddenly extremely embarrassed that he didn’t try harder to stop Logan from spying on their daughter.

“WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!” Rogue yells. “DO Y’ALL NOT TRUST ME!”

Logan looks down clearly regretting his decision. “Look hun, I’m sorry. But I-“

”I don’t wanna hear it. You don’t trust me to control my powers. I knew it.” Rogue looks down hurt.

Wade nudges Logan’s shoulder, “I’m not digging you out of this one.”

Logan sighs, “I’m really really sorry hun. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just… When we first took you in, you were a scared little thing. You could barely talk to us. I just feel a lil protective of you sometimes, okay? It’s cus I care. But I was wrong. Wade is right, we need to let you grow in your confidence.”

Rogue smiles softly through her angry tears. “I know you care…but you need to let me fly. I’m scared to do this too but I won’t ever gain the confidence if I don’t try.”

“I know. Have fun on your date hun. Call when your headin’ home, alright?”

”I will. And… I love you”

”I love you too hun”

Rogue waves to her family in the truck before heading back to the diner. Rogue has the confidence to do this. She puts on a brave smile before heading back to her date with Remy.

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for a fic...

~*~

1. I'm kind of in the mood for jiang free wangxian fics, where the the extent of jiangs involvement in the plot are just brief mentions / For ITMF, a longer canonverse wangxian fic that doesn't heavily feature Jiang Cheng on page. Canon divergence is very welcome but not mandatory.

~*~

2. hi! do you have any fics where lwj struggles with his sadism? canonverse please and bonus points if they are E rated ;) @chellsky

still waters by piggybo (E, 3k, WangXian, Consensual Kink, Light Sadism, Light Masochism, Outdoor Sex, Painful Sex, Spit As Lube, Kink Discovery, Light Bondage, Internal Conflict, CQL!verse, Post-Canon, not as explicit as the tags make it sound, but still pretty explicit)

bb!Sadist by Betty (T, 3k, WangXian, Non-Sexual Kink, Sadism, Modern AU) not canon but a good read cause it's abt the Struggle

💖 Magical Marriage Ribbons series by starandrea (M, 1M, WIP, wangxian, ongoing, animal transformations, weddings) in the Magical Marriage Ribbons series, Teen!Wangxian continuously need to discuss around LWJ's reluctance to admit what he wants sexually in earlier parts that's very lovely!

~*~

3. Hii!!! Im back for another ITMF! I've been seeing a lot of art of spider-man aus for wangxian and I was wondering if you knew of any fics with either one or both of them having spider-man powers? Thanks so much! @loveshinesbrightly

~*~

4. hiiiii it's me again for the next ITMF I was reading a fiction and lqr said that : "He could definitely picture an alternate reality wherein he didn’t overhear their conversation, and Wangji ended up impulsively withdrawing his entire trust fund to elope cross-country with Wei Wuxian and start a new life together - all to avoid having to face the disapproval of their families." do you know any story where it actually happens ????? thanks✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ @ihaveasoftspotfora-yuan

keep your electric eye on me, babe by ilip13 (M, 6k, WangXian, Modern AU, Fluff, Falling In Love) is mostly a meet-cute fic but does involve lwj running off with wwx at the end

~*~

5. Hey, I'm looking for some Daemon AU fics. @the-dolphin-queen

🧡 like speaking to my heart by SnowshadowAO3 (T, 613k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Daemons, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Canonical Character Death, Some people live!, additional warnings in specific chapters, if you don't know what daemons are that's ok because I explain it in the author's note, also by slow burn I VERY much mean slow burn)

Daemons and Sentient Swords Comp

~*~

6. hi! i was wondering if you knew of any mafia au fics? 💖

🧡 Rule Number One: Never get attached. by KizuKatana (E, 130k, WangXian, Modern AU, A/B/O, Criminal underworld AU, Fluff and angst, Crime boss LWJ, Rouge criminal genius WWX, Explicit Sex)

Miscalculated Misreckoning by LadyVamp (E, 5k, WangXian, Modern AU, Organized Crime, Attempted Kidnapping, Murder Husbands, Blood and Violence, Violent Sex, Married WangXian, BAMF LWJ, BAMF WWX, YLLZ WWX, Hair-pulling, Office Sex, Desk Sex, Dark LWJ, Protective LWJ, Dark WWX, Partners in Crime, Gun Violence, Gun Kink, Crime Syndicate Qíshān Wēn Sect, Arranged Marriage, Crime Lord LWJ, Crime Lord WWX)

of demons and the good they bring by mimi123meg (M, 1k, WangXian, Modern AU, Mob, Crime Boss LWJ, BAMF WWX, BAMF LWJ, BAMF JC, Slight Violence, not too graphic, but definitely there, Established Relationship)

Take Some Advice Paesano by FeelsForBreakfast (M, 8k, wangxian, modern, mob au, mafia the 🤡 version, humor, mistaken identity, getting together)

You & Me Baby, We'll Eclipse The Sun Series by 2501987 (M/E, 130k, WangXian, XiCheng, MIND THE TAGS, Modern AU, Mafia, Murder husbands, Torture, Possessive Behavior, Blood and Violence, Older JC, Younger WWX, Hurt/Comfort, Dark)

The Damage You Do by stiricide (E, 87k, WIP, WangXian, Modern AU, Dom/Sub, Dark LWJ, Mobster LWJ, Possessive LWJ, Sex Worker WWX, Sugar Baby WWX, WWX adopts LSZ, Dubious Consent, each chapter has sex tag notes on it, BDSM, Sounding, Panic Attacks, Angst with a Happy Ending)

Due Process by Kytrin, Mslead (E, 279k, WangXian, XiSangCheng, ZhuiLingZhen, Modern AU, Canon-Typical Violence, Foxxian, dragonji, Genderfluid WWX, Wwx identifies as male, Organized Crime, Grief/Mourning, Hurt/Comfort, mentions of child abuse, Angst with a Happy Ending, Found Family, Reincarnation)

Naughty Kitty Go Meow Meow: An Urban Romance From The City of Dragons by Hinu (E, 160k, WangXian, NieLan, RuoXian, Modern AU, Mafia, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Dragon LWJ, Cat Hybrid WWX, Porn with Plot, Organized Crime, Pole dancing, Possessive LWJ, WWX has a Vulva, Omegas have a vagina, GNC WWX, Good Person WZL, Dark LWJ, Sexual harassment, Non-Consensual Bondage, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, Eventual Fluff)

Beautiful Nightmare (Sweet Dreams) by Cy_an_Blue (E, 79k, WangXian, Modern AU, explicit depictions of torture, explicit depictions of violence, Dark LWJ, Possessive LWJ, Crime Boss LWJ, Mafia AU, Kidnapping, Stockholm Syndrome, (Kinda but not really), Implied Sexual Content, Sexual Harassment, Threats of Rape/Non-Con, Not by WangXian, Dubious Consent, Age Difference, Kid Fic, Heavy/Dark Themes, Cheating, not wangxian, 365 days (2020) inspired, Angst with a Happy Ending, Falling In Love, Past QingXian, Minor LWJ/Other(s), Homophobic Language, Derogatory Language)

To Protect My Family I'll Give You Anything by stiricide (E, 4k, WangXian, Modern AU, Alpha WWX, Omega LWJ, Bottom LWJ, Gangsters, Gangbang, Fisting, Public Sex, Public Humiliation, Knotting, Mating Bites, Happy Ending, Dark LWJ, Dark WWX, Spanking, Dubious Consent, Top WWX, Threats of Violence, but not between wangxian)

there is a mafia au comp !!

~*~

7. A) In the mood for wen Ning and Wei Ying being close

B) Is there any wangxian book which is like omniscient reader's viewpoint? Fusion or similar. I just plain and simple love it to the end of the world. @whateverweilanlovechild​

7A)

Truth Will Out (when caught on video) - End_OTW_Racism! by KizuKatana (E, 63k, wangxian, WN & WWX & WQ, graphic depictions of violence, modern cultivation, canon divergence, YZY abuses WWX , caught on camera, partial core removal, WWX kicked out of Jiang sect, livestreamer WWX, meet ugly, dual cultivation, smut, no war, WIP) 

All Things Belong by kuroi_atropos (M, 65k, WRH & WWX, wangxian, WN & WWX, Wen WWX, abuse, whipping, manipulations, smart WWX, possessive behavior, implied/Referenced rape/non-con, past rape/non-con, WIP)

~*~

8. ITMF superhero wangxian!! i’m not too particular on the context, be it only one of them, or both of them, or hero/villain. the more explicit the better, though 🌝

mission report by bosbie (T, 13k, WangXian, Modern AU, Superheroes/Superpowers, Fluff, Humor, First Meetings, Falling In Love, Getting Together)

a wild heart to tame mine by theroyalsavage (G, 10k, WangXian, Superheroes/Superpowers, Strangers to Lovers, bookshop owner lwj/superhero wwx, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Wangxian-typical tenderness)

Tired of the Sunset by julomaiboulomai (M, 55k, WangXian, NieLan, Modern AU, Superheroes/Superpowers, Identity Porn, Secret Identity, Parent-Child Relationship, Grief/Mourning, Canonical Character Death, Also Canonical 'He Gets Better', Unreliable Narrator, superhero fights, Major Character Injury, Major Character Undeath, Slow Burn, But also somehow, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Injury Recovery, JC-LWJ Mutual Hate Society, Domestic Fluff, Co-Parenting, Making Out, well slowish burn, Fade to Black, Brief mentions of suicide, Angst with a Happy Ending, Art Embedded)

🧡 Of Ghosts and Heroes by The Silverfish (ZephyrAndTheSilverfish) (T, 51k, AS & WWX, AS/YH, WangXian, BNHA/MHA Crossover, Dimension Travel, POV Outsider, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Angst) Sort of? It's a crossover with bnha and I think a few mdzs characters become heroes in it

Free Wifi for Heroes by JJSparrow (E, 50k, WangXian, XuanLi, Modern AU, Pro Heroes (MHA), Switching, Engineer!WWX, Hero!LWJ, CEO!WWX, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Inventor!WWX, Top/Bottom Switch WangXian, Explicit Sexual Content, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Fluff and Smut, First Kiss, First Time)

~*~

9. Hi, thanks for doing these recs!

For the next itmf, I'd like wangxian in the Cloud Recesses Study Arc, kinda like Stunted, Starving Juvenility. Preferably long, like 50k+, but any length is fine!

Thank you! @moonlightflora-101​

Silenced With A Kiss by NinjaKK (E, 88k, wangxian, cloud recesses study arc, flirting, fluff, teen romance, happy ending, secret relationship, falling in love, first kiss, first dates, inventor WWX, genius WWX, protective WWX; protective LWJ, happy ending, ripple effect, first time, fluff & smut, supportive LWJ, BAMF WWX, WIP)

The initial parts of 💖 Magical Marriage Ribbons series by starandrea (M, 1M, WIP, wangxian, ongoing, animal transformations, weddings, link in #2) also fits for 9, I think

O, What Learning Is! by Comfect (T, 60k, WangXian, XiCheng, Canon Divergence, No Fall of Lotus Pier, No Golden Core Transfer, Fix-It, Butterfly Effect, Fluff, Cultivation Theory, Cultivation Sect Politics, JZX Lives, JYL Lives, WWX-Typical Obliviousness, Unreliable Narrator WWX, The Undeniable Romance of Quests, Good Student WWX (for a given value of good student), Canon-typical treatment of children, Bad Parent YZY, Bad Parent JFM, Good Uncle LQR)

Three changes. by orange_crushed (M, 18k, WangXian, Fluff, Hijinks & Shenanigans, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Friends to Lovers, Romantic Comedy, Fade to Black, Mild Sexual Content, Canon Divergence, No Sunshot No War AU, Falling In Love, Non-Graphic Violence, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Sparring, Harm to Animals, Don't Worry The Animal is Fine Wangji Makes Sure of That, Developing Friendships, teenagers in love, Hurt/Comfort, Mild Blood, First Time)

Unstoppable by Netrixie (T, 149k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Eventual Happy Ending, Unreliable Narrator, Slow Burn, Minor OC's, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Wolf-shifter WWX, Resolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Romantic Tension, Fix-It, Shapeshifters, Sunshot Campaign)

In Walls of Glass by Comfect (T, 43k, WangXian, XiCheng, Good Uncle LQR, Teacher LQR, Canon Divergence, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Yet Another Butterfly Effect Fix-It, JC friendly, Family Feels, Demonic Cultivation, Cultivation Theory, Tagged CQL not MDZS, POV LQR)

~*~

10. Hello! ITMF where WWX is super duper Mary Sue. I just read “The Darkness Before Dawn” by PsycheStellata707, and I loved how WWX was just the most beautiful, the most powerful, the most smart, the most loved, the richest, the super bamf. It was indulgent and fun. Any other fics like this?

leave all your love and your longing behind by ScarlettStorm (E, 143k, WangXian, Modern AU, no magic, Meet-Ugly, Panic Attacks, autistic lwj, neurodivergent wwx, the neighborhood asshole dog, if you’ve met one then you know, Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Minor Angst, major shenanigans, Happy Ending, for everyone including the   asshole dog, Eventual Smut, switch rights, Sex Toys, horny yearning, Masturbation) (link in #14)

🧡 Rule Number One: Never get attached. by KizuKatana (E, 130k, WangXian, Modern AU, A/B/O, Criminal underworld AU, Fluff and angst, Crime boss LWJ, Rouge criminal genius WWX, Explicit Sex) (link in #6)

Whatever you do by apathyinreverie (T, 8k, WangXian, somewhat darker cultivation world, BAMF WWX, BAMF LWJ, BAMF LXC, not Jiang friendly, YZY Bashing, wwx is appreciated, genius wwx, everyone is a little darker in this, except for wwx, Fluff, Possessive LWJ, Fix-It)

~*~

11. Hi hi, hope everything is going well :) Sorry if this has been asked before, but for either ITMF or Fic Finder are there any good fics with Yunmeng trio shenanigans/slice of life?

~*~

12. hello! sorry to bother you, but theres any new wangxian fic with mpreg? especially (only) pregnant wei wuxian, please and thanks! 💖🙏🏽

--

Hello, can you suggest any fluffy wangxian fic where wei Wuxian is pregnant. Would love it if it is long. Thank you 😊😊 @mayavsworld​

In which Lan Qiren eavesdrops and gets a new nephew (and grandnephew) out of it by h0peless_oblivion (M, 64k, WIP, WangXian, Modern AU, High School, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Mpreg, Teen Pregnancy, Shotgun Wedding, Good Uncle LQR, Madam Yu's A+ Parenting, Fluff and Angst, Family Feels, Unspecified Setting, Probably ooc, WWX Has ADHD, A-Yuan is Wangxian's son, Pregnant WWX, Humor, non-graphic birth, Family Drama, The Lans love wwx, Male Lactation, Mild Smut in later chapters, wangxian's canonical breeding kink, Tooth-Rotting Fluff) it's marked as a WIP but the main story is over the rest are sides stories

My Heart is a Cavern of Longing, Please come home? by LadyVamp (E, 28k, WangXian, Non-Traditional A/B/O Dynamics, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, Bitch WWX, Forced Marriage, Accidental Baby Acquisition, YLLZ WWX, Oblivious WWX, Módào Zǔshī & The Untamed Combination, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Forced Bonding, Forced Pregnancy, Depressed WWX, Sex In A Cave, Uncontrolled heats, JZX Lives, Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Pining LWJ, Pining WWX, Child LJY, LJY is WangXian's son, Unplanned Pregnancy, Pregnant WWX, Mpreg)

Bonded Fate by Missty0foxx (E, 19k, WangXian, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Canon Divergence, Dubious Consent, Mating, Mating Bites, Knotting, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Angst with a Happy Ending, Self-Lubrication, LWJ Has a Big Dick, Teenage WangXian, Time Skips, Mpreg, Caring LWJ, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Pregnant Sex, Pregnant WWX, Mating Cycles/In Heat, WangXian Have a Breeding Kink, LWJ Has a Biting Kink)

The Beautiful and the Damned by Anonymous (M, 15k, WangXian, Wingfic, Immortal LWJ, Demon WWX, Mpreg, Pregnant WWX, Wing Kink, Human JC, mmortal LXC, Immortal LSZ, Immortal LJY, Crow WWX, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, WangXian Are LSZ's Parents, Gambling, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Spanking, CNC and Dubcon elements, Mythical Beings & Creatures, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Unplanned Pregnancy)

Pregxian & Pregji Comp

~*~

13. Hey guys hope all is well , I’m in the mood for a fix with bodyguard Lan Zhan just out here protecting wei ying idk if anything like this exists but I’m intrigued.

