#rough/zuri

[hansuart]

some kisses i felt like drawing😘😍❤️😊

[hansuoddie]

I'm not good at explaining stuff AT ALL but I need to write this shit down now.

One thing I feel like I should clarify about Tumble/Yuki and Rough/Zuri because I haven't really addressed it in public; The girls don't really change Rough and Tumble.

They start out somewhat rough with their first meeting being a fight where the girls are stopping them from robbing a place. For the skunk bros its love at first fight because I can totally see them falling for girls who can and will kick their butts. They won't admit it tho. And after that, whenever they face off again, there's a lil bit a playful banter going on between them.

Bad Guys miniseries kinda makes me think that the skunk bros are lonelier than they let on, easily letting people into their rhyming (which they see being their thing ONLY) intro, but just as easily turning away from them when they're betrayed, makes you kinda think they're used to being abondoned but that they also crave for other peoples' kinship(?). So having these two girls (princesses of all people) show them kindness AND toughness makes some of the walls they build to break off, and show to them what lies just below the surface.

However, I can still see them being a-holes. I don't see them being 100% evil guys, but I also don't see them as misunderstood babies. They definitely deserve to be held accountable for their actions, and Yuki and Zuri sure do let them know. In all honesty, I can see them being in the same boat as Rouge in a way. Still cabable of being selfish and stealing stuff, but willing to help and do the right thing in the end.

So the girls don't really change them. They only bring out the best version of them.

anyway, this was just some of me rambling away, might delete this later because I still don't think I explained it well enough XD

[siennaditbot]

Here's a thing my sleep deprived brain birthed

Everyone but Tumble and Yuki has gorgeous long tails sooo I did this lol. They can bond over having shorter tails :>

Also yea the two other girlies belong to @hansuoddie , I really like drawing them, they're cute :3

[lea-andres]

I'm gonna be a fucking loser and send you my canon/oc ships: Tumble/Yuki and Rough/Zuri

AW YEAH WE PARTYING NOW

-The fact that the girls beat the shit out of the skunks in an alleyway and left them there was what got the guys to fall is so fucking funny to me.

-I love me a good redemption arc, especially when the people in question don't come out the other side 100% redeemed. They're just... Better behaved maybe?

-But simultaneously the girls didn't "fix" the guys, they fixed themselves and the girls gave them support and encouragement. Because that's correct. 😎

-TUMBLE AND YUKI ARE SO SWEET THEY'RE GONNA MAKE ME ILL-

-Then meanwhile Rough and Zuri are a bit more chaotic and sassy with each other and it's a fun balance.

-They have White Christmas vibes have I ever mentioned they have White Christmas vibes because they totally do-

[emjayewrites]

fouled by fate • aurelien tchouameni (1/10)

SYNOPSIS: Aurélien Tchouaméni, one of football’s rising stars, is used to navigating the pressures of the pitch—but nothing could prepare him for an arranged marriage. With his family’s legacy and cultural traditions at stake, Aurélien reluctantly agrees to marry a woman he barely knows. But as they’re thrust into the public eye, sparks fly in unexpected ways. The two must navigate the complexities of love, duty, and fame, all while figuring out if they’re playing on the same team—or if their hearts are destined for different paths.

PAIRINGS: Aurélien Tchouaméni x Zuri Awanto Nchang (faceclaim Samira Ahmed @/iamsamiira)

WARNINGS: cursing, football b.s., dry humor/wit, slight arguing, friends to lovers, instant attraction, eventual smut (18+/minors dni)

TAGLIST: @trenterprise @f1-football-fiend @lettersofgold @hopefulromantic1 @deonn-jaelle @vile-harlot @perfecttrashface @queenshikongo3 @2serenity0 @essaysbyciara @saturnville @trentswrld @planetmimi @muglermami @shepgurl @sucredreamer @julescpu

A/N: Please let me know if you like to be removed/added to the taglist. Also, a surprise mention in this chapter that links to another story!

The Madrid sun blazed relentlessly as Aurélien jogged across the training pitch, his head pounding with each step. The air hummed with the rhythmic thud of cleats striking balls and the sharp whistles of Coach Ancelotti directing drills. Aurélien grimaced. Last night's tequila shots at Goya Social Club were exacting their revenge.

Whoever invented tequila deserved a special place in hell.

"Bloody hell, he's trying to kill us," Jude Bellingham panted, falling into step beside Aurélien. "You holdin' up alright, mate? You look proper rough."

Aurélien grinned weakly at his teammate's distinctive Brummie accent. "I'm starting to think I should've stayed my ass in bed."

Eduardo Camavinga joined them, looking annoyingly fresh-faced. "What's this? The great Tchouaméni can't handle a little heat and a few drinks?"

"A few?" Aurélien scoffed. "I'm pretty sure I drank half of Mexico last night. Unlike some lightweights who bailed early," he added, eyeing Camavinga pointedly.

They paused near the sidelines, grabbing water bottles from the cooler. Jude took a long swig before turning to Aurélien, his expression softening.

"How're you really doing, though? With everything coming up next month?"

Aurélien's smile faltered slightly. "It’s… whatever. Not trying to dwell on it."

Camavinga clapped a supportive hand on his shoulder. "The arranged marriage, right? Your old man still pushing ahead?"

"Yeah," Aurélien sighed, his casual facade slipping a bit. "It’s a done deal. My fiancée and her family are arriving next month."

Jude shook his head, whistling low. "That’s a lot, mate. And you don’t even know her?"

"Not a clue," Aurélien confirmed. "Dad’s got it all arranged with her family. They even got the blessing from the elders back in Cameroon, but it's mainly my dad driving this whole thing."

"No wonder you've been living it up lately," Camavinga said, his tone sympathetic. "Fuck, I'd be drowning in women too if I knew I was being forced into a random marriage."

"You would've been if you hadn't ghosted us like that," Aurélien retorted. "I'm tired of planning stuff and you back out last minute, bro."

Jude nodded, his face brightening. "Speaking of hanging out, Lila's planning to visit soon. She's keen to catch up with everyone."

Aurélien managed a genuine smile at that. "That's great; it'll be good to see her again." He shook his head in disbelief, still amazed at how Jude had managed to snag Lewis Hamilton's little sister. The young Englishman's charm seemed to know no bounds. "How'd you swing that again?" he teased. "I still can't believe you're dating her. Talk about punching above your weight."

Jude grinned, a hint of pride in his eyes. "What can I say? The Bellingham charm is irresistible."

Camavinga snorted, nudging Jude's shoulder. "Yeah, right. And I'm the King of France."

As they bantered, Aurélien's mind wandered. He thought about the countless nights he'd spent clubbing, the endless amount of pussy, and the carefree laughter shared with teammates. All soon to be replaced by... what? Family dinners and couple's game nights? Sure he loved his family, especially his young siblings, Anne-Ma��sha and Yannis, but settling down at twenty-four years of age seems blasphemous. The thought of being married was almost as nauseating as his hangover.

His phone buzzed in his bag - probably another message from his father, Fernand. The reality of his situation was closing in, and Aurélien couldn't help but feel a mix of resignation and resentment. He'd always known this day might come, but the speed at which it was approaching left him reeling.

They continued their training, and Aurélien tried to focus on the present. The feel of the grass beneath his feet, the burn in his muscles as he stretched, the familiar banter with his teammates. But his thoughts kept drifting to his unknown fiancée. Would she laugh at his jokes? Would she understand the offsides rule? Would she realize she was marrying a man whose idea of cooking was not burning toast? Would they even like each other?

An hour or so later, training was over for the day, and he hit the showers. By the time he stepped out onto the parking lot, he was back in his zone. The sun was still blazing as evening slowly drifted on, but he didn't mind. Sliding into his ride—a sleek, black Porsche 911 Turbo S—he let out a long breath. The leather seats felt cool against his skin as he sank into them, and the engine roared to life with a low, satisfying growl.

Aurélien pulled out his phone, noticing the missed calls from his father. He hesitated, then tapped the number and brought the phone to his ear. The call connected almost immediately.

"Ouais, Papa? (Yeah, Dad?)"

"Aurélien, enfin! Où es-tu? (Aurélien, finally! Where are you?)"

Aurélien sucked his teeth, glancing out at the sun-soaked training grounds. "Je viens de finir l'entraînement. Qu'est-ce qu'il y a? (I just finished training. What's up?)"

His father's voice took on a more urgent tone. "Va à l'aéroport. Ta femme arrive aujourd'hui. (Go to the airport. Your wife is arriving today.)"

Aurélien's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he frowned in disbelief. "Aujourd'hui? Mais pourquoi si tôt? (Today? But why so soon?)"

There was a brief pause before his father answered. "Elle a terminé ses études plus tôt que prévu, et elle commence à décrocher des contrats… tu sais, avec son Instagram. (She graduated early and she's starting to land some contracts… you know, with her Instagram.)"

Instagram? Aurélien blinked, trying to process what he'd just heard. The sarcasm practically dripped from his mind. Great. I'm marrying an IG hoe.

He sighed, running a hand over his face. "D'accord, j'y vais. (Alright, I'm on my way.)"

"Merci, fils. Sois gentil avec elle. (Thank you, son. Be nice to her.)"

Aurélien let out a dry chuckle as he hung up, shaking his head. Be nice? He didn't even know this girl, let alone how to be nice to her. As he shifted the Porsche into gear and pulled out of the lot, his thoughts drifted back to his unknown fiancée. Would she be another high-maintenance Instagram model obsessed with followers and brand deals? He smirked to himself. He'd seen enough of those in his life already.

But there was nothing to do now but go pick her up and see for himself. Maybe she'd take one look at him and decide she could do better after all. A man could dream, right?

Zuri fidgeted nervously, her eyes darting around the crowded airport pick-up station. She had no idea who she was looking for, which only added to the anxiety bubbling in her chest. Her father had given her little to go on, vague descriptions and the promise that she would "know him when she saw him." But how was she supposed to recognize a man she’d never met?

Then, out of the sea of people, she spotted him. A tall, broad-shouldered man with an air of effortless confidence, moving through the crowd as if he owned the place. His smooth, dark brown skin and muscled frame hugged his designer tracksuit perfectly, and his piercing eyes seemed to notice everything around him. Zuri's breath caught in her throat as he approached.

His gaze settled on her with a mix of curiosity and certainty. He stopped just in front of her, towering over her, and offered a polite nod.

"You wouldn’t happen to be the daughter of Ernest Awanto Nchang, would you?" he asked, his voice rich and smooth, though there was a hint of dryness in his tone.

Zuri blinked, momentarily taken aback by his handsomeness and the way his curly taper fade complemented his angular facial features. "Yes, I am," she replied cautiously. He then began to ramble off in rapid French, and Zuri failed miserably at trying to catch up. "Um, I'm sorry, I don't speak French that well."

His eyebrows rose slightly. "Ah, my bad. I'm Aurélien."

She nodded, offering a small smile. "Zuri. Nice to meet you."

As they collected her luggage - all five suitcases of it - Aurélien couldn't help but suck his teeth. "Damn, girl, did you pack your entire house?" he muttered.

"I didn't know how long I'd be staying," Zuri bristled as she followed Aurélien to the parking lot, her eyes widening slightly when she saw the sleek, black car parked in front of them.

A Porsche? Nice.

The car was immaculate, with gleaming chrome accents and tinted windows that added an extra layer of mystery. When Aurélien unlocked it with a casual click of his key fob, she couldn’t help but admire the luxury of it all. She slid into the passenger seat, and her fingers brushed against the soft, peanut butter leather that lined the interior. The seats were plush and cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the tension radiating off Aurélien as he settled in behind the wheel after packing her luggage in the trunk. The scent of expensive cologne and leather filled the air, making the space feel even more intimate and imposing.

The drive began in uncomfortable silence, the only sound coming from the hum of the engine and the occasional click of the turn signal. After a few minutes, Aurélien finally broke the silence, his voice laced with dry humor. "You know, you weren’t supposed to arrive until next month."

Zuri didn’t miss the underlying irritation in his tone. She glanced over at him, her defenses kicking in immediately. "I’m sorry for ruining your plans," she shot back, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Aurélien’s lips twitched slightly, the hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, surprised by her sass. "Why the sudden change?"

Zuri sighed. "I graduated early from university. My father and I weren't seeing eye to eye about my career plans. He wants me to get a 'real job'," she air-quoted, "instead of pursuing my influencer work. So he decided to ship me off to Madrid, figuring my 'husband'," another air quote, "would straighten me out."

Aurélien couldn't help but laugh. "Gotta love African parents, huh?"

"Yeah," Zuri snorted. "By the way, how do you pronounce your name again? Or-ree-lee-en?"

"Aw-reh-lee-an," he corrected. "And yours is Zoo-ree, right?"

"Close. It's more like Zu-ree. Short 'u' sound."

They pulled up to a modern, spacious house with large windows and a manicured lawn. As they entered, they were greeted by an energetic German Shepherd puppy.

"Zeus, down boy," Aurélien commanded, but the dog was too excited by the new arrival.

Zuri shrieked and jumped back as Zeus bounded towards her.

Aurélien's lips contorted into a teasing grin. "Don't tell me you're scared of a little puppy?"

"He's not little!" Zuri protested, eyeing the dog warily.

"He's only a year old," Aurélien chuckled, picking up Zeus easily, as if the dog barely weighed anything at all. "See? Harmless."

Zuri didn't look convinced, but she tentatively reached out to pet Zeus's head. The dog immediately licked her hand, causing her to giggle despite herself.

Aurélien watched the exchange, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Looks like Zeus likes you already," he remarked, setting the dog back down on the floor. Zeus trotted off, seemingly satisfied with the introduction.

"Come on," Aurélien said, gesturing for her to follow him. "I’ll show you around."

The house was as impressive on the inside as it was on the outside. Modern and spacious, with clean lines and tasteful décor that spoke of understated luxury. Aurélien led her through the open-plan living area, pointing out the key features as they went.

"This is the living room," he said, nodding toward the large sectional sofa and the wall-mounted TV that dominated one side of the space. "The kitchen’s over there, fully stocked. Dining area’s next to it if you’re into that."

Zuri trailed behind him, taking in the high ceilings and the large windows that bathed the room in natural light. Everything looked like it had been carefully curated, from the abstract art on the walls to the sleek, polished surfaces that gleamed under the light.

He led her down a hallway, past a few closed doors, and stopped in front of one. "Here’s your room," he said, pushing the door open to reveal a well-appointed guest room. It was cozy, with a queen-sized bed covered in crisp white sheets, a matching dresser, and a small seating area by the window.

