#serpent fluff

[xxlady-lunaxx]

OBANAI HEADCANON!

He’s the type to rarely say “I love you” because of his past (spoilers ahead!)

I feel like his family would’ve said things like “This is for your own good!” and “Dw we love you a lot<3” and “It won’t hurt, i promise”—which were, of course, all empty promises

lies.

so Obanai wouldn’t see much in the use of words; finding them worthless in ways of affection

If his S/O said “I love you”

he would say, “prove it.” every time, just to make sure that it was true

he shows affection in gifts, devotion, touch, etc, but words? sorry, he doesn’t know how to make them function

at one point, his s/o would wonder if he truly loved them bc he never said it—it’d go something like:

“Are you sure you love me?”

—Obanai nodded, his bandages unraveling as he tugged on them, letting them sit on his shoulders.

“You never tell me that you do.”

—“I… do,” Obanai murmured. He pressed a gentle kiss to your temple, to your neck, your cheek.

“Can you just say it? ‘I love you’?”

—“…why?”

“Do you not?”

—“I do,” he insisted, “I do.” His hands cupped your face, he pulled you closer, pressing a fleeting kiss to your lips.

“I want to hear you say it… Please?”

—“I…” He hesitated. Fine. “I love you. I do. Okay? Better?”

“I love you too.”

—He nuzzled into your neck, closing his eyes. He hummed in response.

Sooo not very verbal in affection :3

also he’s bad at it since he can never find positive words for himself, never believing words he hears others say about himself if they’re good

so he can’t think of any that he could say and come across meaning a thousand times more than he can put into words

[esthetiqueillusion]

Taste - Messmer x Tarnished (fluffy smut)

Tarnished is a female here. Mostly fluff with a tiny little dose of smut *wink wink*, Tarnished is a little bratty, Messmer as a snek is a little tease.

Two introverts sitting in the tower, working together with noses in books. Cosy and warm. Well, maybe too warm.

Big ornate door to the chamber – up the stairs in a tower behind the throneroom – was closed shut. The chamber where in old times of cruscade Messmer the Impaler and his most trusted Fire Knights held council meetings. Now with the war long subdued but not gone, this room became a cancellaria for ruling Lord, his private chamber. That now was locked firmly behind highly decorated doors. Ghost-servants and knights were knowing well to not disturb their Lord with any trivial matter today.  

But not me.  

All morning I was collecting wild berries from the fields, and with a little help of the cook I baked delicious berry cupcakes. Leaving big portions for the knights that were coming from patrols and duties, I took a few into a basket and grabbed a bottle of wine from the cellar. Being here for so long and moving freely around the castle, I got familliar with every corner of Shadow Keep, so it took me a short time to walk from the kitchens to the throneroom and up the stairs to the private chamber of Messmer. As expected he was surprised by seeing me, but by smile ghosting on his lips and light shining in his eye I could tell he was happy.  

Messmer holed himself here to work on translating the notebook about ancient dragons, topic so interesting that right away he started telling me about fascinating things he discovered.  Eating and laughing, talking and listening – time flew and we never grow tired of each other presence. From the Specimen Storageroom I brought books on the topics that interested me so we could sit and work together.  

And so time flew by, the sun started hiding behind the horizon, darkness slowly enveloping the world. Messmer lit the candles so the shade of evening became cosy and warm.  

However maybe too warm. The fire casted fiery reflections on Messmer’s  red hair as if his locks were pure flame itself, that flew slightly  like lava when he moved even lightly. His face – the aristocratic profile with high cheekbones, straight nose and perfect features was contoured in pure concentration as he read, eye moving actively on the texts. Shapely lips were rosy from wine - bitten from time to time, when he wrote the notes in quil. 

I had some troubles with concentration.  

The hand that with elegant gesture hold  quil, the slim long fingers, veiny forearms... 

- Is something wrong?  

The soft velvety voice all of sudden. Messmer put down the quil and looked at me with a smile hiding in the corner of his lips.  

I felt the heat on my cheeks, embarrased by being caught in admiring him as if he was a work of art.  

- Uhm, no, nothing – I squeaked, licking lips nervously and taking a hold of my book.  

However I felt his gaze, it bore into me like a jet of hot air. The work seemed impossible anymore. I closed the book with too loud slam that startled the snakes and I stood from the table.  

- May I? - I gestured toward his notes and not waiting for invitation went up to him.  

Even while sitting, he was still slightly taller than me standing.  

I tried to concentrate and look through his work, beautiful calligraphed sentences, the graphics of dragons copied from original text... But standing so near, feeling the heat emanating from him was even worse.  

The hand I used to bring papers closer to me, rested on the side of the table, but suddenly I felt Messmer fingers enveloping mine and pulling sligtly so I could turn toward him.  

Looking at him up close like this, seeing the perfect features of his face lighten up by warm candle flames of our work chamber, the shapely lips that  now upturned into a soft smile, the eye that glowed not golden grace but the light of his own fire.  

- I did want to thanketh thee f'r being h're – Messmer said quietly, squeezing my hand, pulling me slightly closer to him so that I was standing almost between his long legs.  

- Oh, sure, I just thought we could work together today, you know, be more productive and motivate each other to do more – I rambled. Stupid, I should get used to his closeness by now. We kissed a few times before. Sure it was short. Sure, it was not in so private places like this right now but still... 

- Nay.  I meanteth: being h're with me, in the Shadow Keep – Messmer cocked his head and still holding me, lift his other hand toward my face. With delicate breeze-like movement he grazed fingers over my cheek and tuced a lock of hair behind my ear – staying with me. 

- W-well.. Thank you for letting me... - I suttered - I still think that’s the best thing ever happened to me in the Lands Between – but I was still shy about having such relationship with a demigod. But truly, it made me really happy to know that not all is lost, that the world can be build anew not with tricks and charm spells but with faith, effort and trust.  

I saw him smile at my words and felt the pull to be closer to him.  

I looked at his lips and unconciously licked mine. His eye shot for a moment there trailing the movement.  

- I can sayeth the same about thee – Messmer said in a low voice, his fingers trailing soft circles around my hand he was holding, ridiculously small comparing to his.  

Not controlling myself I lift my free hand and let my fingers weave into his hair, the colour gleaming like liquid fire. Fingertips brushed the skin of his face and he turned towards them, inching closer, nuzzling into my hand. His long red eyelashes casted such beautiful shades... I felt soft skin of his cheek, slightly parted lips, hot puffs of air he breathed... Looking at me with half-lidded eye, he slowly inched lower and kissed my inner wrist where the pulse beat faster and faster by the minute.  

Couldn’t wait any longer, feeling his soft lips on my skin I leaned into him, toward his face, needing to be closer, to feel this softness once more. He also inched toward me till we were within reach of breath and finally finally we kissed.  

A soft touch, delicate but tingling, buzzing with eletricity.  

Soon the kiss became more bold and raw. I felt hot pulse in my ears, wild beating of my heart. My hands found their way to his broad shoulders, flow through his fiery red hair pulling at them to bing him closer, touched hot skin of his neck, kissing him with rising ferocity.  

His hands firstly were almost hesitant, placed around my waist, however I felt his fingertips twitching - as if he wanted to embrace me tighter,  crush me in his arms and burn with blissfully touch.  

Suddenly I sensed something smooth sliding on my legs and then felt a slight press on the back of my knees. I lost balance and landed on Messmer’s lap, knees on either side of his hips. Breaking the kiss and looking down I saw his snakes drifting innocently near us. That was their doing. Did Messmer not controlled them? 

I arched my brow, looking at him, with a shade of smile in the corners of kiss-swollen lips.  

- Uhm, forgive me... - he said quietly with voice hoarse and dripping with want, with arousing blush on his pale skin and slightly tousled hair, looking everywhere but not me in the eye.  

- Do I look angry? - with hands resting on his chest I felt how wildly his heart was beating – It's a lot more comfy like that – I assured in a whisper, smiling and inching closer.  

Messmer tightened his grip on my waist and pulled me stronger toward him, his snakes coiling and wraping around us, as if they were ropes that binds us together. As if they were Messmer’s unconcious part, demonstrating what he deeply want but didn’t dare acknowledge it even before himself.  

Slowly I kissed corner of his mouth, his jaw, inching towards the neck. It was easy without his armor and helmet, as he was only in light red and golden robes. Soft lips landed on his neck, feeling under skin pulse that beat faster and faster. He smelt like burnt wood and some spice, exotic and dark, with a hint of wild wind and ashes.  

I pressed closer to him feeling his collarbones, shoulders, arms, torso - the steely muscles, skin that felt so hot even through material of his tunic. As I explored, his breathing increased and his hold on me tightened.  Slowly his stiff muscles began to relax. And his fingers started moving around my body - feeling my breasts, so small in his enourmous hands, inching lower and lower around my butt and thighs, clawing and squeezing with skin-bruising power. 

Being manhandled like that, loosen up the tension in my body, making me putty in his hands, ready for him to shape me as he want.  

Soon his hands found their way under my dress, hooking the material and exposing my legs. Long slightly calloused fingers explored softness of my inner thighs for the first time. What started as slow sensual movement, soon changed – his hands became more insistent, greedy, hungry. I moaned into his neck and grinded instincitvely, feeling his heavy breathing near my head, as he responded by grinding his hips up into me, his steely thigh muscles tightening at movement.  

I wanted more.  

His hand under my dress slowly and delicately went up up higher till he felt my folds and building up wetness. Experimentaly moving up and down, circling – I writhed more and more.  

- Messmer... - I whispered between kisses on his neck. 

- Thou art so impatient, my Lady – he murmured in a low velvety voice near my ear, hot air brushing my cheek and red locks tickling  skin.  

And then I bit him.  

He quivered, the hand he kept on my waist tightening even more, dugging his nails into my skin so hard I was sure it drew blood. I licked the bite mark I made on his neck and drunk on his touch, smell, taste, closeness I whispered: 

- Messmer... my Lord... I need more of you, please... 

I felt low rumbling in his chest, as he almost moaned. And then he grabbed my chin and pulled me toward his face, in a glimpse of time I saw lust hooded eyes and red lips bitten by me or himself. He crashed his mouth on mine in a feral kiss, at the same time sliding fingers of his other hand into wetness between my legs, deep beyond my folds, where I wanted him the most.  

I moaned loudly into his lips, the sensation of his long slim finger finally moving inside me pairing with the feral kiss was euphoric. Soon the second finger followed and I kissed him as if possessed. His warmth and tight, crushing-strong embrace, open-mouthed kisses with tongue and teeth made me moaning and grinding on his fingers like a bitch. Too quickly kisses became sloppy, and I broke from his lips.  

- Fuck.. - I mewled closing my eyes, sensing my peak becoming closer and closer.  

Messmer’s fingers never stopped, exploring, scissoring, curling inside,  learning how to play me with utmost mastery. His other hand grabbed my hair but not gently as before in soft brushing movements, this time he pulled hard, the stingy pleasure shot through me as he pulled my head from his neck and directed it so that he could see me fully.  

- Look at me – he commanded hoarsly, fingers between my legs slowed slightly.  

Eyelashes fluttered and I opened my eyes to look into his face pleadingly, with want to continue.  I was so so wet, I was sure I was dripping on this robes.  

- M-mmm... 

- Yes? - he asked looking at me with half-lidded eyes and smug smile.  

- M-Messmer, please...  

- Please, what?  

- M-my Lord... Please, more.. - My voice broken and cracked a little. 

- As mine own Lady Consort wishes - he hummed and smirked obviously pleased and doubled his efforts, part of his hand pressed and circled my clit. I moaned in a low voice starting to feel the tingling feeling in my abdomen. 

- Closeth not thy eyes, seeth who is't gives thee such pleasure – he said in a silky murmuring voice and I obeyed. Looking at him with hooded eyes, flushed cheeks, parted swollen lips - seeing his face so dark with desire, greed and wanting, triumph even, mouth slightly bitten in concentration, hair tousled but still framing his face beautifully with demigod grace. Seeing the marks on his neck I left.  

His hand travelled from my hair to my waist, being so big he easily manhandled me increasing his movements, impaling me on his fingers.  

- Ah! 

That almost sent me on the edge. My head dropped and eyes shut.  

Messmer murmured something, slowing slightly. I knew he wanted to see me fully, to see my reaction, the pleading and want for him in my eyes when he’s giving me pleasure. But I was just a weak tarnished girl, I reacted instincively on the sudden godly bliss kick.  

Then something smooth slided near my head, wrapped itself around my hair and pulled so my head was straight again - my face in moments of highest pleasure in full view for Messmer to see. Now I couldn’t look away.   

Constant movement, my moans and writhing, I fought with want to close my eyes as my peak keep inching closer. I panted and grinded like a whore, his long fingers filling me so perfectly, the look on his face so delicious - bedroom eyes, cheeks like wine so dark, loving and lustful as he wanted to devour me here and now. 

- Yes.. Look at me my Elden Lady... - he murmured wickedly lucious.  

 Soon I almost screamed, fluttering around him and squirting, never breaking the eye contact. He looked so satisfied, so smug  hungrily absorbs the view before him as if he was fighting the need to throw me on the floor and fuck me silly.  

Fingers still moved prologing my peak, till my beathing slowed and oversensitivity became unbearable. I brought my hand to stop the moving of his, and he slowly pulled out his fingers from between my legs. The weird feeling of emptiness was soon forgotten when Messmer lifted his hand toward his lips. I’m sure I was red as scarlet rot, and looked so messy as some victim of the frenzied flame.  

But he hummed pleased, still looking at me with unfaltering desire and want. - Delicious thou art, my Elden Lady – his silky dark voice was delectable.  

Claiming such title was still foregin to me but using it seemed enormously pleasing for him.  

After he licked his fingers clean, I saw a little of my fluid left on his lips. On impulse I leaned down and licked the remains of me from his lips. His grip on my hips tightened momentarily and through half-closed eyes he looked at me like he wanted to eat me here and now.  

Suddenly we heard loud steps at the bottom of the stairs. Someone was going up to our chamber.  

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

I've been writing a big piece for Messmer and Tarnished, where our snek demigod has a chance for a happy ending (for now I have only a few chapters, it's still a work in progress, but I'll probably post it here in the future :). Messmer deserves all the love and hugs ₊˚⊹

[colourstreakgryffin]

Yandere! Romantic! KNY Hashira Scenarios: Iguro Obanai Vs Kanroji Mitsuri

I had this one buried away for ages. This is the last post based around Yandere Romantic Hashira! Absolutely 100% this time!