Thank you for all your hard work x @red-spacekitten

Bodyguard king by 74243 (E, 8k, Female WangXian, Modern AU, Idol WWX, Bodyguard LWJ, Female NHS, Platonic D/s, Loss of Virginity)

lightning in a bottle by nighimpossible (E, 12k, WangXian, Modern AU, Bodyguard LWJ, Scientist WWX, Mutual Pining, Blow Jobs, (light) Rope Bondage, Kitchen Sex, Anal Fingering)

~*~

14. Itmf for fics where LWJ has friends!! Who teases him!! And are there for him!! I've often seen Mianmian with him and I've enjoyed those fics alot!! Preferably canonverse but modern au's are fun too!!

❤️ save a sword, ride a socialist by sysrae (E, 33k, wangxian, modern w magic, college/university au, fake/pretend relationship, single parent WWX, homophobia, light angst w/ happy ending, idiots to lovers, fluff) is really good

leave all your love and your longing behind by ScarlettStorm (E, 143k, WangXian, Modern AU, no magic, Meet-Ugly, Panic Attacks, autistic lwj, neurodivergent wwx, the neighborhood asshole dog, if you’ve met one then you know, Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Minor Angst, major shenanigans, Happy Ending, for everyone including the   asshole dog, Eventual Smut, switch rights, Sex Toys, horny yearning, Masturbation) Scarlett storm does a great job of showing lan zhan with actual friends and a support system , however this one in particular is great !

mating rituals by detectorist (E, 16k, WangXian, XuanLi, JZX & LWJ, Modern AU, College/University, Humour, Pining, Getting Together, Idiots in Love)

correspondence of two fools madly in love by serenedebeautea (G, 2k, WangXian, XuanLi, LWJ & JZX)

forget-me-not by mellowflicker (E, 31k, WIP, WangXian, Modern AU, Sugar Daddy WWX, Sugar Baby LWJ, Professor WWX, Student LWJ, Bottom LWJ/Top WWX, Secret Relationship, Age Difference, Hurt/Comfort, Chronic Pain, JZX & LWJ Friendship, Family Issues, WWX Isn't Adopted by the Jiāngs)

Orchids in Lotus Pier by Vamillepudding (G, 21k, WangXian, JC & LWJ, Canon Divergence, Romantic Comedy, Mutual Pining, Protective JC, Friends to Lovers, Misunderstandings)

~*~

15. Hi there! Hope you day is going good!!! I need your help to find me a(lot) fan fiction with dragon lan wangji/human wei wuxian please 🙇‍♀️🥺 @mahamhere

Coil Tightly by Thunderstruck (Blueyed_Impala) (T, 50k, WangXian, Dragon LWJ, Shifters, Modern with Magic, WWX is oblivious to magic, Slow Burn, Fluff, Attempt at Humor, References to Animal Abuse but the animal is LWJ, Hurt/Comfort, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, WWX has abandonment issues, Possessive LWJ, Clueless Flirting, OC Lan disciples for plot reasons)

These Mortal Treasures by ChilianXianzi (T, 9k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Fantasy, Dragon LWJ, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Possessive LWJ, Domestic Fluff, implied eggpreg, The Cultivation World's canonical fuckery, eggyuan!, Gift Giving)

Love at first bite by luckymoonly (M, 14k, WangXian, NieLan, Modern setting with dragons, Falling In Love, NMJ and JYL own a bakery together, Interspecies Romance, Crossdressing, Everyone lives in the same building, First Time, Fluff and Humor, Mpreg, LWJ's canonical big dick, Horny lwj, Smut, LXC and LWJ are dragon princes, Lingerie, Dating, Medium Burn, Possessive LWJ)

wind and rain by hauntedotamatone (E, 15k, WangXian, Dragon LWJ, Porn With Plot, Size Difference, Mildly Dubious Consent, Spit As Lube, Fairy Tale Elements, Double Penetration in One Hole, Rough Sex, Biting, Curse Breaking, Teratophilia, Fuck Or Die, but not for who you'd think, Meet-Ugly, Rimming, Past physical abuse, consensual and sane but not 100 percent safe, Non-Human Genitalia, Come as Lube, Multiple Orgasms, Overstimulation, Copious Amounts of Come)

Jaws of the Dragon by celerydragon (Not Rated, 7k, WangXian, dubcon, Exhibitionism, Nonconsensual Exhibitionism, Bestiality, Belly Bulge, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Breeding Kink, dragonji, LWJHas a Big Dick, lwj can transform into a human)

other earths and skies by binghecarer (T, 53k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, (but not in the typical way?), Slow Burn, Canon-Typical Scars and Injuries, Curses, Hurt/Comfort)

fell by you by Vrishchika (E, 44k, Dragon LWJ, Fantasy, Explicit Smut in Last Chapter, Pining, POV LWJ, Canon Divergence, Immortals, Deities, Canon-Typical Violence, Dragon WWX, Angst with a Happy Ending)

this river runs to you Series by aubreyli, sundiscus (T/E, 66k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Mutual Pining, Dragons, Literal Sleeping Together, Tender wound tending, First Time, Oral Sex, Coming Untouched, Porn with Feelings, Established Relationship) 

Making Mouths at Dragons by athena_crikey (E, 10k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Mpreg, baby fever, near PWP, Dragon sex, also human sex, Rimming, Size Kink, Egg Laying, Family, Feel-good, hints of self-worth issues, Dragon LWJ)

~*~

16. hello!! for the next itmf, any fanfics where they elaborate on wei changze and/or cangse sanren? secret families, they survive, even pre canon, just some wei family feels. thank youu <33

I Will Call You By Name by DisasterMages (T, 73k, WangXian, WWX raised by XXC, Canon Divergence, Family Feels) does ´I will call you by name’ by DisasterMages count they’re a few flashbacks about them

tall as the mountains that sheltered us by thelastdboy (M, 4k, CSSR/WCZ, CSSR & WWX & WCZ, wangxian, canon divergence, CSSR & WCZ live, crack treated seriously, childhood friends to lovers, genius WWX, inventor WWX, bg character death, happy ending, WCZ pov) wcz & cssr are saved by the lan.

The Long Winding Road Home by Admiranda (T, 12k, CSSR/WCZ, wangxian, time travel, post-canon, not JC friendly, fluff, family reunion, mocking LQR to his face, mocking JC to his face, wild rumours) wcz & cssr return after 30 years trapped.

Silver (Bloodshot) Eyes by GeminiWillow (T, 15k, WangXian, WCZ & WWX, WCZ & JL, Not Jiāng Chéng Friendly, JC Bashing, YZY Bashing, Yúnmèng Jiāng Sect Bashing, BAMF WCZ, Ghost WCZ, JC Canon Characteristics, Mentions of WWX's Canonical Child Abuse, Child JL, JL Needs a Hug, Revenge) vengeful ghost wcz torments jc during the timeskip. jiang bashing.

The Wei of family by HikariNoHimeWriter (E, 46k, WangXian, WCZ/CSSR, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, CSSR and WCZ Live, Rogue Cultivator WWX, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Male omega with vagina, Vaginal Fingering, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Vaginal Sex, First Time, Falling In Love, some violence, Genius WWX, WWX Has ADHD, CSSR Has ADHD, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Eventual Smut, Love Confessions, Mating Bond, WangXian Elope, Kinda, Not JC Friendly, not yzy friendly, Mpreg) omega wwx grows up with his family and finds love

a burden of figs by spookykingdomstarlight (T, 16k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, No Sunshot Campaign, CSSR and WCZ Live, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Breaking Up & Making Up, Getting Back Together, Hurt/Comfort, Injured WWX, caretaker LWJ, Mutual Pining) rogue cultivator wwx dating to breakup to makeup.

somehow, someway, we all get to someday by Stratisphyre (T, 75k, WangXian, CSSR/LQR/WCZ, MDM Lan/OFC, Canon Divergence, Role Reversal, Canon-Typical Violence, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Parenthood, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Threesome - F/M/M, Family Feels, Not JFM Friendly, Not Lan Sect Friendly, past emotional abuse, Demisexual Character, Inclusive discussions of reproductive rights) jfm & yzy die on a nighthunt and wcz & cssr run the jiang as regents for jc.

~*~

17. Hi!! ITMF for submissive LWJ with a praise kink. Whether he's top or bottom doesn't matter.

Shatter All Barriers by YunmengLotus (E, 11k, WangXian, Modern AU, Painplay, Light Dom/sub, very brief subdrop, Praise Kink, Wax Play, Temperature Play, Sex Toys, Communication, light blood play (really light but there is blood), BDSM, Intercrural Sex, thigh fucking, Non-Penetrative Sex, Coming Untouched, Piercings, Needles, Sub LWJ, dom WWX, kind of, Getting Together, piercer wwx)

Maybe You're the Reason by Clearpearls (E, 67k, WangXian, College/University, Phone Sex, slight D/s, Secret Identity, Praise Kink, Phone Sex Operator WWX, slight internalized sexual repression, Fluff, Light Angst, Dirty Talk, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Slow Burn, Sub LWJ, Bottom LWJ, Vibrators, Aftercare, Introspection)

old wounds by BloodRedCarnation (E, 23k, WangXianYu, Established WangXian, PWP, Kink Negotiation, Switch WangXian, Age Difference, Power Dynamics, Threesome, healing through sex, Breathplay, Light exhibitionism kink, Praise Kink, Dom/sub, Virgin MXY, Post-Canon, Fix-It of Sorts, Double Penetration)

Caffeine, Small Talk by mistergoblin (E, 144k, WangXian, Modern AU, Friends With Benefits, Enemies to Lovers, or more accurately: frenemies to fuck, buddies to lovers, Angst and Fluff and Smut, touch-starved lwj, Slow Burn, high levels of sexual tension, Misunderstandings, Getting to Know Each Other, Switching, Bottom LWJ, bottom WWX, slight D/s, Happy Ending, side yanqing, lwj's patented horny grip, Sub LWJ)

Here Comes The Heat (Before We Meet) by mistergoblin (E, 15k, WangXian, Fluff and Smut, Getting Together, D/s elements, Sub LWJ, Bottom LWJ, but they switch wbk, Collars, Praise Kink, Rough Sex, Spanking, Explicit Consent)

a new kind of silence by deliciousblizzardshark (E, 11k, WangXian, Modern AU, Autistic LWJ, Communication Disorder, Trans LWJ, Protective WWX, Pregnant LWJ, Panic Attacks, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Getting Together, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Soft WangXian, POV WWX)

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[whenlostinthedarkness]

Afterglow: Chapter 3 - Pink Light

Lead Singer!Reader x Lead Guitarist!Ellie Williams

Summary: After a night of infidelity, you have to face Ellie..except she wants nothing to do with you.

Warnings: Lots of angst, arguing, and mentions of infidelity.

WC: 3.6k

A/N: This is much later than I would've liked...sorry about that. Hope you enjoy this chapter as it dives into the complexities of things.

Series Masterlist

Shades of pink cover your eyes like a haze covers a road. The visibility in front of you is non-existent as you squint in an attempt to gain some sort of sight of what is causing this large warm hue in front of you, yet nothing comes into view.

Unexpectedly, the pink begins to change. It’s darkening right before your eyes. You can feel your heart’s beat pick up as you watch the colors drastically change without a clear cause, at least not one that you could see.

Now, the fog in front of you is a deep rouge red with highlights of black swirling around like smoke. Naturally, you feel as though something terrible is happening.

And maybe it is.

Maybe it isn’t.

That was the biggest and scariest part of it all - it was unpredictable and out of your control.

All of a sudden there’s movement that feels like an earthquake, yet you remain still. Then began the banging, ringing like cymbals clashing together directly next to your ears. You feel the need to cover them as you groan while twisting your body out of discomfort.

Then something begins to change.

Everything starts to blur together as your dream starts to be taken over by reality. You stretch out your legs as far as they can go as the disorientation begins to leave your body, yet the dark and anxious emotions still linger. 

You now become physically aware that you are waking up from a dream that is quickly fading out of your memory the more you gain consciousness. And that noise you were hearing in your dream isn’t entirely a dream after all, it’s someone banging on a door.

Quickly, you begin to realize your surroundings are one that you had briefly forgotten about, yet now are crystal clear as images of you and Ellie last night begin to flip through your brain.

The touches, the kisses, the raw intimacy - all of it.

As your eyes finally feel comfortable to fully open, you catch sight of the side table set next to your head. The dark wood contains items that aren’t yours- a watch, some rings, and a cellphone that’s lazily left uncharged, even though the cable is mere inches away from the device. 

Everything begins to come back to reality as you twist your neck to peer over your shoulder to get a view of what, or rather who, you knew would be behind you.

Ellie is peacefully sleeping on her side as the white comforter hangs around her hips, leaving her chest bare for you to take in just as you had last night. However, the realization that someone is banging on your door becomes that much more clear as you hear it for the first time since awakening from your oddly symbolic dream.

You mumble a swear word as you stand up much too fast for your body to fully process or even fathom what you are supposed to do next. 

Who is at the door? It could just be housekeeping…but why would housekeeping be pounding on your door so aggressively.

“Wake the fuck up already!” Dina says as her fist pounds on the door for the umpteenth time as she tries to wake up both of you.

The second Dina got back to the hotel last night and realized that you & Ellie were sharing a room..she was hesitant and nervous on both of your behalfs. Knocking on your door was a double win in her book - 1). She could wake you both up for the breakfast meeting that the tour manager wanted to hold with all of you, and 2). She could ensure that the both of you were..well, to be honest, she wasn’t entirely sure why she wanted to check up on both of you in the morning. Maybe it was for her own anxiety since she knew both of your past histories so well. Maybe it was to make sure that you and Ellie were indeed sharing a suite all fine and dandy as friends and band mates would.

With neither you or Ellie answering the door, Dina could feel the anxiety start to consume her thoughts, thus making her not give up on her quest to get one of you to answer the door.

“I’m not going to stop until you wake up”, Dina yelled through the door as her fist never let up on the door. 

You knew she was true to her word and wouldn’t forfeit her fight until she got her way or found someone to make her get her way. This made your feet rush along the carpet as you picked up your scattered clothes from the floor, which seemed to get Ellie’s attention as you heard the crunch of the comforter moving.

“Ellie”, you whispered as you tried your best to not let Dina know that you were awake and hiding from her while you tried to map out a plan of how to conceal last night's affairs.

“Ellie!” you half whispered, half yelled, as your hand came to slap down on Ellie’s sock clad foot that hung out of the comforter.

Ellie groaned and snuck her foot under the blanket as she returned to silence.

She always did sleep through everything, but now wasn’t the time. 

The longer Dina went on, the closer she would get to running off to Annalise to get the key & barge in on both of you. Sparing Dina the evidence from last night was the least you could do to an unsuspecting victim like her who would then have to deal with..whatever the fuck the outcome of this would be.

“Get up,” you said as your hands tore off the comforter from Ellie’s naked body, something you somehow forgot was stowed away behind a mere few inches of fabric.

“The fuck”, Ellie’s rough voice spoke as her hand reached out to grab at a blanket that was no longer there for her to wrap herself back up in.

“Dina is here.”

This seemed to break Ellie out of her sleepy state as she shot up to a sitting position. Her eyes first went to your naked body as you continued walking around and attempting to tidy up the thrown clothes, then to her own as she looked down at her vulnerable state. 

Without a word, Ellie shot up from the bed and got herself dressed in sweats & the white tank top that you’d taken off of her last night.

She tried her best to smooth down her hair and do anything to conceal what happened the night prior, except you were still naked, which would surely give a lot of things away.

Ellie nods as she mouths the word ‘Bathroom’ in hopes to get you on board with her plan. Thankfully, you were quick to catch on as you moved to enclose yourself in the bathroom and turn the shower on to use as an excuse for not answering the door.

“This is your final warning before I break down the door”, Dina lies as her final attempt before she would have to go find Annalise. Thankfully she only had to give one last knock before Ellie would open  the door.

“What the hell Ellie!”

“I should be saying the same thing to you!” Ellie grumbles as Dina walks into the suite, “What do you want?”

“Annalise wants to have a group breakfast with us so we can go over today's schedule for the album signing.” Dina says all of this as she looks around the room, examining anything that might seem odd or out of place. She is relieved to not yet see anything that would have her questioning something.

“Really? You’re knocking like that over some fucking breakfast?”

Dina rolls her eyes at her bandmate as she continues to walk until she gets to the couch-the same couch where last night's events began.

