#so this is very obviously set in the far future

[shin-kenooubu]

Confession Headcanons!

featuring: Ranpo Edogawa

(sfw, fluff, gn!reader, no content warnings)

• author's note: more ranpo because i love him.

Ranpo isn't used to being uncertain about things, in fact, there is nothing in the world that he is less accustomed to. He always has things figured, it's always taken him seconds and it somehow takes him Even Less Time to blabber out the answer.

But that certainty comes from cold hard facts. Feelings are far, far, faaaar trickier.

So obviously. Instead of figuring out a way to put his feelings into proper words and going through the grueling feeling of vulnerability and heat rushing into his face and down his neck.

He makes you do it.

Eventually, you won't be able to keep quiet about your feelings and he knows this. But at the rate you're going, it's going to take ages. So he's going to help speed up the process! Because someone needs to confess.

And its certainly not going to be him. For obvious reasons.

So heres now it goes:

- All up in your space. He knows you get flustered when he's near. Filing some paperwork? He's sitting on your desk. Taking a break on the couch? He's sitting down and draping his legs over your lap. You're taking your lunch break? He's hungry too!!! Buy him a treat!!!

- Makes you accompany him whenever he gets sent out. It doesn't matter if you can drive or not, he'll tell you everything he's already figured out about the case on the way there regardless! He's basically figured it all out already anyways. Isn't that impressive? Isn't he the best? Praise him, please and thank you.

- Compliments you. Indirectly. All the other members of the ADA always mention how highly Ranpo seems to think of you. It's clear that he values your input, he finds you incredibly dependable as well, y'know, he's even mentioned that you're pretty easy on the eyes. Don't tell him they told you that, though. (It's all part of his master plan.)

- Shares. His supply is dwindling even faster because of you! You should feel honored. Or maybe not. He doesn't actually mind, don't feel bad for taking anything. Hurry up and eat the damn thing already.

- Listens to you. Actively. He makes sure to show that he's paying attention to you because he knows that you appreciate it. He doesn't really get it, he's always listening even if it looks like he's busy playing around. But feelings are weird and fragile. He'll be a little extra careful with yours.

- Makes an effort to not insult your intelligence. Not that he ever actually means to, his wording is just off. Which is why recently you've found him growing quiet in conversations for a few seconds. A small pout on his lips as he considers his words before snapping right back into place and continuing whatever tirade he was going on. All without throwing out an indirect jab. It's cute, and also very thoughtful.

- Minimizes the opportunities you have to get hurt in his plans. Obviously some things don't come together as neatly as one might hope but damnit if he isn't finding a way to keep you safe. You can be useful And out of harms way.

He's obvious, he doesn't trust you to not brush off his vaguer advances as him simply being friendly. He wants you to get the hint. Needs you to, really, because he's sick of pining just as much as you are.

When you do eventually ask to speak to him privately, invite him into your space and sit him down, his heart pounds.

Ranpo knows the outcome of this, he's set it in motion for weeks, maybe even months, but theres still Doubt.

He can't see the future.

He can infer it, maybe. Can imagine a future where you and him are happy, where everyday, the two of you lay in bed together, and you smile at him as you run your fingers through his black hair and his mind grows muddy.

But this isn't like any simple murder case. He knows some facts, yeah, but none of it will ever, ever be enough to be Certain. Certain of you and him. Together. It scares him.

But when you take his hands in yours, a little clammy from nerves, and whisper your feelings to him, he can't help but surge forward and press his lips to yours.

A wide smile. A simple, "I know."

You can feel his quiet laughter on your face.

He's lucky he didn't wheeze it out, with how tight his chest feels from pure giddiness.

[veritas-scribblings]

3. out of control | words: 2,325 | M for some mild sexual content | jegulus, platonic prongsfoot, some polyamory, implied bartylus, subtle "really read between the lines" rosestarkillerchaser | [early morning <- previous part | next part -> home]

(October, 1982)

James knows that something will go wrong the moment he sees them walking in. It begins when all the blood in his body immediately pools south the moment he lays eyes on Regulus. Regulus with his pale-yet-flushed cheeks. Regulus with his silky hair that falls into his eyes in loose curls. Regulus with his half-unbuttoned shirt, which should be illegal because James can see his chest. 

James wants to debauch him.

But he can’t. He can’t because Lily is across the room. He can’t because Sirius is here, and everything is already fragile and incredibly loaded. He can’t because…because…because everything. And he doesn’t know what to do. James has managed to keep everything so very, neatly separate and compartmentalised for so very, very long.

But now he feels like everything is about to explode.

It’s Dorcas’s birthday; the one time when their social circles overlap. Marlene, being Marlene, planned this elaborate event with promises of ‘much lubrication’. Because she’s filthy like that. And because Marlene is Marlene and really likes drama, and Dorcas obviously has her own friends, they’ve managed to convince Regulus to make an appearance.

Regulus, unfortunately, comes attached with Barty Crouch Junior and Evan Rosier. It was the only way they could get Regulus to agree to attend.

And James knows: everything is going to explode.

The music is loud; Marlene has amplified it with a Sonorus charm and James can barely hear himself think. Across the lounge, through the throng of bodies, Lily is behind the makeshift bar brewing cocktails. The ‘Lily Special’, Marlene calls it, tinged with magic that makes you sing or breathe bubbles. Mostly harmless stuff. But Barty has been fighting to get his ‘Barty Special’ behind the bar, which James knows isn’t the best idea. Mainly because of where the ‘Barty Special’ got him last time. 

“Lookin’ morose, Potter. All broody.” Marlene elbows him between the ribs. She drops herself down onto the couch beside him and passes him a drink: one of the Lily Specials. James’s agitation is giving Marlene far too much of a thrill, because Marlene is a little shit who gets joy out of other people’s discomfort. 

James cautiously sets the drink aside. Though he wants to down it to try and drown his worries, he knows he’s going to need a clear head to avoid future fuck-ups.

“What’s got your pants in a knot?” Marlene asks, conversationally. “Let me guess. Your ex-girlfriend is behind the bar brewing drinks, getting everyone lubricated, a strong, independent woman. Your best friend looks like he wants to murder someone. Maybe you. Maybe his brother. Your boyfriend, his brother, who you happen to be shagging also looks like he wants to murder someone. Maybe his brother. Maybe your ex-girlfriend. More likely you, because you, James Potter, have been avoiding him all night.”

Fuck it. Because she’s right. He has been avoiding Regulus, and Regulus has been furious about it, hitting him with icy-cold stares of death all night. And James? James is weak. James is a coward. James’s Gryffindor lionheart has wilted and died.

Sirius has never seen them together, and James is just not prepared for the fallout.

James downs the entire ‘Lily Special’ cocktail in one go, a smoking, pearlescent concoction. Swallows too much air. Hiccups a glistening, shimmering bubble. The bubble smells like lemon. The cocktail tastes like peach. It’s damned confusing.

Marlene is right. Sirius sits on a the bench by the bay windows with the darkest, angriest expression James has seen on him in a very long time. He’s watching someone across the room. From the looks of things, he’s been watching that someone for a while. Intensely. Hands gripping his cocktail glass, which surprisingly has yet to shatter under the pressure of his grip.

“Does it bother you, Potter, that they actually look like they’re about to fuck,” Marlene asks casually. She takes a sip of her drink, all innocent like, and smiles up at him sweetly.

“They who?” James asks. A bubble escapes his lips when he speaks.

Marlene elbows him again and nods across the room to the spot Sirius is staring at. She’s right again, he realises. They do look like they’re about to…fuck.

Barty has Regulus in his arms, holding him so closely they may as well one one. All tangled limbs. Leg between Regulus’s. They’re kissing. They’re moving together to the music. Grinding. Barty has his face buried in Regulus’s neck. Regulus has his head thrown back. He’s getting off on it, James knows, because James knows that look.

He has taken something. Most likely a ‘Barty Special’.

And of course Sirius wants to murder someone. James had been wrong; Sirius wants to murder Barty. There's darkness, there's anger. He’s most likely plotting just the murder might go down.

“Huh. So I was under the impression that Crouch is dating Rosier. And that you’re dating…baby Black…but that…” Marlene seems to note that James is not upset, he’s merely annoyed, because she shrugs and holds a hand up and says, “Hey, look, I’m not about to judge your sex life. Whatever kinky shit’s going on in your bedroom…or their bedroom…”

“Fuck,” James mutters. The song changes to ‘Back in Black’. He feels the beat pounding like a pulse in his chest; it gives him the internal boost he needs. “Shit. On a disaster scale of 1 to 10?”

“12,” Marlene says firmly. “I reckon, if you don’t want anyone losing an eye or an appendage, I’d intervene, like, ten minutes ago.”

James sighs and scans the room. Evan is leaning up against a wall by the door, shadowed, like he’s trying his damndest to avoid human contact and ensure his own ability to flee. James shoves his way over. “You go get your boyfriend,” he says, “and I’ll go get mine.”

Evan snickers and leans back against the wall, folds his arms over his chest. “Why? I’m enjoying the scene.”

“Look.” James grits his teeth, feels the heat of a memory flush in his cheeks, draining down his neck. He’s probably tinged red, and maybe he could pretend it’s the buzz of the alcohol, but he knows it’s not. And Evan knows it too. “I don’t need anyone…asking questions.”

“Embarrassed?” Evan drawls. “Hogwarts is a distant memory, and yet you’re still…such a Gryffindor. Besides, not the scene I’m enjoying. Not that it they’re not hot and all. How long do you think it’ll take before his head explodes?”

He means Sirius, who is still staring intently at Barty and James. Every once in a while, Sirius looks over at James like James will have a lot to answer for later. After Sirius is done freezing him out.

“I’m not emb—” James groans, frustrated. “I just mean, if you don’t want Sirius having a go at Barty…”

“Barty can handle himself. I’m pretty sure he’s taken Sirius on before.”

James rolls his eyes. He can handle this himself. When he stalks off, he sees out of the corner of his eyes Evan reluctantly following him.

Barty and Regulus are still wrapped around each other. Barty practically hisses when he see’s James. It is not unusual for the territorial heart that resides inside the little freak. It’s more than likely, James figures, that Regulus is upset with him and Barty is protective on his behalf.

Evan wraps his arms around Barty’s waist and pulls him backward, and James carefully works on untangling Regulus’s limbs. Regulus sighs and lays his head on James’s shoulder. 

“You’re a bitch,” Regulus says into his neck. They sound like Barty’s words.

He’s drunk, James knows. He’s also some level of high. Cheeks flushed, Regulus kisses James's neck and James has to cut off a moan when Regulus’s hand dips between them and he cups James’s crotch and he massages gently.

“Hey, hey, no. Not here. Sirius is watching,” James murmurs by Regulus’s ear, pushing his hand away. When Regulus makes a fussy sound and tries to leave, James traps him in the circle of his arms.

“You taste like fireworks,” Regulus says, nipping at his chin. He smells sweet, like coconuts and vanilla. His tongue, his lips work a pathway up James’s neck, causing James’s breath and heartbeat to quicken. He can feel it pulse between them.

“Love, what did you take?” James tries not to groan, but Regulus is so damned handsy, which is unusual for Regulus. And stress and arousal have been James’s companions all night. “Let’s go get you a drink…some water.”

James pulls Regulus over to the couch, where Marlene is still planted watching everything unfold with great interest. He tries to deposit Regulus onto the couch, but Regulus doesn’t let go and they go tumbling forwards together. 

When Evan arrives with Barty, planting himself between Regulus and Barty for good measure, James notices Sirius storming off across the room.

“Fuck,” he swears, “Evan, get him a—just make sure they don’t do anything stupid.” James races after Sirius, pushing his way through the crowd. 

Sirius is sitting on the door step outside smoking, a terrible habit he’s picked up recently. It’s dark outside and the autumn air is fresh with a slight bite to it. Sighing, James drops down next to Sirius and draws his knees to his chest.

Wordlessly, Sirius passes James the cigarette. James takes a drag, coughs up a lung, and passes it back. 

“It’s…” he hedges. “...he’s plastered. I think…Barty gave him something.”

“Barty Special,” Sirius comments. Takes another long drag from the cigarette. “He’s such a fucking arsehole.” He casts a sidelong glance at James and rolls his eyes. “I’m not mad at you, so you can stop looking like I’m going to rip your head of. I know what they’re like. Everyone knows what they're fucking like."

Letting out a long breath, James leans back, laying down on the ground, half in the house, half out of the house. He can hear the beat of the music in the distance, the chatter of voices merging into a single, shapeless blob. 

“I gave you my blessing, didn’t I?” Sirius says solemnly.

James blinks up at him. “Um…no? I think your words were, 'I don’t want anything to do with this'?” Sirius had frozen him out for a long time when James had admitted that he was quickly and hopelessly falling for Regulus. 

“Well, I maintain that. I am not in the least bit interested in details.”

“And I, too, am not in the least bit interested in giving you any details,” James agrees eagerly, sitting up.

“Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

“Okay, so, what’s eating you, Pads?”

Sirius lays his head down on James’s shoulder and sighs a long, drawn out sigh. He tucks himself under James’s arm, snuggling close, staring up at the night sky, which is clear and speckled with stars. “Can’t see me, this time of the year,” he says.

He doesn’t want to talk about it, James knows. He’s bothered about Regulus—Regulus, who still won’t talk to him—and it has nothing to do with James, apparently. Maybe it doesn’t even have anything to do with Barty? It likely has to do with whatever occurred between the brother way back after their parents died. Something they won’t talk about.

James nudges Sirius and Sirius makes a fussy sound, so remarkably like Regulus that it leaves a weird, uncomfortable feeling in the pit of James’s stomach. “Well, what did you go with? Boils? Bat-bogey? Good ol’ fashioned quartering?”

“Death by a thousand lashes,” Sirius says darkly. “Slowly.”

James hums. He pulls Sirius down over to the lawn and they lay on the ground again. The sky is clearer like this; it gives Sirius comfort.

It gives Regulus comfort too. They’re similar like that, though they’ll never admit it.

“Barty isn’t half-bad,” James comments. “Sometimes I think you guys’d get along smashingly if…if you didn’t hate each other so much.”

“You’re nuts,” Sirius mutters. “That doesn’t make any sense. Too many blows to the head in quidditch practice, Prongsie. Gotta get you guys helmets.”

“He’s just…weirdly loyal.”

James doesn’t need to look at Sirius to know that Sirius is rolling his eyes. “Tried to literally murder me kinda loyal. Or you forgotten that so quickly?”

“Violent tendencies aside, he’s okay,” James says. He can’t explain it. Barty is insane. The kind of chaos where you’ll always see him coming, you just won’t know what he’s about to do. He’s territorial. He loves to bait people for the drama.

But James…sometimes he just doesn’t mind Barty. Sometimes he likes him. And maybe it’s…

James clears his throat and tries to shake the images away. It feels wrong thinking about it around Sirius. The way he can feel the heat in his blood rising and spreading and pooling. Feel the heat in the memory of those hands on his skin.

“I won’t say anything,” Sirius says quietly. He’s staring up at the sky, tracing the constellations, James knows. He won’t look at James because Sirius does not do feelings. He's practically allergic to them.

“He’s okay,” James says. “He’s good. Regulus is good. He…got the job at the apothecary. Still plays quidditch on the weekends. Oh, he’s trying to grow this rare herb at his house for these potions he’s brewing at the apothecary. And then his cat ate it, and we had to take it to the animal healer. It was this whole thing.”

James turns, looks at Sirius, who’s resting with his head on James’s arm. “I tell him about you,” he says gently. He talks to Regulus about Sirius, and Regulus doesn’t say anything. Much like Sirius, he is always quiet, but he always listens. 

Sirius hums and closes his eyes. He rolls into James’s arms. He smells like smoke, and he’s a little bit tipsy. Sirius won’t say anything, James knows. The way that Regulus won’t say anything. Because both brothers are too stubborn. Too proud.

And maybe that’s wherein the problem lies.

[jimin-bangtan]

What are Jimin’s new dreams?

Before Jimin even clarified the (below) statement he made at Festa 2021 [set to mark], I had noticed that throughout the years many of the items Jimin had expressed that he wanted to accomplish did  eventually come to pass. He seems to be very good at setting goals and working toward making them become reality.

Click on image to enlarge.

Years later, at this point in their career, BTS has stunned the music industry by remaining productive and relevant while being absent due to mandatory military service.  So even while being in the military, yet another of Jimin’s known dreams came true.

In 2016 in his reflective Festa profile, Jimin declared that a desire on his bucket list was to “get the daesang”.