At first. Iguro Obanai and Kanroji Mitsuri were deeply in love with each other… but that changed for good after the new Hashira(aka You) came into the mix. Their passion for one another disappeared upon meeting you and it replaced those feelings of love for feelings of disdain and rivalry

Of course, you knew Mitsuri first as she always befriends new Slayers unconditionally, in which definitely included you since you’re her fellow. She grew attached to you, thanks to your matching personality(you’re calmer and more gentle whilst Mitsuri is hyper and springy) and forgot all about her love for Obanai in favour of growing love for you. She didn’t develop Yandere tendencies until after you met Obanai

Obanai fell for you the moment Mitsuri introduced you to him when she invited the two of you over for tea. He adored how sweet and kind you were that it was difficult to stay composed around you. His newfound love for you crushed the one he had for Mitsuri and he felt so much warmer in his attraction to you than with Mitsuri. Just like Mitsuri, Obanai wasn’t a Yandere until after he picked up on Mitsuri’s affections for you

You showing up and stealing the two Hashiras’ hearts unintentionally was the beginning of their toxic era as the two realised they were no longer potential romantic partners and dear friends but love rivals

And they’re love rivals who will do whatever is needed to win you over, and that standard didn’t stop at ruining their insanely close connection with each other

They both grew obsessed over you in the little time you knew them, and would cram themselves into your schedule to spend as much time with you as possible. They’re both insecure about themselves and angrily frightened by each other’s advances on you. Their Yandere qualities grew stronger, the more their love rival win smiles from you. It is a big, bloody battle of rivalry

Mitsuri is a chronic lier and Obanai is a chronic manipulator. They both gaslight you into spending more time with them and threaten harm on each other and/or others. Though, they are so strung-up in their fantasies over you, they don’t realise how delusional they really are

“Iguro-san. Can you please leave us alone? Dokusha is clearly enjoying me massaging her sore shoulder, can’t you see that?”

“As pleased as I am to see you happy, Kanroji. It’s time for Dokusha’s daily nap and she always naps with me so leave her be”

Talking about those daily naps, Obanai always drags you up the tallest trees to avoid Mitsuri and it angers her to all ends. She usually naps under the same tree but sometimes, she throws a massive fit

Mitsuri doesn’t really like to harm innocents, she prefers berating/intimidation/blackmail but Obanai will gladly beat, mutilate and/or kill innocents. Mitsuri has limits, Obanai doesn’t

Mitsuri acts extremely bratty towards Obanai to make him snap then play victim when you interfere after she made him lash out at her

Their affections are suffocating and you’ll never be able to escape them once they’re dedicated to you as a whole. They both send you the most complimentary lovey-dovey letters, buy and give you the most expensive gifts, and when you’re with them in person, they always fight passive-aggressively with each other over everything surrounding you;

“Trying to embrace Dokusha, Kanroji? We both know you’re not allowed to even touch her, you’ll hurt her”

“And you can touch her, Iguro-san? Hurt her. Ha, please! I can’t get over how funny you think you are”

They fight over you in front of all the fellow Hashira more than they should and it concerns every Hashira nearby watching as their heated arguments extend into life-threats and sword raising. Himejima has to seperate them to ensure that don’t actually swing on each other

The only time these two do actually work together and/or agree is when somebody else is getting too close to you for their liking. So, now, you have two overprotective obsessive bodyguards! One is passive-aggressively demanding the person leaves and the other is spitting out death threats to that person with his sword flaring

Obanai and Mitsuri always think that they are still on healthy terms with each other but in reality…

Their bond is so f**ked that there is no way for them to go back to when they were nearly inseparable… well, unless you died but even in such a situation, they’d continue to fight and blame each other for your death;

“If YOU didn’t stalk and creep her out so much, she wouldn’t have done that to herself! My baby took off because of YOU! You don’t deserve to even dirty-up the ground my Dokusha walked on after making her leave this planet!”

“I’M the reason MY Dokusha abanonded me?! Why don’t you dice your f**king big jaw off, you b**ch! YOU kept harassing and clinging onto her! YOU'RE the reason MY Dokusha took her own life! I swear, on Dokusha’s honour and name, I’m going to kill you!”

Thankfully for them, they are constantly watching you as one will always be clinging onto you if the other isn’t around. Mitsuri mainly stalks you when you’re in public and Obanai mainly stalks you when you’re at home.

Mitsuri is a attention-demanding brat and Obanai is scarily-invasively attached. They play tug of war with you 24/7 and one day, you may tear into two with how tight they hold on

It’s only up to you on which Yandere you pick in the end but serious warning, the one left behind will spend the rest of his/her life hunting you down so he/she can kill the one you chose.

“Dokusha-san. Do you like the Onigiri? I made sure they were perfect, though, they’re bland in comparison to you. Tell me, will you stay past training? I have a lot more planned for after this. Wouldn’t you like to spend time with me, where it’s quiet, you get whatever you want on the spot and you’re safe, away from her”

“Dokusha-chan! Over here! Come to my Estate tonight! I have the perfect sleepover just waiting for us! We’ll pillow fight, play board games, try out cute hairstyles, dress up my cats! That sounds amazing, right? Hanging out with me is better then hanging out with him, that’s for sure!”

[cherryeol04]

Untouched (M)

➻ Pairings: Minho x Hyunjin x Changbin

➻ Genre: Established Relationship, Romance, Smut

➻ Additional: Fantasy AU, cucking, threesome

➻ Word Count: 915

➻ Warnings:

 ➻ Author’s notes: Fae Hyunjin is at the mercy of Sea Serpent Minho, forced to please the other man while his husband, human Changbin, watches. While being degraded and told how worthless his cock is, Hyunjin is also forced to admit how much better Minho is at fucking him - how good Minho makes him feel. This story is cross posted on multiple sites under the same username!

“Fucking worthless.” Minho hissed into Changbin’s ear at the same time as he slapped his weeping cock, pulling a strangled cry from the human. He had been hard for so long now, time lost within the confines of the bedroom. It had all been his idea - he had practically pleaded with Hyunjin. He never thought it would turn out to be this good. ���Pay attention, stupid human.” There was no venom to the words, but they served their purpose nonetheless - another moan falling from Changbin’s lips as he tried to focus his gaze on the other male, vision slightly obscured by his tears.

“Mmm, that’s better.” Minho hummed, his slitted yellow eyes raking over Changbin’s naked form. He gave another slight appreciative hu, but just as quickly as the attention had turned to Changbin, it was gone. Minho’s strong, broad back was turned to him - pale skin glinting a greenish hue as the light reflected on the near translucent scale patches. Human form or natural form, the sea serpent was gorgeous. A perfect balance of neutrality and Changbin’s first and only pick for this game.

The older male made his way back to the bed where Changbin’s equally gorgeous husband, Hyunjin, was laid out for them, cock hard and achingly red, twitching every few seconds with need. Changbin’s eyes moved to Hyunjin’s hole, currently stuffed full with a vibrator. “Look at you.” Minho swatted at the toy, watching it wiggle from side to side as Hyunjin squirmed, back arching as a broken cry filled the room. “Feel good, baby?”

“Y-yes.” Hyunjin panted out, fingers curling tightly in the sheets underneath him.

“Better than what your husband’s pathetic excuse for a dick can make you feel?”

Changbin shifted in his chair, a needy moan leaving him as Minho’s words went straight to his cock. Hyunjin lifted his head towards him, eyes searching and all Chafngbin could do was nod in reassurance. He wanted this - so fucking bad did he want this. Given the green light, Hyunjin’s head fell back on the bed as he nodded.

“Words.” Minho warned, smacking the toy again, and again Hyunjin cried out with a squirm.

“Yes!  ‘S so good.” he whined and as if to prove his point, precum oozed from the tip, slowly sliding down the underside of his cock. “Minho, please.” he begged.

“Please what, darling?”

“Fuck me. Want to cum.” Hyunjin whimpered.

“Aw, poor baby wants to cum. Should let you husband fuck you.” Minho blinked a few times as he stared down at Hyunjin before sneering. “I’m sure he wouldn’t know what to do ith his dick if he was given the chance.” Slender fingers wrapped around the base of the vibrator and Minho began fucking Hyunjin with it. The beautiful fae thrashed on the bed, desperate cries falling from pretty pink lips as more precum leaked from his tip. The sight was intoxicating and it took all of Changbin’s willpower to not touch himself. 

“Look at this, Binnie.” Changbin jumped when the attention was back on him. Minho’s eyes were boring holes into his soul and he felt like prey to a hungry predator. And he was. Minho was a dangerous predator, but Changbin trusted him. “This toy can fuck him better than you ever could.” 

Changbin squirmed, a needy whine escaping him as his muscles flexed with restraint. His cock twitched nearly uncontrollably as it leaked copious amounts of precum. The head was an angry red and Changbin felt like he was at the edge, barely hanging on. “I-I-” changbin started, but the pointed glare Minho shot him shut him up instantly.

“Oh fuck! Oh god!” Hyunjin’s cries of pleasure went straight to Changbin’s dick, eyes locked on the way Minho rotated and grinded the vibrator inside of Hyunjin. Hyunjin’s breathing became shallow and rapid, toes curling as his body arched and jerked. “Minho!” Hyunjin’s body shook as the pleasure reached its breaking point. With one last cry, Hyunjin painted his stomach white with long sticky ropes of cum.

Changbin’s own orgasm took him by surprise, cock throbbing as he came all over his stomach. The rush was hot - breathtaking. His head fell back, eyes clenched shut as he drowned in the ecstasy of his release. Changbin was left a shaking mess as he slowly started coming down from his high, reality slowly coming back to him. As soon as he had enough wits about him, he realized Minho was by his side, stroking his hair gently and his lap was filled with his glowing, needy husband. He dragged his arms forwards, wrapping them around Hyunjin’s waist. The fae nuzzled into his neck, and Changbin smiled lightly, pressing a kiss to his Hyunjin’s head.

“You did so good, baby.” Changbin whispered, and Hyunjin tilted his head up to stare at the other. 

“Really?” 

“Really. So perfect.” Hyunjin beamed at the praise, snuggling himself closer to the other.

“And you did so well for us.” Minho praised, taking Changbin by surprise. His cheeks flushed a light pink, but he tried to ignore it. “Was it to your liking?”

“It was more than I could have asked for. It was amazing.” Changbin turned his head to look back at the other. “You were amazing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Minho hummed softly as he watched the two. “Call me anytime you want to do this again,” he offered.

“How about next week?” Hyunjin asked with a grin, giggling when Changbin choked on his own spit.

“It’s a date.”

Tags:  @jisungsjheekies@luminouskalopsia@sauceracha@hanjisungismybaby@kiwibaekie@imbonibi@jiwlys@army-of-carats@peachmilkcloud@letterstoskz@lauraneuuh@babyskz@slinekyu@feedthefandoms995@rejemi@halotopicecream @skzmonster @jumunnaa @serendipityryn @eastleighsblog@hydrawaterdragon@3rachasninja@haileybugulug@luvyev

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[smolvenger]

The Boat in the Water: A Beauty and the Beast Story (Loki x Stella Ransome, An MCU/The Essex Serpent Crossover Multi-Part) Part Six

Fic Summary: Having lost her health and her husband's fidelity and love, Stella has nothing more to lose than her life. Then...she is swept away to another realm, to an enchanted castle. A castle whose master is a god...a god with a striking resemblance to her husband.

Chapter One//Chapter Two//Chapter Three//Chapter Four//Chapter Five//Chapter Six//Chapter Seven Finale (coming soon)

Chapter Summary: A black cat arrives at the Ransome house

Chapter Word Count: 4K

Chapter Warnings: Cheating, portrayed in a negative light with the Will/Cora affair (don't like, don't interact), and somewhat of emotional cheating portrayed in a positive light with our main couple (not that Stella would ever act on it, you know our girl would never). Small plot things, but this is mainly a lot of fluff with a little angst.

A/N: This is a lot of filler fluff, but the idea of Loki becoming a cat to infiltrate the Ransome house was so cute and so funny I had to write about it. So I hope you like it and think it's as cute and funny as I did! Shout out to @muddyorbsblr and @mari-malgamore and @steasstuff for letting me indulge in a Lokitty AU with the Ransomes. I also discovered too late that the show only has two of the Ransome kiddos and not all three like in the book (which makes it worse for Show! Stella because it technically means she lost three children, not just two :'( ) But for continuity's sake for the fic, John is still in.

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

Taglist: @anukulee @asgards-princess-of-mischief @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @wolfsmom1 @cheekyscamp @mochie85 @fandxmslxt69 @skittslackoffilter @mischief2sarawr @mari-malgamore @steasstuff

One day in Aldwinter, a black cat had never been there before. It walked across the marshes to the white house amid a field. It strutted over with an alert tail, as cats usually do, heading to the backyard with a little stick house and a tree and tall poles with lines of laundry.

Loki couldn’t stand it. Being alone in Asgard, in his palace. He did nothing but pace for hours. He was worrying over her. Would she go back into that boat? Or hurt herself in another way? Even if she was better, still…not to mention, would she be unhappy? 

He couldn’t sit about and do nothing. He had to make sure Stella was…was…was safe, at least. That she wasn’t miserable. 

But he couldn’t do it looking like himself. Stella would recognize him and act differently. And not to mention her husband. 

He walked over. Ready for his mission. To appear like an ordinary cat no one would notice- and black to blend into shadows. And secretly glad to have a black fur coat. The air was chilly. Even for spring.

He felt confident. Smug as he could be, for a cat cannot smirk. He would simply stay outside. If anything unpleasant came up, he’d change to his Aesir form and blast it away with magic. He would wait and watch. Probably near the little hut with all of the sticks. Yes, check on her then-

“Ruff! Ruff!”

He turned at the sound of the back door and froze. 

Loki forgot to consider they had a dog.

The brown terrier took off, charging towards him. All wagging tail and barks and slobber and teeth. 

In a panic, Loki turned and ran as fast as his little cat body would allow. The dog lumbered after him- but it couldn’t match his agile feline speed. 

Loki found the closest tree, and getting out his claws, quickly attached himself to the bark and climbed up. Frantically, beyond canine reach. He perched up on a tree, his back arching up and his ears slant.

The dog kept wagging his tail, his bark sharp. He put his front paws on the bark and wagged his tail, announcing to all of Essex that there was a cat on the tree.

Loki glared at him from the branch.

