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dancingbirdie · 1 year ago

Note

Okay so on Astarion, I was reading this fic about him not knowing Tavs true intentions with him and it bothering Astarion a lot, so what if he goes to some mage or magic user and asks them to show Tavs true intentions to him, when he does the vision he sees is just... being snuggled. It's Tav on top of him and the both of you are falling asleep, his hands are under your shirt softly petting your skin as your sleepy self is contently snuggled up to him. I just start crying about him finding out that Tavs DASTARDLY and EVIL plan with him, their greatest desire from him... is to simply be held. 🥺

Hi @goblin-creatcher! Thank you so much for this BEAUTIFUL prompt. I, uhh, kind of took it and went a million miles an hour with it. This is honestly one of my favorite things I've ever written. I hope you enjoy it as well! xoxoxo

Something Imagined / Something Real

Word Count: 3.9K

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Astarion x f!Tav

Warnings/Tags: Brief but detailed description of rough consensual sex, descriptions and references to Astarion's trauma/trauma responses, minor Act 1 and Act 2 spoilers, FLUFF, angst

Suggested Song Pairing: Slow Dancing in A Burning Room (Stripped) - cover by ST LUNA

Summary: Astarion has been suspicious of Tav’s true intentions toward him. He persuades Gale to cast a spell and reveal her motivations. ANGST and FLUFF ensue. A rewriting of Astarion’s confession scene from Act 2.

The sun had just begun to set on the campsite when Astarion decided to put his plan into action. He had waited until Tav departed with some of the other party members before making his way over to the wizard. Gale was too busy reassembling the bookshelf inside his tent to notice Astarion’s approach. It wasn’t until he gave a polite cough that Gale jumped and whirled to face him.

“No, no, no,” he began all at once, hands raised in a sort of shooing motion. Astarion stared at him in confusion. “I can respect Tav’s indulging in your need for blood, but as I’ve said before: I taste terrible.”

Astarion scoffed. “Charming. Actually, wizard, I was coming to request your aid in a different, though somewhat related, matter.”

“Really? Care to elaborate?” Gale responded, still somewhat wary. It wasn’t often he found himself alone with the vampire.

“Testy, I see,” Astarion crooned teasingly. His knee-jerk response to people treating him like a monster, to behave in the most false saccharine sort of way.

But he drew up short, censoring himself before saying anything else he might regret. He knew he needed to get on the wizard’s good side if he had any chance of getting the answers he sought.

“I was hoping you knew a spell to reveal someone’s true intentions. Their… motivations for behaving in a certain way, so to speak,” he finished more seriously.

Gale pondered the question for a moment before answering.

“Hmm… yes, there is magic to determine that sort of thing… Although it’s been some time since I practiced it…” He trailed off, rubbing his chin in thought.

“Why are you asking for such a thing?” he asked suddenly.

Astarion had been prepared for this question, of course. No one did anything for free, no questions asked. He delivered his explanation perfectly, as he’d been rehearsing in his mind.

“One might say our dear sweet Tav and I have been growing a bit… closer these days, but I can sense a master manipulator when I see one. I just simply want to ensure their intentions toward me - toward the party - are true,” he replied with mock innocence.

“Ah, yes,” Gale nodded. “I gathered as much when the two of you slipped away from the tiefling’s party a few nights ago.”

“But,” he continued on,”I needn’t think you should worry when it comes to Tav. She seems about as transparent as they come. I’m sure any intentions she has toward you are true.”

Yes, but the best actors always mask their motivations behind innocence and transparency, Astarion thought to himself. I should know. I’ve been doing it for centuries.

After the party’s unfortunate meeting with that Gur in the Sunlit Wetlands, Astarion realized he would have to take potential threats from Cazador even more seriously. He wasn’t about to lose his freedom, not now that he finally had some small taste of it.

It didn’t hurt to be more suspicious of everyone he encountered, even the sweetling Tav. Anyone could be an operative sent by Cazador, and the best ones would be as skilled as he was in the art of manipulation. It was well-known at this point that the person he’d grown the closest to on their journey was their brave party leader, Tav. Unlikely as it may be that she was scheming for his master, Astarion’s paranoia wouldn’t let him indulge in interactions with her a second longer unless he knew how she truly felt.

Given Gale’s hesitation, Astarion knew he would have to kick his acting up a notch. Press on that wizard’s heartstrings. Touch the one nerve he knew he was sensitive to.

“Gale, darling, from one literally damaged soul to another, indulge me just this once,” Astarion beseeched him.

The wizard glared at him a moment, before finally relenting with a heavy sigh. “Fine. Fine. But I want it known that I don’t agree with this so-called solution one whit,” he grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Yes, yes, noted and formally documented, on my word as a former Baldurian magistrate,” Astarion replied cheerily. “So, let’s hop to it then, shall we?”

“What, right now?” Gale asked, shocked. “Shouldn’t we be, I don’t know, a little less conspicuous?”

“What better time than now?” Astarion responded. “Tav’s out gathering firewood with Wyll and Karlach. They won’t be back for some time. As for Lae’zel and Shadowheart, well…” he paused, gesturing over his shoulder.

Said two were engaged in a heated sparring session on the outskirts of the camp. Snarls and curses could be heard emanating from both warriors as they tried, and failed, to gain the upper hand against their opponent.

“That lovers’ dance could go on until morning,” Astarion finished.

“Fair point,” Gale admitted begrudgingly, grimacing at the sound of swords clashing violently. “Very well. Let’s get started.”

Clearing his throat, Gale began to utter a series of phrases completely foreign to Astarion. He watched as the wizard began moving his hands in a wavelike pattern, forming a circle before them. Suddenly, a mist began to form from seemingly thin air, taking shape according to the boundaries Gale’s hands were creating. The mist grew more and more opaque until it appeared before them like a clouded mirror.

As the fogginess of the ethereal magic began to clear, the “mirror” became a confusing blur of scenes whipping by, too fast for Astarion or Gale to really comprehend. There were flashes of Tav and Astarion, together and separate, but they disappeared too quickly to ascertain their context. It was as though the spell was shuffling through the entirety of Tav’s thoughts, assessing each one at breakneck speed.

Finally, the spell slowed to a halt, stopping on one scene in particular. Astarion was struck speechless by what began playing out in the foggy portal before them. So distracted, he didn’t even notice Gale’s tight cough, or how the wizard suddenly became intensely interested in a copse of trees nearby, rather than the revelation the spell was revealing.

Not that the scene was especially profound, objectively speaking. In fact, to anyone else, it might be viewed as the least revelatory thing possible that the spell could have shown. Boring. Inconsequential, even. But to Astarion, it was almost earth shattering.

He saw himself - he could see his face! - with Tav, lying tangled together in some immaculate four-poster bed.

That was the first shock that coursed through him, nearly causing his knees to buckle. He was seeing himself for the first time in over 200 years. Or at least, he was seeing himself as Tav saw him. And… the person he saw… Well, he was gorgeous. White blonde locks, curled and tousled in a devil-may-care sort of way. A strong, patrician nose that suggested good breeding. High, sharp cheekbones. Full lips, upturned in a thoughtless grin. Red eyes bordered by long, sweeping lashes. Delicately pointed elven ears. Smooth alabaster skin, without blemish or spot.

Astarion could scarcely believe his own eyes.

The second shock to his system was the nature of their activities. He would have been less surprised had the vision shown them fucking. Him taking her roughly from behind perhaps. His name a cry of ecstasy from her lips as he pistoned in and out of her with a feral sort of determination.

Fantasies of lust, of total domination, now those were things he was familiar with inspiring in the minds of the victims he had taken as lovers. It was what he strove for, in all honesty. Desire like that all but ensured he would capture his prey and live to serve another day for his master.

But nothing of the sort was occurring between vision-Tav and himself. Instead, they were just… embracing? What in sweet hells was this?

She lay halfway on top of him. Her hair was mussed, perhaps from sleep or perhaps from previous lovemaking. One hand was drawing absentminded shapes across his chest, her lips trailing behind, leaving kisses in their wake. He watched as vision-Astarion chuckled softly, as his hands slipped beneath her sleepshirt to caress her waist, as he placed an innocent kiss on the top of Tav’s head. Eventually, she reached for his hand. They both watched their fingers intertwine, blissfully content.

It was the purest, unadulterated expression of affection that Astarion had ever seen. Something in his heart quaked at the sight of it. He wanted that moment. He envied, he hated, vision-Astarion for enjoying such apparent happiness.

So absorbed in the vision and its implications, Astarion failed to notice the soft padding of feet that indicated someone’s re-entry into the camp.

“If the two of you are quite finished poking around in my head,” an angry voice suddenly spat from behind them, “I’d appreciate you preserving what little privacy I have left and shutting that damn spell off.”

Mortified, Astarion and Gale turned to see Tav, arms crossed and visibly seething with rage. Gale quickly dispelled the magic with a flick of his wrist. A blush was slowly but surely rising up Tav’s neck to reach her cheeks. Whether from rage or embarrassment, Astarion couldn’t be certain.

“Tav, let us explain-” Astarion started.

“It was his idea-” Gale blurted at the same time, pointing at Astarion.

Both paused, glaring at one another. But Tav would have none of their feeble attempts at backpedaling.

“The explanation doesn’t matter. Whose idea it was doesn’t matter. The fact is that both of you violated the privacy of my mind, which I’ll remind you, has ALREADY been violated by having a bloody tadpole forced inside of it!” Tav shouted. At their words, the camp became enveloped in a heavy silence. Even the crickets ceased their chirping.

Astarion cringed inwardly, knowing the other party members could plainly hear this altercation and had likely stopped whatever it was that they had been doing to listen in. He noted the sounds of swords clanging together had ceased. He was certain Lae’zel and Shadowheart at least were aware of what was happening. Nosy bastards, all of them.

But what disturbed him even more was the realization that Tav’s eyes were welling with tears. She was too proud to acknowledge them or wipe them away. Such was her nature. But they were there nonetheless, and the knowledge that Astarion had brought her to the point of tears was enough to spur a rush of utter self-loathing inside him.

Without another word, Tav turned on her heel and marched stiffly out of camp, toward the direction of a nearby creek they’d identified as a water source earlier in the day.

“I can’t believe I let you convince me to perform that spell,” Gale said as she disappeared between the trees. He dragged his hands down his face.

“How could we have been so doltish, forgetting that all of our privacies have already been violated with this tadpole business?”

Astarion didn’t have an answer to that. At least, not one the wizard could possibly understand.

The thought hadn’t occurred to Astarion, he realized, because violations of privacy had been something so intrinsic to his being for over 200 years. He didn’t even recognize it as something abnormal. Like a fish unaware that the water surrounding it is, in fact, water.

Violations of privacy were a part of life, at least for him. So much so that his request for Gale to perform that magic hadn’t even occurred to him as an overstepping of boundaries. To Astarion, it had simply been a matter of survival. He had needed to know another potentially manipulative person’s true intentions, and so he had found a means to uncover it and maintain the upper hand.

Belatedly, he also realized that Gale’s hesitation to cast the spell had had nothing to do with being inconvenienced for the evening, but because the wizard had known that it was improper to do to another person. If he had misread that, Astarion wondered, then what other truly benevolent behaviors had he mistaken as pragmatic manipulation?

“I need to go find her,” Astarion murmured, clenching and unclenching his fists in an uncharacteristic fit of uncertainty.

“Yes, you do,” Gale asserted. “We both owe her a sincere apology… if she’ll even accept it.”

“I’ll see if I can convince her to come back to camp,” Astarion replied, making to leave in the direction Tav had stormed off.

“Wait,” Gale said, a hand on his shoulder. Astarion turned to meet his gaze.

“Look, well, I’m obviously not an expert in healthy demonstrations of affection. But I do think it’s obvious from what you saw in that spell that Tav well and truly cares about you. In perhaps the purest way possible. Treat that carefully.”

Part of Astarion wanted to laugh aloud in utter hopelessness at the wizard’s advice. Someone cared for him? Truly and purely? No hidden games, no strings attached? Oh certainly, that wouldn’t be a problem for Astarion at all. Obviously, his 200-year existence as a master-manipulator-fetch-hound for a power-hungry vampire lord had perfectly prepared him to respond to this situation in a healthy manner. Obviously.

But all that was too much to reveal to someone he barely knew and too heavy to say aloud. Rather than giving some smarmy retort, Astarion opted instead to give a stiff nod and continue walking toward the edge of camp. He had no idea how he could make things right with Tav, but at the very least he could try.

***

He found Tav sitting on a fallen tree near the edge of the creek bed. Her legs were drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them as she rested a cheek to her knees. In the waning twilight, she reminded Astarion of some misbegotten gargoyle perched on the roof of a temple, solitary and so very sad.

Her ears twitched as she noted his arrival. Astarion wasn’t trying to be stealthy. On top of everything else, the last thing he needed to do was scare her.

“Can I join you?” he asked softly, wincing to himself at the awkwardness of the question.

The reality was that there was no way to broach this conversation without some stilted beginning, and he hated it. Navigating tricky conversations was normally something he excelled at. But as he was quickly finding, when it related to Tav, nothing in his past life had prepared him to respond to her well.

“If you’d like,” Tav answered tonelessly.

Knowing it was probably the best response he was going to get, Astarion swallowed thickly and moved to sit down on the log next to her.

“I… wanted to… apologize for what you saw, back at camp,” he began.

“Apologize for doing it, or apologize for getting caught?” Tav asked as she turned her head to look at him, resting her other cheek on her knees.

Astarion balked at the question. Her piercing gaze unnerved him. He hadn’t really thought that far.

“Both, I suppose?” he answered honestly, although it sounded more like a question to Tav. She huffed a laugh.

“You know, part of me really wants to yell at you. Scream in your face. Tell you off proper,” she mused.

“So why don’t you?” Astarion asked, perplexed.

Tav didn’t respond at first, just sat there studying him. As if by staring at him long enough, she could project the answer into his mind.

Astarion didn’t interrupt her, much as he would have liked to. Part of him always bristled when people gazed at him for too long. It was unfair that they could study him, when he hadn’t been able to so much as glance at his reflection in over 200 years.

Finally, Tav released a heavy sigh, her body curling further in on itself. She closed her eyes as she spoke.

“Because then I would be just like every other bastard in your life who’s mistreated you.”

Astarion flinched in surprise. Those had not been the sort of words he’d been expecting. The truth of them cut deeper than had she raged at him like she wanted to. It left him feeling even more vulnerable, and that in turn made him want to retreat into the comfort of viciousness.

“I don’t need you to pull any punches,” he scoffed, glaring at her. “Go ahead and say what you will.”

She straightened up at his tone, opening her eyes and returning his glare.

“No. I don’t want to,” she said testily.

“I don’t need your pity,” he hissed. “It’s insulting.”

“Gods damn it all, Astarion!” Tav exclaimed suddenly, causing him to jump in surprise. She threw her hands up in defeat. “I’m not doing anything out of pity! I don’t want to rage at you, because I know that whatever I say right now, I won’t mean it come the morning!”

Astarion blinked. Once again he was left feeling flat footed by the turn of the conversation. Sensing his surprise, Tav continued on with her deluge of words.

“You hurt me tonight, and I’m angry at you - and at Gale, for that matter - for what you did. But you’ve shared enough of your… history… with me, that I realize your behavior is just… just a byproduct of centuries of abuse and manipulation you’ve endured! And I won’t be another abuser in your life. I won’t,” she asserted.

Astarion continued staring at her, as if she were some otherworldly creature that had just wandered across his path. He watched as Tav inhaled a deep breath, releasing it shakily. She turned away from him to peer out into the forest, uncertain. She opened and closed her mouth several times before actually speaking. As if whatever she was about to say was more intimidating to her than anything else she’d said tonight.

“I… care deeply for you, Astarion,” she said quietly. “You obviously saw that in the vision. I’m not playing any games. There’s no hidden motive. I’m not trying to manipulate you.”

She turned to look at him again before continuing, her breathing a bit unsteady.

“I didn’t sleep with you that night of the tiefling party as some sort of maneuver to gain your trust. Although I understand if that was your motivation for doing so.”

Astarion’s expression morphed into one of guilt. But Tav nodded soberly, as if she had already expected it, before continuing on.

“It’s okay. I’m not angry. But I’m putting all my cards on the table now, so to speak. Actually, your decision tonight forced my hand, but I had been planning on telling you soon anyway. So, there you have it. The truth of my intentions. What you do with that information is up to you.”

She turned back to gaze out at their surroundings. Like she was giving him the opportunity to bolt away without her watching him. As if she expected him to flee from her confession.

But Astarion didn’t flee. He remained seated, staring at her in complete wonderment.

“Why?” he asked quietly.

She looked back at him again, confusion evident on her face.

“Why what?”

“Why do you care for me? You’re so… well-adjusted. And I’m well… this,” he finished lamely, placing a hand on his chest.

Tav pursed her lips. “It would be a mistake to misconstrue my empathy for you as me being well-adjusted. Everyone has their own demons, Astarion,” she murmured. “Mine just look different from yours.”

Astarion mulled her words over in his mind, considering them. He leaned forward to brace his forearms on his knees, his head drooping slightly.

“I…,” he started, unsure. “That vision… what it implied… You deserve something real, Tav. You’re incredible… truly.”

Tav closed her eyes, bracing for the fallout. Even though she would accept his decision, whatever it was, she didn’t think she could bear to watch him deny her. It would hurt too much.

“Look. When we met, I had a plan. A nice, simple plan,” he blurted all at once. Rising swiftly to his feet, Tav watched as he began to pace before her, near to bursting with frenetic energy.

“Seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you’d never turn on me,” he counted off, laughing half-heartedly. “It was… easy - instinctive. Habits from two hundred years of charming people kicked in. All you had to do was fall for it. And all I had to do… was not fall for you… which is where my nice, simple plan fell apart,” he finished, stopping to stand before her.

She held his gaze, speechless.

“I want you,” he whispered fervently. “I want what was in that vision… I want us to be something real.”

Never in a million years had she thought he would respond to her like this. She opened her mouth to speak, but Astarion cut her off with another sudden exclamation.

“I just don’t know what real is,” he confessed, his tone a touch hysterical. Tav knew from his body language that being this transparent was completely out of Astarion’s comfort zone.

“Being… close to someone - any kind of intimacy - was something I performed to lure people back. For him. Even though I know things between us are different, being with someone still feels… tainted. Still brings up those feelings of disgust, and loathing. I… I don’t know how else to be with someone. No matter how much I’d like to,” he finished, staring at her with beseeching eyes, willing her to understand.

Tav rose to her feet, coming to stand before him.

“I don’t want you for your body,” she whispered. “Or to perform any acts of intimacy. We can be together, without sleeping together, for as long as you need.”

“Really,” he asked softly, his voice pitched low, rough with emotion.

“Really,” Tav asserted, giving him a small smile. “Would it be all right if…” she paused, conflicted. He eyed her curiously.

“Could I hug you?” she whispered.

The fact that she asked before doing so caused a well of emotion to spring up inside him. Eyes watering, Astarion nodded.

Slowly, Tav moved forward to wrap her arms around his waist. Her head nestled into the crook of his neck and shoulder. A perfect fit. He felt her exhale a deep sigh.

Tav hugging him was a sensation unlike any he had ever felt. At least, any he could remember feeling. The act of being touched, embraced, without any desire for something more. She just wanted to hold him, feel him close to her. It was incomprehensible to him, but utterly enjoyable, at the same time.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Astarion raised his arms to return Tav’s embrace. Drawing her even closer, he bowed his head to rest his cheek against her hair. It was soft, like the finest silk. He closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply, appreciating her sweet, floral scent.

She made to pull away after a moment, not wishing to overwhelm him. But Astarion gripped her more firmly, a silent urge for them to stay that way a little longer.

“This… this is nice,” he whispered.

He both felt and heard Tav hum contentedly in response.

It wasn’t identical to the vision from Tav’s mind that he had seen, but Astarion reveled in their embrace nonetheless. It felt like the beginning of something new. And for the first time in his very, very long life, Astarion felt excited at the prospects of what would come next.

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mattybsgroupie · 1 month ago

Text

cry | matt sturniolo

contents: established relationship; face slapping (m receiving); handjob (m receiving); degradation; edging; dacryphilia; sub!matt

♡⊹𑄽୧

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ notes: SUB MATT MY BELOVED!!! i’ve been… somewhat interested in face slapping and humiliation, if you guys couldn’t tell. btw so many requests for chris i promise i will work on them asap! not proofread as usual but hope you enjoy this and missed sub matt as much as i did! special thanks to my bestest friend @thepubeburgler for the idea, patience and support ♡ much love!

♡⊹𑄽୧

matt had been acting like a brat throughout the entire night, talking back and rolling his eyes. he enjoyed playing the tough guy, especially when he knew i could easily punish him for having an attitude.

matt had his back against the headboard, the brightness from his phone screen reflecting on his glasses as he scrolled mindlessly. i dragged my feet across the room, stopping by his drawer and picking some of his clothes for myself.

i removed my shirt and my shorts, staying with my lingerie on as i untied my hair, allowing the locks to fall down on my shoulder and reaching for some wipes to remove my makeup.

i heard matt shifting around on the mattress, a cough coming from the back of his throat as he watched me undress. i turned my head to take a look at him, chuckling when i noticed the tent forming on his pants. he didn’t say a word and waited patiently until i walked towards his direction, lying down next to him and turning to the side, giving my back to him.

he let out a low whine when he understood that he was, in fact, getting punished for his behavior. matt adjusted himself and wrapped his arm around my waist, bringing his hips closer to mine in a tight hug. i could feel his boner poking my ass, the kisses he started placing on my shoulder were a silent plea for me to touch him.

“stop” i said, giving a light tap on his thigh. he whined again, slowly grinding his hips against me, trying to get some relief to his aching cock. “matthew.” i called again, this time turning around and quickly placing my fingers around his jaw, my grip tightening as he pouted.

“you think you can be a fucking brat all night long and get away with it? by humping me?”

“w-wasn’t humping” matt tried to explain himself, lowering his hands to his crotch in a failed attempt to cover his hardened dick.

“oh, you weren’t? what’s this, then?” i gently took his wrist, placing my palm around his cock, still covered by the sweater he was wearing. i could feel a wet patch starting to form, the mocking tone in my voice making it harder for him to hold himself. “need your help” he asked, his blue eyes staring at me through the glasses.

“take it off” i commanded and matt quickly removed his pants, his dick almost slapping against his belly. he sat down again, glancing at his own leaking tip, as if asking for me to touch him. matt was huge — i couldn’t close my fist around his shaft nor fit him without getting stretched out by his fingers first.

“what are we gonna do with this tiny little thing?” i said the exact opposite of what he was, wrapping my knuckles around his shaft and slowly stroking him. his cock twitched inside my hand, trying to hold his hips from bucking forward. “eager much?”

“‘m sorry” he whimpered, “i’ll be good, i j-just need you”.

“now you wanna be good?” i asked, fastening my pace. matt threw his head back, letting his mouth hang open. “words, matthew”

“d-don’t call me that” he didn’t enjoy that i was punishing him. no pet names, no kisses, no praises. “please, i’m being a g-good boy!” he complained, slightly pouting.

“good boys don’t talk back” i cupped his balls, caressing them. my touch was soft and gentle, unlike my words. “good boys wouldn’t need to be punished for misbehaving” i cooed, pecking his lips to show that i wasn’t, in fact, mad at him.

“i’m sorry!” matt cried when i took my thumb to his tip, circling the pre-cum that leaked from his slit. “wan’… cum” he whispered, trying to not sound so desperate.

“already?” i chuckled at him, still jerking him off. i gave his cock a few more pumps before loosening my grip, stopping my movements. “you’re not cumming until i say so”

his blue, puppy eyes started watering, and i denied with my head. matt then raised his hands and brought them to my chest, reaching for my tits. i allowed him to grope them for a while before slapping him. my palm flew to his face, the tingling sensation making matt choke on a moan, feeling the warmness spread across his cheek.

matt had his lips apart and flushed cheeks, already looking completely fucked out. tiny droplets of sweat started to form, gluing his brown strands to his forehead. the tingling sensation grew on his skin, sending another wave of pleasure to his body.

“are you gonna be a good boy for for me, baby?” i said, caressing the spot i had just slapped, slowing pumping him again.

matt nodded desperately, the tears on corners of his eyes falling across his face “y-yes! i’m good boy, i promise!”

i fastened my pace and matt started to buck his hips forward, trying to fuck into my fist in a pathetic, sloppy pace. “you wanna do it yourself?” i asked, noticing how desperate he was to cum.

“no” he whimpered, both sweat and tears mixing together as they reached the corner of his mouth. “jus’— ngh! wanna cum!”

“hold it” i spoke, stopping my movements on his shaft. matt wouldn’t stop whimpering, his thighs trembling from being edged for too long. his face was damp and he panted heavily, doing his best to postpone his orgasm.

i came closer to him, my free hand cupping his cheeks and wiping his tears away. matt was so close to breaking, the edging and the degradation along with my thumb circling his tip — it was all too much. i knew he wasn’t going to use his safeword because, after all, he really wanted to be a good boy and take his punishment like one.

i grabbed his cock one last time, stroking his shaft quickly as he opened his mouth, not wanting to hide his moans anymore. “cum, cum!” he cried, begging for me to give him permission.

“gonna make a mess for me?” i cooed and matt nodded desperately. “can— ah! please!?”

spams took over matt’s body as he came — without permission —, the knot on his lower belly finally getting some relief. he groaned loudly, losing control of his own sounds while his orgasm washed over him, painting his own tummy in white, thick spurts of cum.

i talked matt through his orgasm, peppering kisses across his face, telling how good he had been for taking his punishment. it took him a while to come back to his senses, his noises becoming low, tiny whimpers as he recovered.

i removed my hand from him and cleaned both of us with the sheets, going back to headboard and opening my arms so he would come cuddle.

��so mean” matt teased, putting his tongue out like a little kid. “slapped me n’ everything” he pretended to be upset, rubbing his red cheek.

“i couldn’t help it” i giggled as matt made his way to my embrace, nuzzling his face against my chest, a silent ‘thank you’ for taking care of him. i kissed the top of his head, soothingly scratching my fingers on his back. “you just look so pretty when you cry”.

♡⊹𑄽୧

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howcouldmuffin · 3 months ago

Text

First Choice II

[ Chapter 2 : Duties and Needs ]

We can’t always get what we desire indefinitely. Every choice comes with its own set of responsibilities. It’s up to you to decide whether you’ll rise to the occasion or not.

PAIRING : Jacaerys Velaryon x Fem!Reader

WARNING : SFW, Targaryen Incest, Non-canon

AN : I really like the current scene and am trying to write it as well as possible. I hope you enjoy it.

CONTENTS : Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

please be kind to me English is not my first language.

After the last conversation, there was no further dialogue. Viserys decided to take everyone hunting, it must have been something the adults discussed that day. You were quite excited because it was well known that your father was frequently ill, making outings difficult.

The king’s command caused a stir in the palace. The grand expedition of the Targaryens was attracting the attention of all Westeros. Sometimes, there was even a competition for hunting, who could catch the largest game, or who could hunt the rarest animal.

You knew that the groups would be divided for hunting, and you would learn which group had whom based on the king’s wishes. You thought your father might pair you with one of your brothers or perhaps a guard, but instead, he paired you with Jacaerys.

After learning the results, he looked at you and walked out of the gathering tent. He must have been disappointed with the pairing. Once everyone learned their partners, they dispersed to prepare. You went to choose the horse you would ride for the day.

In the stables, there were only a few stablehands and soldiers. You walked straight to the horse you usually rode, Elysian. You watched it for a moment, it was an intelligent and fast horse. You stroked its head and neck slowly. It recognized you.

“I’d like to ride this one.” you said to the stablehand.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Your Highness. Someone else has already chosen this horse.” the stablehand replied, surprising you. Normally, no one else chose Elysian except you.

“Who chose it?” you asked the stablehand. He hesitated for a moment, looking down and avoiding your gaze, which only made you more curious about who it was.

“It was me.” came the voice. It was Jacaerys, walking with Baela. “I selected it for Baela.”

“If the princess wishes to ride this horse, I can choose another for her.” Baela said quickly, her face flustered compared to Jacaerys, who remained indifferent. You looked at Elysian before making a decision.

“It’s alright. I must have arrived too late.” you replied, and began looking around. “I’ll find another horse.” You gave them a faint smile and did as you said.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Baela said, and you nodded at her, searching for a suitable horse, which proved to be somewhat difficult.

“I’ve selected a horse for you, Princess.” Jacaerys said, leading you to a horse he had chosen. “This one.” he pointed to a beautiful white horse, not unlike Elysian but slightly larger and more fitting for you.

“What’s its name?” You stroked the horse that Jacaerys had chosen. It was very docile and seemed to suit you well.

“It doesn’t have a name yet. It’s a new horse. If the princess wishes, you may name it.” stablehand said.

“This horse looks like it could run fast. I’ll name it Breeze.” you decided.

“That’s a fitting name, Your Highness.”

“Well then, you should go prepare.” Jacaerys said, reminding you. You nodded in acknowledgment and walked away. It was always uncomfortable to be around him, and both of you knew that the awkwardness between you was considerable, hoping it would diminish over time.

Soon, the bell rang, signaling that everyone could enter the forest. You and the prince set off. At first, there were two soldiers following, but Jacaerys soon dismissed them, saying you could protect yourselves. You were confident in your ability to manage, though you wondered if he might see you as a burden.

“What do you think we’ll encounter first, Your Highness?” you asked.

“Probably a rabbit or a squirrel.” he replied. “And you? What do you think we’ll see first?”

“Maybe a snake.” you said. He chuckled slightly. “Or perhaps a bird.”

“Yes, it might be a bird.”

And then there was silence again. Both of you rode on aimlessly, meandering along the stream, hoping to spot an animal drinking water. You were about to ask something when a faint sound caught your attention—an animal, not small. You turned to Jacaerys, he nodded in acknowledgment and immediately sought the source of the sound.

It soon became clear that it was a large bear approaching. When it noticed you, it charged at you. Jacaerys, faster, drew his crossbow and shot at the bear, but it didn’t fall. You drew your bow from your back and fired additional arrows until the bear was subdued. Jacaerys dismounted and approached it slowly. You followed, still keeping your bow ready.

“You’re very skilled with a bow, Princess.” he said, turning to you with a smile. You returned his smile, pleased that he seemed more open and accepting of you.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” you said, putting your bow away. “Should we tie it to the horse and let our horses drink at the stream for a while?”

“That’s a good idea. This bear is quite large, and we wouldn’t want to return with nothing.”

You rested on a log by the stream, watching both horses drink. Jacaerys sat down next to you slowly. He was charming and easily captivated those around him. He turned to you.

“What else have you learned besides archery?”

“Fencing, horse riding, and other things boys like you do.” you replied.

“But do you also learn the things girls learn?”

You nodded. He looked surprised and somewhat skeptical. It’s unusual for a lady to wield a sword or a bow like a man. Ladies don’t typically know the names of weapons as men do. If it weren’t for your desire to earn favor from someone you loved, you might not have pursued such skills. As others say, a proper lady shouldn’t act like a man without shame.

“If you need advice on weapons, you may consult me, Your Highness. I’m not an expert but I know a bit.”

The sound of leaves crunching made you reach for the dagger at your waist and look around. Both of you saw a large deer approaching, much larger than usual. Something urged you to stand up and approach it as well. It showed no fear toward you or Jacaerys, walking directly toward you as if to communicate something. When you got close, it lay down. You stroked its head, and it submitted willingly.

“This kind of deer is rarely seen here.” Jacaerys said. “It’s magnificent.”

“But we can’t take it with us. It might suffer.” you observed. “It seems fine, not injured.”

“I think it really came to us.” he said. “Look, its herd has left.” You looked in the direction he pointed, and it was true. It had intentionally separated from its herd to come to you.

“This deer has such beautiful antlers.” you said. “What should we do?”

“Since it came to you, you decide” he said, giving you the opportunity to make the choice as he walked closer to the deer.

“If we think about keeping it, its chances of survival are less than letting it go. But since it came to us, I think we should make sure it doesn’t suffer and take it back as our prize.”

Jacaerys nodded in agreement with your decision and put the deer out of its misery with minimal suffering before tying it to the horse and heading back to the gathering point. Throughout the journey back, you and he exchanged conversations. His horse carried the large deer while yours carried the bear, according to the horse’s capacity.

When you returned, everyone was clearly surprised. You and Jacaerys talked and had managed to hunt two animals. The result was a unanimous victory for you and the prince. You both smiled at each other like never before. It was surprising that the two of you could truly become friends.