 “And I wanted to make sure you guys are okay.”

Ellie feels the nerves and the guilt and the anxiety rush over her as she tries her best to put on a facial expression that’s full of cool and calm. “Why wouldn’t we be.”

Dina chuckles as she watches Ellie lean her hip against the couch, “I mean, sharing a hotel room with your ex girlfriend seems like a good cause for concern.”

“Everythings fine,” Ellie shrugs as she folds her arms across her chest, even though everything is not fine. Everything about last night was the furthest thing from morally okay.

Dina’s hearing these words come off of Ellie’s tongue, yet the avoidance is clear in Ellie’s body language and short answers. She wants to give her friend the benefit of the doubt that she is indeed being factual; she really wants to, so she does her best to convince herself.

Meanwhile, you’re in the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the bathtub as you gently rock yourself back and forth. 

Why did you let this happen? How could you so easily succumb to something so horrendous as having sex with someone who not only was your ex, but was also in a relationship with someone that you knew, someone you enjoyed, someone you knew was good to Ellie. Yet, you were selfish. You wanted her last night and it didn’t make it easy that she wanted you just as much and was agreeing, basically begging, for everything that happened last night to happen.

But you knew you couldn’t hide out in this bathroom for the rest of eternity, so you turned off the shower and started to put on the clothes you had quickly picked up while on your rushed cleaning spree.

As the background noise of the shower went away and turned into a hair dryer that she knew you were only using as a way to sell your story, Ellie felt herself tense up. 

This morning, neither of you could discuss or really think about what you both had done the night before…but now that things were slower, the topic was bound to come up. Unless, someone chose to ignore it.

Once you did the finishing touches on your look of the day, you let out a deep sigh as you opened the bathroom door.

It was so silent that you almost thought that Dina & Ellie had left, but then you saw the pair standing next to one another in the living room - Dina with eyes on you & Ellie with her head tilted down so she wouldn't have to look at you.

“Morning babe,” Dina nodded as she greeted you.

“Morning”, You spoke with soft words and a tentative smile.

Silence began to cover the space as you made your way around the room, attempting to collect all of your essentials for the day.

“Sooo,” Dina dragged, “I was just telling Ellie that Annalise wants all of us to have breakfast together so we can go over the schedule for today.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose as you tried to recall the day's agenda that was told you a couple days ago, “What’s happening today again?”

“The vinyl signing at that record store.”

You nodded as you let your eyes linger over Ellie who was still not allowing herself to look up at you. Dina could sense something was going on based on the way Ellie had taken to giving the silent treatment to everyone in the room.

“Am I missing something?”

Ellie shot her head up immediately, forcing her eyes to look into yours.

“Nothings wrong.”

Dina looked with pinched eyes between the two of you, finding amusement and suspicion in the way Ellie was quick to respond and gain the need to converse again. But she still wasn’t fully convinced.

Her eyes moved to yours as Dina silently asked you the question she had just spoken out loud - you nodded in response, yet your face said that you were anything but normal feeling, but Dina decided not to press too hard.

“Alright..shall we go then?”

You and Ellie agreed with nods as you made your way to the front door. Ellie grabbed a blue flannel shirt to jazz up her casual attire so that she was slightly more presentable to the world as she followed behind Dina.

Meanwhile, Dina tried to not let her eyes linger for too long on the bed closest to the main door of the hotel room that was left as if it hadn’t been slept in the night before. It looked so untouched that one would think it hadn’t been touched since the hotel staff prepped it yesterday.

Again, Dina told herself that it wasn’t her business. Maybe she was thinking too hard into all of this. Maybe there was a simple explanation for the untouched bed, the weird energy between you and Ellie, and the fact that she had to knock on the door for a solid 5 minutes before either one of you responded.

Maybe it was all explainable in a way that didn’t involve you and Ellie doing something that would truly fuck up both of your lives. Dina wanted to stay positive, one way of doing that was leaving well enough alone.

—-

The walk to Annalise’s suite, just down the hall, felt agonizingly slow and painful. Thankfully, Dina was acting as a physical divider between you and Ellie so neither of you had to deal with the obvious friction going on between the both of you.

“There they are!” Annalise was cheerful; too fucking cheerful for 9 in the morning. Especially when it was after a night like you had.

You put both of your hands up in a lazy, non enthusiastic jazz hands motion. “Here we are.”

Jesse was already seated at the table as he looked at Dina first, then to you, then to Ellie. 

His expression was clearly evident, which made you wonder what he & Dina had been talking about once they figured that you & Ellie were sharing a hotel room.

Naturally, you took the closest free chair you could find that was set at the large table in the communal space of the 4 star suite. Various fruits and pastries and other breakfast food and drink items lingered in the middle of the table; you opted just for a cup of coffee. 

Annalise tinged a piece of silverware against her glass of orange juice which made each of you remove your attention from eating or drinking or serving food onto your plates, and up to her.

Your tour manager went on to explain the contents of the day: getting our belongings out of the hotel once this meeting was over, heading to the regular blacked out SUV which will take us and the rest of the band to the record store where you all will spend the next 2 hours signing a signature on a record that was your prized piece of work.

Lastly, you would have to pretend like absolutely nothing was wrong for the entire day..maybe even the entirety of the week, month, and so on.

Annalise glanced at her watch once she’d gotten through the primary part of the breakfast. 

“Alright, is everyone clear on the game plan for today?”

You, Dina, & Jesse all nodded as Annalise scanned each of your reactions - her eyes paused on Ellie who was busy disassociating on an unknown object set on the table.

“Ellie?”

Her head perked up as her eyes blinked quickly. Ellie straightened her posture as she nodded at a question that she couldn’t even remember being asked, but thought it best to just nod and agree.

Annalise's eyes lingered on Ellie, then dragged along to you as she tried to read both of your expression and body languages, and any other clues into what was to blame for the obvious difference in energy between the group.

“Feel free to take your time and finish your food since the signing isn’t until this afternoon.” Annalise spoke all of this with a smile that was nervous. She watched Ellie push the food along her plate with a fork, then to you holding the branded coffee mug in your palm as you kept your eyes down - something felt really wrong.

Just as she was ready to pull either you or Ellie aside for a one on one, Annalise’s phone grabbed her attention away as she walked into another part of the suite and answered with a friendly ‘hello’.

“I’m gonna head back and pack,” Ellie said as she stood up from the table and sat her white napkin down on top of her plate of primarily uneaten food.

You cautiously turned your head to look in Ellie’s direction, but immediately it felt like a mistake as your eyes met with a burning feeling that you could almost physically feel.

Ellie quickly walked off without another word and you felt the need to chase after her.

“I'm gonna pack up too. I’ll catch you guys later, yeah?”

Both Dina & Jesse nodded as they watched you up until the moment you walked out of the door and into the hallway.

“What the fuck was that?” Jesse asked with wide eyes. Sadly, Dina couldn’t give him an answer because she herself didn’t quite know what to think of you and Ellie this morning. The only thing she did have was her suspicions that were becoming harder and harder to brush off.

—

Ellie’s hunched demeanor sulked against the red hued wallpaper, making the hallway seem like something out of a cinematographic masterpiece.

But your eyes couldn’t admire for too long because now you were both alone and, by the way Ellie was acting during the first hour of your day, you weren’t sure she would be wanting to be alone with you anytime soon.

“Ellie,” You called after her as your legs began to fast walk the distance between the both of you.

She didn’t even have to look behind her. Silently, Ellie picked up her walking pace as she ignored your voice as it yelled for her down the hallway like a tornado siren buzzing right in her ear.

“Ellie c’mon we have to talk about this!” Somehow you had caught up with her pace which allowed the tip of your fingers to make brief contact with the back of Ellie’s shoulder; it felt like a hot iron branding her skin. 

Suddenly, your front was running right into Ellie’s back as she abruptly stopped in her tracks with anger running through her.

With a red tinted face, she turned around with tensed facial features. “What do you want”

Her voice was so cold and so empty that you found it hard to find your words now. Your eyes avoided any contact with her, meanwhile she stared at you so intently that you could feel her eyes creating burning circles on your face.

Ellie was mad. So fucking mad, but she wasn’t sure with who - Herself or you?

“You want to talk, so let’s fucking talk then since this is so important to you.”

Suddenly, a nearby door opened as a stranger exited their hotel room with squinted eyes towards the both of you. Out of habitual manners, you and Ellie both moved aside from your previous stance to let the stranger walk by.

“Can we talk somewhere less public please”, you said with a voice much lower than when you were yelling for Ellie moments ago.

This made Ellie furious. You seemed so desperate to talk just a moment ago as your voice wandered through the halls, yet now you were shy? Now you wanted privacy? 

Ellie shook her head as she rolled her eyes. “Make up your mind.”

“What the fuck is your problem.”

“My problem?”, Ellie said with darkened amusement, “you want to know what my fucking problem is?” 

She repeated her words as her feet aimlessly fidgeted like a child who couldn’t stand still to save its life. Her lips were tucked in towards each other as she mumbled various noises and words under her breath that you couldn’t fully make out - what you did know was that she was angry, but now, so were you.

“Fine, let’s just never talk about it ever again then.” 

You moved around Ellie as you took the lead in continuing to walk back down the hallway.

This time it was Ellie’s turn to yell. 

“You wanna fucking talk?”

You paused, hearing her footsteps come closer and closer as tears began to teeter dangerously along the waterline of your eyes. 

Once Ellie got close enough to you, she could see the reddened cheeks and water droplets that left marks on your face. This made her pause and breathe - in..and then out, until she was composed enough to not be solely fueled by anger and frustration.

You found yourself mimicking Ellie’s chest rising and falling; you too breathed in…and then out, until the both of you were both looking straight into the others eyes.

“Then let’s talk,” Ellie spoke with a gentle tone as she fought the urge to reach out and wrap her arms around you in comfort. 

[milkytheholy1]

Sonic The Hedgehog Masterlist

Sonic The Hedgehog

Trapped - Sonic x GN Reader

"Hoohoohoooo! Try getting around that, you overgrown pineapple!" A small explosion erupted in the town square, shaking the small table and wobbling your burger. Looking back in fear you could make out a moustachioed man in the smoke, floating in some sort of device. His glare was aimed at a blue hedgehog, the smoke surrounded him; he appeared unharmed.

Part 2

Tails 'Miles' Prowler

Slow Dance With You - Tails x Female Reader

I set this in the Boom Universe in case it was unclear, hope you enjoy and like always requests are always open!

Shadow The Hedgehog

Training - Shadow x Female Reader

You'd been at GUN for a few weeks now. Your missions were going well, you'd made plenty of new friends and enemies and you've learned countless new moves from your new partners. Currently, those new partners are beating your ass at a basic training session, but that is why they are the professionals.

Mission report - Shadow x GN Reader

"Mission report" you simply replied, Shadow stepped out of well the shadows his arms crossed over his broadened chest "For last weeks mission? Shouldn't you have finished that by now?". You slumped in your chair a sigh escaping your lips, team dark watching you intensely "It's just taking longer than expected". Rouge glanced at your desk observing all the junk food wrappers and books "Longer than expected huh?" she questioned raising her eyebrow; you refused to answer.

Protector - Shadow x GN Reader

"You have to keep moving, unless you want to get caught?" His snide comment sent shivers down your spine. With a growl, you picked up the pace, with the ebony hedgehog following closely behind you. This had all been an exercise, the grand training mission of training missions. 

The infection - Shadow x GN Reader

Just as you were snooping around the whole facility went dark, shutting off the computer with it. You growled, smashing a fist against the monitor "Damn you! Damn you to hell!" you cursed out. A wavering static flooded your hearing before a voice called out to you, "(Y/N), we're picking up some energy readings coming your way. Looks like you've been spotted, sweetheart." Rouge mused.

Warming up to you - Shadow x GN Reader

Okay, so I got a few responses saying to keep it as parts instead of one big thing, and surprise I've decided to turn this into a small, small series. So expect a few more chapters to come out soon. Hope you enjoy!

Part 2

Part 3

Gone - Shadow x Female Reader

Blood dribbled from your lips, you've probably swallowed a few teeth during this fight too. Your knuckles were grazed and bleeding, ankles sore and muscles aching. It wasn't meant to end like this and yet you knew deep down in your heart, that this was the only outcome.

Before you - Shadow x GN Reader

With what's going on in the world I just wanted to quickly write something to help make people feel less stressed out and scared, even if that feeling lasts for just a second. Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes, I just wrote this very quickly.

Fitness Regime - Shadow x Female Reader

Reader who likes to flirt with him a lot? 

Name Calling - Shadow x Female Reader

I've been eating up all the Shadow content lately and it all came together into this fic.

Shadow Generations - Shadow x GN Reader

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

[dracarialove]

📄 Posting my finished fics here, too 📄

*Check the 'shadow's heart' tag if you haven't read chapter 1

[Chapter 2: Guidance]

The sky was orange and purple with the transition of dusk into evening. When Shadow pulled into his parking spot, the headlights of his bike illuminated the front of the building and he saw a familiar face turning to look at him.

His brows rose at first, then quickly furrowed while he stepped off his bike, holding eye contact with fierce purple irises. Knuckles' expression softened and Shadow saw embarrassment creep onto his face.

The echidna glanced at his guard outfit and took a step back. "You work here?"

The last time they'd seen each other, Knuckles had suffered an injured jaw by the Ultimate Lifeform's hand in response to the reckless punch he'd thrown. Now the same hedgehog was about to make him leave without giving him a chance to see Rouge.

Shadow stepped next to the club's front door and stared him down, replying, "More than work here, I make sure everyone in this building stays safe. I was told you decided to make a nuisance of yourself."

"Wait," Knux started, his eyes apologetic rather than angry. "I'm sorry for being a jerk to the bouncer. I just got frustrated that he pushed me out, and-"

"I don't care. You don't need to be here."

The redhead's mouth pinched into a disheartened frown and his brows strained together in a display of unease. "I just wanted to talk to Rouge. You know, tell her I'm sorry about everything, and just... talk to her."

"So, you think you can pull on her heartstrings and be forgiven, just like that?" Shadow raised his voice a little, his defensiveness climbing. "A half-assed apology won't undo any of the pain you caused her."

"Hey, if it wasn't for that, you wouldn't have even met her!" rebutted Knuckles, raising his guard. "We'd be married by now!"

The hedgehog's hands balled into fists and he clenched his teeth behind a closed frown to keep from acting on his anger.

"Don't," he hissed, "use our relationship to justify what you did."

A searing pause permeated the air, Knuckles seeming to consider his words thoroughly before speaking. "I want what's best for her, really. I don't even want to get back together. But what she deserves isn't a guy who's possessive and controlling. So prove you're not that and let her decide, as an adult, if she's willing to speak with me."

They stared at each other, the silence now icy as Shadow took in his words. He didn't think he was being possessive; just preventing his girlfriend from having to face the man who'd once broken her heart.

But she also had a handle on her emotions well enough to overcome adversity. He had to maintain respect for that and not make decisions for her.

"Fine," he answered coolly, relaxing his hands. "You'll get your talk if she wishes. But you can't just show up here; you're not welcome."

The echidna frowned and Shadow continued, "And she's away for a few weeks, so you won't be hearing from her anytime soon."

A short sigh escaped Knux's nose and he gave a begrudging nod. "Fine. Just hope she's not the one running around this time." He turned to leave as his rival lifted an eyebrow, then paused to add over his shoulder, "Long missions are a pretty good cover for cheating."

Shadow rolled his eyes, dismissing the redhead's comment as quickly as it came, and watched Knuckles leave before going into the club.

'Trying to plant seeds of jealousy?' he thought. 'Pathetic. He should've stayed away.'

***

Saturday nights were the most hectic at Club Rouge. The crowd was massive and the patrons got insanely drunk. Once the sun went down, the gray wolf that usually guarded the lobby stood outside to control the amount of people going in, while Shadow took his place.

Throughout the night, Shadow got called to the second and third floor three times to deal with hostile customers; twice to break up fights and once to confront a badger who threatened the bouncer.

It was a stressful shift, and at the end he was physically tired and emotionally exhausted. They ushered out the last stumbling drunk and Shadow exhaled a deep sigh, running his fingers through his quills while the others started cleaning up.

"Shadow," the wolf called. "You go on home, I'll lock up."

The speedster nodded at him and took his leave, feeling grumpy while he drove to the home he shared with Rouge. Entering the dark, empty house was a lonely feeling, but he was relieved to be back in his comfort zone.

