#rq gift exchange

[ubiquitouslyme]

The Odyssey of Imrrick

The big reveal!! I've been working on this fic for over a month! I'm so excited to post the first chapter of this 10-chapter adventure! Dedicated to the lovely @alexandia03 for the @rq-gift-exchange.

I'll be posting every Monday and Friday until August 1. Stay tuned for more!

The Odyssey of Imrrick - Chapter 1 - Ubiquitously_Ubiquitous - The Empyrean - Rebecca Yarros [Archive of Our Own]

Summary:

Imogen Cardulo and Garrick Tavis have circled around each other their entire lives. First, as kids, learning to co-exist in Aretia, challenging each other. Then as teens, realizing their attraction to each other. Later, denying their feels in the wake of the apostasy and the hell that followed. And finally, accepting their feelings and admitting they loved each other.

Now, five years after the dissolution of Navarre, Imogen and Garrick are getting married. Finally. In this multi-chapter adventure, on their wedding day, Imogen reflects with Bodhi and Quinn, and Garrick with Xaden and Ridoc, on the history of Imrrick, on how they fell in love.

Each chapter will switch from Imogen's and Garrick's POV, and will include a present-day scene as well as a flash-back.

Major spoilers for FW and IF, and a made-up ending to the series included.

Chapter 1 Snippet:

“Why can’t I just wear my leathers again?” Imogen grumbled.

“Because it’s your wedding day,” Quinn exclaimed, coming to stand beside her and admiring Imogen’s reflection.  “I did a fantastic job, if I do say so myself.  You’re welcome.”

She bumped her hip against Imogen’s.

“Now come on, Bodhi snuck in a bottle or three of something called champagne that Ridoc keeps in his and Bodhi’s place.  By the end of it, you’ll barely be able to walk down the aisle,” Quinn said with a wink.

Bodhi chuckled.  “Ridoc loves that shit.  It’s all bubbly and it makes him super giddy.  And horny.”

Both Quinn and Imogen curled their lips.  “Ewww, Bodhi, gross.”

“We could talk about what you and Garrick are doing to do on your wedding night, then,” Bodhi said, wiggling his eyebrows as they all sat down in the seating area.

Imogen flung herself back across the couch.  “That’s even worse.”

“Then let’s tell stories,” Quinn suggested excitedly.  “I want to hear everything about you and Garrick Tavis.”

“You mean, like, when he finally admitted he had feelings for Im?” Bodhi asked.  “Or like, the first time they kissed?”

Quinn grinned.  “Oh, I want it all.  Everything.  From the very beginning.  None of you talk about your childhood much.”

“That’s because we were busy fighting a war, and before that, our parents were fighting a war and then were put to death in front of us,” Imogen summarized succinctly.

“As rosy as always, Im,” Quinn grinned.  “Come on, now, spill.  Tell me about the very first time you met Garrick.  You were five, right?”  Quinn popped a bottle open and poured glasses of the bubbly liquid for each of them.

Imogen sighed.  “Fine, it started like this…”

[essjaywrites]

i belong in your arms

Imogen Cardulo left Tyrrendor four years ago in an attempt to get over Garrick Tavis (spoiler: it didn't work.) Now she's back, but is she too late?

my fic for the RQ fic exchange for @alittlegirlwaitinginagarden! featuring: feelings (of all kinds), a headboard, a bonfire, and mostly just two idiots who really love each other. but are idiots.

🏷️ : @alexandia03 @yanny-77 @suebswrites @siobhanbooks @littedidyouknow @pretty-pleaseee @ubiquitouslyme @bestbookfriends @caeli0306 @istarbel @b3anieperson @oh-no-its-dragons @justallihere @taumoebaa (let me know if you want on or off :))

[siobhanbooks]

WIP Wednesday

The Idiots of Basgiath War College snippet

Later that night, as the sun set over the mountains, they set up camp. The fight came when it was time to organise the tents, as there were four of them. Xaden wanted to share with Violet but Garrick claimed that as Lieutenants and observers, they couldn't share with the cadets and even as Xaden tried to argue that she was his fiancée and the rules didn't apply to them, Garrick lifted Xaden's pack over his head, their height difference making it just out of Xaden's rpeach, and as Xaden tried to use his shadows to reach them, Garrick nodded to Bodhi who used his own signet to counter his cousin's until Xaden finally agreed to share with Garrick.