Weeks have passed since the hunt, and your relationship with Jacaerys has noticeably improved. Conversations while walking through the corridors at night, riding dragons together in the morning, and occasionally sharing meals have become routine. Yet, you still sense that the wall he has up against you hasn’t completely disappeared. Everything seems to require time.

“Do you want to go dragon riding with me today?” he asks as he walks in while you’re writing a letter to your brother, something you don’t do often but always keep up with.

“After I finish writing this” he comes and sits across from you. “You can go ahead, I’ll catch up with you.”

“I’d rather watch you write.” Jacaerys says as he continues to watch you, making you think you should hurry up and finish so you can do what he wants.

“You don’t have to rush. I enjoy watching you.” He reply.

“What’s so interesting about my face?”

“It’s because you’re beautiful and pleasant to look at.”

“I don’t see it.”

“You should trust me, I’m a witness.”

“Well, then, I suppose I’ll believe you.” you say. You look up and meet his gaze before looking down. “Are you going to practice sword fighting today?” you ask, trying to act normally to distract him, even though your face is flushed and your heart is beating faster.

“Will you come watch?”

“Does it matter?”

“It would… would be nice! to have someone to give me advice.”

“Today, I might not be able to. I have a cooking lesson with Oliver.”

“Oh, that sounds... well, interesting.” he replies, somewhat awkwardly. “Will you bring me some pastries again?”

“I’m not sure. I might not make pastries, but if you want, I can bake something for you.” you offer. He falls silent, making you look up at him. He stares at you with a slightly disappointed expression. When you catch him looking, he turns away, almost as if avoiding blame.

“Or you can come to the kitchen and have lunch with me.” you suggest with a smile, wondering if he might be very particular about food.

“Alright, let’s have lunch together.”

“I’m done writing now. Let’s go.” you say as you get up and gather your things. He stands up as well, his face showing the excitement of a child who’s happy to have someone to play with. You secretly hope that perhaps this could be more than just a good friendship. But for now, quietly falling in love with him might be enough.

“What do you think about joining me to visit the orphans?” you ask, as you both head out of the room towards the Dragonpit.

He turns to you with a warm smile, one he’s been giving you more often lately. “I’d love to go with you.”

“That’s wonderful.” you reply with a smile of your own. “I’ll need to prepare some toys for the children, then. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled!”

“Do you think the children will like the toys we've brought for them?” you ask Vidah while she is doing your hair.

“They’ll definitely love them.” she replies. “You’ve also prepared some small treats for them, haven’t you? Who wouldn’t be happy about that? And with a prince coming to see them too.”

“I’ve also prepared to tell them a few stories and brought something for the prince.” you say, gazing at your reflection in the mirror. “Do you think he’ll be willing to narrate?”

“If the princess asks, he surely will.” Vidah says confidently.

You frequently visit the orphanage, helping the children as much as you can because they are the future of the city. Some are sent to school, the strong ones are trained, and the girls are placed to serve noble families, as much help as you can provide.

“It’s finished.” Vidah announces. “You look beautiful as always.”

Today, you chose to wear a blue dress with a low neckline and sleeveless design. You wore minimal jewelry and avoided anything that might make the children uncomfortable. You opted for a shorter dress for ease of movement. You looked at yourself in the mirror for a moment before heading out.

“I’ll wait at the carriage.” you tell your maid. She nods and leaves to prepare additional items for you. You notice a bit more hustle and bustle than usual but don’t think much of it, assuming it’s just a prince or princess being demanding.

You walk to the castle exit but see no sign of the prince. You assume he might be coming soon. You climb into the carriage and try not to think too negatively. However, after waiting for nearly half an hour, you begin to understand that he might not come.

A knock on the carriage door makes you hopeful, but when Vidah opens it, it’s another maid. Vidah speaks with her, and both their faces show concern. After their conversation ends, the maid turns to you with bad news.

“What happened?” you ask her.

“The prince is unable to join us.” she replies.

“Why?” you ask. “Does he have an urgent command?”

“No, Your Highness.” she replies hesitantly. “Lady Baela was injured. She fell off her horse while checking its condition, so the prince had to rush to her.”

“And… is she seriously hurt?” you ask, feeling a mix of disappointment, sympathy, and confusion.

“No, Your Highness. Just a few bruises and minor scratches.”

You are at a loss for words. You don’t want to believe that you aren’t important enough to keep the appointment. You feel deeply disappointed. Baela did nothing wrong, but the fault seems to lie with you for being insignificant to him.

“If you wish, you may cancel the visit.” Vidah offers. You consider it for a moment before responding.

“No, I will not cancel. Let’s go. The children have been waiting long enough.” you decide. Vidah goes to inform the soldiers outside, and a maid comes to comfort you. She hugs you in silence. You must not be sad and need to adjust your mood because the children are probably feeling worse than you. You want to be a positive presence for them.

When you arrive, as expected, the children’s faces light up upon seeing you. They smile with innocent joy and no pretense. You smile back at them. Some children peek around, probably looking for their prince.

“I must apologize for being late today.” you tell the children.

“What about the prince?” one little girl asks. You smile at her.

“Our prince has many duties and received an urgent command today, which prevented him from joining us. But he kindly sent delicious treats instead. Do you understand?”

The children look at each other, puzzled. Whispers start among them. Some look disappointed while others talk to their friends.

“The prince said he would definitely visit next time.” you reassure them. “Now, who would like to have some treats from the prince? Raise your hands!” You nod to the maid to start distributing the treats. They seem very happy when each child receives their share. The room quiets down once the treats are distributed, and you sit in the middle to continue with the next activity.

“Next, I will tell you some stories. If you want me to tell all of them, you need to be good listeners. Do you understand?” The children nod. “Once upon a time…”

“Are you going to the orphanage again, little sister?” Aegon asked at the dinner table.

“Yes.” you responded, not looking up and continuing to eat. You could feel Jacaerys’s gaze on you, but you ignored it, not wanting to see his face because it made you feel worse.

“Does your sister go there often?” This time, it was the eldest sister asking Rhaenyra. You didn’t talk to her much, but she was always kind to you.

“Often, yes.”

“That’s quite an interesting hobby. If you ever want to go again, let me know, and I’ll help with the children’s supplies.”

“How will those children grow up without parents?” Aegon spoke up.

“That’s why we must provide them with love and warmth instead.”

“A noble duty.” your brother said sarcastically. “Why go through all that trouble?”

“Most of their parents are soldiers, and if they aren’t, they died from illness. Their mothers are the same. And they are our people, Aegon.”

“Your sister is right. You should learn to care about something more useful, Aegon.” your grandfather said. You were surprised because it was he who said this. Your brother fell silent immediately and regretted his words.

“Never mind. It’s good that you care for the people as a princess.” Viserys said to you, “and I hope you’ll come to understand soon.” He then addressed Aegon. “Have you both decided what you want as a prize for winning the hunting competition?”

“Not yet, Your Grace.” Jacaerys replied.

“That’s fine. No need to rush.”

“Lady Baela, I heard you fell from your horse. May the gods bless you.” your mother said to her.

“Thank you, Your Grace.” Baela replied. You noticed Jacaerys staring at you again, and it started to annoy you. You couldn’t tolerate it any longer.

“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I’m very tired today and need to retire.” you said.

“Go rest then.” Viserys said.

“I think it’s a good idea for me to escort the princess to her chambers.” Jacaerys said. You looked at the king, who nodded in agreement. He wouldn’t dare refuse his beloved nephew. You left the dining room without waiting for the prince.

Walking through the quiet corridors, he followed closely behind. You quickened your pace as much as possible, only now realizing how far your room was. You were angry, but it was not unusual to rush to someone you cared about when they were hurt. You might do the same.

“I’m sorry.” he said. “I know I didn’t make it to our appointment because—”

“I know why you couldn’t come.” you said, turning to him. “I understand, Your Highness. I have no right to be angry with you.”

“Next time, I’ll go with you.” he said, taking your hand and looking into your eyes. If it had been you a few days ago, you might have easily fallen for this trap.

“Let’s talk about this another day. I’m very tired and need to go now.” you said, pulling your hand away and walking into your room without looking back at him. It was undeniable that you were hurt, but did you have the right to be? He was only fulfilling his duty as a good friend. You were only betrothed in name, not because you truly loved each other. It hurt to know he liked someone else, not you. It hurt deeply.

tag list : @r3va-dwme @ladyofvelaryon @mckennah123 @ericasabe @yohanseyebrowmole @mah1644

#‧⁺◟ lyn writing table *•#jacaerys velaryon #jacaerys velaryon x reader

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lemonlover1110 · 2 months ago

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𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤

Suguru Getou & Kento Nanami

[Chapter 5] Camping Trip Pt. 2

← Previous Chapter - Story Masterlist

Pairing: Suguru Getou x f!Reader x Kento Nanami

*it's a christmas miracle

Discord +18 - Twitter - Ko-Fi

Kento helps you set up your tent quickly, and for a moment you think that the camping trip will be fun. You won’t have to struggle much with Kento by your side, which definitely will make the trip easier, therefore more fun. It’s also nice to have someone who you can joke around with, which you could’ve done with Suguru if it weren’t for Kumi.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.” Sayuri comes to your side, and you hum, letting her know that you heard before going to your bag to grab one of her snacks. As you’re handing it to her, Suguru yells,

“I’m getting started on lunch soon! She won’t be hungry for lunch if you give her food now.” Which makes you roll your eyes. You proceed to give her the snack, because you won’t make her wait when Suguru hasn’t even started lunch. He puffs out a breath, biting his tongue.

“Go take a seat, baby.” You smile at her, and she has no problem sitting down on the grass and opening her snack. Lately you’ve been doing everything you can to contradict him, and Suguru is upset about it. He really can’t understand why you are, but he isn’t going to ask you about it either because he knows that it’ll make the situation worse.

“Can I have a snack too?” Kento asks, walking back to his tent with the bags that he packed. You’d think he would be staying here for weeks with how much he has in his hands. You chuckle, reaching into your bag to get something for him too. Kento walks over to Sayuri, taking a seat beside her before they begin to talk.

Watching them brings a smile to your lips, unlike Suguru who is glaring at them. He decides to look away, and tries to get started on lunch. You go to them, sitting with them and joining their childish conversation. You often wonder how Kento gets so entertained while talking to Sayuri, but he manages to carry out long conversations with her.

“You want some?” Kento offers you the bag that’s in his hand, and you shake your head.

“Mommy doesn’t like that.” Sayuri points out, and Kento looks at the bag that’s in his hand. He raises his brows, recalling that you would crave the snack all the time during your pregnancy. He guesses you buy them for Sayuri now.

“Noted for next time.” Kento answers. He offers some to Sayuri, and she doesn’t hesitate before taking a handful.

“Sayuri, come here, princess!” Suguru yells, making the little girl stand up and run to her father. She leaves the trash behind, and Kento picks it up for her because that’s the type of thing he does for her. You rest your head on Kento’s shoulder, watching your daughter and her dad interact from a distance.

“It feels like he’s distant lately.” You comment, and Kento looks at Suguru before his eyes land on Kumi. It’s not really a great mystery why, but he wonders what’s happening now.

“Do you really mind though?” He asks, and you take a moment to think about your answer– You really don’t, but you also have to care because of your daughter. It’s like he reads your mind, asking, “Is it because of Sayuri?”

“Yeah…” You answer, and Kento watches as Suguru carries her. His dandy little helper. Suguru adores Sayuri more than anything, so he doesn’t think you should worry. However, you see another side of Suguru that he’s never come across.

“Maybe he’s just more distant with you?” He suggests, not wanting to make any claims. Kento feels weird talking about Suguru, that man is usually a topic that he avoids. But he doesn’t want you to worry. “He loves her more than anything, he probably just feels awkward around you because of… You know.”

“Yeah, I guess.” You answer. It’s somewhat calming to hear, and you really hope that Suguru doesn’t stray further. You want Sayuri to have her father by her side, always. Even if you’re not getting along.

You get your hand off his shoulder, smiling at him. “Are you going fishing with them?”

“I don’t want to interrupt them, it’s best if I just stay with you. What are you going to do?” Kento responds, and you shrug. The plan was to stay in your tent and read since you don’t want to be a victim of some wild animal (probably a wandering squirrel), and prefer to avoid sitting outside alone. If it were up to you, you’d be at the beach right now; it was the original plan, and the smartest one too.

“We can find something to do while they… Fish.” You scrunch up your nose as you finish your sentence. You have no idea why they find it so entertaining, but they do. You’re not going to judge them if it entertains them, nothing matters as long as they’re happy.

“I brought my work laptop.” He brings up. Suguru made a strict no technology rule, but are you really going to listen to that? In the end, who is Suguru to dictate what you can and can’t do? However, you face another issue.

“We have no wifi, what would we do?” You respond.

“I downloaded some movies we can watch.” Kento answers, letting you know that he came prepared for this. You wonder how many movies he downloaded, and what kind of movies as well, but in this situation you can’t exactly be too picky.

You kiss his cheek before telling him, “You’re simply the best. What would I do without you?”

“Probably be stuck with them.” Kento points at them, and you watch Kumi and Suguru yell back and forth while Sayuri looks for the food that Suguru packed to cook. Having Kento on the trip truly makes it ten times better for you, you’re not sure if you would survive without him.

You’re laying in your tent right next to Kento, watching a trashy movie that he swore you would love. It was either that or it was one of those movies he downloaded just in case you had run out of other stuff to watch. Either way, he likes it– Not the movie, the movie is bad. But you’re cuddling up next to him, your eyes focused on the screen. The movie is so bad, yet you can’t look away.

“This is such a dumb concept.” You can’t help but comment, and Kento hums in agreement. You’re still watching in anticipation, gasping at anything that was unexpected… Except you knew it was coming up. Kento is dozing off, finding himself too bored to pay attention to what’s happening. Sure, it’s messy but it doesn’t hold his attention, and he feels warm and cozy by your side. You poke his side when you notice his eyes shutting on their own, asking, “Are you sleepy, Nanamin?”

“A little bit, yeah.” He answers, and you hit the spacebar on the computer before closing it. He asks, “What?”

“Let’s take a nap, since you’re clearly tired.” You tell him, taking the computer from him and putting it back in its case. You’re back by his side, and he throws his arm over you, not really thinking twice since he’s half asleep. You don’t really mind though, in fact, you’re comfortable.

You’ll wake up before you know it, you aren’t all that comfortable sleeping on the ground. You’re sure that you’ll be up before Sayuri comes back.

However, you aren’t always right.

“Hey–” Suguru opens the tent, around two hours after you fall asleep. He finds you cuddled up with Kento, and he immediately thinks that he’s interrupted an intimate moment, closing the tent and walking back to his daughter and Kumi. “You can show mom the fish you caught later.”

“What happened? Why not now?” Kumi asks, furrowing her eyebrows. Suguru’s cheeks are pink, and she looks back at your tent. Kento is nowhere to be seen, so she can only assume that something happened between you two. Suguru makes it seem as if you’re both naked and have caught you two doing inexplicable acts. “Let’s save the fish, Sayuri. We’ll cook it later.”

“But I want to show mommy.” Sayuri pouts. She’s been waiting to show you the fish that she caught, why can’t she show you now? She’s about to run to the tent, but Suguru picks her up and stops her.

“How about we… take a walk?” Suguru suggests, and Kumi is about to agree but before she can she has to ask,

“Can you find your way back?” She still follows him when she receives no answer, since she isn’t going to stay behind. Sayuri is calling out for you, her arms reaching out for the tent, but Suguru has no issue ignoring her.

The sun is setting around the time you wake up, and you still find yourself alone with Kento. He isn’t hugging you like when you went to sleep, he’s outside, starting the bonfire. You stretch, getting out of the tent and walking over to Kento.

“Are they not back yet?” You ask him, your voice raspy after just waking up from a long, but necessary nap.

“Haven’t seen them.” Kento asks. He hasn’t been awake for too long, but he saw the fish in the cooler so he knows they’ve been back.

“You think Suguru got lost?” Kento chuckles, and you can’t help but hum in agreement. You can only hope that he can fight off any animal that comes along the way, protecting Sayuri from anything and everything. “How long till we go looking for them?”

“It’s getting dark, I don’t want anything to happen to my baby girl.” You answer, and Kento nods. You’re about to set off, but you hear some rustling from the bushes. It scares you half to death, and you nearly jump into Kento’s arms for safety, until you hear Suguru’s voice.

“What about us?” He can’t help but ask, holding Sayuri in his arms. Kumi is clearly mad, letting you know that they got into an argument– About what? Probably about the fact that they got lost. He will try to play it off like they just took a long walk, but they most definitely got lost.

“What about you?” You respond, taking your daughter from his arms since she reaches out to you. You kiss her cheek and ask, “How was your walk with daddy? Unnecessarily long?”

“We didn’t get lost!” Suguru defends himself, but you ignore him since it’s what you do best. You ask her to show you the fish she caught, and of course she points at the biggest one. You don’t doubt it for one second, even though she’s lying.

Suguru and Kento prepare the fish for you, and you proceed to eat around the fire. Even though she’s spent all day running around and being active, Sayuri still isn’t tired. So she suggests doing something more. The sun barely went down, she isn’t tired yet.

“I’m tired, I’m going to sleep.” Kumi says, disregarding what Sayuri says because she’s upset with Suguru. Suguru isn’t going to hold her off because he has other matters to discuss anyway. She can stay mad for as long as she wants to be mad.

“Are you sure you’re not tired? After your long walk, you must be worn out.” Kento does it to poke fun at Suguru, but Suguru won’t let it get to him. Not that at least. You’re sitting together, dangerously close, although you aren’t touching. Suguru notices it right away. You’re not doing anything, you don’t even notice it, but a weird feeling consumes Suguru as he watches you two.

“I’m fine! Not tired!” Sayuri claims, which makes you and Kento exchange a look before bursting into laughter. Suguru feels weird, probably because he’s never had a bond like that with you… And he doesn’t have a bond like that with Kumi.

“You look tired, look at your eyes!” Kento points out, and they begin to argue about it. She claims that she has a lot of energy, when she obviously doesn’t. They keep bickering, and you chuckle. Your eyes glance at Suguru momentarily, finding a frown on his face.

You won’t comment on it, it’s Suguru’s own issue.

“How about I tell you a story?” Kento begins, and her ears perk up with curiosity. He has no idea what he’ll tell, but he’ll come up with something, surely. “But it’s scary, so you probably won’t like it.”

“I like scary!” She claims, though she doesn’t know if she likes scary since she hasn’t been introduced to it yet. Kento is smirking, looking back at you. You give him a subtle nod of approval and he begins his not-so-scary story that has Sayuri clinging to you for dear life.

You barely notice Suguru glaring at you as Kento tells his story. You don’t care enough to see what Suguru is up to, you don’t even understand why he’s sitting outside with you and not joining his fiancée.

There’s rattling in the bushes, which makes your little girl run to the tent in fear. You let out a low laugh before standing up, going after her to check up on her and comfort her. Which leaves the two men alone.

It’s always awkward when they’re around each other with no one else around. It’s clear they don’t like each other. They don’t have anything else to say to each other.

“Can you control yourself?” Suguru finally speaks up, which makes Kento’s brows furrow. What is Suguru even talking about? “I know that you’re really into her but this is a family trip– Which means you shouldn’t even be here. Just act like a responsible adult.”

“What are you talking about?” Kento asks, which only ticks Suguru off more. Kento notices the man’s hands ball into fists, which he finds humorous. Kento clicks his tongue, crossing his arms together.

“I caught you two in the tent earlier.” Suguru shares, which makes Kento raise a brow. As if it were a sin to sleep in the same tent… But no, that’s not what Suguru is thinking. Suguru is thinking something more happened.

“What if I had sex with her? Is it your business?” Kento lowers his voice, leaning in to speak to Suguru. The response is making Suguru’s blood boil. That’s not how Kento is supposed to respond at all. “Or are you jealous, Getou?”

“Why would I be?” Suguru scoffs, even though he’s clearly upset. “Just don’t do that shit here.”

“If I didn’t know any better I’d say–” Kento begins, and before he can finish the sentence, Suguru cuts him off.

“Don’t fucking finish your sentence.” Suguru warns him, which makes Kento chuckle. He’s not even trying to hide it.

“Yeah, whatever you say.” Kento says before standing up. He’s not tired, but he refuses to sit with Suguru for another minute. “Night, Getou.”

#jujustu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jujutsu kaisen geto #suguru geto #getou suguru #getou #geto suguru #geto x reader #jjk geto #jujutsu kaisen suguru #jjk suguru #getou suguru x reader #kento x reader #nanami kento #kento nanami #nanami fanfic #nanamin #jjk nanami #geto fanfic

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faithfulren · 6 months ago

Text

tent troubles

hi everyonee!! i just wanted to thank you for 50 likes, its a start and it truly means the world to me. i'm so glad you guys like my stuff and i deeply appreciate it, and i hope you guys continue to support me! :) <3

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as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the forest, class 1-A set up camp. laughter and chatter filled the air as everyone pitched in, erecting tents and preparing for a night under the stars. you were excited, the prospect of camping with your friends bringing a smile to your face. that smile, however, faded when you realized you were paired with katsuki bakugo.

you and bakugo had always had a irregular relationship. his fiery temper and your headstrong nature often clashed, leading to more arguments than you cared to count. but aizawa-sensei, in his infinite wisdom, had decided that this trip was the perfect opportunity for you two to learn to work together.

"just stay out of my way," bakugo grumbled, dropping the tent supplies at your feet. he was already annoyed, and you knew better than to poke the bear.

"sure, bakugo," you replied, trying to keep the peace. you bent down to pick up the tent poles, but he snatched them away before you could grab them.

"i said stay out of my way," he repeated, more forcefully this time. you bit back a retort and stepped back, crossing your arms as you watched him struggle with the poles.

minutes passed in tense silence. bakugo was clearly having trouble setting up the tent, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to ask for help. finally, with a frustrated growl, he threw the poles to the ground.

"do you want help now?" you asked, unable to keep the smugness out of your voice.

"shut up and just… help me," he muttered, glaring at you.

together, you managed to get the tent set up, though not without several more snide comments and glares from bakugo. by the time it was finished, the sky had turned a deep indigo, and the first stars were beginning to appear.

you sat down by the campfire, feeling exhausted but somewhat accomplished. bakugo sat across from you, his scowl softened slightly by the firelight. the others were busy roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, the atmosphere light and cheerful.

"here," bakugo said suddenly, holding out a stick with a perfectly roasted marshmallow. you blinked in surprise.

"uh, thanks," you said, taking the marshmallow from him. It was uncharacteristically kind of him, and you couldn't help but wonder what had prompted the gesture.

"don't read too much into it," he snapped, looking away. "i just didn't want to hear you whining about not having one."

"sure, bakugo," you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips.

the night wore on, and eventually, everyone headed back to their tents. you crawled into your sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable on the uneven ground. bakugo was already lying down, his back to you.

for a while, you lay in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest. You were almost asleep when you heard bakugo's voice, quiet and hesitant.

"why don't you hate me?"

you turned to face him, confused. "..what?"

"i said, why don't you hate me?" he repeated, louder this time. "i’m always yelling at you, and you never fight back.. why?"

you thought about it for a moment. "because I know there's more to you than just your temper. you're a good person, bakugo, even if you don't always show it."

he was silent for a long time. then, just as you were beginning to think he wouldn't respond, he spoke again.

"thanks," he said softly, almost too softly for you to hear. "and… sorry.. i guess."

it was a small apology, but coming from Bakugo, it meant a lot. you smiled in the darkness, feeling a warmth in your chest that had nothing to do with the campfire.

"goodnight, bakugo," you whispered, closing your eyes.

"goodnight," he replied, his voice gentler than you'd ever heard it.

and for the first time since you'd started at UA, you fell asleep feeling like maybe, just maybe, you and bakugo could be friends after all.

#anime #mha #mha x reader #bnha #bnha x reader #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugo x reader #katsuki bakugou #platonic #x reader #faithfulren

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nyrandrea · 1 year ago

Text

Restless

Summary: As your sleepless nights start to catch up with you, you turn to a certain vampire who might just be able to help.

Also available to read here on A03!

Word Count - 2.7k

Enjoy!

xxx

Sleep had always been something of an illusion to you.

Each night, as the world succumbed to slumber, you lay in your bedroll, with eyes wide open, gazing at the twinkling stars of the endless night sky. It was as if the world had pressed pause, leaving you to confront the shadows of your own thoughts. Your insomnia was a relentless adversary, a cruel warden that held you captive in the prison of wakefulness.

The nights stretched on endlessly, and as the hours ticked by, your exhaustion grew more profound.

Your mind raced with thoughts, a relentless carousel of worries, hopes, and regrets. You would toss and turn, your body tangled in the sheets, seeking elusive comfort. Come morning, the birds seemed to mock you, a constant reminder of the passage of time that slipped away while you lay wide awake.

By the time everyone else was up and refreshed from a good night’s sleep, you were still lying flat on your back, your bloodshot eyes stinging as you stared up at the pale morning sky.

“Darling, it’s time to get up,” Astarion said, standing above you with hands on hips, his expression somewhat bemused. “Honestly, you’re so lazy, just like Gale.”

He muttered that last part, glaring towards the wizard’s tent as a rumbling snore emanated from it and echoed throughout the camp. The vampire suddenly smirked, and you rolled your head to follow his gaze, only to see Karlach sneaking towards the tent with her hands out, ready to pounce.

The snoring was cut short with a high-pitched scream, followed by a roar of laughter, and a lot of cursing on Gale’s part.

“Good, at least that’s one of you up,” Astarion said, turning back towards you. “Now, are you going to follow suit? Or am I going to have to stoop to Karlach’s tactics? Brash as they are.”

“Hey! My tactics are quite refined, thank you very much,” Karlach rebuked, stabbing a thumb in Gale’s direction, the poor man stumbling to find his cloak. “Got him up, didn’t I?”

“That you did, darling.”

“I’m up,” you muttered hoarsely, wincing as you slowly pushed yourself up off the ground, your body feeling about a hundred years old. “I’m up.”

“Oh dear,” Astarion grimaced. “Looks like someone didn’t get their beauty sleep last night, hm?”

His tone was light but there was an almost... concerned note to it, as if he was prodding. You felt a pang in your chest; he only spoke the truth; your eyes, once bright and expressive, now bore the heavy bags and dark circles of sleep deprivation. Your skin had dulled and paled considerably over the past few weeks, and your hair was dishevelled and unkempt.

You almost certainly looked as bad as you felt.

Part of you wanted to blame the group: Astarion for nearly sucking you dry of your blood, Karlach for being so damn loud all the time, Gale for making demands of you every ten minutes, Lae’zel for very nearly causing fights everywhere she went with her brashness, Shadowheart for her condescending demeanour and Wyll for craving validation from you every time you had a chat with him. The only sane person here seemed to be Halsin, and even he was starting to grate on your nerves for just looking so damn well-rested and perky.

The other part of you wanted to cry, to apologise for being such a failure and run away into the woods to never be seen or heard from again and just succumb to whatever fate the mind-flayer parasite had in store for you.

Instead, you forced a smile, and lied.

“Just had a nightmare, is all.”

“Hm,” Astarion hummed, a simmering concern etched into the lines of his face. In that moment you felt a soft push in your mind, and the tadpole behind your eye squirmed as if responding to something. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken emotions, a palpable tension that seemed to hang between you both.

It was only when you winced that the vampire averted his gaze, and the unseen force retreated from your mind.

“Terribly sorry,” Astarion said as you rubbed your head. “It would seem that my worm wanted to talk with yours; perhaps it was... concerned. Ooh, do you think that they’re best friends?”

“I doubt it,” you muttered, a little annoyed at his giddiness. “Maybe tell yours to mind its own business next time.”

“Of course, apologies again,” he said with that smooth voice and puppy-dog eyes of his, it was enough to make your irritation melt away. “But should a nightmare ever arise in that darling head of yours again, just know that you can seek me out.”

You blinked, a little surprised at the open invitation. You couldn’t quite tell if it was genuine; it was always hard to tell with him. The only times you had ever been intimate was whenever he sought you out for a bit of casual fun. He seemed confused as to why you never wanted to initiate, but you tried to explain that while you enjoyed your time together, you never wanted to invade his privacy as you respected that camp time was everyone’s chance for a bit of peace and were entitled to such.

This only seemed to confuse him further.

Still, this had to be a big step for him, to ask you to his tent -his sanctuary- and you didn’t want to seem ungrateful.

“I-I will,” you stutter. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, my dear,” Astarion smiled. “Now, shall we see what chaos today brings for us? It’s been far too long since we’ve had to kill anyone.”

You bumped his shoulder playfully. “We killed that group of bandits only yesterday.”

He returned the gesture with a sly smirk. “Exactly.”

During the day, you continued your journey with a fragile facade of normalcy, sipping on coffee like it was the elixir of life, desperately trying to stay awake. Your interactions with others were tinged with a weary detachment, as if you were viewing the world through a foggy pane of glass.

Emotions played hide-and-seek within your very soul. Frustration lurked just beneath the surface, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation. An innocent quip or question would trigger an unexpected wellspring of tears, followed by nervous laughter, leaving everyone in the group perplexed. You merely brushed it off as the tadpole messing with your head, but even that raised a few eyebrows as nobody else was acting up—it was a good thing you were persuasive.

You tried to avoid battles wherever and whenever you could, opting to take the longer roads or attempting to sweet-talk your way out of a sticky situation. However, some fights were unavoidable, and this was when your sleep deprivation was really put on show for everyone to see; your movements were sluggish, enemies were able to get more hits on you and you had to be helped back up to your feet on more than one occasion.

The others insisted on setting up camp a little earlier than usual so you could rest and, despite your trying to tell them that you were fine and wanted to keep going because these tadpoles weren’t going to remove themselves anytime soon, they wouldn’t take no for an answer.

So, here you were again, on your back, staring up at the stars. Another night of having an existential crisis while everyone else slumbered on peacefully. Rinse and repeat.

You had tried everything to conquer your insomnia. Experimented with herbal teas, soothing music, you had even consulted a sleep specialist back in Baldur’s Gate who prescribed a cocktail of medications. But the battle persisted, night after night.

Sitting up and rubbing your dry, stinging eyes, you decided to try something else.

As you crept through the camp, you were careful not to wake anyone else up as you approached Astarion’s tent, tentatively peeking in through the flap before reprimanding yourself; even though he had invited you, boundaries were important, you couldn’t just go barging in. So, you gently knocked on one of the wooden beams that supported the tent.

“Astarion...?” You softly whispered, waiting for a response.

Only silence followed.

You knocked again, wincing slightly at the louder noise you made. For a moment you thought about abandoning this whole silly idea and going back to staring into space for the next eight hours, but desperation made you persistent.

Mercifully, you heard a faint shuffle come from inside the tent.

“Come in,” Astarion’s husky, muffled voice answered.

Nervously, you slipped inside, and a wave of warmth immediately washed over your face as you were greeted with the sight of a bare-chested Astarion sitting cross-legged on his bedroll. You were grateful he at least had pants on, otherwise you would have been out of there like a shot.

A mischievous smile spread across his face as he watched you squirm uncomfortably. “Whatever is the matter, darling?” His lips formed a perfect pout. “Come to ask me for a little cuddle to chase the bad dreams away?”

Your nostrils flared as you glowered down at him while he smirked smugly back up, because of course he would tease you about something like this. You should have known that he wasn’t going to take you seriously.

“Forget it,” you said, making a sharp turn to re-open the tent flap. “I-I never should have come here, I’ll just... leave you be.”

You missed the flash of panic on his face as he quickly got to his knees to reach out and grab your wrist before you could make it out.

“Wait!” He said, stopping you in your tracks. “I’m sorry, come back in, please?”

You slowly turned your head.

“I promise not to tease you.”

Begrudgingly, you allowed him to take your hand and escort you back inside, guiding you to sit down beside him on the floor.

“You’re having trouble sleeping again, I presume?”

Nodding your head, you squeezed the bridge of your nose and sighed, trying to swallow down the overwhelming urge to break down in front of him and cry in pure frustration.

“I... I’ve been struggling with insomnia for a while now.”

Astarion scoffed. “Well now, that’s a revelation.”

You had half a mind to slap him.

“Sorry,” he said, holding up his hands in a placating manner. “No teasing, of course, but come on darling, it was pretty obvious from the start.”

“Thanks,” you mumbled, your gaze cast downward, wondering why you even came here in the first place if he was just going to insult you.