He may have been hoping for the prestigious daesang (grand prize) for the group at that time, but it wasn’t clearly stated who he had hoped would get a daesang eventually. It could have been a wish for both him and his group separately. Or he may not have been able to conceive of him ever getting a daesang as a soloist himself at that point. With Jimin’s goal setting habit and strength, it’s certainly possible either way.

Since then, it now turns out, the group and Jimin both have daesangs. Over the years, BTS did go on to earn a record-breaking number of daesangs, but in late 2024, Jimin was the first soloist to win this particular daesang (Worldwide Icon of the Year/Fan Choice of the Year), and he was the first soloist in a decade to win any daesang in any category. He is also the first soloist from BTS so far.

Soon after the win, Jimin used one of his rare communication moments with fans to thank them for such an honor.  He was very touched and “stunned”. (Stunned? Stunned stunned. Stunned.🤭)

After another customary break of silence for Jimin, he recently wrote a letter to reach out to fans again in January of 2025. 2025 is the year he is to be finally discharged from military service, BTS is to be reunited as a group, and the group begins the new phase of their careers and lives.

In the letter, Jimin wished fans a happy new year and filled them in on how he was spending his time. He explained that one of the things he was doing was having important conversations with Jung Kook, who is serving alongside him by way of Korea’s companion program. The conversations center around planning for the future.

Jimin's current letter caused me to reflect back to the past and then wonder, “What are Jimin’s new dreams?” If you've read my Chameleon Park Jimin series (especially the more recent ones), I have already been considering some of these same questions: How will he choose to present himself on stage and in life? What will he decide to show that he hadn’t shown before? What will he no longer show that he had once shown? What kind of life will he choose to live as an adult artist in the idol world? How have he and his views changed since serving in the military? But Jimin's current letter, along with my Festa 2021 reflection and all of his astounding and historic solo achievements, really sparked a curiosity about: What new dreams will Jimin now be aiming for?

In his song, Smeraldo Garden Marching Band, from his MUSE album, Jimin said, “Everything we couldn’t say before… I’ll tell you everything now.” In his MUSE fan song, Closer Than This, he said, “When we meet again on a spring day, I’ll tell you all the things I couldn’t before.”  Now, in his current letter directly to fans, he said he couldn’t wait to have fun conversations with fans about things that had happened. But obviously he already had things to tell that had happened before.  Will these new conversations shine a light on his new dreams and future plans? I’m sure all of his fans can’t wait to find out the answers to these questions and more. I know I can’t.

BTS, as a group, and now as soloists, have already achieved so much in their careers. They have reached heights and earned accomplishments that have far surpassed what others had done or in which they were the first to do so. After military service and the forced hiatus, Jimin and the rest of BTS will have so many more experiences, skills, and thoughts to share. June of 2025 cannot come fast enough. Whether Jimin shares all of his new (or existing) intentions with us, we know that he usually has interesting and exciting dreams and has the determination and ability - not to mention the support of his devoted fans - to make them come true too.

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

FFXIV Write: Telling

In which Ser Hamignant Varlineau questions a certain someone about a secret. SFW.

“There’s something you’re not telling me.” Ser Hamignant Varlineau’s eyes narrowed. At six fulms eight ilms and very large, he cut the imposing aura of his father Ser Estinien with the we’ll call it “fluffy” body type of his mother the Warrior of Light. “What is it?”

“I…It’s nothing…”

The Temple Knight rolled his eyes. “You can lie to everyone else, but you can’t lie to me.”

I’m your twin, Marc.

We’re identical.

I know you, mate.

Marcelin threw his hands in the air and groaned. “Fine! I’m going to ask Ebegei to marry me, and—HAMI!”

I FUCKING KNEW IT!!!!!

Sylv owes me fifty gil.

Hamignant let out a cheer and hugged his twin. “Oh Marc, that’s wonderful news. Truly wonderful.”

Like Mummy, Marcelin blushed and smiled. “Aye.”

“Have you told anyone else?”

He shook his head. “No. I do have an idea of when and where but not how yet. I was thinking…” Uh oh. “Fuck it, should I do what you did when you proposed to Daisuke?”

Hamignant loved his twin dearly.

He’s a master of woodworking. An artist of renown. Has as big a heart as Mummy and Bapa put together.

He’s also a bit of a dumbass sometimes.

“Marc. Marc. Marc.” Hamignant drawled, dragging Marcelin by the arm to the bed in one of Uncle Aymeric’s many guest rooms. Marc’s in Ishgard for a job, and then off to propose I suppose! Heh. “In the moment, I trust you’ll find the right words.”

As they had done since they were small children, the twins sat side by side on the bed---Hamignant on the right, Marcelin on the left.

Spreading his thighs and resting his hands at the top of his belly, Marcelin heaved a sigh. “I hope so.”

“Oh Marc,” Hamignant threw an arm around his brother’s broad shoulders. “Remember what Granddad said to Mum: trust your heart because it’ll never lead you astray.” He grinned. “You’ll do great. I know it.” He then laughed. “After all, you can’t possibly be worse than when Laure proposed to Fry.” The two laughed heartily.

Poor bastard was so nervous he lost his lunch.

Even Bapa didn’t do that!

Once the laughter died down, the two stared into identical brown eyes.

Marcelin smiled like the cutest fucking dope. Wait, that means I do the same thing. Shit. “Thanks, Hami.”

“For you, dear brother, anything.” Anything and everything, Marc. We came into the world together. We’ll go into the lifestream together. And when you say “I do” to Ebegei and cry as much as Bapa, I’ll be by your side. He squeezed Marcelin’s shoulder. “Now, tell me what you’ve planned so far…”

[narwhalandchill]

ANYWAY now that ive gotten my firefly rant off my chest and on a more positive note about the story overall; i Really liked it!!!! and character-wise specifically the biggest surprise for me in a huge W way was actually acheron??

& given i was actually somewhat committed to pulling her anyway (well. initially as kafka replacement to pull my first lightning carry after losing 50-50 but. Well. she had mercy on me at the v last moment thank goodness 😭😭) so actually ending up liking her character this much just cemented that resolve for good too. cant wait for her!!! like i am still meh on her base design not bc its that bad by itself but simply bc seeles existence just cheapens it so much like. Why are they so similar. but its not bad lmao

anyway to her actual characterization. first of all. the VAs delivery omg yall beidous english voice is already one of my all time favorites in genshin and shes doing an amazing job as acheron like. she started talking and im just INSTANTLY warmed up to her just from that KDJSKDKJK i love love love her attitude and energy!!!!!

n personality wise too??? like ive seen others mention a similar sentiment but its just the way how. even after getting the warnings from now Two separate characters that shes up to no good. im just like. "nah id win" abt it SHSKDKSI like throughout the story she comes off as so damn likeable and grounded and realistically friendly (as in not like. too open n aligned w the player from the get-go to feel believable for the character as opposed to a plot contrivance) that i just. even if shes bad news im team acheron truly.

she has genuinely funny one liners too ??? like not necessarily jokes outright but the kinda comments she says are just . very realistic in that dry witty way that comes off as natural and entertaining shes so charming!!! i love her. the more contemplative stuff she says too

but also like. girl whats up w the ominous red text ily but are we cool 😭😭 and the whole shredding us into thin slices on first encounter in the dreamscape like. Ok uhhhhhhhh ik i said nah id win and team acheron forever but this is kinda. worrisome

BUT that just means im so fucking excited to see her go apeshit too lmao like. oh shes an emanator here to do murder and spread death? COOL i hope she has fun!!

(and ik i said firefly rant over but. what the actual hell is that post firefly merk dialogue option where the games like very heavy handedly implying ur supposed to be blaming ACHERON for "letting it happen" in some emotional frenzy???? bro what 💀💀 0/5 moment i would never. n even if she plausibly did im just. dude her being cold towards firefly is just a plus for me when the narrative has just railroaded the TB into being sooo charmed by her magical presence lmao i Liked that acheron was suspicious n cold)

overall Definitely wasnt expecting acheron to establish herself as such an instant favorite for sure but. shes here now and im v happy abt it im super looking forward to seeing those more dubious goals of her come to the forefront in the future like. im so curious about whats up w her and her memory and that red text and everything

[giacarem]

Fic where, after Arthur has legalised magic but before Merlin has revealed his magic, Arthur hears that a sorcerer named Emrys can see into the future and grant prophecies, and decides to seek him out to ask him about the future of Camelot and Merlin panics

So Merlin tries to convince Arthur the whole time that maybe it’s not the best idea to seek out this apparently all knowing oracle, and what about whether this guy is even real or if he has the abilities in the first place (because as far as Merlin knows, he’s not a seer. Sure, he can see the future if he looks into the Crystal Cave, but it’s not an innate ability like Morgana’s visions)

But Arthur is determined so he takes Merlin and his knights and sets out to where Emrys is said to reside (and Merlin can’t help but think the entire thing is nonsense anyway, because where did this guy get his information from? Merlin very obviously does not live where ever they’re going)

The whole time he’s also thinking about ways to disguise himself once again if he indeed does have to present himself as Emrys to Arthur.

Anyways, they get to the abandoned castle where “Emrys” lives and surprise surprise, it’s an imposter

Merlin is now very angry and annoyed but for totally different reasons

He very subtly tries to discredit or trip up this “Emrys”

Merlin: I thought Emrys was a dragonlord

“Emrys”: Of course I am

Merlin: Then, why don’t you call a dragon?

“Emrys”: Ummmm

Arthur: Merlin, don’t be silly, all the dragons are gone, you were there when it happened

Arthur: Please, Emrys, I seek to know what will become of Camelot under my reign

“Emrys”: A kingdom is only as strong as its leader. There will be times of hardship, but also times of peace and joy

Merlin: Oh please, that’s so vague.

Arthur: Merlin, do not insult the all knowing, all powerful sorcerer

Merlin: So, how do you get your visions? Through sleep? By looking through a crystal?

“Emrys”: It comes to me naturally, like breathing. My magic always has

Merlin: Interesting, can we see some magic?

Arthur: Merlin, we are not here for entertainment

Eventually it’s revealed that this “Emrys” is a fraud and that Merlin is in fact the real Emrys, but then Arthur keeps expecting him to know about the future

Arthur: Merlin, will I die if I go on this quest to slay the beast?

Merlin, gritting his teeth: How would I know?

Arthur: Mm. I guess I just expected the all powerful Emrys to be a little more impressive

[scarlethexelove]

Hey are to taking requests I’m think about g!p Wanda where reader lost her job and feels like she’s good for nothing but Wanda reminds her that she’s good for everything and what it starts very soft ends up being in rough s*x reader ends up being pregnant

Perfect Little Housewife

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Word Count: 2934

Warnings: Poor Reader gets fired, a little bit of depressed reader, crying, comfort, Smut, Wanda has a penis, soft sex, rough sex, Mommy kink, breeding, Wanda calls reader slut once, obviously unprotected sex, a bit of choking, reader gets pregnant.

A/n: I love the request but as a note Anon I would like it if you didn't use the term g!p it can be offensive to some and I try my best to be respectful. So in the future you could either say intersex or just plainly that she has a penis thanks 😊 But I hope you like it cause I did enjoy this one.

NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO STEAL, COPY, OR REBLOG MY WORK AS THEIR OWN

A tear slips down your cheek as you set the box full of your things on the kitchen island. Fired is what just happened to you. Well they said you were being laid off but it is essentially the same thing in your mind. You're so useless that you can’t even keep your job. How are you supposed to support yourself and your wife if you lost your job? You loved your job and were good at it, so out of all the employees why did it have to be you. 

A few more tears fall as you let out a sigh. Your hands are gripping the counter on either side of the box as you look down. On top is a picture of you and your wife on your wedding day. Bright and happy smiles at the prospect of a great future but where is that future now. Tears land on the glass and roll down the front. How are you going to tell Wanda? What is she going to think of you? You're a failure. 

You don’t hear the door or the soft footsteps creeping towards you. You’re so lost in your thoughts of failure that you missed the fact that your wife is home. Wanda walks into the kitchen seeing you hunched over a box and the sounds of your sniffles causing a look of worry to cross her face. “Detka?” Wanda calls out to you. You quickly stand up straighter and wipe furiously at your eyes to clear the fallen tears. You turn around hoping that you have composed yourself enough. “Wanda.” You're a bit shocked to see her home so early. “What’s wrong moya lyubov'.” She rushes over to you having seen your red puffy eyes and the slight shake of your hands. Her hand reaches to gently cup your cheek, her thumb rubbing against the skin tenderly. “N-nothing.” You try to sound more assured of yourself but the slight stutter doesn’t fool your wife. 

Wanda pulls you into her, wrapping her arms around you tightly. You can’t help but let yourself break in her arms. A sob you didn’t know that you were holding in escapes from your lips. You grip the front of Wanda’s shirt tightly as you cry into her shoulder. You can’t help as you cry harder because of how pathetic you are right now. First you lose your job and now you're crying like a baby. But Wanda is soothing, her touch brings you comfort. Her hand gently rubbing at your back as she kisses your head, quiet shushes as she gently rocks you. You don’t know how long you cry for but they eventually calm, Wanda not stopping her menstrations to calm you. 

Once you had completely stopped crying Wanda pulled you back far enough so that she could get a good look at you. She wipes the tears with her thumbs as she cups your face in her hands. “Moya lyubov’ please tell me what’s wrong.” Her voice is soft and so reassuring, but there still is a voice in the back of your head that screams that you are a failure. You let out a shuttered sigh. “I was fired … Well laid off b-but that still means I’m nothing.” You thought you were all done crying but more tears shine in your eyes. “Oh Y/n/n you're not nothing. Detka we will be just fine.” You shake your head pulling away from her grasp. “I’m useless. I can’t even keep my job to help provide for you.. For us. What kind of wife am I? Then here I am bawling like a fucking idiot because of how useless I am.” Your sorrow turns a bit bitter, but not at her but at yourself. 

You're now muttering and pacing around at how bad of a wife you are and how pathetic you are. Wanda hates to see you so down on yourself. “Detka.” Wanda tries to get your attention but you don’t even acknowledge her. “Y/n/n.” She tries again but it's still the same. “Y/n!” She is louder and more assertive which causes you to stop in your tracks. Wanda takes this as a chance. She grabs your hips and turns you, pressing your back against the island. “Y/n, sweetheart you are not pathetic or a failure. They were stupid for letting you go.” She gives you a kind and reassuring smile. She helps calm you down with her soft voice and soft touches. 

Wanda leans in kissing your lips softly. “You are beautiful, kind, and amazing. I love you so much. You can stay home or you can come work for me if you really want to.” She pecks your lips constantly throughout her words. She knows just how to soften you up to bring you off of the ledge. “Okay.” You breathe out. Wanda kisses you again pouring all of her love for you into that single kiss. 

You two slowly make out in the kitchen. A need for comfort turning into a need for one another. Wanda easily lifts you onto the counter. You let your legs fall open and Wanda slots herself between them. She smiles into the kiss at your action before she is licking at your bottom lip asking for entrance. You gladly allow her access. A moan escapes your throat as Wanda’s tongue meets yours and she grinds her hips into yours. You can already feel her growing bulge. 

Your hands move down and start to fiddle with the button on Wanda’s pants. You struggle to focus on the kiss as you try to undo her pants. “Please.” You whimper against her lips as you fidget. She smirks, moving to push your hands away and undoing her pants swiftly. But she lets them sit around her hips revealing the top of her boxer shorts. You try to push her pants down but she stops you. Clicking her tongue. “Not yet detka. Mommy wants to see you.” You whine but nod. Wanda reaches to take off your shirt which you help by lifting your arms. 

Wanda’s lips meet yours again in another soft kiss. Her hand reached around your back and unhooked your bra. She doesn’t break the kiss as she pulls it down your shoulders and completely off. Her hands now take their place kneading at your breast. You moan in her mouth as she works you up. Gently kneading before her fingers pinch and twist at your sensitive nipples. “Ahh Mommy.” Your hips buck against hers feeling her cock straining against its fabric confines. “Please.” You whimper. 

Wanda moans as you buck into her. “Since you asked so nicely detka.” Wanda’s hands move down and hook into the hem of your pants and underwear. You lift your hips slightly allowing her to pull them both down in one fell swoop. She steps back to pull them all the way off and toss them to the side with the rest of your clothes. She can already see your wetness smearing on your thighs making her groan. You reach out for her wanting her close but she doesn’t move. Her eyes meet yours before she pulls her shirt over her head and tosses it to the side before she reaches behind her back and unclasps her bra letting it fall from her shoulders onto the floor. You so desperately want to touch her and for her to touch you that you let out a whine giving her grabby hands. Wanda clicks her tongue at you. “Patiences moya lyubov’.” She smirks at your neediness. Wanda then pushes her pants down her legs. You can now see her strained cock and the small wet spot of precum that has stained her boxers.