“I am a god, you dull beast! And I shall not be trifled with the likes of you!” he threatened.

But what came out of his mouth was a bunch of meows.

“What’s that?!” cried a small voice, like the cooing of a dove.

Loki was about to deliver a new threat that would come out as a hiss. The dog stopped pawing the tree and turned his head.

Out from the back door were two young children. The first was a girl. A pale face with freckles and long, light brown hair. The boy with a mop of curly dark brown hair. 

He remembered they weren’t just any children…

“Look, James, up in the tree!” cried Jo. “Get John! He can calm him down!” 

They were Stella’s children. The ones she loved so much, the ones he even saw her deliver to the world in visions. The ones she stayed in the palace to heal. The ones that mattered to the woman he loved. 

Out emerged the third, the middle boy. He went to the dog and ordered him to sit and the dog obeyed. Loki found himself relaxing.

“I’ll get him!” offered the girl.

She easily climbed up with her long, slender limbs. She sat on the branch and petted him. He purred and leaned into her touch. He noticed the blue eyes and the sweet smile. Traits she got from her mother- little signs that signaled this was a bit of Stella out there in the world for all to see, how to love. 

She scooped the Loki into her arms. Though the dog sniffed at him and wagged his tail, Loki gave him a warning hiss. But he settled.

“Look how sweet he is! Do you think we can let him inside? Do we have a cat now?!” James asked.

“What will Mama and Papa say?” John asked.

“They won’t mind!” Jo assured him. She scratched Loki’s head.

“Feral cats won’t let you do all that- maybe he’s hungry! We should feed him!” John replied.

Yes, he would let them. For then, he would be allowed in the house. He would keep a closer eye on her again and see Stella in her element. No poetic suicide attempts. Just a close watch. Maybe the odd thing of mischief or two. But only to see that Stella and her children too were happy and alive and safe.

 Curled like a baby, he let Jo carry her into the house. He even gave another purr and felt her smile over him. 

This was already too easy.

He could do it.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

He couldn’t do it.

Already, seconds after they fed him, Jo broke out her old dolls. And her old doll’s clothes. 

He was in his third humiliating outfit of a ruffled white dress.

“Look at how they fit! It’s perfect!” John laughed, being the one to hold Loki up.  

The last one was a gown where they declared her (since they were unsure of Loki’s gender as a cat) the fairest princess in the land.

Loki was tempted to hiss and scratch his way out. Wriggle until he was out of their arms and bite off the clothes. Or even change to his Aesir form, the clothes ripping into bits as he grew to his actual size. The look on their faces would have been worth it. And the screams!

But no.

These were Stella’s children. They were happy. They deserved to be happy, even if it meant another babydoll dress and hat on him. So he gritted his feline teeth and bore it, though his ears flattened with annoyance.

“Here! Add the hat!” James cheered, handing over a little pink baby’s bonnet from the doll.

Loki let out a meow in protest. But the boys’ little hands fitted the bonnet over his ears. He tied a bow beneath his chin. The children smiled even bigger at the sight of it.

“Just like a real baby!!” Jo cooed.

John began to sway him as they all made up a song to parade him around the brown house. Marching like he was their prize and swinging him back and forth as they sang to the tune of Greensleeves.

‘I am a little cat oh so faaaaiiir just pet and hold and giiiive me miiiilk!”

 They were not natural poets, the Ransome children. Not when the eldest was merely thirteen. So the latter part of the verse required simplicity.

“Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meoooooowww, meow meow moew meow meow meeeow meow meow!”

AllMother forbid Thor to see this. Loki was sure that Ragnorak beginning at this moment would be merciful over his brother having more ammunition to tease him. 

The door opened and they stopped their song and turned their heads.

“Why, what are you doing, my loves?” asked a soft, feminine voice from the entrance.

Loki felt his ears and face turn. 

Stella then entered. She took off the kerchief on her head and her shawl and set it on a doorknob. She smiled at the parade around the house. 

“Mama! We found a cat!” James explained.

John held him up to show her proudly.

Loki let go of his glare. He had to be appealing to her. So he fired his biggest, cutest eyes and gave her his sweetest mew.

Stella burst into delighted laughter.

“Set him down- he is probably wanting it,” she instructed.

James relented and released Loki down. He found a way to walk towards her, despite his peripheral vision blocked by the bonnet and the dress. He walked towards Stella’s blue skirt. He heard her ask the children if they knew if the cat belonged to anyone and they replied no, they did not.

“Can we keep him? He doesn’t seem feral!” asked Jo.

“You must remember- you must feed and look after him and give him water and a place to relieve himself. Animals are like babies themselves- you cannot be cruel to deny them their needs. And they may cause some trouble- it is your responsibility!” she lectured them, even leaning down to look into their eyes.

The children claimed that they would nod their heads. 

The cat went before Stella. He purred loudly and rubbed against her skirts, giving his sweetest meow. He heard her gasp and melt a little. She leaned down her arm and began to pet him. He leaned even closer to her touch- its smoothness, its gentleness that he loved, even in this form.

“Oh, what a little dear you are!” she cooed. She got him out of his little doll clothes by picking him up and putting him in her lap on the chair. But he made sure to be sweet and pliant. She looked carefully at his body, and then at the children.

 “I think he is male. But how is he with Dan?” Stella asked.

Loki looked over and there was the dog, wagging his tail and wanting to play again.

“Dan doesn’t hurt him!” John explained. “They get along! Dan’s always good with cats! He just wants to chase them and play with them!”

“Well, you know your father must name any male pet we have after the twelve sons of Jacob…” Stella began.

Jo stood up proudly and began to recite.  “I already know all of them now- Nephtali, Issacar, Judah, Benjamin, Joseph, Asher-”

“It should be Asher! For his ashy face!” cried James.

Stella looked down with a laugh as she stroked Loki again.

“Oh, then Asher it is!” Stella laughed.

Allowed into the house, Loki began his mission to make himself the best cat he could for her. Followed her as she made dinner, took care of a few chores, and asked after the children. At one point, he heard a noise beneath the table and found James hiding there. He meowed at Stella to signal her. She leaned down, pulled up the tablecloth, and smiled at the hiding boy. Then she got up and fixed a saucer of biscuits. Crouching down, she brought them to James beneath the table with a smile that made Loki melt on the inside.

The second she sat down, Loki was on her lap. Kneading on her, much to her joy. Or laying down in the submissive pose with his belly up and his paws curled. 

“Oh, he likes you, mama!” John said.

Loki was happily in her lap, curled up and warm and content.

Then the dog barked at him, Jumping and wanting to play. Loki gave him a good swat.

“You shall leave us alone, shall you!” he cried. Only it came out as a “Mrow!”.

But the dog obeyed Stella’s commands and left her alone. This was it- this was almost like the peace of Valhalla. She was petting him, everything was warm and cozy. Jo was reading her book and the boys were playing a game. It was perfect, absolutely per-

The door creaked open.

“Papa!” shouted James.

In came Will, looking perfectly snug in his large, green scarf and coat, a sweater beneath him. Loki felt himself stiffen as he turned his curly head towards there, even with three children who all got up to hug him. 

Will went over to Stella with the chair, looking down at Loki. A half-laugh came out of him with a smile. But Loki did not smile back. He instead gave him his biggest death glare. Which, given his current species, proved quite simple.

This did not deter the reverend.

“The children found a cat,” Stella explained.

Will went over and reached his large hand towards the new pet.

“Hello there, little fellow,” he began.

Loki could not play sweet little kitten around him. 

He swatted at Will’s paw quickly.

“A feisty fellow!” Will chuckled.

He reached again to pet the cat. Loki batted Will away and hissed at him. 

“Oh, he is only not used to you!” Stella claimed. “Give him time!”

She did scoop him off of her lap (to a protesting meow) to embrace and kiss her husband. Loki did everything in him not to gag.

As dinner was being served and plates were appearing on the table, Loki wished to join them. That wish was not granted.

The dog wanted to play. He barked and wagged his tail, prancing around him. Loki could not avoid him wherever he was. He tried to ignore him by lying down on a small blue rug on the floor. 

“I shall have nothing with you, Midgardian scum,” Loki silently cursed.

The dog in answer picked up the rug and dragged it across the house with Loki dragging on it. He meowed in protest, much to the amusement of the Ransome family. Who applauded and laughed like they were watching a play.

It had felt like ages and dinner was done by the time the dog was bored of him and he went to the table. Stella had picked some bits of chicken, set it on a blue saucer, and leaned down on the floor offering it to Loki. 

“Here you are. For your troubles,” she offered.

He ate every bit of it. 

The world was inky with night as each person settled into their bed. Stela noted that the cat ended up in her room. As she unbuttoned her dress and removed her corset and petticoats, she noticed the cat in a corner with both paws over his eyes. She giggled lightly as she finally put her nightgown on.

After all, Loki was a gentleman. 

He did not do the same when the husband undressed into his shift. What did he care if Will was the one undressing? For some godsforsaken reason unknown to him, it was his own cock anyway.

Will went to the chair to read, the pages flipping quietly. Settling in.

With a contented sigh, Stella pulled up the covers of the blankets and settled into bed. Her hair was still in her braid, draping over her shoulder. With her ruffled nightgown, she seemed every bit. 

 Loki hopped up over the blankets to her.

“Oh, hello!” she said.

He curled up on her chest and her chest, purring. With another beautiful smile, she stroked his fur.

He loved it- to just touch her, be with her in this form. To hold her and feel her. How warm and comfortable and safe and alive she felt.

The bed shifted as a second weight got on.

Loki shot the occupant a glare and then focused on Stella again.

Will each time Will got close, Loki would turn around and glare at him. Daring him to lay a hand on Stella, bonds of  Christian matrimony be damned. And Loki would let out a growl or a slap if Will attempted to pet him. The viar only sighed and settled into his half of the bed.

Stella slept all night with the cat curled on her. When she awoke, he stretched and greeted her, wishing to snuggle more before she got out of bed. She had never been this cozy in ages.

The week passed on blissfully. Will was gone for long periods. Stella remained at home, keeping everything tidy, rearranging her collection, sometimes making trips to pay calls, and waiting for the children to come home. Sunday morning came and went with everyone scrambling to get ready and head to church, then return home, and sink into a half exhaustion all afternoon.

Loki wasn’t complaining. He liked being her companion. Being near her all the time.

Tuesday, there was a visitor.

In walked a woman with small eyes and high cheekbones with a soft face. Her nose was up in the air with confidence and her long, almost wavy blonde hair, streaked with red was up in a bun, though strands came loose. She wore a grey coat. Beside her was a young boy with straight brown hair that fell over his eyes. He kept his eyes low but looked up softly as Stella went forward to greet them.

Her steps paused. Loki noticed why.

The woman wore Will’s green scarf.

She said she was here to see him and go off on another walk. She patted her son’s shoulder. Stella kept her gentle smile, but remained still, though her eyes sometimes flickered to the scarf. She said he would be in the backyard and that yes, Frankie is welcome to stay.

The woman looked down at the black cat. Loki backed down, ears flat, and gave her a loud hiss.

“Don’t mind him, he doesn’t like strangers!” Stella replied.

Then the lady squeezed the boy’s shoulder, turning off with almost a flourish. And the boy stayed behind, his shoulders tight.

“How are you, Mrs. Ransome? I-I heard you got better,” he asked.

“Oh, I’m fine, Frankie. Come on in, I’ll fix you some tea,” she offered. Taking his hand.

Loki wasn’t sure of the lad at first. It seemed unfair to hiss at him because of who his mother was.  Yet Stella liked him. She smiled at him and talked to him like a friend. She made him tea with some honey. He held his cup with both hands and sipped it politely.

“Mrs. Ransome…I know people call me disturbed. I can’t pretend like I don’t…am I?” he asked.

“Oh, no, you’re not at all. I think you’re a very wise, patient, sensitive boy and you have nothing to be ashamed of,” she spoke to him.

As she got out her collection to show the new additions, they talked happily. She beamed at him, letting him go through whatever he wanted.  He then found the flowers from the time she was with Loki in the field and pulled them up.

“Where did you find these?” he asked.

Loki jolted up from the floor.

“I was sent to a place to recover. And it was run by a man. Loki is his name. He was incredibly kind to me. And he found out about my collection so he took me on a trip to see a field full of those flowers. I will never forget him…it’s thanks to him and his generosity I am still alive,” she recalled. A slight pink to her face and her smile was genuine.

“He sounds nice,” Frankie said.

“He didn’t think himself as nice. He…he had some troubles in his life, just like you. But sometimes people don’t realize that they’re not as bad as they think they are.” she replied, adding on.

She touched his arm and looked at him with a motherly glow.

“So do not worry if others think you are disturbed. You have done nothing wrong. And if you continue to be as you are, they will learn they are wrong about you.” she said.

Loki went up to Frankie’s legs and began to rub on them, purring. The boy almost jumped.

“You said he doesn’t like strangers!” said Frankie.

“Well, he likes you,” Stella replied.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

But what use is a mischief god if he just sits around rubbing against people’s legs and purring all day? Loki had to cause some trouble. And he knew how.

Stella was hardly in Will’s office. So she couldn’t stop him. Sneaking in the shadows thanks to his black fur, he arrived that day in Will’s study. No doubt what was happening right now with him and Cora was not in the least bit academic. So he needed to be punished.

After all, he promised Stella he wouldn’t end his life. That meant everything else could be done instead.

Loki hopped onto the desk and the bookshelves. Maneuvering his paws, he knocked over one book. Then he snuck into its crevice and knocked down the one next to that. Being a cat, he could squeeze easily into the shelves for books that weren’t pushed in. 

When Will returned, whole rows of his precious, long-kept book collection were knocked onto the floor. 

Will shooed the cat out.

The cat got back into the room. He targeted the large, open book on the desk and clawed up.

Will shooed him out.

The cat returned to the room. He scratched up a love letter from Cora. He urinated in it for good measure.

Will tossed him out and kept the door locked from that point on.

Then again every night, Loki would snuggle with Stella. Playing the devil with the husband and the angel with the wife. 

But every time he thought he could knock something of Will’s over with her present, she would look at him and tilt her head. He would back down with lowered ears and widen his eyes. If only he could let his magic conjure a halo over his head.

There was one afternoon, as he went about to cause mischief to Will’s belongings again, Stella said “Loki, is that you?”

He froze, looking at her. Blinking slowly. What should he do?

But she went up and leaned down.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. But you must behave yourself or I will not give you any chicken from dinner.”