“You’re still beautiful,” he said, softly caressing your jaw to angle your face towards him. “Very beautiful indeed.”

Your heart thumped wildly as the tip of your nose brushed his, and you would have crumpled into his well-tuned act of seduction if it were not for one burning question suddenly on your mind.

“How do you do it?"

“I- do what?”

“Elves don’t sleep, right?” You said, blinking curiously. “How do you... not sleep?”

“We uh... meditate, darling. Wait, how do you not know this?” he asked, pulling back with his eyebrow raised. “You must have seen me doing it at some stage or another.”

“...I always just thought you pretended to sleep,” you hummed in thought. “Now that I think about it, the way you lay down was always kind of strange looking.”

He snorted a laugh at your brutal honesty, and feeling a jab of guilt, you tried to back-track on your word vomit.

“Sorry! Um… no offence?”

"None taken, darling,” he said, waving a nonchalant hand. “I can see why my eloquent poses would look strange to you, but for elves, meditation is a common practice. Helps us to… calm down; be in the moment, as it were.”

A comfortable silence fell between you.

“Could you show me?”

Astarion gave you a questionable look. “You want me to show you how to meditate?”

You nod vigorously and cross your legs with your arms resting on your knees to show that you’re serious. It takes you a moment to figure out which fingers were supposed to touch together but you get there eventually.

With a bemused smile, the vampire shrugs. “Alright, I've had stranger requests.”

You wanted to question that but put a pin in it for another time.

"Are you ready?" Astarion asked. You nod, your heart fluttering with both anticipation and trust. “Now, clear your head.”

You give him a dry look.

He rolls his eyes back. “Yes, admittedly a little hard, what with the little residents living up there but just... trust me, alright? Close your eyes.”

You complied, and Astarion began to guide you, his words soft and rhythmic, like a gentle lullaby. "Breathe in deeply," he said, his own breath aligning with yours. "Feel the air fill your lungs, expanding your chest, and exhale slowly, try to let go of any tension."

You followed his instructions, your breath matching his like a perfectly choreographed dance. With each inhale and exhale, you felt a growing sense of calm washing over.

"Thoughts may arise, like passing clouds," Astarion murmured. "Acknowledge them but let them drift away. Return your focus to your breath.”

You found yourself navigating the currents of your thoughts with newfound ease, like a sailor guiding a boat through calm waters. The more you let go, the more profound your sense of inner stillness grew. You felt the weight of your worries begin to dissolve. The burdens of your leadership, of the mind-flayer tadpoles and the problems that came with it seemed to retreat into the distance, leaving you with a newfound clarity.

"Good," Astarion whispered. "Now, focus on your body. Notice any tension, any discomfort. Let it go with each breath. Feel your body becoming lighter, more at ease."

Minutes passed like hours, and the tent seemed to fill with an ethereal stillness. You and Astarion remained connected through your breath, it was as if time itself had become irrelevant, and you were both suspended in a moment of pure existence.

You could feel the tension in your shoulders and neck melting away. It was as if the cares of the world were simply slipping through your fingers.

Slipping...

“...Darling? Are you-? Oh.”

Astarion’s eyes widen, and he winces a little when your head falls into his shoulder. He catches you gently by the arms, so you don’t slip and go face-first into his lap; it was a delicious thought but for another time, when you were conscious and ready.

But right now, he isn’t quite sure what to do with you. He certainly knows he can’t hold you like this all night; it would be uncomfortable for both of you. His eyebrows crease as he frowns while he tries to slowly lower you to the ground.

To absolutely no avail; unconsciously you end up pulling him in closer.

“Oh, for Gods's sake,” the vampire huffs incredulously. “What am I, some sort of glorified teddy bear?”

Half-asleep and still nestled into Astarion’s chest, you mumble something incoherent in response, your breath warm against his skin. You snuggle even closer, your head burrowing into the crook of his neck.

For a moment, Astarion felt a flicker of irritation, his desire for a good night's rest warring with his affection for you. He yearned to stretch out, to find the perfect position that would allow him the bliss of undisturbed meditation. But as he looked down at the peaceful expression on your face, all traces of weariness and anxiety erased, he just couldn't bring himself to disturb you.

Reluctantly, he wraps his arm around you, pulling you closer still. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of your breath, the slow, rhythmic cadence of sleep. The warmth of your body against his own gradually seeped through the cracks in his defences, and his irritation gave way to an overwhelming tenderness.

In that moment, he realised that the inconvenience of being your living pillow was a small price to pay for the privilege of holding you close, of being the one you sought comfort in. As you drifted further into slumber, Astarion closed his eyes and surrendered to the serenity of the night, the gentle weight of your devotion for each other enveloping you both, anchoring him in the moment and reminding him of the beauty in life's simple, sweet sacrifices.

xxx

Yyyyyeah I know this one has the same beats as 'Everything's Fine' but what can I say? I'm a sucker for begrudgingly soft Astarion ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Let me know what y'all think!

Links to my other Astarion works

'Everything's Fine'

Request - Astarion kills everyone in his path to get to you

#astarion x reader #astarion x mc #astarion x tav #astarion bg3 #my writing #tw insomnia #fanfiction #baldurs gate 3

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melliemell · 1 month ago

Text

Happy Birthday to the biggest baby ever!

Shoutout to Flamey for hosting his bday party and encouraging us to participate (gosh, I love her writing so much, you've no idea)

Pairing: Ranpo x reader

Contents: SFW, Ranpo being a menace, bike riding 101 + public transport is for losers, approx 2.1k words

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“I don’t see the point in that,” Ranpo declared with all the dignity in the world as he flopped down on the pavement. Carefree. And too calm.

You levelled your breath, trying to balance the bike on your hip as your anxiety grew by the second. You’ve been employed at the ADA for some time now, not enough to be on familiar terms with your colleagues, but enough to have figured out some of their quirks and knacks over the weeks.

Ranpo was a pretty open book, to be frank. A man that whined and lazied about most of the time, but most importantly– he never seemed to be in a hurry for anything.

“This is the best I could do,” you said, clutching the bike’s handles in exasperation. “Please, Ranpo. If we don’t go now, we’ll be late for the 4 pm meeting.”

You could, under no circumstances, be late for that. Especially Ranpo, seeing as he was the one who’d be leading the update on the new case you were signed to. He was signed to. Not you, you were merely the unlucky clerk who happened to be at the office at the wrong time. You had wondered why everyone scurried away when Yosano asked for assistance with Ranpo.

The man was an absolute disaster with public transport.

Even more so when said transport was also nonexistent, and you might be somewhat stranded in an unfamiliar neighbourhood with no available taxis and a bored out of his mind detective looking at you like you’ve grown a second head in the span of 2 seconds.

“What?” you asked.

Ranpo leaned back on the heels of his palms, head cocked as he raised a brow. “You don’t even know how to ride that, by the way. How’s that gonna work out for ya?”

You don’t remember mentioning that to him. You raised your chin. “It’s a matter of balance more than anything. And determination.” Or so you hoped; not that it mattered. It was this or the walk of shame.

Not on your watch.

“Sure sure,” Ranpo answered absently as he flipped his phone, a catchy melody spilling from it a moment later, a familiar rhythm game flashing briefly from what you could see on the screen.

You pursed your lips.

You looked down at the bike, trying to focus. Most things really did come down to a few simple truths– an insistent mindset and a healthy dose of delusion and you were good to go! Although, as you sat down, one leg tentatively balancing your weight, and Kunikida’s voice of stern encouragement in your head–he would do what he must for his responsibilities, truly a man to look up to–you stepped on the pedal and–

The bike swirled, your eyes widening in panic as you fought in that millisecond to regain balance. You heard a low wohoo from behind you even if Ranpo’s eyes were still glued to his phone.

Yes, right. Determination.

It was almost like a mantra, one that sounded more and more exasperated in your head with every attempt at moving this damned bike. It just wouldn’t keep still. Clutching onto the handles for dear life made little to no difference in your fight against gravity. But your annoyed huffs and general aura of built-up exasperation did finally bring about something.

That is, Ranpo sighing dramatically before standing up.

He leaned close, poking you in the shoulder. “That’s not how you do it, stupid.”

You looked at him, forcing a face of serenity on your features. “I only need a bit of time.”

“I’m bored. Looking at you failing at basic physics made me hungry too.”

A thought popped into your mind. You smiled innocently. “Is that so?”

“Don’t try that with me.” He looked around, trying to mask the giddiness in his body before he spoke again. “My work is very tiring and I need my deserved downtime. With snacks provided.”

“But you’re not finished with work.”

“Helloo?” Ranpo waved his hand in your face. “Case closed, job done. And I already sent a text with some details while you were wriggling in the air like a sardine.” He pouted, crossing his hands. “What’s the point in talking to a bunch of old men about their job when I already did it for them.”

Kunikida had briefed you on this before. You knew perfectly well where this was going.

“Ranpo,” you began, not letting his dejected puppy face sway you in the slightest. “It is in the best interest of the Agency that we proceed in a customary manner. If we wish to maintain the respect we’ve attained, then I will do what is–”

“They knew they couldn’t solve their case without me, though,” Ranpo stated matter of fact. Like it was common sense.

You blinked. “Yes, because of the ADA’s reputation–”

“Nuh-huh, not that. They know my reputation. Can’t help it, being the best that I am.”

“Ranpo, I can’t deny your immeasurable talents–” you could almost see his ears perk up at the compliment, “–but… we still need to get there, they need to hear from yourself about everything. And impress them in person with your deductive prowess.”

You were grasping at anything at the moment. Convincing Ranpo was more concerning than the bike situation, and besides, multitasking was for losers. One victory at a time.

But it seemed to do the trick, at least a bit. Ranpo was far more receptive than earlier and with just the right amount of push… a man with vanity was easy to spin around, although it leaves you with a bitter sense of disloyalty in the end.

“Hmm,” Ranpo hummed, eyeing up the bike behind you as his hand came up to his chin in thought. “You know we’ll definitely run over a car sooner or later. Or a poor grandma, they run about in the afternoons a lot.”

“Uuh,” you said, dumbly. Not like you could argue with that.

A silent pause of a few seconds, followed by a prolonged groan as Ranpo slacked his body forward.

“We’ll begin slow; I’m a quick learner if–”

Your words died in your throat as Ranpo all but heaved a great sigh and plopped himself on the bike seat.

He threw a glance over his shoulder, “I’m doing this once and only once. And only after you agree to stop by a candy shop on the way.” He patted the remaining space behind him as you looked at him, surprise written on your face.

No way. No way was this man–this man who barely knew how to punch up the right buttons on the ticket machine thinking he’d be the one in the front.

“You know, I think it would be best if I was at the handles,” you started, earning a scoff from Ranpo.

“Sure, if you insist. Aaall the way from the back. And do the navigation; I still don’t know where we are right now.”

You came closer, still unsure. “Ranpo, don’t tell me you actually know how to ride a bike?”

“What kind of loser doesn’t learn it when they’re a kid,‘ he said, then cocked his head. “Besides you, I guess. Weren’t we in a hurry, by the way?”

You eyed Ranpo suspiciously. Although he was sitting with an air of confidence that could belong to someone who knew what they were doing.

Or he was just being Ranpo.

Tentatively, you sat down in the space behind him, earning a finally from Ranpo as he faced forward. The remaining doubt in your mind all but exploded into a rush of panic and clutched hands in fabric as sudden wind engulfed you, the street you were in a messy blotch of colours as it flew by.

“Hey!” Ranpo shouted over his shoulder, wriggling. “It’s just a small slant, so stop clinging so much! Work on checking where that store is.”

You hadn’t realized you had all but glued yourself to Ranpo’s back, hands clutching the front of his vest like a lifeline. You tried loosening your grip, enough to give him some breathing space but ended up just wrapping them in a different position. Not a chance…

“I am not taking out my phone, Ranpo. Please slow down. Please. Very please.”

“We’re almost down, it’s fine. I also don’t know where we’re going,” Ranpo said, glancing at you briefly. “Do you have motion sickness or something?”

You gritted your teeth. “No. I’m fine. Just don’t get us to the main road or I might really die–”

“No problem. No clue where that is.”

You sighed. Cars and traffic lights didn’t sound like they’d go well with you both right now. You could get by pretty okay with general directions, so you’d be fine so long as you kept away from any vehicles. An idea formed in your mind as Ranpo slowed down by the end of the road.

“Take a left here,” you said, calming your breathing. Ranpo nodded.

You got the hang of it by your third or fourth crossing, careful to keep by residential buildings rather than risk your luck. You knew you were heading in the right direction at least. You had silently hoped Ranpo would drop the candy shop idea, there was barely time for that, and it seemed the case he was more amused by chatting aimlessly as he pedalled along to your directions. You barely listened to him at the start but as the minutes went by you found yourself relaxing, bit by bit, his words serving as a distraction.

Knowing Ranpo, it might have been on purpose. Or not. He rarely cared for such things, but you still found yourself smiling gently at the possibility. He could be nice when he wants to.

“Hey, where now? You look spacy back there, should I bring up the speed?” Ranpo asked, snorting at your quick stammer of absolutely not, don’t you dare, Ranpo!

Buildings and streets soon turned into nestled playgrounds amongst trees, and the number of benches with senior citizens gossiping about their day brought about a peaceful change of scenery as you entered one of the bigger parks. You breathed a sigh of relief. You were pretty near by now.

Ranpo whistled absently, looking about. “You know, just when I was thinking we’d spare the grandmas.”

You laughed despite yourself. “Okay okay, I’m sorry for panicking earlier. We’ve been doing pretty great so far, let’s keep it at that.”

“Hmm.” Ranpo stretched back, moving your body with his as you got a mouthful of hair in your face. “Only because I saved the day here. It’s exhausting being in the front.”

“Why, do you want to switch places?” You said, shaking his hair from your face.

The bike slowed down as Ranpo’s green eyes stared back at you. “Obviously. But that also means I’ll have to suffer the consequences. Don’t wanna.” He flopped back, fully resting against your front as he pouted.

You weren’t used to that much proximity with him, but then again his disregard for personal space had always been pretty much there. “Just a bit more, we’re almost there, you know.”

“Bleh.”

“Come on, come on,” you said as you began poking him incessantly in the cheek. He batted your hand away and you laughed. “I promise I’ll know how to ride a bike in case of a next time.”

Ranpo sighed dramatically, but picked up the speed. “I still haven’t forgotten about the snacks. You owe me, you know.”

You rolled your eyes. What a big baby. “Yep, they’ll be on me. So long as you get us on time.” You poked him again for emphasis.

“Hey!” Ranpo grabbed your hand, drawing it back to its place around his torso. “And you stay there, sheesh.”

You nestled back on his shoulder, hiding the grin spreading on your lips. He was pretty fun to tease.

Ranpo eyed you, and then after a pause– “Meeting’s gonna be a bore. I’ll give 15 minutes tops and we’re out of there, you hear? That’d be enough for you to find a pastry nearby, right?”

“Wait, now?” You had thought more along the lines of ‘bring him some chocolates next time at work’ type of situation. This did catch you off guard.

“Duh, and don’t lose the bike,” he said, matter of fact. “Might as well educate you on how not to run into trees. Or children.” That was accompanied by your yelp after a risky manoeuvre around a group of running children.

This… wasn’t something you expected. You tried to look closer at Ranpo’s face but he kept his gaze straight ahead, features neutral save for a light flush that had spread on his cheeks. He was rather handsome, now that you think about it. And as annoying as he could be, you found yourself wondering what else you could learn about him.

Life was about trying out things, wasn’t it? “If you make fun of me again I swear to you Ranpo Edogawa, I will eat all of the snacks I’m bringing.”

“Hey, now! That’s mean.”

“I’m paying for them, mister. You’ve been warned.”

#bsd #ranpo x reader #ranpo x you #bungou stray dogs #ranpo x y/n #bungo stray dogs ranpo #bungou stray dogs ranpo #bsd ranpo #bsd fanfic #bsd x reader #bsd x y/n #bsd x you #bsd edogawa rampo #edogawa ranpo

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scribblesofagoonerr · 4 months ago

Text

— oh my god, derek's here! | Glastonbury Series

well here's the third part of this mini series then. i hope it doesn't completely suck ✌🏼

massive thank you to @alotofpockets and @lvnleah again for the ongoing help throughout writing this and putting up with me throwing ideas at them all the time.

pairings: leah williamson x reader!monkey

summary: the second day of the festival and leah's dealing with her hangover but of course it's more reason for monkey to be a menace

you can check out the whole masterlist here: chaos fc masterlist

also it's come to my attention that the order of it might be confusing so i'm working on writing something up to make better sense of it :)

"Goooood mooooorning!" You are kind enough to shout out loud the next morning to wake the blonde from her slumber and no doubt she is definitely going to feel somewhat rough this morning, “Good morning! Good morning!”

It is kind of her own fault for getting in that state though last night.

So, she deserves this after all.

“Wake up, wake up, wake up!” You not so gently poke and prod her until she stirs from her sleep, because you’re absolutely going to make the most of this while you can, “Rise and shine, Le!”

“Agh, Monkey,” The blonde grumbles, instantly trying to pull the sleeping bag over her face in an attempt to drown out your voice no doubt, either than or block the light on, “No, my head. Stop!”

A shit eating grin takes over your face as you try and peel back the sleeping bag, “Come on, Le. Wake up, wake up. I’m bored!”

“Then go and find entertainment somewhere else,” Leah murmurs, scrunching her eyes shut as the brightness hits her, “Monkey, I swear to god. Stop it!” She shouts as you attempt to try and pull the hands away from her face and by the look on her face, she instantly regrets it.

Snickering to yourself, you are so kind enough to not so gently sit right on top of her and continue to poke her, “You’re the one that drank probably more than your liver can handle. It’s not my fault that happened!”

The blonde huffs, showing her clear annoyance for you waking her up, “I’m just enjoyin’ myself.”

“What and lettin’ loose? Cos’ you definitely did that!” You remark, beaming a wide smile as you can’t help but enjoy the blonde looking so… dishevelled, considering how much she drank, “You’re still wearing last night’s clothes, ouch!” You note.

“I don’t even remember how I got back here,” Leah admits, slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes tiredly before she glances around the tent, “Agh, jesus. My head is still pounding. How much did I drink?” She questions, placing her head in her hands.

“You really took full advantage that Buddy isn’t with you and the whole idea of being sensible went completely out of the window– Phew, gone!” Making the noise of an aeroplane accompanied with hand gestures, you get your point across, “I’m not sure, but it was enough for you to get absolutely hammered.”

“Oh my God,” Leah murmurs, holding her hand in her hands.

Remembering what happened the previous night, you scramble to find your phone as you pick it up and unlock it, “I do know that Holly literally had to help you back to the tent last night though and you almost ended up getting into some random persons instead, so that was funny to watch,” You pause as you flick through your photo album to find the video, “Oh! I even managed to video it as well. Watch it!”

That being said, you all but shove the phone in front of her face to show her antics from the previous night while the blonde continues to look completely mortified.

“God, no, delete that!” Leah demands as she tries to reach for the phone out of your hands as she winces at the sudden volume, “Tell me that you didn’t post that anywhere!”

“I wouldn’t dare,” You try to act innocent.

It’s not a complete lie, you didn’t share it across any social platforms… But you did send it somewhere.

“I know that look and you would,” Leah grumbles, attempting to rub her temples to ease her current headache, “Tell me you didn’t post it.” She repeats, looking at you wearily.

Biting your bottom lip, it’s not long before you can’t keep a secret, “Yeah, you’re right, I totally would… And I did, well kinda,” You admit, scratching the back of your neck, “I posted it to the group chat!”

“WHAT?!” Leah shouts and immediately regrets it once again as she winces, “Monkey, are you serious– What group chat?” She questions, trying to find her phone in the tent.

“The family one,” Grinning proud of yourself, you switch to the family group chat that you are in amongst the rest of the Williamson/Baker clan and show Leah the chat, “Your brother found it hilarious. See?” You ask the grumpy blonde.

“You’re such a little menace!” Leah mutters in disbelief and shakes her head slowly, “That better not go anywhere else!” She warns, pointing her index finger directly at you.

Holding your hands up in mock surrender, you smirk slightly, “I can promise that, but I can’t say much about anyone else though,” At least your honest about that one because you could have said worse, “Anywho, can you get up and deal with the hangover, cos’ I really wanna go and watch Jamie Webster perform!”

“I’m not in the mood to go anywhere right now other than back to sleep,” Leah says as she attempts to lie back down and close her eyes.

“Nuh uh, you can’t do that,” You’re very much against the idea of that, there was so much more to do today, “Come on, Le! I happen to know the perfect hangover cure!”

“Oh, yeah?” Leah looks at you sceptically.

“To drink more, duh,” You tell her like it’s the most obvious answer, “You can’t feel a hangover if you’re just still drunk instead!” You state your idea.

The blonde scoffs in disagreement, “That doesn’t seem like a sensible option to decide.”

“Yeah, well, it’s either that or you suffer a hangover all day,” You tell her honestly while you shrug your shoulders, “You want breakfast? I got it sorted!”

“God, no,” Leah’s face instantly pales at the mention of food and you can’t help but grab the pizza box with leftovers in and shove it right in front of her face, “I’m gonna be sick– Get that out of my face!”

“Heh, why?” The mood you’re in today, you can’t help but want to wind her up about things. “Cold pizza happens to be a great choice of breakfast!”

Wrinkling her face in disgust, Leah is very much in disagreement with that one, “Ew, that’s gross, Monkey. When did you even get pizza?” She questions.

“I got it last night,” You tell her, munching on a cold slice of it, “On the way back to the tent, cos’ you forgot to feed me since you were so busy drinkin’ and all. Oh, by the way, how was the kebab?” You ask her, waiting to see if she remembers any of it.

“Kebab?” The blonde looks confused.

“This one,” You gesture to the photo on your phone that you swipe across to, “See? I knew you wouldn’t be able to remember it!”

“I… I don’t remember it,” Leah admits feeling completely embarrassed by her actions the previous night, “I don’t even like kebab meat.”

“That’s what I said!” You shout aloud in agreement.

“Monkey, my head,” Leah grumbles and covers her head in her hands again, “Lower your voice, please– How can you even stand to eat cold pizza right now?”

Shrugging your shoulders, you continue to munch on the pizza, “Hey, I love pizza and pizza loves me!” You quote the blonde’s words from an interview she did once with Sky.

“You’re seriously using my own words against me?” Leah questions in disbelief.

“Yus,” You say with a mouthful of pizza still, “Are you sure you don’t want any of it?” You offer, holding the box up in front of her face again.

“No– Get that out of my face, Monkey!” Leah grumbles, batting the box away from her.

“Safe to come in?” Holly’s voice calls from outside the tent, “I brought you some painkillers.” She adds.

“All safe in here,” You reply loudly to the blonde.

Unzipping the tent, Holly pokes her head into the tent, “Ah, good morning Le! How’s the hangover?” She teases her cousin.

“Oh it’s just peachy,” Leah murmurs sarcastically in response.

“Well you certainly did enjoy yourself last night,” The older blonde can’t help teasing her cousin still.

“I heard all about it from this one,” Leah tells her, exhaling a sigh as she winces, “Please tell me you’ve got painkillers?” She asks.

“I do indeed,” Holly chuckles and passes the packet to Leah along with a bottle of water, who doesn’t hesitate to pop them in her mouth and wash down with water, “So, no round two today then, eh?” She jokes.

“Absolutely not, I don’t think my liver could handle it, honestly,” Leah says honestly as she screws the lid back on the bottle.

“You drank enough for the entire weekend,” You snicker in amusement.

“I haven’t felt this rough in a while,” Leah groans as she does no more than try and lay back down, shoving what she thinks is a pillow over her face until she gets a mouthful of pink fluff, “What the– What the hell is this?” She spits it out and looks at you confused.

“Oh! Meet my unicorn… I haven’t decided on a name yet though!” You grin in triumph as you take it from her, “I got it last night while you were drunk!”

“Come on, come on!” You exclaim, try to rush the two blondes through the crowd of people to get to the other stage where you’re keen to watch Jamie Webster perform, “Hurry up, slowpokes!”

“If you expect me to run after you then you have another thing coming with how I feel,” Leah remarks in disagreement at the idea of running to catch up with you, “That one has too much energy.” She murmurs to her cousin beside her, still feeling the pounding in her head.

Holly chuckles lightly, “Paracetamol still not kicked in yet then?” She wonders.

“No, sadly not,” The blonde scrunches her face up, “God, my head. What on earth was I even thinking of drinking that much?” She questions.

“I don’t know, but you seemed to really be enjoying yourself so there’s not much harm,” The older blonde laughs in amusement at her cousin's unusual antics, “I saw the comment your brother left, so you know you won’t be living that one down now.”

“You’re not kidding there but that’s all down to Monkey,” Leah huffs and shakes her head.

“Hurry up you pair!” You shout aloud impatiently that they both seem to be taking forever to walk at the pace they are, “Come on, we’re gonna miss it!”

“Yeah alright, chill out. We’re coming,” The blonde responds, rolling her eyes, “Who even decides to have a set this early in the morning?” she murmurs aloud in protest.

Holly snickers in amusement, “Le, it’s like 11…”

“And I’m still hungover– Uh I think I’m gonna be sick or something,” Leah states as a wave of nausea washes over her and her face pales.

“Hurry up!” You can’t help but continue to be impatient, not liking the pace of the older girls when you just want to get there and watch the performance, “Hurry up! Hurry up!”

“Yeah alright, we’re coming, Monkey!” Leah huffs and shakes her head, “Honestly I swear you have no patience sometimes.” She adds.

“I wanna watch it today, not tomorrow!” You’re very impatient and you hate waiting around, so you do no more than what you're good at and make a run for it through the several people in the crowd.

“Monkey– Ow,” Leah immediately regrets the decision as she winces in pain, “She’s going to get lost– I knew I should have put a tracker on her. I’m not going to be able to find her!” She panics slightly in realisation, her eyes widening.

“She’s got her phone, I’m sure she won’t be too far ahead,” Holly reassures her cousin straightaway, “She’ll be fine, knowing her, she'll most likely be at a food stall or something.” She jokes.

Leah smiles slightly but that doesn’t ease her worries, “I hope so. That wouldn’t look good if I end up losing her here.”

“Hi, girls!” Grace greets, meeting up with them ahead of the set, “How’s the head this morning, Leah?” She jokes, having seen her state last night.

“Oh I’m feeling as fresh as expected,” Leah replies sarcastically.

Josie winces at the comment, “You look rough, mate. You were so gone last night.”

“God, not you pair as well,” Leah groans, placing her head in her hands.

“Someone had a bit too much fun last night, didn’t they?” Holly takes the opportunity to tease her cousin.

“You really were dancing like no tomorrow,” Grace chips in.

“And now you can barely stand,” Josie adds as she looks around and notices your absence, “Where’s Monkey? It’s quiet.”

“She ran ahead,” Leah murmurs, trying to not think about the worst about you running off.

“Ah I see, well no doubt you’ll find her soon enough—” Grace is cut off as you bolt back over to them.

“Oh my God, Derek’s here!” You exclaim at the highest volume possible, making Leah instantly wince and hold her head in her hands again, “Guys! Come see, follow me, follow me!”

Oops?

“Oh… There she is!” Holly jokes, shaking her head in amusement.

You don’t waste time to take hold of Leah’s wrist and not so gently pull her in the direction of where you found Derek, while the rest of the girls reluctantly follow you taking the lead.

“What in the… Who’s Derek?” Grace is left baffled but reluctantly, they follow you.

“Le, looky!” You point your index finger in the direction of the cows, “Looky! Le, it’s Derek… And he’s got a brother as well!” Your excitement is given and you can’t help but the loudness of your voice.

Leah on the other hand isn’t as thrilled, “Monkey, please… Not so loud. My head is fragile this morning.” She tells you, trying to rub her temples to ease it.

“You only have yourself to blame there,” You state, shrugging your shoulders carelessly before you turn to look at the makeshift cows, “Looky! Hi Derek— Whoa! This is like, so great. Can I get a selfie?” You ask them.

Grace and Josie look deeply concerned, “Is she… What is she…” Neither of them quite know how to express their words, looking at you with a mixture of facial expressions.

“This is Monkey,” Leah murmurs, shaking her head.

“You just have to go along with what she says. It’s the best bet,” Holly adds into the explanation.

“Where is it?” Leah questions while she is routing through her purse and looks directly at you.

Standing in the line of a food stall to get something to eat before the next set which happens to be Cyndi Lauper, Leah goes to pay with her own bank card and has the sudden realisation about the fact that your bank card is missing in her purse, even if she remembers seeing it yesterday before you both left.

“I don’t know what you’re on about,” You answer, trying to act innocent.

Of course you know what exactly she is talking about, you just find it funny to mess with her right now when she is in the fragile state that she is.

Leah scoffs and shakes her head, “Don’t play that game with me, you know exactly what I am talking about here!”

“Nope, nuh uh. I literally don’t have any idea what you’re going about right now,” You tell her, continuing to act innocent as you try to play off looking confused.

“Your bank card, Monkey. I know that you have it!” Leah states, firmly. “Where is it?”

“Oh that thing,” You tut slightly as you tap your forehead in a thinking motion, “Nope, soz’ dunno. I can’t help you there.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” Leah narrows her eyebrows and gives you a look that you usually just cower and agree to not be such a menace, but today is a different game, “Where is it?” She repeats.

Trying to stop the shit-eating grin from your face is proving hard, “I told you already that I don’t know.”

“And I told you already that I’m not buying that,” Leah doesn’t back down as she holds her hand out for you to pass her your bank card, “I know you it, Monkey. Hand it over.”

“I don’t have it,” You continue to insist, loving winding up the hungover blonde a little bit too much.

“Monkey!” Leah raises her voice a bit and then winces in regret.

“Fine, alright, alright,” You reluctantly give in, sliding your card out of your pocket and handing it to her, “I don’t see why I can’t handle my own money. I’m perfectly capable of it!”

The blonde scoffs in clear disagreement, “Oh really? Because the giant ass unicorn that I discovered in the tent this morning doesn’t really scream that to me.”

“Well there’s also a cowboy hat and a green neon flashy light, but we won’t talk about them,” You murmur, shoving your hands in your pockets and hoping she didn’t hear that.

“And this just proves my point!” Leah looks at you in disbelief, waving her hand about in the air, “Do I even wanna know how much you spent?” She asks.

“It really wasn’t that much, I was sensible,” You tell her, honestly.

You're sort of telling the truth there, but of course you won’t mention taking out a lump sum at a cash machine just in case you find something else that you just need to buy.

“You and sensible do not belong in the same sentence,” Leah remarks while shaking her head as you both walk back to meet up with the rest of the group, “Did you know anything about Monkey’s spending spree?” She asks her cousin.

“Huh, what,” Holly takes a moment to understand what she’s on about, “Oh, no, I’m just as surprised as you are about it.”

Your eyes widen and your mouth is agape in disbelief, “Wha… That isn’t true!” You exclaim, seeing the look that Holly gave you that the blonde couldn’t see with her head turned, “Yeah no, actually, yeah, I wandered off when you were drunk last night all by myself.”

“I’m not letting you leave my sight again, god knows what else you would end up buying here,” Leah insists, shaking her head at your spending habits.

“Fifteen minutes until I finally get to see Camila Cabello live, this is like, a dream come true!” You are literally bouncing up and down in excitement over this, from the minute you found out the line-up, this is someone that you were adamant you want to go and watch live.

“I thought you said that about watching Scouting for Girls,” Leah jokes, ruffling your hair much to your annoyance of her doing that.

“Someone’s excited, huh?” Holly teases lightly.

“Duh! It’s Camila Cabello, people!” You exclaim, you don’t mean to be rude but you’re freaking out inside and you have a tendency to not think before you speak sometimes.

“Yeah we can’t tell that you’re excited at all.” Grace chips in, sarcastically.

“Roar!” You burst out with it and it does get you a few odd looks, but you don’t care, you’re way too excited about the fact you are literally minutes away from watching Camila Cabello.

Holly looks at you in concern, “Wha… You’re so weird sometimes, kid!” She tells you.

“So? It’s better than being normal though, ain’t it,” You shrug your shoulders in response.

“Well… You have a point there,” Josie chimes in.

“Hey, I’m here for a good time, not a long time!” You grin at the older girls and turn to look at Leah, “Le! Can you believe it? We’re gonna be watching Camila Cabello soon– I’m so excited I could scream!”

Leah exhales a sigh as she slides her phone back into her pocket, “Er, I hate to burst your bubble, Monkey, but you’re not going to be able to watch that,” She drops the bombshell on you.