"The bed’s already made up, but if you need extra sheets or towels, they’re in the closet here," Aurélien added, opening a nearby door to show her where everything was neatly stored.

Zuri nodded, still a little overwhelmed by the situation. "It’s really nice, thank you."

Aurélien shrugged as if it was no big deal. "My chef usually comes in every other day around two to fill up the fridge, so if you’re hungry, just look there."

Zuri raised an eyebrow, curious. "Do you ever cook for yourself?"

Aurélien let out a short laugh. "Nah," he replied, shaking his head. "Not really my thing. Oh, yeah, I’m usually out early and back late, so don’t wait up for me. It’s cool to eat without me."

Zuri wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she just nodded.

"Well, I’ll let you settle in," Aurélien said, giving Zeus a quick pat before heading toward the door. "Zeus and I are gonna give you some space. If you need anything, just let me know."

With that, he left her alone in the guest room, the door clicking shut behind him. Zuri stood there for a moment, taking it all in. The reality of her situation was slowly sinking in—she was in a foreign country, in a stranger’s house, with a man she barely knew, and would soon be in a marriage she hadn’t chosen.

She tried to keep a straight face, to be strong like she always was, but the fear and uncertainty were overwhelming. Her hands trembled slightly as she sat down on the edge of the bed, the softness of the sheets offering little comfort. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay composed, but the tears came anyway, slipping down her cheeks before she could stop them.

Zuri quickly wiped them away, frustrated with herself for breaking down so easily. She’d worked so hard to build her life, her career, her brand as an influencer. She was known for her confidence, her style, her ability to navigate the fast-paced world of social media with ease. But now, all of that seemed so far away. Her home was in New York, where she knew the streets, the people, the culture. And now, here she was, starting over in Spain—a place she’d only ever visited on a few short trips to Europe.

How was she supposed to navigate this? She could barely understand her parents’ home language of French, and now she was expected to learn Spanish too? The thought was daunting, and for a moment, she felt utterly lost.

Aurélien paused outside the guest room door, his hand hovering over the handle. He could hear Zuri's muffled sobs from the other side, and a twinge of guilt twisted in his stomach. He'd never been good with crying women - it always made him feel awkward and out of his depth. His ex-girlfriends had often complained about his tendency to shut down or retreat when emotions ran high.

He sighed, running a hand over his face. Part of him wanted to go in there, to try and comfort her somehow. But what would he even say? 'Sorry your dad shipped you off to marry a stranger'? Yeah, that would go over well.

Despite his discomfort, Aurélien couldn't help but think about how beautiful Zuri was. Her umber skin was flawless, smooth, and rich like polished mahogany. Her full lips, high cheekbones, and almond-shaped eyes gave her an almost regal appearance. And her hair - a mass of springy curls that framed her face perfectly. She was stunning, no doubt about it.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a text from Jules Koundé:

"Hey man, just landed in Madrid. Still good for me to crash at your place?"

Aurélien winced. Fuck. With Zuri's unexpected arrival, he'd completely forgotten about Jules' visit. He quickly typed out a reply:

"Slight change of plans. The fiancée arrived early. Mind staying at a hotel instead?"

Jules' response came moments later:

"No worries, bro. Hotel might be better anyway - more privacy for bringing back some señoritas, if you know what I mean 😉"

Aurélien chuckled, but then paused. Could he still do that? Bring back hookups? Technically, Zuri was his fiancée now, but it's not like they were going to have a loving marriage. Maybe they could come to some sort of agreement - you have your side pieces, I have mine, just keep it out of the media?

He shook his head. That sounded grim, even to him. But wasn't that the reality of their situation?

Thirty minutes later, Aurélien met up with Jules at a trendy bar in downtown Madrid. The two friends dapped each other, slipping easily into rapid French.

"Mon frère, ça fait trop longtemps! (My brother, it's been too long!)" Jules grinned.

"Je sais, je sais," (I know, I know,) Aurélien replied, signaling the bartender for two beers. "Mec, tu ne croiras jamais ce qui s'est passé aujourd'hui. (Dude, you won't believe what happened today.)"

As they settled into a corner booth, Aurélien recounted the day's events - Zuri's unexpected arrival, the awkward drive home, her fear of Zeus.

"Elle est comment? (What's she like?): Jules asked, leaning in with interest.

Aurélien took a long swig of his beer before answering. "Belle. Vraiment belle. Mais aussi... je ne sais pas. Perdue? Effrayée? Je l'ai entendue pleurer dans sa chambre. (Beautiful. Really beautiful. But also... I don't know. Lost? Scared? I heard her crying in her room.)"

Jules whistled low. "Merde, c'est dur. Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire? (Shit, that's rough. What are you going to do?)"

Aurélien shrugged, feeling helpless. "Je ne sais pas, mec. Je ne sais vraiment pas. (I don't know, man. I really don't know.)"

Aurélien and Jules continued their night, moving from the bar to a pulsing nightclub. The bass throbbed through the air as they made their way to the VIP section, immediately drawing attention from the other patrons.

Two women approached them, exuding confidence with every step. The taller one, with sleek box braids cascading down her back, sidled up to Jules, while her friend, with her hair styled in loose waves and curves that her dress hugged perfectly, set her sights on Aurélien.

"You look like you could use some company," the woman with the braids said in accented English, her dark eyes locked on Jules. "You want to dance?"

Jules smiled coolly, already angling towards the dance floor with his companion. "Sounds good to me. Aurélien?"

Aurélien watched his friend smoothly lead his dance partner away before turning his attention back to the woman before him. She was stunning, her skin a rich, deep brown that seemed to glow under the club lights.

"I'm Lia," she said, leaning in close to be heard over the music. "And you are…?"

"Aurélien," he replied, his eyes appreciatively taking in her features. He knew exactly where this was heading, and a part of him hesitated. The image of Zuri, alone and crying in his guest room, flashed through his mind.

But then Lia's hand was on his arm, her touch warm and inviting, and he found himself leaning into it. Didn't he deserve one last night of freedom before diving into this arranged marriage mess?

"So, Aurélien," Lia's voice pulled him back to the present. "What brings you out tonight? Celebrating something?"

Aurélien chuckled, a hint of irony lacing his words. "You could say that. Let's just say I'm trying to… clear my head."

Lia tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? And how's that working out for you?"

Aurélien’s gaze lingered on her, sliding from her eyes to her full lips, then lower, drinking in every curve with deliberate intent. "I think it's starting to help," he murmured, his voice low and thick with suggestion.

Lia’s lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes glinting with intrigue. She stepped closer, closing the distance between them until their bodies were nearly touching. "Is that so?" she teased, her tone laced with challenge.

Aurélien leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "Why don't we find somewhere more private?" His hand brushed her waist, fingers skimming the fabric of her dress.

Lia didn’t hesitate. She got up from her seat, leading him out of the VIP section through a dimly lit hallway and into a nearby storage room. It was cramped and cluttered, but it provided the seclusion they needed.

Once inside, Aurélien wasted no time. He pressed Lia against the wall, his hands gripping her hips as he pulled her close. Their lips met in a heated kiss, all hunger and need, as their bodies moved together in a feverish rhythm. His hands roamed over her curves, exploring every inch as she eagerly responded, her fingers threading through his hair.

The kiss broke, and Lia dropped to her knees, her eyes locking with his as she unbuttoned his pants. Aurélien's breath caught as she freed him, her hand wrapping around his thick length. His cock was long and veined, the skin taut and smooth, with a slight curve that Lia seemed to appreciate. She took him into her mouth, her lips stretching around him as she began to work him over with slow, deliberate strokes of her tongue.

Aurélien groaned, one hand resting on the back of her head as she took him deeper, her tongue swirling around the head of his cock before sliding down his shaft. Lia knew exactly what she was doing, her movements expertly designed to drive him wild. Her slurping sounds filled the small room, a wet, rhythmic symphony that matched the pulse of his desire.

He hated that he was here, in some grimy storage room at a club, getting his dick sucked like this. It felt beneath him, almost disrespectful to himself, but he couldn’t deny how badly he needed this distraction. The tension, the frustration, all of it melted away with each skilled flick of Lia’s tongue, each tight, wet pull of her mouth.

But even as his body responded, his mind wandered. Thoughts of Zuri crept in, uninvited, disrupting his focus. He imagined her face, the way she looked at him earlier with a mix of uncertainty and defiance. He could almost hear her voice, questioning what the hell he was doing. The thought made him grit his teeth, annoyed at himself for letting her into his head at a moment like this.

Lia's pace quickened, her mouth moving faster, more desperate to push him over the edge. Aurélien let out a low growl, trying to banish the thoughts of Zuri from his mind as he focused on the warmth of Lia's mouth, the tight suction that was driving him closer to release. He tightened his grip on her hair, thrusting deeper into her throat, the need for release overriding everything else.

Finally, with a rough groan, Aurélien came, his body shuddering as he spilled into Lia’s mouth. She took it all, swallowing greedily as he rode out his climax, her lips still wrapped around him until he was spent.

When it was over, Lia slowly pulled back, wiping the corner of her mouth with a satisfied smirk. Aurélien leaned against the wall, catching his breath, his mind already turning back to the reality he was trying to escape.

"Needed that," he muttered, his voice rough.

Lia stood, straightening her dress as she shot him a playful look. "Anytime," she teased, giving him a light tap on the chest before standing up to her full height. "Y'know that was only a preview right?"

Aurélien adjusted his clothes, feeling the weight of everything settling back on his shoulders. "I know, but I'm fine with that preview."

"You sure?"

"100%," he said, deftly ignoring the pout on her lips. "Thank you."

Lia shrugged as she fixed her dress, "You're welcome, I guess."

This had been a temporary distraction, nothing more. As he exited the storage room, his thoughts were already drifting back to Zuri and the mess he knew was waiting for him.

Should've kept my dick in my pants.

Aurélien felt surprisingly guilty as he made his way back to the main area of the club, spotting Jules near the exit with Lia's friend. The two men approached each other, exchanging a quick dap.

"Heading out?" Aurélien asked, eyeing the woman waiting with Jules.

Jules grinned, "Yeah, man. You good?"

Aurélien nodded despite his slight uneasiness, "All good. See you tomorrow?"

"For sure. Later, bro."

With a final fist bump, they parted ways. Aurélien watched them leave before calling for his own ride home.

The house was dark when he arrived, save for the flickering light of the TV in the living room. As he approached, Zeus lifted his head from the couch, tail wagging slightly at the sight of his owner.

"Hey, boy," Aurélien whispered, moving closer. That's when he noticed Zuri, curled up on the couch next to Zeus, fast asleep.

A small smile tugged at his lips. He'd have to tease her tomorrow about cozying up to the dog she was so afraid of earlier. Quietly, he retrieved a blanket from a nearby chair and gently draped it over her sleeping form.

As he leaned in, he couldn't help but notice the dried tear tracks on her cheeks. The sight sobered him instantly, reminding him of the reality of their situation.

"We're both fucked, huh sweetheart?" he murmured, more to himself than to her or Zeus.

With a sigh, he turned off the TV and headed upstairs. In his room, he shed his clothes, the scent of the club – and Lia – still clinging to him. As he stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over him, his mind raced.

This arranged marriage... it wasn't what either of them wanted. But it was their reality now. As the water ran cold, Aurélien couldn't shake the feeling that his life had irrevocably changed. The carefree bachelor was gone, and in its place? A reluctant husband? A man trapped in a loveless marriage?

As he climbed into bed, exhaustion finally overtaking him, his last thought before drifting off was of Zuri's tear-stained face. Whatever happened next, he realized, they were in this together.

TO BE CONTINUED...Read Chapter 2

[itsmistyeyedbi]

bare your teeth, blunt as they may be

Pairing: F!Detective/F!Li-Sar and F!Detective/Adam du Mortain Word Count: 5,5k Warnings: Angst, Lots of sexual tension and descriptions of violence (but those are pretty tame, nothing graphic) Tags: @agentnatesewell @ava-du-mortain (you haven't asked but I know you've been waiting for this lol). Let me know if you want to be tagged in future fics! Authors Note: I am done at last! I rewrote and edited this thing so much, I just had to stop at some point. I haven't settled on how Li-Sar looks so there isn't a whole lot of detailed description on her appearance (or her outfit; I'm so sorry but I cannot write her in what she's wearing in the books and I couldn't decide on another one for her), but Zuri is still pretty descriptive of her if I do say so myself. Also on a03!

-

The forest floor tastes like ash. Dry against her cheek, dry as her throat. She lands face first on the cracks of a former cage.

Zuri coughs, palms against the barren forest floor, arms shaking as she pushes herself up. Only her upper body makes it off the ground. She can't muffle the groan that escapes her lips. There's too much aching. In her limbs from blocking attacks, in her torso for taking one too many. Her knuckles, the side of her face, bruised. Her bottom lip, stinging, probably busted. Blood trickles down her chin and leaves a tangy taste in her mouth. She blinks and blinks and blinks the blurry vision away.

The hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention. The air is tinged with her magic - the same magic buzzing through her and flaring out of her in sparks. She's getting closer. 

“Have I truly hurt you so, mortal?” She coos, her voice silky smooth from behind her. Zuri scrambles forward, trying to move her legs despite them feeling as heavy as cinder blocks. Li-Sar's tone shifts to something sharp with the promise of violence as she continues, “or is there another pathetic human being I need to rid this world of for you?”

Zuri slowly turns her head, eyes trailing up the length of her body before meeting her gaze and whimpering. Let her think it's over. Let her think she's done fighting-

Then kick. 

Her foot strikes her in the calf. Li-Sar grunts, leg buckling slightly only because of how often she's been kicked there. She locks her foot around her ankle and the same leg crumbles to the ground. Dirt flies into the air when Li-Sar's forearms meet the floor. She manages to hold her weight on one arm long enough to reach for her gun. Aims it at her and-

“Come now.”

A hand hits her wrist, bats it away. It flies out of reach, accompanied by a dry laugh that's soon muffled by the ringing of a stray gunshot. It's hard enough to put Zuri on her back.

Li-Sar's head is framed with trees from her position above her. She's straddling her, thighs on either side of her, an arm pressing tight against her neck while the other wrestles away the hand reaching and clawing for her face. It's eventually pinned to the ground.

The ringing in her ears and hard landing disorients her enough for any move she makes to be sloppy, but not enough to drown out her next words. “You know that won't work on me.”

Her clothes cling to her body, crackling with static and suddenly she's off the ground. In the air. The world spins. Her back slams against something rough and flaky - a tree - and she wheezes in Li-Sar's grasp.