It takes everything in you not to just jump off the counter and rid Wanda of the rest of her clothing. But not soon after Wanda is pushing her boxers down to meet her pants around her ankles. Her cock slapped against her lower stomach. She kicks her clothes from around her ankles off and slots herself back between your waiting legs. Wanda pumps her cock a few times before swiping through your folds stopping to gently nudge at your pulsing clit. You both moan at the action. 

“Fuck malyshka you’re so wet for me.” Wanda groans as she teases your folds. “Mommy please.” You wrap your legs around her waist pulling her closer. Wanda’s desire finally wins over as she presses the tip against your entrance. She slowly pushes in. Your walls stretch to accommodate her size. Your body's desire to be stretched and filled by your wife. She keeps pushing until she is all the way in your warm walls eloping her length. Both of you moan when her hips meet yours. 

You wrap your arms around Wanda’s shoulders lacing your fingers through her hair pulling her into a kiss. As you lips meet Wanda begins to gently thrust into you. She begins to fuck you at a steady pace. Each thrust deep and precise, hitting the spongy spot deep inside of you. Whimpers and moans being swallowed by Wanda’s mouth. 

The sensual moment between the two of you as Wanda doesn’t just fuck you but makes love to you. No matter where you are in life you will always be the most important thing in Wanda’s life. She wants you to feel all of that. This isn’t about being horny it is about showing you how much she loves and cherishes you. All you can hope to do is reflect the same amount of love that she has for you back to her. 

Wanda’s hips keep their steady pace as you continue to softly make out with one another. It’s messy but filled with love. Her arms wrap tightly around you and pull you impossibly closer to her. Your mutual moans being swallowed by the other as you grind back. Your fingers gripping her hair as you break to catch your breath. She leans her forehead against yours. Her eyes looking down to where your two bodies are joined. Small pants as she thrusts perfectly angeling herself every time. “Such a good girl for Mommy. I love you so much detka.” Wanda mumbles against your lips as she gives you a kiss. “Lo-Love you too Mommy.” You mumble breathily. 

Your walls tighten around Wanda’s length as the knot in your lower abdomen tightens. Getting closer to the edge of release. Wanda right there with you, her thrust becoming a bit more sloppy. Your walls clamp around her as her length twitches inside of you. She grinds into you as she thrust in, pleasure shooting through you as you grind back. Your walls are squeezing her perfectly. Your moans are growing as you let your head fall forward onto her shoulder. She gently kisses your other shoulder as you squeeze her tightly. 

Wanda can tell you close. She wants you to finish with her, to feel you release all over her cock. She lightly nips and sucks at the skin around your neck and shoulder, sure to leave marks behind. “Cum detka. I wanna feel you fall apart.” She mumbles against your skin. Her thrust never having turned more than a steady pace continuing to drive into you. You moan as the knot snaps, letting go. Your legs tighten around her waist as your walls spasm around her length. Your cum coating her cock as she grinds into you. Her cock twitches as she releases inside of you. Your walls are being coated by her white sticky liquid. 

Feeling you cum and your walls sucking her in, greedy to milk her dry flips a switch inside of Wanda. She starts to speed up her thrust as spurts of cum coat your walls. She wants to fill you full. Feel you grip her cock like a vice. So instead of bringing you down from your high she starts to build a new one. Her hips now pistoning into you, her cock quickly disappearing in and out of your sticky hole. 

“Mommy.” You whimper confused. “Shhh detka, let Mommy use you now.” She grunts and with a particularly hard thrust you moan. That desirable flip switching inside of you at the change of your wife. You love how she can be soft one moment but rough the next. 

Wanda pulls out of you but before you can even complain about being empty she has manhandled you into a new position. She pulls you off the counter and turns you around. She presses in the middle of your back making you lean over the counter before she grabs your hips harshly and swiftly thrust her full length back inside of you. “Mommy!” You moan out loudly, her thrust at a fast and brutal pace from the start this time. She jackhammers her hips into yours, bouncing off your ass. Her fingers dig into your hips as she grunts. The force of her thrust moves your whole body. 

Your moans bounce off the walls of the kitchen as Wanda continues to thrust into you from behind. She slaps her hand down on your ass causing you to clench around her. “Oh you like that you, you little slut.” She smirks leaning over you, her breast pressed against your back. All you can do is nod your head as another slap connects with your ass cheek. Another loud moan falling from your lips. “Fuck so perfect for Mommy moya lyubov’.” She kisses your shoulder. “M-Mommy’s.” You mumble in agreeance. 

Wanda thrust in and out of you perfectly with each stroke. “Fuck. What if Mommy gets you pregnant baby hmm. You don’t need a job. Mommy will take care of you. You’ll be my perfect little housewife.” You close your eyes, nodding as you moan. “You like that detka? Mommy filling you with her babies.” Wanda grunts as she continues to thrust. Her hand that was left on your hip moving up to your throat and gently squeezing. She pulls both of your bodies up as she never falters her thrust. Her other arm wrapping around your waist keeps your body close to hers. “P-Please!” You moan, your hands gripping her arms wrapped around you digging your nails into her flesh.  

You and Wanda have leisurely talked about kids but nothing solid but her words play in your head. Now would be perfect and she is right she makes enough to support all of you. She can support not only the both of you but all the kids you could ever desire to have together. The door to a career may have closed but another door to a whole new life has opened. One that you are willing to risk it all for. 

“Mommy’s going to fill you so full of her cum. I’ll keep filling this perfect little hole until you're pregnant with my child. Fuck.” Wanda grunts, her thrust becoming sloppy as she draws nearer to her impending orgasm. Your walls are desperately sucking her in just begging to be filled even more. “Want you babies Mommy. Please fill me.” Your words are breathy as Wanda’s hand around your throat tightens.

With Wanda’s hand on your throat and her thrusts you're soon falling over the edge. Your walls clamp hard around her shaft as your head falls back. Silently screaming as you fall over the edge. Your cum once again mixes with hers as your orgasm washes over. Your body trembling in her hold. Her thrust is sloppy as she grows near. The power she has over you in this moment has thrust hard one more time before unloading inside of you. You don’t know how it is possible but she unloads more cum inside of you than the last time. The prospect of getting you pregnant and starting a family with you exciting the other woman. 

Wanda’s thrust slows down as she helps ride the both of you through your highs. If she wasn’t holding onto you so tightly you know your legs would have given out under you. She holds you tight, slowing her pace to a stop when you whimper from a bit of overstimulation. She kisses the side of your head gently as she pulls out of you. “You did so good for me moya lyubov’.” You let out a content sigh as you relax back into her arms. “Thank you Wands.” You mumble with your eyes closed. “Anything for you my love.” She kisses your shoulder gently before she picks you up bridal style. She gently carries you to your shared bedroom and places you on the bed. She quickly gets both of you cleaned up before she slides into the bed next to you. 

You snuggle into Wanda’s side as she wraps her arms around you tightly. Her one hand laying to rest on your stomach. You look up at her seeing her smiling back down at you. You giggle and blush. “Whatttt.” She just chuckles. “You’ll be pregnant. I’m sure of it. We'll have a perfect little family before you know it.” She kisses your lips gently. “How can you know that?” You ask her. “I just know it detka. You’re going to be pregnant with my babies and you get to be my perfect little housewife.” You hum at her words knowing that your wife is never wrong about these things. Snuggling close into her as you let the thoughts of your future take hold. Your eyes sliding shut with a wide smile on your face as you drift off into a peaceful sleep.

[wingsofmud]

The Besties

I'm giving Clearsight and Listener more history together in my rewrite. They meet years before Clearsight and Darkstalker ever cross paths.

More info + designs w/o accessories below:

Clearsight:

Clearsight is lowborn. She's the only child of Swiftwings and Dreamer and thus grew up with her parents' complete attention. She certainly needed during her earlier years considering her unusually strong prophetic ability. First she can only see a few minutes into the future, which stretches to hours, then days, then weeks, then months, then years as she grows. By the time she's in her elder years she can see up to a couple of centuries past her death.

This only gives Clearsight more and more anxiety as she grows. Due to this, she was a late flier and started school a year later than the other Nightwings at the age of seven instead of six. Clearsight is a highly organized perfectionist and an anxious mess. Luckily her best friend, Listener, is her anchor every time she spirals into a pit of possible futures. Despite her set backs, she's an excellent student and a talented flier.

She's just trying to get through school and navigate through her rapidly expanding prophetic abilities. Then one night she bumps (or rather, body slams) into the hybrid prince on the beach while chasing a vision and watches her every possible future dissolve and reweave itself right before her eyes. Fun.

Clearsight wears a friendship bracelet she fashioned from cheap iron scraps with Listener. Darkstalker gifts Clearsight her earring. It is very obviously worth more money than Clearsight could ever make in several lifetimes so Darkstalker enchants it to look cheap.

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Listener:

Listener was born into a large family, smack dab in the middle of eight other siblings. Due to this, She grew up navigating ten other voices in her head, while having ten dragons talking into her ears, and a sea of paws, tails, and wings to step around. Anyone who suggests the mind reader ocean method to her has clearly never had four younger siblings trying their best to annoy them.

One day, while looking from some peace, she stumbles onto a dragonet up in a tree. Said dragonet claims to be a seer, but, in Listener's opinion, she must really suck at having visions if she couldn't foresee getting stuck up there. After letting her know this, Listener helps her down. They hit it off and the rest is history.

Listener herself is an adventurous and excitable dragon. She's not interested in looking too far into the future, and would rather live spontaneously. She's looking into becoming an explorer once she finishes school. She loves hunting and gossip, and is very good at getting into relationships but not so much at keeping them.

She's very opinionated and has a bad habit of never thinking things through all the way, like the time she released the class pets. Or the time she accidentally picked all of her neighbor's primroses as a gift to her crush...who was said neighbor's son. Luckily, her best friend Clearsight always has Listener's back in whatever schemes she cooks up... and acts as damage control. Listener always has Clearsight's back in turn, even when she starts hanging out with very powerful, very scary dragons in her free time.

Listener wears a friendship bracelet she made with Clearsight.

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Designs w/o Accessories:

[ceoofglytchell]

A Fall From Grace

Summary: When Gwayne Hightower traveled to King’s Landing to support his nephew the King in the war, he brought along his dear daughter, you. Soft-spoken, pious and well read; Dowager Queen Alicent took you under her wing immediately, but another pair of eyes never left your form either. From the moment of your arrival you had taken Aegon’s breath away and he was intent on getting closer to you even if it meant setting foot in the Sept again to join you for prayer.

Pairing: Aegon II Targaryen x Hightower!Cousin!Reader

Word count: 3982 words

Warnings: incest, infidelity (because Aegon is still married), obvious longing from both sides, he’s a little obsessed, fluff, making out, allusions to smut, Reader is described of having Hightower like features, religious guilt (kinda?), lots of praying, no mention of Y/N

Notes: I thank you all for reading my stuff 💛 As always, feedback and criticism is always appreciated.

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It had only been two days since you had been wandering through the endless, cold corridors of the Red Keep, and for exactly two days you had been all that King Aegon, second of his name, could think about. Every thought he had was about you, even though he was supposed to be in a meeting of the Small Council planning the attack on Rooks Rest that he had only recently learned about was happening.

Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? How were you feeling? Did you miss home? Were you betrothed?

Aegon turned the small white and green colored ball over and over in its holder on the council table, obviously not listening. Lord Tyland was talking about something, but his words didn't really reach his ears because he was once again thinking only of you. At this hour you would have to accompany his mother to the sept to pray to the gods or you went alone if you so wished. He himself was not a religious person, but he knew the customs and traditions of the Seven, as his mother had tried to teach him when he was a little boy, but she had failed miserably at that. As far as he knew, only his youngest brother Daeron actually believed in all that nonsense, but he had also grown up in Oldtown, where their mother and uncle came from so it was no surprise.

You too.

As far as he knew, your father- his uncle Gwayne Hightower- had fed you the religious customs and traditions of the Seven from a very early age, and you also had several Septas who raised you to be a perfect young lady, but you never took the vows that would make you one yourself. You were Gwayne's only daughter, so it was your duty to marry and give your future husband heirs to continue the bloodline, and, by the gods, Aegon swore that he would be the one.

You were not just beautiful, you were a real feast for the eyes. Your wavy auburn hair, your pale skin with your constantly rosy cheeks and your smile that always made his knees go weak were the most breathtaking things he had ever seen, which was why he could forgive you for your religious nonsense and still wanted to make you his in every imaginable way.

Your body was always covered in pretty gowns in the color of House Hightower, green, but all accents and jewelry you wore were gold, which made you a walking, living banner for his cause and no one would question where your loyalty laid. He was the king and he could have anything he wanted, and now he wanted you, his beloved cousin, whom he had only met two days ago.

It wasn't his fault that his heart had decided that way, it had just happened. If only he was still unmarried…

You were, but he wouldn't allow you to be sold to anyone like a broodmare or as a price to win another house over to his side. Even if your hand was given to Daeron, he would not approve, because the very thought of seeing you happy with someone else made him angry, but it also made him painfully aware of how much you had already done to him. Only two days... how would he feel once you had been here for a week, a month? He would probably go mad sooner or later if he couldn't have you.

He had to act, and quickly, because otherwise you would be gone and choose someone else instead of him.

Suddenly he slammed the table with the palm of his hand, which froze the other council members for a moment and the room was filled with silence for the first time in two hours.

"You bore me. You all bore me.”

Without waiting another second, Aegon stood up abruptly from the table, whereupon the other council members also stood up, since he was their king and this was yet another formal custom that he could not care less about, and he disappeared as quickly as he could from the small council. The meeting was over. For him, anyway, because as soon as the doors were closed, Larys Strong spoke again and the conversation continued without their most important member. A marriage alliance was also one of the topics that were discussed in his absence.

It was not long later that Aegon stood in front of the large entrance doors to the Sept, which he had all too fond memories of. Only two weeks ago, he had hidden under one of the altars, completely drunk, because he had not wanted the crown. He still did not want it, but it also gave him a new sense of purpose in life, and something worth fighting and living for. A lot had changed in the last two weeks, his view of his birthright, as well as a sudden deeper interest in you.

It was extremely embarrassing to admit that he hadn't even known you existed until Alicent had told him in passing. It was almost a shame how you always he had been hidden from him, albeit unintentionally.

Carefully, pulling the hood further over his face so that no one would see his silver hair and guess who he was, he entered the interior of the Sept and was immediately greeted with the smell of fire, incense and melting candle wax. As always, it was quite dark inside, the only light was the lit candles and the slight sunlight that fell through the windows above, so that it was not completely pitch black and one could still see the floor beneath one’s feet.

He let his gaze wander through the wide hall and over the individual statues of the Seven, to whom most people prayed, and there, in the distance, kneeling in front of the statue of the Mother, you were. The light from the many small candles and the light that fell through the window fell directly on your body which was wrapped in a dark green gown and in that moment Aegon decided that you must be an angel. There was no other explanation for this beautiful, divine being that he saw praying quietly a few meters in front of him.

The young king felt a lump forming in his throat and he slowly began to make his way towards you, even though he already knew that it would be difficult to keep his composure once you looked at him with your doe-like eyes.

He was not a religious man. He was not even a good man, which was why he felt guilty for corrupting someone as pure as you and dragging you into his own sinfulness, but it was necessary because part of him wanted to protect you, wanted to hold you in his arms, stroke your hair and share slow, deep kisses with you while shielding you from the horrors of war.

The gods would not forgive him, but perhaps you would.

While you were lost in prayer, you heard footsteps approaching from the side, but you did not let that distract you at first. After all, it could have been anyone; Septas, the Dowager Queen, or anyone from the common people, as was customary in Oldtown, where everyone prayed side by side, since every human - common or noble - was equal before the gods.

A small clearing of the throat from the side, however, made you open your eyes again and turn your head to the side, as you were curious as to who had come to you, but your eyes immediately widened in surprise when you looked into the face of your cousin Aegon, who had recently been crowned King of the Seven Kingdoms.

"Your Grace? To what do I own the honors?" you asked him in a gentle voice and you immediately started to stand up to curtsy to him, but he indicated to you with a quick gesture that this would not be necessary.

"Please, you may kneel. Forgive me, I did not know you were in the middle of a prayer."