“What?” You shout aloud, looking at her like she’s out of her mind, “Why not? Of course I am!”

“Well not unless you can be in two places at once,” The blonde explains, biting her bottom lip, “I’ve just checked the performance times.” She adds.

You stare at her confused, “What’re you on about?”

“Louis Dunford is on stage in ten minutes,” Leah tells you.

“Oh,” You frown in realisation before you shrug your shoulders, “That’s okay I’ll just skip watching Louis and watch Camila instead– I can always see Louis another time.”

Now it’s Leah’s turn to stare at you in bewilderment, “You cannot be serious?”

“Wha… Cos’ I don’t wanna watch Louis Dunford? Boo hoo!” You joke, winding her up about it knowing that of course she’ll be passionate to watch him considering she’s a lifelong Gooner.

So are you, technically, but come on this is Camila Cabello!

Tickets to her shows are expensive, it’s not like you can watch her perform at the drop of a hat when she is on tour.

“Whoa, okay, alright. I’m gonna pretend like you didn’t just say that,” Leah clutches her hand over her heart, “Come on, we’d better head over there now. Girls, which stage is it again?”

“Left field,” Holly states.

You furrow your eyebrows and cross your arms, “I don’t get why I can’t just stay here and watch Camila Cabello, she’s better!” You insist.

Probably a bad idea to say these direct words to the blonde, who looks at you deeply offended.

Oops… You did it again.

“Enough of this nonsense, Monkey,” Leah clicks her tongue in disagreement, “You play for Arsenal, you’re my kid– You’re going to come and watch Louis Dunford perform. I will take you to watch Camila Cabello another time!” She insists.

“But Le. you don’t get it– This is Camila Cabello that we’re talking about here, this is like a once-in-a-lifetime chance!” You try and get your point across, because this really is a whole different experience to witness but no, of course you’re not allowed to watch it because you’re stuck with a blonde that all but bleeds Arsenal and god forbid you disagree with watching him.

“Well in this case, consider that Camila Cabello is cancelled today because you’re not missing out on the chance to watch Louis Dunford!” With that being said, Leah’s all but dragging you across the other side of the field to the left field stage where Louis Dunford is set to perform.

“Lighten up kid. What’s with the long face?” Holly jokes, nudging you lightly when she sees you looking miserable still, “Nobody should be this unhappy about going to see Coldplay!”

“This is my sad face because I’m well, sad,” You murmur as you keep your hands shoved in your pocket as you follow the older girls in the direction of the pyramid tent to watch the next performance of the night which would be Coldplay, although you’re still upset about not being able to watch Camila Cabello perform.

“What’re you sad about?” Grace wonders looking at you in concern, but of course she already knows the answer.

It wasn’t like you hadn’t made your opinions and thoughts very clear the whole set that Louis Dunford did, you grumbled in complaint and refused to even enjoy listening to the music.

No matter how much Leah tried to encourage you to join in, it wasn’t like you could do much to escape when the blonde had her arms wrapped around your neck and you were all but forced to stand there for the better part of 40 minutes.

Although you may have found yourself singing along the lyrics to a certain song…

At least there was the advantage that Leah wasn’t extremely drunk today, sipping on her water, but that meant she was more level headed and you couldn’t sneak off like planned.

“Because somebody made me miss Camila Cabello performing live, which is literally a dream of mine and it couldn’t happen, because Malfoy over here is a diehard Gooner and decided that I needed to watch a song be performed which I’ve already heard a dozen times before!” You rant, still pretty upset about the fact that you did miss out on the opportunity to watch the women perform which is literally something you have wanted to see even through the early days when she was a part of Fifth Harmony.

Leah rolls her eyes and shakes her head, “Are you never not dramatic? You can’t seriously still be upset about this one, are you?”

“What’d you think?” You scowl at the blonde, “It’s not fair I had to miss it!” You shout aloud in protest, throwing your hands up in the air.

“I fear we’re gonna hear about this for the rest of the weekend,” Holly jokes, trying to keep the mood light.

You scowl at the older girls in annoyance, “It’s not fair though, watching Camila would have been totally sick!” You exclaim, making this a big deal because it really is.

“I’m sure you’ll get over it, Monkey,” Leah remarks, rolling her eyes again and shaking her head at your dramatics, “Don’t act like you weren’t there belting the lyrics out to North London Forever, you didn’t seem too upset about it then.”

Damn, you’ve been caught out…

“Yeah well, it’s not like I had a choice!” You threw your hands up in protest, “It still hurts, I’m pretty cut up about it inside, you know?” You state, wiping a fake tear away.

“Oh yeah, you seem really upset about it,” Leah snickers in amusement, “That’s great acting that one is, Monkey. You deserve an Oscar.” She adds.

“God, I’m ready to sit down. My feet are killing me!” Leah complains at the end of the performance, “Pretty sure I have lost my voice as well from screaming so much!” She adds.

“Mine too– I think I have danced way too much tonight,” Holly states, feeling completely exhausted.

“I can’t wait to get back to the hotel!” Grace exclaims in agreement.

You scrunch your face up and look at Leah, “See? Why couldn’t we stay in one of them instead,”

“Camping is part of the experience, Monkey,” Leah insists, grinning and slinging her free arm around you, “You can’t deny it hasn’t been fun so far!”

“Still though… At least there’s wifi there!” You whine and complain, being the typical teenager that you are and can’t survive without wifi, “I can’t even FaceTime Kyra because the signal out here is so bad!”

You’ve been wanting to FaceTime your best friend ever since you got here, but with the delay of time zones and not to mention the terrible connection, it’s been difficult to do that.

“I’m sure you’ll survive a couple more days until then,” Leah rolls her eyes in disagreement, despite the fact that she knows you really do miss your best friend.

“Kids these days, eh?” Holly teases you lightly.

Pouting at the older blonde, you’re not so keen on her teasing you, “What is the next act of the night?” You ask Leah.

“Bed time,” Leah replies, patting your shoulder.

“Wha… No way. That’s– It’s still early!” Your protests are loud, you have so much energy that you feel like you can easily run around the whole place.

A yawn escapes Holly’s mouth as she looks at you in confusion, “Kid, it’s almost midnight,” She pauses for a second to yawn again, “How’re you not tired?”

“Dunno,” You answer with a simple shrug of your shoulders, “But I haven’t even had a single energy drink either! I could keep going all night!” You exclaim, proving how wide awake that you still are.

“I’m so exhausted,” Grace remarks as she yawns.

Josie nods tiredly as she leans on her friend for help, “Yeah, me and you both.”

“Cos’ you are both old and boring,” Sticking your tongue out at the two of them, “Come on, there’s so much more to do still!”

“How… How are you still going kid?” Holly looks bewildered at your non stop energetic energy.

“Yeah, I thought you’d have crashed out on the ground for sure by now,” Leah chips in, reminding you of that eventful night in Nashville that you still aren’t able to live down.

“Wha… That only happened once!” You whine in protest, of course Leah would be the one that would bring that up again, but then again you probably do deserve it when you have been winding her up all day about her hungover.

The blonde chuckles faintly, “I was convinced it was bound to happen again today. Come on, let’s start heading back!” She gestures in the direction of where the tents are.

“Yeah, we’re gonna head back that way to get an Uber back to the hotel,” Grace chips in, sliding her phone into her pocket after you figure she has just booked it, “See you all tomorrow!”

“Night girls,” Josie waves to the three of you.

“Night girls!” Holly repeats, waving to the two of them.

Leah waves and starts to pull you gently towards the direction of the tents, “Come on Monkey. Let’s go back to the tent and we can sleep.”

Scrunching your face up in disgust, you're not too much a fan of that, “I’m not even the slightest bit tired,” You spin around in a circle and something in the distance starts to catch your eye which you want to check out.

“You might not be, but we are,” Holly speaks with the tiredness clear in her voice.

“That’s cos’ you’re both old and can’t hack it any longer!” You’re quick to fire back at them, trying to walk off in the opposite direction.

“Cheeky sod,” Holly murmurs in shock.

“Come on, let’s go!” Leah states, trying to pull you in the direction, much to your own disappointment, “Monkey, come on– No, no, this way!”

“I already told you I’m not tired, I have so much energy!” You whine in protest, “I’m free as a bird– Ooo, I wanna check that out!” Your attention is caught by neon lights that of course you want to go and look at more.

Cos’ pretty lights are great and all, right?

“You have a pretty light back in the tent, stare at that instead,” The blonde tells you, firmly as she continues to hold onto your wrist knowing full well what you are like, “You you can burn off the last bit of energy you have running round the tent for all I care, but I’m tired and I’m not going to leave you here by yourself.” She adds.

“Why not?” You huff in protest and reluctantly walk back to the tent much to your disagreement, “I could totally make friends with the hippies. Smoke a lil’ bit and have a blast!” You mumble.

Leah looks at you with wide eyes, “No, I definitely don’t agree with that. That doesn’t sound safe at all!” She’s not so keen to let go of your wrist as the three of you push through the crowd to get out of the main bit of the festival.

“Hey, Le!” You poke and prod her as she lies in her sleeping bag fast asleep, which is the complete opposite of your own wide awake state right now, “Le, are you awake? Le, I gotta ask you something!”

It’s been a few hours since you left the festival, Leah and her cousin were pretty eager to fall asleep but you on the other hand, well you can’t sleep not one bit so you spent the first couple of hours scrolling through your Instagram feed, watching several TikTok’s and you had even managed to speak to Kyra briefly which was great.

You really do miss your best friend a hell of a lot, it just sucks that you can’t see her until after the Olympics.

Now you just have the problem of being wide awake and bored, so in return now you wanna be a menace.

Leah’s had at least a few hours of sleep so it’s perfectly fine to wake her up now.

It’s only 3 am, it’s not that bad.

The blonde beside you grunts in displeasure of being woken up, “Monkey, wha… What’s wrong?” She’s half asleep as she looks straight at you, “Are you okay?” She asks, concerned.

“I can’t sleep,” You admit to her as you exhale a sigh.

“That’s it?” Leah furrows her eyebrow as she reaches out for her phone to check the time, “Monkey, I thought there was something wrong with you! It’s 3 am, it’s late. Go to sleep!”

You can’t help but huff in disagreement, “But Le, I can't sleep. I gotta tell you something” You insist, sitting up properly in the sleeping bag, “It’s super important!”

“I’m sure whatever it is can wait until tomorrow morning,” The blonde grumbles, trying to close her eyes and go back to sleep, “But for now, sleep.”

Scoffing in disagreement, you shake your head, “Sleep is for the weak.”

“Then I guess I’m weak,” Leah murmurs with her eyes still closed, “Monkey, please just go sleep.” She tells you, tiredly.

“I can’t sleep, I’m not even the tiniest bit tired!” You whine in protest, “I really do have to tell you something though!” You turn to look at her and poke her again for her to stay awake.

Leah groans and opens her eyes to look at you, “Alright, fine, go on then… What is so important that it can’t wait until tomorrow to tell me?” She questions.

Your eyes lit up glee, “Have you ever wondered about what happens when you put sprinkles on ice cream?” You question the blonde, who looks at you with a pinched eyebrow, “Like, the sprinkles on ice cream is an explosion of flavours, innit?”

“Wha…” Leah continues to look bewildered, “That didn’t make any sense at all. Monkey, is there an actual question you want to ask me?” She questions, trying to understand the way that your brain works sometimes.

“That was the question!” You exclaim against her words.

The blonde pinches the bridge of her nose, “Monkey, it’s almost 3 am now. Now isn’t the time for you to be asking daft questions like this,” She states, firmly.

You huff in protest and sit there for a few minutes in silence, “Oh, oh, I have another really important one to ask you!”

Leah grumbles and swears under her breath, “Monkey, I swear– No more questions, go to sleep. It’s late!” She tells you, firmly.

“But Leeeeeah, this one is really, really important!” You continue to insist, trying to fight the idea of going to sleep, “Like super duper important!”

“Monkey, sleep, now!” Leah tells you firmly while giving you a look that you are all too familiar with when you’re in trouble but you're not too bothered about that right now.

You have a super important question that you just need to know the answer to.

“I really need to know the answer to this one,” You tell her as you pout dramatically but you still have a ton of energy inside of you.

Leah grumbles and shakes her head, “I swear to god– What? What is it that you're so desperate to ask me? It had better be an actual question this time, no messing about!”

“Yus alright then,” You grin at the blonde, “Do you reckon that lightning mcqueen needs car insurance or life insurance?” You wonder.

Oh my God, I cannot even…” Leah pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales a sigh, “No! No more, that’s it! Lie down, close your eyes and go the fuck to sleep!”

“You swore, you need to put money in the swear jar!” You gasp dramatically, pointing your index finger at her, “Don’t be a hypocrite either!”

“I couldn’t care less about the damn swear jar right now,” Leah grumbles in annoyance, “It’s late, go to sleep, now!”

You huff in protest and shake your head in disagreement, “I can’t, I’m not tired. It’s an important question that I need to know the answer to!”

“I don’t care, I am!” The blonde replies in frustration, “I’m not listening to any more of this nonsense. Go to sleep, Monkey!” She repeats.

“One more thing…” You try to tell her much to her annoyance which you don’t quite get the memo of it yet.

“No, no, nothing else,” Leah interjects holding her hand to shut you up, “I’m not listening to any more of this. We have another full day tomorrow, so sleep now!”

“I’m not tired still though,” You whine in complaint and go back to scrolling through your phone.

“Maybe if you get off your phone that might help?” Leah murmurs as her eyes slowly flutter shut again, “Go to sleep, Monkey. I’m not dealing with you being grumpy tomorrow.” She adds.

“Sleep is for the weak, who needs sleep? Certainly not me,” You speak your thoughts aloud huffing in disagreement, “I reckon I could stay awake all night and not feel the slightest bit tired– I don’t even need an energy drink, not like I’d even be able to get away with drinking one– I can’t wait until I can finally see Buddy again. I miss her so much!”

You're yapping so much that you don’t even realise Leah has fallen back to sleep until you hear the sound of soft snores beside you, “Pst, Le?” You poke her gently as she continues to sleep, “I can’t tell if you’re pretending to sleep to ignore me or you’ve actually fallen asleep– Well guess I’ll just waffle to myself instead then.”

#woso x reader #woso fanfics #woso imagine #arsenal x reader #woso one shot #scribblesofagoonerr #arsenal women x reader #arsenal wfc x reader #woso #leah williamson x reader #chaos fc reader #chaos fc #monkey #chaos fc masterlist

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mysterious-moonstruck-musings · 4 months ago

Text

Closed Position: Week 5 (Rumba Part 1)

Closed Position Masterlist ||| Main Masterlist Dieter Bravo x OFC (Katarina)

Series Summary: Dieter Bravo, now sober, was looking to change his bad boy image after hitting rock bottom. His team hoped that having him join the nationally televised family friendly dance competition, Dancing with the Stars, would be a good first step, if they can keep him out of trouble.

Katarina Stamos expected her last season as a professional dancer on the show to go the same as it had for the past thirteen seasons. That all changed when she was partnered with the infamous Dieter Bravo.

Dieter and Katarina are reluctantly thrown into their partnership and must learn to work together to succeed in the competition. In the process they form a deeper connection beyond the dance floor that neither anticipated.

Chapter Word Count: 9.5k

👉 Warnings: Themes dealing with intimate partner violence (not from Dieter), past alcohol abuse, and past drug abuse. There will be fluff, tears, spicy language, and smut. This will be a slow burn. Read at your own risk. Dieter Bravo comes with his own warnings.

Chapter Quote: “Are we talking about orgasms right now?”

Dieter’s POV By the time we got to the hotel, I felt like a zombie and was beyond ready to pass out. My patience was wearing thin with the clerk at the check-in desk as she went into a rehearsed speech about the amenities that the hotel offered. I was having none of it and completely cut her off. “I’m sorry, we’ve just gotten off a five hour flight. We really just wanna sleep right now.”

She gave me a bright smile, “Totally understandable Mr. Bravo. So, you’ll be staying in the South Loft on the 16th floor. The elevators are just over there. Do you need help with your bags?”

I shook my head as Kat began to tap on the countertop. She seemed just as impatient as she asked, “I’m sorry, but where will my room be?”

The desk clerk looked between the two of us somewhat nervously, “Well, you’re both in the South Loft.”

My brows furrowed. Did I hear that right? No fucking way.

“Excuse me?” I blurted out, glancing over at Kat. She looked like she was going to be sick.

The hotel clerk stammered, “You were b-both booked in the South Loft. Is that not right?”

“We can’t share a room,” Kat interjected, wide-eyed as she shook her head.

The clerk looked almost relieved at Kat’s words, “No. I-It’s a two-bedroom suite with shared common space. You’ll each have your own bedroom and bathroom.”

I relaxed some. I could handle that if Kat were ok with it. Not that I would have minded sharing a room with her either, but I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable.

I watched the tension leave Kat’s body, “I guess that would be ok…it’s no different than being across the hall from each other. Right?” she asked, meeting my gaze.

I shrugged, “I’m fine with whatever makes you comfortable.”

Kat nodded, “Yeah, I think that’ll be ok. I can deal with that.”

The front desk clerk looked relieved now, giving us a tentative smile. “Ok. Great. The only other thing I wanted to mention is that one of our conference spaces, the Harbor Room, was booked for the entire week as well. You can access it as needed.”

I gave her a tired smile, “Sounds great. We’ll worry about that later, I need sleep.”

I grabbed my key card, turned, and walked off without another word. I heard Kat snort behind me, I assume over my abruptness. She murmured a quick “thank you” to the desk clerk before catching up to me. We were quiet as we waited for the elevator. I stole a few glances in Kat’s direction. She was staring at the floor, seemingly lost in her thoughts until the ding of the elevator door opening caught her attention. When we stepped into the elevator, I noticed she was avoiding my gaze.

“Are you sure you’re ok with sharing a suite? I can get a separate room.”

She nodded, “Yeah, it’s not a big deal. I swear. I’m just tired and achy. I need to stretch out and relax.”

The doors opened to our floor, and we quickly found our way to our suite. We both stood in the center of the living room area taking it in. It was a lot bigger than I was expecting.

“Wow. This is…fucking huge.” Kat said in disbelief.

I chuckled, “Yeah, and here I was worried we were gonna be cramped in on top of each other.”

Kat’s mouth hung open slightly, before laughing nervously. “Yeah, I guess that won’t be a problem.”

I dropped my duffle and moved to check out the two bedrooms, realizing the second one seemed to be a master. “This one has a big ass soaking tub in it. You take it.”

She looked like she was about to argue, but I cut her off. “No, you take it. I won’t use it.”

She smiled gratefully, “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

I walked over, grabbed Kat’s bag off her shoulder and the rolling suitcase standing beside her and moved to deposit them in the master bedroom as she gave me a disapproving look. She walked in behind me, arms crossed over her chest as she looked around the room. Her eyes were drawn upward to the reflective metal panels on the ceiling that might as well be mirrors. Her brows furrowed, “That’s a little extra.”

I snorted out a laugh, “Adds to the entertainment value of the space, I’m sure.”

She arched a brow in my direction, a smile tugging at her lips as her eyes looked me up and down. What’s going through your head right now? There was something about the way she looked at me. It had my thoughts going straight to the gutter. The gutter that had what equates to a mirrored ceiling. I felt my dick twitch. So much for being tired.

Her smirk shifted to a smile, “I’m sure it does.”

She turned and walked out into the living room area, and I followed. She paused, staring toward the corner nearest to the room I planned to take. I glanced in the same general direction, my eyes landing on the rolling bar cart. She shook her head, “I’ll take care of that. Go get some rest. You’re gonna need it more than me.”

I moved to her side, “You really don’t have to worry about that. It doesn’t bother me.”

She shrugged, “Doesn’t matter. The studio should’ve made sure that stuff was removed. Last thing you need is the hotel staff spreading gossip. Now…go sleep.”

She wasn’t wrong. I loved that she cared enough to think of that. I nodded, agreeing with her assessment, “Yes ma’am.”

I grabbed my bags, lugging them toward my room, then turned on my heel, “Oh umm, it looks like I need to be at the studio around noon to start reviewing the skits. I’d love it if you would join me. I wouldn’t mind having your input.”

Her eyes widened in surprise at my request. A small smile crept across her face as she nodded, “Yeah, I’d like that.”

I gave her a toothy grin in response. I rubbed the back of my neck and looked down at the ground, now feeling a little nervous. “Alright. Great. Imma go to sleep then. I’ll probably get up around 10.”

I was suddenly feeling awkward and out of my element. Sharing a space with someone was a whole new experience for me and I wasn’t sure what the proper protocols were. I abruptly turned and headed toward my room, momentarily struggling to get my luggage through the doorway. I thought I heard Kat snicker behind me as I shut the door.

My room wasn’t as extravagant as Kat’s. It didn’t have a soaking tub or reflective ceiling, but it had a plushy king bed and TV, which was all I needed. After a quick bathroom break, I undressed down to my boxer briefs and climbed into bed. I was so fucking exhausted, but I couldn’t turn my mind off. So much had transpired in the past week - in the past few hours even. I couldn’t help analyzing it all.

I wondered what happened between Kat and Alec. She had been acting odd since Thursday, so I figured whatever happened had to have been around that time. I was tempted to ask her that morning but didn’t want to pry. As long as she seemed ok physically, I could handle waiting until she was ready to talk about it.

She surprised me later that evening. I had been working on another painting (of her) when the Instagram likes started to roll in. I wasn’t sure how to take it. How did she end up on my page? Did a random post pop up in her feed and she went from there? Or had she been thinking about me and sought it out? I smiled to myself, deciding to be bold and return the favor, going through and liking all of her posts, except the ones that Alec was in. Fuck that guy. I wondered, no hoped, that it would spark a response from her. I was not disappointed.

What followed had me feeling equal parts giddy and so fucking turned on. I knew that I was probably pushing it with the subtle flirting, but she was completely into it. I don’t think she would have sent me the picture of her wet and bare soap covered legs if she hadn’t been. When that text came through, I stopped breathing and got hard instantly. It was so unexpected, and immediately had my mind wondering what sex with her would be like. That was all quickly shut down when she went cold on me, ending the conversation abruptly. It threw me off my game and took me back to wondering what was going on with her. My only conclusion, there was trouble in paradise, and she wanted out and didn’t really know how to handle things. I could work with that. I could be patient and wait for her. She could take all the time she needed and if she wanted to engage in a little harmless flirting in the meantime, I was here for it.

I got the call about SNL the following morning. As excited as I was about the opportunity, my only thoughts were of Kat. My priority was dancing with her, and I made that known. Lenny was convinced he could make both things happen, so he reached out to Stacia and Joe. They were willing to play, but at what cost? And did I really care if it meant I got to do it with Kat? No, I didn’t. When Lenny called back with a half-concocted plan, I was beyond ecstatic that it was even a possibility, but only because it meant spending a week in New York with Kat. I had honestly expected her to turn it down and had already resigned myself to that fact. Especially if there was some sort of drama going on with her and Alec. I knew she wouldn’t want to leave town in the middle of that.

However, she didn’t turn it down. I could tell as soon as she walked into the rehearsal studio that she had made a decision and was avoiding the topic. Her playful expression made me think that perhaps she was going to accept the offer, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. The torture of waiting for her to finally answer me was almost agonizing. The moment the smile spread across her face; I knew. There was something about her that morning, her entire vibe had shifted, and I couldn’t really pinpoint how or why.

After that, it felt like the wall between us was beginning to crumble even faster. Of course I didn’t try to stop it, if anything, I tried to help dismantle it a little faster. I had definitely been pushing the boundaries, but she wasn’t giving me any indications that it bothered her. There were even some instances where it felt like she had gotten out her own little hammer and chisel to help bring it down on her side. I could see it in the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t paying any attention or in the way she responded to my blatant flirting. She was definitely interested but holding back.

While we were in hair and makeup for Monday’s show, it really hit me that whatever had happened between Kat and Alec was a big deal this time. The way she reacted to his presence really jarred me and I wanted so badly to pull her into my arms to comfort her. There wasn’t really anything I could do without calling attention to us though. I had been meaning to ask her about being Zee’s secondary contact for several days, so I thought that might serve as a nice distraction, and also act as a cover for the emotional moment she was having.

The distraction seemed to do the trick. She appeared to be much more relaxed after that, ignoring his presence until we left the room. I took her hand once we entered the hallway, immediately noticing that she still had her engagement ring on. I would be lying if I said my stomach didn’t have a sinking feeling with that realization. My first thought was that I had misread things, thinking it wasn’t as bad as I had thought.

She shocked me after that, pulling me into a tight embrace just outside of her dressing room and thanking me for getting her through whatever that episode was. The way she nuzzled into my neck and inhaled deeply said so much. She felt comfortable and safe with me. I could sense it and took pride in it. I knew she didn’t feel that with Alec, the one person who should be able to give her that much and it made me absolutely sick. I made a point not to leave her side after that. Something was obviously going on and I didn’t want to leave her to deal with it alone.

The tension between Kat and Alec seemed to be reaching a boiling point during the professionals' dress rehearsal. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I could see them having some sort of exchange in the middle of the dance floor. For once, Alec actually looked unsure of himself. I could tell Kat had put him in his place based on his body language - flinching at her words. I felt a surge of pride in the moment. I was proud of her for having the courage to stand up to him. I just hoped he wouldn’t try to take it out on her later.

Kat seemed to be more at ease and fully focused on our performance after that. We got through it, receiving high scores again. I was excited about the scores, but my mind was more focused on what came after - leaving with Kat for a week in New York. It was all I could think about as I moved around my dressing room, changing and packing up the things I needed to take with me.

I moved to crack the door open for Kat to come in when she was ready and overheard one of the other couples in the hallway saying something about Kat and Alec arguing. I felt a rush of panic as I pulled the door open further only to have the two of them turn to look at me with wide eyes. When I looked down toward Kat’s dressing room door, I saw Alec’s retreating form going in the opposite direction. I hurried down the hall, texting Kat as I went asking her to let me in. So many things went through my mind during those seconds. All of the worst-case scenarios of how he possibly could have hurt her.

She seemed ok when she opened the door. However, that didn’t do anything to dampen my concern. I could see how upset she was, and I wanted to do nothing more than hold her and make it all go away. I didn’t hesitate to pull her into my arms, causing the tension to disappear from her body. I hugged her tightly, getting lost in her scent and how amazing it felt to hold her in such an intimate way. I wanted that with her. I wanted her, in every way.

I was equally parts pissed and elated when I got the text that our ride to the airport had arrived. I didn’t want to let her go, but I also wanted to get her as far away from Alec as possible. During the ride, I could sense that Kat seemed lost in her thoughts. I reached over to give her hand a comforting squeeze, immediately realizing that something was missing. My thumb seemed to have a mind of its own as it rubbed over her knuckles. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me as my eyes dropped down to look at her hand, needing to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. The ring was gone. The ring that had been on her finger during every second that we had spent together was really gone.

When my eyes finally met her gaze, I nearly got lost in the emotions swirling there as my own threatened to swallow me whole. I turned to look out the window, worried she could hear all of the thoughts screaming at me in my head. This was a big fucking deal. She was finally done with him. It was over. Would she be willing to give me a chance now? Could I be good enough for her? Did I even deserve her? I had so many thoughts and feelings within a span of 30 seconds that it nearly gave me whiplash. I knew that I couldn’t possibly be worthy of her, but I would absolutely never stop trying to be.

I moved to lace my fingers through the tops of hers, hoping it conveyed what I was feeling. I never wanted to let go, and I never would as long as she allowed me to hold on. At that moment, I knew this week was going to change things between us in a big way. There was no way it couldn’t. Add this revelation to the fact that we had been given one of the most intimate dances to rehearse for this week and I knew I was a goner. I wasn’t sure how long I could hold out, but I also needed to make sure that things moved at Kat’s pace. I didn’t want to scare her off by moving too fast. I was also afraid that she would turn me down. If that happened, it could possibly ruin everything and reinforce that wall between us that we had both been so diligently chipping away at.

As I laid in bed, willing my mind to turn off, my final thoughts were of what the week would bring. How was this going to go? I had a feeling the dance rehearsals were going to be very different and would end up being our downfall. We would be able to completely lose ourselves in the emotions of the dance without the worry about prying eyes from passer byers. Without that tiny barrier to hold me back, I wasn’t sure how long I could hold out before making my feelings known. The prospect of that both excited me and freaked me the fuck out. I just hoped I didn’t blow it.

When my alarm went off, it took me a minute to remember where I was. I had completely knocked out and slept hard. I sat up, feeling groggy and hot under the heavy duvet. I turned, planting my feet on the floor, leaning forward with my elbows resting on my knees as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “Ugh, what have you gotten yourself into, Bravo.”

I could already feel my anxiety ramping up, worried about how things were going to go with the SNL cast. Last time I was on the show, I hadn’t exactly made the best impression. Even though the episode received all sorts of attention for my performance, things behind the scenes were rough. At least from what little I could remember. I was pretty out of it for most of that week, turning up late or not at all on the days I was too coked out. I’m also fairly certain I was a dick to several of the cast members. Yet, like always, I pulled it together for the final performance and killed it, to everyone’s shock.

I had an ulterior motive for asking Kat to come with me. I was nervous as fuck about how this was going to go. I thought it might be nice to have someone there I knew who would be supportive and maybe even act as a buffer with the rest of the cast. She had a way of bringing out the best side of me too, and I was going to need all the help I could get in that area. I wanted so badly to make a good impression and to make up for the chaos that I caused last time. I knew that wasn’t going to be easy.

After pulling myself up off the bed, I took a quick shower, which helped alleviate the grogginess I was feeling. I made a point to dress nice and fix my hair. I even threw on a little cologne. Last time I was here, I showed up at the studio in my pajamas and robe, looking like the hot mess that I was. I wanted to make sure to make a point that that guy was no longer present. I’d be lying if I said it was all for work though. I wanted to look good for Kat too. Now that Alec is out of the picture, I couldn’t help hoping that she might actually give me a chance if I played my cards right.

Once I was finished getting ready, I walked out into the living room area to find Kat unloading some breakfast items onto the dining table. I furrowed my brows, “Didn’t you get any sleep?”

She shook her head, still looking down at the bag as she pulled food out, “Not really. I tried for like an hour, then gave up. I got us some breakfast and coffee.”

I moved to stand next to her, surveying the breakfast options she had just laid out. When I glanced back in her direction, I realized her eyes were slowly taking me in. Her gaze eventually met my raised brows. Her cheeks flushed as she chuckled nervously, “That shirt fits you well,” she finally said after a moment. I smirked, then pulled her in against my side.

“Don’t be embarrassed that you got caught checking me out, fine art is meant to be appreciated.”

She snorted as she leaned into me further, “You’re awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you.”

I chuckled and shrugged as she reached across me to grab her coffee from the table, pausing momentarily before grabbing it. She gave me an odd look as she righted herself. My brows furrowed, “Something wrong?”

She shook her head as her cheeks reddened once again, turning away abruptly to go sit on the other side of the table where the top was clear. She looked a little flustered, finally breaking her silence to ask what the plan was for the day. That’s interesting behavior for her…

I pursed my lips, pulling my phone out of my pocket, “Well, according to my ridiculously detailed calendar, it looks like we’ll review the skits first and decide which ones we wanna do, then have a quick table read. I’m sure we’ll probably discuss the monologue too…and after that I have a photoshoot so they can get their promos going. We should be able to rehearse some after that.”

Her brows pinched together, “And how many skits do you have to review?”

I grimaced, “We usually start with 40 or 50 and have to narrow it down to eight. They sent them ahead since I’m getting a late start though. I read through them on the plane…assuming everyone else got them early, I don’t think it’ll take that long to narrow it down. Some of them are pretty terrible if I’m being honest.”

She snickered as she took a sip of her coffee. I sighed, sitting down across from her to start working on some sort of egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich concoction that actually turned out to be pretty good. I was trying to not think about how the day was going to go but failing. I could feel my nervousness creeping up on me again.

Before I knew it, our driver had arrived to take us to Studio 8H to get the day started. My anxiety levels were through the roof after we got into the back of the SUV. Kat picked up on it almost immediately since I couldn’t seem to stop fidgeting. She reached over, grabbing my hand as it rubbed at my thigh. “Are you ok?” she asked.

I shook my head, “Nope. Not at all. I’m freaking out a little actually…”

Her eyes softened, “What’s the matter?”

I chuckled nervously, “So many things…this is the first job I’ve done completely clean. When I was high, I didn’t really give a fuck about how it went. I do give a fuck now…a big fuck. What if I can’t do this without the drugs to chill me out.”