She shakes her head and tuts as she looks over her. She loosens her grip on her blazer, moving one hand up to Zuri's face, cupping her jaw and moving her head this way and that in inspection. Zuri feels more than hears herself protesting, her lip stinging as she says…something and squeezes her eyes shut so she doesn't have to watch her surroundings spin and droop in front of her. 

Another coo. A thumb rubbing against her chin, blood smearing against her skin, het voice clear as the ringing fades away. “This isn't quite the mess I wanted to make of you, meor'dal.”

Zuri tries to focus on her breathing, ragged as it is, and opens her eyes to watch the trees that aren't obscured by the curls of her hair slowly come to a standstill. Anything but the sound of her voice or the feeling of her fingers on her skin. The way both imbed themselves into her mind.

“Listen, Li-Sar,” she rasps.

“Oh, my name sounds so sweet on your lips. Talk to me, I will listen to every word.” She brings her thumb to her mouth and sucks gently, her eyes flashing a bright white as she licks the blood off.

Her throat is still dry as she swallows and heat gathers in her cheeks. Why must she be so- God, this is ridiculous.

“You-” Zuri stammers, shying away from her gaze with an ahem before continuing. “It was stupid of them to come here and think they could take you on. Trappers are notorious for getting in over their heads.”

“So that's what those humans are? Trappers?” She scoffs. “A name fitting for those who foolishly throw themselves into a trap.”

“Right,” she meets her eyes again, watching carefully for a change in demeanour. She may not know what they're called, but she knew enough to draw them to her. Easy targets. 

“We just came to get them away from here, take them in and figure out a motive.”

She wants to believe that they didn't intend to actually try and capture her - a being so powerful that her prison was interdimensional purgatory. She really does. But maybe years of eating dirt while fighting agents made them lose brain cells. That, or whoever orders them around found out about Sin and got cocky, thinking that they too could have a powerful, centuries old supernatural do their bidding. Whatever it is, it's ridiculous. So much so that the Agency sent her and the rest of Unit Bravo here to protect them from her - neutralise them and prevent as many deaths as possible.

Mostly so they don't have to play clean up. At least, that's what Morgan thinks.

They arrived while the Trappers were still alive and breathing and following hare-brained orders. They were standing around Li-Sar in a loose circle; she was watching them with a smirk and playing with the electricity dancing around her fingers. Probably pleased that her practice dummies delivered themselves to her. They started advancing slowly - at least they had enough brain cells to be afraid - and all she did in response was chuckle. The calm before the storm. She could and would wipe them out in seconds.

Zuri entered the scene with her hands raised. The powers had settled enough for them to not instantly open fire on people, especially when she remains calm. So with deep, calculated breaths, she used them to appear placating and harmless as she talked Li-Sar out of engaging them.

They aren't worth it, they wouldn't even be able to put up a good fight.

What do you suggest I do then, mortal?

Let me and my friends handle them. We'll get them out of your hair. It'll be more entertaining if nothing else. You could also catch a glimpse of that potential you're so interested in.

You and the vampiir in the shadows are…friends? You are full of surprises, aren't you? Fine then. Show me what you can do.

With a bright flash, she disappeared.

With her gone and the sun having sunk behind the trees, Unit Bravo was as strong as they could be while having Zuri in the vicinity. She may not be the sun or a centuries old deity, but the solar powers inside her were enough to prevent them from functioning at full strength. Not that it would be needed against a bunch of flighty, spooked Trappers.

It was a quick fight. Mission accomplished. It ultimately went well. Until it didn't.

One of them got up and tried to swing at her from behind. She saw the man in her periphery, lowered herself into a defensive stance. There wasn't enough time to dodge, but she could take him. 

But not faster than Adam rushed forward to tackle him.

But he wasn't faster than Li-Sar, who appeared out of thin air and struck him down with a bolt of lightning.

He died on impact. Burnt to a crisp.

She missed Adam by a hair.

The air was heavy with tension and fear. Magic and blood. And she choked on it, too thick in her lungs as she gasped.

He could've been killed too.

It didn't take much to convince the vampires to stay back and for Li-Sar to join her somewhere more private - maybe even nostalgic for her - but she knows they aren't far. After what happened during their first encounter, they weren't going to leave the two of them alone for long. 

She needs to be quick.

“But we can't exactly question someone who isn't alive,” she can still feel his blood on her side, can hear how it splattered against bark and damp grass. The way his body fell to the ground, joining the others that were groaning on the ground with a stillness that only comes after a heart stops beating.

Her own hammered in her chest.

“...why?” She asks, quietly, hoping for a good reason, knowing she won't get one.

“Why?” Li-Sar stares her down with a raised brow as if the question couldn't be more ridiculous. Like questioning her at all was even more so.

Louder this time, with anger rumbling beneath a layer of fear and frustration. “After thousands of years, you're free. And the first thing you want to do is kill some random group of humans!? Why?”

“They led themselves to their deathbeds the moment they thought they could have any control over me,” she snarls, the stare souring into a glare. “They are worth less than the dirt beneath our feet. Pests, at best. And I will not let a pest touch what is mine.”

Her jaw clenches, blood boiling, sparks flying off her fingers. God, she can't take anymore of this. Of people staking claim of her, believing she'll bend to their will or will be their tool to use for whatever they want to gain. Something ugly and destructive stirs within her, all sharp teeth and claws and molten heat, rearing its head after laying low for months and being smothered by fear and sadness.

She returns the glare and digs her nails into her wrists, drawing out a hiss. Electricity flares between them, vibrant streaks of blue where her palms meet her skin. 

“And what,” she speaks through clenched teeth, her voice low and hackles raised, “makes you think any part of me is yours.”

Li-Sar's hands glitch out of her grip before she slams her against the tree again. Hard enough for the breath to be knocked out of her lungs. Her body is heavy against hers, forcing her gasps for air to be shallow, her tender ribs screaming as the bark pricks at her back. A hand grabs her wrists and pins them above her head.

“Is the power surging through you not my own? Is our bond not what allows you to wield it?

She doesn't answer. She can't. Nothing she says can change what happened to her. That another supernatural tried to use her, that their will was imposed on her again. That her blood has been the catalyst for all of it. And everyone wants to drain her dry.

Fuck Ostin. And fuck every power-hungry asshole out there.

Zuri stifles a groan and twists and turns. Her legs are useless - heavy, far from the ground and too close to her body for them to put any distance between them. But she has to do something, anything.

Li-Sar tilts her head, watches her fondly and chuckles - now she can both hear it and feel it. Hates that the press of her body - how it reverberates through her, shakes against her - doesn't bother her the way it should. She leans in close, strands of her tickling her cheek as she murmurs, “your anger is endearing, although I don't understand it.”

Her lips brush against her ear and Zuri stills. 

“You have seen my power firsthand, as well as how those around you yearn for it. But still, you fight it. As though it isn't a blessing to be my other-heart.”

“I,” she can't bring herself to turn her head away. “I don't know what that's supposed to mean.”

“Hmm. You will, in time,” she hums before pulling away slightly. Just enough for both of them to have a clear view of the other's face. Enough for Zuri to see nothing but her. Knuckles trail along the curve of her cheek and jaw, a pleasant tingle against her skin.

“The people of this world are meaningless to me. Specks of stardust in a vast galaxy. They have nothing to offer me. But you? You have,” she inhales, deeply, breathing her in while her eyes trace her features as though she could get drunk on her and her alone. “You have more than you could ever imagine.”

A shudder runs down Zuri’s spine. A part of her clings onto the anger she has, tries to will it to fuel her actions, but the heat building up inside her isn't from that alone. Some of it comes from having this woman in front of her. Bold, flirty, certain about herself, what she wants, who she wants. Their hearts are pounding against each other through their clothes, through their chests why does she have to be so-

Li-Sar's eyes travel lower, down her neck and collarbone to where their bodies meet. Zuri follows her gaze without thought. A charge of electricity dances back and forth between them, in and around one person and to the next. She isn't sure what it's transferring, but she can hear every breath they take, feel the clouds gathering above them, the ache in her body fading and the endearment Li-Sar felt towards her. The anger she felt when the Trapper tried to attack her. Amusement, disdain, excitement, confusion.

Lust.

“This is but a glimpse of your potential. Of what I can do with and for you. What I can do to you, if you wish it,” she purrs and puts a finger under her chin. The zap that follows feels like a dangerous mix of pleasure and pain, making Zuri shiver and look back up at her. An instruction and a warning. 

“Don't you want to discover all you are?”

“I am more than my blood.”

There's conviction in her voice, stained with doubt and desperation. As if it isn't just the world she's trying to convince.

But she is more than that. She has to be. She is more than parts of Rook, more than parts of Rebecca, more than what Murphy did to her.

“But of course.”

“I'm mo-” she blinks, “...I'm sorry, what?”

Another chuckle. She holds her chin between her thumb and index finger. And there's that endearment again.

“Surely you don't think that I chose you over that witch because of your blood?” Li-Sar glances off to the side, her mouth curling in disdain as she sighs. “It is powerful, no doubt. An untapped part of your essence that freed me. But there have been many blood sacrifices - that alone is not enough for someone to share in my power.”

Blood sacrifices? Plural? A strange, specific set of words. Ostin did seem almost reverent when he first saw Li-Sar, seemed to loathe the idea of her being imprisoned. They're practically a deity, so having people worship her isn't far fetched. A cult following wouldn't be either. But Zuri only heard about here recently. Outside of how she handled her arrival and Ostin’s temper tantrum, she hasn't exactly done anything that would be of interest to…a God?

She purses her lips. Li-Sar watches her with half-lidded eyes, amused, as though she can hear the dogs turning in her brain. Her focus shifts down to her lips. Zuri pretends not to see it.

“I wonder what I've done that makes me- makes this different, then.”

“It's not just what you've done but what you would do, if you had the chance. I can see it in your eyes, something ferocious but restrained like-” she rolls her lips together and shakes her head, muttering something in Echolian. 

“This English language is inept at describing this. But in all my years, I rarely happened upon someone who has this. But here you are. You, and a woman who calls herself the leader of Rogue Supernaturals.”

Oh shit. Her stomach drops.

“She's spoken to you already? How did she contact you? Did she-”

“Oh hush, there is nothing of importance there,” amusement seeps into her voice as she scoffs. “Nothing to panic over nor be jealous of. She lacks your restraint. It makes her nowhere near as tempting. It is adorable watching your control slip, mortal.”

Dammit. What is with her? Since when can someone she's just met make her fumble like this. Where the hell is her subtlety?

She can't even blame the fight. Li-Sar seems to have healed her wounds again.

God, get it together.

“Your floundering is endearing as well. Almost every part of you is. No need to be embarrassed.”

“I'm not-”

“She wanted to be what you are,” she interrupts and Zuri strains to hold her tongue. “My she’loe-chae'lis, my other-heart, my chosen. And perhaps she would be, if I had not met you first.”

Zuri keeps her eyes trained on her, white-blue against dark brown. Something creeps into her, something like disappointment and the anxiety of something being in jeopardy. Nothing important. Focus. Their blood had mixed when she gave her these powers. Can they be taken away? Could whatever it is that tether them to each other be severed? Would she give it to the Rogue's leader if it could be?

Li-Sar's eyes don't give away a thing. She just watches with what seems like endless patience, like watching the cogs turn is entertaining. Zuri doesn't think she can get any answers that she isn't already willing to share - nothing that really means something to her. Especially now, when she's holding onto anger so tightly that it chaffs and she's still caught in the tension simmering between them. 

“You think too much,” she says, cooing again before leaning in close enough for their foreheads to touch. “Don't you see, meor'dal? The humans want to control me and the supernaturals of this world want to be my chosen. But all I want is you.”

Her breath hitches. The anger slips. All that's left is the heat thruming through her and pooling in her abdomen, the nerves fluttering in her stomach, her breath fanning her face, how thin their clothes feel, how they shouldn't be there-

God, it's all she's wanted for as long as she can remember. For someone to want her. To choose her over everything. Over work, over rationale or fear, over something or someone more convenient. To see something in her that's worth staying for, even if they can barely reach it. She almost can, just a few inches shy of reaching in and grazing that all too sensitive spot nestled inside her.

“All I want,” her voice is close to a whisper as she cups her face, “is you, and the world we can shape together.”

But at what cost?

Just…keep it together.

A shaky exhale is all that comes out for a while. A pause. Then eyebrows furrow as she frowns like she might just sob. Zuri shakes her head a bit before resting the back of her head against the tree - she didn't even realise it had moved - and peers up at the sky. The moon peeks out from behind dark red clouds.

She can't just take her at her word. Who knows if this is what she wants and not what she knows makes her weak, feeds some twisted part of her that wants someone to be willing to burn down the world for her.

“I,” the words die in her throat when she meets her gaze again, sees the depthless, unbridled need inside of them… she almost doesn't want to say it but…

She slams her eyes shut and shakes her head again. “No, no, I- I don't want the world.”

“Then what?” Frustration makes the charge between them tremble. Fingers grasp the side of her face in an attempt to make her look at her, as if she'll claw the answer out of her if that's what it takes to have her at her side. Zuri’s eyes open and Li-Sar's face twists. Something close to desperation meets that frustration.

“What do you desire? What is it you crave that you believe I cannot give to you?” A muscle in her jaw twitches as her lips set into a hard line, nose wrinkled and eyes glowing a bright white. “I am already yours as much as you are mine, so tell me!”

A rumble of thunder accompanies the growl in her voice and goosebumps rise on Zuri’s skin, the fear raking down her spine freezing her in her spot. 

That's the problem, isn't it? Li-Sar would do whatever it would take to fulfill her, to gain her favour, to crack her open and free the ugliest parts of her from their restraints. She'd protect her from any and every threat, destroy them in a blink of an eye. If she joins her. If she's willing to bury those she loves alongside the power-hungry and greedy. They're nothing To her, after all. Insignificant little things with nothing to offer her. If Li-Sar is hers as Zuri is hers, what good would anyone else be? What would they be but a threat to their bond?

She doesn't want that. She never will. She'd rather go unwanted for the rest of her life than lose her friends, her family, the community she has here in Wayhaven despite everything. There's no answer she can give that is worth never laughing with Tina and Verda again. Or experiencing the world through fresh eyes with Farah. Watching the sunrise in comfortable silence with Morgan. Exchanging books and anecdotes with Nate.

Being the reason Adam lowers his guard and smiles enough for the dimples to show on his face.

Every moment with them plays in her mind like a movie on fast forward. Slows to the day she left a scar on Adam's arm, one that won't heal. It's permanent. Her throat burns. She can't lose them. She won't. Not while she's alive and breathing. She won't be the reason he's hurt again and no one will carry any scars because of her.