A small smile played on your soft lips and you shook your head slightly, as if to tell him that he need not worry about this, which made his heart beat faster and he had to fight the urge to reach out and tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear that had come loose.

"No, please, it is fine, cousin. I was almost finished," you answered him in return and you folded your delicate hands again as if you wanted to finish your prayer, whatever it was - at least in your thoughts and not out loud.

Aegon hesitated, but when he let his amethyst colored eyes wander over your form for a brief moment and he noticed the way your dress hugged your figure, he knew there was no turning back for him. "May I join you?"

Your eyes lit up and your soft, kind smile widened into a truly happy one, whereupon you moved slightly to the side so that he could kneel on the cushions next to you. You had never thought of your cousin as pious, but there were always signs and wonders.

"How... how does this work now?" Aegon asked you carefully and in an uncertain voice, while he folded his hands together just like you, but unlike you, his gaze was not on the imposing statue of the deity on the altar in front of them, but he was looking at you alone. He just couldn't take his eyes off you and your otherworldly beauty.

A small giggle escaped you and thanks to the flickering golden candlelight he could see your cheeks turning a light shade of red, which made a feeling of pride well up in him, now that he knew he had an effect on you.

"You close your eyes and pray. In other words, you can tell the Seven anything and they will listen to you. You can also ask them anything and they will have an answer for you and show you the way.”

He was a sinner and he knew it. He could do nothing but watch your pink lips move as you calmly explained to him how prayer worked. How would it feel to kiss you? Would you kiss him back if he did it now, here in the middle of this sacred place? Did you want him as much as he wanted you?

“What do you tell them?” he asked you with a hint of curiosity in his deep voice as he continued to examine you as if you were the altar he was supposed to worship.

“I ask them for peace and that my father takes a safe journey and returns unharmed,” you told him honestly, a slight glimmer of sadness spreading in your eyes that made him want to reach for your hand to comfort you. Of course, he had never seen a war himself, but he also knew that not everyone returned from battles - especially not when fire-breathing dragons were involved.

"Well, then do not let me stop you."

You both clasped your hands together and closed your eyes to address your words to the gods and perhaps even make a request. But while you continued exactly where you had left off when you were startled by his footsteps, Aegon didn't know where to start. The last time he had prayed was many years ago and his mother had put the words in his mouth back then.

Your light breathing and the crackling candles finally inspired him and the young king actually managed to address the Seven, even though he didn't even really believe they existed, but the words just bubbled out of him - even if it was all just in his head and his thoughts would probably not be heard by anyone. He wished he could tell you all of this directly...

Your eyes fluttered open once more about a minute later and you were surprised to see, as you looked to the man to your right, that he still seemed to be deep in prayer. Whether he was actually speaking to the gods or just thinking about his day, you took the time to look at him more closely. Because he was sitting so close to you, you could see all the little details on his admittedly very handsome face. From the way his long eyelashes gently touched his cheek, to the small moles on his pale skin, the slight curve of his nose, his full lips and the way his shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair framed his face.

He was beautiful...

You condemned yourself for thinking that, especially when kneeling in front of the statue of the Mother, but you couldn't help yourself. Aegon Targaryen was a beautiful man and no one should deny that fact. After all, the Targaryens were closer to gods than to men, although you were never sure if you should believe that old saying, but as you looked at him now, you thought there must be something to it, because why else would your heart suddenly beat faster whenever he was near and you could feel his intent gaze on you, or that a warmth spread through your body as if the Seven had finally heard your prayers. Maybe he was the one you were waiting for?

After what felt like an eternity, in which Aegon poured out his heart in his mind, although no one was listening, he blinked his amethyst eyes again and immediately froze when he looked at you and you were already looking right back at him with an expression on your face that he had never seen from you before.

You quickly turned your head away and looked down at your lap, while a deep flush took root on your soft cheeks. He had actually managed to make you blush - in the middle of the Sept! If he could do that, he wondered how much else you would let him do that would most likely tarnish your purity and innocence. He was very excited to find out.

"What did you pray for?" you asked him in a quiet tone and with the kind voice that he knew from you, but you still didn't look up at him again. You probably wanted to hide your blush from him, but it was very obvious.

Aegon could go two ways here. First, he could tell you that he too had prayed for a quick end to the war and that he would not lose any more loved ones, or second, he could tell you about his thoughts about you, which he couldn't bring himself to do. No, a lie had to serve as an answer again for today.

"For strength, guidance, and a safe return," he replied at last, which was partly true. Everyone saw him as weak, his own family, the realm, and most of all his traitorous half-sister, and he could not and would not allow that. His council did not listen to him, nor even ask for any suggestions he could make, but they made their own plans behind his back. Criston and Aemond had also betrayed his trust and plotted behind his back and without his consent decided to march to Rook's Rest instead of Harrenhal, which was the really important prize in this war that Daemon of all people now owned, even though the Lord of the old castle was his very own Master of Whisperers. Why put him as king and then ignore him still and treat him like a stupid child? He had not asked for any of this.

"A... a safe return? Do you mean Ser Criston? I heard he is an old friend of the family.”

The king hesitated. For a moment he didn't know how to answer you, knowing you knew what he meant but didn't want to believe it. He would fly into battle personally to support the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard who also served as his Hand. He would not be seen as weak, ever again.

“I will fly to Rooks Rest to support Criston and your father's army. Mayhaps I can guarantee that we do not lose too many men.”

Your expression in this very moment reminded him of a little doe - innocent, heartbreaking and full of worry. You quickly shook your head, causing a lock of your auburn hair, which reminded him of his mother's locks, to fall over the left side of your face. It seemed like you couldn't believe it, like you didn't want him to go and put himself in danger under any circumstances.

"But you are the king?" you questioned uncertainly, as if he was jesting, because you couldn't imagine that he was being serious. He was not a warrior. His younger brother, Aemond, should go, he was talented with the sword and his dragon was much bigger and far more experienced than Sunfyre.

"And that is exactly why I must go, my dear." Aegon leaned one shoulder against the cold stone of the altar so that he could look at you better while you would have this difficult conversation with each other.

"No, no, you cannot. You must not do that," you contradicted him, the expression on your pretty face becoming not just worried, but almost panicked. He almost had the illusion that you might actually care about him. That thought was just too good to be true...

"I declared this war and I will fight in it too."

Without being able to hold back any longer, you put one of your delicate hands on his arm and grabbed the soft, rich fabric of his green doublet, which, like your dress, was decorated with fine gold ornaments, because you didn't want to let him go. He was barely older than you and the thought of him personally flying to battle, much like your father - who did not have a dragon but still-, was one you couldn't bear. He was one of the few people you truly trusted and if, gods forbid, you were to lose your father, you couldn't also lose your cousin who had stolen your heart since day one.

"Aegon, please... do not do this."

Your hand on his arm, your soft voice and the pleading look in your eyes were simply too much for him. He couldn't hold back any longer. Without a warning, he leaned in and pressed his lips firmly against yours, making you gasp in shock into his mouth.

For a moment you didn't know what to do, but your body made the decision for you. Your eyes fluttered shut and you began to kiss him back gently and hesitantly, even though the rational part of you screamed at you that it was a sin, that he was your cousin, that you weren't betrothed to each other, that he was already married and that you were in the middle of the Sept, but you didn't even hear those voices anymore because you were already lost in the kiss.

Surrounded by the soft crackling of the candles and pleasant silence, Aegon lost himself completely in you. He kissed you as if you were the air he needed to breathe, as if you were everything that still bound him to this world and he couldn't stop, already addicted to your sweet taste.

The tip of his tongue grazed over the seam of your lips, begging for entry, and you, always obedient and docile, opened your mouth and let him in, whereupon a soft moan escaped you. That sweet little sound alone set his whole body on fire and he abruptly pushed your back against the altar with him caging you against the stone.

Your arms wandered around his neck, your thin fingers burying themselves in his silver mane, while his hands began to wander over your body and he explored your soft, feminine curves bit by bit, but he didn't really take much time, as he was loosing himself more and more in the proximity of you and the intimate kisses you shared.

His fingers started to rip open the laces of your bodice at your back, feeling the urge to see all of you, to feel your beautiful, milky skin under his palms while he let his lips wander over every inch of your perfect body, but before that could happen you broke the kiss, gasping for air.

"We...we can’t. Not here."

"Please, I need you. I need you so much, let me have you,” Aegon begged as he began to place some hot, open-mouthed kisses on your neck, causing your grip on his hair to tighten, which only served to increase the fire that burned inside him for you.

“I want you, Aegon. I want you more than anything, but not here, don’t do this to me. We could be seen.”

A long sigh escaped him and he buried his face in your cleavage, even though he knew you were right. It would be a scandal if he was seen taking your innocence on the altar of the Mother. His chambers, however, were more than available and wonderfully secluded for such depravity. But not now.

“You’re right, darling. You’re right,” he whispered, breathing heavily, as he wrapped his arms tightly around your waist to keep you as close to him as possible, because he didn’t know if he would ever have the chance to hold you in his arms again.

“We could go to my chambers? I am sure you would find my bed extremely... comfortable, Your Grace."

Aegon chuckled at your sweet attempt at being sensual, but it worked. He could feel his body instinctively snuggling closer to yours and he noticed how wonderfully you fit him, but he slowly began to lean back so he could look into your glistening eyes once again.

"I would love to, very much, but I must go."

The hope and desire slowly faded from your eyes and a look of confusion spread across your face for a split second before realization dawned on you and you realized why he had come to the Sept that day specifically.

"You are flying to Rook Rest today..."

Before you could object, the king pressed his lips against yours again and cradled your face in his hands to reassure you that it was fine and that he had to do this.

"I will not be seen as weak. I will come back to you, love. I will come back and then I will love you as you deserve, yes?" he murmured and leaned his forehead carefully against yours, his silver hair a contrast to the auburn of your family, which was also his.

"Promise me. Here, in front of the eyes of the gods."

"I promise."

As gently as he could, as if you were made of porcelain, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear and let his eyes wander over you to memorize every little detail before Aegon then tore himself away from you with a heavy heart to get the conqueror's armor put on as quickly as possible back in the castle, to then mount Sunfyre and go to war.

He wanted to stay with you, by the gods, he wanted that more than anything else, but he had to do this. He had to prove to everyone that he could be the king they had wanted to mold him into.

You, on the other hand, felt tears welling up in your eyes as you watched him leave, because something inside you screamed that this kiss would be the last truly wonderful memory you shared with him.

And, unfortunately, you were soon proven to have been right.

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

[witherby]

Itsame!! How do you think the batfam would react to taking in a Mouse that was a villain kid? annnddd had somewhat unhinged tendencies from growing up w/ their parents?

thank you el!

--🎆

Hmm. In normal circumstances, I think they'd all react very patiently and just steer you in the direction of making good decisions instead of bad. Damian was raised by a league of killers, and they rolled with that without blinking. You'd have to be the child of someone super fucked up to make them think twice about who you are as a person. Like extremely fucked up.

Like, the worst person they could think of.

The cave was dead silent. Every member of the family stood around a table and looked at the documentation Bruce finished putting together in regards to the child he'd locked in a cell just down the hall with a mixture of dread and concern. Information was sparse, but the DNA tests and mannerisms were more than enough to paint the picture no one was acknowledging.

Tonight's patrol was supposed to be a routine one — investigate some leads, stop some crimes, then come home and go to bed. What Batman and Robin found instead, by pure happenstance, was a partially completed setup for an elaborate death trap that the Joker had been working on, which was then subsequently blown up in a half-hearted effort to kill them so he could escape.

They'd survived, obviously, but it wasn't just Batman and Robin that came back.

"So the clown fucks," Jason finally blurted. "Think he's only got one spawn?"

"Yes, as far as I can tell," Bruce said, rubbing the back of his neck. The migraine he'd been fighting off all night was swiftly worsening. He just wanted to go to bed. "Joker didn't seem to realize he'd left the child behind when he escaped tonight. I think she wasn't supposed to be there."

"Understatement of the century, B," Dick mumbled, thumbing through the papers again. "How did he manage to keep her secret for so long? That kid is, like, seven or eight."

"How did that frivolous hack keep her alive for so long?" Damian asked. "I'm just as impressed as I am concerned."

"We can figure that out later," Tim said, addressing the biggest problem, "what do we do about the Joker's kid?"

Everyone exchanged looks with each other, all silently coming to the same series of conclusions:

1. They couldn't put the child in the System. Her history and yet uncatalogued behaviors could lead to major issues, and the Joker would find and retrieve his kid in a matter of days.

2. They couldn't put the child in Arkham. There wasn't a ward set up to handle children. She was too young to be there, and breakouts from the Asylum were a common occurrence, so she'd inevitably go back to him.

3. They couldn't put the child in Juvenile Detention. As far as they knew, she hadn't committed any crimes, so there was nothing to convict her of in order to have her admitted.

Which meant, for the foreseeable future...

Jason stood up, thumbs gliding down the handles of his guns. Bruce gave him a sharp look and he holstered them with a shrug.

"You know I'm not actually gonna hurt 'er," he sneered, grabbing his helmet to slide it on. "But she don't know that. What's a little intimidation between a captor and captive, huh? I'm just lookin' to get some info about our new roomie is all."

"You can just ask," Bruce said. "That's a child in there, Hood, regardless of whose it is. We can approach this peacefully."

"Oh, fuck off. Your favorite wacko popped out a baby and he's been raising it for years. We can't assume this kid is any more logical than the shit-pile it came from."

Jason marched past Bruce and vanished down the hall where they kept the containment cells. Bruce hurried after him, scowling, and the remaining three followed suit with different levels of curiosity and caution.

"This isn't going to be good..." Dick muttered.

It didn't take long to reach your cell. The door was made of bulletproof glass, and the walls and floor were a smooth beige color, with pressure sensors to keep track of your location, oxygen levels, and heart rate. In one corner of the room was a toilet with a privacy curtain and a sink, and in the other was a plain bed with two pillows and a blanket.

You were lying in the middle of the floor, staring up at the ceiling with vacant eyes a placid smile on your face. You had on white face paint with a bold, red lip and blue triangles above and below your eyes, a bright green button-up shirt with a black bowtie, suspenders, brown pants, and black shoes that clicked every time you bumped your feet together.

Click. Click. Click.

Aside from the rhythmic bumping of your shoes, you were dead silent and unmoving in the cell. You didn't even look up when Jason walked up to the door and leaned against it, whistling for your attention.

"Hey, you," he called. "Name, now."

You didn't answer. Jason banged his fist against the glass, listening to the sharp reverb.

"When I speak, you answer," he barked. "What's your fuckin' name, kid?"

Click. Click. Click. You continued to admire the ceiling, arms splayed out at your sides.

"That's real cute," Jason growled, punching in the code to unlock your cell door. "You gonna pretend like you can't hear me? That's fine, lemme come to you then. I'll make sure you pick up the message loud and clear —"

"Red Hood!" Bruce said, grabbing his arm. Jason shook it off and stormed inside, grabbing a fistful of your shirt and lifting you off the ground. You didn't fight him, body limp and pliant in his grasp, and continued to watch the ceiling.

Click. Click. Click. Your feet bumped against each other even still. Unbothered. Undisturbed.

"Name," Jason demanded, voice warping badly through his voice modulator the angrier he got. You didn't acknowledge him. "I'll start asking you in other languages. Don't think you can get out of answering me that way, either."

"I think that's enough, Red Hood," Dick said, slipping into the room before Bruce could get in and potentially make things violent. He walked around behind you and gently hooked his hands under your armpits, coaxing you out of Jason's grasp. "You're probably scaring her. Let's all just —"

You giggled. It startled Dick badly enough he dropped you, and you crumbled to the floor like a puppet with cut strings. Your giggling grew louder as you carefully straightened out, lying on your back with your arms splayed again, and you smiled up at the ceiling.

"What's there to be afraid of?" You asked, voice sweet and cheery. It was also strangely soft, nothing like the harsh pitch of your progenitor. "The batcifists have captured me. I'm perfectly safe and sound."

No one moved. You hummed, shifting your head side to side with a wistful sigh.

"Batcifists. Get it? Bat-pacifists? Because you don't kill people? Popsy said you guys didn't find most jokes funny, and I guess it's true..."

Click. Click. Click. You knock your feet together again as silence momentarily descends upon the room.

"Does your popsy talk about us a lot?" Tim asked from the doorway.

"You're my bedtime stories," you muttered. Click. Click. Click. "Popsy says his greatest dream is to make you all laugh so hard you choke."

Dick crouched down next to you, frowning. You kept your gaze on the ceiling.

"What about you?" He asked. "What's your dream?"