I could feel the panic setting in now. I hadn’t felt this in a long time, and it was freaking me out a little. I thought for sure my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Get your shit together, Bravo.

“There’s also the fact that I was a complete asshole last time I was on the show. I know half the cast hate me. I’m sure they’re expecting more of the same nonsense. That’s why I was so shocked they asked me to come back. They had to be desperate.”

She sighed, squeezing my hand a little tighter, “Stop talking like this, you don’t know that. You’re too hard on yourself.”

I felt her shift beside me before reaching to cup my chin to turn my face toward her, “Also, it’s not your first job since being clean…dancing was and you’re totally kicking ass at that.”

I scoffed, “Yeah, but that’s with you. You make it easy.” You make everything better.

She smiled, “And I’m here with you now. What can I do to help?”

She took my hand in both of hers, gently stroking the palm with her fingertips. It wasn’t much, but I could already feel myself calming under her touch. I also found the sight of her bare ring finger to be distracting for a brief moment.

I shook my head, “I think just having you here is enough if I’m being honest.”

She gave me a small smile, continuing to rub my palm until we got to the studio. As soon as we walked into the main entrance, we were whisked off to a sizable conference room where the writers and cast were sitting around a large table reviewing scripts. Everyone paused, eyeing us as we found our way to the open seats near the head of the table. A few people gave us polite smiles, but there was definitely tension in the room.

The Director, Liz, greeted us and quietly got us up to speed on where they were. I only vaguely remembered her, but from her reserved demeanor, I assumed she remembered me well.

“How much time do you think you’ll need to look over the scripts?” Liz asked.

I shrugged, “I’ve already looked over them all.” I grabbed my phone, pulling up the app I used to make notes, “I’ve made notes too. So, I’m ready to start discussing them when you all are.”

The room was eerily silent all of a sudden as I realized most eyes were on me. Fuck. I don’t like this. I guess they weren’t expecting me to have my shit together.

Liz now had a surprised smile on her face, “Well, that’s good news. Maybe we can pull a writer to get you started on your monologue then.”

I gave her a tight smile. This might make their fucking heads explode. “Actually, I’ve got a rough draft for the monologue already…if that’s ok?”

She gave me a skeptical look, “I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time the guest host has written it themself, but it doesn’t happen often…mind if I look over it? Can you send it to me?”

I nodded, pulling up the file to airdrop to her and feeling proud of myself that I remembered the steps of how to do that after my assistant showed me how to the previous week. As Liz sat in silence, reading the script I had written, my leg involuntarily started to bounce a mile a minute under the table. As I glanced around the room, I could see everyone watching Liz for any type of reaction to what she was reading - waiting for her to laugh me out of the room. It suddenly felt like the walls were closing in as the sweat beaded at the back of my neck.

Then, I felt Kat’s hand on my knee, calming my nerves almost immediately. I took a deep breath and grabbed her hand under the table, squeezing it gently before she turned it to lay palm up on my knee so that she could stroke it with her fingertips like she had on the drive over. She seemed to sense how that calmed me. I chewed on my bottom lip, glancing in Kat’s direction where I was met with an encouraging smile.

Liz set her phone down and leaned back in her seat as she gave me the oddest stare. “You wrote this?” she finally asked. I nodded shyly, unsure of where this was going.

A wide smile broke across her face, “This is actually pretty damn funny, Bravo.”

I let out a sigh of relief as a goofy grin slid across my face. The confused faces that surrounded me did not go unnoticed either.

Liz’s eyes drifted over to Kat, “Kat, would you be willing to be in on the monologue? Instead of having random audience members chime in, I think it would be funnier if it were you.”

Kat’s eyes widened, “I don’t know. I’m not an actor…this could end badly.” She chuckled nervously.

I bumped my shoulder against hers, “Come on Kit Kat, it’ll be fun.”

She arched a brow in my direction. “Come on, you love giving me a hard time. That part will be easy for you,” I added.

She smirked, “Fair point.”

I snapped my fingers, “Oh, that reminds me! Do you have an extra copy of that Dirty Dancing skit? Kat hasn’t seen it yet.”

Kat’s brows furrowed, “You really suggested that?”

I snorted, “Hell yes. It’s gold. I couldn’t let that idea go to waste. I do have a few edit suggestions though.”

Someone slid a script across the table toward Kat, she reluctantly picked it up with a soft “thank you” to whoever sent it over. I watched as she skimmed through it with a smirk on her face, her head shaking from side to side as she sat it down. She let out a nervous laugh, covering her face with her hands, “God, I can’t believe I’m considering this.”

Liz gave me a sly smile before her eyes flicked back to Kat, “Come on Kat, that’s one I really wanted to do. It would be awesome to have you guys in it together. I don’t think it would be as funny without you.”

Kat sighed, “I dunno. I’ve never acted before.”

I cleared my throat, “Technically, you kind of do when you’re dancing. It’s still telling a story, just in a different format.”

She gave me a blank stare for a moment, her brows raised slightly. Shit. I hope she doesn’t think that’s all I’m doing is acting.

Liz cut in, “Also, this skit will be pre-recorded. So, if you fuck it up, you can try it again. There isn’t as much pressure to get it right.”

I nodded, “Remember, I can coach you through it…it’ll be fun…and there’s dancing too. It’s not that big of a stretch.”

She sighed, “Ok, fine. I’ll do the Dirty Dancing skit…I need to think about the monologue. Doing something live is a whole other can of worms.”

I snorted, “Says the woman who lets Dieter Bravo sling her around a dance floor on live TV once a week.”

She chuckled, “That’s also a fair point. I do let you do that.” She inhaled deeply, “Can I see the monologue?”

I nodded excitedly and handed her my phone. Kat snickered quietly to herself as she read through it. All eyes in the room were still on us through this entire discussion, but it somehow seemed like the tension in the room had lessened.

A few minutes later, Kat handed my phone back to me. She leaned back in the seat with a somewhat mischievous smile on her face, “Can I make some suggestions?”

My brows pinched together. I wasn’t sure if I liked the sound of this or not. Liz, of course, told her to “have at it.”

She chuckled, “We can make sex jokes, right?”

My eyes widened. That is not what I expected to come out of her mouth.

Liz chuckled and nodded.

Kat smiled, “Well, dancing is often compared to sex…this bit where he’s talking himself up about being a good dancer…I can totally twist that.”

I snorted, “What did you have in mind?”

“You remember when I said you have loose hips?” She paused, giving me a wicked smile. “And to be clear, this was in reference to Latin dancing, so don’t you all get any ideas,” she added for those listening. The room filled with quiet snickers at her words.

I nodded, unsure where this was going. She chuckled, “Well, you can mention something about your loose hips and how that makes you good at lots of things…some sort of sexual innuendo. I can interrupt you and point out that you have loose hips with no rhythm, so it’s pointless.”

Me and several of the guys in the room gave each other curious looks while several of the women snorted out a laugh.

I gave Kat a confused look as she chuckled. “The women get it,” she added.

It finally clicked, “Are we talking about orgasms right now?” The question was out of my mouth before my filter kicked in.

All of the women in the room cackled with laughter. Kat leaned over toward me with a smirk on her face as she peered up through her lashes. She was so close the sides of our bodies were pressed up against each other and I could smell her, a mixture of citrus and floral notes completely invading my senses.

“Yes, we’re talking about orgasms right now. Specifically…how men fuck them up.”

Fuck. She can’t be talking about this. My dick instantly stood to attention. I had never been more thankful to be sitting behind a table in my life. I laughed nervously, “Well, that’s an interesting take that I’m sure will get some laughs.”

Liz leaned forward, still snickering slightly, “I may just let the two of you come up with the monologue yourselves. I never would’ve guessed you play off each other this well.”

Liz called everyone to attention after that to see if they were ready to start narrowing down the scripts. I squirmed in my seat, attempting to adjust myself without being obvious when I felt Kat’s hand on my knee again. Fuck. No. Please stop. I glanced at her with a tight smile. She was biting her bottom lip as she winked at me and squeezed my thigh. It was meant to be a comforting gesture, but my dick didn’t see it that way. It took every ounce of strength I had not to come in my jeans. It’s gonna be a long fucking week full of cold showers.

It was obvious what she was doing, trying to break some of the tension in the room. She had effortlessly succeeded in doing that and also managed to give me a raging hard on in the process. To make it worse, I think she was mistaking my tense posture for nervousness. She pulled my hand to rest on her thigh under the table so she could continue lightly stroking it with her fingertips. I could feel the feather light graze all the way to my toes and it was making it nearly impossible for me to focus on anything but her touch.

Luckily, Liz asked to start with me on skit feedback. So, I took the opportunity to pull my hand away to open the notes I had made on my phone. It turned out to be just the distraction I needed, allowing my body to calm the fuck down before I made a fool of myself.

After sharing my top 15 skits, we were quickly able to narrow it down from there. Surprisingly, Liz encouraged me to suggest edits on the final scripts. I couldn’t remember her wanting me to be this involved last time I was here. I took that as a positive sign and freely gave my thoughts and suggestions as we did some quick read throughs. That whole process went surprisingly faster than we had anticipated, which meant we got to start the photoshoot a little earlier too.

After getting polished up for the shoot, Kat and I were waiting around in the hallway for the photographer to get the lighting the way he wanted it. As we stood there, we were approached by some guy who I thought might be one of the writers. I vaguely remembered him from the last time I was on the show, but I couldn’t remember his name. Dan, maybe? Daryl? Derek? I went through a list of names in my head, but nothing sounded right. I’m sure I was too messed up to have made an effort to remember it.

Kat and I gave him a polite smile as he approached. I assumed he wanted to chat about one of the scripts. However, the way he pulled me into a tight hug and lingered in my space told me otherwise. Dammit, please tell me I didn’t fuck around with this guy.

He finally pulled away, eyeing me up and down appreciatively. Yep, we definitely fucked around. Fuck.

“How ya been, Bravo? Haven’t heard from you since you were here last.”

I gave him a tight smile, “Good, been busy.”

I felt Kat’s hand rest on my back as she moved in a little closer to me. She could clearly sense the tension. Fuck.

“Ahh, yeah. Well, you free after this? We could head back to my place and have some fun. I’ve got some good shit you need to try too.”

He ran his fingers down the front of my chest in a suggestive way. I could feel Kat tensing beside me as she realized what was happening. Fuck.

I took a step backward, my brow furrowing as I shook my head. “Sorry, man. I’ve kicked the habit. I’m not into that shit anymore. I’m living the clean life now.”

His eyes widened, “Oh. So, all that rehab gossip is true then?”

I nodded.

He shrugged, “Well, we can still have fun without the drugs. I don’t have to have them.”

My eyes darted to Kat. She looked absolutely mortified. I was already fucking this up with her.

He must have caught my worried glance because his eyes shifted to Kat, just noticing her for the first time. My realization finally kicked in that he was already high on something based on the way his pupils were dilated.

“You can bring your girl, too. You know I'm all for a group thing.”

Kat scoffed, “Excuse me?”

I started shaking my head and moved to put myself between them, “Look, Dan…”

“Dave,” he corrected me.

Close enough. I gave him a tight smile, trying my best not to be an asshole, but he wasn’t taking the hint.

“Dave, I’m not trying to be a dick when I say this…but I’m not interested in anything you have to offer. I’m clean and I don’t do the random hookup thing anymore. Got it?”

His mouth dropped open slightly as he moved backward a couple of steps, looking between Kat and I. Kat’s arm looped through mine as she pulled me in closer to her. I now realized why, there was something off about the way Dave was looking at us. I chalked it up to him being high. His pupils were so dilated that his eyes appeared almost black.

His lips eventually turned upward, “I get it…you’re in, like…an exclusive thing now, right? Well, more power to you babe. Can’t believe someone finally locked him down.”

Kat and I were both shaking our heads as Dave turned to walk away without another word.

I sighed, “I’m sorry about that. I’m pretty sure he was messed up on something.”

Kat shrugged, “Why are you apologizing? You’re not the asshole here, he is.”

I puffed air out of my cheeks, “Yeah, but if I hadn't been such a disaster before, he wouldn’t be talking to me like that.”

Kat grimaced, “So, you hooked up with that guy before?”

It was my turn to grimace, “I honestly have no fucking clue. If I did, I don't remember it. I’m still sorry you had to experience that though. I can tell it made you uncomfortable.”

She cupped my cheek, “I’m fine. It just took me by surprise. I know you’re not that person anymore, so it doesn’t bother me. I’m proud of you for telling him no and sticking to it.”

I gave her a small smile, “I appreciate that.”

Her face changed to concern, “Are you ok? That can’t have been good for you to experience either. Do you need to talk about it?”

I shook my head, slightly confused by her question.

She seemed to sense it, “Someone just offered you drugs. Did it make you feel any kind of way? Do I need to be concerned?”

My brows pinched together as I considered her questions, “No, not at all. I didn’t really feel anything other than concern about you having to deal with that shit. Really, zero cravings. The thought never crossed my mind.”

She nodded, “Good. Seriously though, if you feel the urge to use or drink, please talk to me about it. I know this whole situation is stressing you out a little.”

I pulled her in for a tight hug, burying my face in the top of her hair and inhaling deeply, “I promise…I’m good. You’re a good distraction from all that nonsense.” Damn Bravo, don’t push it.

I felt her chuckle against my neck, her hot breath blowing against my skin in a way that felt far too intimate and caused little Bravo to twitch in my pants all over again. I’m definitely gonna need a cold shower later. I loosened my hold on her, reluctantly. She didn’t seem to be in any hurry to let go either but did. At that moment, someone from the hair and makeup team popped out into the hallway, “Kat, Liz just called and said she wanted to get you in a few of the promo shots if you’re willing. You cool with that? We can glam you up right quick.”

Kat gave me a nervous look, before agreeing and disappearing into hair and makeup. The photographer was ready for me soon after that. We got started on some solo shots, going through several wardrobe changes and backdrops in the process. Kat finally joined me, in a deep purple evening gown. They put me in a tux but kept the look relaxed with the top shirt buttons open and tie undone. For the most part, Kat was out of frame, pulling me by the tie hanging loosely around my neck or pressing her foot to my face. It was all very playful, which led to a lot of laughter between us.

It was hard not to be distracted by her as she stood just out of frame, essentially manhandling me under the direction of the photographer. She looked so fucking good. They actually hadn’t put her in a ton of makeup, allowing her natural beauty to show through the way I liked. The deep purple of the dress against her skin was creating so many images in my mind that I knew I would come back to later.

The photographer did take several shots with Kat in the frame as well. I was excited to see the ones of her sitting on top of a piano while I fake played. There was something sexy about the way she was stretched out in front of me. There were also a few shots where I had my back toward her, and she was leaning down with her hands splayed out over my chest. In another, I was leaning back between her knees with one arm looped around her leg to rest my hand on her bare thigh. At one point she ran her fingers through my hair, tugging it slightly so that I looked upward at her. The photographer loved it…and so did my dick. I’m pretty sure I even whimpered a little, to my embarrassment. I had to start going through a list of plant names in my head so that I didn’t get hard again.

Some of the photos seemed a little sexy for a SNL promo or bumper, but we went with it, giggling like teenagers through the whole process and relishing in the light touches. I couldn’t help but to joke about how the Dieterina stans were going to lose their minds over the photos, which honestly, I think was their intent. They had to be aware of the online gossip just as much as Stacia and Joe were. Why else would they be pushing so hard for Kat to be involved?

Soon after that, we were finished with our SNL duties for the day. Both of us were already running on fumes by the time the driver picked us up from the studio, but we still had to put in dance rehearsal time. I tried not to complain too much because I told Kat that I would work my ass off to be able to do this and I meant it.

We decided to grab some takeout on the way back to the hotel. After picking up the food, my cell rang. It was my assistant, Evan, calling to check in and go over some minor scheduling changes for the following day. I took the opportunity to see how things were going back home, “How’s Zee doing? Did she eat today?”

Evan huffed, “D, I swear, that cat fucking hates me. She just gives me a judgy stare from across the room…like who the hell are you and why are you here? She swatted at me when I walked through to go to the kitchen, then hissed at me when I set her plate of food down.”

I chuckled. I don’t know why, but it made me feel all warm and fuzzy that she didn’t like anyone but me and Kat. “It’s your vibes man. You need to relax and stop being so uptight around her. She doesn’t like that shit. Did she eat?”

I glanced at Kat and smiled as she arched an eyebrow in my direction.

“Yeah, she did. That’s not been a problem.”

I nodded, “Good. I was worried she wouldn’t if I was gone. Did you do today's plant care routine yet?”

Evan chuckled, “Yeeees, I’m working on it now.”

I scratched my chin, now feeling like a nagging parent. “You’re using the rainwater, right? Not tap water?”

Evan was silent for a moment before he finally answered, “I mean…does that really matter?”

I let out a controlled breath and pinched the bridge of my nose, “Please tell me you're joking? Yes, it matters. The tap water has chemicals in it. It’s not good for the plants. The chlorine is terrible for the soil bacteria, and it can cause calcium and magnesium build up which fucks with their ability to absorb nutrients.”

I could feel Kat’s eyes on me. I shot another glance her way, finding her fighting a smile as she turned to look out the window.

I heard Evan snicker, “D, I’m messing with you. I’m following your instructions and watering schedule to a T. It’s fine…just relax and try to have some fun while you’re there. I’ve got it covered here.”

I huffed, “Dude, don’t mess with me like that. It’s not funny.”

Evan snorted, “It kind of is, actually.”

I shook my head, “You’re a dick sometimes. You know that? Anyway…just a reminder…when you take care of the plants in the art studio tomorrow, make sure Zee doesn’t go in there, please. Those plants are poisonous to cats.”

“I’m sure the giant ‘No Cats Beyond This Point’ sign on the door will remind me well enough, but thanks,” he replied sarcastically.

I snickered, “Hey, I’m just making sure bases are covered. If my cat dies because you can’t follow directions, I’ll have your ass.” I was only halfway joking with that statement.

Evan scoffed, “Excuse me? I’m the one that was hired to hold your hand. Don’t give me that shit. Anyway…go spend time with your hot dance partner. I’ll check in tomorrow.”

Shit, I hope she didn’t hear that. I glanced at her again, she was still staring out the window with a smile tugging at her lips. Evan had been giving me hell about having “the hots” for my dance partner for the last few weeks. I hadn’t told him it was true, he just assumed based on our chemistry on the dance floor. He was very pro Dieterina. Knowing him, he was probably the one who got that hashtag started.

Evan and I finally said our goodbyes just as the SUV was pulling up to the hotel. I quickly hopped out of the vehicle to open Kat’s door just in time for her to hand me our drinks. She grabbed her purse and the takeout bag before sliding out onto the sidewalk. Once back in the suite, we ate our takeout in hurried silence. Afterward, we quickly changed into more comfortable clothes then decided to rehearse on the large outdoor terrace just to save us the hassle of finding the conference space that had been reserved for us.

I could tell Kat was tired. Her eyes looked heavy, and she wasn’t as energetic as she normally was during rehearsals. I felt kind of bad for dragging her into this craziness, but I didn’t regret having all of the extra time with her. I couldn’t. I was enjoying it too much. She didn’t let the exhaustion get her down though, immediately switching to teacher mode as soon as we stepped out onto the terrace.

“So, the rumba originated from Cuba. It’s known for a specific hip movement which is often called the ‘Cuban Motion’ combined with two quick side-steps and a slow forward-step.”

She showed me the movements as she talked through it. I tried to focus on her words rather than the way her hips were moving, because if I didn’t, I was going to have a problem…again. I mimicked her footwork as she smiled and nodded in approval. It seemed simple enough.

“The rumba tends to be a very flirtatious and sensual dance. Think of it as…a vertical representation of a horizontal desire.”

My brows arched at her words. Fuck. Here we go with the sex talk again. I’m done. I snorted, “Pretty sure I could pull that desire off vertically too. No representation needed.”

Kat’s eyes widened. Oof. Too far, Bravo. Too Far. I pursed my lips, waiting for her admonishment. Instead, she chuckled, “Pretty sure we would be kicked off the show and arrested for that.” She paused, now smiling to herself as she peered up at me shyly, “Funny enough, the Cuban government did ban this dance at one point because it was too sexually charged to be performed in public spaces.”

Well, that’s not a no. Is she teasing me? I gave her a flirty smirk, “Well, I’ll try to keep the lewd acts to a minimum then.”

Her eyes narrowed as she fought a smile, “At least keep them off the dance floor.”

My teeth sunk into my bottom lip as my brow arched in her direction. I really didn’t know how to take this. Is she flirting? It felt like she had been more and more as the day went on. I finally huffed out a laugh, “Don’t worry. I’ll behave unless I’m told to do otherwise.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, “Noted.”

An odd silence stretched between us as our eyes took each other in. It wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward, but it was different. She was standing a few feet away from me, but I could still feel the heat radiating off her as if she was pressed against me. I cleared my throat, needing to change focus to something else before I got another raging boner.

“So, what are your plans for this one? Any ideas?” I finally asked.

She sighed, “Yeah, some. I tried to think ahead on it because I knew we would be pressed for rehearsal time this week. Maybe we can go through what I have so far and take it from there?”

I nodded in agreement. She approached me, holding her hands up, signaling for me to join her in a closed position. My left hand snaked around her waist and pulled her against me, much closer than she really needed to be for the dance, but she didn’t correct it. Rather than her right arm resting along mine, I noticed she had placed higher up allowing her fingers to gently run through the hair at the nape of my neck. The feel of it sent shivers down my spine and caused my skin to heat under her touch. When she took my right hand in hers, I felt her fingers lightly run along the inside of my palm before initiating a grip. It caused a tingle in my hand that radiated down my arm and through the rest of my body.

There was something about the position this time that made it seem significantly more intimate than it had in the past. My senses felt heightened and craved her touch. I couldn’t get close enough. Maybe it was the fact that we were completely alone, dancing under the night sky and surrounded by the twinkling lights of the city - setting a completely different mood. Or maybe none of that mattered at all and it had everything to do with us pushing boundaries to see where the other stood. No matter the cause, I was loving every second of it.

We started by going through the basic steps together, then slowly worked through the rest of the choreography she had planned out thus far. The air remained thick between us and our touches seemed to linger, but that didn’t stop us from taking the rehearsal seriously. If anything, it seemed to make it more intense than usual. It was nearing midnight before we decided to call it quits. We had managed to get the first half of the routine nailed down, which was actually a really good start. We felt pretty good about having that much figured out so quickly.

It was an odd feeling having her nearby as I got ready for bed. I swear that I could sense her presence two rooms away and it was torturous. I couldn’t help thinking how easy it would be to go to her room and slip into bed with her. I wondered how she would react if I did. These thoughts bloomed into a full-on fantasy that had me straining against my boxer briefs as I tried to fall asleep. I was torn between getting up to take a cold shower and taking care of it. I reasoned that a cold shower would only delay the inevitable. I sighed, leaning over to grab a towel from the floor that I had left there from my morning shower, then pulled my boxers down and got to it.

The images in my head were so vivid. I could see her room and that damn mirrored ceiling above the bed. I could imagine how our reflection would look as we joined in various positions. Sometimes we were soft and sensual, others fucking and being absolutely feral for each other. I wasn’t sure which way I wanted her more.

Being soft and sensual was sort of foreign to me, making me realize that it seemed more alluring than my usual style of fucking. I finally settled on those images as I stroked myself languidly, panting and sweating as I imagined how her face would look when she came and the soft sounds she would make against my lips as I took her over the edge. It wasn’t long before I had to fight back my own moans of pleasure, turning to my side to bury my face in a nearby pillow as I spilled into the towel.

I laid there, breathing heavily, now realizing what a long week this was going to be. I didn’t know how I was going to survive it. It was either going to break me or break us. I wasn’t sure which I wanted more.

Next: Week 5 (Part 2)

A/N: Happy Tuesday my lovelies! I'm sure you weren't expecting a new chapter this quick after yesterday's update. Luckily, I didn't have much left to add to the first part and I was able to finish it this morning. 😘

So for part 1, we got Dieter's point of view of how their week in NYC has started. Are we surprised at how nervous he was for SNL? And why? How do you think their first day went? Also, how about that interaction with Dan...Dave? I already forgot his name too...

Anyway, we see what our boy is up against in his sober life. You can bet that won't be the last interaction like that for him. It's really giving Kat a dose of something new that she's never really experienced.

We also got to see a little bit of worried Cat/Plant dad Dieter. He's too damn cute with that and I can't handle it. And we can't forget his reflection on the moment he realized that pesky ring was gone. Poor guy was feeling ALL the things.

Now, can we talk about the flirting? It's only the first day and Dieter already can't behave himself. I'd love to hear your theories on how all this is going to go down. 😂

Also, quick shout out to @quicax3 for sharing that "vertical representation of a horizontal desire" line with me. We can thank Mark Ballas from DWTS for that gem. If there ever was a line to make Dieter lose it, it's that one.

I have some good news! Part 2 is mostly written. I have a few sections I need to go back and add in from where I skipped around. I plan to post that early next week, so you won't have to wait long! That will be a rather LORGE chapter in Kat's POV.

I also have a good chunk of Part 3 written as well. No ETA on that one yet, but I don't think you will have to wait too long after part 2 is posted. Part 3 is where things really go down, so it's going to get a little extra attention from me before posting. It will definitely be smut heavy, but we will also get to see some of their vulnerability too. It will alternate between Dieter and Kat's POV. 👀

As for this chapter's video, I feel it's appropriate to share Jennifer Grey doing the Rumba. We can't talk about Dirty Dancing and not include Baby herself. Enjoy!

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glearyyyne · 8 months ago

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intro (end of the world)

Synopsis: It has been 11 years since you came to the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. As you and Satoru grew closer to your job at being co-workers, you've been planning to confess but you didn't expect to confess to Satoru while under the influence of alcohol.

Word Count: 4,807 Words

Warning: tiny angst at the end(?), shibuya incident (AGAIN), drinking alcohol. unhealthy amount of drinking boba tea after training (drink water instead of sugary drink! >:( )

Note: another eternal sunshine title! I promise it doesn't hurt that much since it kind of resembles to imperfect for you fic. Will post some bad news tomorrow :( but I hope you enjoy this!

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Knock knock

"Come in," you heard that deep voice, indicative of someone engrossed in a task before you even opened the door. Satoru's eyes, concealed behind his round glasses, met yours with curiosity as you addressed him as your co-worker.

"I brought you some sweets after my mission.” You spoke with a happy tone, you revealed the crepe box hidden behind your back.

That's the moment you wanted to capture when the tired look that Satoru had changed into his usual goofy face.

“I must be so handsome that you had to bring me some sweets,” Satoru joked as you giggled before placing the crepe on his desk.

But you are handsome…

Was something you wanted to say but then proceed not to as you don't want to strain the close friendship you both have.

It has been 11 years since you came to the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. You joined in the third year, but at first, you were confused because there was only one teacher and two students, making you wonder if it was really a school.

"These are your classmates," Yaga announced upon opening the door. Expecting a crowd, you were surprised to find only two students: a white-haired boy and a brunette girl.

"Satoru, Shoko, this is [Reader’s name]. They'll be your classmates this year," Yaga introduced. "It's nice to meet you," you greeted them, receiving a response only from Shoko as Satoru stared blankly.

Feeling nervous and confused about his behavior, Shoko nudged Satoru and whispered something, prompting him to sigh.

"I'm Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer," he declared, his ego evident.

Weeks and months passed and you became close with Satoru but you always felt like Satoru was putting up a wall to prevent you from coming in.

“Sensei?” You flinched as you turned around to see Megumi standing at the doorway of the storage room. “What are you doing here?” He asked.

“Well, I’m just getting a weapon to use in training” You answered. "Shouldn't you be with Itadori right now?" you asked Megumi, curious about his whereabouts.

With an annoyed sigh, Megumi replied, "That idiot is busy feeding Gojo sensei's ego."

You couldn't help but laugh at his choice of words, finding humor in the situation.

As you rummaged through the storage room, Megumi's voice broke the silence. "Hey, um... do you think you could teach me during our training sessions?" he asked tentatively.

You paused, surprised by his request, then turned to face him. "Teach you?" you echoed, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"Yeah," Megumi replied, looking somewhat uncomfortable or maybe shy?

"I've been observing your techniques, and I think I could learn a lot from you." He added.

Before agreeing, you couldn't resist teasing Megumi for his sudden shyness. "Wow, Megumi, I never took you for the shy type, needing someone to hold your hand through training," you quipped, a playful smirk dancing on your lips.

Megumi's cheeks flushed slightly, but he managed a small smile. "It's not like that," he protested, though his tone betrayed his embarrassment.

You chuckled, enjoying the rare opportunity to see Megumi flustered. "Alright, alright, I'll teach you," you relented, realizing he was genuinely seeking to improve his skills.

After finally choosing the right weapon, you and Megumi headed to the training room to begin your session. Hours passed in intense practice, sweat pouring down your faces as you focused on perfecting your techniques.

Eventually, you both decided to take a break, panting heavily from exertion. Collapsing onto nearby benches, you wiped the sweat from your brow and took deep breaths, feeling the fatigue setting in.

"That was intense," you remarked between gasps, glancing over at Megumi, who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, but it's worth it," he replied, a determined glint in his eyes.

As you prepared to resume training, Megumi's unexpected question caught you off guard. "What did you see in Gojo sensei?" he asked, his tone curious.

You blinked in confusion. "Come again?" you replied, taken aback by the sudden inquiry.

"It's obvious you have something going on with Gojo sensei," Megumi persisted, his gaze steady as he waited for your response.

You sighed, realizing that Megumi was more observant than you had thought. "Am I that obvious?" you asked, feeling a hint of embarrassment.

Megumi nodded solemnly. "Everyone knows it, but Gojo sensei was too naive or oblivious to notice it," he remarked matter-of-factly, leaving you momentarily speechless at his blunt assessment.

As you thought back on the countless gestures Satoru had made exclusively for you, you couldn't help but sigh. "I don't know," you began, your voice tinged with emotion. "One day, I just felt those feelings bloom when I looked at him. I guess you can't really explain why you love someone."

Before you knew it, Satoru and Itadori approached from behind as you finished speaking.

"Who is this 'him'?" he inquired, catching you off guard. Startled, you flinched at the sound of Satoru's voice.

"I-I..." you stammered, trying to explain that there was no one else, but Satoru didn't seem convinced. Before you could say anything further, he raised his hand, holding a boba tea, leaving you dumbfounded.

"I know you were training, so I brought you this," Satoru said, his toothy grin melting away any tension in the air. As you accepted the boba tea, you felt those familiar butterflies fluttering in your stomach.

"You should have got her water, not boba tea," Megumi interjected, glaring at Satoru with a hint of disapproval in his voice.

Satoru just shrugged off Megumi's comment. "Boba tea is tastier than those tasteless waters," he retorted, seemingly unfazed by Megumi's concern.

"Water makes you hydrated, while boba tea makes you dehydrated," Megumi countered, growing annoyed at how Satoru's sweet tooth seemed to cloud his understanding of the importance of water.

Meanwhile, you stared at the boba tea in your hand, a smile spreading across your face as you took a sip, savoring the sweetness of the drink and the thoughtfulness behind Satoru's gesture.

It makes you fall even more

A week later, after completing another mission, you found yourself sitting in Shoko's clinic, getting your wounds treated. As Shoko tended to your injuries, your phone chimed with a notification from Satoru, asking if you had finished the mission and suggesting going for a drink afterward. Unconsciously, a smile crept onto your face, catching Shoko's attention.

"You're smiling again," she observed, her tone playful as she noticed the subtle change in your expression.

Your face flushed with embarrassment as you fumbled with your phone, attempting to shut off the notification. "Y-you didn't see anything!" You stuttered out, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Shoko sighed knowingly. "Does he know?" she asked, sensing the underlying tension.

You sighed, avoiding Shoko's gaze as you stared at the ground. "No," You admitted softly, feeling a bit sad at keeping your feelings hidden from Satoru.

"He'll never know if you won't confess," Shoko urged gently, her voice filled with empathy.

Frustrated, you let out a sigh. "So what if I confess? I'll just add to his burden of having to protect me when he's already tasked with protecting the world from the stupid curses roaming around," you replied, your frustration evident in your tone.

After finishing cleaning and healing your wound, Shoko took off her gloves and offered you some insightful advice. "You always think about the bad side. Why not consider the good side? Wouldn't it be better to go on dates with him, to have him follow you around because he missed you?" she suggested, her words laced with wisdom.