Zuri stares back at Li-Sar. Another rumble, another flash of electricity, a crack of lightning, tension tension tension-

She is unwavering, firm. She won't get the answer she wants. At that, the amalgamation of frustration and anger softens into confusion, then fascination, then…she looks impressed? Begrudgingly, but impressed nonetheless.

“Fine,” she scoffs and glances away, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “Keep your secrets while you can. You will speak them freely once you join me.”

She almost slumps in relief, her cheeks hot with embarrassment. This is, what? Their second meeting? Their first full on conversation? And she can toy with her as though she's known her her whole life, push every button, say all the right things. It will never not be weird to be on the receiving end of that. 

The air sighs, feeling lighter by the second. But only one type of tension evaporated. The other still lingers, balances on a tightrope. 

Li-Sar's gaze flickers between her eyes and her lips, her hand gently cradling her face rather than grasping it tightly. She releases her wrists and Zuri's arms fall to her bare shoulders. Blue currents run down her arms, whirl around Li-Sar's shoulders down to her fingertips. For the first time, she shudders, eyes widening as she continues to watch her with a new intensity.

“...would you grant me this moment?” 

Her hushed words hang in the air between them. Zuri blinks up at her. This can't be what she thinks it is. What she hates that she hopes it is.

“...what?”

A thumb caresses her bottom lip, the stinging fading as she does. There's fluttering in her stomach again, warmth in her cheeks, anticipation in her veins. 

“I'd like to taste you, if you'd permit me,” a small gasp, and Li-Sar mirrors her, parts her own lips, seconds that feel like minutes pass before she continues. “I will savour however much of you I can have.”

The heat returns with a vengeance at the yearning in her eyes. Oh God. Zuri’s heart might just beat out of her chest. The last kiss she had was both bittersweet and magical and everyday after that has been a test in restraint. 

Being alone with Adam was like drowning; his presence is all-encompassing, beautiful, painful, everything it wasn't supposed to be. It was supposed to be easy and fun, her wriggling her way past his walls and getting to see more of him than what the world sees. But he burrowed his way under her skin too and now? Now she's lost her balance, fallen from the edge and things are more complicated than they've ever been. Now she itches to be in his arms again, to run her fingers through the short strands of his hair, to feel his hand on her face and his lips on hers. She finds herself on the verge of begging and pleading for him to share that moment with her. 

Just one more kiss, even if he won't have her. Even if they keep dancing around what they have. Even if it's better that way. 

And here she is, with an all powerful being who is bold and beautiful and dangerous and wants her. Who isn't afraid of what it could mean or how it could end. She wants her. She could kill her for daring to deny her. But instead she asks for a kiss. Just one kiss, even if she can't have her the way she wants to. 

Zuri wraps an arm around her neck and draws her in before she can think. She doesn't want to think - to resist - anymore. She wants it messy and desperate and electric.

Li-Sar chuckles and puts her free hand against the tree, crowding her but preventing her from pulling her any closer. “You will have to use your words. That shouldn't be difficult with that silver tongue of yours.”

She can't say it out loud, it's messed up and embarrassing and-

“May I taste you?”

Her eyebrows furrow, she's holding her breath, her head moves up and down before she can think-

Yesyesyesyes-

“...yeah,” it's shaky when it comes out, mixed with a heavy breath. “Yes…please.”

Li-Sar's eyes flash again, the hand on her cheek sits more securely while the other slowly moves to her waist. She stares at her with wonder and… concern. Their foreheads touch and one of Zuri’s hands leaves her shoulder to brush her hair out of her face. She needs to look at her.

“You have been hurt, haven't you, meor'dal?” She leans in closer, dips her head until the tips of their noses brush, her voice soft but firm. “I promise you this. That ache in your heart? That is something you will never have to bear again. Not when you are with me.”

Zuri is warm all over from the heat inside and against her body. Her hair is soft between her fingers, her scent is dizzying, her breath fans against her face and she is so beautiful. She's beautiful, she's dangerous, she wants her, she isn't him. The light, barely there touch of her lips makes sparks course through her, through her fingers, slice through her thoughts until all that's left are fragments yes, please, I want, need this, kiss me, kiss me, please-

“Zuri?”

Eyes snap open. A hand covers her mouth. Her own shift to her shoulders, balled into fists, pushing her away. The bark pokes at her back and the back of her head. 

She doesn't need to glance to the side to see who's there. She'd know that voice anywhere. She looks anyway.

Adam. 

Shit.

The rest of Unit Bravo come up from behind him, standing at a distance. Stiff like they all want to run towards her and get Li-Sar as far away from her as possible.

Li-Sar is doing the same.

Her hair stands on end as she stares at them, the static so overwhelming it crackles and pops and stings. Thunder starts rumbling, low and threatening, the backdrop to this standoff. She doesn't look at Zuri when she speaks, her voice echoing through the forest as she speaks. “Which one of them is it?”

Fear floods in and flushes every feeling away. Shit. She could kill them right where they stand. She pushes the hand on her mouth away, gets a tight hold of her wrist. 

“Li-Sar, no. Stop.”

“Tell me.”

Farah watches intently. Morgan growls. Nate puts a hand on Adam’s shoulder. He still shifts closer. 

“No,” the panic is clear in the rasp of her voice. “Leave them alone.”

“Who-”

“Stop!”

Her voice booms. There's a crack of thunder, a flash of lightning. The vampires cover their ears. Zuri’s hand zips forward, clutches Li-Sar's jaw, forcing her head to turn towards her. Away from them. Something surges through her, mixing with the fear, amplifying the anger and the ugly little thing inside her that gnaws at its cage. She won't watch them be hurt again. Not by either of them. Her fingers dig into her face again, another hiss as her nails pierce her skin. Her mind races with thoughts and images of every way she could stop Li-Sar, each one gorier than the next.

It would be the last thing she lets either of them do. 

“You stay away from him,” her voice is as cutting and as loud as the thunder, “from all of them. If you even look in their direction again, you'll lose any chance you had of me being your she’loe-chae'lis.”

She says the word like her Echolian has been fully honed.

Li-Sar stares at her, her face still scrunched in anger, her eyes bright but inspecting. Curious. Piercing like she might call her bluff that there's any chance at all. They dim, and familiar fascination slips through. That, and an impressed smirk. 

“As you wish,” she steps away a few seconds after Zuri lets go of her jaw, keeping her eyes on her as she backs away. 

She stops at the trees opposite her, places a hand on one, making sure to turn her body away from Unit Bravo when she does.

“Until we next meet, Zuri,” her name echoes before she vanishes in a flash of lightning with a loud crack.

The tree has been split in too, leaves burnt to ash, branches black and smoking. 

A warning of what she can do. What she could've done.

Zuri’s feet touch the ground for the first time in ages and her legs buckle.

“Zuri, are you harmed? Are you-”

“Give her a moment, Adam.”

Nate puts a hand on his shoulder again. The four of them get as close as they can while staying out of reach. She looks back at them, leaning back against the tree, panting with a wry smile. They're okay. They're all okay. “A moment would be appreciated.”

“Woah. Your eyes,” Farah stares at her in awe. “Your hair, your voice! Holy shit. Those powers are getting stronger by the day.”

Inhale. Exhale. 

“You say that like it's a good thing.”

“It's not a good thing or a bad thing,” she shrugs, “just…a thing. I think.”

Inhale. Exhale.

“When were you gonna tell us that stuff would make your voice that loud?” Morgan joins in, crossing her arms and inspecting her with a concerned frown.

Zuri let's out a short, breathless laugh. “Oh trust me, I would've told you the moment I found out.”

“We do trust you.”

She shakes her head and gives them a weak smile. They're only talking because they know the silence would be worse for her. That noise, no matter how soft, helps her breathe easier. 

Inhale. Exhale. 

She vaguely feels her earrings lower to their usual position, dangling from her ears. Her clothes loosening around her, back to hugging her figure instead of squeezing it. The magic inside her feels less like a waterfall and more like a small stream, contained and not sparking outward.

It's Nate who speaks next. “How are you feeling, Zee?” 

Soothed. Embarrassed. Exhausted. Relieved. Too many things to describe in depth. But she knows one thing.

“You're all okay. You're alright, so I'm good. Tired, but good.”

She straightens up and takes a step towards them. Or really, stumbles towards them. Adam catches her by the elbow and puts a hand on her back. She looks up at him with furrowed brows before looking down at his arm, shying away from his touch. The scar is still there. She hurt him one way and almost hurt him in another.

She almost kissed her.

“Wait, Adam I…”

“It is as you said. We are all alright,” she looks up again and finds him smiling softly. “I am all right.”

Guilt coils inside her chest. 

“Let us go home,” he adds softly.

Zuri stares at the split tree, rolling her lips together at the sight. At the images that come with it. The part of her that already misses her and part that wants her gone in a way that's more permanent than a magically powered cell. She nods, leans into him despite how wrong she feels for doing it, and he leads her away. 

She needs to just… get away from here.

[knizuu]

Yknow, I think Rough has a type- Drew @hansuart’s Zuri along with @ceoofdestructix’s Brienne!!!

Back to hyperfixating on the gals-

[acertainmoshke]

Yesterday was really rough, so I spent the entire afternoon at the library writing today (and conveniently missed all the sander/vacuum noise from the flooring guys). To celebrate that, I'm going to share a snippet from each story I worked on today! Starting with Cold Iron:

All my moves became instinctive. I went from half-laying on my stomach to on my feet in a single motion, my hand flinging up, cold surging through me— The beast, a flash of brown fur twice my size, was hit by a dozen bolts of ice as it leapt through the air. It landed inches in front of me, stumbled, but shook off shattered shards of ice like a dog shakes off water and kept coming. Its huge front paws hit me directly in the chest, a sharp reminder that I was no longer bound tight, and I collapsed hard on the stone floor. My head hit last and the room went even darker around the edges. My vision was filled with blurry teeth and a dripping nose. The "Hey!" seemed to come from very far away. Kris. Protecting me like always. Hey, I tried to answer, but the word hung still in the air around me. I realized I couldn't feel his mind against mine and wondered vaguely if he was angry again. The slobbering teeth in front of me felt distant. Nothing was real except the warm stone against my back and the course hair clenched in my fits as I shoved at its belly with all my strength, which had always seemed considerable before. And then the thing vanished as someone close by yelled something I couldn't hear. I looked up at Kris— No. Younger. Longer hair. Less spiky. Zuri raised her stick again and smacked the beast full in the face. I lay still, fistfuls of hair still clutched tightly, and watched her. "Come on!" That was Kris' voice, for real this time. I should get up... His prickly fist closed around my arm and dragged me up, then down. Everything was a blur, then dark. I leaned back and found a convenient wall, still warm. "What was...any of that?" I realized my eyes were closed. I didn't open them.

Tag list: @stesierra

[sketch-guardian]

Hiii! I’m the same person who asked for the headcannons about the new classmates but I just wanna know if you’d ever be comfortable to post headcannons about all the classmates with a child mc who sees them as older siblings or parental figures. If not I totally understand!! I just wanted to ask since I live for found family tropes and I’m starting to get obsessed with your ocs 😋

I hope you’re doing well!! <33

Hello again!💜I'm fine, thank you for asking☺and I hope you are doing well too✨I'm happy that you're starting to like my OCs! You flatter me😳and don't worry, your request is perfectly valid😌so I hope you enjoy the result:

"RAD CLASSMATES+NEW EXCHANGE STUDENTS WITH A CHILD MC WHO SEES THEM AS A PARENT/OLDER SIBILING FIGURE"

DEMYA

Demya has a soft spot for kids, in the sense that, seeing them as frail creatures, she considers them in need of protection and care, this however doesn't change the fact that she still remains a bit feral by nature, especially due to the way she was raised, so every now and then Demya could be seen carrying child MC by the collar of their shirt with her teeth or some poor unfortunate soul could witness MC attached to Demya's back like a koala while she runs on all fours. In any case, Demya would be a great, playful, energetic big sister, who would hunt for the best food to share with child MC. Plus in her heart, Demya would love to have an offspring in the future, so she would be thrilled if MC saw her as worthy of a such an important role and would do anything both not to disappoint and to protect them, Demya doesn't want to lose her family a second time after all...

DOMNRA/MOBIM

Domnra may not seem the best with children on the surface, given his rough and harsh attitude, however living with Mobim has accustomed him to looking after another living being and therefore it wouldn't be too surprising to see him with Mobim and child MC in tow, like a mother hen with her ducklings. Domnra would at first be stunned by MC's view of him as an older brother/father, especially since he doesn't think of himself as a reassuring figure, however he would be quietly touched by the sentiment, it would remind Domnra of the times he cared for other soldiers back in his day as an angel, therefore he would promise to protect child MC at all costs, just like Mobim, to raise them and teach them to defend themselves. Speaking of Mobim, for child MC, Mobim would be like a little sibiling to play with

AZUL

Azul is a born entertainer and his characteristic of changing color depending on his mood attracts a lot of attention, therefore he would have no problem dealing with children or people in general. Having also raised Demya in a certain sense, since he taught her to read, write and essentially civilized her, Azul would feel a little nostalgic for the good old days and would behave in an attentive and caring manner, while still remaining fun, maybe a little clingy, he would definitely start ugly crying if child MC called him big brother or dad. Azul would also hang child MC's drawings everywhere if they were to make them, showing them off to everyone

ZURI

Zuri would prove a little hesitant at the beginning, not considering herself the best role model or exactly loving enough for child MC, in fact she wouldn't understand why child MC considers her suitable for such role, given her stoic nature, however Zuri wouldn't bear to disappoint their expectations and therefore over time she would get used to the new dynamic. For Zuri it would be more natural than expected to take care of child MC, having done the same with Azul and Domnra after their fall from grace and over time Zuri would realize that she enjoyed having child MC by her side, like a found family. Zuri would sew tailor-made clothes for child MC and fix their stuffed animals with patches in case of tears, as well as buy several gifts

ODON

Although Odon scares most living beings with their imposing and eldritch presence, it seems that animals and young people are curious about them and tend to hover around Odon, as if they understood Odon has truly changed for the better and trusted them. Odon would be intrigued by child MC and although puzzled by their desire to be in their company, Odon would be flattered and not at all bothered, they would also engage in telling stories and seeing MC play with their eye-like creatures. Odon has never had a family, so the fact that child MC sees them as an important member of their found family would make Odon feel accepted and at peace. Child MC, in Odon's presence, would be the safest child in all of Devildom and they would do various activities together, such as reading, visiting museums, Odon would also carry child MC on their shoulders, being very tall. Odon likes to attend child MC's tea parties as well