"I'm Popsy's favorite toy." The smile on your face grew wider, more genuine. Click. Click. Click. "His absolute favorite."

Jason abruptly turned and left the room, stomping down the hallway. Damian looked visibly uncomfortable and followed soundlessly after his brother.

Click. Click. Click.

"Well, we can't call you Toy, can we?" Dick reasoned gently. "Do you have a name? What does your popsy call you?"

You giggled again. It was a gentle, melodic thing, that gradually worsened and grew louder, until you were clutching your stomach and kicking your feet with sheer glee. Your sharp cackling echoed through the room, the remaining bats all watching you with varying levels of horror. In the throes of it, you sounded exactly like him.

Nearly a minute went by before you started settling down again, wiping a stray tear from your face. You chirped your name with obvious pride as you clicked your feet together.

"Punchline!"

[kamisatomay018]

Thinking about Zayne

Something that always intrigues me about Zayne is the fact that so far, he is the only love interest who canonically has more than one variation of him existing at the same time.

Like maybe I’m over analysing but bear with me here-

- Xavier doesn’t have incarnations as such, he is over 200 years old himself so he has experienced everything we know about him so far in one single lifetime. He has been with multiple versions of MC, but he hasn’t forgotten anything, because he’s the ONLY version of himself we know of so far (Xavier girlies if I’m wrong feel free to correct me)

- Rafayel has had many reincarnations and lifetimes with several MCs, but he remembers every one of them. However, he has single-handedly been the god of sea, abysswalker, and the other lifetimes in his memories that we have had a glimpse at. What’s important to note is that he has died and been reincarnated. Two versions of him didn’t exist at the same time.

- Now we don’t really know much about Sylus, but from what we have gathered from his memories so far, he has definitely died in one lifetime or more, and MC has been there to witness it. He obviously knows way more about MC, because like every other love interest he too had a history with her. However, I doubt there have been any indications so far of there being another version of him out there somewhere.

However, Zayne is a special case.

First and foremost, Dawnbreaker’s existence in itself is the weirdest thing ever. How is it that he exists in an alternate universe, one which is set in the future technically speaking, but both Dawnbreaker and Zayne know about each other and Dawnbreaker once even managed to very briefly take over Doctor Zayne’s consciousness, leading MC to say the infamous line “You’re not Dr. Zayne. Who are you?”

They exist at the same time which is really very interesting to me because their worlds are so drastically different from each other’s.

Then we have Foreseer. As Astra’s tool, he cannot die. He is sealed, perhaps in some form of never ending sleep but he can be awoken. Which is what I think Zayne tries to research about on his trips to Mt. Eternal where foreseer’s tower could be. And let’s not forget that Foreseer knew about a Zayne, as it was written in his book about botany and caring for flowers. It is also believed that Foreseer or some future version of Zayne is actually helping him find a solution to breaking Astra’s curse; even if it means that his future self will cease to exist.

And then we have Master of Fate. Now listen- he was a literal GOD. And yes ik you could say that even Rafayel as a god did die but! There was literally no hint ever that master of fate died. In fact; MC even said that as long as there is the mountain and the tree, Zayne will always be there. So even master of fate could potentially be alive.

Imagine y’all like 4 fucking Zayne’s being alive and ALL of them fall for MC. Like.

But why and how are there so many variations of him alive at the same time? Dawnbreaker’s existence puzzles me the most because he doesn’t even have any direct relation to any of this, his world is totally different. And the amount of emphasis on him is also very sus.

I swear if even one of them dies I’m throwing hands at INFOLD!😭

Anyway I’d love to know your thoughts about this so feel free to lemme know in the comments, and please do fill me in if I’m missing something!🫶

[kryptznnn]

♡- Between Us

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

➸ INTERESTS; - na'vi!neteyam x fem!omatikayan reader

➸ BACKGROUND; - You and Neteyam were completely polar opposites. He was hardworking, focused, careful, and of course responsible, as he was to be the future oletekayan of your people. You however were reckless, careless, and lived your life to the fullest; you were free, and he admired that from you. Whether it was your strong heart and spirit or your carefree lifestyle, something was drawing him towards you. How will things go once he realizes your sudden closeness with his younger brother and distance between your relationship with one another?

➸ WARNINGS; - wc.3.4k, fluff, heated tension, kissing, idk couple shit, oneshot

➸a.i; - back w another banger !! gotta say thank u to consistency and not procrasinating as a uni student!! 🌸my main navigation

ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷

You stood and watched from afar with your closest friend; Kiri, as her older brother was in the forest, on a 'date' as his father had described it with a girl around your ages.

The situation was humorous honestly, as you were all a group seated by the lakes in the village, she approached Neteyam, introducing herself and her interest in him and wanted to get to know him more as she expressed her interest in him.

You couldn't quite remember her name, Cela't probably. Honestly, she had earned your respect, her boldness was admirable and flattering, obviously taking everyone by surprise. Of course, you and Lo'ak shared your 'oohs' to which Neteyam had rolled his eyes, gotten up moving elsewhere with her and talked to her more in private.

You watched as they said their goodbyes to one another, but not without a hug being shared, to which you eyed Kiri, and she did the same to you. Right after she walked off, he shook his head, waiting for her to reach a distance far enough before he cupped his hands over his mouth.

"You guys can come out now! I know you're here" He shouted, you froze and looked over to Kiri yet again, she only shrugged. Before you were able to make your appearance Lo'ak and Spider peered out from the bushes a few feet beside you.

Well, it seems as if you two weren't the only people with nothing to do and were curious to where this date would lead too. They walked over to Neteyam, sharing laughter and stupid jokes, then small talk. You took it as the perfect opportunity to walk in, you quickly grabbed Kiri's hand and walked over to the boys.

"Soo how did it go?" You asked, standing in front of Neteyam, who was partially surprised to see you and his sister, both with large smiles plastered on your faces with eager eyes awaiting his answer. He placed a hand over the back of his neck and shrugged.

"She's nice and respectful, I think you guys would like her, she said she's willing to meet you all." He said hesitantly, looking at everything else other than your eyes, he physically couldn't meet your gaze.

In all honesty, he never wanted to go out with her to begin with, he didn't want to get to know her, what she likes, how she feels about certain things, how many family members she had, none of it. He had no reason to explore and go out to see other women when he had already had his mind set on who he wanted.

He wanted you.

Neteyam knew who he was from a very early age, and everyone else did too. He was collected, but also compact, whenever he had his mind made up nothing could change it. So, when he had his mind made up on you it made things all the more difficult to be around you. He'd rather save himself from the awkwardness of it all.

"Buuuuuuuuuuuut" Lo'ak added, poking his brother in the arm who quickly swatted his hand away.

"But I don't think we'll go anywhere further than being friends, I don't see her in that way" Neteyam responded, now folding his arms with a hint of guilt on his face, you scoffed and shook your head.

"Why not!! She's pretty, tall, nice, and she seemed to really like you, friend zoning her is crazy!" You said, throwing your hands up in the air, the others nodded their heads in agreeance. Followed by Spider and Lo'ak calling him a 'skxawng' as you and Kiri laughed in response.

"Because he likes someone else, duhh! Like so deeply madly in love, I mean it's written all over his fac-" Lo'ak cut himself off, slapping his hand over his mouth wide-eyed. Spider and Kiri both shushed him as you looked to them all in confusion with your mouth agape.

Neteyam froze and gritted his teeth at Lo'ak, who repeatedly apologized over and over for his stupid slip up. So, it was true, you were surprised of how blind you were to not even realize it.

He liked someone else,

No

he was in love with someone else

madly in love.

You took a deep sharp breath and said your goodbyes to the group, quickly turning around and walking away making your way back to your family's hut, tears threatening to pry out your eyes and soak your face. Lo'ak quickly pushed past the others and caught up to you immediately knowing something was up, speed walking side by side with you.

"Damn you walk fast as hell hold on" he said, grabbing your arm attempting to slow you down, you just shrugged him off and rolled your eyes. You stopped walking and turned to look at him, eyeing back to the group and especially Neteyam.

"Don't make things more awkward than they already are" you whispered to him, then grabbing his hand and walking further away from the group deeper into the forest. Lo'ak immediately understood the reason as to why.

Their father had raised each of them to have keen eyes, as something he learned back in his days when he lived with the sky people; 'lip-reading' is what it was called, and honestly you didn't like it. It was useful at certain times of course you couldn't complain, but you hated how much of an invasion of privacy it felt like.

Where you two hid the group could still see you, well more specifically Neteyam, who hadn't removed his eyes off of you since you had turned to walk away.

"I can't see what they're talking about, Lo'aks' back is facing here" he spoke, irritation in his voice. Kiri only shook her head as Spider attempted to pat his shoulder, to which he couldn't really reach towards their height difference and patted his back instead.

Neteyam was more or so surprised at first, seeing you and Lo'ak spend most of your time together, you were Kiri's best friend, and it was sure Lo'ak already had his own.

He tried to pry a reaction out of sister of course, asking if it had bothered her how much time you and Lo'ak have spent together the past couple of days. Of course, to his dismay she only shrugged and said she didn't mind, and it was almost destined for the two of you to become close in such a short period of time.

You two were just another version of one another in all honesty. Same personality, same integrity, same attitude, and same careless free living. This saddened Neteyam, he always wondered whenever you were alone with just him were you ever that happy, and what is it that Lo'ak had that he didn't.

Your positive attitude and confidence is what made him realize what he felt for you. At first it was admiration, which he explained to his father on their early fishing trips before his maturing stage. The way he described you and how his face lit up his father could already tell where this was headed, but he just told him they'd have this topic of conversation when he was older in nearly a decade.

Now when he described you, he was unable to hide his smile and bashful face. As he spoke in a loving tone all it took was Neytiri and Jake to share a glance to know what Neteyam was feeling.

It was love, and not just any ordinary family, or platonic friendship kind of love. It was a romantic kind of love, the kind of love he described that he 'wasn't able to see anyone else beside him other than you' kind of love, and he's felt like this ever since.

"Y/n, seriously, you need to talk to him" Lo'ak spoke, placing his hands on your shoulders, you only shook your head.

"And say what exactly?? You're insane!! 'Hey, I really like you and have had a crush on you for a while, but I just found out that you like someone else. I just wanted to get my confession out of the way and move on bla bla.'" You shouted in a whisper, making a fake talking hand to mock yourself and Lo'aks' idea, he sucked his teeth.

"It's not what you think okay? Just give it a shot please, you're in over your head you won't get rejected." He yelled in a whisper back to you, you rose a brow confused by his words, what did he mean you wouldn't get rejected?

Unless if

"Neteyam has feelings for me?" You asked, Lo'ak just gulped, nodding his head then cursing at himself. "So, you knew this whole time about us both and didn't say anything?" You asked again, now becoming upset by his actions, feeling played. Lo'ak threw his hands up in a way of surrender shaking his head.

"It wasn't my business to tell, it still isn't, which is why it's so important you two talk okay?? I thought the closer we got the easier it would be for either of you to just jump off the bat and say something, but no one has, so go." He said, placing his hands down and on over your shoulder, completely unaware that the others had all left to return back to their hut, all except Neteyam of course.

You smiled at Lo'ak, moving shortly to the side then giving him a large hug and thanking him, before walking back to the site everyone was, hand in hand.

You quickly let go of Lo'ak and walked over to Neteyam, a big cheerful smile on your face as you grabbed his hand. He wore a sad expression on his face seeing the short moments of intimacy between you and his younger brother.

Neteyam was used to the expression of jealousy, he's worn it before and has seen what it does to other people, but it wasn't what he was feeling now. Right now, he felt pain and betrayal, from you and more importantly his brother, who knew how he felt. Now thinking it was some sort of competition or challenge now for love, for his love, and it felt like he was losing.

"We must go, I have something important to tell you, let's go to the hallelujah mountains, niwin." [quickly] You spoke with excitement, now pulling Neteyams hand, he straightened his sad expression and looked over to his younger brother who was preparing to part his ways back to the hut as well. Giving his brother a thumbs up and winking, mouthing the words 'you got this bro' before leaving.

Neteyam's head had now turned back to you, who was leading him through the opposite of the forest towards where the ikran's rested. He took this initiative too truly examine your face and excitement radiating off of your body. It reminded him of when you two were children, always doing things you weren't supposed too, sneaking around late at night to the hallelujah mountains or special spots underneath the tree of souls.

He was always left in amazement by how you created the most beautiful or adventurous things out of nothing, or maybe your caring and sweet personality when it came to interacting with children such as his youngest sister. Every single thing you did drew him towards you, and he could hardly understand what went through your mind, but that's what he liked the most, the fact you were unreadable.

"We should go to our favorite spot there c'mon, wake up your ikran so we can go" you whispered in a frenzy, practically buzzing all over. He only laughed softly while looking at you, letting go of your hand and petting his ikran softly, whistling to it while you looked up at the night sky and the stars from above, shining so brightly.

He slowly walked over to you, placing his hand out for you to take before making your way to his ikran, stepping on slowly after he was seated, sitting behind him and placing your hands around his torso, holding him tight.

He only smiled, deep down missing this feeling. The scent of you and the feeling of your head resting on his back while your hair tickled his upper back and lower neck as you two flew into the night sky to the hallelujah mountains.

Truth be told, through the entirety of this your heart was racing. How could it not, you were excited, anxious, concerned and confident. All of your emotions mixed so quickly you couldn't tell which one you were feeling. You were also worried that Neteyam would've been able to hear your heart beating out of your chest, so you took a deep breath to keep your composure.

"Is this 'serious talk' about what you and my brother were talking about? In the forest earlier?" He asked, turning his head slightly to the side to see you, you propped your head up and turned to him, resting your chin on his left shoulder.

"Uh yeah, kind of? It's a long story, but um.." you lead on, not sure what to say next. You didn't want everything to come out now, you wanted to wait for the perfect timing. "All I can say is that it's about how I feel, and you can't know until we get to our destination." You said proudly, slipping a quick joke of how you wished you could pat yourself on the back, to which he laughed at.

ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷

You walked over to the small cave you and Neteyam had explored as children, claiming it as your own. You had cleaned it and decorated it with one another of treasures you had gotten from each of your adventures and your several 'near death' experiences from being so reckless. Fortunately, Neteyam was there every single time to save you, to where you two would laugh about the matters afterwards.

"Za'u, niwin, we have to clear the air." [come, quickly,] You spoke, grabbing a large cloth and draping it over yourself to stay warm, as you gave another one to Neteyam, to which he thanked you and smiled in return.

He wasn't sure if you could tell, but his heart was beating loudly, and quite harsh, as if ready to burst out of his chest. He kept fidgeting his fingers, and trying to steady his breathing, but his mind was rushing to millions of questions.

Were you going to tell him about his brother? Did you like his brother? Did you know he liked you? Did you know how much he likes you? Is something wrong with you? Your family?

His heartbeat was ready to deafen him, thumping so hard in his ears he genuinely believed his brain was beginning to ring as well.

"I've wanted to talk to you for such a long time now, I always pictured how this would go or what would lead up to this moment, but I never thought it would happen this way.." you stared, smiling to yourself as you picked up one of the shells Neteyam had brought here a few years back off the walls of the cave and fidgeting with it.

Maybe he would've felt something was off with you or your confession, or not believe what you were to tell him as you were the first person to encourage him to go on his date with someone else. If you really like someone you wouldn't push them to go find something in someone else, they wish to see in you, that's obvious enough.

You licked your lips and swallowed, parting your lips to speak, but hesitate.

Just spit it out, spit it out

"I've thought about us, and our friendship for a while Nete..." You said, still keeping your eyes locked onto your hands and your new 'toy' that helped you relax your nerves a little. Stopping the pounding coming from your head and hands, which were previously trembling. "I feel drawn to you, in a way I can't really explain. I do love being your friend, and I love all of the memories we've shared with one another, but I feel like there's something else there." You spoke with your eyes shut, now no longer fidgeting your fingers. Your cheeks had flushed madly to a point only Eywa would know, you felt your entire body tense up and heat up.

It's over, you did it, you spat it o-

Your thoughts were cut off by a pair of lips meeting yours, snapping out of your trance you open your eyes to only see Neteyam pulling back from you, wetting his lips. Your mouth was left agape, you didn't expect this to happen.