He went upstairs and stripped off his uniform shirt, then put his radio and keys in the top drawer of his nightstand before slipping into bed. It sucked not to have Rouge there to curl up with, her body so familiar to his at this time of night. And he'd found, through dating her, that he slept a hundred times better with a loved one in his arms.

Feeling the bat's warmth and hearing the barely audible whispers of her breathing lulled him so well that it made him realize he was getting terrible sleep before. Now it was difficult to be rested without her. To compensate, he took Rouge's pillow and held it, half against his face and half against his chest.

It smelled of lavender and teaberry, the scent of her shampoo and perfume mixing in the fabric to make it feel like she was still there. Shadow laid on his side of the bed, embracing the pillow and thinking of skipping work the next day, then drifted to sleep.

***

Waking up the next morning confirmed his desire to call off work. He still felt tired at the thought of dealing with the clubbing crowd again, grateful only for the fact that his body didn't ache from his previous shift; any normal Mobian would be stiff and sore from the amount of activity it took to do his job.

Shadow grabbed his phone and peeked one barely-open eye at the time. It wasn't noon yet, but close enough. So he called Jay and let him know about his absence, remembering then to inform him that Rouge would be away from work, as well.

After hanging up, he laid on his back with his phone resting on his stomach, staring up at the ceiling and contemplating going back to sleep. But he knew he wouldn't feel any more rested, so he got up and went downstairs for coffee.

He poured a big cup and toasted a buttery biscuit for breakfast. Even after two years, he still found the silence of the house unsettling whenever Rouge was gone.

He could put on some music, as she often did, or finish the movie he'd been watching while he ate, but a task burdened his mind – one that he had a perfect opportunity to complete now that his girlfriend was on an assignment.

So he sat at the kitchen table with his coffee and his biscuit, and began an online search through his phone. He typed 'engagement rings' into the browser and was bombarded with images and shopping links of many different stones.

Varying colors, diverse shapes, unique mineral components – it was impossible to sort through besides looking for something that felt like 'Rouge.'

'Should I get a silver or gold band?' he wondered. 'Would she prefer flashy, or something that can be matched with more of her outfits?'

He took a big bite of the biscuit and sat up straighter, both elbows on the table as he leaned into deciphering the mystery of what she would like the most while scrolling through options. 'What about the gem? A classic diamond? Or something more personal?'

He thought about taking one of the 'quizzes' that would choose for him; though, he didn't trust a website's ability to pick the best ring for his beau. And while he didn't think Rouge would be too harsh on his choice, he didn't want to screw it up and get her something she didn't love.

He would only be doing this once – it had to be perfect. After a burning swig of coffee and a deep breath, Shadow decided he needed assistance to narrow the options.

'Who better to ask than her best friend?' he thought, pulling up the contacts on his phone. They were few, mostly consisting of Rouge's friends and his coworkers; and near the top was the opinionated princess, Blaze.

Their text conversations weren't much to look at, usually check-ins if one of them couldn't reach Rouge. But the hedgehog felt he could trust her judgement more than anyone's.

So he went back and took a screenshot of his online search, then texted Blaze with, "Hey, can I ask for your guidance on something if you won't tell Rouge about it?"

He read over the message once it was sent, then a second time, overthinking if he'd said it in a strange way. But he stopped himself and finished his breakfast without glancing at the screen again.

He put away the dishes and then heard the rumbly tone of his notification sound. It felt weird to be nervous again – his heart was beating the way it had after his first date with Rouge.

Shadow opened the message and read Blaze's response: "That depends on what it is."

He did appreciate that she wasn't willing to keep certain secrets from her friend. Fortunately, he felt she would keep this one. He answered back by sending the photo of his search results, followed by the simple plea of "Help."

Then he was getting a call from the purple cat, which surprised him – neither of them were the calling type, at least with each other. Shadow cleared his throat and answered, "Hello?"

"This isn't a joke, right?" she asked, sounding optimistic, and he could tell she was trying to conceal excitement.

"I'm hardly a jokester," he replied with a smile. "It's been on my mind long enough, and... well, Rouge is on a mission right now, so..."

When he trailed off, Blaze's regal voice chimed, "Say no more. Of course I'll help you. She'll be so excited!"

"Great." He rubbed the back of his neck. "So, where do I even start? I'm having trouble pinning down what she would like best."

She spoke with a cautioning tone, "Well, Rouge has very expensive taste-"

"Money's no object here. Trust me, I've been saving for this."

"Wonderful, then!" There was a pause, then she suggested, "How about you come over to ours? It'll be easier that way, and I'm sure Silver will want to hear the news."

"Sure. Do you have time now?"

"Yes. Don't keep us waiting!"

"See you soon," his rumble concluded, then they hung up and Shadow crossed the living room to the front door.

Peeking briefly past the window's curtain, he noticed the sky was cloudy, and so grabbed his car keys instead of the bike's, just in case. His eyes trailed over Rouge's white Corvette still sitting in the driveway; the government always sent a vehicle to bring her out for her assignments. He thought of giving the cherry-scented car a nice cleaning before she returned home.

[liliumsabyss]

In The Small Moments

Part 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5,

Kaz Brekker x Gn Reader

Summary: Moulin Rouge/Satine Inspired!Reader and Kaz go undercover at a ball only for things to go terribly wrong.

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48845809/chapters/123220936

Word Count: 5.16K

Tw: Angst and Fluff, Swearing, Mentions of Sex, Mentions of Sex Work, No Smut, Mentions of Death, Forced Marriage, Manipulation, PTSD, reader called handsome but could be interrupted as in the old timey gender neutral way, maybe OOC Kaz Brekker, and Pekka Rollins

A/n: This is inspired by Moulin Rouge the musical both adaptations and the place. I imagine the characters to be more like 25 in this.

Early in the morning of Ketterdam fog hung over the streets, while most towns would be asleep, Ketterdam never slept. There was always laughing from a bar, hushed whispers from allies, the drunken shouts of yells, screams of a not so lucky passerbye, honey sweet calls from brothels, that was the barrel, that was the life you knew. You were awake at your desk running through the plans that a certain man had given you. The certain man who was feared by many, he had created numerous enemies yet remained in power, that man being the bastard of the Barrel, Kaz Brekker. And unfortunately for you the man your heart belonged to. You hadn’t quite been a dregger or a crow more like a person of select skills for even selector hire or in other words you sometimes applied these skills but only for Kaz Brekker. Not to say you didn’t get along with the crows, in fact you got along amazingly. They quite enjoyed your “refreshing” presence as they stated, the best term to explain your relation would be friends of some sort.

Otherwise you worked as a bartender and occasional waiter when it got crowded in the Crow Club. It wasn't anything much, however you always noticed a few extra gold coins that appeared in your pocket on payday. Many days after the Crow Club closed for the night or at that point what had been very early morning, it lay empty, Kaz’s companions off somewhere leaving the two of you in amicable silence as he slowly sipped on the strongest liquor on the shelf while you did whatever cleaning up needed to be done, many of times conversations would eventually spur. And then he found out about your particular skill set slowly once on a busy night you were waiting tables when a customer was getting a little too handsy with you after you repeatedly told him to stop Kaz was about to intervene only to see you grab the customers arm twisting it behind his body and smashing his head into the hard wooden edge of the gambling table breaking his nose. Most of the crowd at the table turned stunned, you quickly dropped the stuff off, gave a quick bow in apologies as you left, Kaz stood slightly impressed. Another time you had forgotten your key to open the club before the sun had even come up, you squatted down so you were eye level with the lock, quickly you rummaged through the pockets of your heavy woollen coat finding a random thin hooped earring you picked up on the street and a paperclip you quickly unbent the paperclip and pulled the thin hool straight as well little did you know Kaz was approaching when he spotted you crouched at the door however he saw you pull out the two random objects to his own confusion as you pushed them into the locks fiddling with the tumblers till you heard a click, you stood up and to the others shock opened the door, and then walked in. The third time he was talking to Jesper after the crow club had closed for the night and not bothering to care whether you were there. Jesper was discussing how the Landercrofts, a very wealthy family that were the head of one of the gangs, were having their annual ball in which the crows were planning to rob their vault during the party. Jesper had gotten his hands on false invitations and was stating how the dress code was black and white when you spoke up stating that the dress code this year was red, the black and white dress code was a rumour to set apart who had gotten invited and who was sneaking in. When Kaz and Jesper inquired into where you had gotten that information you explained how your connections made you quite knowledgeable of the barrel and many drunks let things slip. And the fourth time, was when you were carrying a glass from a table once the club was closed when you tripped the glass shattering at your feet Kaz who was by you when you tripped at the same time as you quickly belt down to pick up the glass out of an instinct. You both immediately reached for the largest piece when your hand brushed against his glove and he flinched only he really didn't. It was a slight twinge but less than usual so he tried it out again prying the glass out of your hands and once again he was a little nerved but better than he had with pretty much anyone else. So Kaz could only see one thing to do with your talents and would hire you on the occasion he saw fit which was becoming more and more often. Tonight was the ball that the crows had prepared for months for and the one in which you provided consistent information for, Kaz only saw it fit as you would be one of the ones to directly infiltrate the ball.

Hours passed by as you ran through the plans over and over again before you knew it, it was evening just a few hours before the ball. You frantically got ready scolding yourself for being so careless with watching the time. You grabbed the blood red outfit that laid on your bed for the past day delivered personally by Kaz. The brunette male had also delivered the red mask that was decorated in black markings intricately painted and sculpted; mixed with the outfit there was no way that Kaz paid for it just for you for this one event, someone had to owe him a debt for this. You quickly got yourself ready like you had used to, it had been a long time since you wore anything like this and you were glad for it. A sharp knock came from your door as you scrambled stuffing any possible tools you’d need into various hidden pockets. Opening the old door which let out an unpleasant creak revealed Kaz in a black and red suit to match your outfit.

“ Good your ready we need to go” Kaz let out curtly which was not what he wanted to say yet it was all that he could let out in the cold streets of Ketterdam where anyone could hear anything and take things the wrong way but for what he was going to say they surely would have took it the correct way. You gave a swift nod, looking behind him to see a black horse drawn carriage, Nina and Jesper at the driver's seat waiting impatiently for you two to climb into the back.

“ I thought Inej and Jesper were also supposed to be going in with us?” You questioned, confused at Inej’s lack of presence and Jesper at the reins in a not ball ready outfit.

“ They will be going in just not with, now if we want to be on time we must move.” Kaz responded as he turned walking away climbing into the back of the carriage you followed in tow closing the door as you entered.

Sitting on the plush cushions you ran your hand against the seat and the wooden sill that elegantly framed the window, you breathed in the stale air of the carriage the feeling, the smell had all been so familiar to all those days and nights it was honestly shocking you could forget it for this long. Kaz eyed you silently, watching your face twinge in familiarity however that look was soon gone in your eyes and an eerie tint of hatred flickered. For the rest of the ride you just peered out the window mindlessly. The lights from the mansion shimmered as you approached in your carriage many other carriages also appeared to be dropping guests off. The carriage slowly stopped to a stuttering halt pausing as the carriage rocked slightly giving away that either Jesper or Nina had gotten off their seats. The carriage door swung open, Nina holding it wide open. You put the mask on quickly looking over to Kaz who had done the same, his mask being black decorated with red instead, the inverse of yours. The man swiftly climbed out of the carriage waiting with his hand outreached ready to help you out of it as the carriage hobbled. Nina eyed the two of you in surprise as you took his hand carefully stepping down the wobbling carriage, lights poured carefully out of the manor barley illuminating the pathways that led to the large doors that were cracked and every so often would open letting light flood onto the party goers entering the masquerade. Kaz left his elbow out as you tucked your arm into it carefully so as not to look suspicious to other attendees. The brunette male held the invitations in his opposite hand, grasping them tightly. Stiffly walking up to the doors large men who had large swords sheathed in leather at their sides; ready to be pulled out against any threat to the people of the manor. The guards had displeased faces as they stood tall, intimidating, snatching invitations out of the hands of masked figures. Shortly You and Kaz stood before a guard who stood with her arms crossed and the corner of her lips pulled into a tight frown. Kaz stared at her equal in expression for a long couple of seconds before swiftly putting his arm up the two pale beige invitations decorated in gold swirls with hints of red trickled on them the women to the invitations inspecting them carefully front and back before taking out a wooden plank the split into two three quarters of the way she wedged one of the invitations between the the slit in the plank harshly squeezing it together giving it back to Kaz’s outstretched hand revealing it to have a red seal marking the paper, the guard did the same to the other begrudgingly knocking on the large painted metal and wood doors causing them to slowly open. You and the stiff brunette behind you slipped through into the manor. Laughter and music filled the air swirling around the stuffy air of the large ballroom, gowns splaying out from being turned by their suit and gown clad partners. Standing at the top of the marble stairs looking down upon the people down below, the shoulder that pressed against you that was tensed loosened slightly with a relieved breath. Turning your head to look at Kaz he slanted his head to you in return giving a sharp nod before you both took equally swift steps toward the stairs before descending into the madness of the ballroom. Kaz took a step away from the stairs and away from you his red gloved hand offering his hand with his other arm plastered behind him only then did you noticed the absence of his cane, you gave him a confused look to which he took a step to you whispering below his breath.

“ We cannot afford to look suspicious.” Kaz said lowly pulling up the leg of his suit revealing a slight gleam of metal which appeared to be a brace only letting it fall quickly before taking a step back to once again offer his hand. People whirled around behind him but you could only see him under the warm chandelier light that illuminated the marble floor and sparkling cloth.

“ Of course” You replied fondly to both the gesture and his comment, gently taking his hand taking several steps out onto the floor before turning toward each other. The song that had been playing had finished partners taking a step back bowing or curtsying to the other. The music picked up again with a medium pace waltz, guests flocking toward each other for the dance.

“ Do you want to lead or shall I?” The brunette in front of you commented fidgeting stiffly once again.

“ Eh doesn’t matter to me, dealer's choice.” You shrugged in response figuring that while Kaz offered he probably only knew one of those options if even considering his aversion toward contact. Kaz took a step closer lifting your hand which still lightly remained in his to his shoulders which he set on his ridged boney shoulder his hand reached for your side placing it gently and you grabbed his other hand raising it up holding it slightly below your shoulder as well as out. Kaz moved his foot toward yours, yours moving back in response to the waltzing causing a game of call and response in your movements. Your partner moved his head closer to the side of yours leaning in his mouth by your ear, you could feel a hot breath tickling your ear making a slight tinge of fluster.

“ We need to distract the Landercrofts, Alinda Landercroft and Jerad Landercoft are over by there by the fourth column from the window,” Kaz whispered carefully stopping midway to turn you a subtle gesture you understood, getting a flash of the pale couple in their 50’s, Alinda Landercoft wore a deep red chiffon and miniver gown that was adorned with ruffles while Jerad Landercroft wore a black suit with a red suit vest that matched the same shade of red of his wife, a large top hat stood on his head causing his short grey hair to sprawl out.

“ Their son Devlin is over there succumbing to his seduction activities.” The brunette gestured with his head to the blonde haired male around your age. He was surrounded by a couple of people of all genders who were fawning over him, him just giving a lazy suggestive smile to each of them. He wore a loose black top that cut low into his chest, a red vest tightened to his figure and black dress pants that were tight around his waist leaving little to the imagination a seemingly common theme with his outfit.

“ Once this song ends we should make discussion with Alinda Landercroft and her husband, their son seems busy enough.” Kaz said vaguely referring to his flirting where now a short haired person in a dress that had a very low bust and corset that pushed their chest up, rubbed said chest against his arm as you groaned in disgust.

And as the song ended the two of you briskly walked toward the older-ish couple who were laughing as you approached. You stopped before the couple you and Kaz bowing your heads slightly as the Landercroft’s looked at you in curiosity.

“ Hello Mr. Landercroft, Mrs. Landercroft,-” Kaz started as you internally sighed at his bluntness that was going to get you guys caught before you decided to interrupt him.

“ Mr Landercroft, Mrs Landercroft! Truly this gala is lovely, every year you never fail to impress me or my husband!” You exclaim in delight to them touching Kaz’s arm affectionately at the term “husband” as the brunette give you a wild slightly disturbed look at your behaviour to which you just gave him a slight unnoticeable jab to the ribs.

“ Oh well thank you my dear! But may I be reminded of who you are? My memory isn't as sharp as it used to be.” Mrs. Landercroft said jokingly as you all(except for Kaz) let out a slight chuckle at her statement.