Loki went up to her, purring and rubbing against her to seal the promise. 

As another week passed, Will was spending even less time at home. And the time he was with Stella, they were more quiet. More stiff. They talked less. Smiled even fewer.

One morning, Will was already gone. Stella awoke in her nightgown, went to the window, and stared out, her face pale and frowning. When Loki hopped by her, he could only see the fields and forests outside.

He touched a paw on her just barely, and she did not respond. Her memories coming up to him.

Will and Cora- Cora in her red dress. They were in the marshes and muck…and Will was on top of her.  Doing what you would expect from the lusty vicar.

And Stella watched it all through that very window.

He returned his paw. Fury building silently in him. How he wished he could turn into his Aesir form and bring more chaos to Will than a few upturned books. But he saw a tear go down her eye.

He meowed sweetly, touching a paw at her until she turned her head. He crawled up to her and purred, leaning against her. She picked him up and he leaned close to her She needed comfort, to not be alone. To not tear herself apart for others and never consider herself. No, right now, she only needed to be loved.

That night, he was especially affectionate at bedtime. He laid right on Stella’s lap to cuddle her. The picture of a perfect feline companion.

Will had already undressed. It was a warmer night and he was sleeping bare this time. He sat up in bed reading his Bible. Loki wouldn’t even look at him and remained on Stella. 

He heard the Bible close and being put away. 

Then Will caught Loki off guard and scooped up the cat into his arms. Loki was so surprised he let out a meow despite himself. 

He was plopped onto Will’s bare chest.

“Ah! There I have you! I think I got you now! I think it’s time we be friends and let a man enjoy embracing his wife,” Will replied triumphantly, a smile on his face. 

Loki had enough.

He bit Will’s nipple.

A loud, masculine scream exploded in the white house.

Will let go of his hold on Loki as he hopped out of his arms. He went onto the floor and sat to watch with triumphant slow blinks. Will lept out of bed, hunching over in pain. Stella ran over to him to put a hand on his arm.

“Will-it’s alright! Let me see!” she was consoling. But there was a smile on her face, trying to suppress chuckling and be a good wife.

The children scurried over, wondering about the commotion as the door barely creaked open. They took in the scene of their father naked with nothing to cover him. Without saying another word, they closed the door and hurried back into their rooms, the image, unfortunately, burned into their mind. Even as handsome as Will was, papa’s bum is papa’s bum

Stella helped him with the bite marks. But she laughed. Despite her scolding the cat and seeing that the marks didn’t bleed, she was laughing the whole time.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Cora returned to be with Will the next afternoon. Dropping off Frankie for Stella to look after the whole time. But today, Stella stood up folded her hands, and went to her.

“I am making dinner. And I will need help- could you please return in an hour? I don’t want my husband to be late,” she asked.

Cora blinked. Loki turned his head between them. 

She never did that. She let them run about and do whatever. For as long as they wanted.

But now…now was different…was it, perhaps, she was remembering him? 

Cora then dropped her shoulders.

“Of course. One hour,” she replied.

“If he is not, I will go and search for you both,’ she replied.

Cora nodded begrudgingly. 

Loki smiled as much as a cat could smile. He purred again with pride. She was doing even better than he expected and she was slowly standing up for herself more. Asserting what she wanted, bit by bit. Far more than the sacrificial wife in the boat.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

After some time, Loki decided enough was enough. With his magic, he snuck out and made himself a lady in town and conjured the black cat. He knocked on the door and explained that her cat was long missing the family and thanked them for taking care of him and keeping him safe. They all assured her that he was perfect. The lady promised the family their friend would be just as petted and spoiled as he was here. He made the conjured cat happy and grateful to be in his real owner’s arms. So they said their goodbyes, and despite the tears, they were joyful little Dan found his home again.

With a silent smile, he returned to Asgard. 

That next afternoon, the house was completely quiet. The children were away. Will was away. The dog was asleep. And Stella thought to herself of how alone she felt. Alone-and at least she could indulge in her memories. 

The castle. The dances. The dinners. The flower field. His dark hair. His impish smile. 

She went to her room and from her wardrobe. On the bottom was a box, rectangular and long. Opening the lid, she looked down on the soft velvet where she kept the dagger. 

 Perfectly safe. Lovely as a gem. She traced the hilt with a finger, careful to avoid the blade. 

“Oh, Loki…” she whispered with longing.

She missed Loki. Missed him so badly, so much…but she would never see him again.

[holdmytesseract]

Quick poll, guys! 👀

Tagging some peeps... @muddyorbsblr @mochie85 @fictive-sl0th @lokisgoodgirl @glitchquake @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @loz-3 @eleniblue @hisredheadedgoddess28 @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @icytrickster17 @aagn360 @chennqingg @asgards-princess-of-mischief @huntedmusicgardenn @lokischambermaid @lokiforever +++ <3

[writers-vlogx]

Yandere namor headcanons

I NEED THIS MAN TO BE POSSESSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE, I NEED HIM TO WANT YOU SO BAD HE WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP YOU

It doesn't matter how he knows you, doesnt matter who you are, what matters is you catched his attention, and you know better than to attract the attention of a god.

It doesn't matter what drawer him in, what matters is that he has his eyes set on you. And he refuses to have anyone else.

You will be his, you don't have a choice

The first time you ever meet him, or at least you think it's the first time. He comes to you as if he was just like you. An illusion he wished he could believe, to believe he's lived his entire life next to you.

His delusion has not completely blinded him, he knows he should not just show himself to you and risk his life or his peoples life, but hey its not like you'll get very far even if you try.

Meeting him for the first time is certainly a... experience to say the least, this man that has winged feet and pointed ears that seems to be almost floating, but no that can't be true. You must be hallucinating!

Yeah that's right, that's it you must have not drank enough water and now your seeing things!

But as you stand up to leave in confusion and awe assuring yourself it was a lack of water, you feel a hand wrap around your wrist. "Where are you going amor?" ...this wasn't a dream, this man was real..he's standing right in front you me, and as if this couldn't get any worse in your shock you do the only thing that you know.

The legends of your people had taught you well, your grandmother always told you about people from the water that would take careless passerby's and drown them at the bottom of the ocean, she had told you to never go near the water at night.

She had told you that if you ever did and you saw one of them the thing that could save you was...Scream.

But almost as if he had read your mind he covered your mouth before any sound could come out, You looked up at him in fear of the stories you had heard him. Were you going to be drowned like other carless victims? but instead he just stared, seemingly unable to know of what to do. Almost like he hadn’t thought of what to do after covering your screams. 

So he slowly let his palm uncover your mouth and the second his body had stopped making contact you ran, you didn’t know if it would help but it was the only logical thing you were able to think of in that moment. 

And contrary to what you thought he did not chase after you, he only stared as you ran, and in a way you felt kind of bad for him but you couldn’t bring yourself to give it much thought instead you decided to push the strange feeling down. 

The days that followed he had been observing you, following your routine and seeing if you had alerted anyone of the incident, that could have been a good excuse he thought for him to justify him taking you away.

But as faith would have it, you hadn’t. 

The days passed on and he became more and more anxious not having you by his side but the thought of just letting you go didn't sit right with him either

So he planned everything from where you would stay, to how he would take you; he wanted to be gentle with you, he didn't want you to hate him either

So in order to avoid any...problems, he decided to take you when he knew no one would notice as easily, at night when none of the village dared to walk near the sea

You don't know what made you go back to that beach, maybe it was the fact that it had the effect of calming you for so long that now you just had to come here everytime you needed to breath, but unfortunately for you he was waiting just like how you had left him that time amd whether you knew it or not he's not letting you go this time

Everything happened so quick that by the time you had processed everything it was too late, he had you in his grasp; his arms were wrapped around your chest and his face hidden in your neck breathing in your scent

"Please be mine, and rule alongside me"

He tried so hard to make it sound like a question, like he was giving you an option, news flash he wasn't. It was a statement of what you were going to do whether you wanted to or not, after all it's all really your fault darling, you know better than to grab the attention of a god right?

I'm sorry it was shitty, but I've received yalls requests and I'm currently working on them, I just wanted to clean out my drafts finally 😮‍💨

@yoongskook @hausofmamadas

[jesterthestar]

☆ | author's note : have absoluetly no ideas of what to write and im so sorry about that :(( Writers block hit me like a train omg. OK BUT HEAR ME OUT ON THIS , in russia we celebrate smth called teachers day , usually we gave our teachers some cute small presents or smth like that and i HAD TO write this with the kny academy AU.

♱   | warnings : none

Shinazugawa Sanemi

( math teacher )

Don't get me wrong , i think Sanemi would be a great teacher , i think despite his fiesty behaviour everyone would understand him almost instantly and if anyone DID have question he'd just frown and answer it in a more obvious way. But despite that everyone despises him / is scared of him.

Math is absolute shit , and when the teacher is angry almost half of the time it only makes it worse but no one voices out the hatred because they are afraid of being hunted down like a witch.

AND TRUST ME SANEMI KNOWS IT. He is a fiesty , strict motherfucker and he knows it but he's not backing away , atleast most people understand his subject ( wink wink ). So he didn't expect ANYONE to give him a gift for teachers day ... so just imagine his astonishment .

You didn't buy anything too special , it was like some kind off tea in a pretty box and some punny cup.

This man didn't show his exctiment but believe me his soul was screaming.

And one day YOU SAW THAT HE ACTUALLY USED THE CUP , that was even more shocking.

(Academy Sanemi ily )

Obanai Iguro

chemistry teacher

Ok so i think that his story is not really different from Sanemi. He would probably be a great teacher but too fiesty for someone to like him.

( he is just a bit better than Sanemi but he would still be really strict.)

Everyone also hates him because he doesn't let anyone retake tests and other quizes.

As the lesson you took out the gift and came up to Obanais desk handing it to him . It was two matching scarfs ( one of them for Obanai and the other for Kaburamaru )

( how did i even come up with this 💀💀 )

He wasn't so good at keeping his composure , his eyes widned , it looked like he didn't get a gift for years.

He mumbled out something like 'thank you' , he was actually pretty happy.

You didn't see him wear the scarf in school but he did use it , he just didn't want you to see so you wouldn't get so excited.

Uzui Tengen

art teacher

Now .. Tengen is a whole different story.

Art is an easy subject and the teacher is just a tease. His lessons are more of a comedy club or a circus and Tengen is the clown. His attitude in not teacher like and i think he far morr understand teenagers / high schoolers always making them cheer up and / or relax.

(He's deff the kind that let's people sleep during his lesson.)

So alot of people got gifts for him , come on the mans a sweetheart !

You weren't an exeption , of course ! You bought him nail polish and some cheap jewlery.

Tengen was more surpirsed because you actually didn't buy something boring like flowers or candy ( in a good way of course )

Really does wear the jewlery you bought him and also uses the nail polish !

[peppermint-whiskers]

*slides into the void*

*tosses new chapter into the void*

*yeets out of the void*

[xxlady-lunaxx]

can you tell i accidentally changed brushes for one part

[colourstreakgryffin]

AH THIS HAS BEEN ITCHING MY BRAIN! TATTOO/PIERCER OBANAI?? (You don’t have to write this if you don’t want to :D)

Omfg! Yes! I’m soooo doing this! Now, god please save everybody who reads this. You all are gonna have to deal with my Obanai simp side! I’m gonna go wild! Ima pick just Tattoo Artist for my sanity

@local-obanai-simp! Love, this is for you and me!

Right off the bat. Tattoo artist Obanai is hot. Too hot to drop, he has tattoos all over his arms and chest, pierced ears with black jewellery and such a monochrome palette with his goth clothing style, that just highlight his yellow and turquoise mismatched eyes

He is very diligent with his work and he grabs you, holding whatever body part still if you keep shivering in pain too much. He doesn’t mean to be rough, he just gets annoyed fast with fidgety customers

Obanai does feel bad for the people who are just experiencing their first tattoo, that includes you. He was basically born with tattoos and even as a child, he was forced to have tattoos so they don’t hurt

He is so hot when he is working, his almost glowing eyes glare at the drawing he is starting to shape in full concentration and his rolled-up sleeve denim jacket showing off his forearm tattoos alongside a great amount of muscle

It’s hard to not look at him for real. You look more at Obanai, then you do complaining or whining over the pain as he is simply hypnotic!

Intense stabbing pain courses your bicep as you threw up your hand over your bust, just to clutch it. Your brain was screaming at you to push off the device causing you this level of pain but why would you do that when the man giving you the pain is so attractive

Conveniently, he is a friend of yours you met through your beloved cousin, Kanroji Mitsuri. Iguro Obanai, the owner and main employee of the infamous Serpentine Parlour. Mitsuri had spilled the beans about him a little while back and you were eager to meet him every day since

Mitsuri gave you his number after you basically bribed her for it, to taste out your curiosity over him, and got to chatting in no time. He was quite polite yet busy, he always apologised for answering late and explained himself. You never minded, a polite man like himself is all you could ever want

Almost like a un-recalled dream, tada. Now, you’re in his shop as his final customer for the day, getting stabbed repetitively by the tattoo gun-thingie with your eccentric eyes trained on him to distract yourself from the pain and oh lordy, did he distract you from the pain so well

He is beyond gorgeous as he focused on perfecting your tattoo of choice. Those heterochromatic eyes of yellow and turquoise glowed, his straight-edged raven black hair tied up in a tight ponytail, showing off the many black piercings he had, his denim jacket unbuttoned slightly at the chest to show the wiggly fancy writing of “Kaburamaru” running over his collarbone

Your cheeks blew up into ruby red at the attractive man before you, just switching between his face, open arms and the small peek of his built torso as he kept working. Yeah, his mouth was hidden by a clean, medicinal-like mask so you couldn’t see all of his face but you still found yourself worshipping his looks like he is some model

“I can tell that you’re looking at me” Obanai remarks gently and calmly as he usually is, reaching his spare hand up and pressing thumb on your chin and fingers on your cheek to crane your head up. The sharp pain disappeared as Obanai have seemed to pull the gun away

“Don’t toy with me, girl. Don’t you want a good tattoo~” Obanai remarked, his voice going from sleek and mature to sexy and demanding in a second. Sudden heat flooded you in response as his wondrous eyes basically ate up your reaction, cheeks burning bright and light stutters breaking through your lips

If only Mitsuri could see this side of her best friend! “I-I… y-yes! I do.. b-but i…” It was pretty obvious that he was smirking at you, with the way his pierced eyebrow rose as he rolled his eyes and let go of your chin, his hands were smaller than most men but still very strong, with a few veins underneath the black gloves. “Good~”

Obanai’s occupied hand still held the non-longer running tattoo gun that he brought it back to your bare bicep and flipped on the switch with his fingertip rather quick. Almost unbearable pain begun attacking your senses again when he pressed the needle into your skin and dragged down

You looked away in a instant, very embrassed at getting caught as you kept staring at the marble cupboards decorated by a white glass snake ornament. Obanai, from the left side of the long table that you laid down on, frowned at the lack of gaze. He was just trying to tease you, he didn’t want you to actually stop. Obanai brought back your attention by snapping his spare hand’s fingers in midair. Your head turned in conjunction, slightly jumping from how loud it was echoing through the quiet colourless room

“Did I say you are to stop looking at me?” Obanai barked slightly, eyes never leaving his work but you can he was talking to you as your cheeks somehow got darker, at his statement, then they already are. Your free hand trying desperately to cover your embarrassed and flustered self as Obanai carefully and quickly moved your arm to a specific spot, reaching over and grabbing your wrist, placing it over your stomach and locking fingers with his

“Kanroji told me you’re sensitive to pain. Hold my hand and squeeze it if it’s get too bad” You stuttered out once again, gazing down his features to try forget the pain and gently tapping your fingers against his knuckles repetitively as a attempt to calm yourself down. You’re a mix of confused, flattered and embarrassed all at once, is Obanai treating you this way because you’re his best friend’s cousin or is it because he genuinely wants to?