She then reached for a cigarette, lighting it up before taking a puff. As you sighed, her words lingered in your mind, prompting you to imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship with Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer.

"I-I would love that," you confessed, your face flushing at the mere thought of such a scenario.

"As much as you think of those bad sides, all I'm saying to you is that Satoru will never make you feel like you're a burden to him," Shoko reassured you, her voice firm and reassuring.

Before you could respond, Shoko shushed you and hurriedly ushered you towards the door, practically pushing you out of the clinic, leaving you dumbfounded by her abruptness.

Checking the time on your phone, you realized it was still early, so you decided to head back to your dorm and change clothes to at least look presentable for whatever the rest of the day might hold.

A few hours later, after you had changed into more presentable clothes, you mustered up the courage to message Satoru, asking where to meet. He replied promptly, instructing you to meet him at his apartment and providing directions.

Curiosity piqued, and you found yourself standing outside his apartment building, hands sweating and heart pounding with nervous anticipation. Taking a deep breath, you knocked on the door and waited anxiously for Satoru to answer.

As you raised your hand to knock, the door swung open, revealing a shirtless Satoru, his white hair still damp as he dried it with a towel. Your eyes widened in surprise, and you felt your cheeks flush crimson. Quickly, you covered your face with your hands in embarrassment.

"You should have warned me that you were shirtless!" you exclaimed, your voice betraying your embarrassment.

Satoru looked unfazed by your reaction. "Oh, my phone was charging in the other room, so I forgot," he replied casually, seemingly unconcerned about your blushing state.

Satoru let you inside as you hurriedly headed to his living room and sat on the couch. You finished taking a deep breath and calmed yourself before you looked around to observe his place, after all, it was your first time here.

Satoru came to the living room wearing already a shirt and alcohol in his hand that looked like an imported one.

He placed the shot glass and alcohol on his coffee table before he sat in the other chair beside you. “That looks like a strong drink. Where did you buy it?” You asked. “In America when I was on a business trip a couple of months ago, I had been planning to drink that but I didn't like to drink it alone so I tagged you along” he explained. His hands held onto the alcohol, opening the cap before he poured it into the shot glass.

“Lady’s first?” He teased, “Well if you insist,” you told him with a smile, taking the shot glass out of his hand as you quickly drank.

“Slow down, you’ll get drunk sooner than you expected,” Satoru said with a light-hearted chuckle.

He was right, you suddenly felt burning in your heart but you can't shake off the thought of Satoru being shirtless earlier.

You poured alcohol into the glass and offered it to him. “It's your turn now dummy,” You told him while feeling slightly light-headed.

Satoru only grinned, taking the glass out of your hand, and drank the alcohol with no problem.

“It seems like your apartment doesn't have that much furniture” You spoke, sparking a conversation between you two.

“Oh that, I rarely come here” Satoru simply replied.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’m more used to sleeping at the dorms in the school.” He poured another, passing the glass to you. “You're more used to sleeping there than in this apartment that has like amazing view from the city at night?” You asked again.

“I don't like how lonely it is to be here alone, I’d rather sleep in the dorm knowing everyone I know is there.”

Is that so…

You thought, hand quickly grabbing the glass and gulping it.

“But why did you invite me here instead of the dorm? We could have just drank there instead” You wiped your mouth as you looked at him with that curious look.

“I don't know,” Satoru teasingly said, his legs spread wide with a smirk plastered on his face.

He finds your question amusing.

Your conversation with Satoru went on as the passing of the glass containing alcohol continued until you threw your head back, hand quickly massaging your forehead.

“Feeling drunk already?” He asked, you nodded lightly.

“I feel like I can't face what will happen in Shibuya next month” You suddenly spoke about the mission next month.

Satoru froze in his seat, concern etched into his features. "Why do you think so?" he asked carefully, his tone gentle.

"Maybe because this is more dangerous than the usual mission? To the point that all the sorcerers are alerted to be there," you explained, your voice tinged with unease.

"Are you scared?" he inquired softly, his eyes searching yours for any sign of distress.

You nodded, feeling a lump form in your throat. "Yes, yes I'm scared that I might lose you there," you confessed, a hiccup escaping your lips as tears threatened to spill.

"Why do you think you might lose me?" Satoru asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his concern visible.

"I don't know," you replied softly, shaking your head. "I just feel it.”

As Satoru was about to respond to your confession, you glanced at the clock and realized with a start that it was already 1 am. Panic surged through you, and you scrambled to get up from the couch, frantically rambling about how late it was and how you needed to head back to the dorm.

However, the alcohol in your system made you unsteady on your feet, and you nearly stumbled and fell. Just in time, Satoru reached out and caught you, steadying you with a firm grip.

"Whoa there, take it easy," he said calmly, his voice cutting through your panicked ramblings. "You're in no condition to go anywhere right now."

You tried to protest, but Satoru gently scooped you up into his arms, effortlessly carrying you in a bridal carry. Despite your feeble protests, he walked upstairs to his room, his steps steady and sure.

You felt a mix of embarrassment and gratitude as he carried you, your heart pounding with each step. Reluctantly, you settled against his chest, realizing that you were in no condition to argue.

As he laid you down on his bed, you couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort wash over you, despite the chaotic whirlwind of emotions swirling inside your head.

As Satoru made to leave you alone in his room, you reached out and grabbed onto his wrist, your words slurred from the effects of the alcohol. "D-don't leave," you stuttered out, your voice barely above a whisper.

Satoru turned back to you, his expression softening as he looked down at you. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and he sat down at the edge of the bed, his gaze warm and reassuring.

"Okay," he replied softly, his voice tender.

"I will not leave." He added.

As Satoru sat at the edge of the bed, you couldn't help but notice how his sapphire eyes shone against the darkness of his room. That's when you realize he wasn't wearing anything to protect them since earlier when he opened the door for you, not even his blindfold or sunglasses. His eyes, usually hidden behind some form of protection, were now fully exposed, radiating a mesmerizing brilliance.

"W-wouldn't your eyes hurt?" you asked softly, your words slurred from the alcohol.

Satoru hummed in confusion at your question. "Since you're not wearing your blindfold or the glasses," you clarified, gesturing to his bare eyes with a shaky hand.

Satoru chuckled softly, touched by your concern even in your intoxicated state. His hand moved to gently hold your cheek, his touch warm and comforting.

"It's fine, it doesn't hurt that much," he reassured you, his voice gentle as he looked into your eyes with a soft smile.

You felt a wave of relief wash over you at his words, grateful for his reassurance and the warmth of his touch. Despite the haze of alcohol clouding your thoughts, you couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in his presence.

Satoru pulled his hand back gently, suggesting that it was time for you to go to sleep. However, you suddenly spoke up, your words slurred from the alcohol. "11 years ago... was when I first met you," you said, followed by a hiccup.

Satoru looked at you with curiosity, but he allowed you to continue.

"I always thought you were that arrogant, nuisance bastard who only cared to feed his ego, but I was wrong," you confessed, your words surprisingly coherent despite your intoxicated state.

Satoru's amusement flickered across his features as he listened intently.

"I was wrong because the first time I saw you alone at the training area, I saw how you never had that usual arrogant face, but instead something that shocked me," you continued, your voice growing softer as memories flooded back to you.

Satoru listened intently as you spoke, his expression softening with each word.

"What shocked you?" he asked gently, his curiosity evident.

You took a moment to gather your thoughts before responding, your voice filled with sincerity. "You had those unexplainable expressions that I couldn't understand—soft? Or maybe tired," you explained, recalling the glimpses of vulnerability you had seen in him over the years. "Shoko once told me how your clan always put pressure on you because you inherited the techniques..."

You paused, then reached out to take Satoru's hand in yours, the warmth of his touch comforting. "That's when I knew I wanted to comfort you, and I want to let you know that you can always open up to me," you added earnestly. "I hate it when you just cope with them on your own.”

Satoru felt his heart skip a beat as he processed your words.

"I know, you're drunk right now and I want you to take a sleep now, we can talk about this another time-”

"I love you," you declared, your words filled with raw emotion. "I don't care if I'm drunk or not, but I fucking love you that I can't help but smile like a fool whenever you're in my sight."

Satoru's mind raced as he struggled to find the right words to respond to your confession. He felt a surge of warmth and affection for you, but he also knew the weight of your words and the vulnerability they carried.

Taking a deep breath, Satoru reached out and gently brushed a tear from your cheek. "Thank you for being so honest with me," he replied softly, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "I need some time to process this, but I promise we'll talk about it when you're sober. For now, let's focus on getting you some rest.”

He leaned in and gently kissed your forehead, his heart heavy with emotions as he contemplated the depth of your feelings for him.

You looked up at Satoru with a pleading gaze after he placed a gentle kiss on your forehead. "You promised?" You asked, voice filled with vulnerability, your eyes resembling those of a puppy seeking reassurance.

Satoru chuckled softly at the sight, nodding in response. "I promise," he affirmed, his heart swelling with affection for the vulnerable yet determined person before him. "Now, get some sleep."

Not long after, you drifted off into a peaceful slumber, your breaths evening out into light snores. As Satoru adjusted the blanket, his eyes darkened when he noticed the bandages wrapped around your wrist and stomach.

It was clear that you had sought treatment for your injuries from Shoko before coming to his apartment, a realization that filled him with a mixture of concern and admiration for their resilience.

Satoru stood up from the edge of the bed and made his way to the door, pausing for a moment to glance back at you one last time.

Instead of addressing your drunken confession directly, he decided to give you space and time to process it on your own.

With a soft sigh, he resolved to wait for you to realize and make the move to talk with him when you were ready. With a final, lingering look, he closed the door behind him, leaving you to rest peacefully in the dimly lit room.

As the week passed, the memory of the drunken night with Satoru faded into a haze for you. All you could recall was waking up alone in a bed that you assumed belonged to him, feeling a pang of embarrassment for getting drunk and you felt you were unable to face him as you rushed to get out of his apartment.

Despite your worries, Satoru continued to be his usual self, his goofy and teasing nature shining through as he interacted with his students. Surprisingly, he didn't ignore you or act any differently towards you, as if the events of that night had never happened.

It left you feeling relieved yet puzzled, wondering if you had somehow managed to keep your embarrassing feelings hidden or if Satoru knew about them but simply chose to overlook them for the sake of maintaining your friendship. Either way, you couldn't help but feel grateful for his continued presence in your life.

With the big mission in Shibuya drawing near, you and Maki found yourselves at the training area, immersed in a rigorous combat battle.

As the stakes heightened in anticipation of the mission, every moment spent sharpening your skills alongside Maki, known for her formidable combat prowess, became invaluable.

After engaging in intense sparring, you found yourself on the ground, Maki's stick pointed at your neck with a victorious smirk on her face. "I win," she declared triumphantly. Sighing in defeat, you accepted her help to rise back to your feet, grateful for the opportunity to learn from her expertise.

As you both headed to take a well-deserved break, Maki's keen eyes caught sight of a boba tea beside a sticky note with your name on it, sparking curiosity and intrigue in both of you.

What's this?" she asked when she took the note and holding up for you to see. You took it from her and read the message, feeling a flutter of surprise and warmth in your chest as you recognized Satoru's handwriting.

"It's from Satoru," you explained, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "Looks like he brought me a boba tea.”

For the past week, you had been experiencing a curious phenomenon: after every training session, you would find a mysterious boba tea waiting for you, accompanied by a note from Satoru.

Despite Megumi or Kugisaki's admonitions about drinking sugary beverages after training instead of water, you couldn't resist the temptation of the sweet treat.

Despite their scoldings, you ignored their concerns and indulged in the boba tea with a smile plastered on your face.

There was something comforting about the gesture from Satoru, and the sugary drink seemed to lift your spirits after the long torture of training.

Despite the passing days filled with interactions with Satoru, training sessions, and teaching the students, you couldn't shake off the lingering sense of dread as October 31st drew nearer.

The closer it got, the more familiar feelings of fear and uneasiness crept back into your mind.

Before you knew it, October 31st had arrived, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the day ahead.

Despite your attempts to push aside your fears, the date seemed to loom ominously, reminding you of the looming danger that awaited the Shibuya mission.

As the last of the sorcerers left the meeting room, you waited anxiously until only Satoru remained. Summoning all your courage, you stepped forward and stopped him just as he was about to leave.

"Satoru," you called out, your voice tinged with anxiety. He turned his head towards you, responding with a nonchalant hum.

"Can we talk first?" you asked tentatively, your heart pounding in your chest. Satoru glanced around briefly before nodding in agreement, taking a step back to close the door of the meeting room behind him.

Satoru took a seat at the top of the desk, his arms crossed as he watched you intently. You stood in front of him, fiddling with your fingers nervously, struggling to find the right words to say. The weight of the impending conversation hung heavy in the air, tension crackling between you as you gathered your thoughts.

"Uhmm," you began tentatively, feeling the weight of the words on the tip of your tongue. Satoru could sense where the conversation was heading, and he let out a sigh before speaking.

"Don't be scared, it's just me," he reassured you with a light-hearted chuckle, hoping to ease your nerves.

You smiled in return, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood, and continued, "I know if I said this, our friendship might go to waste but uhm..." Your voice trailed off, the gravity of the moment sinking in as you prepared to finally voice your feelings.

As you gathered your courage to continue, Satoru's expression softened, and he spoke before you could. "I think I know what you're about to say," he said gently, his eyes meeting yours with a depth of understanding.

Before you could respond, he reached out, gently taking your hand in his. "I've been feeling the same way," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with sincerity.

You blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his perceptiveness. "How did you know I have feelings for you?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, your heart racing with anticipation.

Satoru flashed you a playful grin, his usual goofiness returning. "Magic," he replied with a chuckle, clearly enjoying teasing you.

You couldn't help but roll your eyes at his response, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

Pulling your hand back, you lightly slapped him on the shoulder, pretending to be irritated. Satoru let out a playful whine, exaggerating the pain as he rubbed his shoulder.

But beneath your playful exchange, your face burned red with embarrassment at the thought of Satoru possibly knowing about your feelings since the time you two drank together.

As Satoru noticed your face glowing red with embarrassment, he gently took your wrist and pulled you into a warm embrace.

"You think it was just you having those feelings? Well, surprise surprise, I have too since 11 years ago," he admitted, his voice soft and sincere.

You were taken aback by his confession, your heart skipping a beat at the revelation. Quickly composing yourself, you placed your hands on his chest, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze. "11 years ago? But you weren't even talking to me when I was introduced to you and Shoko," you pointed out, puzzled by his revelation.

Satoru grinned mischievously as he spoke, "Well, maybe I was just one of those angsty teens who couldn't express their feelings?" The way he said it earned a laugh from you, and soon he joined in, the tension of the moment melting away into shared laughter.

The realization that both of you had harbored feelings for each other for so long filled the air with a sense of warmth and understanding, strengthening the bond between you.

In that moment, any worries or uncertainties about confessing your feelings faded into the background, replaced by a newfound sense of joy and connection.

As the moment of happiness began to fade, Satoru's reminder of the impending Shibuya mission brought back a wave of fear and uncertainty. "We need to go," he said, his voice tinged with a solemn tone.

Unable to contain your fears any longer, you confessed, "I don't know why, but I really feel like I'm going to lose you." The words hung heavy in the air, the weight of your anxiety palpable.

Satoru sighed, his hands cupping your cheeks gently as he looked into your eyes with unwavering determination. "You won't," he assured you, his voice filled with conviction.

"Before you know it, I'll come back with that victory grin and, of course, with kisses. I promise." With that, he planted a tender kiss on your forehead, his gesture offering comfort and reassurance in the face of uncertainty.

You smiled a little but still felt scared inside. Satoru got up and went to the door. You followed him, but that was a mistake.

Before you knew it, things escalated real quick…

“Nanamin, are you there!!” You turned around after patrolling the place, your eyes lightened up when hearing Itadori’s voice, and were about to head to where he was when the next thing he said made you stop.

“Gojo-sensei… was sealed!” Your eyes widened and you felt like the world stopped. Your hands went numb making you drop your weapon.

fuck no…

You turned around and quickly ran to find Satoru.

Fuck promises.

164 notes · View notes

daisynik7 · 1 year ago

Note

Could you possibly do: Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado for Jean Kirstein - Smut (stg he needs more love on this app)

Promiscuous

Pairing: Jean x f!reader

Rating: Explicit – MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Word Count: ~2.7k

cw: frenemies-to-lovers trope, one bed (in this case, tent) trope, modern day au, explicit language, smut – mutual masturbation, fingering, hand job

Summary: During your annual camping trip with your friends, you find out a little too late that the tent you brought with you is broken. With everyone’s already occupied, you’re forced to share one with Jean, who you don’t exactly get along with. Maybe sharing a small space together for one night will change that.

Author’s Note: Hi anon! Thank you for your request for the y2k karaoke party! This idea is somewhat inspired by my main man AugustInTheWinter’s “Trapped in Your Asshole Friend’s Tent” (reddit link, +18) except mine is more of a teaser if anything, since there’s no actual sex, hehe. I hope you like this one! I don’t write for Jean often, but when I do, I always have so much fun! Likes, reblogs, and/or comments are always appreciated! Thank you for reading! MDNI banner by @/mikeykuns.

Your tent is busted, and of course you only find out about it as you unpack it on the campsite, finding it torn up and unusable. You turn to Sasha, panicking. “It’s broken!”

She kneels down to inspect it, looking at all the parts. “There’s nothing you can do to fix it?”

“Everything is in pieces. It’s completely useless. Do you have room in your tent?”

She shakes her head. “I’m sleeping in Connie’s. And Mikasa, Armin, and Eren are squeezing into one. Which leaves only Jean – ”

“No,” you say with emphasis. “No way.”

Sasha rolls her eyes. “Come on. You’re only in there for a few hours each night, that’s it! Set your differences aside for once! Unless you want to sleep out in the cold.”

“I think I’d rather freeze to death and get eaten by a bear than share a tent with him,” you state, crossing your arms over your chest.

She chuckles, taking a bite out of a baked potato she has stored in her pocket. “Fine. I’ll be sure to write that in your obituary.” She walks away from you, joining Connie by their tent, helping him set it up while you stand there, defiant, and all-too-stubborn. You look over to their right to see the EMA trio working together to assemble their big tent, but still not big enough to house a fourth person. Then, on the other side, furthest away from the others, is Jean.

You seriously weigh your options, eventually deciding that death by the elements is worse by the tiniest margin than sleeping next to Jean. So you walk up to him, tapping on the thin fabric, pretending to knock. “Kirstein,” you call out when there’s no answer.

He unzips the entrance, glaring at you. “What do you want?”

You clear your throat, putting on the nicest voice you can possibly muster. “Do you have room for me in there?” You even bat your eyelashes, feeling more pathetic that you already do.

“What?!” he snaps, standing up to confront you.

“My tent is broken and there’s no room in the other’s, so…”

“Fuck no,” he states, a little harsher than usual.

“C’mon, Kirstein! It’s just for two nights!”

“Then sleep outside.”

“I promise I’ll be good!” you whine, putting your hands together in prayer, pleading. “You won’t even know I’m here.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely know you’re here,” he says, pinching the bridge of his nose, irritated. He yells out across the way. “Sash, Connie! There’s really no room in there for her?”

Connie answers, “Nope!”

“Mikasa, how about in your – ”

“No,” she responds immediately, the other two boys shaking their heads to confirm.

Jean groans, scratching his head anxiously, as if this is the worst thing he’s ever had to consider. Eventually, he mutters a contemptuous, “Fine. But we’re not sharing sleeping bags.”

“I never said anything about sleeping bags!” you protest.

“I’m just saying!”

Not wanting to argue more, you ease up. “Okay, okay. Thank you. Seriously, Kirstein. I really do appreciate it.” You attempt to give him the most genuine smile you can manage. All he does is roll his eyes, zipping the entrance closed.

The rest of the day goes by smoothly. After setting up camp, you all go for an easy hike on a nearby trail. Jean doesn’t interact with you, which is typical behavior from him. You can’t pinpoint the exact reason why he dislikes you so much; it didn’t start this way when you first met him several years ago through Sasha. But the more you hung out with them, the colder he’s gotten towards you. Because of this, you decided to act the same towards him, causing this hostile relationship between you two. Maybe sharing a tent tonight is a good opportunity to let bygones be bygones and finally get along.

Back at camp, you gather around the fire to roast hot dogs for dinner. Jean sits across from you, a serious expression on his face as he focuses on cooking his meal. You study him, watching the flames reflect in his eyes. He’s handsome, that’s for sure; sharp jawline, luscious brown locks on his head, an impressive stature. If he wasn’t such an asshole, you could see yourself being friendly with him, maybe even more. The thought makes you smile to yourself. He meets your gaze for a brief moment, startling you. You quickly turn your head to the side, pretending to be interested in the dirt on the ground, hoping he didn’t catch you staring.

By midnight, with your bellies nourished with a hot dogs, potato chips, and s’mores for dessert, you all decide to call it a night. Armin and Eren put out the fire while the rest of you do a thorough job disposing any trash and putting away any of the remaining food. Everyone gets ready for bed in their designated spots around the wilderness. You especially take your time, wanting to stall as much as possible so you don’t have to interact with your tent-mate.

Eventually, you’re the only one left outside and there’s nothing left for you to do but head in. As you walk into the tent, you quietly step inside, noticing Jean already curled in his sleeping bag to the farthest side he can reach, leaving plenty of space for you. He’s wrapped in an additional blanket, head resting on a fluffy pillow, expression the most relaxed you’ve ever seen. You grin, appreciating how cute he looks like this.

You nestle into your sleeping bag, adjusting your pillow before you find a comfortable position to sleep in. Even with it zipped up and surrounding you, it’s still chilly enough that your teeth chatter. Holding yourself tightly, you rub your arms, hoping to create enough friction to warm yourself up.

From the other side, you hear Jean’s familiar groan, then shuffling. Suddenly, you feel something thick envelop you. You crane your neck to see Jean near you now, his blanket covering you both. He faces you with that scowl on his face, eyes closed. “I’m only sharing so that you don’t keep me up all night,” he says.

You roll over to turn your body towards him, closer than you’ve ever been before. “Thank you,” you murmur, snuggling into your pillow.

He doesn’t say anything else, probably drifting off to sleep by now. Although you’re warm enough, you still can’t fall into a slumber the way you want. Not with Jean so near you, pretty eyelashes fluttering, soft lips parted slightly; he is really handsome. Your chest swells, heat rushes into your cheeks. As quietly as you can, praying that he’s actually asleep, you whisper, “I’m sorry, Jean. For whatever I did to make you hate me so much.” You say it more for yourself if anything. Even if he can’t hear you, at least you’ve put it out there for the universe.

“I don’t hate you.” It startles you when he says it in a low, gruff voice, eyes still closed.

You swallow hard, not sure if you should continue this conversation, or let it end here. Not wanting to waste this opportunity, you decide to respond. “You don’t?”

This time, he opens his eyes slowly, blinking at you. “No. You’re annoying, irritating, always completely unprepared. But I don’t hate you.”

“Gee, thanks,” you mutter, wrapping your arms tighter around yourself. “Sorry for always being such a nuisance to you. I’ll be sure to leave you alone now.”

He sighs. “You’re not always a nuisance, okay? And besides, you’re the one who acts like you hate me.”

“I only do that because you did it to me first,” you argue. “I don’t even know what I did to annoy you in the first place. Tell me.”

“If I start now, we’ll be up all night,” he smirks, looking smug.

“Seriously, what did I ever do to you? I need to know so I can apologize formally.”

He stares at you, contemplating his answer. You wait with anticipation, nervous for what he’s about to say. Eventually, he admits, “You didn’t do anything wrong, okay?”

More confused now, you ask, “Then why do you treat me like I did?”

He sighs again, this time even deeper. “I don’t know.”

You scoot closer to him instinctually, studying his face as if that will give you a clearer answer. “You don’t know?”

He’s caught off guard by the closing distance between you. “I don’t know,” he repeats, stammering. “I just…”

Closer now, your nose mere inches from his, the heat radiating from his body towards you. “Just what?”

He gulps loudly before leaning forward, pressing his lips to yours in a delicate kiss. You don’t immediately pull back, indulging in the intimate touch until his tongue slips into your mouth. It shocks you, not because you don’t like it, but because of how much you do. You break apart, catching your breath. “What are you…” you trail off, fixated on his lips, slightly shiny now from your spit.

He unzips his sleeping bag, freeing his hands to reach for you, caressing your cheek. “If you don’t like it, tell me now and I’ll stop.” His thumb brushes against your skin, electrifying every nerve in your body.

You wiggle out of your confines to touch him too, placing your hands on hands on his chest, clenching his t-shirt in your fists. Something comes over you. Curiosity, lust, temptation, you’re not quite sure. All you know is that you want to keep kissing him, keep touching him, and save the explaining for later. It doesn’t have to make sense right now; all you want is to feel good.

“Don’t stop,” you whisper, pulling him in for a kiss. It’s sloppier this time, his tongue flicking against yours, eager for a taste of you. His hand travels down your body, sliding around your waist beneath your pajama top. It ignites your skin, forgetting any ounce of coldness that occupied your body just moments before.

“On top,” he huffs, fingers digging into your flesh. “Get on top of me.”

You obey, spreading his sleeping bag open, seeing the prominent bulge protruding from his sweats. You straddle his lap, grinding yourself on him, rubbing your clothed pussy along his shaft. He grips your waist with both his hands, watching you rock against him, biting his lip with a crazed look in his eyes. “Fuck,” he breathes out, brows furrowed in concentration, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. If you had known it would be like this, maybe the two of you wouldn’t have wasted so much time berating each other. You could have spent the last few years doing this instead.

You lean down, kissing him passionately while you continue to ride him with your clothes on. He’s unbelievably hard beneath you now, his big cock straining against the fabric. Your arousal leaks into your panties, wet and ready for him. His hands glide to your bottom, squeezing your cheeks in his hands. Soon, his fingers are hooked on your waistband, tugging them down your thighs, coaxing you to strip. You hop off him, rolling to his side to properly remove your pants, him doing the same next to you. Both of you are naked from the waist down now, lying beside each other. You reach between your legs, rubbing your fingers on your clit. He watches, fist wrapped around his cock, stroking it feverishly. “I didn’t know you were like this,” he whispers, biting his lip to hold back his moans. “Fuck, if I had known I…I would have – ”

“What, Jean? What would you have done?” you ask, playing with yourself faster, watching him jerk himself off.

“I would have fucked you so much sooner. Make you my slut.”

“You want to slut me out? Is that what you want?”

“Yeah. But only for me. I only want you to be a slut for me.”

You reach for him with your wet fingers, replacing his hand with yours, stroking him slowly. He moans, eyes blown wide at the sight. “Come here,” he beckons, stretching his hand towards your pussy. “I want to make you feel good too.”

Kneeling beside him, you guide him to you, teasing your clit with his palm. “God, you’re so fucking wet. Can I fuck you with these fingers, baby?”

The pet name is unexpected from his mouth, but it spurs you on. You nod, lifting up slightly to sink down on his middle finger while his thumb nudges your clit. A moan escapes you, unable to keep quiet. He chuckles softly, shushing you. “You don’t want the others to know you’re getting finger-fucked by me, do you? You better be quiet.”

You stay like this, Jean’s fingers pumping in and out of your cunt while he fucks your fist. Aching for a new position, you release him, pulling him out of you so that you can straddle his lap again, this time completely nude.

He stammers, clearly nervous. “Oh fuck, should we…?”

There is no lube, nor are there any condoms around you. It would be a bad idea to have sex under these conditions, though temptation is testing you, especially with how far you’ve already gotten. As badly as you want to be fucked, you decide not to. “Not tonight. But that doesn’t mean we can’t feel good, right?” You flick the tip of his cock on your clit, your core tight with pleasure from the intimate contact.

He relaxes into his sleeping bag, watching you with a dazed expression on his face, moaning as you grind your pussy along his shaft, hand nestled underneath his cock, stroking him simultaneously. “Fuck, you really know what you’re doing, huh?”

“Is that bad?” you ask, slowing your pace.

He smiles, shaking his head. “Not at all. I just didn’t expect you to be so promiscuous.” He reaches towards you, massaging your clit with his thumb.

You whine from his touch, rocking back and forth on his shaft, almost inclined to sink down on his cock anyways. “Maybe I’m only like this with you.”

He continues to grin at you, caressing your sensitive bud faster. “Yeah, maybe you are.”

You stay like this until his cock pulsates beneath you, shooting spurts of cum onto his stomach. Soon, you’re coming too with his thumb pressed tightly on your clit, rubbing deep into you, gushing all over him. When you’re done riding out your orgasm, you roll off of him, back into your own sleeping bag. Jean stays flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling of his tent, his breathing gradually returning to a steady pace. The two of you remain silent, equally confused and thrilled about what just occurred.

You decide to be the one to speak first. “So…”

He turns to you, a kind expression on his face. Have you ever seen this on him before? It puts a flutter in your belly. “So,” he repeats.

“Should we talk about it?”

“What’s there to talk about?” He scoots closer to you, holding your hand in his.

“This. Us,” you say, interlocking your fingers with his. Who would have though being this way with Jean Kirstein would feel so…natural?

“Right. Us.” He nuzzles his nose to yours. “The truth is, I’ve been a massive asshole to you because I’m an idiot who doesn’t know how to express his feelings.”

“So, instead, you act like you hate me?”

He points to himself, giving you a goofy grin. “See? Idiot.”

You sigh, squeezing him tighter. “So, you actually like me?”

Smiling, he kisses your cheek. “I do. I’ve liked you for a while. If you give me a chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. If you let me.”

You don’t respond right away, contemplating the situation. Could it really work out between you two after all the petty arguments, snide remarks, contemptuous glares? It is comfortable, being with him like this. It’s better than you ever imagined.

You snuggle into his chest, surrounding yourself in his warmth and security. “I guess we could give it a shot.”

“Yeah?” He tips your chin up to meet your gaze, smiling big.

“Yeah.”

He brings you towards him to kiss you sweetly, cradling you in his arms. “Thank you.”

You pull away, smirking at him before you whisper, “And next time, you’re going to slut me out properly, right?”

He laughs quietly, biting his lip. “Absolutely.”

#jean kirstein #jean kirschstein #jean kirschtein smut #jean kirstein smut #jean kirstein x reader #jean kirstein x you #jean kirschstein x reader #jean kirschstein smut #aot smut #attack on titan smut #y2k karaoke party #milestone event

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shiny-jr · 2 years ago

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✍︎ damnation [ the diviner ]

– Summary: When you commit a crime, you receive a punishment. This is especially true in your society. No matter the crime, your punishment is the same: banishment. But to where you will be sent in exile and how miserable will it be? No one knows, because no one has ever returned.

– Warning: Yes, this is a yandere thing. Gender-neutral reader.

– Characters: Floyd Leech, Jade Leech, Azul Ashengrotto.

– Note: I’m actually not super proud of this result. Out of the three out so far, this one is probably like my least favorite. Maybe that’s why I’ve been putting this off for a while and also rewriting Scarabia’s result a lot, just because I don’t want to feel like I did a bad job on it once I do complete it. Currently, at the time this is being posted, Scarabia’s result is like halfway done. Here’s to hoping its a good result.

– Pages: 40

– Not satisfied? Try looking here for the quiz to take it yourself and see where you end up banished!

The Hyena Chieftain | The Diviner | The Vizier’s Vassal

Damp. It was damp, and you awoke to the sound of crashing water. The surface you found yourself on was soft, comfortable. Sitting upright, you were surprised to see multiple blankets and pillows with mismatched patterns and some stitched with completely different colors. Around you was patterned fabric curving upwards, like a tent, but when you moved, this bed you were laying on swung with every movement. It was like a hanging nest, you realized, as you curiously removed part of the fabric wall that allowed you to step out.

It was somewhat dark, but there was just enough light from a huge gaping hole in the ceiling for you to scan your surroundings. There was a waterfall right in front of you, the water falling from the space above. You were behind the waterfall, in a hidden space with that hanging bed, lit candles scattered around, with lots of other little knick knacks and doodads that made it look like the home of one of those witches that collected crystals and other items. In one corner was a mirror, where you finally caught your reflection, it startled you. Instead of chains and a prison uniform, you wore long dark robes that pooled around your feet and a long piece of darker sheer cloth over your head and shoulders that made you look like a ghost that appeared in the woods and fog. For a second, your appearance actually startled you, because you didn’t recognize yourself.