“ Of course don’t worry I get it, I am (F/n) Casspian and this is my wonderful husband Kazmere Casspian. Between you and me he’s not much of a talker unless it comes down to business.” You tell them fake whispering the last part to Mrs. Landercroft in which she responded with a hearty laugh as Kaz rolled his eyes in response but slightly thankful you’d be handling the small talk especially with how much of a natural you were at this.

“ Same with mine dear!” She laughed out as her husband grumbled beside her as you joined her laughter faking it.

“ Now what did you say you did again?” She “asked” or in the world of the rich she was demanding you explain how you got into the party as people these rich rarely personally invite people more so often leaving it to trusted members of the household to invite people of popularity, opportunity, or influence.

“ The Casspians own that metal company. I believe I recently heard about it from an associate, I hear that it's becoming very influential.” Mr. Landercroft spoke up in a very “knowledgeable” tone which would have been knowledgeable except for the fact that none of it was true nor was it planted information just the older man trying to show off. Both you and and the brunette next to you turned your heads slightly making eye contact with a look of confusion at what bullshit this man was spewing to which you both just shrugged your shoulders slightly turning your attention back to the couple.

“ Yes and we were hoping to establish some sort of arrangement between our company and yours.” The brunette says to the elderly couple to which both looked shocked to see him speaking however you internally smiled smug at the distraction this provided the others who should be close to the vault in the eastern wing of the manor.

“ That would be great, son!” Mr. Landercroft said walking over clapping Kaz on the back was quite hard as Kaz flinched away from the contact, inching closer to you pressing tightly against your arm as you felt his arm trembling slightly against yours. You carefully snaked your hand towards his tightly clenched fist nudging it with your pinky in a silent ask. His hand slacked open in response as your hand slid into his carefully rubbing circles onto the back of his hand as his shaking slowly started to decrease as the older man in front of you ran his mouth off about his company.

“ Well son why don’t we all head to my office to hash out the details.” Mr. Landercroft stated hearty as he laughed, putting out his arm for his wife. You looked as Kaz grimacing when the others were not looking, pointing your head towards Devlin who was still wrapped up “entertaining” the people around him. The brunette nodded in understanding at your subtle gesture.

“ Mr Landercroft I would love to join however I must leave my husband up to this, an old acquaintance of mine appears to be here and I’ve never been good at business.” You speak in fake regret towards the couple furrowing your eyebrows together and letting out a tight lipped smile. The couple nodded in understanding of your statement. You turned to Kaz one of your hands still holding his slightly trembling one, you carefully grabbed his other hand with your free one looking at him for any resistance to which you received none you gently raised both his towards each other raising them to your mouth as you bowed your head maintaining eye contact with him lightly brushing your lips against his gloved hands the thick cotton rough under your lips as you placed a soft kiss on them. Kaz's eyes only widened slightly as the corners of his lips threatened to twitch into a warm small smile so faintly you may not have even realised nothing like his manic and greedy smile but a smile that held whatever pieces of his heart had been left. And so you let him go which caused a faint tug at your own heart as you watched him leave with the couple, your eyes trailing him as much as you could before he completely disappeared through the crowd. You turned back to the people whirling in endless mindless circles in lavish gowns and suits. This is the life they know and for most of them all they’ve known but it was also a life you knew, you knew it in the twisted behind closed doors way. And so you skimmed the crowd following it all the way to the blonde man who leaned in close to one of the people that was crowded around him a inch distance from their face with a smirk on his. You made up your mind and decided you would distract him yourself to avoid suspicion of just standing in the open unmoving, unamused. So you walk up to the male swaying your hips slightly, an innocent smile that holds a slight suggestiveness undertone to it cringing internally. The blonde's eyes turned wide for a second before his entire face turned into a smirk as he stopped leaning against the pillar standing straight up, his arms still crossed.

“ Well hello,” Devlin stated seductively(?), more like an attempt to be seductive to which you internally groaned with disgust. But regardless of how cringe worthy it felt you went along with it looking way in fake flusteredness.

“ Hello,” You replied meekly, crying internally at how awful the situation was. The blonde just continued to smirk as he took a step towards you.

“ Well what caused you to wander over here love.” The man replied teasingly and unfortunately for him horribly unattractive. And so your fake waltz began with your “subtle flirting” and his prowling responses. Many of the people who had been fawning over him had walked away with their noses high in the air, scoffing, at your presence it certainly hadn’t been the first time you experienced this but hopefully would be the last. And so your little dance began with slight touches, suggestive innocent sentences, and so on, all part of your careful scheme of distraction. And oh how you dreaded it weaving a web around the playboy who only expected you to be an innocent party-goer who had been entranced by him not a thief who took the role upon themself to protect the man and friends they had come to adore.

“ Well darling how about we head to somewhere more private.” The blonde said his voice dropping as he pressed his mouth against your ear, you having to clench your fingernails into your palm to resist the urge to push him away. But of course you had a role to play and so you’d play it. Your lips turned into a slight pout as you spoke up.

“ Well could we have one dance…first?” You trailed off hugging his arm, an obnoxious move but one that charmed him and most likely only his lips turned into a gentle smile.

“ Why of course.” He responded lightly as he reached his out for yours ready for you to grasp it. You of course did as the two of you walked out into the centre which had just concluded the previous dance, some couples fled to the side, some stayed and some joined. All on the floor stayed perfectly still as they were in their spots until the musicians started to play. It was a medium paced dance and one you knew well. You sighed in relief at the fact you knew the dance and one that you knew well but not only that the dance was one in which you switched partners for a large portion of it in the middle meaning you could get a break from Devlin, what a relief that would be. Your whirling and steps began him sweeping you through the other couples narrowly missing one another, Devlin holding you to him as tight as he possibly could. You on the other hand were mentally counting down the seconds till you would get to switch partners. Then finally what felt like forever you spun away only to be caught by what you’d hoped was anyone better than him. You were wrong. The man in front of you had his hair gelled matching his thick beard and moustache, his eyes stared coldly into you, a smirk upon his lips. You knew the man, you knew him very well and you hated him, you hated him for yourself, for the people he’s hurt, and for Kaz. But there he was in front of you smirking your dance partner, any sliver of hope you’d had. He didn't recognize you went out the window when you came face to face with him.

“ Rollins.” You spat at him, your face seething with anger.

“ (Y/n)” He responded back with that stupid greedy smirk on his face causing you to roll your eyes.

“ You are looking as great as ever, tell me have you taken a visit back yet since your little runaway stunt.” He commented, the words rolling off his tongue in a fake syrupy sweetness. You gritted your teeth together as you stared at his cold gaze with one equally of coldness, possibly even more.

“ Do not even speak of that to me.” You hissed at him hating how one of his hands rested on your waist and the other touching your hand, but most of all you hated how you had to continue this charade with the man, the man that the person you cared for had despised.

“ Oh you mean the Red Windmill or Ryker Knox because both are missing their shining diamond terribly,” He started your face twisting briefly into horror before going back to being enraged “ You know nobody would have ever thought you would have run away from the man much less to the bastard of the barrel.”

“ What are you talking about?” You state sharply trying to feign ignorance in masking your terror that you might’ve put a larger target on Kaz’s back.

“ Oh you know what I’m talking about, I know you quite fancy that bastard but what would dear old Ryker say about that…” He trailed off getting closer, his voice dropping lowly.

“ If you dare do something-” You began to threaten before he clicked his tongue interrupting you.

“ Well for starters I could order my men to go capture them right now don’t think I don’t know about your little heist,” he interrupted now finally so close he was whispering in your ear as you shuddered in fear at the fact you knew why all the guards looked vaguely familiar they had been Rollins in disguise of course they had, “ or you could listen to me and your dear bastard and his group of misfits will go free unharmed, accomplishing their heist, and you won’t be dragged back to Knox.”

“ What do you want?” You said out of your clenched teeth to him terrified at his threat. You couldn’t let them be caught if you could’ve done something to avoid it and you certainly wouldn't, no you couldn’t allow yourself to be dragged back to that awful awful man. You would allow yourself to take your very last breath before you’d ever go back to him willingly or unwilling. Pekka only smirked in response from the little you had seen of him pulling away from your ear for a slight moment before leaning back.

“ To leave with me. You are to leave with me and work for me,” He started as you raised your eyebrow at why he’d possibly want you, you could offer up a decent set of skills but none he needed unless it had to do with your prior “occupation” in which you’d rather die however if thats what would save your friends and your livelihood so be it. But then the man continued, “ And when you do so, when the bastard comes for you, you will tell him no, you will reject the boy and you will break his heart.”

“ Is there anything else?” You let out monotonous, staring ahead blankly ignoring the man's disgustingly hot breath against your ear before pulling away doing the turn the dance required only to slam back into him. You hadn’t questioned his condition, you knew Kaz wouldn’t come for you, and you couldn’t even blame him for it how could you, it wasn’t going to break his heart that the bartender who had some extra abilities would end up going with Pekka Rollins his enemy sure it would piss him off in terms of loyalty but break his heart no, no it wouldn’t. But of course you couldn’t fathom how much it actually would, how would you when the only time the man would let his heart bleed for you was in the moments you’d blink and for those split milliseconds his gaze would soften when it wandered to you, or when the early hours of the morning when even the crows of Ketterdam slept but he’d be the only person up his mind drifting to you so quietly, or in crowded rooms when he could pick out your voice out , out of the many drinking it in memorising it ever so thoroughly, or maybe it was when he’d watch you clean the club late at night after closing and he‘d get to indulge at letting your name roll off his tongue not having to fear the world hearing, so yes how would you know when he loved you in the quiet moments, moments of time no one in the world could detect in his terror of someone finding out. And yet he failed.

“ All you will need to do is sit there and look handsome, with the possibility of obtaining information.” He responded back his voice slick with victory his words slithering like a snake into your ear but it wasn’t words of temptation he whispered it was venom it was the venom of the life you could not live it was the venom that would kill your livelihood, kill your soul, and ultimately kill you. But it wasn’t a choice it was a sword and a vial of poison it was death for you either way one would be slow and painful, guilt, shame, and hatred would be one or the other where only you would suffer completely it would take a bit of time to kick in but only you would be harmed without having to worry about the others. And so your choice was made you acting as your own executioner.

“ I will do it, but only if you agree that they will go successfully with the heist and you will not do anything to them directly or indirectly.” You said firmly making your final stand refusing to let any loopholes get through for your effort.

“ Fine, I agree. Let us go.” he said, grabbing your wrist harshly, twisting it a little bit as he dragged you to the door as you attempted to keep looking back a few times desperately as a final last hope that one of the crows may be there but of course this was reality they were not. And so you were dragged out into the dark night by the monster who was to cage you once again. The stars and sky of Ketterdam had never looked as cold and dull as they did tonight but you attempted to ignored them as you got into the dark carriage not caring to look around just staring blankly into the void of the night, the lights of the manor disappearing behind you and the weight of what you had just agreed to started consuming you into the void of the night.

[oathkeeperoxas]

TOP GUN / icemav fic recs part 2

Rec list 1 here

I'm back again with another collection of talented fics from the icemav tag on ao3 - as in the first list I've tried not to repeat authors to get a breadth of talent on show here, but please check out what else these authors have written and give them some love too!

Call Me https://archiveofourown.org/works/41694033/chapters/104590443 by EdwardJay

Ice and Maverick have a rule.

Icemav get together when Ice is an Admiral – featuring responsible Mav picking up Ice when he’s too drunk to drive, and drunk Ice who just wants his long term crush to fuck him on the back of his motorcycle. Very good, and very hot.

Touch, has brought us here https://archiveofourown.org/works/45816259/chapters/115302682 by Inquaire

"The broad smile slipped from the shorter pilot's face, instead replaced with a delicate upturn of the corners of his lips. This felt more private, like it was only for Iceman to see. Yearning flashed, for a brief moment, in both of their eyes and suddenly, one was pulling the other into a hug. When asked later, Ice wouldn't be able to tell who tugged first. All he knew is that there was an almost breathtaking, electrifying aura surrounding them both." Or: what was supposed to be a slightly angsty short about Mav being touch starved, turned into a hurt/comfort ridden story about Ice and his feelings™

Post TG86, with Ice and Mav circling around each other slowly, trying to figure out their feelings – with a bunch of touching while they do so.

The Usually Tearless https://archiveofourown.org/works/39827352 by BigBellRings

Iceman and Maverick, in a better time when they were married, but not an ideal time when they were accepted.

A really interesting exploration of Ice’s family and his relationship with them, and how that impacts his relationship with Mav. With some really good icemav interactions that made my heart melt.

Time to let go https://archiveofourown.org/works/41079648 by AortaArgent

For the wonderful TopGunKinkmeme prompt for old man trans Maverick getting some loving. Shifting on the seat, Maverick puts one hand to the top of his jeans and flicks the button open, passing his thumb over the hard metal edge and toying with his zipper idly. The boxers he’s wearing were a gift from Ice (and for Ice), ones with black mesh up the sides. Riding low on his hips, shimmery black waistband wide and elastic enough for him to tuck his thumb into it and make a good show of snapping it against his lower belly. Ice tilts the bottle up - eyes never leaving Mav’s open jeans - and takes a long drink before wiping his mouth with his thumb. “You’re gonna have to ask me if you want this to go anywhere, baby.”

Trans Mav well what can I say but yes. This is incredibly well written, with the longing and yearning and grief of Mav going off to war yet again with Ice staying behind, and the both of them making the most of this slice of time before they’re separated again.

there's just no getting through, without you, a bottle of rouge (just me and you) https://archiveofourown.org/works/41525490/chapters/104145648 by @victimofthemusic

“C’mon, Ice,” Maverick goads gently, tugging at his hand. “Dance with me.” There’s a challenging glinting in those sea-foam eyes, like he’s daring Ice to say no—like he would ever want to tell this beautiful man no, like he even could—and judging by the victorious smirk he gets when Maverick successfully tugs him to his feet, he knows it, too. Or: Ice, Mav, a bottle of wine, a little Al Green & the house to themselves. You do the math.

So soft and domestic I’m losing my mind a little bit. Very in love icemav, very loving each other icemav, with a romantic evening and even more romantic night.

Small Victories https://archiveofourown.org/works/25791349 by @m-madeleine

Ice and Mav go on a trip, but nothing's ever straightforward when Mav's involved. He'll readily admit that.

This made my heart all soft and achy in a good way – Ice’s caution and yet how he’s willing to take a risk for Mav really ties into how I see their characters, and the author’s set up and pay off is done incredibly well.

something off my chest https://archiveofourown.org/works/39307101/chapters/98363907 by Hyacinthus

Maverick's tired of Ice being in control all the time.

Mav taking the lead, and Ice following where he goes will probably be my favourite icemav dynamic of all time. That plus Ice sucking cock will always be 💯 for me

When The Tide Subsides https://archiveofourown.org/works/43590073/chapters/109600816 by anonymous

Maverick returns home following the events of Top Gun: Maverick battered, exhausted and more than a little bruised. Good thing Tom is there for him, in more ways than one.

Established relationship post Top Gun Maverick reunion soft sex where both Ice and Mav get to roll around in the sensations of being alive and having each other!!

i like the sound of that https://archiveofourown.org/works/42305742 by redwithlove

Ice comes across as stuck-up; he struts around with a stick up his ass, assured of his place as the top dog. There have been enough times where Maverick has butted heads with him and thought about sticking something else up his ass. And now that’s actually happening. Quite literally. Huh. Interesting how things play out.

OP starting the bottom Ice party with this one honestly, and I thank them for it every day. PWP with rimming and Ice getting his mind blown in more than one way.

International Delivery https://archiveofourown.org/works/41196906 by @icemav86

When Ice has to travel for work, Mav surprises him with a gift to help him feel closer to home. Or, Mav gets Ice a custom dildo.

The summary says it all, really. Very in character, very hot, would recommend!

Mutual Orbit https://archiveofourown.org/works/19029385 by @icemankazansky

Going home.

The pining and the ‘together but still working things out’ vibes throughout this are exquisite. This is an incredible character study and view into the icemav relationship at this point in time, with the author absolutely nailing the messy emotions and yearning that these two feel for each other.

sing into my mouth https://archiveofourown.org/works/42778782 by themodernmerlin

"If I have to pick between flying and you, I pick you, every time.”

Ice and Mav celebrate Ice’s remission with dinner and a date and a night holed up together.