“W-what about your work? Can you do it with one hand” You stutter back, nervous that he may mess up and trying your best to prove to him that he doesn’t need to hold your hand through it. “I can tattoo with one hand. It’ll be fine” Obanai responds, taking a quick glance up at your face, his hidden lips formed a smile at your sparkling lovestruck eyes. You did like him more than he suspected

His eyes returned back to his work as he needed to finish it quickly. One, so you won’t be in pain anymore and two, so he can wrap up his and his employees’ shift quicker to focus on the more important thing trialing his mind. He could tell his employees were done for the day as most had begun gathering their things and simply waited on their boss to give the cue

He was eager to finish this to as he has a beautifully perfect concept floating around his head, it almost clouded the image of the tattoo you wanted as he could still sense your eyes scanning over him and his body. Perfect, he gets to do what he wants with you

A not so little “talk” in his office

[mgrfp]

Monster Girl Romance Fiction Prompt #139

You join some guys gathering at a cliff by the sea because somebody thought he saw a Giant Mermaid breaching. The crowd dissolves disappointedly when it shapes up to be an Iku-Turso instead but you stay and chat with the monster and pretty soon you've got a girlfriend.

[smolvenger]

The Boat in the Water: A Beauty and the Beast Story Part Five (Loki x Stella Ransome, An MCU and The Essex Serpent Crossover multipart)

Fic Summary: in a nutshell, Beauty and the Beast with Stella Ransome from The Essex Serpent as the Beauty/Belle and Loki Laufeyson as the Beast. Having lost her health and her husband's fidelity and love, Stella has nothing more to lose than her life. Then...she is swept away to another realm, to an enchanted castle. A castle whose master is a god...a god with a striking resemblance to her husband.

Chapter Summary: Stella steps in to save her husband as she and Loki make amends.

One// Two//Three//Four//Five//Six

Word Count: 6K (have a drink on standby)

Chapter Warnings: Violence, sickness, blood, injury- fluff and angst. I portray the affair between Will and Cora in The Essex Serpent in a negative light and Stella exploring her negative feelings about being cheated on. If you take issue with that, then there are LOTS of fics out there for you, this isn't one of them. Stella is attracted to Loki and develops feelings internally for him while still married, but you know our girl Stella would never act on them- so kind of emotional cheating, I guess? Please let me know if I missed one, I am not a professional author and I am not making a cent off of this, but I take full accountability for anything that isn't tagged and how I portray dark subject matter.

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

Taglist: @anukulee @asgards-princess-of-mischief @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @wolfsmom1 @cheekyscamp @mochie85 @fandxmslxt69 @skittslackoffilter @mischief2sarawr @jijilaufeyson @steasstuff

Stella let out a horrified scream as the dagger pierced into her husband’s flesh. 

Will had backed away, trying to escape. But he was too late. In that split second, the dagger landed onto the lower half of his stomach. The Aesir crowd gasped. Many were frozen in terrified, numb passivity. 

She began to bolt forward, picking up her skirts that swished with her so her feet could easily race across the floor. She heard Loki’s threat and heard the smirk in his voice.

“She’s your wife. And I’m about to make her your widow,” said Loki.

Loki conjured a second dagger. Will staggered, a hand over his bleeding stomach. The first dagger still inside. He fell backward and tried to move away with his legs pushing against the floor. Loki only easily caught up to him in two slow, graceful steps,like a cat toying with an injured mouse. And he was going to savor this moment and devour every morsel of it.

Loki raised his arm to commit a final blow.

Stella ran forward and placed both her hands on the god’s arm.

“Loki! Stop! I command you- stop this instant!” she demanded. Not begged- demanded. 

When the god turned, he saw a fire in her eyes. His dark eyebrows shot up seeing her. Something in him paled and his lips turned thin. Stella held her glare.

“Do. Not. kill him.” she commanded.

 The dagger vanished into the air. 

She ran over to Will, who stopped to look at her in awe. As if she was something far more divine than of flesh and blood. 

She got down and held his hand. She then looked at the gawking crowd.

“Someone fetch him a healer! Get them! Now! Hurry- he’s a mortal!” she insisted.

A few guests hurried and found a room. Two men lifted Will’s arms onto their shoulders as they dragged him there. One used some of his napkins as a bandage for the blood. A small party was going to leave to fetch the healers on their fastest horses.

He was laid on the bed, the dagger remaining inside. But yet, even with that, Stella stayed beside amidst the flurry of people. Will reached out a hand and touched her face and she held it.

“Stella is that…”

She nodded. Tears in her eyes despite the smile on her face.

“Yes, it’s me…” she assured me.

The Vicar smiled, despite the wince of pain.

“You look so well…and you..you were dancing…you didn’t have any strength to dance the last time I looked at you…”

“They helped me here…and they’re going to help you…” she promised him. 

Loki was watching them. Pouting from a distance. He swallowed back the urge to gag at the picture. He had to turn around so he could not look at them. He knew it would make him do something else.

Perhaps he should be the one stabbed instead. Perhaps he should have been the one to be bleeding so Stella would warp her soft arms around him and speak soft, sweet words to him.

But no, instead he was the one who brought about her pain. And he could only force his eyes away.

Stella hated him. Loki felt that in his soul.

The healers arrived with the party on horses not long after. With their bags and magic, they crowded into the room. Though they were all women. They were delighted to heal Will. To help such a handsome man with muscled arms and hair on his chest. Stella saw a few greedy smiles on the younger ones as they lifted up his shirt to look at the wound. Not that she could privately blame them. She could only anxiously watch in the corner.

They caught the blood and were working on spells to repatch the area he was hit in. The ball was only half-heartedly continuing outside. 

Out of the corner of her eye, Stella found Loki pacing about. His face was severe. Until he looked out at a door where the party was continuing. Guests were chatting and even dancing without a worry in the world. He leaned against the wall with one arm to watch them but with crossed eyebrows and a stubborn frown.

Stella approached him quietly, her eyes angry. She knew how to mother naughty children when they did something they should not have. She had that gleam in her eyes before a scolding that is universal to any mother.

“Loki, you did something horrible,” she began sternly.

The god turned to look at her. But his face had the same sour expression.

“You’re right. I stabbed him in the wrong place. I should have aimed for his cock, it would’ve save us all the trouble,” he replied.

He looked back at the party.

Stella took in a breath to slow her heart, to cool the heat building up in her face. Using Christian virtues of forgiving one’s enemy would not work with a Norse god, she figured. There was no use debating if Will was good or bad, no use debating what he did. They already had this conversation before. Things would only become worse between them than they were. 

There was the shameful twinge of herself that felt like he was right yet…it shouldn’t have happened like this…how could she speak to him?

She crossed her arms and looked at him. With another slow inhale, she figured out how.

“Go inside, help the healers, and use your magic to make him stable, please, Loki,” she requested.

He turned around and squinted at her as if she spoke a foreign language.

“I beg your pardon? Why? He deserves it. For the pain he inflicted. For the pain he inflicted on you, might I add. He can bleed his way to this ‘heaven’ plade for all I care,” he argued.

She met his eyes resolutely. 

“Loki…if not for his sake, then think of this…”

Touching his arm with a strong grasp, Stella’s eyes never lowered from his.

“ There are three children who need their father alive. They are staying with a couple who use Will’s tithes to take care of them. If he is gone, those children have nothing to support them. They will all be declared orphans and never see their father again, and I could lose them if another claims them. You must heal him. For James’s sake. For Jo’s sake. For Johns…and mine…” she added.

Loki got up from the wall. He looked at her- strong, angry, and as beautiful as ever. Inches close to her face, his voice quiet.

“For your sake. And the children’s sake. Not his,” he replied.

The god turned inside. He magicked away the bucket that had a cloth full of blood and conjured new bandages. He made sure the healers had whatever they needed. Medicinal magic was not his realm of expertise, but it was what he could do. That and back away and lean against the wall to take in the healing of this infamous man.

A healer walked into the hallway with Stella.

“He is stable. There shall be a scar, but there isn’t any bleeding. He will have some pain, but he will live,” she reported.

“Oh, thank you!” Stella replied.

She scurried in and saw the women checking in on Will. His middle was bandaged and clean. The dagger removed with magic. He was drinking a potion that was going to patch up his innards in a golden cup. He was frustratingly handsome as ever with his curls draped against the pillow. He looked up at the room, his face to the side to show his profile.

But her head turned…Loki was speaking to a few healers. Conversing with them. He had done what she asked.

She approached him slowly and smiled.

“Thank you, Loki,” she replied.

She then went over to Will. He handed his cup to the healer beside him. She gave Stella a silent, jealous glare.

“Stella…Stella, dear…” he rasped, his arms open.

 She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He embraced her back, feeling the rich material of her gown. 

The healers trickled out with satisfied smiles painted on their faces. Loki turned and gazed on the wife and husband. 

He hesitated, and then he left the room.

He knew he should not overhear the private conversations of a couple, one who had been married for over a decade. Considering Jo’s age, if the girl was conceived on the wedding night, then it meant they were married at least for fourteen years. Fourteen years to know a person, be tied to them, have them at the hip, always with you, around you, called on when needed…what was that like? 

Despite himself, he heard bits of their conversation. His adoptive parents were together for centuries. Yet the murmurs that trickled out between the mortals in that room didn’t seem too entirely different. 

But if Stella was his…fourteen years did not feel like enough to have her with him.

There were a few words he did pick up on.

“How long until you are better?” asked the husband.

“Only a week or two, they say. There are some symptoms but…I’m not dying. It feels so odd, but…I’m not dying. I’m going to be normal in a fortnight,” Stella answered.

“Normal in a fortnight…why, what does one even say at this!”

“Only that this is a very good place that helps so many people…” she replied. “Wait, Will, wait here…”

Her footsteps, light as dancers, pattered out the door. Loki jumped and turned back to his spot in the hallway. He saw her approach him.

“Could you send him home, please?” she asked.

He complied. After a few happy tears and hugs and promises to write, Will was transported with Loki’s magic from the guest bedroom to his own. 

‘Leave it to him to try and explain to his malicious misteress in the seven hels happened to him last night. And good luck making anyone believe him,’ Loki thought.

The party was already coming to a close. An entire one was thrown, yet the hosts were gone and now guests were getting tired and leaving. Even the music was softer, slower.

One by one, they left. Leaving Stella and Loki alone in the ballroom which was littered with flower petals and crumbs of food on the floor. The night was dark and starry. The crackling torches on the wall were dim.

Loki lumbered over and sat on some stone steps on the floor. It would lead out to the circle where musicians would play. But now there was no music, only the guilt burning inside him.

“Thank you, again, for healing him, and taking him home” Stella said.

The god was stiff. His face pale and he held his hands as he surveyed everything, but avoided looking at her.

“Loki, what is it?” she asked.

He looked about the remains of the party. The magic had yet to clean it up, but he still wanted to look.

“I ruined it. I ruined your party. Your party. I...I…I hurt him…that is what I do…I ruin things…no wonder I was left behind as a child. I ruin everything by touching it..” he mourned.

Stella walked forward.

“Don’t say that about yourself. It is not your fault what your parents did.”

She leaned down and touched his arm. He relaxed as her fingers brushed his fine leathers. He then looked at her.

“Loki…everyone does something they regret when their emotions get the better of them But you listened to me. You stopped it. And you took action to fix it…Loki…I forgive you.”

He looked down again at the ground.

“Is this what I always do? Do nice things and then ruin them? Give you even more things you must forgive me for?”

“You’re a god. Not an angel.” she reminded him.

She sat down next to him.

“Let me tell you something. I once became so frustrated at John when he was little. I was so tired- James was just born and he was crying all night and I barely slept a wink for months. John ran in getting mud everywhere one day. It bothered me so that I raised my voice and scolded him for getting mud in the house. He burst into tears and wouldn’t speak to me all night. He wanted to go hide in wardrobes... I never felt such shame. I found myself crying because I was a bad mother…but I told him I was sorry. And he forgave me. Now he always keeps track of his shoes and helps me clean them.”

She reached over and touched his chin so that he turned to her. There was a gentle smile on her face and part of Loki melted on the inside.

“We will always fail. All of our lives. But we learn from them…and try and do better…that is only the way the world works. In Midgard. Or in Asgard.” she replied. 

Part of her shivered when she thought of the fact that her husband almost died- and that if she didn’t act, he would have.

 “Loki, Promise me you won’t try to end his life, please?” she asked.

He reached his hand up and touched hers. She felt something in her body tighten as he did. He then placed a second large, gentle hand over hers. Pale and smooth compared to the rough, hairy hands of her husband.

“I promise, I won’t try to end his life, Stella…”

“I know why you did it. You were thinking of…of him and Cora, didn’t you?” 

“Yes, I was…”

She paused and lowered her head. Her eyes went down to a discarded flower that fell from the wall and lay trampled.

“I must be honest…”

Something about the long night, her tiredness from the events, was bringing about a candor in her. But she could trust Loki. She could tell him anything.