[acourtofladydeath]

heeeeey, it's your writer for the riders quadrant gift exchange. pumped to explore tairn/sgaeyl for your fic!

a few questions:

what are some of your favorite headcanons for them? what aspect of their relationship is most appealing to you? biggest ick that could be in a gift fic for you?

so excited for this adventure!

HELLO. I'm totally cool and normal and not about to word vomit all over tumblr for you...

Tairn/Sgaeyl HCs: Ok I think they're so interesting because they're basically a dragon power couple. Everyone wants to be them...

I HC that Tairn is super loving to Sgaeyl when they're in private, and she's so not into it outwardly but secretly love it. I don't have too many HC's but i do have questions:

How do they spend their time when they're alone? (Excluding the intense dragon fucking, but you can totally write about that too. If you've read my works/bookmarks on AO3 you'd know I'm not opposed)

What made them decide to take in Andarna? Do they want eggs of their own? Do they yearn to make their own little dragon babies? I love thinking about them as a family. Even just a family of two.

When did Tairn & Sgaeyl meet? How do dragons know they're mates? Is it like, click boom you're done? Does it grow over time? Does it happen for one before the other? I'm so curious about this lore.

*****DID TAIRN AND SGAEYL PLACE BETS ON VIOLET AND XADEN GETTING TOGETHER??? IF SO WHO WON. (It was Sgaeyl) Do the dragons have to put up with hearing human sex? Do humans have mates via dragons or does it influence who they like? I don't necessarily think so in canon but it's an idea I love to play around with in fanfic.

How do other dragons react around them/talk to them? Do they have special seats within the Empyrean because of their power? Do they get special reservations at dragon restaurants cuz they're VIPs?

Spoilers below bar for IF:

I NEED TO KNOW HOW THE CONVO WENT BETWEEN SGAEYL AND TAIRN ABOUT XADEN'S SECOND SIGNET? AND THE ONE WHEN XADEN BECAME VENIN.

How does Sgaeyl respond to hearing Tairn say he will die with Violet How does this make her feel? Is she hurt? Does she understand?

Is this too much? Not sure but I'm sending it anyway. I also need you to know that I cut myself off. I could go on... let me know if I should...

I'm so excited to meet you after this and read your work!! Thank you in advance for creating for me.

[rq-gift-exchange]

2024 Fourth Wing Gift Exchange Masterlist

Xaden/Violet

Violet Sorrengail's Guide to Spinning a Scandal by @caeli0306 for Cee_Darling (Cee_hoc)

Zihnal Must Hate Us by aspensquake for overjoyedisland

you will be healed and come back again by zencetera for HLizR50

Quiet Day In by lynnthere_donethat for shoo0637

Questions, Comments, Concerns by Kobo for aspensquake

Some Version of You by @booklover721 for caeli0306

Stolen Moments by Meyelemon for amberswansong

Fill Your Empty Spaces by @korrinamoe for sliebman10

Lights by Emjen_Enla for booklover721

Nothing Up My Sleeve by Nivaria for Kobo

Coming Home by @sliebman10 for tinyghosts

Get In, Loser, We're Going Shipping by oopsireaditagain for Meyelemon

I'm With You by ShadowMami for Aethelefaie

Bodhi/Ridoc

Pink Pony Club by @yanny-77 for everyone in the Rider’s Quadrant Discord Server and anyone who participated in the exchange