[cloneloverrrrr]

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗱 ⠀

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭 ⠀

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:🔞 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗳𝗲 𝘅 𝗙𝗲𝗺!𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘅, 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗖 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗻, 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗖 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 , 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗥𝗲𝘅, 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗧𝘂𝗽, 𝗔𝗿𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 6590

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗡𝗜 𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂- 𝗢𝗖 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗖 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱,𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧, 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗣 𝗶𝗻 𝗩 𝘀𝗲𝘅, 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘅, 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝘅, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆, 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁, 𝗢𝗖 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 ⠀

⠀

𝗟𝗠𝗞 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 ☺️

This has been in the works for weeks & tbh I wasn’t even sure I would continue the story I had lost so much inspiration & had major writers block 😣but here it is I know it’s long but the story behind this is long so there will be a PT 2 at some point 🤣

Big shout out to my angels @lune-de-miel-au-paradis @hellhound5925 for always being there for me , being like my biggest ever fans & ofc adding in their own parts to this chapter LYBOTHSM🩷

I apologise now if anything I’ve wrote triggers you or this isn’t really what you want to see on my blog, even if you don’t like it plz be kind✨

Cute moodboard made by my lovely @lune-de-miel-au-paradis 🥰

Dividers by the my best boo @idontgetanysleep & PS IMISSUUUU🥲

A couple of weeks passed blissfully since the news of your pregnancy came to light. Many happy wishes had been sent yours and Wolffe’s way , from your family, members of the Senate, clones and Jedi Masters alike.

As the days went by Wolffes protective instinct over you only grew stronger and the times he wasn’t here became full of anxiety awaiting his calls. Just to know he was safe, yes the clone wars may be over but that did not stop the crime families or the rouge sith sympathisers and knowing general Grievous was still out there was a cause for concern.

Your father had made you aware of proud he was, his heart was full and wanted to announce it to the galaxy. And once the 104th returned to Coruscant he would be holding a grand party in beautiful old Hall not far from the Jedi Temple to celebrate your news.

Wolffe and 104th had been sent to the outer rim an issue regarding the Pyke Syndicates but that’s all you had been told. Your mind span in circles forming such worry but for now you had to push that to one side and focus on the Holonet interview with Commander Fox regarding the issues surrounding Coruscant, crime was only getting worse and the crime families seemed to prosper without Palpatine. Many unhappy that the clones now have freedom who will protect their planet.

“Ready for this interview mesh’la?” Fox’s voice was soft, calming.

You watch as he takes an obsencnly large gulp of caf.

Brow raised as you let out a small chuckle.

“I’m ready but judging from your caf intake I’m not you sure are Fox” You playfully swat at his shoulder as you both make your way to the front of the senate building.

A sea of crowds protesting loomed behind the Corrie guards, a mass of questions and shouting filled the air. The day was warm, as if lightning had blossomed into the most steady of comforting yellow and orange glows casting its sunbeams on everything it touched, the sky was painted a bright blue decorating the high rise towers with such elegance.

Uneasy breaths hitched in the back of your throat you began to fidget with the hem of your robes, the closer you got to reaching the podium the greater the nerves became. Alas you stood straight aligned your posture and maintained eye contact with every living being stood before you. Fox took his place beside you oozing such confidence, his stance almost domineering.

“Citizens of Coruscant and the Republic I am Senator Crystal Lontac , I am here today with Commander Fox leader of the Coruscant Guard. I want to discuss your concerns over my most recent bill that successfully passed. Clones and their rights…”

You were abruptly cut off by a Rodian man shouting profanities.

“Sir myself and Commander Fox can assure you and every single person here you will be safe and the Coruscant Guard will do their upmost to protect u-“

Ranting and raving from the horde became too much, your senses became flooded in an overwhelming panic. Your heart hammered against your ribcage, a thunderous beat that reverberated through your body, matching the rhythm of your escalating panic All sound seemed to drown away becoming distorted. Clutching at your chest, your fingers trembling, as if trying to keep the racing organ from leaping out of your body there and then.

Through all the chaos you felt a set of eyes bore into you yet unable to pinpoint who they were coming from. Those eyes they followed you - followed each movement you made whilst delivering your speech. Or lack of. Your stomach turned and an uneasy feeling lingered in your aura. Fox was quick to notice the worry painted across your face.

“Thorn have your men take control of this situation now” Fox ordered his trooper sternly via comm.

A sudden dull pain sentaches down the side of your body from something colliding with it, causing you to trip and stumble against the cold steps. Their unforgiving nature creating a pain, sharp like blades. You can already feel the blood vessel under your skin giving way, the black and blue hue will make itself known underthe skin in a matter of hours.

You stiffle out a whimper and fight back the tears that prick at the corner of your eyes and threaten to fall just as you did a moment ago.

"Crystal are you alright ?” Fox rushes to your side scooping you as glass bottles rain down around you both. An angry mob waging their assault on you, a situation you need to remove yourself from. Tear gas falls as the sound of blasters stunning anybody unruly enough who threatens to get get too close.

A sense of calm washes over you as your taken to a small room back within the Senate building, you hear the shrill noise of your comm going off- a hologram is waiting. You allow Fox to answer it your hands shaking uncontrollably, your mind elsewhere. Unable to focus.

Wolffe pops up expecting to see the face of his cyare, yet he is greeted with his Vod. The expression on his face instantly sours.

“Where is she? I’ve just seen that fucking interview- where is she Fox? Answer me!” His brows furrowed and his stare narrows the longer it takes Fox to answer.

“She’s ok Vod, just shaken as you can img-“ Fox’s voice quiet.

“Don’t make me fucking ask again.” The harshness in his tone shocked you and Fox alike.

He lets out a small sigh and walks over to you holding the hologram in his gloved hand smiling down as he places the device infront of you.

Wolffes gaze scans your face.

“Mesh’la I’m so sorry I was not present when this happened I.. I can inform General Plo to send me back to Coruscant.”

Through the blue of the Hologram you can see his eyes widen,a glint of concern and a look dark enough to kill.

“I promise you I am ok” you speak softly trying to blink away those stinging tears.

“The baby…?” His words stumble as he rubs the back of his neck a slight attempt to hide the worry under the disinterested confidence he portrays.

His words force you to grab at your stomach for a brief moment.

“Fox is taking me to see Kix shortly. Come back soon?” You flash him that delicate yet alluring smile, the one that had him hooked the day he first set eyes on you.

“For you mesh’la always. Only a few more rotations” A small smirk tugs the corners of his lips.

Maker you had missed him, his touch, his scent, the heat he radiates, the arrogance he oozed everything about him. His eyes once more become soft before he turns to Fox.

“Keep your channel open brother I have news regarding the Pykes and the family who seem to be controlling Coruscant”

“Affirmative” Fox’s tone now serious. You cant help put ponder what their conversation means.

The days fly by, some mundane whilst others had been hectic from your rather disastrous interview. The the trip to Kix was a pleasant one, it took your mind off everything if only for a short while , yet it hurt your heart knowing your lover was not present with you. Wolffe was with you via hologram but you needed to feel his presence, you needed to feel the way he runs his fingers through your hair, the way he holds you close whispering those sweet words you needed to hear.

Knowing Wolffe was returning back to Coruscant and the large party your father has planned you decided it was time to leave work and focus on the next few days. Your life had been manic and all you wanted was to relax in long hot bubble bath. The sharp beep of your comm breaks the silence in your office.

“Hello mesh’la” Wolffe greets you.

“Good evening my love” those words dance off your tongue. Wolffe knows you smile with more than your mouth, he can hear it in your voice, in the choice of your words. It was beautiful to him.

“We are on route back to Coruscant, I trust you won’t get into any further issues with the general public?” Sarcasm laces his tone.

“I trust you won’t be late as I’m sure you are aware we have a party to attend Commander” you retort. The way you emphasise his rank sends that familiar tingle rushing through his body straight to his already hardened sex.

You chuckle softly knowing the effect you will forever have on him.

“I don’t want to miss a thing” his gruff voice quivers with softness.

“You will be back soon and I am counting down each second Wolffe” you said, the smile beaming evident in your words yet again.

The comm ends and you spin yourself around on your office chair, that cloud nine feeling is back.

You stand up from your desk looking out of the large windows, the hectic life of the planet goes on and on. Each person in the crowd moves as if unseeing hands drag them this way and that, pulling their eyes to one thing and then another, your thoughts drift from your lover to the worries of raising a child then to the little drama of your chosen attire for the party your father will be hosting. Leaving your office within the Senate, Fox and Thorn accompany you to your apartment- the norm.

Once reaching home you say your goodbyes to the clones, yet you were feeling intimidated almost as if those eyes that had been peering into your soul at the interview were only a few small steps away.

You jostle those thoughts out of your mind as much as possible so you take yourself off to the shopping district. Minding your business as you walk out of a small boutique two large figures brush past you in the bustling streets. You smile and mouth a sorry as you continue to walk back to your apartment building, but the feeling of someone behind you , watching you creeps in only stronger than before.

You suck in a sharp breath, the dread only intensifying.

“All alone Miss Lontac?” A tall striking man with glimmering green eyes appears from behind you, something about him and this situation has your blood running cold, but his features are soft … tranquil.

You blink, your brows furrow before you can even utter a word, he smiles at you.

“Senator Lontac… I saw your interview” he chuckles dryly.

“Oh- yes I’m so sorry erm yes I’m alone just off home. I guess everyone in this galaxy saw that disastrous thing” you stutter attempting to cover up your nerves, lacking the protection of your usual clone escorts. Oh maker how you wish and pray to the gods Wolffe was by your side.

“By yourself?” His eyes search yours, captivating yes but something about them seems dark something you can’t put your finger on. He flashes you a smile, his green eyes shine against the evening glow of the neon lights.

“Y-yes I have to get home I need some rest there is an event I must attend tomorrow Mr…. ?” you smile back fidgeting with your shopping bag.

“Finn”

“Let me walk you back Miss Lontac, a pretty thing like you should not be alone even on the surface of Coruscant”

Your nose scrunches in distaste for a few seconds before you realise, you quickly feign a smile.

One hand behind his back he ushers you forward to walk to which you accept his invitation. General chit chat flows as you find talking to him easy, you speak about the party your father is holding for you, about the silly worries of which dress you plan to wear yet nothing in too much detail. In no time your stood outside the bronze entrance doors of your apartment building.

“Well Crystal Lontac I thank you for letting me accompany you on your walk back, however I must admit I am at a loss as to why your partner , the one who is head of the Coruscant guard is not with you in the evenings considering the crime and violence this city is facing” his tone was more dry.

You watch as he leans against the door calmly a wave of cockiness surrounds him.

“My partner..?” Curiosity dripping in your voice.

“Yes your partner he must be defective for leaving such a beautiful girl like you all alone”

“Commander Fox is a friend, we work closely together he is nothing more. My partner Commander Wolffe will be home soon. He is aware I can handle myself….. Finn” your tone was calm, your eyes unflinching.

Finn lets out a small chuckle as he tussles his platinum hair slicking it back in a cocksure manner.

“Ah I see this Commander Wolffe is your romantic partner?”

You pause before answering him, a smile sigh escapes your lips as you gave Finn the side eye struggling to hide your blatant annoyance by his stand off-ish question.

“Yes he is my partner and he will be home soon, he’s due shore leave for a while. Thank you for walking me home, it was very kind of you. Enjoy the rest of your evening Finn”

You turn your back to this tall man and walk through the lobby, something in you has your head turning back to the large doors. You watch as he smiles and waves you off before walking down the brightly lit streets. Wolffe had taught you to trust your instincts , that your gut was always right. The hairs on the back of your neck suddenly prick up, the hair follicles on your arms rise to meet them. Those eyes they are back, piercing into your body, like a seeping darkness. You can feel their sickly intent, enough to make your nauseous. Skin crawling you shrug it off and make your way into the safety of your home.

In the comforts of your apartment you set your purchases down in your bedroom and wander off to the fresher ready for that long hot bath you’ve been so badly craving. Outside the sky was dark, littered with coal coloured clouds and celestial bodies. You watched the steam filling the room, the whiff of lavender carries lightly and smoothly across the air invading your nostrils. Slowly you sunk down in your large tub, soaking in the heated water, feeling it hug every inch of your skin so gently. Breathing in the aroma was a heady combination of bliss and relaxation, to take each subject off your mind for a short while.

An hour passes by, an hour of calm and content. An invigorating feeling soothed your muscles and your over thinking mind. You stood in front of the mirror in the fresher wiping away the condensation completing your usual pamper rituals you studied body your hands drawn to your stomach. You smile to yourself remembering you need to get dressed, maybe eat something, drink some water but the excitement of seeing Wolffe after what feels like an eternity is too over powering.

Finally you step out of the fresher throwing on a white satin night dress barely covering much skin, you plod through your apartment and the noise of the keypad on your door alerts you to your lovers presence.

“Your late again” came your soft voice from the front room.

Laying back against your plush sofa with your eyes closed completely relaxing your body which was in a state of seventh heaven made all that more over-joyous with the battle hardened Commander home. A smile graced your full soft pink lips.

Wolffe began rigorously removing most of his armor until he was just in his blacks before turning his attention to you sprawled across the silver coloured fabric, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched you gracefully climb up from your sofa and walk over to him. His stern expression seemingly melting as he came into arms reach of you, the woman he adored, loved and would do anything for. He wasted little time in pulling you into his embrace, slamming you against the wall lips hot heavy and desperate against yours.

“I’ll make it up to you” he whispers into your neck.

A small breathy gasp escapes your parted lips as you pull him so close, the air around you stills as his rough fingers creep up the delicate skin of your fleshy thigh eliciting a moan as he cups your cunt.

“Mesh’la…. Fuck I’ve missed you” his words as eager as his cock to slide into you and prove just how much he missed you. Your hands glide down his muscular body, ghosting over the thick bulge between his legs. Maker you are craving him.

“Do you feel what you do to me mesh’la?” he whispered in your ear. “Do you feel how fucking hard I am for you?”

“I want you” you mewl out as he presses his palm against your throbbing clit.

Wolffe picked you up effortlessly walking back over to the sofa , his teeth bare, lips only slightly curved into a seductive smile. His eyes bore into you, the gaze between you both never once broke. Your legs clamped around his waist tightly reciprocating his possessive hold on you.

"You're my brightest burning star, you're my perfect desire. His words so soft yet laced with lust.

“It’s like I can feel you under my skin, Fuck- mesh’la it’s heaven to me” his lips graze over yours as the words spilled so beautifully rolling off his tongue.

Wolffe held your elbows softly as he guided you down to the sofa while he took his place standing behind you, admiring the contours and dips of your body. Your light skin complimented by the chalky satin that clung to you.

He bent your body over as he removed the flimsy fabric allowing it to fall down to your ankles, your hands firmly grasping the plush sofa’s back rest. Two large calloused hands fasten round your ass, the hold was harsh but you hungered for it, it felt good and Wolffe knew this.

Your wavy black hair fell gracefully down your back, and this position only enhanced every curve, everything that made you unique and perfect, oh so perfect for him.

At last after gazing across your bare body , Wolffe brought himself to look down to your tight pussy, gleaming wet, embellished by the soft pink hue on your ass cheeks left only mere moments ago by his harsh grip.

The room was filled with your content sighs and small moans.

“Wet already for me” his chuckle was dark.

“Let me show you just how much I’ve missed this cunt” he rasps.

A rough hand ran up your back as his gaze continued to lavish you. His fingers curled tightly around your hair, fisting it, the light tugging had a sharp gasp falling from your lips. The other hand took his rock hard cock placing the tip on your entrance pushing himself in slowly at first, shuddering every inch he got deeper.

A low growl ran deep in the back of his throat.

His immense length throbbing inside your tight walls, and from this angle he can see the flawless sight- your small pussy splitting open around his girth, this sparked something feral, something primal inside of him.

His tip bumped against the edge of your walls, the sting shot through your body like white hot pokers, and in that moment you both know neither of you could no longer resist.

Wolffe pulled out for a brief moment looking down at the sight of your dripping pussy gaping only slightly, then he forcefully slammed himself back in. Barely just starting, your lovers pace turned relentless. He wanted you more than he could ever speak in words, more than he could show, he needed you —and you needed him too.

“Wolffe…” you whispered strained and huffed

“harder… please, harder…”

A dark desire wickedly gleamed in his eyes as his gaze swept up and down your body. An ethereal vision he will never grow tired off.

“Fuck— you like that don’t you ” he hisses

“You like the way I fucking ruin you” he grunts in pleasure, firmly placing his large hands against the soft flesh of your hips.

“Oh Wolffe- oh fuck yes”

Between your moans and groans you gasped for air.

At the prurience of your command, Wolffe sped up his already inhumanly fast vicious fucking, watching as your body writhed and squirmed so pathetically under him.

He releases a deep breath and in a barley controlled voice he murmurs filthy praises and curses. His jaw ripples with unrestrained tension as your lewd moans only get louder.