“Sometimes I think…There are times I think of that dance. They were centimeters away from kissing. I should feel happy. I tell myself I brought this to them. To myself. I should feel happy. I know I should…but I don’t feel happy. I feel so…so sad, so angry. I tell everyone all the time I am happy. But I couldn’t be less happy than those days... Loki…I feel as if  could have flown into a rage and taken that knife and stabbed him myself-”

She covered her mouth, shocked at the words that came out of her. Loki looked at her, her figure hunching more.

“It’s horrid! So, horrid! I…I felt so bad about such thoughts I…I made myself push them away. Keep them in a box. I never…never told anyone…”

Loki shifted closer to her. Her shoulders tightened. Her blue skirt like a collapsed tent around her as it seemed to deflate around her legs.

“Him and Cora I…I find, when I’m alone, when it’s only my mind- I bewail it, and I blame myself, I blame him and yet…I keep it away, I tell myself it’s for the best. He loves her. And she him. My family won’t be  alone, I tell myself I don’t feel bad yet I…I’m gonig to be healed…and this means, this was for nothing. I’m going to have my health. I’m going to live but…he’s still…”

Her breathing was fast.

“He write to her. Every night. I would crawl up, before I was sick, and see his office. The light was still on. His sleeves were still up like it was some great labor. And he would be writing furiously, focused by his lamp. He would barely glance at me behind him. So I would turn and leave…but I was well…even when I was well, I knew he was writing to her…And he would lay awake at night. Reading his Bible…not because he was dealing with God. He was…was thinking of her…all that time, all he could think about was her, and not me anymore-and I wasn’t sick then!”

Tears welled up, her face red and getting scrunched and hot. Finally, the water broke and she began to cry. 

She went up to Loki and clutched him.

“No one is here but me…you can cry as much as you want…” he assured her.

She wrang out the tears. Her shame, Her guilt. Her secrets. Her pain. Let it ebb and flow. For once, unhappiness did not disturb Stella. It did not feel like she was going to ruin something or hurt someone. The grief itching in the back of her brain could be scratched.

Her crying paused. After that, beneath the tears that streamed down her cheeks. Even as she was broken, melting down into a blank slate of herself. 

She cried. Cried in front of someone. And she ruined nothing and hurt no one. No one thought her a weak, foolish person. Loki would never think that about her. But an invisible weight had drifted off her shoulders. She felt…at peace.

Loki put a hand on her face, his long thumb wiping away one of the tear stains. She felt her heart suddenly race against her chest.

“You have done nothing to be ashamed of…you have thought such things yet never acted on them…you’re stronger than I could ever dream. You’ve had such fury, such grief….and you hurt no one…”

He froze for only a moment and then continued.

“You have so much love, so much compassion Stella…but one day you will realize not everyone deserves it…or you…”

She blinked.

“How…how can I…even do that?” she asked.

“Well, I for one, advise on preferably not stabbing someone in the middle of a party in front of his wife.” Loki quipped.

She grinned, a weak laugh escaping her thick, pretty lips. 

He escorted her through the hallways and up the stairs to her room. She paused.

“Loki I…please I…” she muttered. 

She was blushing, as she held out a hand for him.

“What is it?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Her hands went to her sides, bunching up into fists.

“Loki, I am a decent woman. And I want to be a decent woman but…tonight could you-could you-”

The god felt every sense in him strike alight, he tensed, not believing this was happening.

Stella wrung her hands on her side, her eyes lowering and darting about.

“You just…you resemble him, in face and form and…I don’t…I don’t want to feel like I go to bed alone for once. I’ve slept beside someone for years and to feel your bed empty for the first time. I…I…could you just…just hold me as a I go to sleep?”

Loki found he was blinking. His chest seemed still and then rose and fall with breaths he needed to be slow.

“You want me…to hold you…as you sleep?”

“You don’t know what it’s like…to sleep in the arms and next to someone you adore. Feel their warmth and touch and then it..it vanishes…I feel…oh, heavens, I feel like some child needing her doll at night. I just- I haven’t been held when I slept for months, but Loki…I don’t want you to…to…”

She turned red as her eyes went up to his, the confession bursting from her.

“Do anything less than gentlemanly, but I just want to be held. Please!”

Loki stepped forward.

“Yes. I’ll stay here, and hold you as you go to sleep.

She went behind a screen. Loki tried not to let blood rush to his system, his body, knowing she was bare just behind that one layer. But he knew to control himself.

Out Stella emerged. Her soft, silk, white nightgown. Her hair in her favorite braid that draped down her side. 

He tilted his head, and his magic turned his clothes from leather to the plain white shirt and soft brown pants.

“Is this how the men of Asgard sleep?”she asks.

“We prefer the…natural form, if you say,” Loki replied with a wink.

“Oh…” Stella replied demurely.

“But I won’t make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s only…he…it’s almost funny, your sleep shirts almost look like his.”

She sat on the bed.

“Would you like me to change to his form?” Loki asked.

Stella shook her head.

“No…just your own, please,” she replied.

Always with manners. It was as if she grew up in a palace like him. He couldn’t help but like her.

They laid down on the bed next to each other. She turned to one side and he wrapped his arms around her from behind. A hug. A reminder that she was cared for, touched. Warm beneath blankets, she fell asleep. Loki drifted off not long after.

When morning arrived, she awoke first. She could feel his arms, but settled into him. Listening to his soft breathing.

When she turned into him, he insintincively held her close.

When he woke up, he was slow in his greetings. And then making sure she was alright, he left the room to give her privacy to dress for the day. His curls were tussled and his cheeks had a slight pinkness to them. He seemed so real, so unfiltered…so human.

“I’ll…I’ll…I’ll see you at dinner, Little Star,” he said.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The healer in the back room of the cottage had Stella sit up. She was a pretty young woman with dark brown hair and soft brown eyes who held a white bowl in front of Stella's mouth.

“Now, spit,” she instructed.

There was one thing Stella was always advised to do. Every single doctor’s visit, be mortal or Aesir-Spit, Mrs, Ransome, please. Spit. Spit to study the contents. It was unladylike. It was crude. It was something she saw every one of her children do since they were babies. Spittle gurgling down each little chin in a soft bundle. 

She was realms away and yet it felt like nothing changed.

She obeyed and spat into the dish. The pretty healer smiled at her and then went to meet her superiors.

Three more women in their long, white dresses came over to examine her. They listened to her lungs. Waved their hands to have magic images float in the sky- and somehow they were able to read what was happening in her body. But there were more smiles this time, a flitter of excitement in the air.

“Have you felt tired?” asked one.

“No…come to think of it, I’ve not felt tired in the day at all.” Stella answered.

“Do you have any pains in your chest lately?” she asked next.

“I…I think it’s been last week since my chest had any pain…” Stella replied.

“Any blood coughed out?” 

“I haven’t been coughing and there was no blood.”

The younger one who took the spit returned. She whispered something into the ear of the others. They all turned and smiled kindly at her.

“Lady Stella, we have good news. It seems everything in you shows that between the medicine doses, the rest, and the air here…you have no symptoms of the illness and it is not anywhere in your lungs.” one announced.

The world almost fell out. A sound came out of Stella like a gasp, and she covered her mouth. Hardly believing the words, although the feeling in her body told her otherwise. She had been feeling strong. She wasn’t sweating at night. She had her appetite. She was…normal. Normal and healthy.

“We studied everything, and there is only just a little bit of hte disease. Do not fear, for it will inoculate it. Your body shall likely not catch it again…” continued the healer, the leader of the group.

“I…I…I’m healed?” asked Stella, her hands shaking.

“Yes, you’re healed.”

She smiled wide, tears in her eyes, and hugged them. Thanking all of them.

As she got into the carriage, she was beaming. She couldn’t wait to go home and…

Oh, home. The home wasn’t the white house on the marsh. Home was the enchanted palace. The place of refuge…

Stella walked through the entrance to see if there was a nice spot to have some tea and a sandwich. She was feeling peckish.

But as she walked down, she did not expect Loki there, strolling up with a spring in his step. Handsome and winning as a fairy story.

“Ah, I wanted to find you,” he announced.

“Why, what is this?” she asked.

“We aren’t just going to eat dinner today,” he announced. He stopped before her, a proud grin on his face. “We’re doing what you mortals call luncheon- it’s quite a charming little idea. I found a spot in Asgard. And I want to take you there…I think you’d like it..”

He held his hand opened to her, bowing gallantly.

“Would you accept, my dear lady?” he asked.

Ignoring the fluttering in her stomach, Stella accepted and took his hand.

In a flash of light, they were under the sun. Not a harsh sun, but a gentle one. And there was a cool breeze. The birds singing weren’t distant, but could be heard nearby.

Stella gasped in delight.

She was in a whole field full of blue flowers. Roaming over the long grass. They decked throughout and bent with the wind. She could see where the ground sloped down a hill and made a new one- decorated with the flowers. There was the odd tree, but it seemed it went on for miles. 

“Why, this…this place…I…” Stella gasped. The color of peace, of heaven, of beauty all around her.

“The whole place just screams you.” Loki quipped. When she looked at him, his smile had softened.

“I’ve never seen a field full of flowers, much less blue ones! Thank you!” she cried.

“Here…let me show you more of it,” he offered.

He took her hand and led her through. They walked as eagerly and excited and free as children. Loki led her one place and pointed eagerly. She saw a lake and high mountains topped with snow. So high, the clouds above kissed them. How tiny she felt compared to it from a distance. As she breathed in deep to take it all in, her lungs strong again, she could tell the air was cooler, crisper.

“I…I’ve never seen a mountain before!” she exclaimed.

“And now you have, my dear! I accept glasses of wine and time with you and not with my brother as a thank you,” he replied.

She only made a light laugh. Loki had his magic  conjure a picnic blanket and a basket. But Stella was too eagerly picking flowers to eat yet. She bent their green stems to form a necklace and wore it over her.

“Hmm, why do you wear those little beads?” Loki asked as he got out plates and steaming bowls of food.

“Oh, out of habit. For protection!” she answered. 

She took it off hers and leaned to Loki. Though he flinched , he let her put the necklace over his head.

“Here, so you can have protection too.” she offered.

Loki let out a sigh, but relaxed, letting himself wear the flowers. It wasn’t befitting and could seem silly for a god and prince to have them, but Stella’s smile when she saw him wearing them was….well, exquisite. Her small giggles at them stirred something inside him.

And they did smell nice, he silently admitted.

They enjoyed their picnic, which consisted of sandwiches with salted meat, soft fruit in delicate little bowls. There was even a small almond cake offered inside which Loki found himself struggling not to shove entirely in his mouth.

Stella eagerly picked up a few flowers and held it up to him.

“I…I think it’s like your Frost Giant skin- could we check?” she asked.

Loki turned his hand blue and his eyebrows shot up in astonishment as he compared.

“It…it is..” he confirmed.

‘Now help me pick which ones to press!” she offered.

They looked around, gathering some in their arms. All full of bouquets of the blue flowers. Stella was planning to put them in vases around the castle to add a bit of her touch to them. But Stella brought out just a few from one bunch.

“Here, have these,” she offered.

Loki tilted his head at them.

“Little star, it’s usually the gentleman who gives the lady flowers,” he commented.

“No- keep them! I want you to press them into a book or anything you wish. So you remember, so you reflect on how beautiful they are, and how beautiful your true form is!” she replied.

Loki accepted the flowers. Looking into her eyes and smiling. He made them float in the air where they drifted into the baskets.

Loki began twitching his hands. Here it was- his chance. Now or never. He was going to say the reason he brought her here, to this field.

“Well…” he began. He wasn’t good at saying it. But hhe wanted to say it. He needed to say it and yet the words couldn’t come up to him. He knew it was futile, but he had to say it, he had to say-

“Loki, I have good news: I’m healed now…” she announced.

He froze. It was a clear, sunny day but it seemed as if a bit of his brother’s thunder had rumbled through and brought lightning down onto him.

“You’re healed?” he asked.

“I am recovered. I am not weak, I cough no blood…”

Loki looked on the ground for a few seconds, then back up. He took both of her hands and placed them in his. 

“There’s something you’re thinking of, isn’t there?” he asked.

“It’s only…I miss…I miss my family, my children…if only…I could tell them, see them again, let them know I am better…” she confessed.

A second passed between them. A deep breath came through Loki

“Stella, you should go,” he said.

She blinked.

“You will…let me go, just like that?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Yes…you are the mistress of the palace, not its prisoner. And your children need you- and you are healed. You can go. I will do everything to make sure you are safely returned.”

A smile broke wider on Stella’s face, even a few happy tears. She eagerly embraced Loki and he embraced back. He held her, taking her in, burying himself in her. Trying to memorize how she felt to his touch. Trying to remember her embrace, the feel of her pulse, her scent, the brush of her yellow hair against his skin. 

It was going to be one of their last for a long time.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hurrying to the library, Stella got out paper and pen and scribbled down the letters in excitement. The first to the Ambroses and to Will, to share the good news. To share in her joy, her miracle. She asked that the Ambroses have the children return home at their earliest convenience to be reunited with them.

That made her tear up. Her three little dears, getting about in London in the big city. When they were taken away for fear of their catching it, she sobbed. It was going to be the last time she ever saw her darlings…and she was going to live. She was going to see them again. She was going to see Will again. And the dog, and the church, and the sea, and everyone in that town. The Bates, Martha, Cora, even that old curmudgeon Cracknell still made her laugh in her memories and there was going to be more of him to make her laugh. And that was to name a mere few of the people there!

 She was going to have her health back, her family back, her life back…

The pen stopped. She looked over the two letters, the handwriting scribbing from her fast writing in her urgent joy. There was a window that looked about the gardens where the birds sang, flowers bloomed, and now and again, little creatures walked about without fear.

And Loki…Loki who danced with her, spoke with her, looked at her- no, not only looked, who saw her, understood her, listened to her. Loki, Loki, Loki who made her feel…feel…

She was going to miss it…and she was going to miss him if she had to be honest with herself…but…she was here to be healed. And it had happened. Her task was done. 

She went over to her room with the chest.

“Send this first one to the Ambroses’ in London, and send this one on the right to my house in Aldwinter.” she requested.

The letters vanished.

In the meantime of the children’s travel, Stella was busy as a bee. She kitted little blue dishcloths from the parlor. She gave one to each healer and to the friends she made in Asgard. She wished she could have seen Thor once again, but there was no time now. And the palace would not let her in as a mortal and a peasant. But she did leave him a note should he come back.