Perfect Storm by @hoeelliexx for Yanny77

Red: Basgiath’s version by @bestbookfriends for alltoowellread

Garrick/Imogen

I Belong In Your Arms by @sarahydeart for Lydibug522

Death of a Hero by @alexandia03 for siobhanbooks

The Odyssey of Imrrick by @ubiquitouslyme for AlexanDia03

Haven't Told Her by @sarcasticmothwrites for kalix_glaeser

I Think I’m in Love by @istarbel for justanothersarah

Homesick by @widebrimmedhatsblog for istarbel

Aaric/Sloane

The Grape Escape by @alltoowellread for korrinamoe

Yield by HeadCanonHeadCase for Fireheart_Rose

I’m Still Me by @hlizr50 for HeadCanonHeadCase

Brennan/Naolin

This can't be real by Portujules for Fantasy_bookwyrm

Resurrect My Heart, Too. by @greeneyedwildthing for Jeyfeather1234

Like fireflies to a flame by Jeyfeather1234 for Madame_Ladle, @benetnaschshugo

With You by ILoveMyThighs (curlyhairedkatniss) for shoo0637

Poly Ships

Xaden's Day Off by @alittlegirlwaitinginagarden for SuebsWrites

Thunderstorms and Sunshine by @tegantales for widebrimmedhat

Never Not Mine by amberswansong for TheBookworm_Writer

Enchanted by @suebswrites for Ubiquitously_Ubiquitous

Solace by @taumoebaa for Starfall_Spirit

Dragon Centric

Scales of Devotion by @witch-and-her-witcher for ACourtofLadyDeath

A Ray of Light in Shadowed Clouds by SaraNova for zencetera

Last One Standing by @acourtofladydeath for xadenviolet

X-reader/OC

Together At Last by We_were_beautiful for ScrumptiousDinosaurWizard

Our Time by @garricks4thwingqueen for We_were_beautiful

Together by HeadCanonHeadCase for Garricks4thwingueen

Liam/Violet

Learning in Aretia by overjoyedisland for to_be_real_now

Close to You by Cee_Darling (Cee_hoc) for Nivaria

Dain ships

Heart It Races by amberswansong for Portujules

Measure Up by SaraNova for Nedeit

Thnks fr th Mmrs by @copperfirebird for gemmaspumpkins

Liam/Jesinina

A Scribe's First Rider by Scarlet_Aeon for GreeneyedWildThing (TheWrittenMaze)

Bodhi/Sloane

These Games We Play by @starfall-spirit for hoelliexx

Other/Ship Neutral

Visiting Home by @quihi 

The Book Cat by justanothersarah, SuebsWrites for taumoebaa

How to not kill a dragon by Nedeit for lynnthere_donethat

Hangman (Teach Me How Not to Cry) by tinyghosts for Nedeit

just keep your head above by copperfirebird for Scarlet_Aeon

Letters from the Family Sorrengail by gemmaspumpkins for Quihi

Dear Brennan by SuebsWrites, Yanny77 for copperfirebird

Pulling Rank by HLizR50 for E_Hyde

A twist in fate by Fantasy_bookwyrm for copperfirebird

The Idiots of Basgiath War College by @siobhanbooks for oopsireaditagain

With Best Intentions by Nivaria for ShadowMami

[yanny-77]

Dear Brennan: A Riorgail Story

Read now on AO3

Have you ever wanted to read Fourth Wing but only have time to read 6k words? Do I have the fic for you!

Read now on AO3

Summary:

Xaden Riorson and Brennan Sorrengail have a working relationship. Brennan helps Xaden coordinate weapons shipments and keeps him up to date on revolution efforts. Xaden passes along whatever he overhears at Basgiath War College to help Brennan strategize. They're allies against Navarre and the venin, and, occasionally, friends.

All of that changes when Brennan's mother calls in a favor.

This fic follows Xaden's relationship with Brennan during his third year in the Rider's Quadrant, told through a series of letters and short scenes.