REMIEL

Remiel, despite her somber attitude, knows how to handle children quite well, because it unfortunately happened more than once in the course of her celestial duty that she had to help children's souls reach the afterlife, lost and afraid, with only her to guide them towards the light. Remiel is very patient and has both a soothing presence and a soft voice, so from a logical point of view, she could understand why child MC bonded with her, even if Remiel would wonder why they chose her, when surely there were other more appropriate choices. Having trouble understanding feelings and being quite dense, nurturing child MC could help Remiel comprehend the human world better and experience genuine sensations she has never felt before. Remiel would also like to introduce child MC to her parents, to include them and make them feel even more part of the family, as a little sibiling or child, hoping Azrael and Death don't intimidate child MC too much with their appearance. Remiel would be good at putting child MC to sleep, cradling them with her wings

NATHANIEL

Nathaniel isn't used to interacting with humans, being often busy with celestial matters, so he would be pleasantly surprised to have attracted child MC's attention, especially considering his frequent quietness. Nathaniel would be an excellent teacher and would help child MC with homework and other matters, even difficult ones, specifying how important it is to solve them without the use of violence when possible. The concept of family may be foreign to Nathaniel, but being a very patient angel, he would be glad to walk on such journey of growth alongside child MC, experiencing the joy of raising them. Nathaniel would be chill, but still protective of child MC and would be willing to accompany them to explore and discover both the Celestial Realm and Devildom. Nathaniel would also likely teach child MC his way of communicating only through gestures

URIEL

Uriel isn't exactly a loving type and as a warrior angel, she is more used to fighting than looking after others, so at the beginning, rather than taking care of child MC, it would almost seem as if she were training them, almost like a soldier, obviously not overdoing it, given that they are still a child. It would take Uriel some time to get used to such a dynamic, but over time she would start to feel proud of having been chosen to represent such an important role, the fact that child MC looks up to her would slowly soften Uriel's edges. Some activities that Uriel and child MC would do together would be fighting with fake swords, in which Uriel would lose only to boost MC's self-esteem and fly embraced by her safe arms while doing cool tricks, at a safe distance from the ground. Uriel would also be quite strict when it comes to rules, so she would find a way to make them more bearable and manageable for child MC

[enteringdullsville]

Sky, the Sky Blue Drewman

Statistics

Aesthetic: Goofy

Age: 22 (Season One)

Alignment: Accomplice

Badge: Thought Bubble

Color Type: Blue

Debut: Technobabble (Cameo)

Effects: Hairdryer (Sky curls into a ball, her hair covering her, and produces a powerful wind); Homing Attack (Sky curls up and repeatedly rams into the opponent from all directions); Thunder Voice (Sky shrieks, producing a sonic attack); Supercell Shock (Sky zaps the opponent with lightning)

Family: Cloud Cottlyn (Father)

Standout Features: Long curly hair resembling clouds, scribbly eyes, zigzag cheek marks, hoodie.

Rank: A- (Main Character)

Character Bases

Development

Sky’s concept always stayed the same: someone who was a fan of the show itself, knew the ins and outs of toon logic, but was still curious about everything. She was conceived as Iris for Rough Sketch but was rebranded as Natalie for the jump to ICT. These designs were recycled into Amy and Dwight, the former getting her hairstyle and many design aspects, the latter getting the midnight blue color and glowing eyes.

While “Iris” wasn’t around long enough for any extreme negative traits to manifest, she tended to be slightly invasive. Sky’s comparatively hands off in comparison, wondering more about the world itself. She’s also expanded to be a comic geek in general, giving her something to do once the novelty of being the fangirl newbie wears off.

Her entire design is taken from an old design of Shayla’s, formerly an azure Drewman named Zuri. Sky’s eyes, cheeks, and hoodie are the only design elements remaining intact from her time as Iris.

Be Great

[hansuart]

Yuki and Zuri as merfoxes for MerMay2023 ;3

some doodles relating to this:

[carnivorousyandeere]

Kinktober Day 9: Fighting, Wrestling, Rough Body Play

( MDNI, No Age in Bio DNI )

Kinkdefinition describes three different versions of fighting— play fighting, competitive fighting, and erotic fighting:

“Play fighting is a form of physical play that involves simulated combat. It is often used as a way to bond with a partner or to explore power dynamics in a non-threatening way. Play fighting can involve wrestling, tickling, or other forms of physical contact.

Competitive fighting involves two or more people engaging in a physical contest to determine a winner. This can include martial arts, boxing, or other combat sports. Competitive fighting can be a way to test one’s physical and mental strength, as well as a way to experience the rush of adrenaline that comes with competition.

Erotic fighting involves using physical combat as a form of foreplay or sexual activity. This can include wrestling, grappling, or other forms of physical contact. Erotic fighting can be a way to explore power dynamics and sexual tension in a safe and consensual manner.”

From kinkopedia: “Rough Body Play is a wide field of kink that includes punching, kicking, slapping, striking – basically anything that flies in a bareknuckle fight gets included in my definition of Rough Body Play.”

Enjoys Play Fighting With Darling and Wants To:

Win: Quinn, Brucie, Elena, Wendell, Kyra, Lighthouse Spirit, Lan, Mildred, Cryptid, Gia, Hunter, Mason, Sonika, Genesis, Varsha, Kurtis, Isla, Eris, Kendra, Hailey, Kaylee, Lottie, Reed, Candy, Mina, Cael, Malak, Temperance, Kosuke, Jett, Tasi, Blake, Lenore

Lose: Byte, Mika, Felicity, Saturnia, Dante, Hana, Cyrus, Moth, Clay, Tasha, Memphis, Emerson, Jace, Rayleigh, Aspen, Ernie, Lyla, Olive, Zuri, Minnow

Either Way: Thorn, Penelope, Dakota, Ian, Mateo, Ace, Mehri, Tai, Airna, Dew, Fang, Sammy, Selene, Tomi, Jules, Chandler, Indigo, Darcy

Enjoys Sparring and/or Fighting With Darling and Wants To:

Win: Quinn, Cassandra, Elena, Lighthouse Spirit, Lan, Mildred, Gia, Hunter, Sonika, Genesis, Varsha, Kaylee, Lottie, Temperance, Kosuke, Lenore

Lose: Ian, Dante, Mateo, Moth, Memphis, Jace, Hailey, Lyla, Zuri

Either Way: Kyra, Dakota, Cryptid, Ace, Tai, Airna, Dew, Malak, Sammy, Tasi

Gets Worked Up:

While Fighting Other People and Wants to Fuck Darling After to Work Off the Excess Adrenaline: Marcus, Cassandra, Wisteria, Cryptid, Drew, Gia, Hunter, Mason, Varsha, Cecilia, Eris, Jace, Lottie, Cael, Blake, Cypress

Watching Darling Fighting Other People and Wants Darling to Work off Adrenaline With Them After: Byte, Mika, Penelope, Felicity, Ian, Mateo, Cyrus, Moth, Clay, Mehri, Kurtis, Rose, Angel, Fang, Lyla, Selene, Olive, Zuri, Chandler, Minnow, Darcy

Either Way: Quinn, Elena, Thorn, Kyra, Lighthouse Spirit, Lan, Mildred, Dakota, Dante, Ace, Genesis, Tai, Tasha, Memphis, Isla, Airna, Kendra, Hailey, Dew, Malak, Temperance, Ernie, Sammy, Kosuke, Jett, Tasi, Lenore

Rough Body Play Without Fighting or Sparring:

Wants to Rough Up Their Darling A Little: Cassandra, Mildred, Drew, Gia, Sonika, Genesis, Varsha, Kaylee, Lottie, Mina, Tasi, Lenore

Wants to Get Roughed Up by Their Darling: Erik, Mika, Thorn, Dakota, Cryptid, Ian, Dante, Cyrus, Moth, Clay, Tai, Tasha, Kurtis, Airna, Jace, Dew, Lyla, Sammy

Either Way: Kyra, Ace, Malak

[siennaditbot]

Got an idea and just had to draw it today. I started around 11pm and it's now 2am. At least I somewhat finished it without really rushing it.

Anyway, wanted to draw Slushie and @hansuoddie 's OCs Yuki and Zuri fangirling over their partners, and the fun idea was to show the guys' side. The skunk bros would just chill and maybe talk a bit about their girls but Espio would feel a bit awkward, especially with the two being bad guys (see the kunai ready behind him lol)

[astarab1aze]

➥ Drabble 1 / ?? - @gyofukuki

There were plenty of occasions, since their journey began, that Crovita had wondered if she'd made the right decision; This wasn't to say Geralt had been too rough around all his little edges, or that Asuka had been unhelpful and loud - although, both were, perhaps, a little true; Rather, her mind was elsewhere entirely, focusing too hard on the secrets she was keeping, sacrificing honesty for haste. She hadn't exactly been forthright with the hows and whys, hadn't exactly relayed what she'd been running from, offering too little for Geralt or Asuka to go on. All either of them knew was, simply, that they had to go, and keep moving. Don't look back, no matter what should happen, with or without her.

The Askarri Shades were disbanded in the aftermath of her choice, free, then, to go their own ways before the revolutionaries could claim them. In her heart of hearts, the uncertainty that any at all had survived the swarm of pitchforks and sickles, the hangman's noose and the headman's axe, or the influence of Myrrdinian hatred toward mages and all things non-human- It settled in like a poison most vile, riddling her heartstrings with guilty rot not even the freshest and most effective of antidotes could cure. So many lives in her hands, and she let them go to save herself. Slit the Azzar's throat on the night the revolutionaries raided the royal palace - she wouldn't deign to call them by their chosen name; idiots and betrayers, all of them - and incurred the wrath of the surviving nobles, ending an era with her own two hands and watching as Sekora burned, blood running in her streets. So many innocent people, too, caught well in the mix, people she loved, defended, protected from the Azzar - people she had to abandon, lest she be killed before she could get to Zuri, retrieve Asuka, and leave for... someplace safer, someplace else.

When next they made camp for the night, she resolved herself to tell them both a bit more of the truth, instead of the paltry breadcrumbs she'd offered in the beginning... Geralt had to have known of the violence that'd broken out in Askarra, though perhaps not the extent of it or why it was happening in the first place, her involvement in it, choices she'd made, lives she'd ended through both action and inaction. Maybe he wanted to know, maybe he didn't, but even so, she didn't see a way out of this that didn't require some level of deeper honesty. If he didn't know exactly what could be trailing after them, how could he do his job effectively? How could he protect Asuka, himself? Even if he knew the risks, prepared for everything because he didn't know, it didn't sit right with her that she'd more or less lied by omission to him, counting on his help regardless of the truth.

Oh, how desperate she'd been, too, obfuscating it all in her frightened haste.

She thought about it for a long time, only half-paying attention to the roll of Tali's spine as he canted behind Asuka and Geralt's Roach. Poor thing was getting antsy, bobbing and shaking his scaly black head, all in response to the aches and pains Crovita had been feeling. Celare always were sensitive to their riders' emotions, not knowing what they meant but feeling them anyway.

"Mister Geralt, s'there any way we can take a break?" Asuka chirped, quieting with a firm hush, all those wild feathers ruffled. "Everythin' hurts. I'm not used to this like you an' mother... I'd rather use me own two legs."

Crovita tilted her head at that, then shook it, piping up before the witcher had a chance.

"Stay on the horse for now, Asuka," she said, soft authority leaking into her voice. "We'll find a suitable enough place to camp before sunset."

"But, mother--" They threw their head over their shoulder, momentarily unwinding their arms from around Geralt's middle to settle a hand on Roach's backside. There was a look in their eye, a furrow to their brow, and it only made matters worse for Crovita. "It hurts. I can't take all this constant bouncing."

"Patience, dear... Patience. Hold out just a while longer." Unless you'd rather ride Tali, but you know as well as I you'd hate that even more.

With a grumbling huff, Asuka turned forward again and was silent for the next three hours of riding, until the sun had dipped some below the horizon, casting long, orange shadows across the Scarburran hills. In the morning, they would make it to the Chimerian border and, if they were lucky, perhaps they wouldn't have to travel through the pseudocilium forest. Luck, however, was a quality most in Sunjatta were bereft, and though she'd exerted utmost care in charting their path up to this point, she'd no confidence such would lend them even a moment's peace. The closer they got to the border, the higher their chances of running into Wildlings and Myhala both; Not all of Scarburn had been reclaimed, as yet still subject to the hordes of violent, feral men and nameless, hideous creatures pouring out of the Myhalan Deep. Luck had served them well till now, but it would run out before long and no amount of careful planning or navigation would save them from the obstacles to come.

Still, it didn't much matter now. They were safe enough for the time being, enough to take a break, eat, stretch their legs, relieve themselves, feed and water both Tali and Roach, and decide what to do from there. There hadn't been any fresh signs of Wildlings or Myhala, only tracks a few days old, muddied by coastal rain turned inland, campsites all but trampled and picked clean by wildlife in the nights following. Both a good and bad sign, as there was no guarantee there wouldn't be any monsters, beasts, or Wildlings lurking somewhere else in the hills - but there certainly weren't any nearby at the moment.

As Crovita dismounted, slipping free of Tali's saddle and ignoring the puddle of mud she'd landed in, she heaved a sigh. There'd been evidence of some sort of struggle here, coagulated blood in what few footprints remained, and the scents still clinging to the grass and soil by threads had gone off in multiple directions then faded abruptly, washed away by the rain. Some weapons left behind, an odd collection of broken swords, chipped daggers, and dented hammers; The Wildlings that camped here before must've been attacked by Myhala, forcing them to flea into the hills. Odd, then, that they hadn't seen any, unless they'd been eaten. Which...inspired far less confidence than she'd been able to maintain as it was.

In spite of the ache between her thighs, tendons and ligaments all aflame with the day's ride, she wordlessly handed off Tali's reins to Asuka and made her way to Geralt's side, tending to Roach and adjusting his saddle. She touched his arm to get his attention, and he momentarily gave pause if only to glance at her; There was a...certain knowing in his eyes, a knowing that they couldn't stay there for the night, that something or someone awaited them in the hills.

"Geralt," she addressed him, "not here. Only long enough to do what we have to, no more."

"Myhala, Wildings, in the hills. Can't stay anyway."

"Should we circle back, make for Braemare northwest of here? May be wise to spend the night in the city."

"Too close to the border, overpopulated by Myrrdinian soldiers and hunters. Wouldn't be safe for either of you." He tightened the straps of his saddle, but not so as to harm to Roach - she would have to give her a few carrots for her patience, when Geralt wasn't looking. "Told you I'd defend you; Taking you back to Braemare would be doing the opposite."