What was this…? This wasn’t a prison cell, and if it was, it was a pretty neat one. With all those books on the small wooden shelf in the corner, you’d at least have something to occupy yourself with. But there were no bars, no guards, and no shackles… What exactly was going on? The last thing you remember was being banished and forced to go through a portal and… now you were here.

When you looked back up at the waterfall, you could see more light coming from the other side. With nowhere else to go and nothing else to do, you slowly made your way towards the source behind the barrier of water. Luckily you wouldn’t have to get drenched, because there was a small path of round smooth stones around it, tucked away and neatly hidden in a dark corner. One by one, you hopped along the steps, the sheer cloth flowing behind you until you were in front of the waterfall, now in a much larger, very spacious room, a cave, actually.

There were no exits or entrances, besides the hole in the ceiling and maybe someplace under the water. Speaking of water, it was much more prominent in this area compared to the space you had woken up in. There was a small dry flat where you could sit, but it was only a few feet big, before the water encompassed the rest of the space. Except for more flat round stepping stones, leading to the center where there was a firm pedestal holding up what looked to be a glimmering glass orb. Its glow gave off a dim light, shining off the rugged dew covered walls.

Entranced by the orb, you tilted your head, watching from afar as shapes appeared on its glassy surface. Balancing on your toes, careful to not fall into the water, you got closer to it until you were right in front of it. For a moment, you just wanted to reach out and touch it, but you didn’t. It felt like one of those things you shouldn’t touch, like a museum display that should be behind red rope and inside a glass case. But just because you were hesitant to touch it, doesn’t mean you could take your eyes off of it. Lowering your face towards it to get a better look, you squinted at the moving image it displayed, like it was some sort of screen.

Inside the glass, you could see a figure. But it most certainly wasn’t human. Their lower torso was that of a fish. A mermaid, or rather, a merman. He looked so real! With bright stunning red hair that defied all logic by somehow looking soft even when underwater, realistic looking flesh judging by his bare upper torso with only a satchel strapped around his shoulders, and his entire lower half consisting of a sparkling green-scaled tail that swished back and forth quickly to propel himself forward. There was even a little yellow and blue fish swimming beside him. How cute… It almost reminded you of the tale of The Mermaid and The Sea Witch.

“Yes, hurry home, little prince. Run back to dear old daddy and join the party.”

The sudden voice caused you to jump, turning your head up and gaze away from the orb only to see a large figure that had camouflaged itself in a smooth curved nook within the dark stone walls. You hadn’t even noticed them watching you! You adjusted to the darkness again, steadily able to make out the mass, and your eyes widened in shock as you did.

Hidden in the curve in the wall that acted as a cozy spot just an inch above the water, was a huge mass. First you saw sharp gray eyes, more focused on the orb than you. Then you saw his hair, beautiful wavy gray curls that reminded you of the waves of water. Slowly you noticed his skin color, his face was an odd gray like part of his thin torso but the rest of him… was pitch black. But he had no legs, in place of where he should have appendages to walk, he had large black tentacles with purple undersides. Like an octopus, exactly like the Sea Witch you were just thinking about moments ago––

“Waking up a bit late, aren’t we, angelfish?” Those eyes seemed to glow as his gaze flickered up to your frozen form. He appeared relaxed, tucked away and seated in the little nook, with his hands folded neatly in his lap. Before you could even consider a proper response, he turned his attention back to the orb, apparently much more intrigued with it. “Nevermind. Did you know, when I used to live in the palace, we had fantastical festivities and feasts. But now look at what they’ve done to me… banished!” Banished? Dramatically he leaned out of his corner, and you could finally see the light shining on him. Until he abruptly slid out of his spot, vanishing into the water.

You felt a slight sense of dread rise upon you when you frantically looked around and couldn’t see him in the dark waters beneath you. Just before you could react to your flight or fight instincts pushing you to run back towards the bigger piece of land, you felt a tentacle wrap around your ankle and pull you down. A yelp escaped your lips as half of you became submerged in the water, but you kept afloat by clinging to the small round stone piece you had been standing on before.

The octopus man was now across the stone from you and in the water as well, but you could only wrack your brain for escape plans or a way to beat this creature if things came down to it. However, it seemed that perhaps those ideas were unnecessary, because he scratched your chin gently as he cooed, “Oh, what would I do without you and the twins, my treasure? You, so helpful and supportive.”

Twins…? As in, the twin pet eels belonging to the sea witch? So this was really like the story? This was your punishment? Then that meant the theory your friends whispered about was true. Criminals would be banished to a fairytale. It was a ridiculous theory, something you adamantly refused to believe. Especially because some people would fantasize about going on mystical adventures or having a lovely romance with heroes and royalty. But how could you continue to refuse to believe when you were literally face-to-face with an octopus man? What did that make you then? If you remembered the stories right, the only others that the sea witch were close to was her pet eels and no one else. So how did you fit into this role? Let’s see, in the end, the protagonist won, that was without a shadow of a doubt. But the antagonists… the eels were accidentally obliterated by their owner when she went mad with new power, and the human prince with the mermaid princess plunged the sharpened bow of a ship straight through the sea witch. You shuddered at the mere thought of meeting a similar fate. You needed to get out of this somehow…

As the man in the role of the sea witch continued to scratch your chin affectionately, you were soothed a bit by the touch… That is, until his smooth charming voice became a shout,

“Those flimsy fishfolk will continue to celebrate in a few days time, but we’ll give them something to really celebrate soon enough… Floyd! Jade!”

You jolted back at his sudden increase in volume as he pulled his hand away and turned his attention to the magical orb still showcasing the swimming merman. You heard a hiss of pain and some mumbling from the orb, but it wasn’t coming from the red-haired merman.

“Keep an eye on that pretty little prince. He may be the key to the king's undoing."

You heard two different responses: an of course, Azul and a sure thing, Azul, both responses happening simultaneously. So the octopus man's name was Azul…

As soon as the orb flickered out, you climbed back onto the single stone and observed as a twisted sort of expression took hold on Azul's face. The type of expression that meant someone was plotting something terrible but the mere thought of it pleased them.

For a moment, you considered, didn't you know how the story would play out? Didn't that give you an advantage? This could be your ticket out. Without a second thought, you hopped back to the larger flat stone surface as you declared, "I had a dream."

In the midst of his pondering and scheming, Azul waved you off without so much as a second glance. "That's nice. No wonder you were lazing around all morning. Now, I have work to—"

"I saw you in it. And the prince with the king." You blurted out, which instantly stopped him from descending down into the murky depths. But he didn't yet look at you quite yet.

Entertaining the conversation, he hummed, "And, pray tell, what was this dream about?"

You hesitated. How should you word this without getting caught? You knew that if this Azul was anything like the sea witch, then he would be crafty and cunning. "I think… It was about the future."

Now that caught his attention. He finally turned around, raising an eyebrow with an intrigued smile, "Tell me more, won't you?"

"I will… but on one condition." You lowered yourself to kneel on the flat surface, using the cloth hanging around you as a cushion for your knees. When he swam closer and was peering up at you, you continued, "I'd like you to let me go." Living in a cave for the rest of your life, didn't exactly sound like a dream. Besides, you had much higher standards than these rags you currently wore and the old furniture behind the waterfall.

At your words, Azul appeared surprised before he laughed, "Let you go? Have you forgotten that you're my property? Remember, you signed the contract. In exchange for a chance to save your drowning loved ones, you sold your entire being to me, mind, body, and soul. So the knowledge in your mind, even in your dreams, belongs to me."

Yikes. For a moment, you forgot he was supposed to be the bad guy because of how pretty he was. But his multiple tentacles were a slap in the face, a reminder that he was not human. But at least you know now that whomever you replaced supposedly made a deal with the octopus to save others. But that knowledge did little to help.

From out of thin air, a golden contract appeared which he took in one tentacle to skim over. "According to our deal, your servitude to me is due to expire in exactly one year. However, since I do care so much for my treasure…" Well that's the fattest lie you ever heard. "I'm willing to hear your complaints and should you be persuasive enough, I may just change the contents of the contract."

Well, starting with the obvious. "I don't want to stay here in the cave."

"I allow you to roam and give you the freedom that comes with your job of spying on the humans for me." He responded quickly, efficiently. "Besides, don't I take such good care of you?"

That didn't work… Next, "I have high standards, you know. I want to live better than this."

"And you will receive your just reward if you stay with me. You'll get to live fabulously once I've regained all the wealth that was stolen from me!"

Ugh. Damn it. It seemed like he had an answer prepared for everything. You really didn't want it to come to this but you had no choice if you wanted to leave. "I can help you get the king's triton, then everything in the ocean will belong to you."

"I already planned on doing that." He grinned. God, that stupid confident smirk was getting on your nerves.

But! You had one more ace up your sleeve. Slowly you shrugged, eyeing the relaxed and amused octopus man, "You're right. I should've known you would’ve gotten that covered. Imagine that: ruling all the oceans and being all powerful… in the water. But what about the land? Sure, you may have the power to bring tsunamis and hurricanes, but waves and storms can only get so far inland. Will the ocean be enough for you?"

Instantly responding to your words, you could see his smile flatten as the cogs turned in his head. Apparently, just the water was not enough for him.

"Let's say… a kingdom on land is a good place to start." This was risky, but you really had no choice. If you could somehow manage to trick both the merman prince and human princess, Azul could use the merman prince as a hostage in exchange for the king's triton and he could take the land kingdom from the human princess. How would you do it? You had no idea. It was a work in progress, but it had to be done. When Azul finally gazed up at you with a contemplative expression, you added, "If I help you with this, with getting the king's triton and the nearby land kingdom, I want my freedom in exchange." You already knew how the sea witch operated. There had to be a catch, in case you fail. "If I fail… you can extend my contract."

Quickly he switched from contemplative to talkative, lamenting his worries, “Ah, but you’re priceless to me! As my only eyes and ears on land, how could I let you go? Yes, your proposition sounds attractive, but let’s reconsider this, shall we?”

Damn it! He still wanted more. What a greedy bastard… You wracked your brain for an answer, deliberating on what else you could possibly give in exchange to walk free. That’s when you had it. If you might be able to take the merman prince hostage for the triton, couldn’t you also utilize the human princess in more ways than just for her kingdom? Brightening up, you began, “How about a royal human to do your bidding? How’s that sound?”

Instantly his eyes widened and he couldn’t help but laugh incredulously as he leaned his head against his hand with his elbow propped up against the stone. “A royal? Serving me? Tempting. You drive a hard bargain, my dear diviner. You have a plan in that wonderful little mind of yours, don’t you? Okay, before we change the conditions of this contract, let me hear this plan of yours. Then, I’ll decide.”

You summarized your plan without divulging any bits of the future, not too worried about Azul turning on you because a pair of legs and a trusty ally were required for this plot to work. After describing the details and events that would need to happen as vaguely as possible, you sat upright and watched as he reflected on the proposal. Steadily his contemplative expression shifted, his lips curling into a grin as either something must’ve dawned on him or he came to his conclusion. “Hah, how can I say no to you, my dear? Very well. Because you’ve served me well all these years, I’ll grant you this wish.” Call you crazy, but he actually seemed the tiniest bit sincere when he said that part… In one tentacle, he summoned a quill but of fish bones, which he used to write on the golden contract in neat cursive penmanship. “In order to gain your freedom, you will have to seduce the pretty red prince so he will enter a contract with me to be with you, which will allow me to use him to gain the king’s triton. Then, you must also earn the trust of the human princess and lure her far enough out into sea so that I can take control over her land kingdom, and then she will be the royal that will take your place.”

That sounded good to you. Once you gained your freedom, you’d find a way to get far far away from the water. You’d take enough riches and belongings from the land kingdom’s palace to support yourself and live in splendor. Then, you’d go live a fabulous life somewhere miles and miles away from the ocean. Where this greedy sea sorcerer couldn’t ever reach you, even if he wanted to try and use you as a tool again. It was an ambitious plan, but you’d make it work. Afterall, you didn’t want to try and stick around long enough afterwards to see if the villains would die anyway even after a plot change.

After making the adjustments to the golden contract, one tentacle held it up for you to read and another held up the writing utensil. Azul continued to linger in the water, the rest of his octopus appendages under the surface while his arms were casually folded over each other and resting on the flat rocky surface. When you looked down at him, he flashed a smile and hummed, “This will be a beneficial transaction for both of us, won’t it? Doesn’t it remind you of when we met? You, stuck in the middle of the ocean from a shipwreck, begging me to help. And I, the saint-like man that I am, extended a helping hand to you where you signed the contract that would bind you to me for years. But it hasn’t been a miserable type of existence, has it? The twins should be thanked as well. They’re the reason I even considered accepting your plea, since they had enjoyed your company for years.”

Well, considering how neat and well-decorated the room behind the waterfall was, perhaps this mysterious character you’ve replaced was content here. But you weren’t. You only hummed in response, acknowledging his words as your eyes went over the lines of the contract.

At the very top, read: I hereby grant unto Azul, the Sorcerer of the Sea… one soul, in exchange for… The text went on in detail, describing how in exchange for the original character’s soul, they were granted the power of enhanced breath, giving them more time under water. It must’ve been written in haste, because the signature was sloppy and only read V. Div. Wonder what that meant. It was a temporary deal. Now, there was more written, more added on, to create the current deal you were about to make. It detailed the requirements you would need to meet in order to gain your freedom or increase your sentence as property of the sea sorcerer. There was another line, empty, for you to sign. Snatching up the utensil from his outstretched tentacle, you ignored his growing smirk as you hastily signed: V. Div.

“It’s done then!” Azul cheered, smiling smugly as he snapped his fingers which caused both the writing utensil and contract to disappear.

You’d need to get to work quickly. According to the story, on the same day the sea witch is watching the mermaid princess was not only a day of celebration for the merfolk but also that very night was when she first saw and saved the human prince. Yet, a few minutes ago, Azul had said that the celebration was in a few days time. Which meant, you only had a few days to meet the sea prince and capture his attention. “I want to start work on the plan. Now. Do you think you can get the… twins to change the prince’s course? If they can drive him towards the shore, I might be able to catch his attention.”

“I see…” Imagining the scene that would play out, Azul chuckled and swam a few feet back. “I’m sure you can make an arrangement with Floyd and Jade. After all, they do adore you.”

So that was what they were called here. Floyd and Jade. You’d have to be careful not to mix them up, or they might suspect something would be wrong. What you didn’t expect to see was a flash of teal appear in the water. By the time you turned your head to it, it was already gone. Quickly you scanned the waters, growing a little nervous despite the fact that Azul seemed unbothered as he disappeared underneath the same murky depths the movement was coming from. When you carefully leaned your head closer to the water, you could barely make out the shape of more items below like a mirror, shelves of coral filled with glass bottles of mysterious substances, and openings that must’ve led to an underwater cave system. So Azul likely lived down there with the twins.

When you noticed a slow rippling water effect, you quickly looked up to see teal-colored hair with a pale, a very light shade of cyan, face. But it wasn’t a regular eel like you were expecting, it was half human. Just like Azul, but eel instead of octopus. He poked the top of his head out of the water so only his upturned eyes were visible. On his head, you noticed some strands of black had stuck to each other hung on the right side of his face. His eyes were particularly odd, the left was an olive-color and the right one was a sort of enchanting yellow. Several feet behind him, you could make out bits of what must’ve been his lengthy tail emerge from the water. His gaze focused on you intently, and he appeared to smile with his eyes. You assumed he was smiling, because you couldn’t tell since the rest of his face was hidden by the surface of the water.

Wait a minute… if he had a twin, wasn’t there supposed to be two?

When you looked down at the end of the water you were leaning over, you screamed just as that hidden second eel came swimming toward you at terrifying speed from right below you. Without so much as a warning, you were pulled into the water. Fearful of meeting your watery grave here, you fought in his grasp, which did practically nothing against his strong grip and large slippery tail that coiled around your legs to stop your squirming. You hesitantly, confusedly, stopped your flailing when this second eel let out a joyfully yet somewhat mocking laugh as he held your face above the water.

You barely had time to catch your breath from that mini heart attack, when you finally looked up at this guy. This eel did look extremely similar to the first, but there were a few key differences. This one had downturned eyes, the black strands were on the left, and his left eye was yellow while his right was olive. Yet some things they both had in common were their sharp nails on their webbed hands and their even sharper teeth.

“You let your guard down! Had it been anyone else, someone you couldn’t trust, I could’ve easily drowned you, you know? When will you learn? Humans just aren’t built for water. You got the whole legs thing going on. Look at me! I have feet! You should just let Azul turn you like us, right, Jade?” He mocked what you were guessing was his attempt at a human. It wasn’t a very good one.

You hadn’t even noticed that the first eel was already at your side as well, now both twins were right beside you and you were currently in the water. In the water you were practically at the mercy of these two. The first eel, who was called Jade, spoke more eloquently but you didn’t like his sly curved toothy grin. “It would be fascinating to see their legs twist and morph into a tail or other appendages of some sort, but that is ultimately not up for us to decide, Floyd. If our dear friend doesn’t wish to change and Azul wants to keep them human so they can continue to spy on land, then they will stay human. Although I would’ve enjoyed watching the excruciating transformation process.” You didn’t like the way he said that with a smile…

The other eel, who had been called Floyd, appeared irritated and was ready to say something when his twin pointed to something in his hand. To which immediately he attitude went from sour back to happy in a single instant. Talk about mood swings. Floyd’s deep frown quickly shifted as he held up a sizable clam. “We got you something!”

You didn’t have to worry about drowning… for now. You didn’t even have to waste energy kicking your feet continuously to keep you afloat, because the twins had positioned their tails as support for you to lean on. Now that they had actually let go of you, you didn’t think you were going to die right this second. Especially since one just offered a gift, and Azul would’ve probably interjected to save you, right? Right…? Nervously you smiled, about to accept the clam, “Thank yo––”

CRACK!

In the middle of your sentence, Jade placed a cold hand on your shoulder as Floyd took the clam in both hands and cracked it in half. You were stunned as he discarded one half and presented the other half to you with a proud grin. “There ya go!”

“Ha… Thanks…” You awkwardly accepted the half of the clam that was left. It didn’t fully register in your mind what this gift really was until you had it in your hands and looked down at it. In the half, were pearls. Lots of shining dark pearls that matched your robes. Beautiful pearls, the rare type, that could easily go for over a thousand for a single piece. At least, that was the common price back home. When realization dawned on you, you clutched the pearls close, eyes shining as you looked up at the twins with the brightest smile, “Thank you! Thank you! They’re beautiful!”

Both extremely pleased, Floyd giggled as Jade proceeded to reach for the pearls and spoke, “Allow me.” When you handed them over, he attached two of the orbs to small metal pieces that connected around your earlobe like earrings, and the rest he placed on a black string connected to tiny nets that held the rest of the pearls around your wrist like a bracelet. “They fit you quite nicely, if I do say so myself.”

Floyd flashed a grin, musing aloud, “Hm, what do you think they have for us in return, Jade?”

Your elated smile fell flat as you processed their words. They wanted… something in return?

“That’s a good question, Floyd. I can’t help but wonder as well.” Jade hummed as he pulled away.

Stupid! You’re so stupid! You shouldn’t have accepted those gifts! Judging by their toothy grins, they now expected a gift in return. It wasn’t fair! They gave you one gift, but you’d have to work to get them two gifts, one for each twin! What could you possibly gift something that can be appreciated by two eel-men, eels that you had next to no knowledge about? Wait… the land! They probably might be curious about land objects! Your frown shifted to a confident smug sort of smile as you gestured them closer. “I have an idea. If you guys can take me to the shore and somehow force that red-haired prince to come close enough to see me, I’ll make sure to give you both amazing gifts from the land! How does that sound? You can, well, I don’t care how you do it. You can scare that prince and chase him to your heart's content, for all I care! So, will you help me? Pretty please?”

You watched as the two eels exchanged looks. Their eyes glimmered with mirth and bubbling excitement, seemingly conveying something through their gaze. Must’ve been some weird twin telepathy or something, but you knew you had them hooked when toothy grins spread on their lips.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

You had been on the surface for a few hours now. Again, without warning, the two eels had dragged you under the surface, rapidly through the underwater tunnels that took a quick minute to navigate. When you reemerged on the other side, coughing out sea water, you cursed the twins. You were certain, had it been anyone else and without the gift of enhanced breath to hold in air longer thanks to the contract, you would’ve probably drowned during the short swim. And you know now for a solid fact, that Floyd and Jade enjoyed tormenting you so. You were tempted to just forget about the gifts in return entirely due to their stunt, but the thought of them being upset and doing something worse refrained you from doing so. Which is why you went a little further inland to gather random things and carry them in the satchel you brought, but when you came back what you didn’t expect to find was a merman. And not just any merman, one with bright red hair and a green tail.

You nearly dropped all your things when you saw him on a large rock out in the water, trapped within a net and seemingly unconscious. Oh my god, had they kidnapped him? The first thing that popped up in your mind is that they jumped him, but you’re really hoping that this was not the case. Leaving your stuff on the sandy beach, you quickly moved forward to wade through the water until you had climbed the rock his motionless body laid on. As swiftly as you could, you cut the net with a broken shard of glass, careful not to hurt the prince.

“Come on, come on…! You can’t stay here too long, someone will see you.” You hissed under your breath. He couldn’t die, not yet. Not when you needed him alive in order to win your freedom. A dead prince wouldn’t be much leverage against the king of the sea. You had no idea what the twins did to him. Thankfully, he didn’t appear hurt, but you hardly knew enough about sea-creature anatomy to be considered an expert, so you couldn’t be sure.

Pulling the net off of him and discarding it on the rock, you heaved it further up so he wouldn’t get trapped in it, before returning your sights to the merman. When you returned to his side, you knelt down to his level, removing the tiny cut pieces of net from him. As your gaze traveled up, you froze when you saw his eyes were open and gazing right at you.

He was frozen, but not in fear. On his handsome face was a sort of expression of wonder. His eyes were blue, as blue as the vast ocean, and they never looked away from you. Still defying the laws of logic, his captivating red hair was practically dry, soft and wavy as it curled down the side of his face and to his lower neck. You ignored the slow movement of his beautiful emerald green tail, trying really hard to not stare at the sparkling scales that shined in the sunlight. What people would pay for a real merman tail, especially one so stunning…

It was time to turn on the act. Slowly reaching forward, you placed a hand on his cheek and frowned in worry as you murmured softly, “Are you alright?”

His mouth opened, but no words came out. He gaped like a fish, slowly blinking, as if he truly didn’t believe his own eyes. When he steadily lifted his own hand to place atop yours that rested on his cheek, his tail began to move a little faster. Then, with no warning, he jumped back into the water.

You sat there, surprised, as bits of the water splashed onto you. “Um… okay. You’re welcome?”

As you stood up, gathering up the net and thinking about different ways you could use it, you felt as if you were being watched. When you looked behind you, you could see the sea prince shyly peeking at you from behind the rock. Just as you tore your gaze away from him, you heard his melodious voice,

“Thank you, for… for freeing me.” He had gained the courage to distance himself from his hiding place, having enough bravery to swim closer until his hands were against the large rock you stood on and he wasn’t hiding his face in the water anymore. The prince watched curiously as you bundled up the remains of the net. It seems he really was a curious one, because he couldn’t help but lean forward and ask, “What are you going to do with that?”

Surprised by his sudden interest, you shrugged. You had to answer, keep him intrigued. You’re hoping your theory was true: that he would fall in love with any human so long as they were interesting or good looking enough, since he must’ve never even seen one so close before. “I’ll probably use it to hold stuff, maybe as decoration.”

He looked astonished as he exclaimed, “I never thought of using nets like that! I should try that for my collection… Oh! I’m Rielle! What’s your name?”

When you hesitated to respond, he appeared nervous, as if beginning to regret telling you his name. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked? But that wasn’t the reason for your hesitance. The reason was because you were debating on whether you should use your name or not. Maybe an alias was better? You thought back to how Azul called you his diviner, and the signature under the contract was V. Div. After a moment, you finally swung the net over your shoulder and replied, “People just call me Diviner, or V. Take your pick.”

“Those are wonderful names! I think I’ll call you both of them!” Rielle responded cheerfully, floating beside you as you wade through the water. He must’ve remembered something, because his joy morphed into nervousness as he looked over his shoulder. “I, uh–– I have to go…! But… can I see you again? Please, Diviner? I’d like to get to know my savior! I know it’s a lot to ask, but I really want to see you again!”

Perfect. You had him, his cheeks painted with that pink hue was evidence enough. When you reached the shore, right at the edge where the waves brushed against your feet, you turned to him, watching as he lay at the very edge of the water, looking anxious as he awaited an answer. You smiled, nodding, “Of course, Rielle. I’d love to see you again!”

The prince broke out into the brightest grin as he threw his arms around your torso, almost dragging you into the water in the process as you had to kneel or he would topple you. The young royal was beaming. When you were on your knees and at his level, he held your arms as he explained, “I can’t wait! Let’s meet tomorrow, right here, at the same time! But you have to promise me, you won’t tell anyone about me.”

“I promise, you have my word. We’ll meet tomorrow. Here.” From your satchel on the sand, you retrieved a hairclip you had found on your scavenging adventure. It was old and rusted, but it was still pretty. When you reached forward, he didn’t move as you used it to decorate his hair. “Just to make sure, I’m giving this to you. So I’m depending on you to take care of it, and have it next time we meet.”

That always works, and it did this time too. Especially since you knew he collected and obsessed over human artifacts and objects. Rielle felt his own locks, and his cheeks turned as red as his hair. “I love it! I adore it so much! I’m never taking it off! I have to go now but… I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?!”

“Okay.” You chuckled at his energy, waving as he began to swim back into the depths of the ocean.

When he was a few feet out, he looked back at you with bright eyes and a wide smile, waving frantically as he called out, “Bye, V! I’ll see you tomorrow, I promise!” With a dive and a glimpse of his tail, he was gone, just like that.

You lowered your hand, sighing. At least that was over. You got him in your grasps now, all that was left was the princess. And if your theory was right just like last time, capturing the human royal’s attention would be even easier. Did all fairytale royals fall in love so easily, or was it just them? You never quite understood the attraction behind each of them.

“Bravo! Well done! I must say, your sweet tone and kind actions directed towards Prince Rielle nearly made me jealous! Your plan went well accordingly, I must congratulate you on a good show! Rielle really is quite… gullible and pathetic, isn’t he?” A voice from your golden shell necklace appeared to speak, like some sort of transmitter.

“Azul?” He saw that, which could only mean… You suspiciously scanned the waters, approaching slowly, until you spotted that familiar teal amidst the waves. You frowned at the two lurking about, and when you were close enough, able to feel the water but still far enough to run back to the safety of the land, you demanded, “What did you do to that poor guy? Do you know how worried I was? I thought I was gonna have to perform CPR on him and then I remembered that probably wouldn’t even work on a fish!” The two, amused by your words, laughed in response.

Floyd giggled, speaking in that shrill tone that could only mean he was in a good mood. “You’re so funny! But why’s it matter what we did? He’s alive, isn’t he? And you said to do whatever we want!”

“That’s true. You did say to do as we pleased. We merely did as we were told. Shouldn’t we be praised?” Jade hummed while eyeing the satchel at your side. “I wonder, did you carry out your half of the bargain?”

“For your information, I did. Go crazy–– Actually, I take that back. I said that last time and look what happened.” You tossed the twins the satchel of goods and treasures you collected, filled with random plants and other useless human items they might take an interest in. As the two rushed to claim their spoils, you gripped the golden shell around your neck while murmuring to the sea sorcerer, “I’m going to keep coming out here to meet with Prince Rielle, gain his trust and affection. In a few days, I’ll be going for the princess next. And I know exactly how I’m going to go about doing it.”

From the shell you heard an intrigued hum. “Oh? Do tell, my dear diviner.”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

“Child’s play! This is mere child’s play! Even easier than winning a game of chess! It’s too easy!” Azul sang, seemingly in a very good mood ever since you returned to the cavern after successfully seducing the youngest prince of the sea. He had such a wild look on his normally calm and composed face, acting as if he’s already won with that cocky grin and laugh. When he looked at you, he smiled, a true one. Not one of those kinds he forged to coax you into doing something for him. This one was a happy sort of grateful one. “My treasure, you truly are irreplaceable. Even a royal human couldn’t possibly do what you do. I’m beginning to have second thoughts!”

You narrowed your eyes at the octopus man just lounging right past the waterfall. “Watch it. We had a deal.” You warned.

“I jest! Of course…” Before you could notice his strained smile, he switched the subject back to the matter at hand. “Picture it, my diviner. Darling prince, son of king triton, leader of the merfolk, falls hopelessly head-over-heels for human! It would send ripples throughout the entire ocean!”

“Maybe you should’ve opened a news company or something with juicy headlines like those.” You scoffed as you rummaged and organized the belongings of this room that previously belonged to the true diviner before you. You wonder what happened to them?

At your response, Azul laughed. Surprisingly, not another fake one that he used to make clients think they were funny whenever they said a horrible joke. And it wasn’t a concerning slightly maniacal type of laugh like from moments ago. “Perhaps I should, it could be profitable.”

You reemerged from behind the waterfall, walking carefully on the stones as the sorcerer perked up at your presence. “Nice. Glad I can give you an idea with that. Focus on the news later, please. For now, remember––”

“Prince Rielle will enter a nasty spat with his father and so, in his moment of great need, Floyd and Jade will appear to offer him a suggestion. That’s when he’ll come crying to me, begging for a way to be with you! Then, I offer him a deal he cannot resist, one that grants me power over him. That’s the gist of it, isn’t it?” He recited, looking over at you for confirmation. When you nodded, he continued to smile, but he eyed you a little strangely. “I find it a little odd how you know so much. Are you certain?”

Staring right back at him, you locked eyes, attempting to keep your cool and remain confident. If he saw you crack, he’d know something was up. “I told you, it was a dream. So far my dream was right, I say we keep going with it.”

“Yes, yes, whatever, we’ll continue with our chartered course. And by the way, I don’t believe you when you say the prince fell for you just because you’re a human that saved him.”

At his offhand comment, you raised an eyebrow, sitting yourself on the ledge by the water, closer to him to better engage in conversation. Placing aside the belongings for now, you demanded, “What do you mean? Of course that’s why he fell! Why else would he care?”

Upon hearing your confident response, he chuckled, shaking his head as he continued to scribble lines upon lines on his scrolls. “I’ve watched the princes for years, Rielle just happened to be the weakest of all the young royals. Of course you being human, the object of his fascination, and saving him, a hero in his eyes, helped, but that isn’t all. I’ve learned about the prince inside and out to fool him, and he tends to think that most only want him for his voice and for his status. Yet you know nothing of his status, and said nothing of his voice, plus you didn’t frown at his interest in human objects. That must’ve been a first for him.”

Considering his words, it made sense. In a way the reasons behind the prince’s affection made you feel a tad guilty, but it wasn’t enough to deter you from the end goal. Maybe if Azul was feeling merciful, he would spare him. Whatever the case, you wanted your freedom and still aimed to live a life of luxury later on. But slowly you shook your head, “It doesn’t matter. The point is, he’s in love and I have him where I want him.”

“How cruel.” He purred. “I believe I’ve thought up a fine fate for Prince Rielle… I think the sea king’s headstrong, lovesick son will make a fine addition to my garden.”

Right, his garden. Really, it was more like a sick twisted bed of weeds and unfortunate souls. As those words left his lips, you scrunched up your nose in disgust and leaned over the edge of the water to peer at the depths below. It was dark, so you couldn’t see it, but you knew it was down there somewhere in the underwater portion of the cavern. Based on what the three sea creatures had mentioned about it, you knew it was a portion of space where Azul kept those clients that failed to fulfill their contracts, which was essentially all those that ever made a deal with him. His victims, countless merfolk turned to ugly little polyps, forced to spend eternity as miserable little creatures trapped within the garden. What a horrible fate.

Glaring at the murky waters where Azul kept his secrets and deeds hidden from your prying eyes, you scorned, “You’re terrible.”

“Oh, how you wound me!” Azul cried dramatically as he held his hands to his heart… hearts? Didn’t an octopus have multiple hearts? Did that mean Azul has more than one heart? Weird…

As you silently wondered about the heart thing, you stepped away from the water. You didn’t ever want to get on his bad side and get turned into a polyp. Yet, you couldn’t help but wonder, the whole reason you were here was because the one before you failed to uphold their end of the deal, whatever it was. “Why didn’t you put me down there? Down in your garden?”