Read now on AO3

By @yanny-77 and @suebswrites for @copperfirebird. Art by @sarahydeart

Status: Complete

Rating: Not Rated Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: Gen Fandom: The Empyrean - Rebecca Yarros Relationships: Xaden Riorson & Brennan Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson/Violet Sorrengail Characters: Brennan Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson Additional Tags: Letters, Pen Pals, Book 1: Fourth Wing (Empyrean), Fourth Wing retelling in under 6k words, Coworkers to friends, Tyrrish Revolution, My Friend's Sister Words: 5,771 Chapters: 2/2

Excerpt:

Brennan never comes to collect shipments himself. The fact that he’s here tells me he’s on the verge of breaking. I have to calm him down before he does something stupid. He’s too valuable a piece to lose. “What the fuck do you mean, Violet crossed the parapet?” he practically snarls at me, more beast than man.  Great. We’re getting right to it, then. “Trust me, I don’t want her there any more than you do.” I try to keep my voice calm but there’s a slight edge to it. “Then get her out,” Brennan demands. If only it were that simple.

Read now on AO3

[korrinamoe]

FILL YOUR EMPTY SPACES

Fluffy, smutty Riorgail fic for @sliebman10 for the 2024 @rq-gift-exchange!

After Violet asked him to share a secret with her, Xaden flies with her to one of his secret spots. A place no one else knows about.

Away from the chaos of everything, they finally get a moment that's truly their own. Xaden shares two secrets with Violet.

Here's a little excerpt:

And now it’s just the two of them. “Remember how I told you I’d give you answers if you asked the right questions?” Xaden asks. “You asked me to show you a secret, so I’m showing you two.” Violet scoffs. “That answers my question without answering my question. I thought you were going to show me some secret plans you’ve figured out with the others.” “This spot is the first secret,” Xaden says as he wraps his arms around Violet’s waist from behind. He tucks his chin on her shoulder and kisses the bottom of her neck. “My father used to bring me here to read, practice sparring, train harder, or whenever he felt like we just needed a break from everything going on in the world.”

Thank you to overjoyedisland and @yanny-77 for being my betas.

Read the fic here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/57812662

[alltoowellread]

New Chapter: The Grape Escape

Oh, look, two chapters in one day. 🤣

This started as a one-shot for the @rq-gift-exchange, and now it's a question mark on how long it will be. I just know I'm not done with these two exhibionists yet.

Thanks to @korrinamoe for giving me the Minion request, because apparently it really inspired me. 🤪

Word Count: 2,499/5,653

Read Now on AO3!

Thanks to betas @yanny-77, @sarahydeart, and @suebswrites!

[taumoebaa]

a lil bit of XVL fluff and smut for @starfall-spirit 😊

[bestbookfriends]

putting this out into the world in hopes that the universe keeps me accountable:

write @rq-gift-exchange fic by July 1; make it at least 5K

write and post a bodoc one-shot each week of June

[starfall-spirit]

bout had a heart attack. I thought my gift exchange doc deleted itself

[ubiquitouslyme]

The Odyssey of Imrrick - Chapter 6

Chapter 6/10 of the rq-gift-exchange for @alexandia03 - more than half way there!

Summary:

The story of how Imogen and Garrick fell in love - told from their POV while they get ready for their wedding with their friends.

This work will be ten chapters, to be posted every Monday and Friday until August 1st.

Chapter 6 Summary:

Garrick reflects with Ridoc and Xaden about his time with Imogen at Basgiath and right after graduation. He explains why he had not, in fact, been a bumbling idiot at all, even though he'd admittedly been helplessly in love with her.

Xaden and Ridoc disagree.

Snippet:

“So you f***ed in Resson, came back to Basgiath, and then…”

Garrick’s eyes narrowed.

“You graduated.  Oh Garrick.  You didn’t just leave her without talking to her first, did you?” Ridoc asked, eyes wide.

Garrick grimaced. 

“Ouch, no wonder she was so pissed at you that year.”

“There wasn’t exactly a lot of time,” Garrick countered.

“You act like we weren’t in Aretia with her for almost a week before that,” Xaden observed.