There's nothing saying the Askarri we're running from won't be there either...

"What are we to do, then? If we can't stay here and we can't go back, we should press on, skirt 'round the pseudocilium and make camp once we cross the border. If we can find the Lightguards' tower, we may yet seek shelter there."

"No, too risky and too far. Those towers were built in the Second Era at entrances to the Deep, crumbling, infested ruins by now." A thoughtful pause, and cat-like gaze pulled away from her a moment. Likewise, she drew her arm away and instead crossed both over her chest, thinking over the steadily narrowing options they had left to herself.

"Aren't there old smuggler's paths 'round here? Didn't Vago have some of the witchers carve them out in the same era? We could take one of them... Hmm," came a surprising suggestion, and Crovita had to turn some, cock her head over her shoulder at Asuka, who'd been prodding at their chin as if thinking aloud, not meaning to interrupt. That wasn't a bad idea, likely brought on by their study of history at the university. "Not sure if they're overrun yet. Could be. Maybe not, though. Maybe mother and Geralt know 'bout them already..."

Silly thing, eavesdropping while Tali lipped at their hair.

"That's not a half-bad idea. Geralt," and she turned once more to face him, but he had moved elsewhere, now removing the bit from Roach's mouth, "are the old smuggling routes still operational, still in use?"

"Some of them, others are overrun - hard to tell which. If Myhala came out this way, there's a risk none of the routes here are any safer to travel." Then, gruffly, as he briefly rubbed at Roach's snout, "Most of them are underground, likely to be overrun. Myhala nest in the tunnels."

She shouldn't have been surprised, yet she was, though out of frustration. Were they being too careful at the start of their journey, or not careful enough? Running out of options already and it'd only been a week's worth of travel, at least since they arrived in Scarburn; They couldn't take Roach or Tali through the underground routes, and if those same routes were overrun as Geralt seemed to suspect, then he was right and they wouldn't have been able to take them anyway, not unless they found one above-ground, untouched by Wildlings or Myhala. The likelihood of that was far too small for comfort, yet perhaps still worth a try - anything to avoid the fuckery in the pseudocilium forest, where too much lurked beneath mushroom caps and the hallucinogenic spores may as well have been snow.

After a few moments longer, she peeled herself away from Roach and Geralt, slinking back to Tali if only to tend to him much the same. Gently pulling the bit from his mouth and taking the reins from Asuka, slinging them over her shoulder long enough for her to scratch his chin and fish a strip of dried venison from her saddlebags with which to feed him. It wouldn't be enough to satisfy him, but unfastening the saddle and letting him hunt wasn't an option either. This would have to suffice, at least until they found a suitable place to camp for the night.

"I'm sorry, Tali. Later, I promise," she whispered, rubbing the celare's ashen nose.

"Mother, what are we going to do?" Asuka asked, at once huddling closer to her, talons sploshing in the mud puddles. "I'm so tired of pissin' outside--"

"Asuka," Crovita warned.

"Sorry, sorry, just- It's gross out here, an' what if we're bein' watched? Those Wildling barbarians - I don't want to be seen by them."

"Sweetheart, I understand you're not used to life on the road, but there are some things you're going to have to get used to. There are no toilets for miles, so, regrettably, this is one of those things." She tried her best to be sensitive to Asuka's unfamiliarity with the wilds, but now wasn't the time to be picky or display their inability to cope without the comforts of city life. "Do you need to go now, or can it wait a while?"

"I don't need to go at all, but that's not the point."

"Then stop complaining."

She could feel those golden eyes burning holes into the side of her head, but she paid them no mind, running her fingers over the patch of gray scales looping around Tali's neck.

"I bet Geralt gets it," Asuka muttered bitterly, crossing their arms over their chest.

"I don't think he much minds either way, dear - and don't bother him about it, please. He's neither the time nor, I'm sure, the patience to worry whether you can handle existing outdoors, and I'm not sure I do either."

At last, she stepped away, rifling through her saddlebags again for her waterskin and bowl, pouring in just enough to keep Tali going for a while longer - that was to say, the rest. She could wait until they came upon a stream to refill it, and there were enough between where they were and the border for it not to matter much besides. Handing the bowl to a pouting Asuka, waterskin in hand, she ruffled their hair and leaned forward to press a kiss to their forehead.

"Eat something, won't you? Venison and apples in my saddlebags. Geralt and I will figure out what to do from here," and she left them standing beside Tali a second time, her eyes shifting over to the witcher now crouched above a particularly deep four-toed print in the mud, gloved hand plucking free a scrap handful of scales.

He didn't utter a single word, and he didn't have to. Four toes and scales meant the Wildlings had celare themselves, be it one or many; Leastways, it couldn't have meant a pack of them happened to pass through the ruined camp, but it did mean their riders may well have escaped the Myhala that attacked them. Geralt ought to know more, if only by virtue of his senses; A witcher's abilities were comparable, perhaps better, than a harpy's, natural or not.

"Which direction did they run off in?" she asked lowly, the slightest tweak of... something to her expression.

"Northwest, to cut the Myhala off at the river," he said. "Some were injured, wouldn't have made it far. Myhala likely caught up to them before they could cross."

Ah, so returning to Braemare is dangerous for another reason.

"...And the path ahead?"

"May have to follow the border north to avoid Myhala. Less of a risk, after the March. Going south will take us into Luvia; Not sure that's wise."

"Mmm. Finally ordered their borders closed, haven't they?" she hummed, dropping to a crouch beside him, hands clasped betwixt her knees. "They can't afford to have Wildings, Myhala, and Myrrdin encroaching upon them at the same time. Only just recently reclaimed some parts of the Stormwilds, they don't have enough resources to keep up a fight."

He grunted and offered little else, more focused on weighing the risks versus rewards of whatever route he decided to take them down - or so she assumed. It was at this point she had to make the choice to trust his judgment alone; He knew best how to navigate the nations east of Zuri, where she simply did not. It'd been well over twenty years since she'd had to herself, and much had changed since then, much he'd be more familiar with.

It made her sick to her stomach. Not to trust him, but to trust at all, to hinge so much of her and Asuka's survival on the expertise of a single man. Maddening, uncomfortable, all amix with the guilt of not quite telling him the truth. On top of everything, there was the Askarri to consider, too. If they followed the borders north, there was a chance they'd run into Shades not yet returned from their annual journey to the Black Eyrie, and she'd not a doubt in her mind someone had sent a Crimson-Talon raven their way to inform them of the hells breaking out in Askarra.

Sooner, rather than later, she would have to tell him everything and, somehow, that terrified her more than the sparest chance they might cross the Shades' path. Perhaps irrationally so. She hoped he'd forgive her for it, in the way a professional ought to, but she wouldn't hold her breath, contingencies already forming in her mind in the off-chance he decided to wash his hands of them.

"Geralt, I-" She looked at him then, not bothering to hide the concern crawling across her face. "There's something I must tell you, when next we make camp. I'll trust you to guide us forward, until then, but I'm afraid it cannot wait much longer after. It's important, vitally so. My only hope is you - forgive my dishonesty, and continue to travel with us. I won't begrudge your decision not to, should that be your choice... We need you more than you need us, after all."

[emjayewrites]

fouled by fate • aurelien tchouameni (9/10)

SYNOPSIS: Aurélien Tchouaméni, one of football’s rising stars, is used to navigating the pressures of the pitch—but nothing could prepare him for an arranged marriage. With his family’s legacy and cultural traditions at stake, Aurélien reluctantly agrees to marry a woman he barely knows. But as they’re thrust into the public eye, sparks fly in unexpected ways. The two must navigate the complexities of love, duty, and fame, all while figuring out if they’re playing on the same team—or if their hearts are destined for different paths.

PAIRINGS: Aurélien Tchouaméni x Zuri Awanto Nchang (faceclaim Samira Ahmed @/iamsamiira)

WARNINGS: cursing, football b.s., dry humor/wit, slight arguing, friends to lovers, instant attraction, angst, eventual smut (18+/minors dni)

TAGLIST: @trenterprise @f1-football-fiend @lettersofgold @deonn-jaelle @perfecttrashface @2serenity0 @hotfudgeslug @muglermami @sucredreamer @julescpu @tchouathon @greyishbach @shelovesfootie @certifiedlesbianbaddie @trinitoldyouso @bbgkoo @lottins-only @elyseesarchive @thearchieves @pepfectionary @peyiswriting @127hydrangeas @judesbabymamas @whoevenisthiz

A/N: Please let me know if you want to be removed from the tag list! Thank you again for your love and appreciation! This chapter may be triggering to some so please don’t read if it makes you uncomfortable.

The late afternoon sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as Zuri lay sprawled on her back in Aurelién's — well, their — bed. She still wasn’t used to thinking of it that way, even though she’d made the move upstairs to his loft permanently. Everything felt so intimate now, so settled, yet there was still that electricity between them. And today was no different. Aurélien had a way of making her forget every thought that wasn’t about him.

Zuri's body hummed with pleasure as her legs shook uncontrollably, her skin buzzing from the constant attention he was giving her. Aurelién had insisted they stay in bed for hours, and after what felt like an eternity of stolen kisses and lingering touches, they'd predictably ended up where they always did — unable to keep their hands off each other.

He was between her legs now, his broad shoulders keeping them spread as he made sure she felt every flick and swirl of his tongue. The sensation was overwhelming — pleasure so sharp and all-consuming it made her toes curl into the sheets.

She glanced down and saw his eyes on her, piercing and intense. His mouth never left her, his tongue expertly switching between lapping at her clit and plunging into her soaked heat. He sucked softly on her clit, a sound that made her gasp and her thighs begin to tremble harder.

Aurélien’s gaze was dark, a silent command for her to keep her focus. His tongue delved deep into her, and the sensation made her moan uncontrollably, her back arching off the bed. It was too much, too good — she closed her eyes, losing herself in the waves of pleasure building inside her.

Slap.

Her thigh stung from the firm tap of his hand, and she whimpered as her eyes flew open to meet his again. He was watching her, making sure she knew that he was in control.

"Eyes on me," Aurelien growled against her skin, his voice low and rough. The rasp in his voice sent a fresh jolt of heat straight to her core.

Zuri swallowed, her gaze locked on his even as her body fought to shut her eyes, to give in to the intensity of the sensation. But he wouldn’t let her. His tongue was merciless, moving faster, switching back and forth between teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves and driving deep inside her. He was everywhere, his lips pulling her apart, making her feel exposed and raw under his intense focus.

Her legs began to close instinctively as the pleasure built to an unbearable peak, but another sharp slap to her inner thigh stopped her. She whimpered again, feeling the pressure mounting within her as she tried to contain herself.

"Stay open for me," he murmured, never lifting his mouth from her. His lips pressed hard against her slick skin as he alternated between slow, deep strokes with his tongue and quick, relentless flicks over her clit. Her entire body was trembling, each nerve ending alight as his hands tightened on her thighs, holding her exactly where he wanted her.

Her legs shook violently as she struggled to hold on, her fingers clawing at the sheets, desperate for something to ground her. Aurelien’s tongue worked her with expert precision, driving her closer and closer to the edge.

"Please…" Zuri gasped out, her chest rising and falling rapidly as the sensations became too much to handle. Her mind was a haze of need, and she could barely think, barely breathe. But still, his eyes stayed on hers, demanding every ounce of her attention, every ounce of her surrender.

"Not yet," he murmured, pulling his mouth away briefly to press a kiss to the inside of her thigh, only to dive back in with a renewed intensity. His tongue plunged deep into her again, and the sensation made her entire body convulse. He was relentless, drawing her closer and closer to a release that felt just out of reach.

The world narrowed down to the feel of his mouth, the wet heat of his tongue, and the way he looked up at her, watching every reaction with an intensity that only fueled the fire inside her.

And when his teeth grazed her clit, sending shockwaves of pleasure through her entire body, Zuri couldn’t hold back any longer. Her orgasm ripped through her, her body arching off the bed as she cried out his name. Aurelien didn’t stop, didn’t relent, his tongue still moving in deep strokes as her walls pulsed around it, dragging every last ounce of pleasure out of her.

Her chest heaved, her skin damp with sweat, and her thighs trembled as the waves of pleasure slowly ebbed. Aurelien finally pulled back, his lips swollen and glistening with her arousal, but his eyes still burned with desire as he moved up her body, planting kisses along her trembling thighs, her stomach, and her breasts, before settling beside her.

He leaned down to brush his lips against her temple, whispering softly, "Bonne fille (Good girl)."

Aurelien hovered over her, his eyes gleaming with that mischievous edge that always made her both melt and want to roll her eyes at him. He kissed her lips softly at first, then with more intensity, as if savoring the taste of her pleasure that lingered there.

He studied her face, the corners of his mouth twitching with a tease he couldn’t keep to himself. "You should see yourself when you come," he murmured, brushing his nose lightly against hers. "It’s… impressive."

Zuri let out a breathless chuckle, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, though she couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. "Impressive, huh?" she retorted, giving him a mock glare. "Remind me to get a mirror next time, just for you."

"Wouldn’t mind it," Aurelien shot back with a grin, his hand resting possessively on her hip as he trailed a thumb over the curve of her waist. "You’re beautiful, and I’ll take every chance to remind you." He pressed another kiss to her lips, this one softer, lingering, as if he couldn’t bear to pull away just yet.

She scoffed, unable to keep from laughing as he kept that cheeky look on his face, but the warmth in his voice softened her defenses. He was always like this—playful and affectionate, even when he was holding her under his spell, making her toes curl and her pulse race.

He shot her a lazy grin, his fingers brushing over her flushed cheek. "I could keep you in bed all day," he said, his tone half-joking but laced with unmistakable hunger.

Zuri bit her lip, fighting the grin threatening to spread across her face. "Oh, is that right?" she teased, arching an eyebrow at him. "You think you could handle that?"

Aurelien chuckled, his eyes darkening with promise as he trailed kisses down her neck, his voice a low, rich murmur against her skin. "Well, guess we’ll just have to test that theory."

His lips moved over hers again, deep and consuming, his hands sliding down to cup her waist, pulling her close until she was melting into him. He nipped her bottom lip, eliciting a soft moan from her before he pulled back slightly.

"You want me to fuck you, Zuri?" he murmured, his gaze heavy with anticipation. She nodded, breathless, her heart pounding. But just as she tilted her head up to kiss him again, the shrill ring of his phone cut through the room. Aurelien groaned in annoyance, rolling his eyes as he kissed his teeth and leaned back, reaching over to grab his phone. He settled onto his side, bringing her along with him as he glanced at the screen, sighing as he recognized the caller.