"I'm in love with you Y/n, I have been since we were children, even before we found this cave and stashed all of our memories in here. I see a better version of myself through you, even though our personalities and responsibilities are complete opposites it's only drawn me to you more and more with each passing day. I don't think my feelings will ever change for you unless if they're getting stronger and honesty, I don't want them too. When I saw how often you'd be with L-"

You cut him off, removing your shawl and coming up closer to him, closing your eyes and kissing him passionately. You didn't want to hear anymore, you didn't want to keep talking or going around bouncing back and forth, you just wanted him. You wanted to hug him, kiss him, console him, hold him, love him, and you wanted him to do the same to you.

Before you were even able to pull an inch away, he had already dived back into action, placing a hand over the back of your head and upper neck, bringing your lips back to his and kissing you passionately. You could practically feel him smile through the kiss, making you smile as well.

Within seconds you two pulled away, both out of breath, hands over your chests trying to catch it. You placed a hand over Neteyam's chest, slowly climbing off of him as he watched you intently, placing a hovering hand over your back in case you toppled over.

You both looked at one another and smiled, then burst into laughter, hugging one another tightly. Although this confession hadn't gone how either of you predicted, the outcome was worth it.

"You cut me off, skxawng" [idiot] he joked, to which you chuckled, shaking your head and placing it against his broad chest.

"It's easier to show than tell, plus your speech was all sappy you would've made me cry" you added. You earned a chuckle from him as well as he wrapped his arm tighter around you.

Eventually after some time you two had accidentally drifted off to sleep, but only for a short time, as you jumped up and woke him, telling him it would probably be the best time to return back to the village as everyone else was probably worried, he nodded in agreement.

ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷

"Tìfnunga, they might be asleep" [quietly] Neteyam spoke, placing his index finger over his lips, you nodded as you tip toed lightly along with him to the entrance of his hut, hand in hand.

He tugged your hand lightly, as you looked up at him, just to smile and feel your cheeks heat up. He slowly opened the flap entrance to find all of his family, and yours, seated inside eyes set on you both.

No words were shared at the moment, everyone's eyes glanced to you, then your lover, and then your interlocked fingers that couldn't be pried apart by anyone else no matter how hard they tried. Then they all looked at one another, nodding in agreement as you and Neteyam looked over to one another.

Then a sudden outburst of cheers began, everyone 'woo'-ing or clapping and calling out their battle cries out loud, you only shook your head and laughed, now hugging Neteyam's arm as he laughed as well.

"Thank Eywa it's about time you two returned we've been waiting forever!" Lo'ak spoke, throwing his hands up in the air as Kiri shook her head and pointed her thumb at him.

"This bigmouth told everyone you two were gone and that he had spoken to you, and said we have to celebrate when you come back" Kiri said, her index circling the room when she mentioned the word 'everyone', making Neteyam smile.

"The only time my baby brothers' mouth hasn't gotten me in trouble" Neteyam joked, pointing at Lo'ak than thanking him, who accepted his gratitude, then immediately scoffed after realizing his backhanded comment.

Now this is a life you could get used too, all you ever wanted with the person you've always wanted.

ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷ˋ°•*⁀➷

✴🕷 please do not copy, plagiarize, edit, or translate any works submitted by me. all works are originated and all other pictures used within those works are online images. thank you!! @kryptznnn

[starsjulia]

falling for an athlete // leah williamson

a/n : decided to write something fluffy for a change, also this is set way in the future

warnings : none!!

———————

The dinner table was a war zone of cutlery and sarcasm, typical for a Williamson household meal. Ellie, your beloved daughter, sat cross-legged on her chair with a plate of half-eaten pasta in front of her, was giving her best mate Liv a look the kind of look that screamed, “I swear, if you ask one more question, I’ll disown you.”

But Liv, bless her, clearly couldn’t read the signs. “So, like,” she started innocently, eyes flicking between you and Leah, “how did you two meet?”

Ellie’s head snapped toward her friend, a fork clattering against her plate. “No. Liv, no. You’ve bloody done it now.”

Leah, sat across the table with a smug grin and one socked foot propped on the chair leg, looked like she’d been waiting for this moment all night. “Finally! Someone wants to hear a proper love story.”

Ellie groaned so loud it could’ve woken the neighbours. “It’s not a love story. It’s a tragedy for me.”

You, sitting beside Leah, chuckled and reached under the table to squeeze her thigh. “Do you want to start, or shall I?”

Leah grinned, her accent getting sharper as her excitement grew. “Oh, I’ll start. Can’t trust you to tell it properly, you’ll skip all the best bits.”

Ellie leaned back in her chair dramatically, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “I’m leaving home. I can’t do this anymore.”

“behave,” Leah teased, before turning to Liv with an exaggerated seriousness. “Right, so picture this I was twenty-four, still a baby, but obviously very fit—”

Ellie interrupted with a glare. “Oh my God, stop talking.”

Leah ignored her. “I’d just finished a match, and me and the girls went to the pub. And then in walks her.” Leah nodded toward you, her grin softening into something fond. “Leather jacket, perfect hair, like something out of a film. I actually choked on me pint when I saw her.”

Liv gasped, clearly entertained. “You choked?”

“Full-on coughing fit,” Leah confirmed proudly. “Nearly sprayed it everywhere. My mates were in stitches.”

You jumped in, smirking. “She looked like a right idiot. Bright red, coughing like she’d swallowed a fly.”

“Yeah, well,” Leah countered, shooting you a playful glare, “it was your fault for looking like a sexy lead singer of an indie band. I panicked.”

Ellie muttered, “I’m living with children,” as she slouched further into her chair.

“So,” Leah continued, ignoring her daughter entirely, “I worked up the courage, walked over, and said, ‘Alright, love, can I buy you a drink?’”

“And I said, ‘No, I’m alright, thanks,’” you added, grinning.

Liv’s mouth fell open as she looked at you. “You rejected her?!”

“Too right I did,” you said proudly. “I wasn’t about to fall for some cocky athlete with a cheeky grin.”

Ellie jabbed her fork toward you. “You failed miserably, though, didn’t you?”

Leah grinned like a Cheshire cat. “She did. But she held out for a bit hard to get, y’know? Proper challenge. I had to step up me game.”

“Oh, step up is a stretch,” you teased, narrowing your eyes. “She nearly died of embarrassment.”

Liv’s eyes widened again, practically vibrating in her seat. “Wait, what happened?”

Leah groaned, burying her face in her hands for a moment. “This is where it gets slightly less smooth.”

You smirked, looking far too proud of yourself. “So Leah decided she’d pull some grand romantic gesture, very dramatic, very her. She found out which café I went to every morning for my coffee and pastry. I walked in one day, and the girl behind the counter hands me this bag.”

Leah muttered, already cringing. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Written on the bag,” you said, glancing at Liv with a gleeful smile, “in massive block letters, was: ‘FREE PASTRY BECAUSE I THINK YOU’RE FIT—LEAH W.’”

Liv choked on her laughter, clutching her stomach. “No! You didn’t!”

“She did,” you confirmed, grinning as you leaned back. “I nearly died laughing. She’d paid for the whole thing up front, too. Couldn’t even take the croissant back when I refused it.”

Leah groaned again, though there was still a fond smile on her face. “The worst part? I wrote the note with one of those thick black permanent markers Thought it looked bold. Turns out it just looked like a five-year-old wrote it.”

Ellie was curled up in her chair, face buried in her hoodie, muttering, “I can’t believe I’m related to you.”

“I did try and make up for it,” Leah added quickly, looking at you like you’d hung the moon. “I bought her another coffee the next day. And, y’know, didn’t write anything embarrassing on it.”

“Very impressive recovery,” you teased. “But you still looked like a nervous wreck when you handed it over.”

Leah shrugged, unbothered. “Because I was. And I still managed to win you over, didn’t I?”

Liv, still laughing, wiped at her eyes. “That’s actually the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. I get why you tried so hard, she’s fit.”

Ellie’s head shot up in absolute horror. “Liv! That’s my mum! You can’t say that!”

“What?” Liv replied innocently. “I’m just saying…look at her!”

Ellie covered her face with both hands. “I’m never eating dinner here again. This is trauma.”

Leah laughed, grinning mischievously as she leaned closer to you. “She’s still fit now, though, isn’t she?”

“Leah,” you warned, though you were smiling.

“I mean, look at her,” Leah continued, purposefully loud and dramatic. “I married the fittest woman in England.”

Ellie flung a napkin across the table at her. “Stop. You’re both disgusting.”

Leah just grinned, pressing a loud, exaggerated kiss to your cheek. “Jealous, El?”

Ellie groaned. “I’m moving out. This is unbearable.”

——————

Later that night, you were curled up in bed with Leah, the house finally quiet. Leah lay on her side, her arm draped lazily across your waist as she looked at you with that soft, adoring smile, he one that always made your heart flutter, even after all these years.

“You know,” she said softly, her voice thick with her accent, “I reckon Liv’s got a little crush on you.”

You snorted, rolling your eyes. “Oh, does she?”

“Mm-hmm,” Leah murmured, her fingers tracing gentle patterns on your hip. “Can’t blame her, really. I’d still try and win you over with pastries if I met you now.”

You laughed quietly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Still got a crush on me, have you?”

Leah’s smile turned impossibly soft as she leaned in to press a kiss to your lips. “Always, love. I’m still completely gone for you.”

You kissed her back, lingering for a moment before pulling away just enough to whisper, “Good. Because I’m still completely gone for you, too.”

Leah grinned, pressing her forehead to yours. “Worth every dodgy croissant and marker pen note.”

You laughed again, tangling your fingers in her hair. “You’re lucky I found you so endearing.”

“I know,” she replied, grinning as she kissed you once more. “But don’t tell Ellie. She’ll never let me live it down.”

And as Leah pulled you closer, her arm tightening around you, you couldn’t help but smile. Even after all these years, her love still felt as sweet—and as chaotic—as that first pastry.

[catsteeth]

The Childbed

Jacaerys Velaryon x Fem Stark Reader 

+:✿ Request ✿:+ 

Request: “So we know Jace is very proud of his bedroom action, so I'm obviously going to have to see his reaction when he finally gets Stark Reader pregnant. I'd also like to see Jacaerys and Reader going to Rhaenyra for advice since they both look up to her.”  CW: MDNI. Mention of arranged marriage, pregnancy, P in V Sex, Oral Sex (fem rec), descriptions of sickness, medieval OBGYN, NSFW themes, slight angst,

Word Count: 4k

The martial bliss that fell upon both you and Jace heavily. Your love was clear to everyone who saw you both together. He always made sure you were by his side, he held your hand and looked at you with the utmost love and adoration. He was never shy about his affection, he often kissed you in any setting, and during council, he always held your hand under the table. You and he were nearly inseparable, and when you were away from one another for too long you both grew more and more frustrated. 

And after a long day without you by his side, once Jace finally had you alone in his chamber your skirts were hiked up to your waist, and your husband's face was between your thighs. “Mmmphm…” You moaned whilst biting your bottom lip. You pulled on his hair as he suckled on your sensitive clit gently. He closed his eyes as he drank you in. Gods it was unfair that high lords and politcs kept him from you for so long. He licked you as if he was trying to memorize your taste and engrave the sounds of your moans into his brain. You continued to pull on Jace’s brown curls as his pace increased with your desire, “Awwh… Jace, awe- I need you.” You whined.

Jace’s mouth abandoned your cunt for a moment and his grip tightened on your thighs, “You have me.” He said breathlessly as he kissed your inner thigh sloppily. 

You sat up and grabbed hold of his jaw, forcing him to look at you, “No, I need more of you.” You demanded. 

Jacaerys couldn’t help but smirk slightly at your request. He was proud of the pleasure he could bring to you. He felt it only proved his worth as a husband to you more. As if being the future king was not enough. But he eagerly obeyed you, pushing himself up for his mouth to meet yours. As your tongues met one another in a passionate embrace, Jacaerys’s hands were frantically undoing the ties of his trousers. 

As soon as his length was free, he pushed into you without any resistance from how wet you were. 

You weren’t quite with your noises, the sounds of the ancient wooden headboard hitting the wall again and again mixed with the melodic sounds of you and your husband's moans echoed throughout the halls. There was no question if this union was a happy one. 

Jace moaned into the hollow of your neck as you held him close to you. Your body writhing against his as he thrust against you. 

He whispered prayers of worship for you against your hot skin, but your wind was far too consumed with pleasure to register the words. 

A knot tightened in your belly as you felt yourself coming to your peak. And once you felt Jace’s heat spill into you, the knot snapped. You fell apart around him but he held you tightly against him. 

Jacaerys was a kind and doting husband. He not only brought you pleasure but was sure to take care of you. He and you bathed with one another afterward and ate a good meal before retiring.

꒰ ୨୧ ─ 

But all night you tossed and turned as nausea and stomach cramps came and went in waves. Finally, you submitted knowing that sleep would not find you. 

You looked over to Jace lying beside you. Smiling to yourself softly as you looked upon his relaxed face and listened to his soft snoring. You reached over and brushed his curls away from his face before you rose from your feather bed, trying your best not to wake him.

The cold stone of the ground sent a shock through your feet making your head spin. Your thin nightgown did little to protect you from the cold early morning air. The cold air sent a chill up your spine and your skin turned to gooseflesh. 

Using whatever strength you had left you made your way to the fireplace. Being a northerner you could light a fire blinded, but the nausea made your hands shaky and the cold made you weak. So after a bit of fumbling you finally lit the fire successfully without waking Jace. 

The immediate heat you felt as the wood ignited sent a wave of comfort through you though did not heal whatever sickness was afflicting you. 

You placed two round stones into the fire, allowing them to warm up before you removed them and placed them into a thick cloth. You held them close to your stomach as you sat beside the fire. Finally feeling some relief from your symptoms, though not strong enough to make your way back to your bed.

Subconsciously as he dreamed, Jacaerys’s hand roamed the mattress looking for the body of his wife. His hand unable to find the warmth of his lover’s body, he stirred from his slumber. He opened his eyes, blinking as the light from the fire shocked his sleep-deprived eyes. He sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked around the room for you almost frantically, “My love?” 

“Go back to sleep.” You rasped, trying your best to ease his concerns but you knew that was impossible. “I’m sick is all.” 

You knew you said the wrong thing as Jace threw the blankets off of himself and stood. Though he regretted falling asleep so bare. The skin of his bare chest was consumed by the cold quickly. He did not know how you were able to stand to be in the cold so long, even if you were a northerner. You were wearing nothing but thin chemise. So thin he could see through it, it was his favorite one you wore. He grabbed a velvet blanket and hurried to your side. 

“What is it?” He asked, his eyes filled with concern. If you hadn’t seen him wake you’d not believe he was asleep just moments before.

You sighed and shook your head, “I must have eaten far too much. Indulged myself beyond reason.”

Jace threw the blanket around your shoulders and helped you up, “Nonsense, you ate whenever you felt hunger. That is not indulgence.”  It did not matter if the words were spoken by you he was defensive over you. 

Jacaerys laid you down on your bed gently. You laid on your side, cradling the warm stone against your stomach. “Either way, my stomach is punishing me for it.” You groaned as a wave of nausea came over you once more. 

Jace pulled the covers over you and ran his hand over your forehead, brushing the hair away from your face. “I’ll send for a maester.” He said definitely, about to turn immediately to grab a shirt. However, his movements were stopped as you grabbed hold of his wrist. 

“Jacaerys,” You said looking up at him with pleading eyes, “There’s no need for such urgency.” You hated having people fuss over you. You were used to letting things like sickness pass, it seemed silly to wake the maester for nausea. 

Jace got down on his knee beside your bedside, “Please.” He asked softly, you could see in his eyes he was sincerely concerned. “You may feel it is silly but please, let me ease my mind.” 

You didn’t like seeing him worry, and if it would make him feel better you decided to submit to it. “Fine. But I do feel it is silly.” You said reluctantly. 

He leaned over you and kissed your cheek, “Thank you.” He said before kissing your lips and rushing out of the room while throwing on a shirt haphazardly. 

You sighed once more, flinging your arm over your face and covering your eyes with your forearm.

It did not take long for Jacaerys to return. “My Love? Are you decent?” He asked poking his head into the chamber. Damn him for being so caring and considerate, you rolled your eyes.

 You were as decent as you were going to get in this state, “Bring whoever it is in, Jace.” You said dismissively. 

Maester Gerardys stepped into the chamber after Jacaerys, “Princess, it is an honor to serve you.” He said graciously as if he was not dragged from his bed for this. 

You looked at the man in his night clothes and sighed, “Thank you Maester Gerardys, though I fear there will be little you can do.” You said with an apologetic smile.

Maester Gerardys smiled as he placed his bag of tools and medicines at your bedside, “Best to be sure.” He took your wrist feeling your pulse, Jacaerys looked on nervously from the end of the bed. “What seems to be the affliction?”