Music to his fucking ears.

Fucking into you even faster, Wolffe tugged slightly harder on your hair, drawing screams and panting oh so deliriously entranced by satisfaction.

Your walls clamped so desperately around his cock as a heat licked the base of your spine, your legs began to wobble, your heart skittering. The pleasure was intense and so overwhelming, the air in your lungs thick your body vibrating with such a irresistible rapture.

Strings of strained obscenities fell from your mouth followed by praises and more desperate pleas for Wolffe to fuck you harder.

That pleasurable haze sweeps over you as finally reach the point in which you are unable to speak, only a shaking mess of whines and sobs. Your moans so loud filling your apartment, your body dancing as tremors and waves of your orgasm overtake you, sending you to heaven. Your cunt twists in delight as you soak his pounding cock with your milky cum.

“Listen to how wet your cunt is for me mesh’la” his voice was low and gravely.

Your pussy clamped and tightened around his cock crying out his name over and over, it was too much. Wolffe rams deeply into you one last time completely dominating your pussy and with that he came so hard his vision blurred while white dots danced across his pupil’s. Wolffes entire body jerked, pulsed and twitched as he emptied himself coating your walls with his release, leaning his scar decorated body flush against yours sinking his teeth into the crook of your neck panting violently.

Blissful moments passed, your bodies and breathing as one in sync. Wolffe began to slowly draw out of your sensitive core, keeping a steady hold of you as he flipped you over like a pillow and placed you on his lap as he rested back into the soft sofa.

“I love you mesh”la” he whispered into your pulse point.

His hand drifted down between your thighs, and he began to play with the cum that had leaked out of your pussy, his fingers began to work their way through it in soft and slow teasing motions, before gathering it up and slipping it back inside you with a touch so gentle it was like an aphrodisiac, the drug to your most perfect high.

In the hours leading upto your party a wave of nerves washed over you. You clutch your stomach studying yourself against the large mirrored wardrobes, the soft floating light ensemble with a creamy silvery sheen as if woven from starlight hugs your petite body without any fault. The sparkly material folded in a special sue generis manner crossing your breasts starting from the neck, leaving the belly and the entire back exposed- wrapping around your curves with such grace as it drapes over your shoulders , covering your neck and connecting at your core, before flaring back around your hips hitting the floor leaving little to the imagination.

Wolffe stood behind you, stoic and dashing in his grey officers uniform. His calloused hands placed firm around your stomach. His lips graze across your bare shoulder blades as he inhales your sweet floral scent, the one he loves and the one that intoxicated his nostrils so appealingly all those many months ago when he first laid eyes on you.

His tone low, husky.

“I have something for you”

He removes his hands from your body and into his trouser pocket taking out a small grey box.

“May I?”

You wordlessly nod a yes watching him from the mirror as he takes out a dainty yet sparkling cluster of celestial stars pendant. The elongated tips of the north, south, east and west dazzle in the light. Gently he places it around your slender neck , his cybernetic and honey eyes fixated on how it sits neatly into the open area of your chest.

“Wolffe-“ His words cut yours off as he slowly pushes aside your curly raven locks and placing a tender butterfly kiss against the shell of your earlobe.

“Remember I said you were my brightest burning star? I want you to have this as a reminder that you’re the star at the center of my universe. The light in the darkness” he whispers.

“Something I’ve never had and something I never want to loose”

After each word he places kiss after kiss against any part of you his lips can reach, you shudder as his hands roam across your chest, fingertips dance across your arms up your neck and across your jawline. Your body quivers with warmth and endearment.

A giggle breaks the bewitching silence.

“We are going to be late let’s go” you turn around kissing his nose before taking his hand leading him to the door.

A knock has you curious as to who this could be. A natborn dressed smartly in a black tux holds out a small bunch of your favourite flowers Alderaanian flame roses- another preference of your late mother. Still a very hidden secret from Wolffe and the rest of the galaxy. One day you will bring up the courage to really delve into your past and those skeletons in your closet. You thank the driver as Wolffe places the exquisite flowers in a stained glass vase upon a table in your front room, accentuating the aesthetic of the your apartment. The place Wolffe calls home.

A large speeder awaits you both outside your apartment building , as you and Wolffe climb in the nerves stir and rumble inside of you that you fail to notice a figure lurking in the shadows watching your every move. Stalking his prey.

“Mesh’la your father seems to have gone all out here am I to expect this and more once we arrive?” A hint of sarcasm runs through his dry tone.

“It appears my father has taken a leaf out of my mothers book” you speak fidgeting with your dress.

Wolffe notices the aura around you changing slightly and kisses your temple.

“I don’t know much about your mother mesh’la…”

Craning your neck you gaze out at the city, the energetic streets below bustling to the brim continued its normal routine as the starry black sky vibrantly glowed. You let out a deep sigh.

“Another time Wolffe not now” the tone of your displeased voice makes for a rather quiet ride over to the old hall.

He keeps a firm grip of your hand a voiceless way of saying it’s ok we can do it in your own time. Like Wolffe this is something you’ve never had and do not want to loose.

Upon arriving at your destination you are greeted by members of the Wolf pack dressed in grey suits and the Corrie guards in their striking crimson armor, each clone may of resembled one another but they were very different in their own unique way. A bashful smile erupts across your alluring face. Walking in hand and hand with Wolffe you noticed heads turn, you heard gasps and murmurs from the many guests , smiles and cheers as you past by. Once again the harsh overwhelming feeling hit you hard, the sorrowful feeling runs through your body. You could only wish your mother was here to share this news.

Server droids buzz around frantically, laughter and music fills the old halls, a large table covered in quite an assortment of rather delectable looking platters and the smell of Ne’tra gal (Mandalorian Black beer) hit your nose. That and tihaar (Mandalorian spirits) were always your fathers favorite. Mandalorian customs aren’t shy of delicious food and drink.

Your father approached with a bitter sweet smile on his face. Aay’han, you had heard him once call it. The bittersweet moment surrounded by those you love to celebrate while remembering those who aren’t with us. Your beautiful mother to be exact. Most women would be sharing the excitement of their pregnancy with their mother. Unfortunately this is not something you are able to do, and it pains you.

Looping one arm in yours, your father turned to the guests and raised his glass, “K’oyacyi! (Cheers)

An ear splitting sound of cheering and clapping fills the large vintage room, the twinkle of the lights, the smells of the Arallutes flowers decorated around each table, and the faces of people you loved and cared for left a feeling inside one could not describe. You took time out to speak to nearly every guest, Aliit members from Mandalore attended, many members of the senate, a mix of clones from the 501st and the Wolfpack, of course the Corrie guards had been assigned as protection for each person in the room- especially you.

In the far corner you noticed Tup with a familiar lady… Tiva-sa, this brings joy to your heart.

“Well well well and when did you two plan on telling me?” You tease placing your drink down on the table as you eye them both.

“My beautiful best friend it’s hardly news to your announcement” the pretty twi’liek giggles wrapping her arms around you.

For a long while you both hold each other, you embrace Tiva-sa and her kindness, her warmth. You thank the maker for a best friend like her.

“Mesh’la I am so happy for you and Commander Wolffe you both deserve only the best” Tup comments placing his arms around you both.

“I will leave you two to enjoy the evening” you smile softly before walking off to the large dance floor.

You notice Wolffe having a conversation with Fox, by the looks of it this does not show as the average chat, it’s deep. Your mind very clearly elsewhere you fail to notice your father stood behind you.

“Darling ad’ika you remind me of your mother, she would be so very proud of the amazing young woman you have grown to be” his words break for a moment , strained and soft, not his usual tone.

“Wol’ika will protect you once I am gone, he will protect the Aliit and the future.”

“Thank you kag'buir “ and with that he places a light kiss upon your forehead and saunters off to the rest of the guests.

You stand there frozen, a glassy stare at the large grand room and it’s inhabitants, completely submerged by your thoughts and emotions, you feel yourself becoming lightheaded in need of fresh air- you try your upmost to push these feelings aside and enjoy the evening but once again it is becoming too much.

As you take yourself out to the balcony your hands grip the cold rough railings and you feel your breathing steadying, your mind calming once you gaze up to the starlight and the silvery moon above. The shadows of the buildings structure dance upon the ground you stand on. Amid the perfume of the summer blooms from the gardens of the surface levels, feeling the cool of the evening air wash over your body. Inside comes the music of laughter and joy the promise of a new life brighten your dreams.

Those eyes are back and watching you. The hairs on the back of your neck stand and prickle, with no warning a smooth familiar voice appears to your side.

"All alone again Senator..." the voice tails off, slithering its way into your mind causing your heart rate to spike. The sound of your racing pulse beats in your ear drums drowning out almost everything around you. A feeling of dread crept up from the pit of your stomach.

"Commander Wolffe does not seem to know the meaning of taking care of such a beautiful lady"

“Fuck you look a sight in that dress”

Venom. It drips from the words and enters your blood steam paralyzing your for a moment.

“Finn…?” The shaking in your voice was as evident as the shaking in your body.

Finn watched with a dangerous glint in his eyes as you feebly attempted to shuffle away from him only to be frozen in place. He steps closer and closer boxing you in to the railings. Inhaling your delicious scent a slender finger slowly runs across your bare shoulder and down your arm. Panic begins to surge in your blood. You rear back from him as much as you possibly can.

A pathetic attempt.

His fingers snag your wrist yanking you towards him into his chest, the strong smell of whiskey permeating from his mouth invades your nostrils causing your stomach to churn.

“Ah ah ah pretty thing, I urge you not to make this any more unpleasant than it needs to be” a cocky yet cruel grin tugs at his lips.

His grip loosens on you as he slams you into the railings, the thunk of the cool metal bars sting against your lower back. You yelp before protectively clutching at your stomach.

“Take her.” He demands to the large shadows either side of you.

Every fibre of your being tried to scream, but a gloved hand began to snake around your throat pulling your necklace with brute force from your exposed neck whilst the other covered your mouth, muffling your cries. The delicate pendant Wolffe had gifted you only hours earlier dropped to the floor with a soft clunk. You watch as Finn splashed a wicked smile across his face before everything around you began to wane into a dark inky black mass as the tears stream down your cheeks.

The fear became a bitter taste in the back of your mouth you could not rid. Only becoming stronger.

A dull roar of what sounded like blaster shots accompanied by the faint sounds of voices crept into your ears yet your mind stayed blank- thoughts now being lost to the beyond. Fading away.

Cheerful music rings out in the halls, guests indulge and celebrate the night away yet something in Wolffe’s gut tells him that time is not on his side. The conversation between the two Commanders suddenly interrupted by the Commlink on Fox’s wrist beeping.

“Sir we have a situation outside”

A short uncomfortable pause.

“Four terminated however no signs of a struggle. Some of the guests have been asking where the Senator is..”

“Copy that- I want a perimeter sweep of the area that includes a search for Senator Lontac then report back to me.” Fox was calm and collected. Yet annoyance simmered deep down inside of him.

“Sir yes sir!”

There it was again that short and rather uncomfortable pause.

“Where is Crystal?” Alarm flickers across his face as his eyes scan the large bustling room.

A muscle clicks in Wolffe’s jaw, a tendon in his neck so strained ready to burst at any moment. He can feel his control slipping.

“Ner vod- I ain’t seen her for awhile not since she stepped outside…” Fox points out.

His words cut off almost instantly by Wolffe’s harsh tone.

“The fuck you mean she stepped outside? When? With who?” He hisses through clenched teeth scowling at his brother.

The pure weight of Fox’s gaze forces Wolffe to shove past him before he can reply. His feet carry him quickly to the dimly lit balcony. Not a soul around - just your sweet scent he adores lingers in the air. Yet something glistening catches Wolffe’s well trained eyes. His heart sank, a dull aching pain washed over him in waves. A vibroblade to the gut.

The celestial carcanet- the one he used to describe his love for you now laid fragmented upon the chilly stones that looked over the planet below. Wolffe returns to the hall filled with oblivious company tightly grasping the pretty pendant that once sat so perfectly around your elegant neck.

A firm hand grabs Wolffe’s shoulder and his eyes snap open only to see the concerned look upon Fox’s face. He holds Wolffe’s glare and a look is exchanged between the two war hardened men.

“I’m on it brother whoever has taken her will feel our fucking wrath”

Fox turns to face the troopers entering the large hall. The warbles of many comms fill the rather quiet gathering of clones. Splashes of red catch the eyes of the remainder of the Wolf Pack. Comet, Boost and Sinker dash over like a gundark was hot on their heels.

“Commander what’s going on?” Boost speaks as his face searches each of his brothers.

Silence.

“Commander where is Crystal what’s happened?” Sinker asks with urgency.

Hound makes his way past the two other members of the Corrie Guard with grizzer panting away next to him.

He removes his helmet placing it under his arm, letting out a small sigh of exasperation. His face was painted with a troubled expression.

“Commander Fox, Commander Wolffe a search has been conducted but we have been unable to locate the shooter … or Senator Lontac.”

“Wolffe.. Fox … what’s going on?” A voice from behind Hound breaks the low rumble of conversation.

Rex closely followed by Tup, Fives and Jesse enter the group.

“Four of our own dead. This necklace a present I had given her earlier this evening was on the ground… the chain snapped and she is nowhere to be seen.”

The ache in Wolffe’s chest bled like a raw wound. A heavy stone like feeling descended into his stomach. It fucking hurt - more so than when he lost his eye.

“Crystal is.. gone?” A tear pricks at the side of Tups eye as he takes in those last few words Wolffe spoke.

“She…. She is like my sister we have to find her” his voice strained.

“We will Vod” Fives attempt to calm Tup sadly failed.

Each clone stands closely knitted together, mixes of blue, grey and crimson glow under the twinkling fairy lights that garnish the large hall, as they await instructions from their Commanding Officers. Fox sends Hound to inform your father of the current state of affairs.

Wolffe strategises the best plan forward, ignoring everyone around him, unable to truly focus. Everything seems like a blur and the fucking maker is testing him tonight.

Fury darkens his vision and his thoughts. The warmth he felt in your presence- gone. Now only a cold expanse like the dark of space. An anger he is struggling to control. Wolffe knows it and you know it. He would fucking kill for you and he won’t stop until he finds you.

He turns to face Fox, his hand clasped tightly around the broken chain that sat so beautifully around your neck, his jaw clicks once more. Pure pique overtakes his usual uninterested demeanour.

“I would burn this galaxy for her” in a barley controlled voice, Wolffe’s words where a statement.

TAGLIST - @hellhound5925 @lune-de-miel-au-paradis @idontgetanysleep @secretthegriffin @trixie2023 @eternal-transcience @eternal-transience-spice @clonelovr @cw80831 @jules-1999 @justanothersadperson93 @reader6898 @clonemedickix @ghostperson69 @n0vqni @techs-ass @kimiheartblade @dukeoftheblackstar @dangraccoon @hello-there-cyarika

If you want to be added or removed LMK😃

[gavroche-le-moineau]

La mort de Gavroche / Gavroche’s death

Oh it's here, the chapter that breaks my heart to pieces every time. If you haven't heard it before I highly encourage listening to the Original French Concept Album version of Gavroche's death. In my opinion, it is by far the saddest and most impactful version. Below you'll find my translation of the lyrics with annotations. The PDF can be found here: La Mort de Gavroche translation

Gavroche Cette fois, Javert, t’arrêteras plus personne La mort t’a coffré à perpétuité J’espère qu’là-haut, on s’ra pas dans l’même cachot Sur terre déjà, on n’était pas du même combat¹

Gavroche This time, Javert, you’ll no longer be arresting anyone Death has locked you up for good I hope up there, we won’t be in the same dungeon On earth already, we weren’t in the same fight¹

NOTES 1. “du même combat” literally means “of the same fight” but I believe this is using “même combat!” which is an expression of solidarity meaning “we’re on the same side.” I kept the translation in the lyrics more literal since “to be in the same fight” in English can also convey the idea of solidarity.

Courfeyrac Sacré Gavroche, t’as toujours l’mot pour rire² C’est pas la parlotte³ qui te f’ra guérir Marius Ah les salauds, ils ont tiré sur un enfant Ils ont, sans savoir, abattu le printemps Quel dieu cruel s’abreuve du sang des innocents Et combien faudra-t-il pleurer d’combattants?

Courfeyrac Blasted Gavroche, you always have something funny to say² It’s not the gift of the gab³ that will heal you Marius Ah the bastards, they’ve shot at a kid They have, without knowing, shot down spring What cruel god drinks the blood of innocents And how many fighters will we have to cry over?