It was Cama, and before Aurelien could say anything, Jude’s voice piped up on the other end, unmistakable and teasing. "You better bring your ass over here, Aurélien. Don’t tell me you forgot about us already."

Aurelien snorted, rolling his eyes as he muttered, "Nah, I’m with ZuZu, so we’re gonna have to reschedule. I got a little distracted." He threw Zuri a wink, which made her laugh quietly as she nestled into his side.

"Come on, man, you’ve been with her all week," Jude protested, and Cama’s voice followed with a quick, "Yeah, bring her if you want, but get over here."

With a sigh, Aurelien hit the mute button and turned to Zuri, his expression softening as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You good with me spending some time with them?" he asked. "They’ve been harassing me for days."

Zuri smiled, her cheeks still flushed. "Go ahead, I need a break anyway. I can barely walk straight as it is."

Aurelien laughed at that, shaking his head in amusement. "Alright, alright." He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, then unmuted his friends. "I’ll be over soon. Don’t have too much fun without me," he said before hanging up.

He stretched as he rose from the bed, glancing down at her with a grin. "I’m gonna take a shower before I head over,” he said, starting toward the bathroom. Pausing at the door, he shot her a playful look. "You wanna join me?"

Zuri lifted a brow. "Aurelien, what did I just say?" Her voice was firm, but the amusement in her eyes gave her away.

He held up his hands in mock surrender, backing toward the shower. "Alright, alright… my bad. Sheesh."

Still, he couldn’t help himself, slipping his fingers into the waistband of his boxers and slowly, almost temptingly, pulling them down. He let them fall to the floor, and there he stood, completely bare, his toned body a tempting sight, with his arousal already evident. He turned back to her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You sure though? I could go for a shower quickie. Promise I won't be too rough this time."

Her eyes drifted down, lingering for a moment before meeting his gaze again, her lips curving with a smirk of her own. "One quickie wouldn’t hurt."

His eyes lit up, and he chuckled as he stepped back, turning on the shower, adjusting the temperature as the steam began to rise around him. "And," he said, throwing her a teasing look over his shoulder, "I can put on the jet streams…"

Before he could finish, she was already hopping off the bed, her decision made, and following him into the shower.

The Santiago Bernabéu was buzzing with energy, fans filling every corner as Real Madrid took on VfB Stuttgart. Zuri sat comfortably in her seat, glancing around the stadium, the electric atmosphere settling a contagious excitement in her. Beside her, Lila sipped on her drink, scrolling through her phone, her expression lighting up as she pulled up a picture and nudged Zuri.

"Look what Amara sent me," Lila grinned, showing her a selfie of Amara and Lewis on a private plane, captioned, "Next stop: Singapore 🏎️." Zuri leaned in to look, chuckling at the way Amara’s hand rested affectionately on Lewis’s shoulder while he focused on something off-camera.

"Singapore? Damn, she’s a ride-or-die for him," Zuri mused, and Lila nodded with a warm smile.

"Yeah, it took me a minute to open up to her," Lila admitted, lowering her voice a bit as the match was about to start. "But she’s good to him, and that’s all that matters, you know?"

Zuri nodded, her gaze drifting to the field. "Exactly. Lewis deserves someone solid." They shared a look of mutual understanding before focusing back on the match, occasionally chatting and cheering as the game picked up speed.

Real Madrid was playing with precision, and by the time the final whistle blew, they’d secured a 3-1 victory. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Zuri and Lila exchanged high-fives, riding the rush of excitement as they made their way down to the players’ area. They didn’t have to wait long before Aurélien and Jude appeared, Aurélien’s smile widening as he caught sight of Zuri. He crossed the short distance between them and greeted her with a lingering kiss, oblivious to the laughter from Jude and Lila.

"Oh, get a room," Jude teased, elbowing Aurélien with a smirk, while Lila joined in, rolling her eyes playfully.

Just then, Rodrygo came over, slinging an arm over Aurélien and Jude's shoulders. "We gotta celebrate! Hit up some clubs, yeah?"

Jude immediately shook his head, giving Lila a knowing look. "Nah, man, I’m chilling. Wanna hang out with my girl."

Aurélien nodded in agreement. "Same here. I’d rather keep it low-key."

Cama strolled up then, grinning as he gave Zuri and Lila side-hug greetings. "Alright, alright, maybe not a club, but we could do something chill — hit up a lounge or something?"

Lila’s eyes lit up. "Ooh, can we get hookah?" She asked eagerly, only to get a round of amused stares from the guys. Jude shot her a mock-serious look, shaking his head with a smirk.

"See? This is why I don’t want you going to Miami anymore. What do you know about hookah, Delilah Marie?" he teased, emphasizing her middle name.

Lila huffed, rolling her eyes and glancing at Zuri. "You wanna get hookah with me?"

Zuri shrugged with a smile. "Yeah, that sounds good to me. Maybe a mojito too."

"Yes!" Lila clapped her hands excitedly, doing a little jump.

Aurélien and Jude exchanged glances, rolling their eyes good-naturedly at the girls’ antics. But they followed along, laughing as the group made their way to a sleek lounge downtown. The vibe was perfect, a dimly lit interior with comfortable seating, tables scattered with hookahs and trays of tapas, and a chill, relaxed atmosphere.

The lounge hummed with low conversation and laughter, the air thick with the sweet, flavored smoke of hookah. As the group settled into their table, their waitress approached, a notepad in hand and a distracted smile on her lips. She glanced up and froze momentarily, her eyes lingering on Aurélien. Zuri noticed but didn't dwell on it, too preoccupied with the familiar ease between her and Aurélien.

Aurélien only had eyes for Zuri, his gaze warm and affectionate. "Get my usual, babe, and order whatever you want," he said, his voice soft and confident. Zuri smiled, ordering her drink and some tapas. The waitress took her order with an unmistakable edge to her voice, and although Zuri paid it no mind, she couldn't help but notice the waitress's semi-friendly attitude when taking Lila's order before stalking off, practically stomping away.

"What's her problem?" Lila muttered, raising an eyebrow. Zuri just shrugged, brushing off the weird interaction.

When the waitress returned with their drinks and plates, she dropped everything off with a hint of an attitude, her glare focused solely on Zuri. This time, Zuri raised a brow, confused but unwilling to let it ruin her evening. She and Lila took turns smoking the hookah, giggling as they attempted smoke tricks, laughing when they failed.

A little while later, Zuri excused herself to head to the restroom. Aurélien caught her hand before she could leave, pulling her in for a gentle kiss. "Don't take too long," he murmured against her lips, his smirk making her heart race.

In the bathroom, Zuri reapplied a fresh layer of lip gloss, taking a moment to appreciate how she looked in the mirror. As she stepped out, she nearly bumped into the waitress, who seemed to have been waiting for her. Zuri blinked, her confusion mounting.

"Uh…hi?" she greeted, the girl's persistent attitude finally starting to grate on her.

The waitress introduced herself, a smug smile curling her lips. "My name's Lia. Two months ago, I sucked Aurélien's dick, and he ghosted me."

Zuri's expression stayed neutral as she processed Lia's words, her slow blink followed by a nod. "And you think I care because…?"

Lia's confidence faltered. "Well… your boyfriend cheated on you."

Zuri let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "He didn't. And again, why do you think I care?" She tilted her head, a trace of amusement dancing in her eyes. "We weren't even together then."

Lia opened her mouth to say more, but Zuri had already had enough. "Look, I really have to get back to my man. Nice chat, I guess?" With that, she breezed past Lia and returned to the table.

Aurélien's face lit up when he saw her, but his smile dropped when he noticed the slight frown she wore. "What's wrong, ma belle?" he asked gently, cupping her chin and turning her face toward him.

Zuri sighed. "That waitress said she, uh… sucked your dick two months ago."

Aurélien's eyebrows shot up in surprise, confusion flickering across his features until something seemed to click. "Oh. Well, that happened before we were together," he clarified.

"I know." Zuri's voice was calm, her expression unbothered.

"Do you want to leave?" he asked, concern lacing his tone.

She shook her head, a soft smile returning to her lips. "No, I'm fine."

Her words melted away any lingering tension, and Aurélien's face lit up with relief. He kissed her forehead, pressing a warm, lingering kiss there before leaning back, his hand still resting at the small of her back.

The night continued, the girls laughing as they shared the hookah and sipped their mojitos, the boys ordering more tapas and joining in the fun. Lila blew a smoke ring, giggling as Zuri tried to do the same, their playful energy blending seamlessly with the laid-back vibe of the evening, but Zuri couldn't help the occasional glance toward Lia. Aurélien noticed and gently squeezed Zuri's hand, his eyes meeting hers with understanding.

As the evening drew to a close, Aurélien suggested they head out. "Shall we?" he said, his voice low and warm. Zuri nodded, and they bid farewell to Lila, making their way to Aurélien's car.

Once they were on the road, Zuri turned to Aurélien. "So, about what Lia said..." She trailed off, biting her lip.

Aurélien reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I should have told you about that," he admitted. "It was right when you arrived in Madrid. I'm sorry I didn't mention it."

Zuri nodded slowly, processing his words. "It's okay, I understand. We weren't exclusive then." She offered him a small smile. "I'm not upset, I just... wish you had told me, that's all."

"You're right, I should have been upfront," Aurélien said, his brow furrowing slightly. He brought her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

Zuri's expression softened, and she gave his hand a squeeze. "I appreciate your honesty now. And I'm not bothered by what happened before we were together. I trust you, Aurélien."

He let out a relieved sigh, a warm smile spreading across his face. "You're amazing, you know that?" he murmured, his gaze filled with adoration.

Zuri chuckled, leaning in to peck his cheek. "I do now." She settled back in her seat, feeling the tension melt away. "Let's just enjoy the rest of the night, hmm?"

Aurélien nodded, his focus returning to the road, but his hand remained entwined with Zuri's, a content smile playing on his lips.

It had been a week since that evening at the lounge, yet the memory of Zuri’s unwavering trust was still imprinted in Aurélien’s mind, as vivid as if it had just happened. Her serene expression, the way she had dismissed Lia’s attempt to plant seeds of doubt without even a flicker of hesitation, spoke volumes about the faith she had in him. It was a moment that had shaken him to his core. Not because of the drama that Lia had tried to stir up, but because of the realization it sparked—he could no longer hide how he truly felt about her.

Their relationship had begun in chaos, a whirlwind arrangement neither had asked for, but somehow, over time, they had found something real. Something that felt like home. Aurélien knew he needed to show Zuri just how much she meant to him, beyond casual gestures and stolen kisses. He wanted to make her feel cherished, adored, and loved—because he did love her. Deeply, irrevocably, and maybe even a little recklessly.

Aurélien was never one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but for Zuri, he was willing to become an open book. Over the past few days, he had carefully laid out small, tangible reminders of how much she meant to him. In the bathroom drawer, he had tucked a handwritten note on delicate stationery that read, I love how you always steal my face cream. Your skin deserves the best. He had placed another note on her nightstand, scribbled in his neat handwriting: The way you laugh when you watch your favorite shows makes me smile every time. And in the kitchen, where he knew she’d find it when reaching for her morning coffee, he had left a third: Thank you for pretending not to notice when I dance like an idiot while making my smoothies.

But he hadn’t stopped there. He wanted to infuse their shared space with as much beauty and warmth as she brought into his life, so he’d filled their home with bouquets of her favorite flowers—vivid splashes of color that brightened every room. The scent of peonies and lilies lingered in the air, a fragrant reminder of his devotion.

This morning, he’d taken it a step further. A stack of crisp bills lay neatly on the marble kitchen counter, anchored by another one of his notes: Go spoil yourself today, ma belle. Get your hair and nails done—and maybe even buy a new outfit. I’ve got something special planned. The message was simple, but the thought behind it was anything but. Aurélien wanted Zuri to feel cherished, to know that she was worth every effort he could make and more.

As he stood in front of the mirror, running a hand through his freshly cut hair, his heart beat faster than he cared to admit. He adjusted his shirt, checked his watch, and tried to calm the nervous energy buzzing through his veins. His friends had given him no end of grief over how smitten he was, how utterly lovestruck he had become. But he didn’t care. This was Zuri, the woman who had turned his world upside down in the best possible way, and for her, he would do anything.

He wanted today to be perfect. More than that, he wanted Zuri to understand that she wasn’t just the woman he was forced to be with; she was the woman he chose, over and over again. He needed her to see that what they had wasn’t bound by obligation or circumstance. It was deeper, more profound, and every day, he found himself falling harder and faster.

_______________________________________________

Zuri stood in front of her vanity, admiring the curls that cascaded down her shoulders, freshly styled and glistening with the perfect amount of shine. Her nails were painted a deep, sultry burgundy, and her outfit—a silky, elegant dress that hugged her curves in all the right places—was something she’d picked out with Aurélien’s note in mind. The anticipation of whatever he had planned made her stomach flutter.

When she found him in the foyer, his eyes lit up as he took her in. He crossed the room in a few long strides, pulling her into a warm embrace. "You look beautiful," he murmured, his voice filled with awe.

Zuri smiled, her heart doing a little flip. "All this pampering you insisted on has me feeling like a queen."

"Well, you are," he said simply, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Ready to go?"

She nodded, lacing her fingers with his as they headed out the door. The car ride was filled with soft music and the comfort of shared silence, and when they pulled up to the rooftop restaurant, Zuri’s breath caught in her throat.

Aurélien led her up to the terrace, which he had rented out entirely for the evening. Twinkling string lights and dozens of candles cast a golden glow over the space, creating a dreamy, almost ethereal atmosphere. A guitarist sat in one corner, strumming a soft, romantic melody that carried on the warm night air. The city skyline stretched out around them, glittering like a sea of stars.

Zuri’s eyes widened as she took it all in, her hand flying to her mouth. "Aurélien… this is… I don’t even have words," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.

He turned to her, his smile soft and full of adoration. "Do you like it?" he asked, a hint of nervousness coloring his tone.

"Like it?" she echoed, tears welling in her eyes. "I love it. It’s the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever done for me."

Relief flooded Aurélien’s features, and he guided her to their table, pulling out her chair with a flourish. As they sat down, the guitarist played a familiar tune, and Zuri felt her heart swell. They shared a meal of delicious courses—delicate tapas, savory entrées, and perfectly chilled wine—all while talking and laughing as if they were the only two people in the world.

Zuri couldn’t stop smiling, her cheeks aching with happiness. She watched Aurélien, her chest tightening with the sheer affection she felt for him. His eyes sparkled in the candlelight, his laughter genuine and infectious. Every time he reached for her hand, her pulse raced.