For a moment, Azul was quiet, which unnerved you. Why didn’t he answer immediately? He lowered a scroll he was reading over, and from the corner of his eyes he glanced at you. His smile now was… different. When one of his smooth but slippery and soft tentacles extended up and curled around your arm, you couldn’t move. Despite how Azul looked, he was much more capable physically. You had watched him juggle multiple tasks with ease by using his many appendages, and he had more than enough power to defend himself from unruly clients. The purple underside of his tentacle stuck uncomfortably to your flesh, preventing you from going anywhere. “Air-breathing little flora won’t exactly last under the salty waves and away from the sunlight. Besides…” The sea sorcerer smirked at you, “I like you as you are, you’re morethan just useful to me.”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

A few weeks passed, and you continued with that vision of freedom within reach. You spent your hours busy, chatting with Azul and listening in as he lured in clients and trapped them, taking everything they had; entertaining the unsettling twins and listening to their reports and stories as they angered Azul by taking you out of the cavern to have fun in the hidden cove; meeting with Rielle, continuing to gain his affection and earn his love by talking about his stifling life as the son of the sea king and teaching him about the human things he adores. And finally, plotting. Plotting your meeting with the human princess.

The plan was simple enough. In the story, the human prince was saved by the mermaid princess after a storm hit his ship and caused it to sink. The mermaid returned the prince to the land, where he eventually regained consciousness. In his dazed state, he heard the mermaid singing and could just barely make out her face before she disappeared. From that moment forth, he becomes determined to find the woman who saved him, and is convinced that she’s the one meant for him.

Simple enough. All you had to do was insert yourself into the role of savior once again. Jade was tasked with making sure Prince Rielle didn’t see or approach the humans and the ship, while Floyd went with you to… speed up the process. You’ve learned that both twins were destructive, but Jade liked to appear polite and restrained at times, while Floyd was much more willing to wreak havoc with zero reservations. Besides, yes you had enhanced breathing but you couldn’t swim that far out that fast, which is why you required the presence of one of the twins because they were incredibly quick and strong swimmers.

It would actually be Floyd helping you do most of the saving, you were just the pretty face to keep the princess captivated. Which he was totally fine with, because he didn’t have the patience nor the charm to act all lovey-dovey. If it were entirely up to him, he’d toss the princess on the shore and call it a day without even checking if she was actually still alive. Luckily, it’s not up to him. It’s up to you.

You watched the explosions of light and colors, fireworks being fired into the sky off the sailing ship. It was a familiar sight to you, but for a creature of the sea like Floyd, it was not so much. Clinging to his back as he swam along, you noticed he quickened his speed as his eyes were captivated by the light show. “Wow, it’s so bright! I wanna touch it. Hey, hey, you’re human so you know human stuff. What’re those?”

You chuckled at his child-like wonder, shaking your head. “Fireworks, they’re just lights used for celebrations. I don’t think it’s possible to touch them, and even if you could, you might get burned.”

A frown formed on his lips as he complained, “Whaaat? That’s stupid! I wanna catch some fireworks in a jar and take it home to show Jade. Then whenever I shake the jar, it’ll go boom! Making more of those explosions noises and flashing colors!”

Fireworks in a jar under the sea. Huh, that would actually be sorta cool. As Floyd approached the hull of the ship, you released your grip on the eel and grabbed part of the wooden hull. Quietly, you gazed down at him in the water and replied, “Tell you what, I’ll see what Azul and I can do about that for you if this mission ends on a good note. That sound fair?”

“Yeah! Yeah! I––”

“Shh!” Quickly you shushed him, watching as he lowered the rest of his face in the water. But from the sparkle in his eyes, it was obvious he must’ve been hiding a grin. The chattering and voices of those on board with the sound of the waves were loud enough to drown out most noises, but you couldn’t risk anything. “Let’s keep it down, okay? Or they might hear us.”

Floyd continuously gazed up at you, before murmuring, “Hey, when the ship goes down and you’re lookin’ for the princess, can I take one of the drowning sailors?”

For that you had to pause and stare at him, not believing what you heard for a moment. Actually, scratch that, you believed it. That was one of the twins you were talking about. The eel continued to peer up at you with impatience, as if itching to just start the chaos already. When he lifted his head and his mouth was no longer concealed by the water, you saw you were right. Big toothy grin. You sighed, “Fine. One sailor, but do it quickly and quietly, then you find me. Okay?” Better some random sailor be drowned or torn apart by the eel instead of you.

“Okay~! Thank you! You’re the best!” He sang with the brightest beaming smile. To think such a desire for a morbid reason could make him so happy… but you were not going to divulge further into the topic. You didn’t know what kind of fun Floyd wanted to have by tormenting some poor person. But enough of that, you had bigger fish to fry.

For now, you focused on climbing until you peeked past a sizable opening in the side right by where the floor would be. As you peered in, you could hear instruments like a flute and accordion, in rhythm was dancing steps. The candles on board the ship provided plenty of lights, stretching out the shadows across the board. It looked like some nice fun, as everyone appeared to be having a grand old time. There was even a barking dog bouncing around. Right–– you remembered that one, that big dog happened to belong to the princess.

“Max! Come here!” A voice called, whistling and calling the energetic dog toward them.

Target spotted. Off to the side, a little bit away from the dancing crowd, was the very princess you had been searching for. She was pretty, with long hair as black as the night and icy blue eyes. Although, she didn’t dress exactly as you imagined, not really resembling the pictures of princesses of old in your textbooks from school. The princess dressed like a commoner or even a simple sailor, with a loose white blouse, a red sash tied around her hip, and a long but simple skirt that ended just a few inches above her ankles. Yes, she was definitely pretty, but you still didn’t quite get what should’ve originally been Rielle falling in love at first sight with her. Maybe you’d never get it, and it was probably for the best.

“Whatchu’ lookin’ at?”

You gasped at the sudden voice beside you, shocked to see Floyd was so close that he was shoulder-to-shoulder with you. He had somehow climbed the hull when you weren’t looking, and now was curiously peering inside too. When you looked back down, you could see his lengthy tail hanging down the side. When you looked back at him, he was eyeing the humans on board with a mix of confusion and boredom. “Floyd! What are you doing here? What happened to the whole sailor thing?”

“Ehhh, I’ll look for ‘em later.” He shrugged, suddenly losing interest. Maybe that was for the best too. You didn’t need possibly more blood on your hands. Floyd continued to watch the dancing people, resting his cheek flat on the edge where you were both hidden by the shadows and behind barrels and other supplies. “Which one is the princess? I can’t tell. They all look the same to me.”

Hesitantly you used your head to gesture to the woman playing a flute and dancing around with the dog. “Her.” As soon as he honed in on her, you scolded him lightly, “And don’t even think about trying to jump her like you and your brother did to Rielle.”

A fit of giggling came out of him as he lifted his head and glanced at you, “Aw, why not? Why can’t she be the sailor I choose to go after?”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

Those razor sharp claws on his webbed hands appeared extra shiny today. They dug into the wooden edge where you both were peering over, carving little splinters of wood off as he hummed, “Hm, I dunno… Maybe I should dare. It would make you stay.”

There was no sign of him relenting, and it was beginning to make you nervous. If Floyd wasn’t willing to help you by the time the storm hit, then you could kiss your freedom goodbye. It almost made you lose your composure, but somehow you managed to stay cool and continue with a soft smile, “What would Azul say if he found out the plan failed because you were feeling possessive?”

Rolling his eyes, he laughed before it turned to whining, like an angry tantrum, “I don’t care what Azul says! I think the contract was stupid anyways. It’s not fair that he gets to decide your fate just because he wants some lame old artifact triton! It’s not fair! No fair at all!” Before he could bang his fists against the hull in frustration, he grabbed onto you, and you felt his weight dragging you down. He was literally trying to pull you back into the water. You couldn’t call for help because the humans would see you and everything would go astray, so you could only desperately hold onto the side until you were yanked down into the sea.

The cold water hit you, sending such a shock through your system, but you weren’t drowning. With your head above the water, you turned to Floyd who kept close. What unnerved you was that he no longer had a dopey smile on his face. “What are you doing…?! You’re going to ruin everything!”

That didn’t seem to weigh too heavily on his mind, because he only scoffed and his frown deepened. “Who cares about some stupid sailors and humans anyways?”

For a moment, you wished you had Azul’s strength so you could defend yourself here. Because you knew, Floyd was much stronger, and the only reason he wasn’t dragging you back like a ragdoll was because he respected you or liked you… somewhat. In his own weird Floyd-way. “I’m human, Floyd.”

“Yeah, maybe, but you're not stupid. Or boring.”

In the distance you could hear thunder rumbling. Oh no. The storm was coming, and if you didn’t change Floyd’s mind, he wouldn’t help you at all. In fact, he might try to get in your way. The waves were starting to become rough and wild, but the eel diligently kept you above the surface at all times no matter how savage the sea became or how the rain began to feel like needles pricking your skin or even how harsh the wind hit you. “I don’t want to live in that cave my whole life! Imagine if you had to live there, and the only way out was to ask someone else to take you or let you out. Wouldn’t you hate that?”

By now he had to shout to be heard over the howling wind, and he didn’t seem convinced. “Hmmm… yeah, but it’s not me. It’s you. Besides, I like you living right there with us.”

When lighting struck the white sails of the ship, setting the sheets ablaze, you knew time was ticking by. Yet you couldn’t snap, because that would only cause Floyd to snap too. You had to stay calm and think, quickly think of a way to convince him to help you. “Azul probably doesn’t want me to leave either, he’ll probably have some plan in mind to trick me at the last minute. Besides, I know you and Jade probably won’t let me leave anyways, even if I really wanted to. But think about it Floyd, if Azul gets that old triton and the land kingdom, he’ll have everything! Even stuff like those fireworks.”

That seemed to have a bit of an effect. You could only watch the ship, half ablaze, crash into jutted rocks, causing many on board to jump and abandon ship. Meanwhile, Floyd was still considering your words. Until what felt like an eternity later, he gazed down at you and spoke. “I wanna see more fireworks with you.”

“What?”

“Is your hearing going or something?” Annoyed, he repeated it louder this time, “I want to see the fireworks with you.”

Finally he was relenting. Hurriedly you agreed, growing more desperate with every passing moment, your calm facade had already cracked long ago, “Alright, we’ll see the fireworks together! With Azul and Jade too, we’ll use enough fireworks to paint the whole sky bright! We’ll even fire some ourselves. Does that sound like a plan to you?”

You impatiently watched his irked expression shift, having to squint your eyes to see through the rain and high and low rising waves. Had it not been for him holding onto you still, you probably would’ve been swept away in the powerful currents. Then, you saw it, a smile tugging at his lips, and he began cheerfully again, “Sounds like a plan~!”

“Great! Mmph––!” With no warning, he dove under the waves, moving much quicker under the water but you could only hold your breath for so long when you didn’t even get an opportunity to prepare yourself. You felt the pressure of the water push on you, soaking you down to the bone, but you continued to hold on to the eel as he swam at an incredible speed. When you heard the muffled sound of an explosion and saw a burst of fire above the water, you knew you only had seconds left.

According to the story, moments earlier, the princess must’ve gone back on the ship to save her dog from the inferno. Her foot would become stuck in the floorboards as the dog she carried made it overboard to a rowboat. But right then, the fires would reach the stored gunpowder, triggering the explosion that would blow the ship to smithereens and knock the royal unconscious, throwing their body into the ocean below.

When you reemerged above the water with Floyd, you saw the sharp jagged rocks, the burning ship slowly sinking, the debris floating all around you, and bits of wood on fire falling down from the cloud of ash and smoke in the sky. The eel had spotted the human princess at the same time you did, and he zoomed right over to her drifting form slipping off a piece of the floorboard. As soon as you were close enough, you grabbed her, holding her tight with both arms as Floyd, not particularly interested in the princess and more intrigued by the shipwreck, held you with one arm.

“I think I want blue fireworks. Do they have blue ones?”

You can’t believe that during all this chaos and while you were still trying to save the princess, Floyd was still on about fireworks. Exasperated, but still trying so hard not to snap at him, you exclaimed with an incredulous sort of laugh, “Yes, they have every color, even blue! Can we please, for the love of god, Floyd, just get her back to shore and go home?”

Thankfully, Floyd didn’t cause any more trouble and the shore wasn’t that far away. You had found a secluded little beach, where you left Floyd in the water and dragged the girl onto the sand, away from the now calm tides. Before it was night when everything happened, but now it was the dawn of morning. You stayed beside the unconscious princess, checking for a pulse, which she still had. In the chaos, the ends of her skirt had gotten torn, she lost her shoes, but she didn’t appear to have any major injuries save for minor scratches and bruises. Slowly she breathed, a sure sign she was alive. Frankly, it was a miracle she even survived that explosion, and it was all for a dog.

Ah–– right. This was when Rielle was supposed to start singing, and the princess would slowly regain consciousness, and would see his face. That was not happening, you were not singing. You were not like that curious merman prince that had taken to happily singing to you whenever you met up with him. Slowly you placed your hand against her cheek, she was still as you quietly hummed, and after a few minutes, as the sun began to shine, she stirred.

A soft smile made its way on her pink lips as she unconsciously pressed her cheek into the palm of your hand. That’s when you noticed her eyes slowly, groggily, opened half-way, and her hand ghosted over yours. She was looking at you tiredly, she probably couldn’t see too well at the moment, but her blue eyes continued to gaze at you with growing awe. “You’re safe now, don’t worry.”

As soon as you heard barking in the distance followed by voices that were getting closer, that was your sign to go. You sprinted back to the water, diving in once deep enough and quickly being snatched up by two eels that took you somewhere hidden to spectate. You were led off to the side, in the shadows of some large boulders, out of sight, close enough to watch but far enough not to hear.

You recognized the large energetic dog that came bounding to its master, and you could guess that the person who followed and appeared quite messy was a servant of the princess that had also survived the shipwreck. The servant helped the royal up, looking incredibly relieved to see them alive. However, the princess, now more awake but still woozy, was frantically scanning the ocean’s surface and the beach around them. An amazed smile formed on her face as she stumbled forward away from the servant, saying something you couldn’t hear, but she held her hand to her heart. Still weak, the servant supported her weight and escorted her away, out of sight, with the dog following in tow.

When the humans and their pet were finally gone, you continued to stand beside the rock, glaring down at the twins. Specifically the one that’s caused you the most trouble so far. That’s when you broke your silence. “I hate you.”

“Awwwwww, I love you too!” Floyd teased, looking so very pleased with himself.

Jade glanced at the two of you, sensing something happened enough to annoy you, which made him smile. “It appears that things went swimmingly in my absence.”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

More weeks passed, you finally had a moment to relax as you allowed the prince and princess to marinate with their feelings for you. Floyd was somewhere, probably with Azul. When you got back from the mission, the two had gotten into a spat over how the mission nearly failed due to the eel’s mood swings. Which was fine, as long as it didn’t involve you, you didn’t care. You were relaxing, laying on the hammock you set up away from the water but close enough to the waterfall to hear the quiet and calming sound of the running water flowing down into the cavern.

As you lay there in peace, attempting to rest your tired eyes for a few moments. You heard movement. Jade was likely lingering about, doing whatever those eels did in their underwater portion of the cavern, but lately he’s been taking to using your half of the space for his new gardening hobby. It seems he really took a liking to the foraged items you bring, specifically the mushrooms you found. You would consider taking some from his garden and using them in a meal, but Azul warned you that for some reason, Jade liked the poisonous kind, so you were no longer keen on risking anything by going ahead with that idea of yours.

“I should make you aware, the prince came for you a few days ago.”

You stopped using your weight to swing you back and forth slowly on the hammock, only when it stopped did you peek one eye open to look at Jade tending to the various different types of mushrooms growing in the darkest dampest corner of the cavern. “What?”

“Prince Rielle came earlier than you expected. It seemed that he had his dispute with his father already destroying his collection of human artifacts, and you being absent from your usual morning chats with him made him so sick with worry that it drove him to take the drastic measures you predicted.” Jade wasn’t facing you, he was using the freshwater you gave him to carefully sprinkle over his beloved shrooms. “I must commend your odd new divination abilities, they were quite accurate, but not entirely correct. The prince did indeed trade his voice for a pair of legs which he declared he would use to walk and search for you in the land kingdom. The only thing that can save him now, is a kiss from you. So do try to avoid that. I thought it strange that Azul was not entirely… content with the deal, for whatever reason. It seems something was on his mind.”

You narrowed your eyes, focusing intently on the back of his head so he must’ve felt your stare burning holes into the back of his skull. You knew that he knew you were watching, judging by his quiet chuckle, the quick rise and fall of his shoulders from his short laugh. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Isn’t it common courtesy to compliment companions? I only wish to have a nice conversation with you, my dearest friend…” For a second he paused, he continued speaking clearly and smoothly, but everything he said in that tone he always used sounded like a lie, a trick, words meant to put you at ease and lure you into a false sense of security. Yet, you didn’t know if he was telling the truth or not, you couldn’t trust him. While his twin preferred to cause turmoil with his stubbornness that caused frustrations and wreckages, Jade preferred to go with the flow, confuse and disorientate his victims. “I only wish to help you with your dream of freedom. By the way, you needn’t worry about the prince or the princess. I made sure the tides and his friends carried Prince Rielle to shore. He happened to meet Princess Erika, and last I checked, both were searching for someone and they had joined forces to search for their true love. It seems that Princess Erika has spent the last weeks searching high and low across the land for you, while Prince Rielle has been concerned for you and plans to find you as well. Of course, neither royal knows they’re in love with the same person.”

For a second, you had to refrain from sighing. Actions spoke louder than words. Yes, you were relieved that the two hadn’t fallen in love with each other and were still focused on you, but you couldn’t let them stay together for long. If only you could actually choose both of them and live off the wealth their two kingdoms acquire, but alas, you already made a deal with Azul. Well, that aside, Jade had called you his dearest friend. Part of you didn’t know if that was just sweet talk to get you to lower your guard, or if he was being sincere. Azul had once mentioned that the twins adored you, but if this was their way of adoration, then it was weird and you didn’t want it. But, you decided to test your luck and prod with a scoff, mocking his previous words. “Dearest friend, hm?”

“Of course. However, you’ve become much more interesting these past few weeks.” Jade finally turned to glance at you with a sort of smile that you weren’t sure how to describe. His fingers ghosted over his beloved plants as he recounted, “When we were children, Floyd and I had never seen a human until you. When we lured you out to sea, you didn’t cry or scream, you were calm and amused us with your words. So, we became friends. Azul didn’t meet you until later, but he didn’t hold the same high opinion of you as my brother and I did. It was only later, when you were in your hour of need and with a kind word from us, did Azul finally take an interest in you as a tool for his business ventures. And I can’t help but notice that his disinterest in you lately has changed. It’s as if… you no longer are the same friend I once knew.”

You felt yourself go still, keeping your gaze on the few stalactites on the ceiling above, because you felt him staring at you with those mismatched eyes. Ever so slightly, his tone shifted, losing its charming feel to it.

“Should anyone I trust and call my friend choose to betray me, there is a special treatment I’ve prepared just for them. In truth, I’ve prepared several options, but I’m sure I can imagine more on the spot.” The longer he spoke, the more the growing horror slipped through your calm facade, making it crack as he went on and on with a cruel toothy grin. “The prince you fooled traded his voice away just to be with you again, so one could cut off your tongue and say you match him in muteness. On the other hand, there’s the princess you saved, I could tie you to a sinking surface as you pray she finds you before it’s too late. Ah, but then there’s your ability to breathe underwater longer, as granted by Azul. Well… in that case, I could still watch you drown as you wait with your waning breath, chained to the bottom of the seas with only fear and your thoughts swirling about as you reflect on every moment you tricked me and my brother until your lungs reach their limit and implode––”

There was no other way out, you were trapped in here with this monster. The only way out was the underwater portions of the cavern which you couldn’t reach because Jade would catch you the moment your toes touched the water. You would starve in this cavern, that is if they didn’t use some other twisted magic to bring about your demise. You would die here.

Then, his smile shifted as he noticed your visible panic and fear, before he tilted his head and chuckled, “Heh, of course, this is all hypothetically speaking. You weren’t my friend to begin with, so I hold no ill-will towards you. But I must tell you, you’ve been of great company to me recently. When Azul placed a contract on my human companion, I saw them begin to wither with the lack of freedom and heavy duties. But I’m assuming that changed when you, my new friend, arrived.”

That kind smile of his unnerved you after everything he said. To think you had actually been hanging out with this guy before and having nice conversations with him a few days ago, you were blinded by the gifts he brought you… That’s when a thought came to you. You felt your heart stop as you hopped off the hammock and demanded with as much of a composure as you could gather after his freighting words, “Does Azul know…?”

“...” His silence unnerved you, you wanted to snap and just tell him to spit it out, but you knew then that if you did that, he wouldn’t tell you at all. For now, he’d only hang the answer above your head, use it to make you impatient and frustrated. That was what he wanted. After a moment of seeing you remain calm, he slowly nodded, “This is Azul we are speaking about. I’m sure even in your short time here, you realize that he isn’t a man that leaves any stone unturned or coral unsearched when it comes to important business opportunities for him. And this opportunity you’ve presented him happens to be the most bountiful of all.”

Jade was right. It would be more shocking if Azul didn’t know by now. Afterall, you could only resemble someone you didn’t even know for so long. And if he knew, he was likely plotting to keep you here. You knew how the sea sorcerer worked by learning about him with your time here and by knowing the fairytales.

By now, the eel had swum closer, apparently deciding that this conversation was much more interesting than his mushroom garden. “I’m assuming Floyd hasn’t yet realized, or else we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Oh no, you did not want Floyd finding out. You had no clue how he would react. You were hoping that he was more fascinated like Jade was, but you couldn’t even be remotely certain as to how that would go. Ignore that topic, you switched it to another person to be wary of, the one you’d be tied to for an eternity if you didn’t escape his slippery clutches soon. “Are you going to tell Azul?”

For a moment he appeared to ponder on the idea, and as he lifted his head out of the water, you saw that grin that placed you on edge. Now, you were too nervous to get close to him in fear of the malicious threats spewing out of his mouth earlier. You had a feeling that he wasn’t lying about all that. His eyes seemed to glow a tiny bit as he hummed, “Contrary to what most believe, I’m not here for the money or because I’ve known Azul for years. He even instructed me not to let you out at all anymore unless he approved, especially now that he’s gone to retrieve his reward from the prince. It seems he doesn’t want you seeing others. But I serve whoever presents more interesting opportunities for me. I wonder, what more wondrous things and moments can you share with me, my friend, hm?”

Oh my god, Azul was minutes away from getting the triton, that is if he didn’t have it already. You had to get out of here. Now. “Actually…” You were beginning to concoct a plan of your own. Perhaps you could still fulfill your contract, even if the sorcerer would get in your way. If you had to guess, the twins were meant to be an obstacle. However, if you could get them on your side, then things would go much smoother. “I have something in mind, if you’re willing? But it involves me leaving the cave.”

Jade smiled, “No, I’m not willing.”

Well, that didn’t go according to plan. But you can’t say you didn’t try. Your last resort now, before Azul could return and somehow force you to remain as some eternal slave, was to escape on your own. You did your part, didn’t you? Sort of… You seduced Rielle so he entered a contract with Azul, you seduced Erika so she was always by the water now looking for you, it was the perfect set up for Azul. You did essentially everything he wanted you to do.

When the eel disappeared into the waters, that’s when you took action. You weren’t going to risk swimming and getting lost in those underwater tunnels only to get caught by Jade, oh no. If you couldn’t escape below, you’d escape above. With all the nets you had gathered from your scavenging and the time you had alone behind the waterfall, you made a fine sort of escape to climb, if you do say so yourself. It was definitely long enough to reach the very top where the water was coming from. So when Jade was nowhere to be found, you tied one end of the net to a hook and tossed it to the top. Pulling on it, testing its strength so it wouldn’t drop you down into your own personal prison, once you deemed it sturdy, you began to climb. You couldn’t manage to escape last time in your world, but now you could, and you’d get the freedom you desired.

Once at the top, you heaved a giant sigh of relief, part of you not believing it was that easy to get out. The only reason you got out with no issue was because Azul wasn’t present to open his hand and beckon you to come closer, with the magic shell necklace dragging you forward. As you picked up the pace to a run, you tried to remove the necklace, smash the shell, something–– but it never budged. The necklace was the shackles tying you to the sea sorcerer. You could only hope that it had some limit, like it wouldn’t work if you’re several miles away from this place. At this rate you don’t care where you went, you just had to get away before he became too powerful and dangerous.

Hey, on the brightside, maybe with his new power over the sea and part of the land, he’ll lose interest in you entirely! Yeah! If you were in his position and had control over the entire ocean and a whole kingdom on land, you wouldn’t care for anyone else, not even a human who had helped you get to that point. If you were Azul, you’d forget all about the human and instead focus on your newfound riches and power all at your disposal. That placed you at ease, and cleared your mind enough to allow you to focus on the most important matter at hand: your escape.

You needed to get far far away, go somewhere new and start with a fresh slate, seduce some lords or heiresses, maybe even a king or queen, and begin the life of luxury and wealth you deserved. You found your ticket out on a boat preparing to set sail. Yes, it was risky, but according to the tale, the sea witch never sunk any ships. The ships she had been impaled with and tried to use were all older vessels that were already at the bottom of the sea. So, you would be good. With ease you snuck onto the ship as the crew was nearly done loading the cargo. You blended in as one of the people onboard, only feeling better when the ship officially left the port.

The sun was setting, but you could enjoy its fading warmth on your skin and listen to the waves that rocked the ship gently like a cradle. The sky was painted a deep purple, the orange and red fading the more the sun inched down the horizon, making it darker and darker. For the first time in a while, you were at peace, you felt free already. There were no eels to torment you or no octopus to pester you, not even the merman that sang about love or the human princess––

“Excuse me?”

The sudden voice caused you to snap out of your train of thought. Slowly you removed your arms from the edge where you had been leaning, and you glanced back, prepared to smoothly slip your way out of this one should it be someone questioning who you were and why you were on this ship. However, as soon as you turned your head and quickly flashed your practiced smile, it dropped just as fast as you put it on. There, standing behind you, was the human princess, gazing at you with those beautiful icy blue eyes.

“I’m sorry, but you look so familiar…” As her eyes stared intently at your face, she visibly brightened up, a smile forming on her lips as she spoke hopefully, “We’ve met before, haven’t we? I knew it!” Taking your hand in hers, she continued to peer up at you while going on joyfully, “You’re the one! The one I’ve been looking for! What’s your name?”

It took everything not to just jump overboard right at that second. In your head, alarms were blaring, but you somehow managed to keep in your mess of emotions as you forced that smile back into place on your face. “It’s… V.”

“V… V!” She laughed, embracing you tightly, much to your surprise. “I’m so happy I found you! I wanted to thank you for saving me, but I couldn’t find you anywhere, no matter how much I searched! To think that you would end up here, on the ship I prepared to search for you on! I couldn’t find you in town or in the woods or anywhere! So I figured the only other place you could be was maybe in the water, maybe you lived in the coves or caverns! And here you are!”

You needed to get off this damned ship––

“Well, well, there you are. I was worried for a moment when you were nowhere to be found.”

At the end of the ship, near where the captain was supposed to be steering, was the very person who you were running away from, your captor and now, based on his new accessories, the new king of the sea. The five sharp white shells stringed with tiny pearls decorating his silver hair like a halo, made him look like royalty. It must’ve been a crown. In between his slim fingers, he tightly held the large golden triton. The triton glimmered like a giant knife in the fading light now blocked out by an increasing number of gray clouds heavy and pregnant with a storm. He had spoken loud and clear, causing everyone on board to notice his presence, making all onlookers gasp in horror at his inhuman appearance.

When his eyes turned to you, you felt a chill travel down your spine. There was no escape.

His black appendages curled around him in an unruly mass, taking up a considerable amount of space. Although he may have looked like a monster to everyone, including the princess standing protectively in front of you, you might’ve been in awe if you weren’t so fearful of losing your freedom. Part of him was beautiful, but his endless greed and this sort of crazed look in his eyes made him look frightening.

“You left our cozy little abode, but you led me right to the princess, so I can’t be cross with you. I couldn’t ever stay mad at you, my precious treasure. But… I was prepared to give you everything your heart could desire, my dear diviner. The world would become your oyster. I’ll lift shipwrecks off the ocean floor and empty them of all their treasures for you. I’ll summon storms and waves to drown any enemy you name. I’ll use all the magic in my disposal, all the magic in the world, just to amuse you and keep you beside me longer. Everything… Everything would have been yours…!” He stopped his growing rant, taking a deep breath, a forced sigh as he breathed, “But at least I’ve found you.”

Your necklace! He was still tracking you, he did still want you for whatever selfish reason. And now, he had the triton in hand. Which meant he must’ve already encountered Rielle again, and forced the king to give up himself in order to replace Rielle’s name in the contract. Who knew what he did to Rielle? He likely used the triton to end him swiftly, to make sure no one would get in his way.

Azul eyed the princess with disdain, “I no longer want that useless girl. No princess or even a prince could ever live up to your worth.” Without warning, he started crawling, and fast. With no legs, he couldn't run or walk like a human. So he crawled like some desperate creature, clawing his way forward with his tentacles dragging behind him, terrorizing all those on board and making them run and part ways for him to continue forward like a train at high speed. When he closed in on them, it only took one appendage to slap away Erika like she was nothing but an annoying buzzing fly in his way.

At inhuman speed, he grabbed you as you fought in his slippery grasp and screamed, “I have nothing more to give you!! Why can’t you just let me go?! You have everything!”

“Not everything, angelfish.” He chastised, wasting no time jumping into the sea until you were both under the cold water. When he tapped your chin with the sharp end of the triton, he instructed, “Breathe. Let’s make another deal, this one you will want to hear out.”

Hesitantly, unsurely, you breathed, watching bubbles emerge from your breaths, surprised to see it worked. It must’ve been the magic of the triton he touched you with. That’s when you finally spoke, snapping, “Why would I make another deal with you, you lying cheat?”

For a moment, he actually looked hurt, before he snapped back. “That’s amusing, coming from you. You were ready to run away before our deal could properly be completed!”

“I did everything you wanted, you had all the pieces! You won’t grant me the freedom you promised! I know how you work. You’re a sham! You planned to keep using me as a tool!”

Pursing his lips, Azul paused before replying, “Yes, I did. But that was before. That’s when I believed you were the V I knew before, but then I noticed you were acting strangely. Your so-called prophecy dream, your words, your actions, it was all off. You weren’t the same person.” As he spoke, his appendages let go of you, but they remained lingering behind and around you, trapping you in like a cage where your only option out was him. The sea sorcerer. “I saw it clearly. Those wretched little royals don’t deserve you! Prince Rielle is gone, and I ordered Floyd and Jade to sink Princess Erika’s ship, they get to do as they please with the humans on board. You won’t be seeing neither the princess nor the prince anymore, they won’t be pestering you. Onto more interesting topics. You’re something special, something otherworldly, am I wrong…? I read it in ancient texts once, about how sometimes there are people who mysteriously replace someone, and those people are not from anywhere known. You were banished from your world, just as I was banished from my home. They forsake us because they fear us, but we’re better now. You know what it’s like to be looked down upon, and you loathe it, don’t you?”

When he saw you were frozen, hanging to his every word with familiarity flashing in your eyes. The judges looked down at you, and the mere thought that everyone back home was watching your last moments at the trial with disdain… You must’ve been a criminal because the court said so, right? At that moment back then, you wanted to prove everyone wrong. You weren’t just some lowly nobody that should be forgotten and left to rot. You had worth, and skills, looks, personality, everything that could outweigh anyone.

He knew he was right. “I’m right, and you realize that. I said I don’t have everything. There’s one more thing that can make me the happiest man in the world. And that is… you.”

You felt his tentacles against your back, forcing you closer and closer to him until you were inches away from his face, his eyes gazing at you with a mix of greed and pleading.

But his voice, his assertive voice, was losing his confidence. The more he spoke, the more frantic and desperate he sounded, making you believe that even though he was pleading, you wouldn’t exactly be granted a choice in whatever he was about to offer up to you. “Let this be our final eternal contract. Be mine not as a tool or property, but as a partner. W-With you, we can rule not only the entire ocean but every inch of land too! I know what you want, I see it in your eyes and I know it because you’re like me…! I need you...! You need me! You don’t want freedom, you want wealth, power, and glory!" Slowly, steadily, all his appendages wrapped around you, constricting you, binding you in place. There was no real choice, no freedom, that was an illusion. The only choice he was offering was him. "Join me, sign the new contract, and you can have it all… But only if you choose me. Come on now, make your choice, we don’t have all night, my Dear Diviner!”

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