In just a few days, she received word that the children had arrived. And she could return.

Stella was given the dresses and trinkets she wanted to keep. Another brown box with the pebbles and flowers she found would be there. She was allowed to use the chests to write to her Asgardian friends. 

The carriage was going to take her back. This time, Loki’s horses would carry it. She stepped out as the god helped her get her new belongings packed safely.  She was bedecked in a traveling gown of a blue jacket and skirt. She was given a small purse and a smart hat with a tiny veil to complete the outfit.

Loki held out his hand, studying the difference in size, her warmth, and her bare skin on his bare skin. But the door was left open. 

“Loki…I want to speak to you, please. You have shown me so much. You made me better in every way.  My body…and my spirit. I don’t feel as if I am the same since I met yout…thank you.”

He smiled at her. Though he was a little sad. His hands then conjured something in the air.

From his pocket, he got out a dagger in a small sheath. Stella foudn her eyes got big. He pulled it out to show it had a blue hilt and ancient norse on the blade.

“I would be surprised if you had any practical use for it…but I wanted you to have this gift. So you could use it to remember me.” he offered.

She accepted it preciously. “It’s beautiful…thank you” she marveled, tucking it into a safe corner where it wouldn’t leave its hilt. 

“And Stella…”

He paused. She turned her head to him.

The words laid heavy on him. They called him “silvertongue” and yet his tongue felt heavy in his mouth. 

“Stella I…I have to tell you…tell you that…”

Her eyes went a little wide, her plump lips barely parted. He got closer. But everything froze. No- it was too much. He knew where and to who she was returning to. It would ruin all things good between them.

He couldn’t …no, he never could tell her.

“Stella, I hope…when you return…that you are happy.” Loki finished.

She relaxed and smiled at him.

“I will be. And I hope you see your family again too…and that you are the happiest god in all the realms.”

She cupped his cheek with her lovely smile. Then she released and settled in.

With a deep breath, Loki lifted his hand and twirled one finger. A portal appeared at the end of the path. The driver from the palace nodded- a stout, somber man who said nothing and minded his business. He clicked the reigns.

The carriage went through the glowing, golden portal. Once it vanished through, it closed. Gradual and sudden as a dying firework. 

Loki stood there. Half hoping it would return any second…

It did not.

He found himself blinking, a quiet tear going down his face.

He wanted her to stay. If he had his way with all things, she’d stay with him in that palace for…for as much time would let them. Haunting him in every corner. Hearing her footsteps, her voice, a flick of blue that he knew for sure was her. Only this time it wouldn’t be her.

But internally, he would never forget Stella. And she would always be there, at least in his mind.

He loved her.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Aldwinter was astonished when on its muddy streets, there emerged a grand carriage. They all gasped and huddled out of doors or smashed their faces into windows to see it. Such finery down here in this humble place! They could practically see the mud sticking to the wheels already.

When they caught who was inside, there was even more tittering about them.

“Why…is that…Mrs. Ransome? Alive! And looking quite well if I dare say! Going through the towns paraded like a princess! What is she doing?”

The carriage arrived before the white house on the field. 

Jo was outside, swinging about a stick, imagining it a sword. Her little kerchief on her head slipped and she pulled it up. Then she turned and dropped her stick as it headed right to her. 

Inside the window, she saw a blonde head and a kind smile. 

Jo opened the door and the dog began to bark from inside. Her brown braid flipping in the air as she was running about. 

“Mama! Mama is home! Everyone! Hurry!” 

The three children darted out first. The grand carriage stopped and out from the door was a fine lady in a blue travel suit.

She lifted her veil and they gasped.

She smiled, tears in her eyes.

“Darlings- my beautiful darlings!” she said.

“Mama!” they all gasped,.

They all ran forward and she knelt down to embrace them and ksis their heads, their joy glowring. The dog was barking and there were heavy, masculine footsteps from a study hurrying down the stairs to follow them. 

All in that house beaming with the light of joy.

 And the lonely god realms away knew it was happening, as he stood in his castle and smiled with tears in his eyes.

[holdmytesseract]

I'm very happy to say that I finished all requests! 🥳 I know, it took some time, but I finally found the inspiration.

But this also means that there are seven stories in my drafts; waiting to be posted. 👀

This leaves only one question...

Lots of Baby Fever and lots of fluff. 🫡

Tagging some peeps: @lady-rose-moon @muddyorbsblr @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @chennqingg @smolvenger @theaudacitytowrite @jennyggggrrr @stupidthoughtsinwriting @asgards-princess-of-mischief @eleniblue @loz-3 @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @fictive-sl0th @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @mochie85 @goblingirlsarah @glitchquake @lokidbadguy @icytrickster17 @gruftiela @mandywholock1980 @november-rayne @simping-for-marvel @aagn360 @lokiforever @anukulee @multifandom-worlds @hisredheadedgoddess28 @jaidenhawke @km-ffluv @lokisgoodgirl @crimson25 @cakesandtom @buttercupcookies-blog @noideakitten @zombiesnips-blog @coldnique @lokisrealpurpous <3

[serpent-hashiraa]

OBANAI IGURO!

Do not bother me unless you are Mitsuri. I heard she is on here and I wanted to protect her from you... Creeps. Talk to mitsuri, and you'll see what you'll get.

// mod: I am begging for a mitsuri 😟😟 and anyone is allowed to join.

[dreaisgrayte]

Love Bite | Chapter One

Synopsis: "Just because your ancestors were in love doesn't mean you have to be in love with him." "It's not that." "Then what is it?" "It's fate." Great-great niece of Kanroji Mitsuri has just gotten a new job because her best friend's older brother, a descendant of Iguro Obanai, is looking to hire an assistant for his bakery. Airu has to navigate through her strong connection to Inkyo, who seems to be interested in everything except her. He only teases her when they're alone and is bland when with other people. Will she end up like her great-great aunt or finally fulfil those last words said in the arms of the one she loved?

Warnings/contains: DEMON SLAYER SPOILERS!!, fluff, mutual pining, mentions of soulmates, descendants of Obanai and Mitsuri, jealous Obanai

Word Count: 5K

a/n: This a little project I’m working on because I couldn’t live without giving somewhat of a happy ending {new beginning??} to Obanai and Mitsuri. I LOVE them and so “Love Bite” was born, a short story {this is only chapter 1 out of around 10} 

In each other’s arms that’s what I’m told. That’s how my great-great aunt died, in her lover's arms. Is it weird to think that my best friend’s family could have been actually family? Yeah, it is. Though, I’m sure fate has a reason for everything. Such as it just so happened that my best friend’s older brother, mysterious as he is, needs a new hire for his bakery. That’s why I’m here, picking on the skin on my middle finger, hoping the scary Obanai wouldn’t put me through the terror of an interview. I don’t think my mental fortitude could handle that today. Not after my friends insisted on celebrating a night early for my new job. I still haven’t recovered from the alcohol they forced me to practically inject into my veins. 

I was scared to even open the front door to the quaint storefront. Sora had informed me that her brother took Thursdays off and could usually be found working on new recipes and plans in his small office space near the back of the building. 

“Just knock on the door and he should come to see who it is. I told him you’d be stopping by anyway, so he may just leave it unlocked for you.”

My luck wasn’t the best, so I highly doubt the door would be unlocked- With a simple push of my hand the dark wooden door slid open allowing me to be hit with a gust of air conditioning. The inside space was a dimly lit calm ambiance. There were tables tucked away in secluded areas, some out in the open, and plants were absolutely everywhere. There was a sleek wooden nature theme throughout the whole building and I felt like I was transported somewhere else entirely. There was a counter off to the left side of the entry point that housed a display case and an array of decorative items lining the space behind the counter. A sword is displayed proudly behind a glass covering in the center of the shelves that climb the wall. I take a few steps toward it and notice the deep hue of purple that shines off the curved metal. The hilt was a mix of pink and white stripes with a lime green cap on the bottom. It was breathtaking. 

I catch a glimpse of myself in the glass and gasp lightly when I see another figure behind me. I turn around on my heel and come face to face with Obanai. 

“Airu.” He whispers, his eyes flitting around my body. He’s very close. So close I can smell the expensive cologne he’s wearing.

“Nice to see you Inkyo.” I bow my head, nervous to meet his intense gaze. I felt like he could see through anything. Especially how he made my body react. His long dark hair covers his face slightly as he steps closer to me. I feel my heart start to do gymnastics in my chest. Im scared if he gets any closer he’ll be able to either hear or feel it. 

“Your hair is different.” He notes blandly, reaching out a steady hand to swipe it away from my face. He was right. I had cut my long pink and lime green locks to a shorter, more mature bob haircut. I’d kept the bangs though. He fingers it gently and then drops his hand. 

“I like it.” He moves away to move something around on the counter and I try to not let out a loud sigh of relief. 

“Sora told me that you were looking for a new hire?” I decide to say. I’m not sure why I was so keen on working here anyway, I’d probably get super distracted by Inkyo and those damn eyes of his. He stops organizing things and glances at me. 

“Not anymore.” He moves behind the counter and scoots a few things on the shelves over the tiniest bit. He lets out a sigh when he realizes there's dust on his pale fingers. I must’ve had my mouth open or something because his gaze holds mine for a long time now. “What?” He inquires, furrowing his brows slightly. I shake my head and close my mouth. 

“Uh, well I feel like I’ve wasted your time now. I didn’t know you’d filled the position.” I bow my head and feel the urge to leave as quickly as possible but Obanai just shakes his head slowly. His undusty hand reaches up to his mouth as a small smile appears on his lips. 

“No Airu, you are my new hire.” He tilts his head to watch my slow reaction processing the information he’d given me. My mouth falls open again and I slam my hands on the counter and lean in close to him. 

“Really!?” I exclaim. His eyes widen slightly and then soften as he nods. “Oh thank you! When do I start!?” I clasp my hands together and hop excitedly. Money. I needed money. Plus I got to work with the man who I’d thought about for the last several years. 

“Well, I’ll have to give you a list of what happens here daily. What to do when you arrive, when you leave, when you man the counter, and when I’m not here. If you want to come with me up to my place we can discuss the subject of your contract.” He shuffles some things around on the counter absentmindedly again. His place? My everything says yes, but my will says that’s not the best idea. 

“Uh, well,” I try to find the words I’m looking for but draw a blank on all words I’ve learned. Inkyo positions himself in a leaning position against the back shelves, which makes his black button-up shirt clench around his torso. I gulp in, trying not to stare. “Is-Is going up to your place really a good idea?” I avoid eye contact like the plague. I hear him let out a small chuckle and suddenly he’s lifting my chin to look into his golden and blue eyes. 

“Airu Mitsuri what are you thinking about?” His smirk tells me I don’t have to answer that question for him to know. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was my crush on him. Though, maybe it was fate trying to fix a travesty and who am I to get in the way of fate?

“Fine, but I get to show you this really cute picture I took of Bean.” I reach for my phone in my pocket and he lets go of my chin. Bean was the black cat I bought when I moved out of my parent’s apartment so I wouldn’t get too lonely. In a way, he reminded me of Inkyo, except Bean was clingy while Inkyo was offputting. If I tried to cuddle with Inkyo he’d probably throw up in his mouth. Not that I was the problem, just physical touch didn’t seem to be his thing. Even though he did just grab my chin… 

“You going to show me or keep dissociating in my bakery?” Inkyo teases, his voice sounding more comfortable with me. I quickly glare at him and then go back to retrieve my phone. I swipe into my gallery and try to hide the number of selfies and random videos that could be found there. I tap on the picture of Bean laying on his back, paws outstretched to the camera. My little baby looked so adorable in this picture I just wanted to gobble him up. Inkyo takes a look at the photo and gives it a smile but nothing else. I’m about to tell him he should be worshipping my baby boy, but he takes his pointer finger and swipes to the next picture. That picture happens to be me in a new black dress I’d ordered online that had a heart cutout on the chest. I’ll be frank, the dress was very short, very revealing, and if Inkyo really wanted to he could observe my pink lace bralette peaking out from the heart. I screech and grab my phone from off the counter. 

“What are you doing!?” I hold my phone to my chest and I catch Inkyo lazily staring at how my arms squeeze them together. “I haven’t even started yet! This is harassment!” I exclaim turning my front away from him. He chuckles again and moves out from behind the counter. 

“Sorry, I got carried away teasing you again. I just wanted to see if you were still as cute when you got flustered.” He brushes past me and walks toward the door. “Shall we move this upstairs so you can start preparing for tomorrow?” He nods his head toward the door and I can feel my face still warm from his pestering. 

“Am I?” I hear myself asking. Inkyo was on his way to leave the building but stops in his tracks. His body shifts toward me again, eyes engulfing me yet again. His massive hands flex by his sides and that god-given shirt exposes how muscular he really is. I take a few steps closer to him, my phone still clutched to my chest. He watches me like a snake about to strike a field mouse. 

“Are you?” He finally repeats like he’s questioning what I was asking. I sigh and shake my head, not courageous enough to ask him if he still thinks I’m cute. I should be happy enough with the fact that he even ever thought I was. I nod toward the door.

“Let’s be on our way boss man.” I walk past him and out the door. He stands near the door for a beat before catching up with me. His long legs cause him to walk a little faster than me, but he makes sure to stay on my right, the roadside of the sidewalk. 

“The stairs to my place are right here.” He points out, guiding me with a hand lightly on the small of my back. I can’t help but think about how people must see this. A young woman and man heading toward an apartment. If they didn’t already think we were together they must think that he and I were about to do something together. I climb the stairs slowly, trying to avoid flashing Inkyo my underwear if my skirt were to blow up. I reach the landing and he quickly enters a code and opens the door for me. “Welcome to my abode.” 

I can feel him watching me as I look around in amazement at his home. There was art everywhere, one, in particular, caught my eye. A regal-looking woman with a lovely kimono draped over her delicate-looking body. Her hair was a dark brown color and her eyes were shut gently. I felt drawn to her like I’d known her somehow or she’d done something extremely courageous for me. 