NOTES 2. “avoir le mot pour rire” is an expression that literally means “always have the word for laughing / a laugh” and is translated as “to make jokes, be funny.”

3. “la parlotte” means “chitchat, chatter, chinwag, talking shop, etc.” I decided to translate it as “the gift of the gab” because that felt like a more appropriate term given the previous line which implies that Gavroche is good at always making jokes.

Gavroche Notre drapeau était par terre Rouge de honte et bleu sali Moi, j’ai bondi blanc⁴ de colère “Allons, enfants de la patrie”⁵

Gavroche Our flag was on the ground Red with shame and dirtied blue Me, I leapt up, white⁴ with anger “Allons, enfants de la patrie”⁵

NOTES 4. “Rouge de honte … blanc de colère” This sequence uses expressions that incorporate the colors of the French flag (blue, white, red). “Rouge de honte” means “red with shame,” as in “blushing with shame” or a “flush of shame” but can also simply be translated as “ashamed.” I haven’t been able to figure out if “bleu sali” is an expression or is simply referring to the dirtied blue of the flag on the ground. “Blanc de colère” is, as in English, “white with anger.”

5. “Allons, enfants de la patrie!” is a reference to the first line of the Marseillaise, the national anthem of France. It means “Let’s go, children of the fatherland/motherland!”

Un mec m’a vu, qui m’a crié : “Qui vive!”⁶ J’ai dit : "Révolution française" Ça lui a pas plu ma franchise M’a mis un pruneau⁷ dans la fraise⁸ C’est comme ça, on gagne pas à chaque fois

A guy saw me, shouted at me “Who lives?”⁶ I said : “The French revolution” That didn’t please him, my frankness, Put a slug⁷ in my face⁸ It’s like that, you don’t win every time

NOTES 6. “Qui vive!” is an expression that literally means “who lives?” but is translated as “who goes there?” Just like the English expression, it has same the context of someone on watch or in a military environment asking an unknown person to identify themselves. However, I chose to keep the literal translation in the lyrics because it ties the pun in the response together. The response is “Révolution française (the French Revolution),” because a common refrain is “Vive la revolution française!” literally, “Live the French revolution!”

7. “pruneau” is argot (slang). The word “pruneau” means “prune” but it was used as slang for a bullet.

8. “fraise” is another argot word. This time the word for “strawberry” means “face / mug.”

Donnez, donnez⁹, ma casquette aux copains C’est tout c’que j’ai et j’en n’ai plus besoin Je suis tombé par terre, C’est la faute à Voltaire¹⁰ Le nez dans le ruisseau, C’est la faute à...

Give, give⁹, my cap to my friends It’s all I have, and I don’t need it anymore I fell to the ground It’s the fault of Voltaire¹⁰ Nose in the gutter, It’s the fault of…

NOTES 9. “Donnez, donnez” is a callback to the refrain used in Gavroche’s introductory song on the Original Concept Album (the equivalent of Look Down).

10. “C’est la faute à Voltaire” – I would have preferred to translate these lines as “It’s Voltaire’s/Rousseau’s fault” but I kept the French wording of “It’s the fault of Voltaire/Rousseau” so that the final line cuts off in the same manner.

As usual, corrections and commentaries are welcome!

[lady-de-mon-coeur]

Lady in red

Chapter 5. You're loved, you're needed

AO3

[1] [2] [3] [4]

Summary: Adrien continues his investigation and gets a self-esteem boost.

A/N: Took me forever to finish this chapter. I hope you are still there and enjoy reading.

After making sure Plagg was peacefully snoring on his tiny cat pillow, Adrien pulled out the crumpled piece of paper he still carried around in his pocket.

He unfolded it and skimmed the list he's been compiling for a couple of weeks now, adding new stuff to it every now and then.

Some of this stuff happened recently; some was from months ago, now having acquired a whole new meaning for Adrien's restless brain.

8. Marinette talking to her purse right after entering the elevator at the Montparnasse Tower. Then she acted in an extremely weird way, asking someone via phone to send help. Rena Rouge came to our rescue shortly after.

(Adrien didn't know how to feel about this. It might be just Marinette being Marinette.)

9. Ladybug confirmed that the Valentine card was sent by her. Besides, it has to come from someone who goes to my school, since it was written in the form of a response to the poem I wrote but ended up throwing in the trash bin.

(He smirked and put a red exclamation mark next to this point.).

10. Ladybug was absent the other day, having sent another ladybug miraculous holder in place of her. I found out that Marinette had left for London the same day.

(That was the most suspicious point on his list; there was no denying it. He couldn’t help but notice the growing complicity between Marinette and Alya. They had always been thick as thieves, but recently their friendship acquired a whole new level of intimacy. They constantly discussed something with each other in hushed voices, not letting others be part of the conversation.)

11. Ladybug told me the other day that she dreamt of becoming a knitting fairy as a child.

(He knew this one was too far-fetched, but Adrien couldn’t bring himself to cross it out. Something was telling him that being a knitting fairy was such a Marinette-ish thing to dream of, with her passion for crafting all sorts of hand-made things. He smiled to himself as he imagined Marinette with a pair of transparent fairy wings, dressed in a home-knit dress.).

12. Marinette’s whole family was akumatized recently, and Ladybug let it slip that the akuma must have been at home (at Dupain-Cheng's, as she immediately corrected herself).

(He added this point a few days ago. Not too much of a giveaway, but still suspicious enough.).

Adrien sighed and shoved the list back in his pocket.

It was still too soon to jump to conclusions.

Besides, obsessively documenting every fact that (for the most part indirectly) somewhat confirmed his theory started consuming too much of his mental energy.

During patrols and akuma attacks, he found himself more and more often observing Ladybug instead of focusing on the job. It needed to stop.

After all, didn't he say to himself the day of their first mission that whoever she was behind the mask, he loved that girl?

And now she needed him like never before.

There were also things he didn't come around to writing down, but he always kept them in mind anyway.

Ladybug being such a kind and supportive person, just like Marinette was.

Marinette being brave and passionate, just like his lady.

Marinette telling him he looked pretty in the Project Oxygen ad. No, he didn't mishear. She actually said that. His face still flushed at the thought that Marinette found him pretty.

The way his heart fluttered as he watched Marinette wave her hands and overall act so goofily while talking to her friends. He could barely resist the tenderness that threatened to consume him.

You need to be honest with yourself, Adrien. Why do you so desperately need Marinette to be Ladybug?

Adrien thought he already knew the answer, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it, not even to himself. Not yet.

===

"You need to get your head out of the clouds, Marinette," said Tikki in her usual high-pitched voice, knowing fully well that her words were most likely destined to fall on deaf ears. "It's not a secret that you're prone to letting your guard down when you're with Adrien."

"I need to stay focused only when it's an akuma attack. He's my boyfriend, after all. Why can't a girl indulge herself in being honest with her boyfriend?" whined Marinette.

"Because to him, you're not just some random girl he's never met in his everyday life. You're his classmate, for God's sake! You can do or say something that might give away your identity if you're not careful enough."

"Ugh, stop it, Tikki!" said Marinette with a big yawn. “Gosh, there are tons of girls like me in Paris. Who would suspect Marinette, a normal girl with a normal life?”

Tikki sighed. It was harder than she thought. She couldn't just tell her wielder that an extremely panicked Plagg pulled her aside today at school and that according to him (as he revealed to her in very incoherent sentences), his wielder was already highly suspicious of Ladybug's identity.

All she could do was pray for Adrien to drop this investigation.

She watched in silent resignation Marinette put aside her school belongings and get ready for bed.

===

Adrien, mon amour. You deserve your girlfriend to trust you. You deserve unconditional love. And that's what I'm going to give you. I want to give my whole self to you, Ladybug was talking to herself as she headed to her boyfriend’s house.

She found Adrien sitting at his computer, browsing the Ladyblog's main page.

He turned around upon hearing her arrive, a warm, genuine smile lighting up his face.

Ladybug threw her arms around his neck, burying her nose into the crook of his neck.

"I missed you, Adrien," she said, and she really meant it. Although she saw him today at school, she couldn't just come up to him and kiss him senseless, no matter how much she wanted to.

No, Tikki doesn't understand that feeling. The pining. The longing. The yearning. The urge to cherish your loved one and treasure every moment together. Kwamis never fall in love, so there was nothing Marinette could do.

"I've been reading your interview on the Ladyblog", he said softly, drawing circles on her palm with his thumb. Ladybug loved those small acts of love of his. They had such a soothing effect on her.

"Really? What do you think?"

"You do so much for Paris, sacrificing your time and energy. I think you could use some friendly support, Ladybug", said Adrien, looking at her with such admiration that her heart skipped a bit.

"So do you," she said, smoothing Adrien's hair lovingly. "You deserve the world, Adrien. You give your whole self to the people around you. You should get just as much love in return."

"Nice try, Ladybug, but my father would disagree with you. He thinks I'm a failure. I have always thought I was unlovable. How can you love me when I'm such a loser?"

"Why would you think something like that about yourself?" gasped Ladybug.

Adrien shrugged.

"Maybe because it's true. Whatever I do is not enough to make my father so much as to have breakfast with me. Whatever I do to make people around me love me and need me, they end up brushing me aside, forgetting about my very existence. I try to be funny, but my jokes end up being humiliating. One of my friends called me out for being a people-pleaser. But I've never known how not to be one since I'm such a waste of space."

Ladybug didn't interrupt him. She watched him with her eyes as wide as saucers while he was speaking.

Up until now, she had seen just glimpses of how Adrien felt about himself. What he was telling her now was a shocking revelation. She was beating herself up for failing to see how low self-esteem this boy, so happy on the outside, seemed to have.

When he finally stopped, his gaze scrutinising the toes of his sneakers, Ladybug surprised him by squeezing him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Mon Adrien," she whispered in his ear. "Mon amour, I promise you, I'm begging you to believe that you're absolutely not a waste of space. You're the kindest boy I've ever met in my life. You have a heart of gold. You're needed. You're loved. I promise you this. Do you believe me?”

He nodded hesitantly and buried his face in her hair, clutching at her for dear life.

===

Adrien didn't know why he was telling her all of this, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop. He felt that he must get it all off his chest. He still cringed internally for showing his vulnerability, but for nothing in the world would he take it back.

After Ladybug was gone, he tried to collect himself.

His lady was truly amazing. He was the luckiest guy to have such a fantastic person in his life. A person who came to his rescue just in time to save him from spiralling when he happened to be at his lowest, despite having been traumatised herself.

He didn't want to let go of her. She felt like home.

There was this warm comfort feeling radiating from her, which made him feel safe and cared for when it all came crashing down around him.

No need to be performative. No need to earn love.

If he only knew who she was. He would spend every waking moment by her side, thriving on her love and support. If she turned out to be Marinette, it'd be everything he could ever wish for.

That's when it hit him. He's been busy searching for insignificant details that proved nothing, while the clue might lurk elsewhere.

It was obvious how much Ladybug loved him. Her love for him was literally tangible.

If Adrien wanted to prove his theory, he should be searching for proof that Marinette was in love with him, too.

But how? It was easier said than done.

Because if Marinette truly was in love with him, she was a good actress. He couldn’t help but applaud her skills in concealing her feelings.

Thus, another dead end?

“Mission impossible,” Adrien murmured under his breath.

“What did you say, kid?” Plagg asked, interrupting his cheese feast—he'd said he needed to eat a great amount of camembert to recover from the sickness caused by all the corny talking he'd been forced to witness.

“Nothing,” Adrien said with a defeated sigh.

===

Except there was a way he might get another proof for his theory.

Another indirect one, of course, but at this point Adrien couldn’t care less, as long as the proof aligned with his theory.

After all, the only direct proof he could ever get would be seeing Ladybug's transformation or detransformation firsthand.

But in order to get this proof, Adrien will have to touch a raw nerve. He prayed inwardly that Luka would forgive him.

===

"May I ask you something?” Adrien asked after having cleared his throat nervously. “Why did you and Marinette break up?"

It was another run-of-the-mill Kitty Section rehearsal, Adrien playing keyboards as a special guest star, and he used a short break to have a word with Luka in the cabin.

The way Luka stiffened at the question didn't escape his attention. He even eyed Adrien for a moment, as if pondering how much he could reveal.

"We… uhm… didn't get to spend much time together… She was always too busy." He said eventually.

"I was just surprised when I heard the news." Adrien explained in an apologetic tone. "I thought you two made such a wholesome couple."

"Maybe we did, but anyway, we weren't meant to last long, since the love I had for Marinette was always one-sided."

Despite having other things on his mind, Adrien couldn’t help but feel bad for Luka.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to get too personal." Adrien mumbled, his face flushing. He hated himself for his forced indiscretion. "It's just that you both mean so much to me, and I'd hate to see you miserable.".

"Don't you worry about me," Luka, usually very nice, suddenly said rather dryly. I'll be fine, and so will Marinette."

Luka gave him a short nod as he walked by towards the exit.

Adrien mentally gave himself a slap on the face. Did he go too far with his questions? He'll have to apologize to Luka. He didn't even learn anything new.

Wait, what did he say? His feelings for Marinette were one-sided? Does this mean what I think it means?

"Well, well, well, someone's jealous," a familiar saccharine voice said, interrupting Adrien's train of thought.

"How did you get here, Lila?" Adrien asked without even trying to conceal his annoyance.

"I told Rose the other day that I was a huge fan of Kitty Section, and she was so sweet that she granted me permission to attend their next rehearsal." Lila answered in her usual undisturbed tone, taking a seat next to him. "I hope you don't mind that I overheard your conversation with Luka. You're so lucky to have me, because I can provide some more information about the subject you're interested in."

"If you came here to badmouth Marinette, don't waste your time; I'm not buying your lies." Adrien said harshly.

"I'm not going to badmouth anyone; I just want to avert another heartbreak. Oh la la, poor Luka. Marinette broke his heart in such a cruel way. She was constantly absent from their dates, leaving Luka all alone for hours and then finding the lamest excuses imaginable. But the most heinous thing about their relationship was that the poor guitar boy had always been her second choice. Marinette was in love with someone else."

"Was she? In love with whom?" Adrien found himself asking. He mentally gave himself another slap on the face, but it was too late.

"Ask Marinette if you really want to know," Lila answered in a sing-song voice, a wicked grin on her face. "It's not my secret to tell. I just want you to know that Marinette is not good girlfriend material. If you want a perfect date, it's right here next to you."

Adrien stood up abruptly and turned his back to her in disgust. Lila's poisonous talk ruined his mood entirely.

However, her words somehow planted a seed of doubt in his head. Because, as infuriating as they were, some of them fitted perfectly with his theory, as if they were tailored specifically for the puzzle Adrien tried so desperately to put together.

===

The next day was tough for Adrien. He couldn’t make it when another akuma attack occurred due to a press conference his father had obligated Adrien to cover for him at.

“Maybe Ladybug doesn't need Chat Noir all that much,” he said to himself, watching magical ladybugs swarms do their usual job of getting Paris back to normal. “She seems to be doing perfectly fine with all the other heroes having her back.”

He was getting home a little bitter, thinking about everything Ladybug told him the other day, when his self-esteem dropped, as it did every once in a while. About needing him and wanting him around.

Was it all a lie? Or was the traumatic experience she'd mentioned at fault for leaving him behind?

Did she really need him, as Adrien or Chat Noir?

===

She probably did, though. Why else would there be 14 missed calls and several voice messages from her on his catphone, telling him to meet her at the top of the Eiffel Tower?

However, the poor cat didn't know whether he should be looking forward to meeting her. Chances are that his today's absence was the last straw, and now Ladybug was going to take his miraculous away.

And if so… what then?

Okay, calm down, matou. It's too soon to panic. Perhaps everything will turn out just fine.

He gulped painfully, but a lump blocking his throat didn't go away.

===

He found her standing with her back turned to him, leaning on the railing. No matter how hard Chat Noir tried to read her body's language, he couldn’t decipher whether she was angry or just stargazing.

His heart made it all the way up and was now thumping in his throat. Sucking in a deep breath, he meowed softly to let her know he was there.

He started making lame excuses, trying to explain his absence earlier that day without revealing too much personal information, but Ladybug interrupted him.

“I've been thinking about it a lot lately, Chaton, and now I think you were right, after all,” she started, still not looking at him.

Chat Noir looked at her, puzzled, not sure what she was getting at with all of this.

His ignorance didn't last long, though. Ladybug turned abruptly, and he found himself face to face with her. Her eyes were full of determination.

“We should reveal our secret identities to each other.”