“Yeah, and when would have been the best time for that talk?  When we went to retrieve Liam’s body?  Or how about when we buried him?  Or when we were fighting with the Assembly about whether we would return to Basgiath or fake our deaths?  Or how about when Violet woke up and we had no idea if she was going to flip on us and turn us in?”

Xaden wisely had no response.

“So yeah, it wasn’t my finest moment, but we didn’t get to talk before graduation.  And then, we left Basgiath, and I thought there’d be some opportunity, but it just never happened.  So yeah, we didn’t get an opportunity to talk again for a few months,” Garrick explained, trying to forget how Imogen had ignored all of his letters, how it had twisted his insides to not see her those months.  Not until they’d come for Violet.

Well.  Xaden had come for Violet.  Garrick had come for Imogen.

“But you finally got a chance to talk in Aretia, didn’t you?” Ridoc asked his expression hopeful.

“Yeah, didn’t you, Garrick?” Xaden wiggled his eyebrows.

“We talked.  Sort of,” Garrick tried.  “It was fine.”

“So the answer is no, they didn’t talk.  I’d always wondered why you were such a bumbling idiot that year.  Now I know why.”  Xaden seemed thrilled by this development, Ridoc entertained.

“Oh, f*** you.  I’ve never been a bumbling idiot,” Garrick huffed, crossing his arms.

“Three words: stables and mares.” Xaden teased. 

“Stables and mares?” Ridoc said, looking curious between them.  “I feel like I’m missing something here.”

“He’s taking it out of context.  Let me explain…”

Chapters:

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6

[discotenny]

Someone you cant have

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLO :D god its been so long for me to check ur blog and i have been meaning to send rq form last year but sadly i was to shy for that :,) im so happy ur still uploading and doing well 😭 but may i request a reverse part for "Someone you cant have" now with akechi ?

~anon

Goro Akechi x Reader ~ falling for their rivals significant other <Jealousy, mild reference of yandere!Akechi, mentions of murder, etc>

KABDKDBDK thank you for sending in a request!! Sorry to keep you waiting for part two after all this time lolol. Hope it was worth the wait <3 As always I tend to write using they/them pronouns for the reader insert unless requester specifies. Mentions of names will be y/n.

———

Something about you had captivated him from the first meeting.

A stranger who sat next to him on the train when there were tens of open seats. Who looked at him with eyes that begged for help from a creep following you around. Who whispered a promise of a warm meal once the whole debacle concluded. Who he willingly went into the streets of Shibuya with, against all his mind and stomach's better judgement.

"Thank you," you said to him with the most sincerity he's ever heard from a person. "I couldn't make it up to you enough. Where do you want to go? I’ll pay for everything.”

Sincerity... that's what it was.

You were so open and true to yourself it was almost frustrating. He chalked up your kindness at your first meeting as a one off instance brought about by unsavory circumstance. But even after, at your unexpected dinner for two- you were just so, so honest.

Honest in the way you expressed the troubles in your family life. The difficulty handling the troubles in your school. The troubles of romance you've found yourself in. You were charming. Funny. Interesting.

Which is why he didn’t mind exchanging phone numbers. It’s why he didn’t mind more dinners and more train rides. It’s why he didn’t push away the kindness you’d show him and the gifts you’d give him. It’s why he started reciprocating the acts.

And it’s why a funny feeling started to grow in the hole in his chest- fighting against the urge to put all of his attention into his mission. Interest- is what he called it.

Love, is what it really was.

When you mentioned a boyfriend he was disappointed. He of course saw it coming, after you’ve spent nights complaining over growing feelings and him giving you advice in turn. But Akechi was fine with the disappointment, and he was fine admiring you from nowhere closer than across a table. Akechi would be fine just admiring from a distance.

Coming soon, he’d complete his mission and he would never see you again. Akechi chooses to ignore the bitterness that comes along with that last idea.

The more the dinners and gifts and kindness occurred, the harder his fall was to ignore. His gifts started to get more and more romantic when viewed from a certain lens, his stares started to get more and more longing. But as noticeable as it was, Akechi couldn’t help himself. You, in all of your kindness, funniness, and all of your interest, were a brevity of light in his hell of a life.