“Her name is Tamayo.” I feel Inkyo say from behind me. I turn my eyes away from the painting and look up into his. He’s not looking at me, he’s looking at the painting. “She was an incredible woman.” His eyes seem to soften carefully when looking at her. I can’t help but feel a slight pang of jealousy course through my body. I wasn’t a normal-looking girl, even in this day and age. I had bright pink and lime green hair and don’t get me wrong, I loved it. Though, it did attract a lot of attention from people, sometimes not the best. My eyes were almost the same green as in my hair and my pale skin made them stand out like bright lights. Then there was my body, I was a curvaceous girl. The curved blade downstairs didn’t hold a candle to the number of dips and round areas on my body. I was ideal by western beauty standards, but here in the east the amount of food I ate and my body type were looked at with judgment. The one thing that brought me any amount of comfort was my grandmother smiling at me with tears in her eyes when I was 16. 

“Come here Airu.” She whispers softly and beckons me to her side. I walk to where she was sitting on the bench. The sunlight was illuminating her soft features and light green eyes. I sit down next to her, expecting a scolding for how much I’d eaten at the restaurant, but she extends her hand and rubs my cheek softly. 

“Soba?” I question, trying to understand her emotions right now. She was touching me so gently, yet there was an incredibly confused look on her face. She looked sad and happy at the same time. 

“You look so much like her.” She mumbles, her fingers moving to my bright hair. She smiles when she touches it. “I had just been born when I met Kanroji, but I remember her contagious smile and beautiful braided hair.” I tilt my head in confusion. I’d heard that name before in stories my grandma would tell of her great aunt Kanroji Mitsuri, a swordswoman in the 1900s. She weaved stories about demons and a great battle against their Lord. How my great-great aunt had excitedly told my great-grandmother about a man whom she fought with. He was mysterious and more than handsome, she was sure they’d fall in love and get married after the war between dark and sunlight. Though she never got to see the sunlight of the next day, she finally found the love she was looking for in Inkyo’s ancestor. “When I pass I want you to have her nitchiri sword, I think she’d want that too.” Nitchiri? 

“Soba, are you feeling okay?” I ask in the most respectful way I could muster. I was worried this was some weird way for her to tell me she was dying and didn’t have long. My Soba was a source of flowing wisdom, I don’t think I could navigate this world without her. She smiles sadly and pats the top of my head. 

“Don’t worry Ruru chan, I’m not dying just yet. When the time does eventually come though, I want you to know fate has a path for you, but you can also have a path for fate.” 

Soba passed 3 years later and a similar sword to the one downstairs is displayed in my own home. I looked like Kanroji Mitsuri and that was enough for me to know I was going to be just fine. Hell, maybe those genes would get me in good graces with Inkyo. Being attracted to people who looked like me is kind of in his genetics right? 

“Airu? Airu where did you go just now?” Inkyo’s eyes are finally looking into mine and a small shudder runs down my spine. 

“Sorry, just reminiscing about Soba.” I smile, trying to hide the fact that the memory I was recalling led to me hoping he’d be into me based on my looks. 

“Obaasan Mitsuri… she was also an incredible woman.” He presses his lips into a thin line as if trying to stop himself from crying. I lower my brows as I stare up at him. 

“Do you call every woman you know an incredible woman?” I huff, crossing my arms in front of me. Inkyo looks off to the side and scratches the back of his head. I must be mistaken, but it looks like there’s a hint of red on his cheeks. 

“Not all.” He mumbles in response. I puff out my cheeks and lean forward, trying my best to intimidate him. 

“Oh yeah then what do you say about me when you talk about me?” He shuts his eyes and lets out a sigh. Oh no, did I push him too far? He covers his face and turns away from me. “Answer me Inkyo,” I demand. He lets out another breath and turns completely around, now facing the door we’d walked through a couple of minutes prior. 

“Jeez, do I have to fire you just to get you off my case?” He mumbles against his hands. I stand up straight again and grumble a few words about how he’s an asshole and then turn toward his (of course) black couch. I plop myself down on the soft cushions and huffily brush my skirt out over my legs. 

“Fine, then if you’re all business, then let’s get started,” I state plainly, a little hurt he wouldn’t answer me. Inkyo turns on his heel and walks toward me. 

“Well, since we are in my home I feel like it would be rude for me to not offer you something to drink.” He looks over to the steel-accessorized kitchen with the same warm wood as his bakery. I sink into the plush couch and wave my hand dismissively. 

“I’ll be fine with some apple juice if you have it.” Why’d we even have to come up here again? Why couldn’t we sit at one of the tables downstairs? My eyes widen and I watch Inkyo rummage through his stainless steel refrigerator. Oh my goodness…was he…going to murder me? No…surely not. Well, I was a major pain in the ass so it’s plausible. Whatever the reason, I may have been to quick to follow him up here. Damn this lovey-dovey brain of mine. The clink of a glass being set on a coaster in front of me breaks me out of my thoughts. Inkyo’s eyes watch me carefully as he sets himself in a sleek (black again) armchair across from me. He steeples his hands under his chin a serious look on his face. 

“So let’s get down to business.”

ಊ♡ಊ

It’s been about 2 weeks since my meeting with Inkyo Obanai and I had no idea how busy a small bakery on the outskirts of Tokyo could get. 

“Could I get one of those small muffins?” A tall teenage boy asks, pointing to a blueberry muffin in the case. I smile brightly and nod. 

“Of course! That will be 3.40 please.” I relay. The boy flushes and fumbles with his wallet. I giggle to myself and gather his purchase in the signature black and white paper bag. He hands me the money and I smile graciously. “Thank you, have a nice day.” I wave to him and he bows his head and waves goodbye. I wipe my brow and sigh. Phew, it’s not even noon yet and all our tables are packed with students, employees on break, and a few elderly people. 

“Wow, it was never this busy before.” A familiar voice observes. I turn my attention to the figure in front of me and a smile instantly appears on my lips. 

“Sora!” I exclaim and nearly jump over the counter to give her a hug. She welcomes me into her arms with a smug look on her face. 

“The one and only.” She chuckles. “But seriously, how are there so many people in here? I didn’t think Inkyo had it in him.” Her eyes fall to my slightly shorter stature and then she rolls her eyes. “That’s right I forgot you worked here. That’s why there are so many people.” She groans and nods toward the counter. “How has he been treating you?” She asks walking behind the counter with me. 

“Good, but what do you mean that’s why there are so many people here?” I question. Sora laughs and a piece of her thick raven hair falls in front of her face. Just like her brother’s. They looked identical except for their eyes. Both of Sora’s eyes are a piercing greenish-blue hue, still as intense as her brother’s though. 

“You. Airu you’re absolutely stunning. People are coming to see you smile at them.” She answers with another small laugh. I pause. Really? Did people come to see me? What about Inkyo though? He was extremely attractive, people had to come for him too, right?

“Oh.” Is the only thing I can manage to say. Sora pats me on the back and looks out into the crowd. 

“Just make sure Inkyo doesn’t see any of these dudes flirting with you.” She advises. I furrow my brows and look at her questioningly. “Just, keep that in mind.” She pats my back again and moves toward the small trinkets on the back shelves. I’d grown fond of a lot of them while working here. There was a beautiful handmade pot with intricate blue flowers painted on them. Then a calico figurine stood proudly with a little backpack on it. Then there was, of course, the sword. I caught myself staring at it at all times of the day. Wondering how it would feel to wield such a magnificent piece of weaponry. It made me miss my sword all alone at home. Maybe I could ask Inkyo to display mine too?

“Sora.” I whisk around to see Inkyo staring at his little sister with a blank expression. “What are you doing here?” He asks. He glances at me, but then his eyes are back on her. She turns toward him slowly and shrugs. 

“If I’m being honest I was a little hungry. Lucky for you the taste of you being an asshole doesn’t get into your food.” She smiles innocently and Inkyo lets out a loud groan. “Oh, I also wanted to see Airu in her cute little apron,” Sora adds, her fingers playing with the tie on my back. I squirm under her touch. 

“Sora that tickles.” I giggle. Inkyo’s eyes narrow and he catches Sora’s wrist. 

“Why don’t you get your food and go sit down?” He grumbles, releasing her quickly. Sora’s eyes light up mischievously and I can tell she’s about to annoy her brother. I want to tell her to just do as he says, but she’s a stubborn girl. 

“Okay, but I’ll be taking your little girlfriend with me.” She grabs me by the waist and picks up a muffin from the display on top of the counter. Inkyo’s eyes trace her arm around my waist and then flit up to my eyes. They look like they’re subtly burning with some sort of emotion. I want to ask him what’s wrong, but he turns away before I can. 

“Fine. Do whatever you want.” He places his palms on the counter and greets a new customer with a tight smile. Sora leads me away to a free table near the breakroom. 

“He’s so weird.” She says when we’re finally sitting down. I nod slowly but feel a bit confused by that whole interaction. 

“I think you tease him too much,” I mumble absentmindedly. Sora’s eyes widen and she bites angrily into her muffin. 

“He deserves it. He’s always acting like he’s better than me and it’s only because our parents favor him. You look so much like our ancestor, the great swordsman Iguro Obanai. You’re the best Inkyo. We love you so much. It gets a little old after a while.” She mutters. I soften at her plight. Her parents did favor Inkyo, I’d witnessed it all our life. 

“I’m sorry Sora. I just think there are better times for you to enact goblin mode.” I reach out and caress her hand. She smiles through bites and turns to watch her brother at the front counter. “Do you want to hang out after my shift?” I ask in hopes she’ll say yes. It’d been a while since we had gotten together. She presses her lips into a thin line and turns her gaze back to me.

“Thanks, Airu, I’d like that.”

Sora leaves after we chat for a bit about our plans for later. She makes sure to flip her brother off as she leaves. He rolls his eyes as I walk back toward my station. 

“I love that little goblin.” He chuckles. I bump my hip into him and he startles. 

“I think she’d like to hear that from you every once and a while,” I say, enjoying the way Inkyo stares at where I had bumped him. 

“Yeah, probably.” He mumbles, still engrossed in where we’d touched. Sora was right, he is weird. I grin to myself and resume standing by the display case. Since our chat, the bakery had emptied, and only a couple of the students remained working away on their computers. 

“I don’t know how to thank you for this job, Inkyo.” I voice, not sure where I was going with the conversation. He looks at me and shakes his head. 

“You don’t need to. I’m glad I get to work with you.” He replies, a small smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. He lifts his hand to cover it but I catch the sleeve of his dark shirt. 

“Why do you do that?” I ask, turning my body toward him. He watches me with the same intensity a few weeks ago. 

“Do what?” He questions back, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Cover your mouth when you smile,” I explain. His eyes widen slightly and I can feel my heart pick up speed. What was I doing? This was brave, asking him all these personal questions. We were friends, but we weren’t as close as Sora and I. Was I being rude?

“Whenever I smile around you I feel like the corners of my mouth are being ripped open. The amount of joy you bring me splits me open.” He breathes. My eyes are the ones to widen now. What did he mean by that? 

“Excuse me? Can I get that last cinnamon roll please?” Inkyo’s gaze lingers on me for a beat before attending to the customer in front of us. I, on the other hand, still stare at him as he goes about running a business. The joy you bring me splits me open. I let out a shaky breath and cover my mouth as a smile forms. I can’t help it, it’s wide and almost painful. 

Ah. So that’s what he means.

ಊ♡ಊ

“Oh give me a break. He’s not dreamy!” Sora rolls her eyes and punches at the pillow next to her. I laugh at her reaction. 

“No really! I swear. I know describing him doesn’t paint a very good picture, but let me pull up a photo.” I scramble to find my phone. 

“Bean are you hearing this shit? Your owner is bonkers!” Sora gestures to me wildly and Bean, who is laying next to her, blinks twice before closing his eyes again. Sora sighs exasperatedly and flops back into the couch cushion. I finally find a good photo of the scraggly anime character I was talking about. Sora’s eyes study him for a while before she nods once. 

“Okay, maybe I will be hearing you out.” She shrugs and I pump my fist in the air. 

“I told you! He’s evil but so damn attractive.” I kick my feet and hug my phone. 

“You have problems.” Sora teases. I nod my head as I think about my type in men. Yeah, I do, but that’s what makes me special. 

“Hey now, remember this is my house. I can kick you out.” I narrow my eyes and Sora holds her hands up in the air in surrender. I throw a pillow at her. “Get some sleep you dingus. It’s nearly 2 am.” I groan as I push off the ground to a standing position. Sora sticks out her tongue and stuffs the pillow next to her. 

“Weeeeeeaaaaaaak.” She mocks and then flips herself to get more comfortable on my couch. I roll my eyes and flick off the light. 

“Goodnight Soblin.” My nickname for her is a mixture of her name and goblin. 

“Goodnight whore.” Her nickname for me is any insult she can think of. I smile to myself and walk the short steps to my room. I open the door and Bean scurries to come to sleep with me. “Traitor!” Sora calls from the couch. I close the door behind us and take a deep breath. My eyes catch the glint of the moon’s reflection on something shiny. I look up at the wall above my bed. There hung my sword. It had a pink and white hilt, with a guard that was four hearts around the bottom of the blade. The blade was a mixture of black and a redder pink. 

“Kanroji Mitsuri, what exactly were you like?” I mumble to myself. Bean mews softly from my bed and I crawl in with him. I catch myself staring at the sword above me as I drift off to sleep. 

“Here.” A voice mumbles. In front of me is a boy about my age. He wears black and white stripes and a mask over his mouth. His eyes are blue and gold, beautiful. He holds striped green socks in front of him with his head turned away from me. I smile happily and take them gingerly from his grasp. 

“Thank you.” I bow my body and when I look up his eyes are on me. My smile grows and his eyes widen. He stumbles back a few steps and I tilt my head in confusion. 

“It’s-It’s no big deal.” He stammers and before I can say anything else he runs away. What a strange boy. I peer down at the socks he’d given me and can’t help but feel my heart flutter slightly. What was the serpent Hashira doing giving the love Hashira a pair of socks? I look up to where he’d run off to and think about hunting him down, but I highly doubt I’d be able to find him. He probably blended in with the shadows. 

“Whatcha got there?” A voice from behind me asks. Kyojuro Rengoku stands behind me, his usual wide stare looking back at me. I glance at the socks and then back at the flame Hashira. 

“Some socks…” I reply. He smiles widely and studies the socks. 

“They remind me of Iguro Obanai.” He nearly yells. I smile and nod. 

“He’s the one who gave them to me,” I confirm. Kyojuro nods and then gestures to me. 

“By the looks of your face, he set your heart ablaze!” He exclaims. I gasp and touch my cheeks. Warm. So warm. My heart nearly explodes with a feeling of excitement and happiness. Could my goal of finding a man to love me finally be fulfilled? I glance behind me, where Iguro had run off to. 

“Yeah, I guess he did.”