When dessert arrived—a decadent chocolate mousse topped with gold leaf and fresh berries—Aurélien set down his fork, looking suddenly serious. He took a deep breath, reaching across the table to hold her hands.

"Zuri," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, "I’ve been thinking a lot about us. About how we started and where we are now. I know this all began in a way neither of us expected, and it’s been… bumpy, to say the least." He gave a small laugh, and Zuri’s eyes softened.

"But the more time I spend with you," he continued, his grip on her hands tightening, "the more I realize how lucky I am. How grateful I am for every moment, every laugh, every little thing we’ve shared. I love you, Zuri. So much. And I want you to know that."

Tears spilled down Zuri’s cheeks, but they were happy tears. Her heart felt so full it might burst. "Aurélien," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I love you too. So much."

Aurélien’s smile broke across his face, wide and unrestrained, and he stood, pulling her into his arms. Their lips met in a kiss that was soft, lingering, and full of all the words they couldn’t say. The world fell away, leaving only the two of them, wrapped up in each other.

When they finally pulled apart, Aurélien brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Ready to head home?" he asked, his voice warm.

Zuri nodded, her heart still racing. "Yeah. Let’s go home."

Hand in hand, they left the rooftop, their love shining as brightly as the candles that had lit up their perfect night. The drive back was filled with the kind of comfortable silence that spoke volumes, each of them basking in the glow of shared love and understanding.

Back at home, the night continued in whispered promises and soft touches, two hearts finally admitting what they’d known all along. Their kisses grew deeper, more desperate, as they stumbled into the living room, barely making it to the couch before their passion threatened to consume them.

Zuri found herself straddling Aurélien’s lap, her dress riding up her thighs as she settled against him. His hands roamed over her back, pulling her closer until their bodies pressed together, heat radiating between them. Their mouths met in a feverish kiss, all tongues and breathless sighs, as the room seemed to melt around them.

"It’s so hot in here," Zuri murmured, her lips brushing against Aurélien’s as she pulled back for a moment, her eyes dark and wanting.

Aurélien’s gaze burned into hers, his fingers finding the halter strings of her dress. With one deft tug, he loosened the knots, and the fabric slipped down her chest, revealing her bare, pierced breasts. His breath caught, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You’re so beautiful," he whispered, dipping his head to take one of her hardened nipples into his mouth.

Zuri gasped, arching her back as pleasure coursed through her. The sensation of his tongue flicking against the cool metal of her nipple ring made her shiver, and she buried her hands in his hair, tugging gently. "Aurélien," she moaned, her voice trembling with need.

He hummed against her skin, his hands sliding down to grip her waist, holding her steady as he lavished her breasts with attention. "I’ve been thinking about this all night," he confessed, his voice husky. "About how much I wanted you."

Zuri bit her lip, her heart pounding as she felt his hardness pressing against her through his pants. Teasingly, she rocked her hips, grinding against him and earning a low groan that sent a thrill down her spine. "You’re not the only one," she teased, her smile playful.

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she hiked up her dress, her hands moving to slip her underwear down her legs. She tossed the lacey garment aside, leaving herself bare against him. Aurélien’s eyes darkened with desire, and his hands quickly moved to unbuckle his belt, the clinking sound mingling with the rustle of fabric as he unzipped his pants and freed his erection.

Their gazes met, a silent understanding passing between them before Zuri guided herself over him. She sank down slowly, taking him in inch by inch, and they both let out matching moans as their bodies connected. The sensation was overwhelming, and for a moment, neither of them moved, savoring the heat and intimacy of being so close.

Then Zuri began to move, rolling her hips in a rhythm that had them both gasping. Her hands braced against his chest, and Aurélien’s fingers dug into her hips, guiding her movements as she rode him. "Merde, Zuri," he groaned, his voice rough and full of longing. "You feel so good."

Zuri’s breath hitched, and she picked up the pace, her thighs burning as she moved faster, harder, chasing the high that built between them. "Aurélien," she panted, her head falling back, her body a perfect picture of ecstasy.

Aurélien’s hands slid up her back, pulling her closer as he thrust up to meet her, their bodies colliding in a desperate, frenzied dance. "That’s it, ma belle,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. "Ride this dick just like that. You’re perfect."

Their shared desire reached a fever pitch, and they clung to each other, whispering "I love you" between gasps and moans. The world around them faded, leaving only the feeling of each other, the raw, unfiltered connection that made everything else seem insignificant.

They were on the brink of release when a sudden beep echoed through the room, signaling someone at the front gate. The noise shattered their orgasmic haze, and they froze, still tangled together, their heavy breathing the only sound as reality crashed back in.

Aurélien’s eyes met Zuri’s, wide with disbelief and frustration. "You have got to be kidding me," he groaned, his hands still holding her waist.

Zuri let out a breathless laugh, leaning her forehead against his. "Talk about timing," she muttered, though her smile was bright, their love still glowing between them despite the interruption.

The beep echoed through the house a second time, and Aurélien kissed his teeth in annoyance. He pulled Zuri off his lap gently and murmured, "I'll be right back." She shifted to the other side of the couch, breathless and confused, as he tucked himself back into his pants, zipping and buckling them before heading to the foyer.

Aurélien moved swiftly, irritation building as he checked the security system. On the camera panel, he saw a police vehicle parked in the driveway. "The fuck?" he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. He pressed a button to speak through the intercom.

"¿Hola? ¿Qué está pasando aquí?" ("Hello? What’s going on here?") he asked, his voice thick with concern.

From the car, an officer responded, "Señor Tchouaméni, hemos sido enviados a hacer un chequeo de bienestar para Zuri Awanto Nchang. Necesitamos verificar que esté bien." ("Mr. Tchouaméni, we've been asked to do a wellness check on Zuri Awanto Nchang. We need to ensure she is safe.")

Aurélien’s jaw clenched, rage simmering under his skin. He had a feeling he knew who was behind this. "Fuck," he hissed before buzzing the police in through the gates. He exhaled a shaky breath, running a hand over his face as he went back to the living room.

"Fix your dress, bébé," he instructed Zuri, trying to keep his tone even, though it was taut with tension.

Zuri’s eyes widened in alarm. "Why? What's going on?"

"The fucking police are here," he said, his voice laced with disbelief.

"What?! How the hell—"

"ZuZu, I'll explain in a second," Aurélien cut her off, his expression a mixture of anger and worry. "Just please fix yourself, okay?"

Zuri quickly retied the strings of her dress, hands fumbling slightly as anxiety set in. She bent down, grabbed her discarded panties, and slipped them on, just as the police knocked at the door. Aurélien took a deep breath, then strode over to answer.

Zuri followed him into the foyer, standing tall beside him despite the whirlwind of emotions she felt. Two officers stood on the porch: a stern-looking man with broad shoulders, and a petite woman with warm, brown eyes. The latter spoke first, her slight Spanish accent adding weight to her words.

"Señorita Awanto Nchang?" Officer Gutierrez addressed Zuri.

"Sí," Zuri replied, nodding.

"I'm Officer Gutierrez, and this is my partner, Officer Perreira," she introduced. "We're here to do a wellness check. Are you okay, ma'am?"

Zuri swallowed and nodded again. "Sí, I’m fine."

Officer Perreira studied Zuri intently, while Gutierrez continued. "Is everything safe for you here? Do you feel threatened in any way?"

Zuri’s brows knitted together in confusion and anger. "No, I’m safe," she assured them. "Why would you think otherwise?"

Officer Gutierrez glanced at her partner before explaining, "We were informed that your father requested this wellness check. He expressed… concern about your well-being."

Zuri’s mouth fell open. The anger that had started as a flicker was now a blazing flame. "My father?" she repeated incredulously. "He and I had a disagreement about something trivial, and now he’s sending the police to my fiancé’s home?" She gestured to Aurélien. "We’re engaged, for God’s sake."

Zeus, their massive dog, started barking from the hallway, likely sensing the tension in the room. His barks were loud and insistent, as if ready to defend his home. Aurélien turned, his patience running thin. "Zeus, calme," he called, his voice firm but gentle. He crossed over to the dog and knelt to soothe him, then led him downstairs to his crate.

While Aurélien was away, Officer Gutierrez took a step closer to Zuri, her gaze serious. "Ma'am, are you telling us the truth?" she asked quietly. "If there is anything at all, we are here to help."

Zuri’s nostrils flared in frustration. "Yes, I’m telling the truth," she insisted, her voice shaking. "I love Aurélien, and he loves me. My father… he’s just trying to control me because he doesn’t like that I’m living my life on my own terms."

Officer Gutierrez exchanged a look with her partner. "Your father made some serious allegations, including claims of… abuse," she said carefully.

Zuri’s eyes flashed with fury, and she defiantly lifted her arms, then turned to show her bare legs. "Do you see any bruises?" she demanded. "Any signs of harm? Because there are none. I’m not being abused, and I would never let anyone harm me. I’m safe here. I’m loved here."

Officer Gutierrez seemed to consider this, then nodded, satisfied. Aurélien returned just as she did, and the tension in his posture was palpable. Officer Perreira gave him a hard look before Gutierrez spoke again.

"Thank you for cooperating," she said, her voice a touch gentler. She handed Zuri a business card. "If anything changes or you ever need assistance, don’t hesitate to call."

Zuri took the card, her hand steady despite her anger. "Thank you," she replied curtly.

The officers turned and made their way back to their vehicle, and Aurélien and Zuri watched from the doorway as they drove away. Once the patrol car disappeared beyond the gates, Aurélien shut the front door with a heavy sigh. His expression darkened, and he muttered, "I'm going to fuckin' kill your father."

Zuri let out a humorless laugh. "Well, get in line," she retorted, crossing her arms.

Aurélien shook his head, the reality of the situation weighing heavily on him. "Do you realize how bad this could have gone?" he asked, his voice low and laced with worry. "If I acted out of line, if I so much as made one wrong move, they could’ve arrested me—or worse." He stalked back into the living room, his jaw clenched, and grabbed his phone. "I’m calling my lawyer," he announced, pacing as he waited for the line to connect. After explaining the situation, he moved on to call his father, detailing everything with a level of fury Zuri had never heard from him before.

Zuri stood nearby, her own anger simmering. She couldn’t believe her father would stoop so low, jeopardizing not just her happiness but Aurélien’s safety too. When Aurélien finally ended his calls, he set his phone down and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"I love you so much, Zuri," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair.

Tears pricked at Zuri’s eyes, but she held them back, drawing strength from his embrace. "I love you too, Aurélien," she whispered. "Just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it. Anything to get my father off our backs."

Aurélien sighed, his arms tightening around her. "We’ll figure it out together," he promised. "I’m not letting him control us. Not anymore."

TO BE CONTINUED....Read Chapter 10

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

May I please ask for headcanons of Eden meeting Valerie please

This made me think for a long while

I haven't thought of this

Oh my goddness would that be a sight-

It was when the family decided it'd be fun to visit the park and confuse guests (Jack, Dal, Joe, and Farja were so down to help)

They all did their own thing and Valerie watched her children and their friends go to their own thing, most of them going to places they knew in advance where their Disney Villain lookalikes were wandering before the shows and promoting said show

That's when someone catches her attention, beside a man in super fluffy and pretty purples and blues like a damn peacock is a pretty young lady with hair of night dressed rather adorably and mature

After the family regrouped for the Disney Villain Recruiters show was when she gotten a name for the face

"I welcome you silly mortals to the show~! Why still such a dull place like your world when you can be a hero, a savior, and most perfect and brave much like my dear Master, the greatest hunter of all time!"

Ah, she's Gaston's recruiter, thought Valerie as she watched her introduce herself and the others with confidence and eye flutters before doing a pose like shooting an arrow into the sky

Throughout the show though she kind of picked up how strong this Eden girl's personality is, yeah she seen the recruiters mess with each other before but it felt wrong and mean seeing her try and trip Jack and Pretty Scar during their little dances

After the show it is time to meet the recruiters in which everyone abused the system by having the recruiters being SUPER free to goof off or act different when alone with the people they since considered family

Then Eden came into the room in search of something and interrupted the reunion

Then, Eden flutter her lashes and pouted, "Dal sweetie, could you be a dear and get me a water?" And before anyone could responded, they were taken aback Dalmatia was ready to do that until Jack Heart grabbed him

Valerie, knowing well of Pretty Scar's feelings towards Dalmatia, was not having that form of tricks today!

She crossed her arms and spoke up

But Eden-

Eden: "Oh, I guess you have a right to be jealous to the young."

If Valerie didn't feel like smacking her the kids for sure did!

Until-

Malfie Jack is snorting and wheezing with AU Jack and AU Joe along side them

Confused, Eden demanded a reasoning and well-

Jack: "Little lady, she has lines men at her door courting her everyday! You barely got anything in comparison!"

Eden's face turns bright red before she storms out and Valerie, though embarrassed of the words, bought Jack and ice cream

Still, that wasn't the end of Eden of the day, oh no no no

Valerie was glaring at her across every way until the final show ended and Nadia was giving Farja plenty hugs as the masters came for their minions / honestly their kids (looking at you Captain Hook), the group mostly staying behind to say by to their friend and Nadia knew she was gonna see Mozenwrath for a little bit when Jafar comes

Valerie, again, watched her children and their friends interact to their lookalikes with joy, holding back a small smile at AU Joe's stink eye at Ursula

At one point she gave Zuri a small head pat/hair ruffle with words of praise when she mentioned she'll probably help Pretty Scar with some cacti in the savannah during the next weekend, and she couldn't help but notice Eden seeing that and turning to her master and eagerly telling that man about her day

"That's good girlie, you should've seen the buck I snagged today while hunting, the town is very happy indeed!"

Valerie rolled her eyes as she heard him say that, gagging slightly when he flexes his muscles and wink her way

But she also sees the kind of disappointment on Eden's face as her pretty face gets mopey as her eyes look down, dropping the rose gifted by a customer into the trash before following Gaston home

Needless to say their first meeting was rough, knowing Eden and her overly jealous nature with women or anyone and wanting to be the best and Valerie not taking any shit especially if it hurts her friends or family. But I do see them maybe growing as Eden grows and sees she shouldn't be just a pretty face for others pleasure, and Valerie would be a good nail in the coffin for that statement and maybe one day the two could regally talk about fighting and survival skills and romances if the time comes

I can kind of see both them being this song for different reasons

Valerie towards her family and maybe whoever she ends up with in your world and Eden towards Gaston and her constant need to have that relationship she seen people like Lady Hook and Captain Hook and the needs to be perfect and a even more perfect picture of him only to be let down constantly

I wanna know your thoughts if I got some stuff wrong!