-

One night, you show up to dinner and say you’ve got a surprise for him.

“Oh? What’s the occasion?” A butterfly flies around in his chest and he can’t help himself but smile. Sincerely, he smiles.

“I wanted to thank you, for all the advice and help you’ve given me these past few months,” you look into his eyes and it makes his heart flutter. “Let me go get him really quick.” You stand up so quickly and he doesn’t have any time to register what you just said. Akechi sighs as he watches you leave the restaurant.

You come back and Akechi has to physically hold himself back from lunging at Ren.

Ren, who you hold hands with. Ren, who’s smiling after you. Ren, who looks at him with surprise. Ren, you boyfriend.

“Akechi?” He says, eyes widening.

“Ren.” He replies, gripping the table underneath him.

Of course.

Of course

Of fucking course.

“Oh! I didn’t know you guys knew each other,” you clap your hands with a smile, seemingly not noticing the glares emanating from Akechi.

Ren’s arm finds itself on your waist and Akechi wants to scream. “Yeah, we’re friends,” Ren’s tone is casual as he smiles at you.

“Mmhm, you could say that,” Akechi forces out a smile so insincere you can’t help but question it.

“I didn’t know Akechi was the one buying you all those gifts, treasure,” Ren says.

“And I didn’t know Ren was this boyfriend of yours, y/n,” Akechi sneers.

“Ah, sorry I never mentioned names to you guys,” you chuckle, honest to a fault. Unaware of the smugness growing within your partner. Unaware of the heartbreak that falls upon your friend.

Ren goes onto explain that you wanted to introduce your ‘two favorite boys’ to each other after months of talking about one to the other. That this dinner, which was supposed to just be you and Akechi, was going to be intruded on by Ren. He says it all with a smile that makes Akechi want to throttle him.

What a lovely surprise, Akechi thinks.

He tries to keep his cool despite the anger clawing at his chest. Betrayal from you for not telling him that this piece of garbage was your boyfriend. Envy towards Ren for having yet another thing Akechi longed to have.

Dinner concludes quicker than you pictured as Ren has a curfew to abide by. He leaves the restaurant to wait outside, you wanting to talk to your friend.

“You seemed uncomfortable with tonight, I’m sorry if I pushed this on you Akechi…” one glance at you shows all the truth in your statement and Akechi hates it.

He hates that he’s let himself trust in your honesty, in your gifts, in your dinners, in your kindness- he hates your truth and he hates this clawing in his chest.

But what kind of friend would he be if he left you feeling so guilty? After all, you’d just run into his arms afterwards.

“I was just surprised, is all. I’m sorry that I made you upset,” Akechi smiles, insincere once again.

“Are you sure?” You look at him with the most curious eyes, “I’m sorry if I made things weird by introducing him, really.”

“Please, don’t worry about it,” Akechi attempts to console you by putting a hand on your shoulder. “I’m just happy you’re happy. After all this time of complaining, haha.”

Your hand meets his and squeezes it slightly. “Thanks Akechi, it really means a lot.”

He takes one more look at you, holding his hand and smiling so, so genuinely at him.

“Anytime, y/n,” He says.

You leave the restaurant with Ren and he sees him pull you tight as you walk away. He sees the way you stare at him, lovingly, in a way that you’ve never looked at him. He sees you go to intertwine your hands. He sees Ren hold your chin and bring your face closer. Akechi looks away.

Admiring a distance is bullshit if he’s just watching you be stolen away by him. Admiring from a distance would be fine if it was anyone other than him.

It’s just gonna be one more reason as to why he needs to plant a bullet in your boyfriend’s skull.