“Uneasy stomach, nausea.” You said with little concern for the situation. 

The Maester grabbed hold of the blanket, “May I?” He asked and you hesitated but nodded yes. You rolled onto your back, as he pulled the covers away from your body. 

His hands pressed down over your stomach and you felt nothing. When his hands went lower, pressing down over either side of the lowest bit of your stomach you groaned. “Princess, if I may ask, when was the last time you’ve had your blood?”

You hadn’t thought of it in so long, you couldn’t remember. Your eyes went wide, “I cannot remember.”

The Maester removed his hands from you and stood straight. He cleared his throat before speaking, “If I may suggest a more in-depth examination?” 

“What does that entail?” Jacaerys questions protectively,

You however knew exactly what that would entail and were not surprised when you had your legs spread and the Maester poking around inside of you. 

You felt all the more sick, but you knew it was a medical necessity. And with your growing suspicion you needed to know if you were correct.  

You stared at the ceiling, memorizing the pattern of the tiles, desperately attempting to remove your mind from the uncomfortable sensation. Jace held your hand, feeling guilt for getting you in this situation, to begin with. 

“Mphm!” You groaned in pain and squeezed Jacaerys’s hand tightly 

Jace’s eyes darted over to the Maester simply attempting to do his job with dangerous eyes, “Move cautiously.” Jace nearly threatened. 

“I do apologize, my Prince.” The Maester said, however when he looked at Jace he could see his response was not correct, “My Princess,” He corrected. 

Jace kissed your knuckles attempting to comfort you before his eyes darted toward the maester once more, “Should I be worried?” Jacaerys asked impatiently. 

Finally, the Maester pulled his hands away from you, “Well my Prince, I would not worry for it is a joyous diagnosis.” He stood and collected his things casually, “The Princess is with child.” He said shockingly cavalier. 

Your eyes went wide, and you sat up on your elbows in your bed, “I am?” You asked, feeling your heart fluttering in your chest and Jace’s hand squeezing tightly around yours.

The Maester continued to casually pack away his things, “Yes, and quite far along as well. The seed is strong and growing well.” He picked up his bag and made his way to the door, “I will brew raspberry leaf tea to ease the unpleasant symptoms and have a handmaiden bring it at once.” He looked back to you as he opened the door to your chamber, reading himself to leave, “Seven blessings to you both.” He said before shutting the door. 

You knew you couldn’t feel surprised, you and your husband rarely spent a morning, afternoon, or night alone without some form of physical intimacy. Nor did either of you take any precaution. You were to be King and Queen, the sooner you had an heir the better and more secure the Targaryen bloodline would be. This was what you wanted, what you both wanted. 

You both spent days daydreaming with one another about names for a babe, what they might look like, what parts of them would favor you or he, and what they might be like. 

You looked over toward your husband, still kneeling by your side. Jace took your hand, kissing your knuckles, and wrist, then up your arm. He repeated his thanks, again and again. “Thank you, my Love.” He kissed up your arm to your shoulder, then finally reached your neck. He pulled away from you, smiling at you as he held your face gently. “Our first child-” He said with giddy excitement. 

Still somewhat shocked, you breathed a laugh, “I know.” You said softly, unsure of what to say. 

Jacaerys could see your surprise, it shook his confidence in his happiness. But once he looked down at your body, his eyes landed on your stomach. Still no sign of a pregnancy but the idea of you growing soon made his eyes well in tears of joy. 

He placed a hand over your stomach, feeling already so protective over something so small and invisible. “Can you believe it?” Jacaerys asked genuinely in disbelief.

You shook your head as you looked down at your stomach as Jace’s hand rested on it, “No.” You said before correcting, “I mean, yes, yes I can.” You stifled a laugh, “You have been nothing if not a rutting goat since we married.” 

He looked at you, love and admiration in his eyes, “I cannot resist you.” He said before climbing on top of you, careful not to press any weight onto you. 

You squirmed and giggled as he did, his eyes were filled with lust and desire as much as they were with joy. 

“Jacaerys!” You giggled as you playfully hid your face from him, but he continued to lean into you. He kissed your neck and your cheek until you finally looked at him, he smiled at you as if he couldn’t control it. “What?” You asked innocently.

Jace’s eyes and smile grew wider, “What?” He repeated your question as if it was silly. “You’ve given me the world, that is what!” He said before pressing his lips to yours again. 

Once the tea arrived, your symptoms were gone and you and Jace spent the rest of the night in each other's arms. Jace’s hands never left your stomach.

꒰ ୨୧ ─

In the morning, Jace’s joy was as prominent as it was the night before.

He nearly opened the window to your chamber to shout to all the news. But he settled for running up and down the halls telling anyone he could find a reason to tell. 

You thought it was sweet, but you were never used to people paying such attention to you. Now you were never alone. 

You saw the maester each day, eating special foods, and drinking special teas, and handmaidens were by your side every moment of the day. It all reminded you of how delicate you and your child’s health were. You began to feel you were unfit to look after something so fragile and so important. 

The Queen was ecstatic to hear the news. She curated a feast to be held in honor of you and Jacaerys that very night.

Jace did not leave your side all night and did not allow many to get close to you. He knew you felt uneasy when given such attention. 

He often subtly stood ever so slightly in front of you, creating a distance between you and others. 

However, his efforts did not ease your mind. You felt overwhelmed surrounded by so many people and overwhelmed with the responsibility in your belly. 

So, nearing the end of the night, when you could no longer take any more you turned to Jacaerys. “Husband,” You captured his attention in a single breath, “I must retire for tonight.” Your voice wavered slightly. 

Jacaerys felt an unease in your voice. He could feel your anxieties were deeper than the feast, He sat down his cup quickly, “Of course, I shall walk you-” 

“No,” You asserted quickly as if it were instinctual. “I need a moment alone, my love.” You said much softer, attempting to not make Jace worry.

Jace was conflicted. He wanted to fight your opposition, wanting only to protect you and his child. But his want to respect your wishes outweighed that. And so, he nodded and kissed your hand before he conceded, “I shall see you after the feast, my heart.” 

You kissed him once more before standing and leaving the dining hall with a guard following after. 

꒰ ୨୧ ─

Jacaerys’s mind spiraled once you were gone. 

He was always insecure about his worth to you, and now he was worried he was not worthy of your family. He spent the rest of the feast sulking in his maladaptive thoughts of his own inadequacies. 

Once the feast had died out, Jacaerys turned to the only person he felt could guide him.

“Mother,” Jace called out to his mother who was seated at her table nearly alone aside from Damon who was a moment away from retiring himself.

“Jacaerys.” She greeted him happily, “Where is our Stark?” She asked unaware of what had happened. Damon stood wobbly from the wine, he patted Jace on the back before leaving. 

Jacaerys sat in Damon's spot beside his mother, “She has retired for the night.” Jace said devoid of that happiness she had seen all day long. 

Rhaenyra nodded understandingly, “Carrying a child is exhausting work. Has the maester seen to her?” 

“Yes,” Jace said looking down at his feet, “She and the babe are strong.” He said, a small smile appearing on his mouth before vanishing.

“That is wonderful, Jacaerys.” She said grabbing ahold of his hand, “We must begin our preparations at once.” She began explaining excitedly, “The Maester should see to her daily, a handmaiden and nursemaid shall be by her side at all times. And Jacaerys, many will be attending to the babe whilst she is with child, you must attend to her.” She said gently,

Jacaerys nodded, “Of course.” 

Rhaenyra looked at her son. Jace never hid his emotions well, or at least never tried to. It was obvious that he was distressed about something, “What is it?” She asked gently, leaning in. 

Jace looked at her, he stammered for a moment before speaking with a smile, “I am overjoyed.” He said genuinely, and then his smile faded, “But I must admit I am overwhelmed and I feel she may be as well.” He looked at his mother with serious eyes, “The responsibility is a heavy one. What if I am not worthy of it?” 

Rhaenyra sighed, “Insecurity is a condition of parenthood.” She shrugged with a smile, “The Gods have given you a child, they have seen your worth. So you must prove it to yourself.” She said with a confident and stern tone, “You will protect that child with your life, and you will live each day for them.” Jace smiled at her and she smiled back. 

She thought back to the time she was pregnant, and of all that she wished she did not have to endure alone. “You know, your father was your age when I became pregnant with you.” She said, “He was so frightened he spent a fortnight at sea. He didn’t know how to comfort me. All I wished for was for him to tell me he would be there with me.” She sighed and shook her head. But then smiled as she spoke, “It was my father who ventured into the dragon pit and brought me Vermax’s egg.” She held Jace’s hand and leaned in, “Fatherhood will come to you in time, but you are a husband now. Comfort her, support her.” 

Jace nodded, “I will.” He vowed it to himself, and to you. 

“I will speak with her, I have a gift I wished to bestow upon her.” She said with a smile before she kissed Jace’s cheek and left the dining hall. 

꒰ ୨୧ ─ ・┈

In your chamber, you sat on a wide lounge chair beside the fire. 

You felt guilt for leaving Jace alone with the festivities, but not guilty enough to go back. You stared at the fire in contemplation. But your gaze was pulled away when you heard your chamber door open. 

Your eyes darted to the door, you saw Queen Rhaenyra. 

“Your Grace?” You asked with wide eyes, not expecting to have seen her.

She smiled at you, holding a wooden box, “May I sit?” She asked softly as she walked toward you. 

“Please.” You nodded and moved over slightly allowing more room on the chair. 

Rhaenyra sat beside you, smiling at you fondly, “I came to share my happiness over your pregnancy.” 

You smiled in return, “Thank you, Your Grace.” You looked back to the fire, unsure of what to say.

“Is something bothering you?” Rhaenyra asked gently,

You shook your head, “I am sorry if I seem out of sorts.” Rhaenyra looked at you expectantly, knowing there was more you wished to say. “I am, unsure how to approach the subject. In the North, we are a bit more unsubtle in our approach to such subjects than you are in the South.” 

“We are alone, and we are both women. You can speak plainly.” Rhaenyra spoke softly, motherly.

You opened your mouth but no words would escape. You stammered for a moment before you placed your hands over your stomach, “I am afraid of this.” You spoke as if you were speaking a great and awful secret. 

“Daughter,” Rhaenyra had begun to call you this. It was a comfort, especially at times like this.

You shook your head, “I am forever indebted to the houses of Targaryen and Velaryon for bestowing such an honorable duty onto me. And I am beyond grateful to Jacaerys for giving me a child.” You spoke with haste, not wanting for your fear to be seen as ungrateful, “But I am afraid, afraid that I shall not carry to term, that I may die in childbirth as my mother did, that I am unfit for motherhood.” You sighed and smiled as you looked down at your hands over your stomach, “I already love this child more than anything in this life, that terrifies me.” 

Rheanyra held your hand tightly, “My mother, once told me that ‘the childbed is our battlefield.’. I myself have birthed five healthy babes. The fear does not go away.” She didn’t speak lies to you, she was honest with you, “But the love you feel for them only grows, and it outshines that fear.” She said with a smile, but soon it faded, “I’ve lost children, that pain never leaves you. To love something so deeply is an agonizing experience, but I cannot imagine a world without them.” 

You looked into her eyes deeply, feeling tears well up in them, “I care more than I thought I could care for anything. And I feel helpless to defend it.” 

“How can the child of a dragon and a wolf be defenseless?” She said with a stifled laugh, “Do not doubt yourself.” She said tightening her grip on your hand. You smiled, wiping a tear from your cheek before nodding. 

With your nod, Rhaenyra pulled the wooden box forward and opened it. “I had this made for you.” She pulled out a blanket, perfectly soft. Quilted in velvet and silks. Colored in reds, blacks, and greys. Embroidered with images of wolves, and dragons, “Once the babe is born they will be wrapped in a blanket adorned with the symbols of their houses.” 

You looked upon the gift with a smile. Your hand ran over the fabric, “Thank you, your grace.” You said sweetly as you took the blanket in hand. 

The Queen took your hand once more before leaving you. 

You looked upon the blanket with intense love, as if it were an embodiment of your child. 

Your hand ran over the fabric, but before you could admire each and every detail you once again heard your chamber door open. 

The maester stood there holding a piece of parchment, “Princess, a raven has arrived from the North.” He said waiting for you to request he read it. 

However you preferred to read your own letters, “May I?” You asked reaching forward. 

The maester came toward you, handing you the letter before bowing and excusing himself. As you unscrolled the letter and began to read it, you could see in the corner of your eye, Jacaerys walk into the room. 

“Who is that from?” Jacaerys asked,

“Cregan,” You said still reading the letter.

“What does he say?” Jace asked making his way into the room, sounding somewhat out of breath for whatever reason. 

“‘Dearest sister, congratulations on your marital bliss. It seems it came as quickly as news of your pregnancy. You will make a fine queen as you will a mother. All my love, Cregan.’ He was always a man of few words.” You said with a smile before looking at Jace. You were shocked when you saw him covered in soot and dirt. “Jace, you’re covered in dirt, what happened to you?” Before you could finish your line of questions Jace opened a sack he was carrying and held forward to you a large dragon egg, “What is this?”

Jacaerys smiled and placed it in your hands, “An egg.” You looked at the egg, a shining iridescent silver-scaled egg. “Silverwing brought forth another clutch of eggs, the timing would seem fate-like, would it not?” He asked with a smile.

You smiled back at him, “It’s warm.”

“It will be placed on a fire until the babe arrives, then they will share a crib with one another. If it ever hatches, they will be bonded for life.” He said placing a hand over the egg. 

“This egg will grow to be our child's protector.” You looked up at Jace, “I somehow already feel indebted to it.” 

“Not their only protector.” He placed a hand on your cheek, “I know you will be a fierce mother.” 

“‘And you a fearsome father.” You said with a smile, “You must make a promise to me.” Your tone suddenly became all the more serious, “I am no longer just a woman, I am a mother. My loyalty and my love though committed to you, is now eternally placed in our child.” You placed your hand over your stomach, “This, is far more important than anything in the world, more important than you or I. We are immortally bound together in our child’s blood.” You held Jace’s face in your hand, “I need you to promise me you will always place our child before all else. Before the crown, before the realm, before even I.” Your eyes were stern, demanding an answer. 

He shook his head, “It will never come to that.” Jace said not willing to think of such a thing. 

“Then you should have no issue promising it to me.” You said, evermore the contrarian. 

“I promise.” Jacaerys conceded, “But you must promise the same.” 

“I promise it.” You responded quickly. Jacaerys held your face in his hands and kissed you once again. Once your lips parted you smiled up at him blissfully, “I think it will be a girl.” 

“How can you tell so early?” He stifled a laugh, brushing your hair out of your face.

“All the women in my family get sick when they are pregnant with a girl.” You smiled softly as you looked down at your belly, then back to Jacaerys “Would you be disappointed?” You asked sincerely. 

Jaceaerys cradling your face in his hands smiled in bliss, “You could never disappoint me. Neither of you.” 

Thank you for reading! If you'd like to support or request a piece of writing, I am taking commissions for every thing from blurbs, headcannons, one shots, to personalized character letters.

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[pikahlua]

Ahhh I meant to ask, if you do end up giving thoughts on the leaks, I would LOVE to know your thoughts and this epilogue’s endings for bakugou (obviously!) and ochako as well.. in detail pls hehe

Everyone and their dog apparently wants my thoughts on the chapter, and I have to say I just don't wanna give them in the detail people seem to crave. Look, the chapter is meh. It's just meh. There are some cute things that happen in it and it seems that's at the expense of consistency in the story. They clearly didn't think about the things they were implying hard enough. Oh, Izuku and Ochako just didn't fucking interact for 8 years after high school but NOW Izuku wants to talk more? What about Ochako's school program with children that seems RIGHT UP Izuku's alley? They're both practically pursuing the same thing but apparently never breathe each other's air. Despite not thinking about each other for literal years apparently they're still attracted to each other, which, why? What are they attracted to? They're entirely new people now, they're meeting as adults with quite a few years missing between them? Oh, here's the rankings but also we're gonna give a throwaway line about how they're volatile and useless bUT STILL WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU THEM. THEY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING ACTUALLY BUT HERE THEY ARE. Okay let's just imply Himiko is going to be Ochako's voyeur for life.