———

Ren's part, it kinda sucks because it was before my writers glow up ehehehhehehe

Hope you enjoyed it! I got so excited writing for my pookie Akechi that I ended up finishing this in an afternoon lolol. Also I ended up placing an order for persona merch because of this JFDSJJKFADSFJ. I just love my baby he's my forever boy &lt;3

Let me know how you guys think I characterized him!! I love my babby rsfwaeajfjrewo

[suebswrites]

My gift fic for the @rq-gift-exchange Riders Quadrant Fic Exchange is complete and posted!!!

It is dedicated to… 🥁 @ubiquitouslyme !!!!

Enchanted

By SuebsWrites, on AO3

—

Violet wakes in the middle of the night, achy and frustrated and full of unasked-for memories of her relationship with her ex, the heir to the crown, Prince Halden. All she wants is to relieve the frustration. But Xaden is still in Samara, not due back at Basgiath until tomorrow.

What's a girl to do?

—

Ubi my dear, I hope this satisfies your wildest dreams!!! 💕😈

[caeli0306]

Chapter 5 of Violet Sorrengail's Guide to Spinning a Scandal is now up on AO3!

Chapter 5: Make Counter-Accusations is now posted on AO3: READ HERE

WAIT THIS IS SO CRAZY DID WE JUST FINISH WRITING VSGTSAS? WE TOTALLY DID! Hope you enjoy this 22.4k chapter bc hoo boy was it not fun to edit. On a more serious note, THANK YOU to everyone who loved this fic and cheered me on as I wrote it. It's such a privilege to be a part of such a supportive fandom. See my end note for full thank you :) For those unfamiliar, this is my @rq-gift-exchange fic for the wonderful @witch-and-her-witcher who has been so insanely patient waiting for their gift fic to be finished! I'm going to go sleep for three days straight now, brb.

Summary:

Violet Sorrengail is a highly effectively political crisis consultant. Xaden Riorson is poised to win his late father's old senate seat. The hatred between the two runs deep, but its been years since their fiery classroom debates in college, and Violet was certain she'd never cross paths with him again, until her expertise is required to keep doctored stories that could sink Xaden's campaign from gaining traction just before the general election.

The chemistry is off-the-charts, the tension has every other staffer fleeing when the two end up in the same room, and the fire that existed between them is as hot as ever. But as time goes on, Violet begins to realize exactly how true the saying, "There's a thin line between love and hate," really is.

===

I lean forward, closing the short distance between us, and strain upwards to brush my lips across his forehead the same way he’s taken to doing. When I pull away, I see my own feelings reflected on his face. Once this is over, once I’ve pulled off this final spin, I need to give him the answer I should have given him a year ago. “Thank you,” I say softly, not breaking eye contact so he knows how much I mean it. I’m thanking him for so many things, and I’m not even sure he knows. I twist my hand in his grip, so our fingers intertwine, and I squeeze just a bit. The smile Xaden gives me in response is soft – a word I rarely use to describe a man like him, so full of sharp edges and jagged lines. But with me, when he’s just Xaden and not the businessman or politician people expect him to be, the word fits in the best ways. “Like I said, Violence – I trust you implicitly.” His free hand comes up and boops my nose, and my face scrunches up on instinct. He smirks. “Besides, solving problems is what you’re good at. I can’t be sidelining you from what you do best.” I grin. “Truer words were never spoken.” Xaden’s thumb begins moving back and forth against my hand, a soothing motion. 

[rq-gift-exchange]

Calling all Riders!

In collaboration with r/FourthWing and The Rider’s Quadrant, we are hosting an Empyrean themed Fic Exchange Event to help celebrate the 1st Anniversary of Fourth Wing!

Check out the collection on AO3. Sign-up sheet opens soon!

The Details

- You must be 18+ to Participate

- Write a new fic specifically for your giftee. Please try to accommodate as many of their requests as you can.

- Check in on July 1st and post final August 1st. You can check in via our tumblr, discord, or by emailing theridersquadrant@gmail.com

- All fics should be written in English for this exchange

- All ships are welcome!

This is the first fic exchange we are hosting for Fourth Wing and we are still learning the ins and outs of the process. We reserve the right to update the rules as needed throughout the event.