But worst of all is the weird idea that this is somehow the logical conclusion of the story that came before it. A conclusion should cap off the themes of its story and MAYBE introduce a new question to ponder. The story should LOGICALLY lead to the conclusion. But this conclusion basically turns around and says "Things change when you're an adult. You'll be a totally different person and maybe have new dreams. Except also you may not. Life is normal and boring and dreams sometimes die." What? WHAT????? Where's the theme of service to others? Where's the theme of heroes inspiring the next generation? Why are we implying heroes who are too good at their job will force their job to become unnecessary and die out but then try to prove no wait heroes are still necessary because sometimes people get weird urges to steal cars? What? Whatttt??? So heroes just exist now to be the quirk police basically. This is what all those kids were growing up to be? That's a weird implication after a whole story where the entire adult generation showed a VERY DIFFERENT AND MORE ADMIRABLE BRAND OF HEROISM (except for those that didn't, which was far more interesting than whatever this is). So the future of heroes AND villains is banality? Petty useless shit?

This is why 430 was such a good ending chapter. It DID showcase heroism in a mundane setting that actually had meaning and impact and inspiration. It made Izuku's adult life look like a fulfillment of his dream just in a new way.

In 431, Katsuki Bakugo is the only major character that shows a connection to the story that came before. He's the only one that still dreams of heroism and unity and inspiration, and he still thinks about who Izuku is deep down and resolves to save him from his stupidity AND SUCCESSFULLY DOES IT. He's the only one that resembles the heroic ideal that All Might supposedly instilled in everyone's hearts. MAYBE Ochako does too, but it's for a brief flash and then suddenly we're back on the mundane train (pun not intended) in a bad way.

And Shouto. Shouto can stay because he's the only character who PROPERLY introduces the question of "more to a hero than heroism" in the ending as a conclusion that introduces a new question, but it just...doesn't lead anywhere. I could see a potential path for that to have led the chapter somewhere meaningful, but it didn't.

So I maintain Katsuki is standing there watching on as the only character thinking about how the fuck to inspire people to be heroes again.

In summary, if I consider this the actual conclusion to the whole story, it's ass. I don't want it. It's useless and almost condescending. It's like the chapter is shaming me. How dare I enjoy the 430 chapters that came before, how dare I dream and feel inspired, how dare I expect anything of the concept of "hero" introduced by All Might and then the next one introduced by Izuku? But if I consider it an extra DLC bonus omake what-if didn't-think-too-hard-about-this-I'm-just-spitballing-and-having-fun-or-whatever side comic, fine, whatever, the mundane banality it wants to be succeeds, because I'm bored and I'm ignoring it. I'll have fun with it in fanfic maybe if I feel like it, but I ain't tying this shit into the themes of the actual MHA story. It doesn't belong there.

If that all sounds like more than you bargained for with your ask, it's because I received 30 other asks all wanting me to expand on these points, and so I decided to consolidate them all here. It's just too many asks for me to respond to individually. If I don't answer your ask, random anon reading this, it's because I consider your ask answered well enough.

[goldenwilliamson]

Could you do one with leah x reader where reader is a new signing and she catches Leah's attention and Leah, all cocky, asks her out repeatedly, but the reader was warned about Leah's fuckgirl fame and always turns her down, but obviously ends up falling for Leah in the end, pure fluff please ;)

Pd: you write soo goooodd

bad idea right? | leah williamson

pairing: leah williamson x reader

a/n: thanks for the ask!! i had fun with this one. reader is australian obviously inspired by kyra's signing after the world cup, but with a very different vibe to KCC's annoying little sister energy hahaha. also this is an ideal world where ACL's don't exist and leah was in training at the start of this season.

summary: reader signs at arsenal and leah has her sights set on her, but reader tries her best not to let herself fall for leah.

word count: 2.9k (got a little carried away with this, but i loved it)

When you got your call up for the World Cup, you had expected that some clubs might take an interest in you, along with all the other younger Australian players who hadn’t yet gotten the chance to play in such a large tournament. What you didn’t expect however was that the club you grew up supporting would be making a deadline day signing for you. When you heard that Arsenal were interested after the World Cup, it was just the cherry on top of what was the most surreal experience of your footballing career so far. Obviously with Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord already being at the club, you had felt entirely comfortable about making the transfer. You had already been playing in the WSL for a few years, but you’d always told yourself that if Arsenal ever came knocking, you would go there without a doubt. 

Being such a fan of the club and playing against Arsenal in the past, you already had preconceptions about many of the girls. Before you had your first training, Steph and Caitlin had come over to your new flat to help you settle in and put together some furniture, and you took it as an opportunity to get all your final questions out of the way. You had already spoken to them endlessly about the culture of the club for the players, but you hadn’t spoken too much about the other girls. All that they had told you was that you would fit in well with the team, and that was good enough for you at the time. 

But now that your time for actually joining the team was getting very close, you decided you wanted to learn more about some of the girls you would be spending the majority of your time with for the foreseeable future.

‘What’s Kim like as a captain?’ You asked first, and both Steph and Caitlin sung her praises while explaining that underneath her hard front is a big softie who wants the best for everyone. 

‘I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous about not clicking with anyone,’ you said next. 

‘I can’t imagine you ever not getting along with anyone,’ Steph said, ‘You hit it off with everyone you’ve ever met.’

‘True, I reckon you and Leah will get along well but,’ Caitlin adds. 

‘Really?’ Your voice is higher when you say this, a little surprised. 

‘Oh yeah, she’s going to love you. She’s already spoken to me about how she’s excited you’ve signed,’ Steph says and you feel very flattered. Leah is a player you’ve admired for years, and a defender you’ve dreaded coming up against in games. Even though you’ve played against her, you wouldn’t expect her to have noticed you, let alone be excited about you joining the team which she cares so much about. 

‘What’s she like?’ You ask, genuinely curious. 

‘She’s somehow managed the perfect balance of being super fun and lighthearted, but also stern and serious,’ Steph says. 

‘Is she single?’ You find your mouth moving before your brain has the chance to tell you not to say that. Both Steph and Caitlin laugh at your forwardness, but they don’t seem all that surprised. 

‘Leah is undateable, she meets a lot of girls, but they never stick around for long,’ Caitlin says truthfully, and for a moment you feel a bit of disappointment.

‘Because she’s not a good person?’ You ask, unsure about why no girls would want anything with her. In your eyes she’s a catch. 

‘No,’ Steph says quickly, ‘She’s an amazing person, she just doesn’t want them to stick around for long, it’s always more of a one night thing for her.’

This surprises you, and it does make you see her a little differently. In the media she seems very mature, being the England captain and all. You can’t really imagine her going out, meeting girls, and having one night stands, but then you remember you really don’t know the girl at all.

A few days later you arrive in London Colney for your first training session of pre-season, carpooling with Caitlin and Katie. You’d already met Katie a few times now, which made your arrival feel a bit smoother. You don’t take it for granted having Steph and Caitlin around to welcome you and make sure you’re connecting with the other girls. 

Before you go into the first meeting of the season with Jonas, you get to meet all the other girls. While someone might find this overwhelming, you are unbelievably excited to finally be introducing yourself and meeting all these players you respected so much. 

Everyone greets you warmly with a hug and kind welcoming words. When you approach Leah she flashes you her fantastic smile and you can’t help but mirror her expression. You keep in mind but that she is used to being able to charm girls, and you try not to fall victim to it. 

‘Hello, mate. I’m Leah,’ she says in her relaxed voice, giving you a hug hello. 

‘Hey, good to meet you,’ you say.

‘Likewise. I’m so glad you’ve signed, you’re going to be a great addition to the team,’ she says and you thank her graciously, feeling good knowing you have a little bit of support behind you, from Leah Williamson of all people. 

From your first meeting, you can see what everyone else sees in her. She’s a beautiful girl, there’s absolutely no denying that, and she carries a confidence that radiates off of her. It’s both incredibly attractive and intimidating at the same time. You know immediately you can’t let yourself go down the rabbit hole of developing a crush on her, because you know all too well that it would consume you completely. So for the first few weeks at the club you don’t spend too much time with Leah. You don’t avoid her, because you don’t want to be rude, but you don’t let yourself go as deep as you normally would want to. Usually when you find yourself around someone attractive you’re asking questions, trying to get to know them. You decided the less you knew about Leah the better. 

You didn’t realise that Leah had noticed the way you hadn’t been giving her as much time and attention as you’d given some of the other girls, and the way that you had bruised her ego. One day Leah and Jen were peddling on the exercise bikes in the gym next to each other while you ran on the treadmill on the other side of the room. Leah watched you like a hawk as you took your long, easy strides. 

‘She’s great isn’t she?’ Jen said, following Leah’s line of vision.

‘Oh god yeah, she’s gonna be our secret weapon going into this season,’ Leah says without a beat. She’s been watching you every day, witnessing how well you’ve managed to establish yourself within the team already, earning respect from all the players. She would be very surprised if Jonas didn’t start you in the upcoming games, because you're the perfect number 9 that the club has been needing. 

‘Lovely girl too,’ Jen observes and Leah nods.

‘I haven’t gotten to know her that well, I don’t think she’s too interested in me,’ Leah says, and even though she tries to hide her contempt, Jen reads her like a book.

‘Finally someone who’s not interested in you, whatever will you do?’ The naturally sarcastic Scot makes fun of Leah’s obvious dissatisfaction with her ability to have you in the palm of her hand. 

‘Shut up,’ Leah pushes her shoulder. 

‘You’re seriously crushing on her aren’t you?’ Jen says.

‘I wouldn’t call it a crush,’ Leah scoffs. She would never admit to having a crush on someone, it’s not in her nature at all. When it comes to dating she has always preferred to be detached and aloof. 

‘What would you say then?’ Jen asks.

‘I guess you could say I’m intrigued by her,’ Leah says, immediately cringing at the way it sounds coming out of her mouth.

‘Alright stalker, don’t go following her home now or anything,’ Jen says, unable to contain her laughter seeing Leah in this new position. As Jen makes this comment you step of the treadmill and pull off your headphones and Leah quickly shushes Jen. 

‘How was the run, Y/N?’ Jen calls out to you from across the room, and you smile, striding in the direction of her and Leah as they continue to peddle. 

‘Yeah not too bad,’ you nod, ‘How are the bikes treating you guys?’ 

‘I think I zoned out watching you running over there,’ Leah says, and you don’t know whether or not to interpret it as a flirty or not.

You laugh lightly and shake your head, ‘Glad I could be of service.’ 

‘You do look proper graceful for someone doing sprints,’ Jen says.

‘Well now I know who to come to when I need a pick me up, thanks girls,’ you look at them both, your ego boosted. You had no clue how you looked running on the treadmill, but you couldn’t have imagine it was anything impressive, or graceful. You tell the girls you’ll leave them to it as you turn to walk out of the gym, thinking over Leah’s little comment for quite some time. 

A few days later you’re invited round to Beth and Viv’s place for a little dinner. It’s not a huge group there, just yourself, Steph, Caitlin, Leah, Jen, and Kim Little. Despite being one of the younger girls in the squad at 24, you’ve found yourself feeling most comfortable around the girls a little older than you like Jen and Beth. Even Viv who was notoriously introverted had made an effort to get to know you. 

The night is lovelier than you could have expected, chatting with all the girls with ease, like you’ve known them all as long as you’ve known Steph and Caitlin. At one point you decide to go into the kitchen to refill the water jug, and when you’re standing over the sink, Leah slips into the space with you. 

‘What are you after?’ You ask casually.

‘You,’ Leah says and you turn around to look at her with a confused look on your face.

She’s leaning against the kitchen bench, eyeing you confidently, but you’re determined not to let her work her ways on you. 

‘Whatever for?’ You ask innocently, turning back to watch as the water fills the bottle in your hand. 

‘Why’ve you been avoiding me?’ Leah says as you flick the tap off. To buy some time you rest the bottle on the bench and grab a tea towel, wiping off the water that spill down the sides of the bottle.

‘I didn’t realise I had been,’ you shake your head, not looking at her as you lie through your teeth. 

‘Maybe it’s in my head then,’ Leah shrugs.

‘Maybe, but I’m sorry if I haven’t been giving you enough attention,’ you say sarcastically, knowing that your words would cut deep for a girl who usually has her ways with girls. 

‘That’s alright, why don’t I just take you out for dinner, that way I’ll have you all to myself,’ Leah suggests and you scoff.

‘Sorry, as fun as this is, it’s not really me Leah. I’m not interested in being another notch on your bed post,’ you say, and while you might feel rude saying this to anyone else, you feel like you could chip away at Leah’s ego all night and she would remain confident as ever. 

Leah sighs with a smile on her face, ‘Worth a try,’ she says and you two walk back to the table, acting like nothing ever happened. Jen Beattie is the only one who catches the smirk on your face and the ever so slightly defeated look on Leah’s. 

She tries again a couple of days later after training, asking what your plans were for the night.

‘Going home,’ you say, stating the very obvious fact after a long and tiring training session. 

‘Want some company?’ Leah asks. While you would’ve said yes to company, feeling like anyone being around was what you needed to settle into your new home, you knew you couldn’t say yes to Leah.

‘Uh, not tonight, I’m going to go home and fall into bed,’ you say.

‘Tomorrow then?’ Leah offers and you shake your head at her persistence. 

‘You’re relentless,’ you say, smiling at the cocky look on Leah’s face. Slowly it’s getting the better of you. 

‘I prefer the term driven,’ she says and you laugh. 

‘Don’t let me stop you, it’s doing wonders for my confidence,’ you say.

‘Oh don’t worry, I won’t,’ Leah assures you as you part ways walking towards your cars. You ignore her once again, but of course she occupies your thoughts the whole drive home, and the rest of the night. 

There is even a moment after you eat your dinner that you consider asking her to come over, knowing exactly what would happen if she did. You groan out loud, realising that she had already won this battle. That’s why the next time she tries her luck, you fold. 

It was the perfect setting, all the Arsenal girls and the Matildas that lived around London were out at a bar celebrating Caitlin’s birthday. Leah was of course locked in on your every move, and you knew it. Every time you glanced in her direction, she was already looking at you. It was driving you crazy, making you feel all hot and bothered. As if dancing was the cure for your overwhelming feelings, you remained among the girls throwing their hair and arms around to the music. 

A classic ABBA song comes on and Leah makes her way into the people moving on the dance floor, subtly making her way towards you. It’s unsurprising when you feel her hands on your hips, you’d been waiting for it at this point. The music is loud in your ears, drowning out any remaining inhibitions. You turned to face Leah with a look of defeat, as if you were forfeiting to her. You let your arms fall around her neck as she stabilises herself with her hands on your hips. She leans in close to speak directly into your ear and you can feel her breath on the top of your neck, sending a small shiver up your spine.

‘You’ve been driving me nuts,’ she says, giggling slightly with her admission. 

You lean into her now, planting a tantalising, gentle kiss on her neck before murmuring, 'I still don’t want to be just another notch on your bed post.’

Leah pulls back and looks at you with a face that tells you that you can believe her when she shakes her head, ‘This isn’t about that, I just want to know you.’ 

‘Do you say that to all the girls?’ You ask, still harbouring some slight concerns about Leah’s notoriety when it comes to her sexual partners.

‘I haven’t felt this way about anyone in a long time,’ she says. Even though you really don’t know her all too well, you know her words are genuine, and you know that you feel the exact same way. There was no denying the chemistry between you both, and the similarity in your personalities. You remember the way Caitlin and Steph had predicted you two would get along, and you know it’s true now.

‘Me neither,’ you tell her honestly, and you can see from the grin on her face that it was exactly what she wanted to hear. 

‘How about we get out of here and go find some food,’ Leah suggests and you nod eagerly, dying to step out into the fresh air with her to speak freely without trying to talk over the music. 

‘Great idea,’ you say. With that you and Leah say your goodbyes, not feeling too guilty about leaving as it was nearing midnight already at this stage. When you step out into the night it feels like you’re back in the real world, and your feelings about Leah were still very much there. 

She takes your hand in hers and leads you up the street and the two of you walk until you find some fried food to sink your teeth into. You talk the night away and get to know Leah behind the persona she has created. This Leah is endlessly caring, a listener, a deep thinker, incredibly witty, and much more vulnerable.

That night you two end up back at your North London flat to save her the trip out to her house in St Albans. To your surprise, you don’t sleep together, but you’re pleased with that. Part of you was still waiting to see what Leah’s intentions were, and she proved that she really did just want to spend some time with you. You were happy to give her your attention now.

 ’You’re nothing like how I expected,’ you admit to her as you lay face to face in your bed, your legs stacked on top of each other. 

‘Better or worse?’ Leah asks, smirking at you in the darkness of your room.

‘Better,’ you say with a smile, leaning in to finally kiss her properly. It’s gentle, but there is clear passion behind it. You hum, satisfied as you pull away, ‘Definitely better’.